February 17, 2021

Weekly World News Update

Will Russia Say 'So Long EU'?; Coronavirus and Politics; New Attacks in the Middle East; North Korea Stories We're Following; Haiti Turmoil Deepens;

Quote of the Week

“There is no doubt that our ability to wave the banner of democracy and human rights to some extent has been tarnished by recent events, especially the egregious attack on the Capitol on January 6. On the other hand, what's so powerful about it is that our democracy is resilient.”    -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in an interview Tuesday with NPR on foreign policy and America's standing in the world.

Will Russia Say 'So Long, EU'?

"Russia Says It's Open to Better Ties with EU Despite Chill" Vladimir Isachenkov -- ABC News, February 15, 2021   “Brussels Deliberately Destroyed Framework of Russia-EU Ties, Says Lavrov” Tass, February 15, 2021  “EU Foreign Policy RIP” Matthew Karnitschnig -- Politico, February 13, 2021  “Why Russia-EU Relations Remain Stable Against All Odds” Ivan Timofeev -- Modern Diplomacy, February 15, 2021  "France Uncovers Cybersecurity Breaches Linked to Russian Hackers" France24, February 16, 2021

Coronavirus and Politics

"German Election Fever Has EU Sweating on Vaccines" Hans Von Der Burchard -- Politico, February 16, 2021 “Will China Be a Global Vaccine Leader?” Deborah Seligsohn; Jenny Lei Ravelo; Daniel R. Russel; Elanah Uretsky; Elina Noor -- China File, February 12, 2021    “Build Back Better: Next Steps for Africa’s Response to Covid-19" Laird Treiber -- Center for Strategic and International Studies, February 12, 2021  “Amid Scandal, Peru Says 487 Officials Vaccinated Secretly” Franklin Briceño -- The Associated Press, February 16, 2021  "Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine Supply to the EU 30% Below Plans, Sources Say" Francesco Guarascio -- Reuters, February 17, 2021

New Attacks in the Middle East

"U.S. Prepares to Lift Terrorist Designation Against Yemeni Rebels, Despite New Attacks” Lara Jakes -- New York Times, February 12, 2021     “To Speak or Not to Speak: Saudi Arabia Poses a Princely Dilemma for Biden” Nahal Toosi -- Politico, February 16, 2021    “U.S., Kurds Blame Iran for Deadly Irbil Attack Despite Tehran’s Denials: Sources” Paul Shinkman -- U.S. News, February 16, 2021    “Turkey Accuses U.S. of Supporting Kurdish Militants After 13 Turkish Hostages Are Killed” Kareem Fahim; Karen DeYoung -- The Washington Post, February 15, 2021

North Korea Stories We're Following

"U.S. Charges Three North Koreans Over $1.3bn Theft" Joe Tidy -- BBC News, February 17, 2021 "North Korean Defector in Diving Gear Swims to South Korea, Military Says" Stephen Sorace -- Fox News, February 17, 2021 "He Calls Himself ‘North Korea’s Poet Laureate.’ Two Women Call Him a Rapist." Choe Sang-Hun -- The New York Times, February 17, 2021

Haiti Turmoil Deepens

“Biden Accused Trump of Ignoring Haiti. As Turmoil Deepens, Will He Change U.S. Policy?” Jacqueline Charles --Miami Herald, February 14, 2021    “Dispute Over Haiti Presidential Term Triggers Unrest” Rose Delaney -- BBC, February 15, 2021    “Haiti Descends Into Chaos Amid Mounting Fears of Dictatorship” Lillian Perlmutter -- Vice, February 16, 2021

Elections in Europe

“What’s Next for Italy’s Government?” Giovanna De Maio -- Brookings Institution, February 10, 2021    “’Super Mario’ Saved the Euro. Fixing Italy’s Economy May be a Bigger Challenge” Julia Horowitz -- CNN, February 15, 2021    “Catalonia’s Separatists Score Another Victory, but a Hollow One” The Economist, February 15, 2021  "2021 General Elections in the Netherlands [March 17]" Marcel Klok -- ING Research, February 2021