A provisional draft report from the Catholic Church’s ongoing Synod of Bishops has exploded in the news for apparent tonal shifts in its treatment of cohabiting couples, the remarried, and gay and lesbian relationships. But these shifts only reflect the current reality of Catholic practice on the parish level, and promise no changes in Church doctrine.

Americans still feel crushed by health care costs in the Obamacare era. The reason is that the Affordable Care Act doesn’t do enough to make health care affordable.

Ivan Klíma’s political autobiography illuminates the surreality of Czechoslovak communism even as it fails to answer “the question”: Why the Jews?

Moldova, like Ukraine, has a frozen conflict and has recently signed a far-ranging cooperation agreement with the EU. And now, emboldened by his successes in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin is turning his eyes on Moldova.

Germany’s energy ministry refuted a report that it plans to phase out coal consumption, remarking that “exiting nuclear and coal-fired power generation at the same time would not be possible.” So much for the country’s green energy revolution.

Oil prices are plunging on surging supply and torpid demand, putting pressure on the world’s petrostates, which have come to rely on high prices just to balance their budgets. So why hasn’t OPEC moved to cut production?

One example from Europe suggests yes—if you’re willing to save, scrutinize, and countenance some heated debate between workers and retirees.

Foreign investors are looking to return to Egypt as el-Sisi makes progress towards long-term fiscal recovery. But Egypt’s unresolved food crisis continues to threaten the new stability.

Several states with close Senate races are seeing post-ACA double digit rate hikes. If health care helps the GOP retake the Senate, Obamacare may remain a live political issue for some time yet.

The South Korean coast guard shot and killed a Chinese fisherman during a raid against illegal fishing. These kinds of violent clashes are increasingly common in Asia’s disputed waters, and they don’t always occur between countries that enjoy strong trade ties and warm relations.