Everything you thought you knew about mammograms is wrong. The fundamental truth emerging from recent work on the US health care system is that health, health care, and health insurance are all three different things

American unions have just suffered one of their best setbacks in recent years. Yesterday the workers at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga, Tennessee plant rejected unionization with the United Auto Workers. What is stunning is that the company, Volkswagen, supported the unionization drive, in part because Germany’s powerful car workers’ union pressured management to do so.

It is rare that American diplomacy is conducted this poorly for so long a period of time. President Obama more than anything else needs to get to grips with the reality that his basic strategic choices aren’t working out.

A riot broke out in the Indian parliament on Thursday as politicians literally fought over the creation of India’s newest state, Telangana. An MP brought and used pepper spray, causing pandemonium and prompting the House Speaker to suspend 17 MPs.

Doctors are fleeing private practices for the security of hospitals. The exodus will be a disaster for U.S. health care.

The Syria talks are close to failing after Russian negotiators explicitly refused to discuss the prospect of removing Butcher Assad from the Syrian government. Already embarassingly close to achieving next to nothing, the talks might now end completely if UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi deems it “useless” to continue.

Some schools are experimenting with a new way around the snow day dilemma: Telecommuting. When Northern New Jersey schools closed due to Hurricane Sandy two years ago, one superintendent decided to try replacing in-class teaching with virtual lessons.

There’s a growing body of butlers, cooks, estate managers, private security, maids, art advisors, and chiefs of staff employed by the wealthiest Americans. The really eye-popping part: salaries get as high as $250,000 per year.

Sectarian violence in Central African Violence is hitting a new high, prompting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to admit that “the de facto partition of the Central African Republic is a distinct risk”.

Bombs and bullets may be killing people by the busloads, but Pakistan’s Islamists know what the real threat to Pakistan is: Valentine’s Day.