Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers November 12 to November 18.

Policy makers, diplomats, and commentators in the secular West often fail to take into account the profound influence of religious leaders in sub-Saharan Africa, whether among Christians, Muslims, or adherents of traditional religions. Heaven, hell, and what secularists regard as magic are literal realities, more immediate than government policy or the pronouncements of political leaders. What the preacher says is more credible than the utterances of politicians.

The latest initiative from the Federal Reserve is aimed at the collapse in consumer lending. As our chart shows, the Fed's promised infusion is roughly equivalent in size to the financing provided …

In addition to minority communities and those on the political left, far-right and white supremacist extremism threatens violence against law enforcement as well.

China's reserves has shifted its dollar reserves from Treasuries to Agencies, and made increased use of offshore custodians. The available evidence suggests that it still holds about 50 percent of it…