June 30, 2021

Weekly World News Update

U.S. Strikes in Iraq and Syria; Ceasefire in Tigray; A Changing European Union; News from the Korean Peninsula; and Peru's Divisive Election

Quote of the Week

"I've read Mao Zedong. I've read Karl Marx. I've read Lenin. That doesn't make me a communist. So what is wrong with understanding — having some situational understanding about the country for which we are here to defend?"    -- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley responded to questions last Wednesday about the teaching of critical race theory in the U.S. military.

U.S. Strikes in Iraq and Syria

“Iraq Is Caught in the Middle as U.S. and Iran Spar on Its Soil” Jane Arraf -- The New York Times, June 28, 2021  “U.S. Troops in Syria Attacked After Airstrikes on Militias” Robert Burns; Lolita Baldor – Associated Press, June 28, 2021  “Iraqi Paramilitary Fighters Mourn Comrades Killed in U.S. Air Strikes” Jack Hewson -- France 24, June 29, 2021  “U.S. Strikes Hit Iran-Backed Militia Facilities in Iraq and Syria” The Guardian, June 28, 2021  “U.S. Releases Footage of Airstrikes in Iraq and Syria at Fragile Moment for Iran Nuclear Talks” Amanda Macias – CNBC, June 29, 2021

Ceasefire in Tigray

"Ethiopia Is at a Crossroads. Can the Nation Survive in Its Current Form?" Ian Bremmer -- TIME, June 25, 2021 "Tigray's Former Rulers Back in Mekelle, Ethiopian Government Declares Ceasefire" Giulia Paravicini; Katharine Houreld; Dawit Endeshaw -- Reuters, June 28, 2021 "Ethiopia Is Facing a Human-Made Famine" Jen Kirby -- Vox, June 25, 2021 "Ethiopia Pivots to Disputed Dam After Ending Tigray Hostilities" Fasika Tadesse; Simon Marks -- Bloomberg News, June 30, 2021

A Changing European Union

"EU Parliament Officially Endorses European Green Deal" Kirsten Williams -- Jurist, June 26, 2021 "The Post-Merkel Era Begins in Brussels" Jacopo Barigazzi; David Herszenhorn -- Politico EU, June 25, 2021 "EU Leaders Blast Viktor Orbán Over Anti-LGBT Bill During Tense and at Times Emotional Summit" Euronews, June 25, 2021 "How the EU Can Engage Russian Civil Society" Maria Domańska -- Carnegie Europe, June 29, 2021 “Belarus Ends Efforts to Stop Migration to EU, Bans Some EU Officials from Country” Julia Marnin -- Newsweek, June 28, 2021

News From the Korean Peninsula

"Can Biden Solve the North Korea Puzzle?" Robbie Gramer -- Foreign Policy, June 28, 2021 "Kim Jong-un Reveals 'Huge Crisis' Has Struck North Korea" Adam Barnes -- The Hill, June 30, 2021 “S. Korea to Develop Indigenous Iron Dome-Like Interceptor System Against N.K. Artillery” Yonhap News Agency, June 28, 2021 "South Korea Fails to Recognize Its Capacity to Shape the Indo-Pacific" Hayley Channer -- The Diplomat, June 30, 2021

Peru's Divisive Election

"Trumpian Tactics Threaten to Undo Democracy in Peru" Steven Levitsky; Alberto Vergara -- The New York Times, June 23, 2021     "Former Peru Dictator’s Spymaster Reappears in Alleged Plot to Swing Recount" Dan Collyns – The Guardian, June, 29, 2021 "A Socially Conservative Left Is Gaining Traction in Latin America" Paul Angelo; Will Freeman -- Americas Quarterly, June 23, 2021