Foreign Exchanges: FX Week in Review

The Fortnight in Review: May 30-June 12, 2026

Ashley Gate — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 22:46:29 GMT

Over the past two weeks, Palestinian political leaders met in Cairo to discuss the ongoing peace process. Lebanese and Israeli officials traveled to Washington for negotiations as Israel resumed attacks on Beirut. Hostilities reignited between the US, Israel, and Iran. The US imposed further sanctions on Cuba as the nation’s standard of living deteriorated. And Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s offer of face-to-face negotiations and a ceasefire.

The Fortnight in Review: May 17-29, 2026

Ashley Gate — Sat, 30 May 2026 23:45:14 GMT

In the last two weeks the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency over an Ebola outbreak stemming from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Bolivia’s government failed to placate anti-austerity demonstrators. The Israeli military expanded its airstrike campaign across southern and eastern Lebanon. Iran announced a new plan to control the Strait of Hormouz and the US attacked Iran in “self-defense.” And Israel’s military detained another Gaza aid flotilla in international waters.

The Fortnight in Review: May 2-16, 2026

Ashley Gate — Sat, 16 May 2026 22:17:12 GMT

Over the course of the last two weeks fighting between Israel and Hezbollah persisted as Israel and Lebanon extended their so-called ceasefire. The Israeli military ramped up its attacks on Gaza as Palestinians suffered under a “manufactured nutrition crisis.” The US quickly abandoned an operation to open the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic and the Iran ceasefire was severely challenged. President Xi Jinping hosted Donald Trump for a two-day summit in China. Cuba ran out of oil and faced mounting pressure from the US government. And it appears that Honduras is the epicenter of an alleged US-Israeli plot to expand their influence across Latin America and destabilize the region’s left-wing leaders.

The Fortnight in Review: April 18-May 1, 2026

Ashley Gate — Sat, 02 May 2026 20:48:18 GMT

In the last two weeks Gaza faced a worsening water shortage and the Israeli military continued to overtake more of the occupied territory. Peace talks between the US and Iran fell through and the Strait of Hormuz remained closed. A second round of peace talks between Israel and Lebanon were held in Washington, though the Israeli military continues to occupy southern Lebanon. Tuareg rebels and jihadist militants carried out a joint military offensive across northern Mali. And Japan hosted NATO leaders and lifted its export ban on lethal weapons.

The Fortnight in Review: April 4-17, 2026

Ashley Gate — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 23:02:29 GMT

In the last two weeks the Gaza “ceasefire” passed the half-year mark and Israel significantly expanded its settlements in the occupied West Bank. The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire and the US imposed its own blockade on the Strait of Hormouz. Israel and Lebanon agreed to a ten day ceasefire while southern Lebanon remains under Israeli occupation. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was voted out of office. Afghanistan and Pakistan met for another round of peace talks and Kabul, Afghanistan capital, faces a long-term water shortage. And the war in Sudan, which has displaced some 13 million people, entered its fourth year.

The Fortnight in Review: March 14-27, 2026

Ashley Gate — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 18:33:06 GMT

In the last two weeks, the US-Israeli war with Iran escalated and the Strait of Hormuz remained shut as peace negotiations and potential ground operations were deliberated. Israel expanded its invasion of southern Lebanon. Hamas considered a “Board of Peace” proposal to demilitarize while Israeli settler violence intensified across the West Bank. The US-Ecuador joint military operation against a drug trafficking facility was found to have been staged. And Cuba’s humanitarian situation further deteriorated under a US-imposed fuel embargo.

The Fortnight in Review: February 28-March 13, 2026

Ashley Gate — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 21:08:57 GMT

In the last two weeks, the US-Israeli war with Iran has thrown the Middle East into conflict, threatened the global economy, and displaced millions. The war with Iran reopened the Hezbollah-Israel conflict in southern Lebanon. Israel imposed a new blockade on Gaza. Nepal held its first election following youth-led protests in September. And the US and Ecuador initiated a joint military operation against “designated terrorist organizations.”

The Fortnight in Review: January 31 - February 13, 2026

Ashley Gate — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:40:58 GMT

Happy Valentine’s Day FX! In the past two weeks Israel has continued its military operations in Gaza and approved sweeping new rules over the occupied West Bank. The Sudanese Armed Forces broke the Rapid Support Forces’ lengthy siege of Kadugli and a Reuters investigation revealed a secret RSF training camp in Ethiopia. Japan’s snap election favored the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The New START nuclear arms reduction treaty expired. Russia, Ukraine, and the US held three-way peace talks in Abu Dhabi. And Cuba is at risk of economic collapse following a US-imposed oil blockade.

The Fortnight in Review: January 17-30, 2026

Ashley Gate — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 20:31:38 GMT

Over the past two weeks, the Syrian government and the SDF suspended hostilities and agreed to integrate their forces. Israel announced plans to relocate hundreds of thousands of Palestinians into heavily surveilled camps and the last Israeli hostage was repatriated. The US repeatedly threatened to attack Iran and sent two more carrier groups to the region. Over 1 million people are set to lose access to WFP food assistance in Nigeria. Cuba’s oil imports have been largely cut off by the US. And China’s most senior military general was sacked after allegedly accepting bribes and sharing nuclear weapon intel with the US.

The Fortnight in Review: January 3-16, 2026

Ashley Gate — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 19:47:33 GMT

Hey folks, Derek here. I am reviving the FX “Week in Review,” albeit on a once every two weeks basis rather than weekly. Hopefully this will help you catch up on the biggest stories we’ve been following in case you’ve missed a newsletter or two along the way. I will work on a better name than “Fortnight in Review” but that’s the best I could manage today and in principle I do think we should revive use of the word “fortnight.” I’m very pleased to welcome our new reviewer, Ashely Gate, who will introduce herself below. Now on to the show!

Since the start of the new year, the US captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and utilized gun-boat diplomacy to take over that country’s oil industry. Donald Trump reasserted his desire to own Greenland and European leaders responded with a symbolic show of force. The humanitarian situation in Gaza continued to deteriorate as Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” was unveiled. Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland’s independence. And, Iran was awash in anti-government protests with Donald Trump considering military action.

The Week in Review: August 16-22, 2025

Mellie MacEachern — Sun, 24 Aug 2025 00:45:45 GMT

This week, India warmed up to China as relations with the US continued to chill. US President Donald Trump met with leaders on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war. Hamas announced that it would accept a ceasefire under new terms as famine was declared in Gaza. The Congolese government and the M23 militant group missed their deadline for a peace deal but the mediating Qatari government still expressed optimism about the state of negotiations. And the US moved warships off the coast of Venezuela in what could be the prelude to a military operation.

The Week in Review: August 2-8, 2025

Ryan Gunnarson — Sun, 10 Aug 2025 01:59:06 GMT

This week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for full military occupation of Gaza as the United States expanded its controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation program despite criticism from aid organizations. The Lebanese government ordered its army to devise plans for restricting weapons to state forces by year’s end, in a direct challenge to Hezbollah. New evidence emerged regarding the extent of sexual violence carried out during the 2020-2022 war in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. Trump administration envoy Steve Witkoff visited Moscow Wednesday, leading to announcements of an upcoming Trump-Putin summit. In Sudan, the Rapid Support Forces allegedly massacred civilians fleeing Al-Fashir as the military government accused the United Arab Emirates of hiring Colombian mercenaries to support the paramilitaries.

The Week in Review: July 26-August 1, 2025

Mellie MacEachern — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 01:07:54 GMT

This week, civilians continued to starve in Gaza as US special envoy Steve Witkoff visited a “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” distribution site. The Thai and Cambodian militaries reached a tentative ceasefire but continued to accuse one another of violating it. The Russian government ignored an ultimatum from US President Donald Trump amid continued gains in Ukraine’s Donetsk oblast. Trump imposed punitive tariffs on Brazil and sanctioned one of the country’s senior judges. A new report showed that groundwater overuse is speeding up the depletion of Earth’s freshwater resources.

The Week in Review: July 18-25, 2025

Ryan Gunnarson — Sat, 26 Jul 2025 21:51:56 GMT

This week, violence between Druze and Bedouin communities in Syria’s Suwayda province left over 1,260 people dead before a ceasefire took hold. In Gaza, starvation deaths mounted as ceasefire negotiations remained stalled, with at least 15 people dying from malnutrition in a 24-hour period on Tuesday. The International Court of Justice issued a groundbreaking advisory opinion on Wednesday declaring that countries failing to meet climate obligations could violate international law. Military conflict erupted along the Thai-Cambodian border on Thursday, with airstrikes and artillery exchanges killing at least 20 people. And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky faced domestic anticorruption protests while pursuing another round of peace talks with Russia.

The Week in Review: June 21-27, 2025

Ryan Gunnarson — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 03:12:10 GMT

This week, NATO members showered Donald Trump with affection and he seemed to get over his distaste for the alliance. Israeli forces continued to kill Palestinians at Gaza aid sites on a near daily basis, while a new report revealed that Israeli soldiers are being ordered to fire on aid seekers. Trump ordered an attack on Iranian nuclear sites and then brokered a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. Kenyan police killed at least 16 protesters during demonstrations marking the anniversary of deadly tax protests. China announced new cooperation on fentanyl precursor controls and agreed on a new trade framework with the US.

The Week in Review: June 14-20, 2025

Mellie MacEachern — Sat, 21 Jun 2025 22:38:38 GMT

This week, Donald Trump debated bombing Iran on behalf of Israel as the IDF increased violence against Palestinians in Gaza. A leaked phone call led to a fractured ruling coalition in Thailand. The Brazilian government began auctioning off parcels in the Amazon for energy projects despite the potential impacts on the environment and Indigenous communities. The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda reached a preliminary ceasefire agreement.

The Week in Review: June 7-13, 2025

Ryan Gunnarson — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 01:08:25 GMT

This week, Israel launched a massive military assault on Iran, using over 200 aircraft to strike over 100 targets and killing several Iranian military officers, prompting retaliation that hit Tel Aviv. Israeli forces intercepted the Freedom Flotilla and continued deadly attacks on aid distribution sites in Gaza, while Hamas killed several Gaza Humanitarian Foundation workers. The United States and China appeared to reach a trade framework after two days of negotiations in London. Russian forces advanced into Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk oblast amid continued heavy bombardments, and Sudan’s military lost control of a key border zone after alleged attacks by Libyan forces aligned with the Rapid Support Forces.

The Week in Review: June 1-7, 2025

Mellie MacEachern — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 22:08:54 GMT

This week, the short-lived “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” indefinitely paused aid operations in the Gaza Strip. The Trump administration proposed a nuclear deal with Iran that perplexed Iranian officials. Trade talks between the US and China resumed. Poland elected a eurosceptic president. And Ukraine damaged Russia’s strategic bomber fleet in a surprise drone attack.

The Week in Review: May 10-16, 2025

Ryan Gunnarson — Sun, 18 May 2025 03:07:43 GMT

This week, India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire last Saturday that appears to be holding. The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced it would end its decades-long conflict with Turkey and disarm. In Libya, factional violence erupted in Tripoli as government forces moved against rival militias. Russia and Ukraine held brief peace talks in Istanbul on Friday, agreeing to a prisoner exchange but making little other progress. Israel continued military operations in Gaza, with dozens killed in airstrikes on hospitals, while Hamas released a US-Israeli captive.

The Week in Review: May 3-9, 2025

Mellie MacEachern — Sun, 11 May 2025 01:09:30 GMT

This week, the US reached a surprise ceasefire agreement with the Houthis in Yemen. Humanitarian supplies in Gaza continued to run out while the Israeli military prepared to fully occupy the region and force its population into a single “humanitarian zone.” India and Pakistan traded military strikes, pushing the two countries dangerously close to full-scale war. The Rapid Support Forces militant group carried out multiple drone strikes on Port Sudan. And the US State Department skirted accusations of influence peddling on behalf of Elon Musk’s Starlink.