May 9, 2018

Weekly World News Update

U.S. Leaves Iran Deal; Haspel CIA Controversy; U.S.-North Korea Relations; Armenia's New PM; Malaysia Votes; Global Health

Quote of the Week

"The Iranian nuclear deal is defective at its core."

-- U.S. President Donald Trump, in a speech Tuesday announcing the U.S. withdrawal from the deal.

"We will begin again with the enrichment of uranium at an industrial level without limits."

-- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, in a speech in reply to the U.S. decision.

"Walking away from the JCPOA turns our back on America’s closest allies, and an agreement that our country’s leading diplomats, scientists, and intelligence professionals negotiated. In a democracy, there will always be changes in policies and priorities from one Administration to the next. But the consistent flouting of agreements that our country is a party to risks eroding America’s credibility, and puts us at odds with the world’s major powers."

-- President Barack Obama, in a statement released in response to the Trump Administration's move.

U.S. Drops the Iran Nuclear Deal

"Trump Withdraws U.S. from the Iran Nuclear Deal. What You Need to Know" Jon Greenberg; John Kruzel; Amy Sherman -- PolitiFact, May 8, 2018

"Trump Dumps Iran Deal - Hallelujah!" Andrew C. McCarthy -- National Review, May 8, 2018

"Trump Destroys the Iran Deal - and a Lot More" Robin Wright -- The New Yorker, May 8, 2018

"Europeans Scramble to Save Iran Nuclear Deal, but Face New Concerns Over U.S. Sanctions" James McAuley -- The Washington Post, May 9, 2018

"The Challenge of Reinstating Sanctions Against Iran" Peter Harrell -- Foreign Affairs, May 4, 2018

Controversy Over Haspel for CIA

"Bipartisan Group of 115 Retired and Former Career Ambassadors Warn Senate that Confirming Haspel Would Undercut the Work of Diplomats Around the World" Editorial Board -- Human Rights First, May 9, 2018

"Why Intelligence Pros Have Swung Behind the CIA's Gina Haspel" Gerald F. Seib -- The Wall Street Journal, May 7, 2018

Warming U.S.-North Korea Relations?

"Trump's First Breakthrough in North Korea Negotiations" Krishnadev Calamur -- The Atlantic, May 9, 2018

"Kim Jong Un Is Playing America and China" Doug Bandow -- The National Interest, May 8, 2018

"Make North Korea's Test Pause Permanent" Jon Wolfsthal -- 38 North, May 7, 2018

Armenia's New Prime Minister

"He Was a Protester a Month Ago. Now, Nikol Pashinyan Leads Armenia" Neil MacFarquhar -- The New York Times, May 8, 2018

"How Russia Played Silent Kingmaker in Armenia's Revolution" Margarita Antidze -- Reuters, May 8, 2018

Malaysia Goes to the Polls

"Malaysia's Unappetizing Choice" James Crabtree -- Nikkei Asian Review, May 8, 2018

"What Is Wrong with Malaysia?" Umapagan Ampikaipakan -- The New York Times, May 7, 2018

"'Queen of Dragons': The Inside Story of Malaysia's Election Fixer" Peter Guest -- Wired, May 9, 2018

Global Health News

"Ebola Returns Just as Trump Asks to Rescind Ebola Funds" Ed Yong -- The Atlantic, May 9, 2018

"Bringing Gender Equality to Global Public Health" Helen Clark and Sania Nishtar -- Project Syndicate, May 8, 2018