April 29, 2020

Weekly World News Update

Grappling With COVID-19; Global Interests; Geopolitical Moves; Vulnerable Populations; The West Bank Dilemma; and Whither American Leadership?

Quotes of the Week " The implications and impacts [of COVID-19] are extraordinary. Now, it would seem entirely reasonable and sensible that the world would want to have an independent assessment of how this all occurred, so we can learn the lessons and prevent it from happening again." -- Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, in a Canberra speech Wednesday morning defending his call for an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic. “ Australia is always there, making trouble. It is a bit like chewing gum stuck on the sole of China’s shoes. Sometimes you have to find a stone to rub it off." -- Hu Xijin, Editor of China's state-run Global Times, in response to Australia's coronavirus investigation.

Grappling With COVID-19

“ Pandemic Security Must Be ‘Top Line Concern’ Says Former Amb. Power" Public Radio International, April 23, 2020    “ Reopening States Too Early Will Bring Deadlier Outcomes, Coronavirus Projection Models Show” Christina Maxouris -- CNN, April 28, 2020  “ Don’t Bash Globalization - It Will Rescue Our Economies After the Pandemic" Salvatore Babones -- Foreign Policy, April 25, 2020  " After the Virus, Universities Will Survive" Michael Munger -- American Institute for Economic Research, April 28, 2020     “ Putin’s Not-So-Excellent Spring” Steven Pifer -- Brookings, April 23, 2020

Global Interests

“ A Problem Shared: Russia and the Transformation of Europe’s Eastern Neighborhood” Dumitru Minzarari and Vadim Pistrinciuc -- European Council on Foreign Relations, April 23, 2020 “ Why Populists Want a Multipolar World” Alexander Cooley and Daniel Nexon -- Foreign Policy, April 25, 2020 “ Hong Kong’s Democracy Confronts Its Own Pandemic Threat" Jeffery Wasserstrom -- Foreign Affairs, April 24, 2020 “ Q's Surrounding Kim Jong Un’s Health” Victor Cha; Sue Mi Terry; Andrew Schwartz -- Center for Strategic and International Studies, April 24, 2020 “ Crisis in Yemen as Aden Separatists Declare Self-Rule" Patrick Wintour -- The Guardian, April 27, 2020

Mexico and EU Finalize New Free Trade Agreement

Geopolitical Moves

" COVID-19 Is Finishing Off the Sino-American Relationship" Minxin Pei -- Project Syndicate, April 29, 2020 “ The Pandemic Could Tighten China’s Grip on Eurasia” Alexander Gabuev -- Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, April 24, 2020   Germany’s Landmark Trial of Syrian Regime Officers Sends an Important Message” Ibrahim Al-Assil -- Middle East Institute, April 27, 2020  “ Clashes in Impoverished Lebanese City as Crisis Deepens” Bassam Hatoum and Bilal Hussein -- Associated Press, April 28, 2020

Vulnerable Populations

As Schools Shift to Online Learning Amid Pandemic, What Are the Implications for Students With Disabilities?

“ UN Envoy Brings New Allegations of War Crimes Against Myanmar” Michael Sullivan -- National Public Radio, April 29, 2020 “ For Malaysia’s Migrant Workers, Lack of Food Is a Bigger Worry Than COVID-19" Tashny Sukumaran -- South China Morning Post, April 26, 2020 " India’s COVID-19 Gender Blind Spot" Bansari Kamdar -- The Diplomat, April 27, 2020 “ Few Federal Prisoners Released Under COVID-19 Emergency Policies” Joseph Neff and Keri Blakinger -- The Marshall Project, April 25, 2020 “ Trump Team Moves to Scrap Protections for LGBTQ Patients” Dan Diamond -- Politico, April 24, 2020

The West Bank Dilemma

“ U.S. to Recognize Annexation of Occupied West Bank, Jordan Valley” Al Jazeera, April 28, 2020    “ In Israel, Netanyahu Outplays His Political Opponents, Again” Michael Koplow -- World Politics Review, April 28, 2020    “ Palestinians Working in Israel Face COVID-19 Dilemma” Yolande Knell -- BBC News, April 29, 2020

Whither American Leadership? “ How COVID-19 Is Testing American Leadership” Joseph Nye -- East Asia Forum, April 26, 2020 “ Will a Pandemic Shatter the Perception of American Exceptionalism?” Jennifer Schuessler -- New York Times, April 25, 2020