The Thai military maintains that democracy will return to the country in late 2015, but in the meantime, the new Prime Minister, General Prayuth, is consolidating his hold on power.

Libyan Islamists play in the swimming pool at the abandoned U.S. Embassy residential annex in Tripoli. Meanwhile, they claim to have control over the embassy itself.

Russia is raiding money that was supposed to be invested for future pensions in order to make current pension payments.

Mahmoud Abbas thinks Hamas is to blame for many of the recent deaths in Gaza. Time for a BDS movement against the PA?

William Deresiewicz’s Excellent Sheep is the latest book to bemoan the way higher education is failing to improve its students’ souls. But college is at least as important a means of preparing students for life in our increasingly changeable economy and society.

The EU brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine on Friday, in an attempt to get gas flowing once again ahead of winter, when gas demand will spike. Neither side seemed willing to budge on key issues, and supply disruptions are looking more and more likely.

Twelve McDonald’s branches have now been closed in Russia, and one hundred more are under investigation. Putin’s campaign to de-Westernize his country is continuing apace.

Increased sanctions on Iran may indicate that the White House is having second thoughts on its potential grand bargain with the regime.

ISIS’ growing allure for Jordanians has that kingdom worried, and meanwhile, the militant group’s influence could soon be felt as far away as Africa. The power of its image seems to be outstripping its actual military capabilities.

The Russian economy is on the brink of recession as runaway inflation brings the ruble to a record low compared to the USD. It looks like the sanctions are working to weaken Russia’s economy, though given the presence of Russian soldiers in Ukraine, they aren’t proving quite the deterrent that Western leaders hoped.