A mid-week round-up of our favorite stories.

TAI board member Eliot A. Cohen takes the Obama Administration—along with the whole political establishment—to task for its adolescent posturing.

MOOCs have only begun to drive innovation in higher education, say researchers. Even if the technology is still in its early stages, the demand for flexible and cheap higher education will only grow.

To avoid being infected by the deadly MERS virus, Saudi Arabians should wear face masks and gloves when handling camels, say the kingdom’s officials. In other news, MERS travels to Florida (but not by camel).

A new House of Representatives proposal would be the first step in broadening access to accredited courses and apprenticeships offered by institutions ranging from corporations to non-profits.

A university in New Hampshire is leading the way in online ed by hiring adjuncts to teach their online courses. Everybody wins, especially the adjuncts, who get a huge boost in pay (and a degree of job security to boot) by working for the school.

Students get no rewards for completing a MOOC, so it’s no surprise that many of them drop out, says Robert Wright. Low completion rates are no reason to dismiss MOOCs altogether.

Boko Haram released a video claiming credit for the abduction of more than 200 Nigerian school girls. The Nigerian government is still struggling to come up with an effective response.

China leaks its plans for dealing with North Korean officials and refugees if the regime implodes.

Coursera is setting up “hubs” on college campuses, where MOOC students can interact and talk to tutors. Is this a preview of MOOCs’ future role in higher education?