December 5, 2018

Weekly World News Update

Remembering Bush 41; Qatar No Longer in OPEC; U.S.-China Trade Truce; INF Deadline; Post-G20; Far Right Wins in Spain; New Mexican President; Israeli Issues

Quote of the Week

“In today’s cynical world, such concepts may seem old-fashioned to some and easy to dismiss. But the cynics are wrong. They are not old-fashioned. They are time-tested. More than 2,300 years ago, Aristotle believed that the virtues of prudence, temperance, courage, and justice were vital to mankind. George H.W. Bush embodied them all. And he made the world a better place because of his adherence to them.” -- Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush in a Washington Post op-ed on Tuesday about his late father, former President George H.W. Bush.

The World Remembers George H.W. Bush

“George H.W. Bush Funeral: Former Presidents, World Leaders to Attend” Jamie Gangel and Eli Watkins -- CNN, December 5, 2018

"For George Bush and His Eldest Son, a Relationship Unique Among American Presidents" Peter Baker -- New York Times, December 4, 2018

“George H.W. Bush's Presidency Left the World a More Peaceful and Stable Place” Nicholas Burns -- CNBC, December 3, 2018

“How George H.W. Bush Finished What Reagan Started in Ending the Cold War” Patrick Kiger -- History, December 5, 2018

“The Man Who Got Along” Conrad Black -- National Review, December 3, 2018

Qatar Pulls Out OPEC

“Qatar Breaks Up with OPEC: It's Not You, It’s Me” Samantha Gross and Abdel Ghafar -- Brookings. December 5, 2018

“Qatar Leaves OPEC” Nikos Tsafos -- Center for Strategic and International Studies, December 4, 2018 

“Can OPEC Survive Trump, Putin, and a Pullout by Qatar?” Martha White -- NBC, December 5, 2018

“Qatar Will Pull Out of OPEC, As Rift With Saudi Arabia Deepens” Bill Chappell -- NPR, December 3, 2018

“Qatar Quits OPEC as Saudis Walk Tightrope on Oil Prices” Patricia Sabga -- Aljazeera, December 3, 2018

Will U.S.-China Trade Truce Last?

“Trump and Xi: From Ceasefire to Lasting Deal?” Stephanie Segal and Matthew Goodman -- CSIS, December 3, 2018

"China Breaks Its Silence on 90-Day U.S. Tariff Truce" Wall Street Journal, December 5, 2018

“Truce on U.S.-China Tariffs Brings Relief for Now – But Risks Extending a Trade War Later” Matt Kwong -- CBC, December 4, 2018

“What Deal Did Trump and Xi Strike at the G20?” Chen Dingding -- Carnegie Endowment, December 4, 2018

Russia Receives INF Deadline

"U.S. Gives Russia a Deadline on Nuclear Treaty" Gardiner Harris and Steven Erlanger -- New York Times, December 4, 2018

"Two-Month Deadline Will Not Force Russia to Reconsider Stance on INF Treaty, Says Expert" TASS Russian News Agency, December 5, 2018

"Russia Threatens to Target U.S. Allies If Trump Exits Treaty" Stepan Kravchenko -- Bloomberg, December 5, 2018

"Russia Says U.S. Has Shown No Evidence It Is in Breach of Nuclear Treaty" Maria Zakharova -- The Moscow Times, December 5, 2018

Post-G20 

“G20 At Ten: Time For Greater Multilateral Role” Pradumna Bickram Rana and Xianbai Ji -- RSIS, December 3, 2018

The G20 Summit Was Overshadowed by Other News. But There Wasn’t Much to Overshadow Anyway.” Elizabeth Saunders -- Washington Post, December 3, 2018

“G20 Markets a Short-Term Win” Mohamed El-Erian -- Bloomberg, December 2, 2018

“A Look at What Happened at the G20 Summit in Argentina” Luis Andres Henao – AP News, December 2, 2018

New Populists in Spain?

“Andalusia’s Regional Elections Signal Trouble Ahead for Spain’s Established Parties” Nick Ottens -- World Politics Review, December 4, 2018

“Far-Right Spanish Political Party Vox: What Are Its Policies?” Jorge Rodríguez -- El Pais, December 3, 2018

“The Radical Right Comes to Spain” Jose Torreblanca -- European Council on Foreign Relations, December 4, 2018

Mexico’s New President

“Mexico’s New Leader Says Military Essential to Fight Crime” Amy Guthrie -- Associated Press, December 2, 2018

“Mexico's New President Takes Aim at Violence During First Day in Office” David Garcia and Miguel Gutierrez -- Reuters, December 2, 2018

“The Migrant Crisis Means No Honeymoon for Mexico’s New President” Jonah Shepp -- New York Magazine, December 2, 2018

Trouble in Israel 

“Netanyahu Reportedly Delivers Warning to Lebanon in Meeting with Pompeo” Herb Keinon -- The Jerusalem Post, December 3, 2018

“Right-Left Rift Tops Ethnic Tensions as Biggest Source of Polarization in Israel” Raoul Wootliff -- The Times of Israel, December 3, 2018

"Hezbollah Op Meant to Divert Attention From Recommendation to Indict Netanyahu, Opposition Whip Says" -- Haaretz, December 4, 2018