September 12, 2018

Weekly World News Update

9/11 Anniversary; Syria Fights Over Idlib; Russian Vostok; Economic Catastrophe Globally; India Progresses; Far Right Gains in Sweden; Can Irexit Happen?

Quote of the Week

“If he acts like a 5-year-old…I want more 5-year-olds on the National Security Council.” 

-- Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, defending Trump’s leadership on national security issues in an interview with Politico on Monday.

17th Anniversary of 9/11

"Beyond the Homeland: Protecting America from Extremism in Fragile States - Interim Report" Task Force on Extremism in Fragile States -- USIP, September 11, 2018

"NYC Subway Station Reopens 17 Years After It Was Destroyed During Sept. 11 Attacks” Cameron Jenkins -- NPR, September 9, 2018

“9/11 Anniversary: Rare Images Show the Aftermath of World Trade Center Attack That Killed 2,997” Will Worley -- Independent, September 11, 2018

“9/11 Heroes Honored with Wind Chime Memorial” Juliana Kracov -- CBS News, September 9, 2018

Syrian Offensive in Idlib

“The War in Syria: A Battle Looms in Idlib” Ashish Sen -- Atlantic Council, September 7, 2018

“The Battle of Syria’s Last Rebel Redoubt Looms” Editorial Board -- The Economist, September 6, 2018

“Russia Pounds Idlib, Accuses U.S. of Using White Phosphorus Bombs” Editorial Board -- Deutsche Welle, September 9, 2018 

“High-Stakes Diplomacy as Battle for Syria’s Idlib Looms” Jon Gambrell and Nasser Karimi -- The Washington Post, September 7, 2018

Vostok 2018 Exercises Begin

“As Russia Launches the Biggest War Games Ever with China, the Pentagon Will Be Watching 'Very Closely'” Holly Ellyatt -- CNBC, September 11, 2018

“Russia Kicks Off Massive War Games, Hosts Putin-Xi Meeting” Mary Ilyushina, Ben Westcott, and Matt Rivers -- CNN, September 11, 2018

“Putin’s Big Bang in the Russian Far East” Andrew Salmon -- Asia Times, September 11, 2018

“Vostok 2018: Russia Lets the War Games with China Begin” Mikhail Bushuev -- Deutsche Welle, September 10, 2018

A New Global Economic Crisis

“Why Emerging Markets Are in Crisis Across the Globe” Ian Bremmer -- Eurasia Group, September 6, 2018

“Argentina Is Running Out of Tools to Lift Its Plunging Currency” Desmond Lachman -- The Hill, September 5, 2018

“South Africans Brace for Further Pain as Recession Bites” Gavin du Venage -- The National, September 11, 2018

“Rupee Is Asia's Worst Performance Currency...But Is It So Bleak for India?” T.N. Ninan -- This Week in Asia, September 10, 2018

Breakthroughs in India

"What Next for U.S.-India Military Ties?” Alyssa Ayres -- Council on Foreign Relations, September 7, 2018

“New India-U.S. Arms Agreement, Expanded Exercises Illustrate Growing Security Cooperation” John Grady -- USNI News, September 9, 2018

“India Unbans Gay Sex” Delhi -- The Economist, September 6, 2018

Sweden’s Political Deadlock 

“Swedish Election: Main Blocs Neck and Neck as Nationalists Gain” -- BBC News, September 10, 2018

“Sweden’s Far Right Has Won the War of Ideas” Emily Schultheis -- Foreign Policy, September 10, 2018

“In Sweden, the Elite Lost Touch with the People” John Fund -- National Review, September 9, 2018

What Are the Chances of “Irexit?”

“Irexit Freedom to Prosper to Field Candidates in European Elections” Kitty Holland -- The Irish Times, September 8, 2018

“Why Brexit Makes an Irish Departure from the EU More Likely” Anthony Coughlan -- CAPX, September 6, 2018