Weekly World News Update: December 21, 2022

December 21, 2022

Weekly World News Update

Russia-Ukraine War; Taliban Bans Education; China's COVID U-Turn; Iran Nuclear Deal; COP-15 Victory

Quote of the Week

Russia-Ukraine War: Allies on Both Sides

“Zelensky Knows the Clock is Ticking” Tom Nichols, The Atlantic – December 20, 2022

“Why Zelensky’s Surprise US Visit is So Hugely Significant” Stephen Collinson, CNN – December 21, 2022

“‘Nothing Can Break Us’: An Interview With a Ukrainian Fighter Pilot” Shelby Wilder, Vice News – December 16, 2022

“Lukashenka, Putin Pledge Further Military Cooperation As Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Falters” Radio Free Europe – December 19, 2022

“Belarus is Inching Toward Invading Ukraine” Norma Costello & Vera Mironova, Foreign Policy – December 19, 2022

Photo: The Guardian

Taliban Ban College Education for Women

“Taliban Says Women Banned From Universities in Afghanistan” Al Jazeera – December 20, 2022

“Afghan University Women Feared This Dark Day” Sahar Fetrat, Human Rights Watch – December 20, 2022

“‘The Taliban Took Our Last Hope’: College Education is Banned for Women in Afghanistan” Diaa Hadid, NPR – December 20, 2022

“What Does a Taliban School Curriculum Look Like?” Lauryn Oates, The Diplomat – December 21, 2022

Photo: Reuters

China's Shocking COVID U-Turn

“Zero-COVID to Zero Deaths: China Alters Coronavirus Counts” Deutsche Welle – December 21, 2022

“China’s Stunning U-Turn on Zero-COVID Takes Xi Jinping From Suffocating Control to Callous Inaction” Charlie Campbell, Time Magazine – December 21, 2022

“China’s ‘Zero Covid’ Obsession is Gone, But the Trauma Lingers” Eva Rammeloo, New York Times – December 21, 2022

“China Reports No New Covid Deaths Despite Overflowing Hospitals and Morgues” Sophia Yan, The Telegraph – December 21, 2022

Photo: AP

Iran Nuclear Deal: Dead or Alive?

“The Biden Administration’s Iran-Deal Fable” Brett D. Schaefer, The Heritage Foundation – December 19, 2022

“Biden Says Iran Nuclear Deal ‘Dead’ But Won’t Announce It Publicly” Jerusalem Post – December 21, 2022

“Iranian, EU Officials Meet in Jordan Amid Stalled Nuclear Talks” The Times of Israel – December 20, 2022

Victory at COP-15

“The ‘30x30’ Conservation Goal Divides and Inspires at COP15” Phoebe Weston & Patrick Greenfield, Wired – December 17, 2022

“The Push to Conserve 30 Percent of the Planet: What’s at Stake?” Lindsay Maizland, Council on Foreign Relations – December 19, 2022

“More Than 190 Countries Sign Landmark Agreement to Halt the Biodiversity Crisis” Laura Paddison, CNN – December 19, 2022

“China Unveils Compromise Proposal in COP15 Biodiversity Talks” Louis Guillot, Politico – December 18, 2022

Photo: Vox

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.