FX – Latin America

Cuba: Past and present – Cuba and the Catholic Church.

How the Catholic Church Survived Castro and Communism – The Atlantic

Pope Francis Faces a Challenge in Opening Cuba to the Church

Pope Francis is bringing a wish list to Cuba, but he may be disappointed

When the pope visits Cuba, he’ll find that many of the priests aren’t Cuban

The other big announcement.

US Eases Some Limits on Cuban Travel and Commerce

Venezuela: More on their immigration issue.

Colombian Migrants Are the Scapegoats of Venezuela

Brazil: A small bit of good news for some there.

Brazil to Keep Paying Allowances for the Poor

Mexico: History, on how Fed decisions can affect other countries.

Watching the Fed, and Remembering the Tequila Crisis

Haiti: Posting obituaries here isn’t exactly the norm, but this is no ordinary obituary.

Max Beauvoir, Who Gave Up Science to Be High Priest of Voodoo, Dies at 79

Costa Rica: This is what stupid looks like.

Tourists Thwart Turtles from Nesting in Costa Rica

FX – Around the World, part 2

Global Warming: More on the question of what would happen if we used up all the fossil fuels. While it gives gigatonne amounts, I still want to know what the atmospheric CO2 levels would be.

What Would Happen If We Burned All the World’s Fossil Fuels – CityLab

ISIS: Drone effectiveness – not?

Data shows drone attacks will not work against ISIL in Syria

Iran (and the whole Middle East): The best article so far to give a concise analysis of where the U.S. and Iran both agree and disagree, covering the whole region. Keep this one in your files.

US and Iran Both Conflict and Converge

Australia: Where the Liberal Party is the conservatives, and a guest appearance by Canada in the second article.

Malcolm Turnbull Defeats Tony Abbott to Become Party Leader and Prime Minister of Australia

Great Britain: Krugman tackles the link between Corbyn and the British economy.

Krugman – Labour’s Dead Center

El Salvador: “How do you know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been?” – history lesson time.

US Wants Former Salvadoran Ally to Face Justice in 1989 Massacre

Venezuela: The top two stories coming out of there right now.

Free Venezuela’s Leopoldo Lopez

Rojas – Venezuela’s Politicized Border

FX – Around the World

Middle East first, EU and migrants last…

Iran: With whom does Obama need to mend fences? Are they fences worth mending?

Nuclear Deal Sealed, Obama Must Now Make It Work, and Mend Fences

Egypt: This one caught me by surprise – but it doesn’t mean new elections like it might in some countries, just a new cabinet.

Egypt’s Government Resigns Amid Corruption Probe

Syria: Note the author’s qualifications. While it’s obvious that we need a better solution for Syrians in Syria itself, it isn’t exactly surprising that the author would advocate for a solution that would also keep everyone from showing up on his doorstep the way they are now.

Steinmeier – Break the Gridlock on Syria

Turkey: For a long time, the Turkish military was the guarantor of a secular Turkish society; whenever civilian rulers would get too religious, the military would take over for a while to straighten out that problem. Erdogan is the first politician there to make the country noticeably more Islamic – a larger role for religion in the public square – and he did that by sidelining major portions of the military establishment that might have challenged him. While I didn’t see Erdogan’s use of the military against the Kurds as something that would upset the new religious balance he established, this author argues that I’m wrong. So now it’s a four-way contest: Erdogan and allies, the Kurds, ISIS, and the military. Definitely not a boring country to follow…

Karaveli – Turkey’s Military Rulers

Burma: Speaking of the military’s influence over government…

Min Zin – In Myanmar, a Soft Coup Ahead of an Election

Singapore: Election results, and hard-ball politics…

Singapore Voters Give Ruling Party a Resounding Victory

A blogger dared to question the Singapore miracle, and now the prime minister is trying to bankrupt him

Malaysia: More hard-ball politics…

Investigations Stymied in Malaysia, Critics of Najib Razak Take Their Case Global

Venezuela: And really hard-ball politics.

A Venezuelan opposition leader’s absurd sentence

Harsh sentence for Venezuela opposition leader widely condemned

Opposition in Venezuela Is Unsettled by Leader’s Sentence

Cuba: Someone who just might outlast the Castro brothers.

For Pope Francis, an unfinished mission in Cuba

Spain: While Spain is considered to be on the EU’s periphery rather than the core, even periphery countries have their internal core-periphery issues. Is Spain’s core area trying to dump the periphery slackers?

Catalans Campaigning for Independence March in Barcelona

Northern Ireland: Deja vu all over again.

The Political Crisis in Northern Ireland

Great Britain: Now there’s a liberal! (America has shifted to far to the right that our liberals would be centrists elsewhere.)

Leftist Jeremy Corbyn elected leader of Britain’s Labour Party

With Jeremy Corbyn Elected as New Leader, Britain’s Labour Party Takes a Hard Left Turn

Migrants: Not exactly a consensus yet.

Quota Proposal Fails to Gain Traction as Germany Prepares for More Arrivals

Hungarians Say Images of Harshness Toward Migrants Are Unfair

Eastern Europe Is Resisting Aid for Refugees

FX – Around the World

Migrants: Before they leave, after they arrive, and why one liberal haven isn’t.

Turkey – For desperate refugees, ‘the smuggler’s room is over there’

Empathy and Angst in a German City Transformed by Refugees

Refugees are fleeing Denmark, a Scandinavian ‘wonderland,’ en masse

Iran: On to the Sanctions issues.

Sanctions Debate Emerges From Shadow of Iran Nuclear Accord

Afghanistan: Throwing a memorial party…

Afghans Celebrate a National Hero, and Fighting Breaks Out

Brazil: Title says it all.

As a Boom Fades, Brazilians Wonder How It All Went Wrong

Venezuela: Hard-ball politics.

Venezuelan Opposition Leader Leopoldo Lopez Sentenced to Prison Over Protest

Venezuelan opposition leader sentenced to military prison

Japan: Their economic mess continues. Any way out?

Krugman – Japan’s Economy, Crippled by Caution

FX – Around the World

This should fill in a few gaps in the file box…

Asia first:

China: Being a player on the world stage is complicated.

Chinese Citizen Held by ISIS Poses Test for Beijing

Singapore: A family dynasty?

Singapore Vote Will Test Long Ruling Party’s Grip on Power

Thailand: Combining military dictatorship with sound economic policy is a challenge.

Joehnk et al – How to Save the Thai Economy

Afghanistan: Well, it doesn’t look like they want us to leave quite yet.

Afghans See American General as Crucial to Country’s Defense

Pakistan:

In Pakistan, a prime minister and a country rebound – at least for now

Latin America next:

Brazil:

Brazil’s Economic Crisis Intensifies, Raising Pressure on President

Mexico:

Report Renews Hope and Doubt on Missing Students in Mexico

Venezuela:

Venezuela’s UN Envoy Defends Crackdown Along Border With Colombia

Africa:

Uganda: With guest appearances by Kenya and Ethiopia, joining Russia (et. al.) on NGO limits and crackdowns.

Uganda should scrap its repressive NGO bill

Sudan: Darfur, back in the news for all the wrong reasons again.

Report Details New Atrocities in Darfur by Sudanese Force

Europe:

Northern Ireland: Still in the news, for the usual reasons.

Senior Sinn Fein Member Arrested in Northern Ireland Murder

Northern Ireland Faces Crisis as Unionist First Minister Resigns

FX – Around the World

Migrants; EU first.

EU: Roger Cohen offers some historical perspective – and the Boldini quote at the end of the article begs to be used in an FX speech intro.

Roger Cohen – Aylan Kurdi’s Europe

A small article in today’s local paper mentioned the number of foreign IDs they’re finding beside the roads in Serbia, just before the Hungarian border. Apparently people who aren’t Syrian are ditching their identities and ‘becoming’ Syrian because they think it’ll improve their chances at EU admittance. Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh IDs were all mentioned.

Iraqis join an intensifying flow of refugees to Europe from Turkey

Germany:

German Quota System Highlights Possible Path and Pitfalls for Handling Crisis

Despite Warm Welcome, There’s A Backlash Against Migrants In Germany

Hungary: More perspective – a refugee’s train trip across Hungary – in 1979.

Callimachi – A Train Journey From Communism to Freedom, Almost Ended in Hungary – 1979

Australia: More on their tough response. Refugees, or economic migrants?

Australia Uses Tough Measures To Keep Migrants Out

Guatemala: Elections!

Ballots Tallied After Guatemalans Vote For Next President

Afghanistan: Transitions from cult-of-personality figures are rarely smooth.

Taliban’s New Leader in Afghanistan Moves to Quash Dissent

China: Lawyers aren’t the only ones feeling the heat.

Caijing Journalist’s Shaming Signals China’s Growing Control Over News Media

India: Games (rich) people play – apparently everywhere.

India targets tax evaders who hide ‘black money’ at home and abroad

Venezuela: More on the expulsions of Colombians.

Mass Deportations Fuel Tension Along Venezuela-Colombia Border

And to finish a truly global trip, the Arctic, with special guest appearances by China and Russia.

US builds up Arctic spy network as Russia and China increase presence – LA Times

FX – Latin America

Cuba: From NPR.

White House Explores Ways To Do Business With Cuba

Guatemala:

Guatemalan prosecutors urge president to resign amid scandal

Venezuela: Scapegoating?

Colombians Flee Venezuela’s Crackdown on Immigrants

In a Venezuelan Border Town, a State of Emergency Is Barely Perceptible

Brazil: Know what favelas are.

Rio’s Favelas Feel The Peace – And The Pressure – Of Pacification

FX – Around the world

Middle East first…

Iran: Check out Scowcroft’s qualifications – he’s no pro-Obama liberal.

Scowcroft – The Iran deal – An epochal moment that Congress shouldn’t squander

Iraq: The title says it all.

Beyond terrorism, Iraq’s leader is struggling to fight corruption

Afghanistan: Dotsum has been a key player for a lot of years – you should know who he is. Second article is about what we in this country feel is a key part of a functioning democracy. (Is it elsewhere?)

Full Bellies Are the Measure of Afghan Influence and Hospitality

With US withdrawal looming, a nascent Afghan press is in peril

Yemen and Saudi Arabia: from NPR

U.N. Criticizes Saudi-Backed Operations In Yemen, But U.S. Stays Silent

Other places…

China: Breaking economic news has quieted down, so there’s time for more analysis.

Currency Devaluation Is a Short Step in China’s Long Advance

India: Sociology and economics collide.

Pande et al – Why Aren’t India’s Women Working

Venezuela: Playing political hardball to retain power.

9 Opposition Candidates Barred From Venezuela’s December Ballot

Burma: What happens when you don’t have birthright citizenship.

Myanmar Lawmaker Barred From Re-election on Citizenship Grounds – Rohingya disenfranchisement

FX – Around the world

China: Latest currency news (notice the difference between the currencies in the basket, and China’s currency), and the U.S. isn’t their only cyber-espionage target.

China’s Currency Again Left Out of IMF Basket

Chinese hackers may have turned sights on India, new report says

Malaysia: Worth watching – this one won’t be going away soon.

Sreenevasan – Among Malaysia’s Many Scandals

Israel: In favor of a two-state solution. Notice the author’s qualifications.

Bar – Israel’s Other Existential Threat Comes From Within

Greece: PM resigns, calling for snap elections.

Syriza Dissenters Form New Party in Greece

What Alexis Tsipras’s Announcement Means for Greece

Russia: Domestic intrigue, foreign leverage (not!)

Russia’s summer of intrigue – Political trials take center stage

Russia used to have a powerful weapon in its energy sector – Not anymore

Zakaria expands on the energy sector article, and includes Iran, Iraq, Venezuela, and Saudi Arabia.

Zakaria – From Russia to Iran, the consequences of the global oil bust

Under the ‘everything is economics‘ heading, some applied econ. Here’s an analytical framework worth having in your Forensics toolchest. Applicable to a lot of the countries on which you’ll be speaking this year.

Why some billionaires are bad for growth, and others aren’t

FX – Latin America

Haiti: Long, but one of the best background pieces on the country I’ve come across, covering both historical and contemporary issues.

Haiti Observes 100th Anniversary Of 19-Year U.S. Occupation

Venezuela: A disaster no longer waiting to happen. While no fan of Chavez, I have to wonder if his successor is really up to a task Chavez might have been able to handle better. A story of ideology meeting the real world. It’s a country worth watching – the situation can’t continue forever, so the question becomes one of when something is going to happen there, and what that something might be.

Venezuela is basically bankrupt again

Cuba:

Richard Cohen – Why boycotting Cuba makes sense

Comments: On the one hand, Cuba’s human rights record is nothing to be proud of, and boycotts have worked in places like South Africa to improve their behavior. On the other hand, there are a bunch of American businesses just waiting to get into the Cuban market – would they boycott that opportunity for human rights reasons, or would capitalism’s amoral (not immoral – know the difference) quest for profits trump that?