To the Point

Saudi Arabia says it can live with the Iran nuclear deal after all — especially since President Obama has promised new military assistance. As the US bolsters the traditional alliance, critics are raising questions about the Kingdom's human rights record, the bombing of Yemen and the money that helps spread a radical form of Islam.

Privacy advocates are warning about the loss of public anonymity from face-recognition technology that's ubiquitous thanks to Facebook and other software companies. We hear about the risks as well as the benefits.

College students, programmers, musicians, all sorts of people looking for an edge are finding it in a flood of new over and under the counter drugs that promise to make them faster, sharper, and more alert. We look at the rise of Modafinil and other "smart drugs."

A three year college degree is just one proposal to rethink the cost of college education. With the average graduate carrying $30 thousand in debt and middle class parents depleting their retirement funds to pay for higher education, has the time come for radical reform? 

President Obama ends his Alaska visit today with more calls for urgent action on climate change. But is the US taking urgent enough action to get a foothold in the northern polar region where Russia, China and other nations have already staked claims? 

China's stocks tumbled once again today, after bad news from the manufacturing sector. Is the world's second largest economy in a free fall? Can Beijing rebuild confidence while cracking down on dissent?

Record numbers of migrants and refugees are fleeing war­torn and impoverished countries for Europe, sometimes losing their lives in the process. Can the European Union agree on a unified immigration strategy and maintain its open border policy while also cracking down on human trafficking? 

Stories of outrageous behavior by doctors in operating rooms have the medical profession in an uproar. They were reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine, which is accused of creating mistrust among patients. We hear about the stories and why they were published.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans was left under water 10 years ago — one of the worst disasters in American history. Today, it's celebrating a historic recovery — but not for everybody.  

Controversy over Hillary Clinton's private email account while she was Secretary of State is not going away—despite her claim that she's been caught in a turf war between intelligence agencies. As the FBI continues its investigation, we look at the impact on her race for the White House.