Argentinians’ purchasing power has been destroyed by the inflationary problem the government claims it doesn’t have, leading to a vicious cycle of poverty and protests. Despite some of the most abundant natural resources on the planet, Argentina is failing fast.

Over at the Daily Beast the erudite and incisive Les Gelb wonders if the US is being too soft on China. Beijing’s ADIZ announcement, he writes, was just its latest antagonistic action. Notably, on a recent visit to the country, Vice President Biden carefully avoided stepping on anyone’s toes. Some people take this to be an American acquiescence to China’s belligerence and, less visibly, another sign of declining American influence abroad.

Tech companies are beginning to hire programmers based largely on their completion of MOOCs in computer science. In particular, employers are graduating toward courses that let prospective employees prove their knowledge through specific projects. This is a smart approach, but will it help MOOCs break into the mainstream?

Looking dazed and despondent, Jang Song-thaek was hauled out by the armpits from a ruling party meeting in Pyongyang by two uniformed guards a few days ago. Jang was the uncle and mentor to Kim Jong-un, revered in North Korea. His extraordinary and humiliating downfall stunned observers in South Korea, the US, and beyond. But it is in China that Jang’s dismissal will reverberate most strongly.

After the provincial government bluntly refused to partake or even endorse Imran Khan’s anti-drone protests, his party resorted to thuggery and sabotage to make sure that crucial NATO supplies both to and from Afghanistan are halted in their tracks. If his objective was to block NATO supplies, then yes, he can call it a success, but it has come at a tremendous cost not only to slowly improving Pak-American relations, but Khan’s own political ambitions.

College enrollment is down across the board, but small private schools are feeling the pinch especially hard, and the changing demographics of college students are doing them no favors. How many of these schools will still exist in 20 years?

After days of mounting protests, and just before thousands of peaceful demonstrators occupied the grounds around her empty and forlorn office, Thailand’s prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra finally gave in: she announced she would dissolve the lower house of parliament and hold a new election in early February. Is this a win for the protestors or the government’s trump card?

Experts are now warning that Puerto Rico’s economic meltdown could have ripple effects on retirement funds on the mainland. Puerto Rico could turn into a bigger disaster than Detroit.

Traditional pension supporters argue that public pension cuts could actually cost cities money by forcing them to raise salaries to attract high-quality employees. This makes sense as far as it goes, but it doesn’t change the fact that many cities simply can’t afford the pensions they have. Defined-benefit is still the way to go.

The ruling Congress Party in India was overwhelmingly defeated in several recent state elections, and it now faces a steep uphill battle as national elections loom on the horizon. The BJP, with the charismatic, Hindu-nationalist and business friendly Narendra Modi at the helm, is ascendant. But the Common Man Party, which runs on an anti-corruption platform, surprised with some strong numbers.