April 25, 2018

Weekly World News Update

Trump-Macron Meeting; Koreas Summit; Democracy in Peril?; Erdogan's Authoritarianism; China-Taiwan Tensions; Cuba's New Era

Quote of the Week

"The United States, the country of the First Amendment, has fallen again in the Index under Donald Trump, this time two places to 45th. A media-bashing enthusiast, Trump has referred to reporters “enemies of the people,” the term once used by Joseph Stalin."

-- Quote from Reporters Without Borders 2018 World Press Freedom Index, released today.

Presidents Trump and Macron's Washington Summit

"Mr. Macron Goes to Washington: Risks and Rewards of this Week's State Visit" Nicholas Dungan -- Atlantic Council, April 23, 2018

"Why France Feels (Relatively) Comfortable with Trump's America" Paul Zajac -- The American Interest, April 23, 2018

"Can France Be America's New Bridge to Europe?" Celia Belin -- Foreign Affairs, April 19, 2018

"Europe's Last-Ditch Effort to Save the Iran Deal" Robert Malley and Colin Kahl -- The Atlantic, April 24, 2018

"The Courage to Confront the United States: When Allies Must Say Tough Things" Jeffrey Rathke -- Center for Strategic and International Studies, April 23, 2018

South and North Korea Prepare to Meet

"Fear and Hope in South Korea on Eve of Summit with Kim Jong Un" Shoe Sang-Hun -- The New York Times, April 24, 2018

"Impossible Dream? Unification Less of a Priority as Korean Leaders Prepare to Talk" Josh Smith -- U.S. News and World Report, April 25, 2018

"South Koreans Take a Reality Check Ahead of Summit with North" Jonathan Cheng and Yun-hwan Chae -- The Wall Street Journal, April 25, 2018

"The End of the Democratic Century" Yascha Mounk and Roberto Stefan Foa -- Foreign Affairs, May/June, 2018

"Armenia's Democratic Triumph" Paul Stronski -- The Atlantic, April 24, 2018

"How Emmanuel Macron Became the New Leader of the Free World" Will Marshall -- Politico, April 22, 2018

"Poland's Ruling Law and Justice Party Is Doing Lasting Damage" Editorial Board -- The Economist, April 21, 2018

Erdogan's Authoritarian Rule

"Approaching Elections, Turkey's Erdogan Gives a Master Class in Dictatorship" Simon A. Waldman -- Haaretz, April 22, 2018

"How President Erdogan Is Turning Turkey into Putin's Russia" Soner Cagaptay -- Time, April 24, 2018

"Turkey's Snap Elections: Erdogan's Improvised Gambit" Aykan Erdemir -- War on the Rocks, April 21, 2018

China-Taiwan Tensions Escalate

"Taiwan's Democracy Is the Key Issue Facing China" Xuan Loc Doan -- Asia Times, April 24, 2018

"What Would Taiwan Do if China Invaded?" Russell Hsiao -- The National Interest, April 24, 2018

A New Era for Cuba?

"More Black Officials in Cuba as Leadership Changes" Frances Robles and Azam Ahmed -- The New York Times, April 22, 2018