Section: Foreign Policy (USA)
Strong Dollar Clouds Forecast at Davos
Good news for the U.S. economy could turn out to be bad news for the rest of the world in 2015, a growing number of economists are warning. While the U.S. economic recovery is a boon for Americans and the countries from which they import, the dollar’s rising strength could also bring out lurking problems in less-developed countries. Growth...
FP’s Situation Report: Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula takes global spotlight; Senate threatens to scuttle Iran nuclear deal; Top U.S. war crimes diplomat steps down; and more of what you need to know from around the world.
By David Francis with Sabine Muscat Yes-No-Maybe? AQAP claims it orchestrated the Charlie Hebdo attacks under orders by the network’s leader, Ayman al-Zawahri. That raises questions about just how much — if any — command and control core al Qaeda has over its franchises and how it manages to evade intelligence officials, who don’t...
FPs Situation Report: In new video, al Qaeda claims credit for Paris attack despite lack of proof; New issue of ‘Charlie Hebdo’ raises concerns of more violence; McCain stymies Obama’s plans to close Guantanamo; and much more.
By David Francis with Sabine Muscat No fingerprints? No matter: Al Qaeda boosts its profile through Charlie Hebdo attack — despite no proof that it was directly involved. Senior defense officials and experts tell Foreign Policy that it’s unlikely al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was behind last week’s horrifying attack against the...
Democracy Lab Weekly Brief, January 13, 2015
To keep up with Democracy Lab in real time, follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Berivan Orucoglu laments the politically motivated suppression of a major corruption probe that implicated Turkey’s ruling party and presidential family. Christian Caryl challenges Salman Rushdie’s assertion that “religion” is to blame for last week’s...
FP’s Situation Report: ‘Charlie Hebdo’ investigation focuses on al Qaeda and the Islamic State; A new threat to France emerges from North Africa; U.S. military social media accounts breached by alleged Islamic State hackers; and much more.
By David Francis with Sabine Muscat The Charlie Hebdo investigation focuses on the attackers’ possible connections to al Qaeda and the Islamic State. French authorities are looking into a video of Amedy Coulibaly, the 32-year-old man who killed four people at a kosher grocery store in Paris Friday, in which he pledges allegiance to the...
How Russia’s Sinking Economy Could Provoke Unrest On Its Doorstep
With oil prices plummeting, the ruble tanking against the dollar, and the Russian economy squeezed by Western sanctions, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Monday offered an assessment that might easily qualify as the understatement of the new year. “The economic situation is quite problematic to say the least,” he said. Even as Russian...
FP’s Situation Report: More than one million march in Paris to defy ‘Charlie Hebdo’ attack; Europe must strike a balance between security and civil liberties; Attack reveals a global terror network; and much more.
By David Francis with Sabine Muscat More than one million people march the streets of Paris in solidarity and defiance after the Charlie Hebdo attacks shatter Europe’s sense of security. Among the marchers were more than 40 world leaders, including President François Hollande of France, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, Prime Minister...
Why Washington Needs to Get Over Vaclav Havel
It’s now just over a quarter of a century since December 29, 1989, when the parliament of what was then the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic elected the dissident playwright Vaclav Havel to the presidency. This happened a mere eight months after Havel was released from jail by the communist regime that had imprisoned him for his activities...
The Sanctions-Proof Superpower
With the ruble in the dumps and the Russian economy in shambles, Vladimir Putin’s compatriots can easily count the cost of his territorial ambitions. Moscow depends on other countries for financing, capital investment, and export markets. Make those countries angry, and pillars of the Russian economy begin to collapse. Yet China, which has...
Longform’s Picks of the Week
Every weekend, Longform highlights its favorite international articles of the week. For daily picks of new and classic nonfiction, check out Longform or follow @longform on Twitter. Have an iPad? Download Longform’s new app and read all of the latest in-depth stories from dozens of magazines, including Foreign Policy. Scare Tactics: Michel...
