France seeks to spur international support for humanitarian aid for Lebanon as fighting grinds on between Israel and Hezbollah; Japan holds a snap general election as Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru hopes to rally the embattled and longtime ruling Liberal Democratic Party; Georgia heads to the polls in an election that could shift the country away from the European Union and firmly into Russia’s orbit; and China and India reach a border deal.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Mariel Ferragamo, “What Is the BRICS Group and Why Is It Expanding?,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/france-presses-lebanon-aid-japan-holds-snap-election-georgias-divided-vote-and-more

The summit of the BRICS group begins in Russia, the first meeting since formally welcoming Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates into the bloc; European leaders discuss migration after a series of calls for speedier deportations and revised asylum processes; Colombia hosts the UN Biodiversity Summit; and Canada expels six Indian diplomats tied to the murder of a Sikh separatist.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “The Drug Lords’ Side-Hustle: Smuggling Macaws, Jaguars and Frogs,” The Economist   “Living Planet Report 2024,” World Wildlife Fund   “A Warning Sign: Where Biodiversity Loss Is Happening Around the World,” World Wildlife Fund   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/russia-hosts-brics-summit-eu-leaders-talk-migration-un-biodiversity-summit-kicks-and-more 

Intelligence officials warn of foreign meddling in the U.S. presidential and congressional elections; Hurricane Milton marks second straight weather blow to the U.S. southeast; this year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner is announced in Norway; and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico vows to block Ukraine’s bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).   Mentioned on the Podcast   The U.S. Election and Foreign Policy, CFR.org   Virtual Media Briefing: Technology and Electoral Dynamics, Council on Foreign Relations and Brookings Institution   “Malala Yousafzai: Nobel Peace Prize Lecture 2014,” Nobel Prize For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/meddling-us-elections-florida-reels-twin-storms-nobel-peace-laureate-be-named-and-more 

Hostilities between Iran and Israel reach a new level after Israel’s ground invasion in southern Lebanon and the latest Iranian missile attack on Israel; U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump hold separate town halls to reach undecided Hispanic voters; U.S. President Joe Biden heads to Germany to shore up military support for Ukraine; and Norway considers building a fence on its border with Russia.     Mentioned on the Podcast   One Year Later: U.S. Policy Options in the Israel-Hamas War, Council on Foreign Relations   Virtual Media Briefing: Israel, Gaza, and the Middle East a Year After the Hamas Attack, Council on Foreign Relations   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/iran-israel-escalation-harris-and-trump-seek-hispanic-vote-biden-germany-and-more

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy intensifies efforts to galvanize greater political and financial support; Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will elect a new leader to become the next prime minister; the United States and Canada each impose a 100 percent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs); and Sri Lanka’s new president, Marxist Anura Kumara Dissanayake, calls for national elections.     Mentioned on the Podcast   Kimberly Clausing and Mary E. Lovely, “Why Trump's Tariff Proposals Would Harm Working Americans,” Peterson Institute for International Economics   Joshua Yaffa, “Volodymyr Zelenskyy Has a Plan for Ukraine’s Victory,” New Yorker   Sheila A. Smith, “The LDP Leadership Race: Six More Join, a Field of Nine,” CFR.org   Sheila A. Smith, “The LDP Leadership Race: The Early Birds,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/zelenskyys-diplomatic-drive-japans-new-leader-us-and-canadian-tariffs-chinas-evs-and-more 

The UN General Assembly begins its seventy-ninth high-level debate amid questions about its limited role in resolving major conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East; fears of a wider regional war grow as Hezbollah vows retaliation against Israel after thousands of pagers exploded across Lebanon; U.S. President Joe Biden hosts the leaders of the Quad in Wilmington, Delaware, to strengthen coordination in the Indo-Pacific region; and Russia seeks to add 180,000 troops to its army.   Mentioned on the Podcast   A Conversation With U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Council on Foreign Relations   Ronen Bergman, Sheera Frenkel, and Hwaida Saad, “How Israel Built a Modern-Day Trojan Horse: Exploding Pagers,” New York Times   Natalie Caloca and Paul B. Stares, “Security Challenges Cloud UN’s Summit of the Future”, CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/un-meets-tense-times-pager-explosions-rattle-hezbollah-bidens-last-quad-summit-and-more 

The U.S. Congress returns from its summer recess to try to pass a budget for federal discretionary programs before the fiscal year ends and avoid a government shutdown; the United States and other Western allies accuse Iran of transferring ballistic missiles to Russia, raising concerns over intensified strikes on Ukraine; Hungary faces a second deadline to pay a $221 million fine for breaking European Union asylum law, which President Viktor Orbán remains unwilling to follow; and China gifts Cambodia two newly built Type 056 corvette warships, raising questions about Beijing’s naval ambitions.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Zongyuan Zoe Liu, “Tracking China’s Control of Overseas Ports,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/congresss-funding-battle-iran-sends-missiles-russia-orban-defies-eu-and-more 

The United States, Egypt, and Qatar prepare another cease-fire proposal after Hamas killed six Israeli hostages and Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu demanded control of the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border; Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump hold their first presidential debate; the Toronto International Film Festival showcases independent films spanning from Hungary to Georgia and more; and the United States seizes Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s plane.     What to Watch at Toronto International Film Festival   Edward Berger, Conclave   William Bridges, All of You   Brady Corbet, The Brutalist   Dea Kulumbegashvili, April   Mentioned on the Podcast   Brett Goldstein, Bill Lawrence, Jason Segel, Shrinking   Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly, Bill Lawrence, Ted Lasso   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/gazas-troubled-cease-fire-efforts-harris-and-trump-debate-toronto-international-film-fest 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the incursion into Kursk is an important step towards ending the war with Russia, but Ukraine is facing a major test in its own Donbas battlefields; the intensifying mpox outbreak places additional strain on the Democratic Republic of Congo and surrounding African nations; heightened security tensions spur the United States, keeping nuclear defense planners busy; and the Taliban bans the voices of women and girls in public.    Mentioned on the Podcast   “Countries Should Act Faster to Curb the Spread of Mpox,” The Economist   “If a China and America War Went Nuclear, Who Would Win?,” The Economist   Allison Krugman and Chloe Searchinger, “Mpox Vaccine Tracker: Millions Pledged, Millions Still to Be Delivered,” Think Global Health   David E. Sanger, “Biden Approved Secret Nuclear Strategy Refocusing on Chinese Threat,” New York Times   Lara Seligman, “U.S.-Made F-16 Jet Fighter Crashes in Ukraine,” Wall Street Journal   “Ukraine’s Attack on Kursk, With Liana Fix,” The President’s Inbox   “Ukraine Pushes Into Russia, 2024 DNC Begins, Foreign Hacking Targets Trump and Harris, and More,” The World Next Week   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/stakes-ukraines-kursk-offensive-stopping-mpox-spread-nuclear-arms-race-returns-and-more 

This special episode of The World Next Week features a summerlong feast of reading, watching, and listening treats. Deborah Amos, the Ferris Professor of Journalism in Residence at Princeton University and a former international correspondent for National Public Radio, joins CFR’s TWNW hosts Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins to discuss good reads they recommend, books they are looking forward to reading, and other entertainment they are enjoying this summer.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Bob’s Picks   Elizabeth Kolbert, H Is for Hope: Climate Change from A to Z    Stefan Zweig, The World of Yesterday: Memoirs of a European Carla’s Picks   Steve Coll, The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the CIA, and the Origins of America's Invasion of Iraq   Peter Pomerantsev, How to Win an Information War: The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler  Deborah’s Picks   Jayne Anne Phillips, Night Watch   Nathan Thrall, A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy  Additional Books, Films, Podcasts, Shows and More Mentioned on the Podcast   Books   Russell Baker, Growing Up   Ron Chernow, Grant    Elizabeth Kolbert, The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History   Roy Stewart, The Places In Between   Films   Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel   James Bridges, The China Syndrome   George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck.   Alex Garland, Civil War    Howard Hawks, His Girl Friday   Roland Joffé, The Killing Fields   Richard Linklater, Hit Man   Sidney Lumet, Network   Alan J. Pakula, All the President's Men   Peter Weir, The Year of Living Dangerously   Podcasts   Alistair Campbell and Rory Stewart, The Rest is Politics, Goalhanger Jon Ronson, Things Fell Apart, BBC Radio 4   Television Shows   Jez Scharf, Bodkin    David Simon, The Wire   Aaron Sorkin, The Newsroom   Other   The Reckoning Project   “Watch the U.S. Stall on Climate Change for 12 Years,” Vox   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw-special-what-read-summer-2024 

Ukraine’s surprise incursion of Russia’s Kursk region captures territory and stuns the Kremlin; the Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago with concerns of divisions in the party over support for Israel in its war in the Gaza Strip; U.S. intelligence is on high alert after foreign hacking attempts on both former President Donald Trump’s and Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaigns; and Mexico turns down Ukraine’s request for it to uphold warrants to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin by the International Criminal Court.      Mentioned on the Podcast   Tim Alberta, “Trump Is Planning for a Landslide Win,” The Atlantic   Kevin Collier, Ken Dilanian, and Dan De Luce, “FBI Says It's Investigating Efforts to Hack Trump and Biden-Harris Campaigns,” NBC News   Alina Lobzina and Anton Troianovski, “Ukraine’s Incursion Into Russia Flips the Script on Putin,” New York Times   Jonathan Weisman, “Worried About a Convention Clash, Democrats Woo Uncommitted Delegates,” New York Times For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/ukraine-pushes-russia-2024-dnc-begins-foreign-hacking-targets-trump-and-harris-and-more 

Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her new running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, campaign ahead of the party’s convention; world leaders and diplomats reach out to Iran and Israel to head off a wider regional war after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran spurred retaliation threats; Bangladesh prepares an interim government after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country; and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government responds to anti-immigrant riots across the country.      Mentioned on the Podcast   Fred Kaplan, “Kamala Harris Has Been Much More Involved in Foreign Policy Than We Realize,” Slate   Jonathan Masters, “The U.S. Vice President and Foreign Policy,” CFR.org   Recommended Reading Swift Boats at War in Vietnam, edited by Guy Gugliotta, Neva Sullaway, John Yeoman   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/us-presidential-campaign-picks-iran-mulls-retaliation-bangladeshs-new-government-and-more   

The Middle East braces for the possibility of a full-scale war between Israel and Iran-backed forces after the assassinations of Hamas senior leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr; Venezuelans protest the results of the presidential election that grant incumbent President Nicolás Maduro a third term; the Edinburgh Festival Fringe spotlights wide-ranging, new talent; imprisoned journalists in Russia are freed in a major prisoner swap; and militant groups kill troops from Russia’s private military company Wagner Group, including a Wagner commander, in Mali.     Mentioned on the Podcast   Steven A. Cook, “Are Israel and Iran Headed for All Out War?,” CFR.org   Edinburgh Festival Fringe   Edinburgh Festival Fringe App   Edinburgh Fringe Festival Recommendation Lists: Independent, Playbill, and Time Out Magazine   Kali Robinson, “What Is Hamas?,” CFR.org For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/israel-iran-tensions-escalate-venezuela-election-questioned-edinburgh-fringe-shines-and 

Global leaders react to U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 race and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination; France ramps up security measures as the Summer Olympics kick off in Paris; Diplomacy continues over a potential Israel-Hamas cease-fire after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the U.S. Congress; and a Russian court sentences two American journalists.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Charles A. Kupchan, “Biden’s Legacy: Major Accomplishments but Unfinished Business,” CFR.org   Linda Robinson, “Vice President Kamala Harris’s Real-World School of Foreign Policy,” CFR.org   “Politics and Protest at the Olympics,” CFR.org   Suzanne Lynch and Ben Munster, “‘Invisible’ Kamala Harris Struggles to Win Over Europe,” Politico For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/world-reacts-biden-withdrawal-summer-olympics-begin-gaza-diplomacy-after-netanyahus-visit   

The world reacts to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the selection of Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as former President Donald Trump’s running mate; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a joint session of Congress; Cyprus marks fifty years since the Turkish invasion that left the country still split in two; and Nepal’s Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli begins his fourth term in office.      Mentioned on the Podcast   Steven Cook, “Netanyahu’s High-Stakes Visit to Washington,” CFR.org   Ross Douthat, “What J.D. Vance Believes,” New York Times   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/gop-election-enthusiasm-netanyahu-addresses-us-congress-cyprus-50-years-after-invasion-and 

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) wraps its seventy-fifth summit, pledging to keep Ukraine on an “irreversible” path to membership while concerns grow about the future of U.S. commitment; Japan hosts the tenth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting to counter China’s influence in the region; France struggles to form a government as party differences intensify; and President-Elect Masoud Pezeshkian raises hopes for possible change in Iran.      Mentioned on the Podcast   A Conversation With Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark, Council on Foreign Relations   Emmanuel Macron, “A Letter to the French People,” Le Parisien   Pacific Aid Map, Lowy Institute   Ray Takeyh, “What Could Change Under Iran’s New ‘Reformist’ President?,” CFR.org   Washington Summit Declaration, NATO    Sarah Wheaton, “Orbán’s Humble Pie,” Politico   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/nato-and-ukraine-beyond-75-japan-hosts-pacific-islands-frances-political-gridlock-and-more   

This special episode of The World Next Week features a summerlong feast of reading, watching, and listening treats. Deborah Amos, the Ferris Professor of Journalism in Residence at Princeton University and a former international correspondent for National Public Radio, joins CFR’s TWNW hosts Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins to discuss good reads they recommend, books they are looking forward to reading, and other entertainment they are enjoying this summer.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Bob’s Picks   Elizabeth Kolbert, H Is for Hope: Climate Change from A to Z    Stefan Zweig, The World of Yesterday: Memoirs of a European Carla’s Picks   Steve Coll, The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the CIA, and the Origins of America's Invasion of Iraq   Peter Pomerantsev, How to Win an Information War: The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler  Deborah’s Picks   Jayne Anne Phillips, Night Watch   Nathan Thrall, A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy  Additional Books, Films, Podcasts, Shows and More Mentioned on the Podcast   Books   Russell Baker, Growing Up   Ron Chernow, Grant    Elizabeth Kolbert, The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History   Roy Stewart, The Places In Between   Films   Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel   James Bridges, The China Syndrome   George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck.   Alex Garland, Civil War    Howard Hawks, His Girl Friday   Roland Joffé, The Killing Fields   Richard Linklater, Hit Man   Sidney Lumet, Network   Alan J. Pakula, All the President's Men   Peter Weir, The Year of Living Dangerously   Podcasts   Alistair Campbell and Rory Stewart, The Rest is Politics, Goalhanger Jon Ronson, Things Fell Apart, BBC Radio 4   Television Shows   Jez Scharf, Bodkin    David Simon, The Wire   Aaron Sorkin, The Newsroom   Other   The Reckoning Project   “Watch the U.S. Stall on Climate Change for 12 Years,” Vox   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw-special-what-read-summer-2024 

France’s governance is at stake as it holds snap elections for its National Assembly, with the far-right National Rally looking to build on its success in the European Parliament elections; the United Kingdom (UK) has its own snap general elections with Keir Starmer and his Labour Party looking to end the fourteen-year rule of the Conservatives; Iran’s snap presidential elections could signal unity of regime hard-liners or glimmers of change; the European Union (EU) plans to impose provisional tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles; and Ukraine strikes more than thirty Russian oil refineries.     Mentioned on the Podcast   Amanda Chu, Kenza Bryan, and Lukanyo Mnyanda, “Global Glut Turns Solar Panels into Garden Fencing Option,” Financial Times   Ian Johnston, “French Voters Juggle Democratic Duty and Summer Getaways,” Financial Times   David Lammy, “The Case for Progressive Realism,” Foreign Affairs   Matthias Matthijs, “Pivotal Elections for France—and Europe,” CFR.org   Ray Takeyh, “Does Iran’s Presidential Election Matter?,” CFR.org   Sergey Vakulenko; Michael Liebreich, Lauri Myllyvirta, and Sam Winter-Levy, “Should Ukraine Keep Attacking Russian Oil Refineries?,” Foreign Affairs   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/france-iran-and-uk-hold-snap-elections-eu-pushback-chinese-evs-and-more  

A Russian court moves judicial proceedings for detained U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich to Yekaterinburg for a closed-door espionage trial; the success of far-right parties in the European Parliament elections challenges the power of several incumbent European Union (EU) leaders; the Boeing Starliner "Calypso" spacecraft prepares to return from the International Space Station after delays; and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dissolves his war cabinet.    For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/russias-secret-trial-gershkovich-eus-rightward-shift-boeing-space-and-more   

Ukraine pushes for wider international support and endorsement of its proposed peace process at Switzerland’s Ukraine peace summit; the UN Security Council deliberates how to assist Sudanese civilians and de-escalate the civil war; diplomatic pressure builds for a U.S.-backed cease-fire deal in the Gaza Strip; and Russian ships arrive in Cuban waters for exercises.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Rory Jones and Summer Said, “Gaza Chief’s Brutal Calculation: Civilian Bloodshed Will Help Hamas,” Wall Street Journal   Sorensen Distinguished Lecture: A Conversation With Cindy McCain, Council on Foreign Relations   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at:  https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/ukraine-pushes-peace-summit-sudan-catastrophe-israel-hamas-deal-crossroads-and-more 

All twenty-seven European Union (EU) member states vote in European Parliament elections with polls showing right-wing parties poised to gain more seats; the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrial democracies meet in Italy with a sizable agenda, including support for Ukraine and trade concerns with China; the United States prepares for an above-normal hurricane season; and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and partner exporters, known as OPEC+, extend oil output cuts.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Europe’s Migration Dilemma, CFR.org   Caroline Kapp and Matthias Matthijs, “What’s at Stake in the EU Elections?,” CFR.org   Nicholas Vinocur, “An American’s Guide to the 2024 European Election,” Politico   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/european-parliament-elections-g7-leaders-50th-summit-powerful-hurricane-season-looming-and 

U.S. President Joe Biden faces increasing international and domestic pressures on his policy toward the Israel-Hamas war amid worsening humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip; Western leaders commemorate the eightieth anniversary of D-Day with Russia’s war in Ukraine front of mind; Mexico holds massive general elections that are likely to usher in the country’s first woman president; and North Korea tests new satellite and missiles.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “Mexico’s Next President Can Reset Relations With the United States,” The Economist   Shannon K. O'Neil, The Globalization Myth: Why Regions Matter   Eli Stokols and Alexander Ward, “White House Not Thrilled by Macron’s D-Day Invite to Russia,” Politico   Sue Mi Terry, “The Coming North Korean Crisis,” Foreign Affairs   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/bidens-gaza-dilemmas-80-years-d-day-mexicos-milestone-election-and-more 

Iran’s regime carefully vets candidates for new presidential elections after the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash; Israeli leadership reacts to the International Criminal Court (ICC) request for warrants to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant; South Africa prepares for a general election that could contest the ruling African National Congress’ long-standing majority; and Taiwan inaugurates Lai Ching-te as the new president, aggravating China.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Elbridge Colby, “America Must Face Reality and Prioritize China Over Europe,” Financial Times   Virtual Media Briefing: Iran After Raisi and New ICC Charges, Council on Foreign Relations   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/irans-succession-woes-icc-angers-israel-south-africas-election-and-more 

Ukraine rushes to push back against a new Russian offensive in its northeast Kharkiv region; U.S. President Joe Biden invites Kenyan President William Ruto for a state visit, the first U.S. state visit for an African leader since 2008; London’s High Court decides on whether to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States to stand trial; and tens of thousands protest in Tbilisi, Georgia, after its parliament passes the controversial “foreign agents” bill.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Rachel Chason, “U.S. Threats Led to Rupture of Vital Military Ties, Nigerien Leader Says,” Washington Post   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/ukraine-tries-halt-russian-advance-biden-woos-kenya-fate-assange-and-more 

Israel’s newest military operation in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah stirs concerns of catastrophe for Palestinians in Gaza, and prompts the United States to condition its offensive military aid for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war broke out; Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meet in Ankara, Turkey, to continue their diplomatic efforts; the seventy-seventh Cannes Film Festival showcases new films ranging from niche to blockbuster; and Russian President Vladimir Putin orders tactical nuclear weapon drills as a signal to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).   Mentioned on the Podcast   Ali Abbasi, The Apprentice    “Anyone Who’s on the Ground in Gaza is in ‘Danger,’ WFP Chief McCain Says,” NBC News   Jacques Audilard, Emilia Perez   Christina Bouri and Diana Roy, “Few Options for Gazans as Israel Enters Rafah,” CFR.org   Francis Ford Coppola, Megalopolis    David Cronenberg, The Shrouds    “Emmanuel Macron In His Own Words,” Economist   Yorgos Lanthimos, Kinds of Kindness    George Miller, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga     War in Gaza Update: The Rafah Incursion and Negotiations Over Hostage Release and Ceasefire, Council on Foreign Relations   “Why Lithuania is Considering Sending Soldiers to Ukraine,” Financial Times For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/israels-rafah-plans-greece-and-turkey-boost-diplomacy-cannes-festival-unveils-new-films  

In this special episode to mark World Press Freedom Day, Jeffrey Gedmin, cofounder and editor-in-chief of American Purpose and former president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, joins Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins to discuss the global state of press freedom. They cover the challenges that a growing number of journalists face in exile or imprisonment, the U.S. role in upholding freedom of the press, and more.    Mentioned on the Podcast   “Exile Journalists Map—Fleeing to Europe and North America,” Reporters Without Borders   “Media Freedom,” Freedom House   2023 World Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders   Journalists:    Parnaz Azima   Jamal Khashoggi   Alsu Kurmasheva   Monica Lovinescu   Georgi Markov   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/world-press-freedom-day-2024-mounting-threats-renewed-purpose 

Secretary of State Antony Blinken wraps his second visit to China as tensions mount over Beijing’s military support of Russia’s war in Ukraine and ongoing threats in the South China Sea; International Workers’ Day on May 1 comes at a time of revived labor activism over wages and inequality; and U.S. President Joe Biden approves a $61 billion foreign aid package providing critical military assistance to Ukraine, potentially improving the situation on the ground in the war with Russia.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices,” Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. Department of State   “Global Military Spending Surges Amid War, Rising Tensions and Insecurities,” Stockholm International Peace Research Institute   Max Boot, “Weapons of War: The Race Between Russia and Ukraine,” CFR.org For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/blinken-visits-china-may-day-stirs-workers-rights-concerns-us-resumes-ukraine-aid-and-more

Concerns grow over the widening Middle East conflict after Iran launches three hundred ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones at Israel; European Union (EU) leaders discuss how to bolster aid to Ukraine amid an uptick in Russian attacks and the situation unfolding in the Middle East; India kicks off the world’s largest democratic election—spanning more than forty-four days—where the incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to win again; and warming water temperatures cause a mass bleaching of coral reefs.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Steven A. Cook, “Iran Attack Means an Even Tougher Balancing Act for the U.S. in the Middle East,” CFR.org   “How India’s Imports of Russian Oil Have Lubricated Global Markets,” Economist   Andy Bounds, Laura Dubois, Christopher Miller, “Germany Urges Dozens of Allies to Send Air Defense Systems to Ukraine,” Financial Times   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/aftermath-irans-attack-israel-eu-talks-ukraine-indias-massive-election-and-more 

Congress returns from recess and grapples with contentious agenda items, including reauthorization of a section of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and a Ukraine aid package; Sudan enters a second year of civil war with more than half of the country’s population in need of aid and millions more displaced; and Ecuadorian police breach international law by raiding the Mexican embassy in Quito to arrest former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Regina Garcia Cano and Gabriela Molina, “Mexico Severs Diplomatic Ties with Ecuador After Police Storm Its Embassy to Arrest Politician,” Associated Press   “Sudan Crisis Sends Shockwaves Around the Region as Displacement, Hunger, and Malnutrition Soar,” World Food Program   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/congresss-urgent-agenda-sudans-year-war-ecuador-mexico-embassy-fray-and-more 

Rwanda marks thirty years since its genocide against the Tutsis; U.S. President Joe Biden hosts the first trilateral leaders’ summit with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.; music fans celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Swedish pop group ABBA’s Eurovision win; and Ekrem İmamoğlu is elected mayor of Istanbul, in a rebuke to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Eurovision Winners, Eurovision World   Frontline: Ghosts of Rwanda, PBS   Mariel Ferragamo, “Thirty Years After Rwanda’s Genocide: Where the Country Stands Today,” CFR.org    “Rwanda: Freedom in the World 2024,” Freedom House   “Three Decades After Rwanda’s Genocide, the Past is Ever-Present,” The Economist   When Abba Came to Britain, BBC  For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/rwanda-30-years-after-genocide-us-japan-philippines-summit-abbas-eurovision-legacy-and 

The fallout after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution for an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip ​​and release of all hostages further reveals a growing strain between the United States and Israel; Russia reels from the ISIS-K terrorist attack on concertgoers near Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin deliberating how to respond; the Cuban government cracks down on recent protests across the country over food shortages and power outages; and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is found to have stayed overnight at the Hungarian embassy in Brasília in February 2024.     Mentioned on the Podcast   Barak Ravid, “Netanyahu Cancels Meetings with Biden Officials Over UN Ceasefire Vote,” Axios   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/biden-and-netanyahu-odds-putin-responds-isis-k-attack-cuba-food-and-electricity-shortages 

Senegal holds its postponed presidential election amid fears of democratic backsliding; Slovakia chooses a new president in voting that could bolster Prime Minister Robert Fico’s illiberal tilt; Pakistan and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan exchange blows after a string of terrorist attacks on Pakistani territory; nuclear energy gets a boost at a first-ever summit in Brussels, Belgium; and the European Union provides Egypt with $8 billion worth of aid.    For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/senegal-and-slovakia-elections-pakistan-and-afghan-taliban-clash-nuclear-energy-gains 

Russia holds its presidential election with the Kremlin aiming to orchestrate a sweeping endorsement of President Vladimir Putin; the U.S. Congress continues its partisan battles over the 2024 budget as concerns of shutdown and aid to allies mount; the U.S. Library of Congress flexes its soft power by awarding Elton John and Bernie Taupin with the Gershwin Prize; and the crisis in Haiti worsens.    Mentioned on the Podcast   John Bresnahan and Jake Sherman, “UNRWA Funding Emerges as Sticking Point in FY 2024 Spending Talks,” Punchbowl   Liana Fix and Maria Snegovaya, “Leadership Change in Russia,” CFR.org   From the Catbird Seat, Library of Congress   Thomas Graham, “Why Russia’s Election Matters to Putin,” CFR.org   Michael Kimmage and Maria Lipman, “Forever Putinism: The Russian Autocrat’s Answer to the Problem of Succession,” Foreign Affairs   Putin's Approval Ratings, Levada-Center   Brett Zongker, “Elton John & Bernie Taupin = 2024 Gershwin Prize,” Library of Congress Blog   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/russias-gloomy-elections-us-budget-divisions-elton-john-bernie-taupin-awarded-and-more   

Negotiators attempt to establish a six-week cease-fire and hostage exchange deal between Israel and Hamas before the start of the sacred Islamic month of Ramadan; Portugal holds a snap parliamentary election with a far-right party gaining traction; international films gain prominence at the ninety-sixth Academy Awards; and Chinese President Xi Jinping breaks with the thirty-year tradition of the premier’s press conference after the National People’s Congress.   Mentioned on the Podcast   J.A. Bayona, Society of the Snow   Ilker Çatak, The Teachers’ Lounge   Manohla Dargis, “‘The Zone of Interest’ Review: The Holocaust, Reduced to Background Noise,” New York Times   Matteo Garrone, Io Capitano   Greta Gerwig, Barbie   Johnathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest   Andrea Kannapell, Hwaida Saad, and Michael D. Shear, “‘We Need a Cease-Fire,’ Biden Says.” New York Times   Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things   Françoise Mouly, “Barry Blitt’s ‘Slappenheimer’,” New Yorker   Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer   Celine Song, Past Lives   Justine Triet, Anatomy of a Fall   Wim Wenders, Perfect Days   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at:  https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/ramadan-cease-fire-prospects-portugals-snap-election-oscars-go-international-and-more 

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers his last State of the Union address before elections to a polarized Congress; Iran holds its first parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections since the 2022 protests sparked by the death of activist Mahsa Amini; Bosnia and Herzegovina marks independence as ethnic divisions fester; and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) welcomes Sweden as its newest member state.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Arash Ghafouri and Alex Vatanka, “Five Key Takeaways From New Poll Ahead of Iran’s Parliamentary Elections,” Middle East Institute   Andrew Higgins, “A Land Once Emptied by War Now Faces a Peacetime Exodus,” New York Times   Andrew Osborn and Vladimir Soldatkin, “Putin Warns West of Risk of Nuclear War, Says Moscow can Strike Western Targets,” Reuters For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/biden-addresses-sotu-iran-holds-elections-bosnias-pipeline-feud-and-more 

Ukraine marks the second anniversary of Russia’s large-scale invasion; the World Trade Organization (WTO) holds its thirteenth ministerial conference in Abu Dhabi amid deep uncertainty about progress on dispute settlement system reform; U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels to Argentina and Brazil to forge stronger U.S.-South America ties; and the World Health Organization raises alarm about the situation at the Gaza Strip’s Nasser Hospital.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “Is Anyone Still Afraid of the United States?: A Conversation With Robert Gates,” Foreign Affairs   Inu Manak and Manjari Chatterjee Miller, “Responsible Consensus at the WTO Can Save the Global Trading System,” CFR.org   Stephanie Nolen, “War and Illness Could Kill 85,000 Gazans in Six Months,” New York Times   “Year Three of the Ukraine War, With Miriam Elder and Carla Anne Robbins,” The President’s Inbox   Recommended Reading   Keith M. Rockwell, “A Moment of Truth for the WTO,” Hinrich Foundation   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/grim-ukraine-war-anniversary-wto-limbo-blinkens-lula-and-milei-tour-and-more   

World leaders gather for the sixtieth Munich Security Conference with growing concerns about a continued war in Ukraine and threats to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) cohesion; the African Union holds its annual summit as multiple crises mount, including armed conflict and democratic blacksliding; Kim Jong Un increases aggressive language and acts as North Korea prepares to celebrate the late father and leader Kim Jong Il’s birthday; and former Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is nominated to lead a coalition government as the new prime minister.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “Eight Priorities for the African Union in 2024,” International Crisis Group   “How We Have Portrayed North Korean Leaders on The Economist’s Covers,” Economist   Joshua Kurlantzick, “Pakistan’s Election Results: Imran Khan Claims Victory, But He’s Unlikely to Get It,” CFR.org   Munich Security Report 2024, Munich Security Conference    Munich Security Index 2024, Munich Security Conference   Scott A. Snyder, “Why is North Korea Turning More Aggressive?” CFR.org   Uzair Younus, “Five Ways Imran Khan’s Party Used Technology to Outperform in Pakistan’s Elections,” Atlantic Council For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/60th-munich-security-conference-african-unions-conflict-laden-agenda-bellicose-north-korea 

Chile works to recover from the devastating wildfire in its central Valparaíso region; the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) continues with its 2024 Steadfast Defender exercise, the largest since the Cold War, while uncertainty over members’ commitment grows; Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, holds vast general elections; and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attempts to reach a deal for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and hostage release.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Nicolas Camut and Jakob Hanke Vela, “As Trump Looms, Top EU Politician Calls for European Nuclear Deterrent,” Politico   Joshua Kurlantzick, “Indonesia’s Presidential Election: The Old Guard Faces the New,” CFR.org   Brad Setser, “Mobilizing Russia’s Immobilized Reserves,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/chiles-inferno-nato-ramps-security-exercises-indonesias-presidential-election-and-more 

The Joe Biden administration contends with how to respond to a deadly attack on U.S. service members at a base in Jordan while also preventing a wider regional war; a faltering economy clouds festivities as millions of Chinese travel home for Lunar New Year; Pakistan will elect a new prime minister and National Assembly, but lackluster candidates, economic crisis, and unraveling security situation loom over the vote; and Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announce their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States, increasing security concerns in western Africa.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Noah Berman and Clara Fong, “Pakistan Is on Edge Ahead of 2024 Elections,” CFR.org   Joshua Kurlantzick, “Pakistan’s Election Will Have One Major Winner: The Military,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/biden-confronts-iran-chinas-lunar-new-year-economic-slowdown-pakistans-flawed-elections 

The Three Brotherhood Alliance and other armed ethnic groups in Myanmar pose a significant threat to regime control as the country enters its third year under junta rule; the European Union (EU) meets for a special summit on military aid for Ukraine, but concerns remain over Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán; Kenya’s high court will decide whether if it is constitutional for Kenya to lead a multinational peacekeeping mission to Haiti; and hundreds of thousands across Germany protest against the Alternative for Germany’s anti-immigration policies.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware, God, Guns, and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America   Ebenezer Obadare and Robert I. Rotberg, “1100 Kenyans Will Not Save Haiti,” CFR.org   Avinash Paliwal, “Could Myanmar Come Apart?,” Foreign Affairs For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/rebels-gain-myanmar-marks-coup-anniversary-eus-ukraine-aid-challenge-kenyas-pending 

More than one hundred days into the war in the Gaza Strip, hostilities continue to escalate region-wide, marked by clashes between proxies of Iran and U.S. forces; Sudan’s civil war worsens as a new diplomatic initiative stalls, the Sundance Film Festival celebrates its fortieth anniversary; and the small island nation of Nauru cuts ties with Taiwan.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Films, Sundance Film Festival 2024   Joshua Kurlantzick, “Taiwan’s Presidential Election Elicits Strong Response in Indo-Pacific,” CFR.org   Kali Robinson, “Who Governs the Palestinians?,” CFR.org   Michelle Gavin, “New Deals Open Old Wounds in the Horn of Africa,” CFR.org For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/us-iran-proxy-war-intensifies-sudan-conflict-rages-sundance-film-festival-marks-forty

Taiwan holds its presidential and legislative elections, which have major geopolitical consequences for both the United States and China; tech giant Apple deals with patent infringement allegations while more governments consider regulations on tech; the fifty-fourth World Economic Forum Annual Meeting hosts global business and political leaders in Davos, Switzerland, to address multiple crises such as conflict, climate change, and misinformation; and France appoints Gabriel Attal, the country’s youngest and first openly gay prime minister.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Council on Foreign Relations, U.S.-Taiwan Relations in a New Era: Responding to a More Assertive China, 2023   David McCabe and Tripp Mickle, “U.S. Moves Closer to Filing Sweeping Antitrust Case Against Apple,” New York Times   David Sacks, “Taiwan’s Status Quo Election,” Foreign Affairs   David Sacks, “Taiwan’s 2024 Presidential Election: Analyzing Hou Yu-ih’s Foreign Policy Positions,” CFR.org     David Sacks, “Taiwan’s 2024 Presidential Election: Analyzing Ko Wen-je’s Foreign Policy Positions,” CFR.org   David Sacks, “Taiwan’s 2024 Presidential Election: Analyzing William Lai’s Foreign Policy Positions,” CFR.org   David Sacks, “Why China Would Struggle to Invade Taiwan,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/taiwans-pivotal-elections-apple-battles-regulations-davos-addresses-world-risks-and-more 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken returns to the Middle East as the region reacts to attacks in Iran, Lebanon, and the Red Sea; the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas previews new products and services equipped with artificial intelligence (AI); the U.S. Congress returns from its holiday recess with divisions over migration and defense aid; and the stabbing of South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung stirs fears ahead of elections.   Recommended Listening   “The Year of AI and Elections,” Why It Matters   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/mideast-tensions-grow-consumer-electronics-show-spotlights-ai-divided-us-congress-returns 

In this special, year-end episode, Nahal Toosi, Politico’s senior correspondent for foreign affairs and national security, joins Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins to review the biggest events of 2023 and the stories to keep an eye on in the coming year. They discuss instability caused by the Israel-Hamas war and Russia’s war in Ukraine, the global push for a greener future, challenges to immigration policy, the numerous elections of 2024, U.S. global leadership, and more.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Matthieu Favas, “The Green Transition Will Transform The Global Economic Order,” The Economist   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/world-next-year-stories-watch-2024 

Guyana and Venezuela begin discussion on a territorial dispute over the Essequibo region; the Redzikowo U.S. missile defense base in Poland becomes operable; the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) holds presidential elections; and Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny goes missing.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Will Freeman, “Will Venezuela invade Guyana?,” CFR   Michelle Gavin, “The Democratic Republic of Congo Holds Tense Elections: What to Know,” CFR.org   Recommended Reading   Jerry Lewis, “The Nuclear Option,” Foreign Affairs   Carla Anne Robbins, “Antiballistic Missile System Gets Renewed Support From Clinton,” Wall Street Journal   Carla Anne Robbins, “Bush's Planned Missile-Shield Program May Violate ABM Treaty 'Within Months’,” Wall Street Journal   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/guyana-venezuela-border-dispute-missile-defense-base-poland-drc-elections-and-more 

Palestinian civilians find fewer safe places to shelter as Israeli forces expand ground operations south in the Gaza Strip; European Union (EU) leaders discuss prospects for more aid and EU membership for Ukraine; Egypt holds presidential elections amid an economic crisis; and a former senior U.S. diplomat is charged as a spy for Cuba.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “How a Sombre Mood Gripped Europe,” Economist   “How Victor Manuel Rocha Got Away with Spying for Cuba for So Long,” All Things Considered   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/fighting-resumes-gaza-eu-summits-ukraine-challenge-egypts-elections-and-more 

The United Arab Emirates, a major oil and gas producer, hosts the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), where hundreds of world leaders meet to discuss limiting global warming and helping states that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change; Russia arbitrarily detains a journalist with U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; and the World Health Organization asks China for information on a spike in respiratory illness.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “CPJ and Partners Call on Blinken to Designate RFE/RL’s Alsu Kurmasheva ‘Wrongfully Detained’ by Russia,” Committee to Protect Journalists    Justin Rowlatt, “UAE Planned to Use COP28 Climate Talks to Make Oil Deals,” BBC   Recommended Reading   RFE/RL’s Idel.Realities, “Russian Rights Group Memorial Recognizes RFE/RL’s Kurmasheva As Political Prisoner,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty   Robert McMahon, “Russia Is Censoring News on the War in Ukraine. Foreign Media Are Trying to Get Around That,” CFR.org For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/cop28-dubai-russia-crackdown-journalists-china-illness-spike-and-more 

Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russian forces stalls as the future of U.S. aid remains uncertain; Argentina gears up for its presidential election runoff while inflation rates soar; Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrives in Berlin to address refugee flows and the Israel–Hamas war with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz; and David Cameron returns to the United Kingdom government as foreign secretary.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Lucy Fisher, Anna Gross, and Jim Pickard, “David Cameron Brings Experience and Baggage as He Returns to Politics,” Financial Times   Brad W. Setser, “Argentina Election Draws Wider Attention to Embattled Economy,” CFR.org   “Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief on the Breakthrough He Needs to Beat Russia,” Economist   Andrew Wilks, “Turkey’s Erdogan Says He Trusts Russia as Much as He Trusts the West,” Associated Press For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/winter-stalemate-ukraine-argentinas-presidential-runoff-turkeys-president-visits-berlin 

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit begins in San Francisco with U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping set to meet on the sidelines; French President Emmanuel Macron hosts a humanitarian conference to discuss new aid options for civilians in the Gaza Strip; the Arab League holds an emergency summit in Riyadh at the request of the Palestinian Authority and Saudi Arabia; and the United States and China discuss nuclear arms control.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Ian Johnson, “Can a Summit Ease U.S.-China Tensions?,” CFR.org   Inu Manak, “Unpacking the IPEF: Biden’s Indo-Pacific Trade Play,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/biden-and-xi-apec-macrons-gaza-conference-arab-league-emergency-summit-and-more 

Israel’s ground operations in the Gaza Strip intensify as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Israeli leaders amid calls for a pause in fighting; U.S. President Biden hosts the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity Summit to discuss regional economic growth and the migration crisis; Congress considers aid to Israel and Ukraine as a government shutdown approaches; and conflict displaces 6.9 million people in the Democratic Republic of Congo.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Center for Preventative Action, “Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” CFR.org   Noël James, “Women This Week: Sexual Assault Increasing Among Displaced Women in the Congo,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/israel-hamas-war-ground-campaign-biden-hosts-latin-american-leaders-congress-debates

Diplomatic contacts surge ahead of anticipated escalation in the Israel-Hamas war; the United Kingdom (UK) hosts its first artificial intelligence (AI) Safety Summit to develop strategies that mitigate the risks of AI; Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrives in Washington, DC to speak with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan; and Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan possibly faces the death penalty.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “The Future of the Israel-Hamas War, With Linda Robinson,” The President’s Inbox   “The Middle East, Including the Palestinian Question: Vote on Competing Draft Resolutions,” What's In Blue   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/diplomacy-intensifies-israel-hamas-war-uks-ai-safety-summit-chinas-foreign-minister-visits   

As the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip continues, diplomacy ramps up in the Middle East amid concerns of spreading tensions; Argentina holds an election while its economy suffers record inflation; Russian President Vladimir Putin and other top Russian officials venture abroad to seek allies as their war with Ukraine grinds on; and the death toll from Sudan’s conflict reaches at least nine thousand.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Keith Bradsher, Anatoly Kurmanaev, and David Pierson, “Putin Visits China to Bolster Ties With ‘My Friend,’ Xi,” New York Times   Christina Bouri and Diana Roy, “The Israel-Hamas War: The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza,” CFR.org   Steven A. Cook, “Will Egypt Play a Role in Easing the Gaza War?,” CFR.org   Steven A. Cook, “Why the U.S. Tolerates Qatar’s Hamas Ties,” Foreign Policy   Shannon K. O’Neil and Will Freeman, “Latin America This Week: September 20, 2023,” CFR.org   “President Joe Biden: The 2023 60 Minutes Interview,” 60 Minutes   David J. Scheffer, “What International Law Has to Say About the Israel-Hamas War,” CFR.org   “The Genocide That No One’s Talking About,” The Intelligence   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/eyes-gaza-argentinas-presidential-vote-putin-seeks-friends-and-more 

Israeli and Palestinian casualties rise as fighting between Israel and Hamas continues; Poland holds a pivotal parliamentary election; Australia votes on whether to enshrine representation for Indigenous people in its constitution; and Afghanistan struggles with the aftermath of a 6.3-magnitude earthquake.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Wojciech Kość, “Poland’s Ruling Party Publishes Top Secret War Plan as a Campaign Stunt,” Politico   Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam, “Afghanistan Earthquakes a ‘Disaster on Top of a Disaster’, World Food Programme Says,” Reuters   “The Israel-Hamas War, With Elliott Abrams and Steven Cook,” The President’s Inbox   Visit CFR.org’s Israeli-Palestinian Conflict page for up-to-date coverage   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/israel-hamas-wars-next-phase-polands-democracy-test-australias-indigenous-voice-referendum 

Recent satellite imagery indicates that Russia is preparing to test a new nuclear-powered missile; the UN Human Rights Council votes on new members, with Russia vying to rejoin after its April 2022 suspension; the International Court of Justice (ICJ) begins hearings on torture in Syria; and one hundred thousand ethnic Armenians flee as Azerbaijan asserts control over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Isabel Debre, “Israeli Arms Quietly Helped Azerbaijan Retake Nagorno-Karabakh, to the Dismay of Region’s Armenians,” Associated Press   Riley Mellen, “Russia May Be Planning to Test a Nuclear-Powered Missile,” New York Times   David J. Scheffer, “Ethnic Cleansing Is Happening in Nagorno-Karabakh. How Can the World Respond?,” CFR.org   “UN Karabakh Mission Told ‘Sudden’ Exodus Means As Few As 50 Ethnic Armenians May Remain,” UN News   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/russia-tests-new-missile-and-seeks-rejoin-un-human-rights-council-icj-takes-syria-and-more 

Important provisions of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) could expire due to partisan divisions, threatening a widely successful initiative; libraries take part in U.S. Banned Books Week in the face of a rising censorship movement; Slovakia holds an early parliamentary election amid concerns that pro-Russia parties will gain power; and Chinese President Xi Jinping and Syrian President ​​Bashar al-Assad announce a partnership.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Michelle Gavin, “PEPFAR at Twenty,” CFR.org   “Let Freedom Read Day,” BannedBooksWeek.org   Jonathan Masters and Will Merrow, “How Much Aid Has the U.S. Sent Ukraine? Here Are Six Charts,” CFR.org   More Perfect, WNYC Studios   The Coldest Cast in Laramie, Serial Productions   The Rewatchables, The Ringer   Peter Wehner, “The Republican Betrayal of PEPFAR,” The Atlantic   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/pepfar-reauthorization-struggle-banned-books-week-slovakia-democracy-test-and-more 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with U.S. President Joe Biden and members of Congress to ensure continued U.S. military aid amid Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russia; the Spanish parliament attempts to choose a prime minister, with both Alberto Núñez Feijóo and serving President Pedro Sánchez reliant on smaller fringe parties to secure a majority; the United Nations observes the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons despite the continuing global prevalence of nuclear weapons; and relations between Canada and India are frayed after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of ordering the death of prominent Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/zelenskyy-washington-spain-tries-form-government-un-spotlights-nuclear-weapons-and-more 

One year after the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran’s morality police prompted widespread domestic protests, the Islamic Republic appears to have rebounded while keeping a prominent international profile; the United Nations General Assembly begins its high-level debate week with leaders gathering to attend major summits on Sustainable Development Goals and climate challenges; and Cuba arrests Russian recruiters looking for more fighters.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “Who Runs the World?... Not Women,” Why It Matters   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/anniversary-mahsa-aminis-death-un-summits-climate-and-development-russia-recruits-cubans 

Leaders of major global economies meet in New Delhi, India for the annual Group of Twenty (G20) summit to solve the most pressing economic challenges; on September 11th, Chile marks fifty years since General Augusto Pinochet Ugarte’s military coup and the United States observes the twenty-second anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks; a possible meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin troubles national security experts; and the European Union struggles with a surge in asylum applications.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Jack Devine, “What Really Happened in Chile,” Foreign Affairs   Pablo Larraín, El Conde   Francisco O. Mora, “Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Coup D’état in Chile,” U.S. Mission to the Organization of American States   Scott Snyder, “The Perils of a Renewed North Korea-Russia Relationship,” CFR.org   The 9/11 Commission Report [PDF], The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/indias-g20-summit-911-chile-and-us-kim-jong-un-and-putin-draw-closer-and-more 

Southeast Asian leaders meet in Jakarta, Indonesia for the forty-third Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, working to improve the bloc’s cooperation with external partners; Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, commonly known as AMLO, begins the last year of his six-year term; new COVID-19 variants drive a spike in U.S. cases and hospitalizations; and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo’s visit to Beijing spurs renewed interest in U.S.-China trade.   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/asean-summit-amlos-final-year-covid-19-variants-emerge-and-more 

Major technology companies rush to comply with the European Union (EU) Digital Services Act, which makes online platforms responsible for moderating harmful content; questions mount about the Russian private military company Wagner Group after its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is reportedly killed in a plane crash; the Taliban enters its third year in power since the U.S. military evacuated from Afghanistan; and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian visits Saudi Arabia as the former rival countries to normalize relations.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “Israeli-Saudi Peace Deal, With Steven A. Cook,” The President’s Inbox   Tatiana Stanovaya, “Putin’s Age of Chaos,” Foreign Affairs For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/eu-crackdowns-big-tech-after-prigozhin-two-years-taliban-and-more 

U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol meet at Camp David to try to strengthen security cooperation against North Korea and coordinate China policies; Ecuador holds a snap election amid political violence; South Africa hosts the fifteenth summit of BRICS nations Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa with the goal of expanding the group’s geopolitical influence; and Niger’s crisis worsens as the military junta vows to prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Mohamed Bazoum, “President of Niger: My Country Is Under Attack and I’ve Been Taken Hostage,” Washington Post   Hanna Foreman, Mireya Solís, and Andrew Yeo, “America’s Window of Opportunity in Asia,” Foreign Affairs   Scott A. Snyder, “The Trilateral Summit at Camp David: Institutionalizing U.S.-Japan-South Korea Coordination,” CFR.org   Scott A. Snyder and Sheila A. Smith, “Media Briefing: U.S.-Japan-South Korea Trilateral Summit,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/us-japan-south-korea-summit-ecuadors-snap-election-brics-leaders-meet-and-more 

In this special episode of The World Next Week, Rosa Brooks, the Scott K. Ginsburg Chair in Law and Policy and professor at Georgetown University Law Center, joins Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins to discuss the books they recommend reading, the books they’re looking forward to reading, and other entertainment they’re enjoying this summer.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Carla’s Picks   Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, American Prometheus: The Triumph And Tragedy Of J. Robert Oppenheimer   Caitlin Doughty, From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death   Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer” Bob’s Picks   Konstantin Paustovsky, translated by Douglas Smith, The Story of a Life   Gabrielle Zevin, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow   “Jonathan GPT Swift on Jonathan Swift,” Conversations with Tyler Rosa’s Picks   Alex Mar, Seventy Times Seven: A True Story Of Murder And Mercy   George Black, Empire of Shadows: The Epic Story of Yellowstone   John Linson and Taylor Sheridan, “Yellowstone” Additional Books, Podcasts, Shows, and Games Mentioned on the Podcast   John Adams, Doctor Atomic   Edward Berger, “All Quiet on the Western Front”   Tyler Cowen, “Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide”   Joan Didion, The White Album   Craig Mazin, “The Last of Us”   Pong   Sam Shaw, “Manhattan”   Frank Spotnitz, “The Man in the High Castle”   Fred Zinnemann, “From Here to Eternity”   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw-special-what-read-summer-2023    This episode first aired: July 6, 2023

A Russian court will deliver the final verdict for opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s trial on “extremism” charges; eight South American heads of state meet in Belém, Brazil to try to strengthen a common policy for Amazon Rainforest protection; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s push for judiciary reform intensifies; and protesters in Niger direct their anger towards France.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Mariel Ferragamo, “The Niger Coup Could Threaten the Entire Sahel,“ CFR.org   Bryan Harris, “Brazil to Launch ‘Most Ambitious’ Green Transition Package,” Financial Times   Dov Lieber, “Israeli Reservists Start Missing Duty, Threatening Military Unity and Readiness,” Wall Street Journal   Recommended Reading   Diana Roy, “Can Amazon Countries Save the Rain Forest?,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/navalnys-verdict-amazon-cooperation-summit-israels-political-crisis-and-more 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Australia to wrap up a visit aimed at boosting security ties and offsetting Chinese influence; the Colombian government and guerrilla group the National Liberation Army (ELN) agree to implement a cease-fire; the formation of a newly elected Thai government remains in limbo as differing factions disagree on who can stand for prime minister; and China’s government removes former Foreign Minister Qin Gang after only seven months of service.    For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/blinken-visits-south-pacific-colombia-eln-cease-fire-thailands-political-face-and-more 

Russia’s rejection of extending the Black Sea Grain Initiative threatens global food security; Spain holds an early general election amid signs of a resurgent populist right; Comic-Con and the media industry cut back on events due to strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA); and a U.S. soldier crosses through the demilitarized zone into North Korea.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Kali Robinson, “Russia Killed the Black Sea Grain Deal. These Countries Could Suffer Most.,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/black-sea-grain-blockade-spains-snap-elections-hollywood-strikes-broader-impact-and-more 

Leaders from the European Union (EU), Latin America, and the Caribbean meet to renew a strategic partnership on issues including trade and climate change; the U.S. Congress wrestles with unprecedented divisions over the annual National Defense Authorization Act; thirty-two soccer teams land in Australia and New Zealand for the FIFA Women’s World Cup; and grim days appear likely for the Wagner Group amid a post-rebellion crackdown from the Kremlin.   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/eu-latin-america-and-caribbean-summit-us-defense-spending-conflicts-womens-world-cup-down  

In this special episode of The World Next Week, Rosa Brooks, the Scott K. Ginsburg Chair in Law and Policy and professor at Georgetown University Law Center, joins Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins to discuss the books they recommend reading, the books they’re looking forward to reading, and other entertainment they’re enjoying this summer.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Carla’s Picks   Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, American Prometheus: The Triumph And Tragedy Of J. Robert Oppenheimer   Caitlin Doughty, From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death   Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer” Bob’s Picks   Konstantin Paustovsky, translated by Douglas Smith, The Story of a Life   Gabrielle Zevin, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow   “Jonathan GPT Swift on Jonathan Swift,” Conversations with Tyler Rosa’s Picks   Alex Mar, Seventy Times Seven: A True Story Of Murder And Mercy   George Black, Empire of Shadows: The Epic Story of Yellowstone   John Linson and Taylor Sheridan, “Yellowstone” Additional Books, Podcasts, Shows, and Games Mentioned on the Podcast   John Adams, Doctor Atomic   Edward Berger, “All Quiet on the Western Front”   Tyler Cowen, “Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide”   Joan Didion, The White Album   Craig Mazin, “The Last of Us”   Pong   Sam Shaw, “Manhattan”   Frank Spotnitz, “The Man in the High Castle”   Fred Zinnemann, “From Here to Eternity”   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw-special-what-read-summer-2023 

Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks to assert control and stability after the coup attempt by Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin; NATO prepares for its summit in Vilnius, Lithuania with mounting questions about Ukrainian membership; hundreds of thousands attend Denmark’s Roskilde music festival that highlights the power of art in society; and Zambia secures a deal to restructure its $6 billion in sovereign debt.   Mentioned on the Podcast Liana Fix, “For Europe, Time to Plan for a Post-Putin Russia,” CFR.org Stephen Sestanovich, “How Should NATO Think About Ukrainian Membership After Russia’s Coup Attempt?,” CFR.org Michelle Zauner, Crying in H Mart Music Selections Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul, “Blenda” Villano Antillano and Pedró, “Reina de la Selva” Bad Bunny and Rosalía, “LA NOCHE DE ANOCHE” Burna Boy, “Ye” Japanese Breakfast, “Be Sweet”   Rina Sawayama, “XS” Rema and Selena Gomez, “Calm Down” For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at:  https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/russias-post-rebellion-moves-natos-vilnius-summit-europes-21st-century-woodstock-and-more 

Heads of state from the European Union’s twenty-seven members meet in Brussels to discuss support for Ukraine and new initiatives to coordinate defense, economics, and migration; the Biden administration takes part in events marking the one-year anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which continues to draw international scrutiny; Guatemala holds its general election with voters concerned about poverty, crime, and political corruption; and the UN pledges $1.5 billion in aid to Sudan as fighting continues.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “Abortion Law: Global Comparisons,” CFR.org For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at:  https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/eu-leaders-summit-biden-marks-abortion-ruling-anniversary-guatemalas-election-and-more 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken finally heads to China amid hopes that U.S.-China tensions will subside; U.S. President Joe Biden hosts Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a state visit to focus on expanded, strategic economic ties; Ukraine presses on with its long-awaited counteroffensive; and four indigenous children survive forty days in the Amazon after a plane crash.   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/blinkens-rescheduled-china-trip-modis-state-visit-us-ukraines-counteroffensive-and-more 

Canada’s unprecedented wildfire season overwhelms Canadian firefighters, and many in the eastern United States deal with dangerous levels of smoke; the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries releases its monthly oil report as Saudi Arabia seeks to boost prices; Germany hosts NATO’s largest air defense exercise as a signal to Russia; and Ukraine rushes to respond to the humanitarian and security crises caused by the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam.   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/canadas-wildfires-opec-oil-report-natos-largest-air-drill-and-more 

The International Atomic Energy Association reports on the nuclear-powered submarines that the United States and the United Kingdom will provide to Australia within the AUKUS alliance; world leaders and defense officials meet in Singapore for Asia’s premier security event– the Shangri-La Dialogue; U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wraps up his Nordic tour with his final stop in Helsinki, meeting with Finnish officials to discuss North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) priorities; and NATO sends additional troops to Kosovo to respond to ethnically-charged clashes.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Frank Capra, Lost Horizon    Thomas L. Friedman, “NATO or Tomato?,” New York Times   Valona Tela, “Kosovo ‘Tactical Game’ Is A Strategic Blunder, Security Expert Charles Kupchan Warns Amid Balkan Violence,” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty   “Turkey’s Election [Twitter Spaces],” Council on Foreign Relations For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/australian-submarine-deal-asian-security-summit-blinken-finland-and-more 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his opponent Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu face off in Turkey’s runoff election; U.S. government leaders contend with a looming deadline to avoid a disastrous default; president-elect Bola Tinubu is sworn in as Nigeria contends with an economic crisis; Evan Gershkovich’s pre-trial detention is extended; and Sudan struggles to find a lasting solution to the conflict between the military and a paramilitary group, exacerbating its humanitarian crisis.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Steven Cook, “Here’s How to Read Turkey’s Election Results—So Far,” CFR.org   Mariel Ferragamo and Diana Roy, “What Is the Extent of Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis?,” CFR.org   Ebenezer Obadare, “Why Buhari Failed,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/turkeys-runoff-election-debt-ceiling-dangers-nigerias-tinubu-inaugurated-president-and

The Arab League summit marks the return of Syria and its president, Bashar al-Assad; Japan hosts the leaders of the Group of Seven democracies in Hiroshima, Japan, with concerns over China and Russia at the fore; the UN Security Council discusses sanctions on North Korea amid the country’s missile buildup; and migration slows at the southern U.S. border after the lifting of Title 42.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “After Twelve Years of Blood, Assad’s Syria Rejoins the Arab League,” The Economist   Recommended Reading   Kali Robinson, “Syria Is Normalizing Relations With Arab Countries. Who Will Benefit?,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/syria-returns-arab-league-g7-summit-japan-un-discussions-north-korea-and-more 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan faces off with opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in Turkey’s presidential election; Thais vote in their first general election since 2019; the Black Sea grain deal faces possible expiration; international film makers step forward at the Cannes Film Festival; and Ukraine fends off Russia’s recent drone attack.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Steven Cook, “What if Kemal Kilicdaroglu Wins Turkey’s Election?,” Foreign Policy   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/momentous-elections-turkey-and-thailand-black-sea-grain-initiative-and-more  

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio meets with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol in Seoul, South Korea; major pandemic-related U.S. immigration policies such as Title 42 end, straining an already overwhelmed southern border; the director of national intelligence and the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency brief a Senate panel on the top international threats to U.S. national security; and the U.S. Congress debates a plan to prevent default.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Paul B. Stares, “Conflicts to Watch in 2023,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/south-korea-japan-summit-us-border-policy-changes-us-annual-threat-assessment-and-more

Iran and Russia aim to broker a rapprochement between Syria and Turkey; the Israeli Knesset begins its summer session in the face of mass protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposed judicial reforms; Pope Francis makes a three-day visit to Hungary, where he is expected to raise concerns about migration and the war in Ukraine; and a cease-fire fails to put an end to conflict in Sudan.   Mentioned on the Podcast   George Lucas, Star Wars: Episode IV, A New Hope   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/syria-turkey-relations-israels-ongoing-domestic-tensions-pope-visits-hungary-and-more

U.S. President Joe Biden hosts South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol for a state visit, marking the seventy-year U.S.-South Korean alliance; people worldwide celebrate Earth Day with pledges to take environmental action; and the UN Security Council discusses its mission to Haiti and plans to stabilize the turbulent country.   Mentioned on the Podcast Earthday.org   Rocio Cara Labrador and Diana Roy, “Haiti’s Troubled Path to Development,” CFR.org   Scott Snyder, “How to Prepare for the Future After Seven Decades of the U.S.-South Korea Alliance,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/biden-hosts-south-koreas-president-earth-day-un-addresses-haiti-and-more

The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group wrap up their joint spring meetings, where the focus is on restructuring debt for low-income countries; expected Republican presidential candidates convene at a National Rifle Association Leadership Forum amid ongoing mass shooting concerns; and the United Nations discusses the prospects for national elections in Libya, as the country continues to grapple with sharp divisions.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “A Conversation With David Malpass”    Brad W. Setser, “The World Bank Stepped Up During the Pandemic,” CFR.org   Ian Shapira, “Before Trump’s Wild Shifts on the NRA, Ronald Reagan Took on the Gun Lobby,” Washington Post   “The IMF Faces a Nightmarish Identity Crisis,” The Economist   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/imf-and-world-bank-spring-meetings-nra-ila-leadership-forum-un-libya-and-more

China’s President Xi Jinping woos France’s President Emmanuel Macron, while Macron urges Xi to bring “Russia back to reason” on Ukraine; Northern Ireland’s Good Friday peace agreement turns twenty-five; and as Iran celebrates National Nuclear Technology Day, its enriched uranium stocks grow.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Barak Ravid, “Scoop: U.S. Discussing Freeze-for-Freeze Approach to Iran Nuclear Program,” Axios   Matina Stevis-Gridneff and Steven Erlanger, “China’s Ambassador to the E.U. Tries to Distance Beijing From Moscow,” New York Times   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/macron-goes-china-good-friday-agreement-turns-25-irans-nuclear-technology-day-and-more

Turkey’s presidential candidates officially kick-off their campaigns ahead of May elections; Russia begins its term as president of the UN Security Council; and Walt Disney World wraps up its fiftieth anniversary celebration amid legal disputes with the Florida state government.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Will Freeman and Ariana Rios, “How Peru’s Crisis Could Send Shockwaves Through the Region,” CFR.org   Rone Tempest, “Protesters Block Euro Disneyland : France: Irked by U.S. Trade Policies, Farmers Use Tractors to Keep Cars and Buses Out of the Park,” Los Angeles Times   “​​U.S. Immigration Policy, With Edward Alden,” The President’s Inbox   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/turkish-presidential-campaigning-begins-russias-cloudy-security-council-presidency-disney

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, China to discuss Brazil-China economic ties; millions of people around the world switch off their lights for 60 minutes to celebrate Earth Hour; and the United States, Costa Rica, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Zambia co-host the second Summit for Democracy.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report    Michelle Gavin, “Zimbabwe Limps Toward Elections,” CFR.org   Joshua Kurlantzick, “Thailand’s Parliament Has Been Dissolved: Elections Loom, But Will They Be Free?,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/brazils-lula-visits-china-earth-hour-second-summit-democracy-and-more

The UN Security Council decides whether to renew the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan; on its twentieth anniversary, Americans and Iraqis take stock of the U.S. invasion of Iraq; and the future of the Ukraine-Russia Black Sea Grain Initiative, a vital food export agreement, is decided.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Max Boot, “What the Neocons Got Wrong,” Foreign Affairs   Peter Feaver, Christopher Gelpi, and Jason Reifler, “The Strange Case of Iraq Syndrome,” Foreign Affairs   Sebastian Mallaby, “What the Silicon Valley Bank Bailout Teaches Us,” Washington Post   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/un-afghanistan-twenty-years-us-invasion-iraq-black-sea-grain-initiative-and-more

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak meets with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris to discuss migration, trade, security, and other issues; the world enters the fourth year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic; and Academy Award-nominated films spotlight international issues.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Colm Bairéad, The Quiet Girl   Edward Berger, All Quiet on the Western Front   Lukas Dhont, Close   Sara Dosa, Fire of Love   Stanley Kubrick, Paths of Glory   Lewis Milestone, All Quiet on the Western Front   Santiago Mitre, Argentina, 1985   Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front   Daniel Roher, Navalny   Jerzy Skolimowski, EO   Simon Lereng Wilmont, A House Made of Splinters   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/uk-france-summit-3-years-covid-19-pandemic-foreign-films-oscars-and-more

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz meets U.S. President Joe Biden to discuss U.S.-German security cooperation in NATO and in the Indo-Pacific; China’s National People’s Congress begins its legislative session; Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha awaits the verdict of his treason trial as Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s authoritarian grip tightens; and political tensions rise in Nigeria as the country reacts to Bola Tinubu’s presidential win.   Mentioned on the Podcast "Satellite Photos Show Expansion of Chinese-funded Naval Base in Cambodia," Radio Free Asia   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/german-chancellor-scholz-visits-washington-chinas-congress-convenes-cambodian-opposition

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and largest economy, holds its presidential election; Russia’s invasion of Ukraine reaches the one-year mark; U.S. President Joe Biden’s new restrictions on migrants seeking asylum spurs fury from immigration activists.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Michelle Gavin, “The Continental Implications of Nigeria’s Elections,” CFR.org   Ebenezer Obadare, “What’s at Stake in Nigeria’s General Elections?,” CFR.org   “The Invasion That Shook the World,” Council of Councils   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/nigerias-election-one-year-russia-invaded-ukraine-us-asylum-restrictions-and-more

World leaders attend the Munich Security Conference, a high-level event focusing on global challenges; U.S. President Joe Biden visits Poland to reinforce NATO’s resolve for supporting Ukraine; and tens of thousands protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposed changes to powers of the judiciary branch.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “Biden’s SOTU, Blinken Visits China, EU Bans Russian Petroleum Products, and More,” The World Next Week   Joshua Kurlantzick, Beijing's Global Media Offensive: China’s Uneven Campaign to Influence Asia and the World   Olaf Scholz, “The Global Zeitenwende: How to Avoid a New Cold War in a Multipolar Era,” Foreign Affairs   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/munich-security-conference-biden-visits-poland-israels-judiciary-overhaul-and-more

Turkey and Syria struggle to respond to devastating earthquakes; Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, puts forward possible pardons for thousands of protesters; and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva meets with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington, DC.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Relief organizations among those involved in the massive response to Turkey and Syria: Ahbap Akut CARE Doctors Without Borders The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement The International Rescue Committee The Karam Foundation Save the Children The White Helmets   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at:  https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/turkey-syria-earthquake-aftermath-khameneis-pardon-lula-visits-washington-and-more

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address; U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Beijing to try to stabilize U.S.-China relations; and the European Union’s embargo on Russian refined oil  products is scheduled to go into effect.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Richard Haass, The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens   Ana Swanson, “Netherlands and Japan Said to Join U.S. in Curbing Chip Technology Sent to China,” New York Times     Recommended Reading James M. Lindsay, “Ten Facts About the State of the Union Address,” The Water’s Edge   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/bidens-sotu-blinken-visits-china-eu-bans-russian-petroleum-products-and-more

Pope Francis visits the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan during his fourth visit to Africa; Russia reacts to Western pledges to send tanks to Ukraine; and the United Nations works to counter the Taliban’s discrimination against women amid an escalating humanitarian crisis.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “The Power of the Pope,” Why It Matters   Qin Gang, “The Planet’s Future Depends on a Stable China-U.S. Relationship,” Washington Post   “The World Next Year: What to Watch in 2023,” The World Next Week   This is Jim’s last episode as a regular co-host of The World Next Week. Revisit a live taping that marked the tenth anniversary of the show, in which Jim and Bob were joined by NPR journalist Deborah S. Amos: “2019 Back to School and Live Taping of The World Next Week Podcast.” For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/pope-visits-democratic-republic-congo-russia-responds-western-tank-offers-un-presses

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan discusses Iran with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; China grapples with a sharp influx of COVID-19 cases amid Lunar New Year travels; and NATO concerns rise over tensions between Greece and Turkey.    Mentioned on the Podcast   “China’s Covid Surge, With Yanzhong Huang and Zongyuan Zoe Liu,” The President’s Inbox   Steven A. Cook, “What Everyone Gets Wrong About Turkey,” Foreign Policy   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/high-level-us-visit-israel-chinas-covid-clouded-new-year-greece-turkey-tensions-and-more

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva confronts the challenges posed by riots in the capital, Brasília; Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio visits U.S. President Joe Biden to discuss U.S.-Japan security cooperation; and the Czech Republic votes for a new president.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Benjamin H. Bradlow and Mohammad Ali Kadivar, “How Brazil Can Prevent an Authoritarian Resurgence,” Foreign Affairs   “Constitutional Change in Japan,” CFR.org For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at:  https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/attack-brazils-capital-japans-pm-visits-washington-czech-presidential-election-and-more

The 118th U.S. Congress gets off to a rocky start; U.S. President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador meet in Mexico City for the tenth North American Leaders’ Summit; and China relaxes its strict COVID-19 border policies amid a surging COVID caseload.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Qin Gang, “The Planet’s Future Depends on a Stable China-U.S. Relationship,” Washington Post Shannon K. O’Neil, The Globalization Myth: Why Regions Matter   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/118th-us-congress-north-american-leaders-summit-china-reopens-and-more

In this special year-end episode, CFR Senior Fellow Carla Anne Robbins joins James M. Lindsay and Robert McMahon to review the biggest events of 2022 and the stories to keep an eye on next year. They discuss precarious U.S.-China relations, climate change, Russia’s war in Ukraine, Iran’s protests, the state of democracy globally, and more.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Alice C. Hill, “COP27 Didn’t Make Enough Progress to Prevent Climate Catastrophe,” CFR.org   Joshua Kurlantzick, Beijing's Global Media Offensive: China’s Uneven Campaign to Influence Asia and the World   Beza Tesfaye, Climate Change and Conflict in the Sahel   “National Security Strategy [PDF],” The White House   “Renewables 2022 [PDF],” International Energy Agency   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/world-next-year-what-watch-2023

Tunisians will vote in the first elections since the adoption of a new constitution that critics say is antidemocratic; the U.S. Congress rushes to pass a spending bill to avert a government shutdown; and Argentina and France compete in the World Cup final as host Qatar faces international scrutiny.     Mentioned on the Podcast   Steven A. Cook, False Dawn: Protest, Democracy, and Violence in the New Middle East   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tunisias-election-us-congress-seeks-avert-shutdown-world-cup-ends-and-more

Russia celebrates its Constitution Day as President Vladimir Putin manages the messaging around his war in Ukraine; the European Union’s top political leaders discuss possible expansion of the bloc and energy and security concerns amid the Ukraine war; and President Joe Biden hosts the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit to boost cooperation on trade, food security, COVID-19 responses, and other issues.     Mentioned on the Podcast Charles A. Kupchan, “Is Bosnia on the Verge of Conflict?,” CFR.org   James McBride, “Russia’s Influence in the Balkans,” CFR.org    Stephen Sestanovich, “It’s Time to Debunk Putin’s Existential Fallacy,” Foreign Policy For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/russias-constitution-day-eu-mulls-enlargement-us-africa-summit-and-more

The UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) takes place in Montreal, Canada; the European Union and Group of Seven (G7) plan to implement price caps and partial embargos on Russian oil to respond to the war in Ukraine; and the Chinese Community Party reacts to nationwide protests over its zero-COVID policy.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Oliver Holmes, “China Censors Maskless Crowd Footage in World Cup Broadcasts,” The Guardian   Yanzhong Huang, “Can Xi Jinping Reopen China?,” Foreign Affairs   Ian Johnson, “Xi Versus the Street,” Foreign Affairs   James M. Lindsay and Robert McMahon, “U.S. Midterm Results, G20 Summit, Prospects for Russia-Ukraine Diplomacy, and More,” The World Next Week   “Russia Is Using Energy as a Weapon,” The Economist   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/un-biodiversity-conference-russian-oil-sanctions-chinas-covid-protests-and-more 

The UN Human Rights Council meets for a special session on the Iranian regime’s brutal crackdown on protesters; the COP27 conference draws to a close amid calls from developing countries to increase funding for climate damages; and the 2022 FIFA World Cup begins in Doha, Qatar, even as controversy lingers.

The United States takes stock of the midterm election results; geopolitical tensions loom over the Group of Twenty summit in Bali, Indonesia; and conversation swirls around possible diplomacy between Russia and Ukraine.    Mentioned on the Podcast   “The Chinese City That COVID Forgot,” The Economist   Brad Dress, “Russia Says Nuclear War ‘Must Never Be Fought’ Despite Fiery Rhetoric,” The Hill Charles A. Kupchan, “It’s Time to Bring Russia and Ukraine to the Negotiating Table,” New York Times

Egypt hosts the COP27 climate conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt; Americans vote in closely watched midterm elections; and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, kicks off a month of summitry in Asia.    Mentioned on the Podcast Renewing America, Council on Foreign Relations

Jair Bolsonaro and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva face off in Brazil’s presidential runoff; the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party selects Rishi Sunak to be the new prime minister; and Israel holds general elections, with Benjamin Netanyahu looking to make another political comeback.    Mentioned on the Podcast Sebastian Mallaby, The Power Law: Venture Capital and the Making of the New Future

Investors and high-ranking officials land in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the Future Investment Initiative, dubbed the ‘Davos of the Desert;’ the German Group of Seven (G7) presidency and the European Commission host experts to discuss Ukraine’s postwar recovery, reconstruction, and modernization; and U.S. import controls on chips take effect, with major consequences for China’s technological growth.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Edward Alden, “Washington Raises Stakes in War on Chinese Technology,” Foreign Policy   Steven A. Cook and Martin S. Indyk, The Case for a New U.S.-Saudi Strategic Compact    John Hudson and Widlore Mérancourt, “U.S. backs sending international forces to Haiti, draft proposal says,” The Washington Post Diana Roy and Sabine Baumgartner, “Crossing the Darien Gap: Migrants Risk Death on the Journey to the U.S.,” CFR.org

The Iraqi parliament meets to choose a new president; Xi Jinping is expected to consolidate power at the Twentieth National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party; and Israel and Lebanon prepare to finalize a historic agreement on a disputed maritime border.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Richard Haass, A World in Disarray: American Foreign Policy and the Crisis of the Old Order   The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, National Intelligence Estimate: Climate Change and International Responses Increasing Challenges to U.S. National Security Through 2040    The White House, Biden-Harris Administration's National Security Strategy  

The UN General Assembly is set to vote on a resolution condemning Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory; thousands of participants gather in Reykjavik, Iceland, for the Arctic Circle Assembly; and the United Nations marks the tenth anniversary of the International Day of the Girl Child.    Mentioned on the Podcast “Child Marriage,” CFR.org   Ivo H. Daalder and James M. Lindsay, “The West Holds Firm,” Foreign Affairs   Barbara Herz and Gene B. Sperling, What Works in Girls’ Education    “U.S. Policy Toward Russia, With Derek H. Chollet,” The President’s Inbox   Meighan Stone and Rachel B. Vogelstein, “Investing in Girls’ STEM Education in Developing Countries,” CFR.org

European leaders investigate the sudden leaks in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, suspecting sabotage; Brazil holds its presidential election amid strong partisan tensions; and Iranians continue their anti-government protests over the death of Mahsa Amini.    Mentioned on the Podcast   The Council on Foreign Relations, “Deforestation in the Amazon,” CFR.org

Italians vote in a snap general election with an expected populist surge; occupied territories in Ukraine stage referendums on whether or not to join Russia; and the Joe Biden administration holds a summit with Pacific Island leaders to counter growing Chinese influence.    Mentioned on the Podcast Jason Horowitz, “Giorgia Meloni May Lead Italy, and Europe Is Worried,” New York Times

World leaders gather for the seventy-seventh session of the UN General Assembly; NATO’s senior military authority meets in Estonia to discuss the war in Ukraine; and the U.S. Federal Reserve plans another interest rate hike to combat inflation. Mentioned on the Podcast   Richard Haass, “Ukraine’s Coming Winter of Decision,” Project Syndicate   James M. Lindsay, “Ukraine’s Counteroffensive, With Max Boot,” The President’s Inbox   James M. Lindsay and Robert McMahon, “Secretary Blinken Visits Mexico, Sweden’s Election, Big Power Summitry in Uzbekistan, and More,” The World Next Week   David Scheffer, “Survival Governance at the UN General Assembly,”CFR.org

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Mexico with an economics-focused agenda; Swedes head to the polls for a general election that’s expected to be a close race between the ruling left-wing bloc and right-wing opposition; and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi join leaders from across Asia in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to discuss regional stability, food security, and trade at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Shannon K. O’Neil, Two Nations Indivisible, Oxford University Press

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) visits the recently shelled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Russia-occupied Ukraine; the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party chooses the country’s next prime minister; and Chileans vote on a more progressive constitution.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Lillian Posner, “Russian Roulette at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant,” Think Global Health

The United States marks one year since its military withdrawal from Afghanistan; China goes through a severe drought, with repercussions for agriculture, energy, and supply chains; and French President Emmanuel Macron travels to Algeria to try to mend relations.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Alice C. Hill and Madeleine Babin, “What the Historic U.S. Climate Bill Gets Right and Gets Wrong,” CFR.org   Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus   Albert Camus, The Plague   Albert Camus, The Stranger

The United States and South Korea hold joint military drills amid mounting tough rhetoric from North Korea; nuclear deal negotiations continue as Iran responds to the European Union’s most recent draft of a revived agreement; and Ukraine marks its Independence Day six months after the Russian invasion began.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Max Boot, “Why Kyiv’s ‘Thousand Bee Sting’ Strategy is Costing Russia Dearly,” Washington Post   Jessica Chen Weiss, “The China Trap,” Foreign Affairs   Steven Cook and Martin Indyk, “The Case for a New U.S.-Saudi Strategic Compact,” Council on Foreign Relations   Nicholas Pelham, “MBS: Despot in the Desert,” The Economist   Karim Sadjadpour, “What the U.S. Gets Wrong About Iran,” New York Times   Stephen Sestanovich, “Putin’s Strategy in Ukraine,” The President’s Inbox   Scott Snyder, “Why North Korea Might Reject Yoon Suk-yeol’s Audacious Initiative,” CFR.org

In this special episode of The World Next Week, Heather A. Conley, president of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, joins James M. Lindsay and Robert McMahon to discuss the books they recommend reading, the books they’re looking forward to reading, and the podcasts they’re listening to for fun this summer. (This is a rebroadcast.)   Read more about Jim, Bob, and Heather’s picks on Jim’s blog, The Water’s Edge.   Jim’s Picks Michael Mandelbaum, The Four Ages of American Foreign Policy (2022) Richard Cohen, Making History: The Storytellers Who Shaped the Past (2021) Laszlo Montgomery, The China History Podcast, Teacup Media   Bob’s Picks Catherine Belton, Putin’s People (2020) Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, The Love Songs of W.E.B Du Bois (2021) Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley, Gastropod, Vox Media Podcast Network   Heather’s Picks Greg Behrman, The Most Noble Adventure: The Marshall Plan and How America Helped Rebuild Europe (2007) Patrick Radden Keefe, Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland (2018) Todd Schulkin, Inside Julia’s Kitchen, Heritage Radio Network   Additional Books, Podcasts, and Shows Mentioned on the Podcast Karen Dewisha, Putin’s Kleptocracy (2014) Aaron L. Friedberg, Getting China Wrong (2022) Joseph Marion Jones, The Fifteen Weeks (1965) Michael Kimmage, The Abandonment of the West (2020) Sebastian Mallaby, The Power Law (2022) George Mitchell, Making Peace (1999) Yascha Mounk, The Great Experiment (2022) Benn Steil, The Marshall Plan: Dawn of the Cold War (2019) Ali Wyne, America’s Great-Power Opportunity (2022) Heather A. Conley, “How Will Biden Handle Russia?” The President's Inbox, December 1, 2020 David Crowther, The History of England Mike Duncan, The History of Rome Jamie Jeffers, The British History Podcast Michael Mandelbaum, “America’s Rise to Power,” The President's Inbox, May 7, 2022 Robin Pierson, The History of Byzantium Julia, HBO Max (2022)

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosts Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Sochi; U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels to Cambodia, the Philippines, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda; and Kenya elects a new president amid a severe drought and the global inflation crisis.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Rachel Chason and Rael Ombuor, “A wild-card candidate in Kenya is sparking an African debate about weed,” Washington Post

A Moscow court considers the case of Marina Ovsyannikova, a Russian reporter who protested the invasion of Ukraine; China celebrates the ninety-fifth anniversary of its People’s Liberation Army amid growing tensions with the United States; and UN member states meet in New York to discuss the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Ely Ratner, “Twelfth Annual South China Sea Conference: Lunch Keynote,” Center for Strategic and International Studies, July 26, 2022   Ivo H. Daalder and James M. Lindsay, “Why Putin Underestimated the West: And How to Sustain Its Newfound Unity,” Foreign Affairs, April 7, 2022   “Keeping the Nuclear Peace, With Michael Krepon,” The President’s Inbox, January 11, 2022 Mike Chinoy, “What Does Nancy Pelosi Think She’s Doing in Taiwan?,” Foreign Policy, July 26, 2022

Pope Francis travels to Canada seeking forgiveness from Indigenous communities for Catholic Church abuses; President Volodymyr Zelensky must respond to a petition for same-sex marriage in Ukraine; and President Kais Saied hopes to ratify a controversial new constitution in Tunisia.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Stewart M. Patrick, Reflecting Sunlight to Reduce Climate Risk Priorities for Research and International Cooperation, April 2022   Alice Hill, The Fight for Climate After COVID-19, 2021   Alice Hill, Building a Resilient Tomorrow: How to Prepare for the Coming Climate Disruption, 2020

Protesters in Sri Lanka storm government buildings as the president flees; Russia declares an “operational pause” in its invasion of Ukraine; the Farnborough Airshow spotlights the future of flight; and the James Webb Space Telescope inspires galactic wonder.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “The Long War in Ukraine, With Michael Kofman,” The President’s Inbox, July 12, 2022   Images from the James Webb Space Telescope 

U.S. President Joe Biden visits Israel, the West Bank, and Saudi Arabia and prepares for a meeting with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom reacts to the resignation of Prime Minister Boris Johnson as Conservative Party leader.   Articles Mentioned on the Podcast Michael Stott and Christine Murray, “Why Mexico is missing its chance to profit from US-China decoupling,” Financial Times, July 3, 2022

The January 6 committee hearings generate new interest, Hong Kong observes the twenty-fifth anniversary of its handover to China, and migrant smuggling gets new scrutiny after dozens were found dead inside a truck in Texas.   Books and Articles Mentioned    Keith B. Richburg, “Hong Kong Was Not Supposed to Look Like This” (2022)   Diana Roy and Sabine Baumgartner, “Crossing the Darien Gap: Migrants Risk Death on the Journey to the U.S.” (2022)   Anthony Salvanto, Jennifer de Pinto, Fred Backus, and Kabir Khanna, “CBS News poll: Half say Trump tried to stay in office through illegal means, should be charged with crimes” (2022)

Summits of the Group of Seven (G7) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will kick off with discussions on critical issues including the war in Ukraine, COVID-19, and the climate crisis. Also, the United Nations will vote on a vital humanitarian aid channel between Turkey and Syria.    Blog Post Mentioned on the Podcast    Stewart M. Patrick, “The G7, NATO, and the Future of the West” (2022)  

In this special episode of The World Next Week, Heather A. Conley, president of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, joins James M. Lindsay and Robert McMahon to discuss the books they recommend reading, the books they’re looking forward to reading, and the podcasts they’re listening to for fun this summer.   Read more about Jim, Bob, and Heather’s picks on Jim’s blog, The Water’s Edge.   Jim’s Picks Michael Mandelbaum, The Four Ages of American Foreign Policy (2022) Richard Cohen, Making History: The Storytellers Who Shaped the Past (2021) Laszlo Montgomery, The China History Podcast, Teacup Media   Bob’s Picks Catherine Belton, Putin’s People (2020) Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, The Love Songs of W.E.B Du Bois (2021) Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley, Gastropod, Vox Media Podcast Network   Heather’s Picks Greg Behrman, The Most Noble Adventure: The Marshall Plan and How America Helped Rebuild Europe (2007) Patrick Radden Keefe, Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland (2018) Todd Schulkin, Inside Julia’s Kitchen, Heritage Radio Network   Additional Books, Podcasts, and Shows Mentioned on the Podcast Karen Dewisha, Putin’s Kleptocracy (2014) Aaron L. Friedberg, Getting China Wrong (2022) Joseph Marion Jones, The Fifteen Weeks (1965) Michael Kimmage, The Abandonment of the West (2020) Sebastian Mallaby, The Power Law (2022) George Mitchell, Making Peace (1999) Yascha Mounk, The Great Experiment (2022) Benn Steil, The Marshall Plan: Dawn of the Cold War (2019) Ali Wyne, America’s Great-Power Opportunity (2022) Heather A. Conley, “How Will Biden Handle Russia?” The President's Inbox, December 1, 2020 David Crowther, The History of England Mike Duncan, The History of Rome Jamie Jeffers, The British History Podcast Michael Mandelbaum, “America’s Rise to Power,” The President's Inbox, May 7, 2022 Robin Pierson, The History of Byzantium Julia, HBO Max (2022)

The United States hosts the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, Ukraine marks one hundred days since the Russian invasion began, and the EU Foreign Affairs Council convenes in Brussels to talk trade.   Events and Speeches Mentioned on the Podcast   Antony Blinken, “The Administration’s Approach to the People’s Republic of China,” delivered at The George Washington University, May 26, 2022   “Russia's War in Ukraine: How Does it End?” Council on Foreign Relations, May 31, 2022

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken unveils the Biden administration’s China strategy, Colombians go to the polls for a presidential election, and Foreign Affairs magazine debuts its first podcast.   Articles and Speeches Mentioned on the Podcast   Antony Blinken, “The Administration’s Approach to the People’s Republic of China,” delivered at The George Washington University, May 26, 2022   Deborah Elms, “IPEF: The Party Few Wanted to Attend,” Asian Trade Centre, May 23, 2022   Stephen Kotkin, “Russia’s Perpetual Geopolitics,” Foreign Affairs (May/June 2016)   Julie Turkewitz, “Will Colombia Elect Its First Leftist Leader?” New York Times, May 26, 2022   Podcasts Mentioned   Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, The Foreign Affairs Interview, Foreign Affairs   Daniel Kurtz-Phelan and Stephen Kotkin, “What Putin Got Wrong About Ukraine, Russia, and the West,” The Foreign Affairs Interview, May 26, 2022

U.S. President Joe Biden visits Japan and South Korea, the seventy-fifth World Health Assembly takes place in Geneva, and Australians vote in a general election.   Podcasts Mentioned on the Podcast   Sheila A. Smith and Scott A. Snyder, “President Biden’s Japan and South Korea Trip,” The President’s Inbox, May 17, 2022   James M. Lindsay and Robert McMahon, “Finland and Sweden Talk NATO, Biden Hosts ASEAN Leaders, and More,” The World Next Week, May 12, 2022

Finland and Sweden intensify the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership process, U.S. President Joe Biden hosts Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders for a special summit in Washington, DC, and Lebanon holds parliamentary elections.   Podcasts Mentioned on the Podcast   Steven A. Cook, “The Middle East’s Reaction to the Invasion of Ukraine,” The President’s Inbox, May 10, 2022

The Philippines holds a general election, a vote for a new chief executive happens in Hong Kong, and foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) nations meet in Germany.   Articles and Podcasts Mentioned on the Podcast   Derek H. Chollet, “U.S. Policy Toward Russia,” The President’s Inbox, May 3, 2022   Josh Kurlantzick, “A Marcos Presidency Will Be Bad News for the Philippines’ Democracy,” World Politics Review via CFR.org, April 15, 2022   Josh Kurlantzick, “The Philippines’ High-Stakes Election: What to Know,” CFR.org, April 21, 2022   Books and Reports Mentioned   Alice C. Hill, The Fight for Climate After COVID-19 (2021)   Stewart Patrick, Reflecting Sunlight to Reduce Climate Risk (2022)

The U.S. Federal Reserve is poised to raise interest rates, the United States assumes the presidency of the UN Security Council, and Japan marks Constitution Memorial Day as the country makes changes to its defense and security policy.   Articles Mentioned on the Podcast Kali Robinson, “How Russia’s War in Ukraine Could Amplify Food Insecurity in the Mideast,” CFR.org, April 21, 2022   Experts and Interactives Mentioned Sheila Smith, CFR Sheila Smith, “Constitutional Change in Japan,” CFR.org, March 11, 2021

U.S. officials visit the Solomon Islands to discuss China, voters in France head to the polls for a presidential runoff, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson travels to India.   Articles Mentioned on the Podcast  Matthias Matthijs, “Macron vs. Le Pen: What’s at Stake in the French Election?,” CFR.org, April 20, 2022

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank convene for their annual Spring Meetings, rumors fly of a North Korean nuclear test on the one-hundred-and-tenth anniversary of Kim Il Sung’s birth, and COVID-19 cases surge across China.    Articles and Reports Mentioned on the Podcast   Europe and Central Asia Economic Update: War in the Region, The World Bank, April 10, 2022   Michelle Nichols, "U.S. pushes U.N. to cut N.Korea oil imports, ban tobacco, blacklist Lazarus hackers,” Reuters, April 13, 2022

France has the first round of its presidential election, Warsaw holds a global pledging event for Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced persons, and Pakistan faces a constitutional crisis.   Podcasts Mentioned on the Podcast   Audrey Kurth Cronin, “War in the Digital Age,” The President’s Inbox, April 5, 2022

Russia-Ukraine peace talks continue in Istanbul, Turkey, officials from the European Union (EU) and China convene for a virtual trade summit, and Hungary holds closely watched general elections.   Blogs Mentioned on the Podcast   Michelle Gavin, Africa in Transition, CFR.org

U.S. President Joe Biden travels to Poland as Russia’s war in Ukraine enters a new phase, leaders from OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) and its allies convene virtually to discuss oil production, and international themes abound at the Ninety-Fourth Academy Awards.   Podcasts Mentioned on the Podcast   Charles A. Kupchan, “TPI Special: The War in Ukraine,” The President’s Inbox, February 25, 2022

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) leaders meet in Brussels as Russia’s attacks in Ukraine continue, and ministers from Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries discuss the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan.

The destruction of Ukraine continues as countries ramp up pressure on Russia, the world marks two years since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO), and Colombians vote in parliamentary elections.   Reports Mentioned on the Podcast   Chris Boulton, et al, “Pronounced loss of Amazon rainforest resilience since the early 2000s,” Nature Climate Change (March 2022)   “Ukraine Refugee Situation,” The UN Refugee Agency, 2022

Russian forces ramp up assaults on Ukrainian cities, Chinese leaders gather for their annual “Two Sessions” meeting, and South Koreans head to the polls for a presidential election.   Articles Mentioned on the Podcast    Christian Shepherd, "China not emerging as lifeline for sanction-slammed Russian economy," Washington Post, March 2, 2022   Scott Snyder, "South Korea's Presidential Election: What to Know," CFR.org, March 3, 2022   Resources Mentioned "Global Conflict Tracker," Center for Preventive Action, CFR.org

Russia launches an invasion of Ukraine with wide-ranging consequences for international order.   Articles Mentioned on the Podcast   Robert Kagan, “What we can expect after Putin’s conquest of Ukraine,” Washington Post, February 21, 2022   Events and Speeches Mentioned   Crisis in Ukraine, Council on Foreign Relations, February 23, 2022   Vladimir Putin’s address on Ukraine, via Bloomberg News, February 24, 2022

The Munich Security Conference is the stage for crisis diplomacy amid high tensions on the Russia-Ukraine border, the world marks the fiftieth anniversary of former U.S. President Richard Nixon’s historic trip to China, and the UN Environment Programme issues its annual Frontiers report.   Books Mentioned on the Podcast   Margaret MacMillian, Nixon and Mao: The Week That Changed the World (2007)   Reports and Statements Mentioned   Frontiers 2022: Noise, Blazes and Mismatches, UN Environment Programme, February 17, 2022   Joint Statement of the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China on the International Relations Entering a New Era and the Global Sustainable Development, The Kremlin, February 4, 2022   2022 Sea Level Rise Technical Report, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, February 15, 2022

Iran nuclear talks resume in Vienna, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits Kyiv and Moscow, and some countries start to loosen COVID-19 restrictions.   Articles and Statements Mentioned on the Podcast   Thomas Bollyky et al., “Pandemic preparedness and COVID-19,” The Lancet, February 1, 2022   Claire Felter, “The World Still Hasn’t Agreed on a Pandemic Playbook,” CFR.org, February 4, 2022   Senator Ted Cruz’s letter on Iran nuclear deal [PDF], February 7, 2022   Podcasts Mentioned   Ian Johnson, “China’s Domestic Challenges,” The President’s Inbox, February 8, 2022

The Winter Olympics kick off in Beijing, the African Union (AU) holds its annual heads of state summit in Addis Ababa, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz meets with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House.   Articles and Statements Mentioned on the Podcast   Yanzhong Huang, “China welcomed the world the last time it hosted the Olympics. Not now.” Washington Post, February 3, 2022   Ian Johnson, “The Games Nobody Wants: How the Winter Olympics Became a Headache for China,” CFR.org, February 1, 2022   “Statement by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on the Visit of Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany,” The White House, January 27, 2022   Podcasts Mentioned   Gabrielle Sierra, “Hey, Remember the Olympics?” Why It Matters, July 15, 2020

The humanitarian crisis deepens in Afghanistan, international diplomacy intensifies over Russian-Ukrainian tensions, and Myanmar marks one year since the military coup.   Articles Mentioned in the Podcast   “Afghanistan Food Security Update” [PDF], World Food Programme, December 8, 2021   Joshua Kurlantzick, “Myanmar Is a Failing State—and Could Be a Danger to Its Neighbors,” CFR.org, September 16, 2021

Supply chain challenges reverberate again, high-stakes diplomacy continues with Russia over Ukraine, and Hondurans inaugurate a new president.   Articles Mentioned in the Podcast   Shannon K. O’Neil, “Why the Supply Chain Slowdown Will Persist,” Foreign Affairs, December 21, 2021

The European Parliament elects a new president, COVID-19 case rates surge across the globe, and diplomacy continues over Russian security demands in Europe.   Articles Mentioned in the Podcast   Mary Beth Sheridan, “Mexico has refused to close its borders during the covid-19 pandemic. Does that make sense?” Washington Post, January 12, 2022   Stephen Sestanovich, “The Russia-Ukraine Crisis: A Scorecard on Biden’s Response,” CFR.org, December 23, 2021   Adam Tooze, “Chartbook #68 Putin’s Challenge to Western hegemony - the 2022 edition,” January 12, 2022

Top officials from the United States and Russia meet in Geneva to discuss nuclear arms control and the crisis in Ukraine, Americans mark one year since the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and the CES trade show wraps in Las Vegas.   Articles Mentioned on the Podcast   Stephen Sestanovich, “The Russia-Ukraine Crisis: A Scorecard on Biden’s Response,” CFR.org, December 23, 2021

In this special year-end episode of The World Next Week, James M. Lindsay and Robert McMahon are joined by Shannon K. O’Neil, CFR vice president, deputy director of studies, and Nelson and David Rockefeller senior fellow for Latin America Studies. They discuss this year’s historic elections and the state of democracy in Latin America and beyond, the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines around the world, and U.S. President Joe Biden’s first year in office.   Articles Mentioned on the Podcast   Lauren Sloss, “The Documents You Need to Travel Abroad Now,” New York Times, December 10, 2021   Christopher Troeger and Thomas J. Bollyky, “Ending the COVID-19 Pandemic Hinges on Trust,” Think Global Health, November 30, 2021   Podcasts Mentioned   Richard Haass, Nine Questions for the World, Council on Foreign Relations   Anne Appelbaum and Richard Haass, “Can Democracy Survive?,” Nine Questions for the World, December 16, 2021   Michelle McMurry-Heath and Richard Haass, “Can Biotech Be Harnessed?,” Nine Questions for the World, December 16, 2021   Fareed Zakaria and Richard Haass, “Does World Order Have a Future?,” Nine Questions for the World, December 16, 2021

The United States announces a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, former President Donald Trump kicks off his History Tour, and Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual Constitution Day address amid rising Russia-Ukraine tensions.   Articles and Statements Mentioned on the Podcast   Barton Gellman, “Trump’s Next Coup Has Already Begun,” The Atlantic, December 6, 2021   Robert Kagan, “Our constitutional crisis is already here,” Washington Post, September 23, 2021   Jen Psaki, Remarks on the U.S. diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympics, The White House, December 6, 2021   Vladimir Putin, “On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians,” The Kremlin, July 12, 2021   “The Ukrainian army has got better at fighting Russian-backed separatists,” The Economist, November 30, 2021

U.S. President Joe Biden hosts a virtual Summit for Democracy, the omicron variant begins to spread worldwide, and Germany is expected to elect Olaf Scholz as its next chancellor.   Articles and Statements Mentioned in the Podcast   Anatoly Antonov and Qin Gang, “Russian and Chinese Ambassadors: Respecting People’s Democratic Rights,” The National Interest, November 26, 2021   Ivo H. Daalder and James M. Lindsay, “An Alliance of Democracies,” Washington Post, May 23, 2004   Jennifer Hillman, “The Transatlantic Relationship Could Make or Break Biden’s Summit for Democracy,” CFR.org, December 1, 2021   “The Summit for Democracy,” U.S. Department of State, November 2021

Chile holds a general election, Venezuelans vote in closely observed local and regional elections, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg speaks on the alliance’s future.   Documents and Podcasts Mentioned in the Podcast   “London Declaration” North Atlantic Treaty Organization, December 4, 2019   Gabrielle Sierra, “Hyperventilating Over Hypersonics,” Why It Matters, November 12, 2021

Ethiopia declares a state of emergency as its civil war intensifies, China holds a crucial meeting of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, and Sudan moves toward a new power-sharing deal to reverse last week’s coup.   Blog Mentioned on the Podcast   Michelle Gavin, Africa in Transition, CFR.org

The Group of Twenty (G20) holds a pivotal summit in Rome, Japanese citizens head to the polls for parliamentary elections, and the twenty-sixth Conference of the Parties (COP26) begins in Glasgow.   Articles Mentioned in the Podcast   Alice Hill, “A World Overheating,” CFR.org, October 18, 2021   Steven Mufson et al. “Russia allows methane leaks at planet’s peril,” Washington Post, October 19, 2021   Sheila Smith, “Japan’s Hard Choices,” Foreign Affairs, October 28, 2021   Podcasts Mentioned   Sheila Smith and Robert McMahon, “Quad Leaders Gather, Germany Holds Elections, and More,” The World Next Week, September 23, 2021   Reports Mentioned   Emissions Gap Report 2021, UN Environment Programme, October 28, 2021   Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, August 9, 2021

Americans remember former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Israeli and Russian leaders hold a summit in Sochi, and China undergoes a World Trade Organization policy review.   Articles Mentioned in the Podcast   Richard Haass, “Colin Powell: An American Life,” CFR.org, October 18, 2021.   Adam Posen, “The Price of Nostalgia,” Foreign Affairs 100, no. 3 (May/June 2021).   Ray Takeyh, “The Bomb Will Backfire on Iran,” Foreign Affairs, October 18, 2021.   Podcasts Mentioned   Adam Posen, “Trade Protectionism,” The President’s Inbox, September 21, 2021.   Matt Pottinger, “Beijing’s Grand Strategy,” The President’s Inbox, October 19, 2021.   Memos, Reports, and Speeches Mentioned   David Brisbee, “Trade Policy Review of the People’s Republic of China,” U.S. Mission to Geneva, October 20, 2021.   João Aguiar Machado, “EU Statement at the 8th Trade Policy Review of China,” Permanent Mission of the European Union to the WTO, October 20, 2021.   George Mina, “Australia’s Statement on China’s Trade Policy Review,” Twitter, October 20, 2021.   Colin Powell, Address to the United Nations on Iraq, Washington Post, February 5, 2003.   Katherine Tsai, “Remarks As Prepared for Delivery of Ambassador Katherine Tai Outlining the Biden-Harris Administration’s ‘New Approach to the U.S.-China Trade Relationship,” Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, October 4, 2021.   Resignation letter of Harold Hongju Koh [PDF], Politico, October 2, 2021.   WTO Secretariat’s report for China’s Trade Policy Review, September 15, 2021.

World Food Day is marked amid a rise in global food insecurity, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) defense ministers convene in Brussels, and a Libya in turmoil notes the tenth anniversary of Muammar al-Qaddafi’s assassination.

The World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund hold their annual meetings, the Czech Republic holds closely watched elections in the wake of the Pandora Papers leak, and the Group of Twenty (G20) convenes for an emergency summit on Afghanistan.

European Union and Balkan leaders hold a summit amid rising Kosovo-Serbia tensions, the U.S. Congress reaches a critical budget deadline, and the postponed Expo 2020 kicks off in Dubai.

The first in-person summit of the Quad—Australia, India, Japan, and the United States—takes place; Germany’s general election is set to produce a successor to Angela Merkel; and Japan’s ruling party holds a leadership election.

The United Nations General Assembly holds its annual debate, Canadians vote in a close federal election, and U.S. President Joe Biden hosts a summit on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Americans mark twenty years since the September 11th terrorist attacks, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) convenes for a summit to discuss security in Afghanistan, and Norway holds general elections.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko hold integration talks, Germany’s election season ramps up, and U.S. and Mexican officials hold a high-level economic meeting.

United States combat troops are set to fully withdraw from Afghanistan, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets U.S. President Joe Biden in the White House, and Iraq hosts a regional summit.

Afghans await what will follow the Taliban’s seizure of Kabul, foreign capitals grapple with the consequences of the collapse of Afghanistan’s U.S.-backed government, and recriminations fly in the United States over the Taliban’s return to power.

The world reacts to a grim report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Taliban forces advance across Afghanistan as the United States completes its withdrawal, and Ethiopia’s civil conflict worsens.

In this special episode of The World Next Week, CFR Adjunct Senior Fellow Carla Anne Robbins joins James M. Lindsay and Robert McMahon to discuss the books they recommend reading, the books they’re looking forward to reading, and the books they’re reading for fun. (This is a rebroadcast.)   Read more about Jim, Bob, and Carla’s picks on Jim’s blog, The Water’s Edge.   Jim’s Picks: This is How They Tell Me the World Ends: The Cyberweapons Arm Race, by Nicole Perlroth Objects of Desire, by Clare Sestanovich Nine Nasty Words: English in the Gutter—Then, Now, and Forever, by John McWhorter    Bob’s Picks: Missionaries, by Phil Klay Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague, Geraldine Brooks “Power of the Powerless” in Living in Truth, by Vaclav Havel   Carla’s Picks: The Price of Peace: Money , Democracy, and the Life of John Maynard Keynes, by Zachary D. Carter The Transparency of Time, by Leonardo Padura George Smiley Novels, by John le Carré

Iran’s next president, Ebrahim Raisi, takes office; the suspension of the United States’ debt ceiling ends; and the summer wildfire season sets new records.

The Tokyo Olympic Games kick off in COVID-19’s shadow, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi visits U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House, and South Africans deal with the fallout from days of deadly rioting.

Jordanian King Abdullah II visits U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House, former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trial for bribery charges resumes in Jerusalem, and world leaders convene virtually for an emergency Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro faces COVID-19 corruption charges, Haitians confront political uncertainty in the wake of President Jovenel Moise’s assassination, and China-EU talks heat up in Brussels.

The deadline for President Joe Biden’s goal of vaccinating 70 percent of Americans passes, the UN Security Council votes to maintain aid deliveries between Turkey and Syria, and the world marks UFO Day.

In this special episode of The World Next Week, CFR Adjunct Senior Fellow Carla Anne Robbins joins James M. Lindsay and Robert McMahon to discuss the books they recommend reading, the books they’re looking forward to reading, and the books they’re reading for fun.   Read more about Jim, Bob, and Carla’s picks on Jim’s blog, The Water’s Edge.   Jim’s Picks: This is How They Tell Me the World Ends: The Cyberweapons Arm Race, by Nicole Perlroth Objects of Desire, by Clare Sestanovich Nine Nasty Words: English in the Gutter—Then, Now, and Forever, by John McWhorter    Bob’s Picks: Missionaries, by Phil Klay Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague, Geraldine Brooks “Power of the Powerless” in Living in Truth, by Vaclav Havel   Carla’s Picks: The Price of Peace: Money , Democracy, and the Life of John Maynard Keynes, by Zachary D. Carter The Transparency of Time, by Leonardo Padura George Smiley Novels, by John le Carré

World leaders meet for summits of the Group of Seven (G7) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). U.S. President Joe Biden convenes with European Union leaders, and sits down separately with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mexico holds pivotal midterm elections, Hong Kongers attempt to mark the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, and Peruvians vote in a divisive presidential runoff.

Belarus faces global condemnation after grounding an airplane to arrest a dissident journalist; West Africa braces for the fallout from Mali’s second coup in nine months; and the United States marks Memorial Day and one hundred years since the Tulsa Race Massacre.

Rome hosts the Global Health Summit online, South Korean President Moon Jae-in visits the White House, and the UN Security Council discusses prospects for Syria as the country holds a presidential election.

Israeli-Palestinian violence raises fears of a bigger conflict, Chile prepares for a historic election, and Washington looks to improve its cyber defenses after a major fuel pipeline was hacked.

A major fuel pipeline from Canada to the United States could be shut down, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) meet virtually to discuss migration concerns, and the European Union and India are expected to revive trade talks.

India struggles with the world’s largest COVID-19 surge, Somalia’s president addresses Parliament after dropping a bid to extend his term, and the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan gets underway ten years after the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

A U.S. advisory panel considers whether to lift the pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, U.S. President Joe Biden addresses Congress, and international films are judged for the ninety-third Academy Awards.

The United States sets in motion a complete military withdrawal from Afghanistan, dozens of world leaders are invited to a U.S.-led climate summit, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga meets with President Joe Biden at the White House.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is slated to travel to Israel; talks on reviving the Iran nuclear deal continue in Vienna, Austria; and Peru holds a general election.

Top security officials from Japan and South Korea meet with the new U.S. national security advisor, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank host their annual Spring Meetings virtually, and European Union officials convene with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Extreme weather events ramp up in Australia and the United States; Myanmar’s military junta marks Armed Forces Day; and leaders from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay convene for a virtual trade summit.

Israel holds its fourth election in two years, the United States faces a mounting migration crisis at its border with Mexico, and Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel, meets with regional premiers.