What We Read Today 15 October 2014

Econintersect: Every day our editors collect the most interesting things they find from around the internet and present a summary “reading list” which will include very brief summaries (and sometimes longer ones) of why each item has gotten our attention. Suggestions from readers for “reading list” items are gratefully reviewed, although sometimes space limits the number included.

• Berlin slashes growth forecasts (Deutsche Welle) The GDP growth for the current year has been slashed from 1.8% to 1.2%. For 2015 the previous projection of 2% has been cut by a third to 1.3%. The government continues to deny that a recession is likely. And Reuters is reporting that the Andrea Merkel government will still push for a balanced German budget next year.

• We Have Reached Peak President (Aaron David Miller, Foreign Policy) The author says our government has grown into its laws and constitution to a point where a great president is no longer possible. Miller says Americans need to develop some sense of realism and “discover a way to narrow the gap between the presidents we want and the ones we can realistically have“. Miller is not writing an isolated Op Ed; he is the author od a new book: The End of Greatness: Why America Can’t Have (and Doesn’t Want) Another Great President.

• Recent articles about Scotland Independence and Similar Movements

Scotland snapped from International Space Station (BBC News) After all that has been going on don’t we deserve a beautiful picture?

• Articles about conflicts and disease around the world

Ebola

Health experts question effectiveness of airport Ebola screening (Al Jazeera)

Today in Parasitic Capitalism: Ebola.com Squatter Wants $150K for Domain (Foreign Policy)

U.S. sets up rapid-response team for Ebola; Dallas nurse improves (Reuters)

WHO anticipates up to 10,000 new Ebola cases a week by year’s end (Al Jazeera)

Decades of corrupt government have left states prey to Ebola (The Conversation)

Can pets get or spread Ebola? (CNN)

Top WMD Expert Leaves the Pentagon to Fight Ebola Full Time (Foreign Policy)

Turkey

Turkish Airstrike Hits Kurds, Complicating Fight Against Islamic State (The New York Times)

‘The Freedom Fight Has Returned to Turkey’ (Foreign Policy)

U.S.-led air strikes intensify as Syria conflict destabilizes Turkey (Reuters)

Syria

Airstrikes Hit Jihadi Targets in Syria (abc News)

Now ISIS is under attack from guerrillas itself: Ultra-secret White Shroud group strike fear into terrorists by picking off fighters one by one (Daily Mail)

Police arrest relatives of Briton killed fighting in Syria for Islamic State (The Guardian)

Iraq

Human Rights Group Alleges Shiite Militias Killing Sunnis in Retaliation for ISIS Attacks (Foreign Policy)

The Secret Victims of Iraq’s Chemical Arms (The New York Times)

Iran

The Dark Knight Rises For years Qassem Suleimani has been Iran’s secret covert-ops puppet master. Why has he suddenly stepped out of the shadows? (Foreign Policy)

Ukraine

Ukraine nationalists clash with police outside Kiev parliament (The Guardian)

Russia

‘In Putin’s mind, Ukraine is not a nation’ (Reuters)

China and Russia pledge to boost ties and cooperation (South China Morning Post)

The Kremlin’s dream to survive Western sanctions: Utopia or reality? (Russia Direct)

Hong Kong

The Movement That Changed Hong Kong: A Timeline (Foreign Policy)

Hong Kong police dismantle pro-democracy protesters’ barricades, tents (Al Jazeera)

Pakistan

Six Pakistani Taliban Leaders Pledge to ISIS; India, Pakistan Armies Establish Contact; Kabul Bank Suspects Flee Country (Foreign Policy)

Pakistan’s Original Sin (Foreign Policy)

North Korea

North Korea’s leader returns to public view (Al Jazeera)

Everything is normal again in North Korea as Kim Jong-un returns (The Conversation)

Mexico

Protesters torch Mexico government buildings (Al Jazeera)

There are 12 articles discussed today ‘behind the wall’.

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