April 27, 2022

Weekly World News Update

Russia's War Threatens Neighbors; Macron's Win Significant for EU; Hungary Faces Loss of EU Funds; The Wagner Group Expands Its Reach in Africa; ECOWAS to Sanction Guinea, Burkina Faso; A New Twitter?; China's COVID Lockdown; Jerusalem Tension Raises Concerns

Russia's War Threatens Neighbors

"Where is the Transnistria and Why Is It Being Drawn Into Ukraine War?" The Guardian, April 27, 2022 "Russia Stops Gas Flow to Poland and Bulgaria, Deepening Economic Conflict With Europe" Georgi Kantchev and Joe Wallace -- Wall Street Journal, April 27, 2022 "Putin's War Has Moved Russia From Authoritarianism to Hybrid Totalitarianism" Andrei Kolesnikov -- Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, April 19, 2022 "How Russia's War Could Expand Beyond Ukraine" Grayson Quay -- The Week, April 27, 2022 "An Agenda for the UN Secretary-General's Trip to Russia and Ukraine" International Crisis Group, April 24, 2022 Photo PBS

Macron's Win Significant for the EU

"What Macron's Victory in France Means for Ukraine" CNN, April 26, 2022 "Macron's Win Is Also a Blow to Viktor Orban's Nationalist Crusade" Steven Erlanger -- New York Times, April 25, 2022 "What Are the Biggest Challenges for Macron's Second Term?" France 24, April 27, 2022 "Experts React: Macron Wins Another Presidential Term. What Now for France, the EU, and the World?" Atlantic Council, April 24, 2022 Photo The Guardian

Hungary Faces Loss of EU Funds in Historic First

"In Major First, EU Triggers Power to Cut Hungary's Funds Over Rule-Of-Law Breaches" Lili Bayer -- Politico, April 27, 2022 "EU Executive Takes Steps to Cut Funds for Hungary Over Corruption" Gabriela Bacynska -- Reuters, April 27, 2022 "EU Triggers Rule of Law Mechanism for Very First Time Against Hungary" Alice Tidey -- Euronews, April 27, 2022

The Wagner Group Expands Its Reach in Africa

"Biya Bets on Russia" Nosmot Gbadamosi -- Foreign Policy, April 27, 2022 "Russian Mercenaries Are Putin's 'Coercive Tool' in Africa" Al Jazeera, April 23, 2022 "Food Prices, Elections, and the Wagner Group in Africa" Raphael Parens -- Foreign Policy Research Institute, April 22, 2022 "How Has the Ukraine War Affected Russia's Ties With Libya and Sudan?" Samuel Ramani -- Middle East Institute, April 25, 2022 Photo New York Times

ECOWAS to Sanction Guinea, Burkina Faso

"Guinea and Burkina Faso Juntas Risk More Sanctions Over Transition Delay" Al Jazeera, April 25, 2022 "Under Threat: Democracy in Africa" Council on Foreign Relations, April 18, 2022 "Hunger Grips Burkina Faso Due to Increasing Jihadi Violence" Sam Mednick -- Associated Press, April 26, 2022 "Guinea-Buissau: Crackdown on Press Freedom" Silja Fröhlich -- Deutsche Welle, April 26, 2022 Photo Getty Images

A New Twitter?

"Elon Musk Bought Twitter. Here's What He Says He'll Do Next" Bobby Allyn -- NPR, April 25, 2022 "Five Ways Elon Musk Can Transform Twitter" Darrell West -- Brookings, April 26, 2022 "EU Warns Elon Musk Must Abide by New Digital Rules" BBC News, April 26, 2022 "There Are Good Reasons Why Elon Wants Twitter" Shirin Ghaffary -- Vox, April 14, 2022 Photo New York Times

China's COVID Lockdowns Cause Chaos

"Beijing Races to Trace 'Urgent and Grim' COVID Outbreak as Shanghai Lockdown Continues" Simone McCarthy -- CNN, April 26, 2022 "'Everything Is Halted': Shanghai Shutdowns Are Worsening Shortages" Abha Bhattarai -- Washington Post, April 26, 2022 "China's COVID Lockdown Outrage Tests Limits of Triumphant Propaganda" Vivian Wang, Paul Mozur, and Isabelle Qian -- New York Times, April 27, 2022

Jerusalem Tension Raises Concerns

"Jerusalem Holy Site Clashes Fuel Fears of Return to War" Yolande Knell -- BBC News, April 23, 2022 "The Temple Mount, an Interfaith Volcano, Erupts Again" Iran Etzion -- Middle East Institute, April 25, 2022 "Jordan's King Agreed With U.S. Biden on Need to Defuse Jerusalem Tensions" Suleiman Al-Khalidi -- Reuters, April 25, 2022

Weekly World News Update is a collection of sources to help readers better understand what is happening around the world and the policy implications of these developments. Any opinions expressed in the above articles are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the World Affairs Councils of America, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.