January 2, 2019

Weekly World News Update

What to Expect in 2019; Xi Speech Spotlights Taiwan; Potential Fallout of Syria Withdrawal; Brazil's New President; Leadership Challenge in Sudan; Bangladesh's Election Dispute; U.N. Tangles with Somalia

Quote of the Week

“A world led by authoritarian regimes is a world — and an America — with less prosperity, less freedom, less peace.To re-assume our leadership in world politics, we must repair failings in our politics at home. That project begins, of course, with the highest office once again acting to inspire and unite us.”

-- Utah Senator-elect Mitt Romney in a Jan. 1 op-ed for the Washington Post.

2019 Preview

“The Biggest Security Threats in 2019” Peter Apps -- Reuters, January 1, 2019

“The Biggest Problem for the Global Economy in 2019 won't be the U.S.-China Trade War” Panos Mourdoukoutas -- Forbes, December 29, 2018

"In 2019, the ‘Techlash’ will Go from Strength to Strength" Mark Scott -- Politico, January 2, 2019

“Global Growth Seen Lower in 2019, UBS says, But It’s Not All Bad” Holly Ellyatt -- CNBC, January 2, 2019

“The World in 2019” The Economist, January 1, 2019

China-Taiwan Divide

“Chinese President Xi Jinping Urges Taiwan to Follow Hong Kong Model for Unification” Teddy Ng and Lawrence Chung -- South China Morning Post, January 2, 2019

“How Trump Can Challenge China” Reihan Salam -- The Atlantic, January 1, 2019

“Xi Says Taiwan ‘Must’ Unify With China as Tsai Unveils Her Own ‘Four Musts’” Nick Aspinwall -- The Diplomat, January 2, 2019

“Taiwan’s Tightrope” Debra Mao and Samson Ellis -- Washington Post, January 2, 2019

U.S. Withdrawal from Syria

“U.S. Troop Withdrawal from Syria Could Take Several Months” Luis Martinez -- ABC News, December 27, 2018

“Talk of the Endgame in Syria Dodges the Question of Recovery” Frederick Deknatel -- World Politics Review, January 2, 2019

“Defense Department says U.S. Troop Withdrawal from Syria Is ‘Deliberate, Well Thought-Out’” Elizabeth Zwirz -- Fox News, December 30, 2018

“Goodbye, Mattis. Goodbye, Syria. Hello, 2019” Defense One, January 1, 2019

The Bolsonaro Era Begins in Brazil

“Brazil's New President, Jair Bolsonaro, Takes Office” BBC News, January 1, 2019

“Brazil Is About to Show the World How a Modern Democracy Collapses” Travis Waldron -- Huffington Post, January 1, 2019

“How the U.S. Should Treat Brazil’s Bolsonaro” Eli Lake -- Bloomberg, December 31, 2018

Unrest in Sudan

“Sudan: Calls Grow for Omar al-Bashir to Step Down” -- Al Jazeera, January 1, 2019

“Sudan has Blocked Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to Counter Anti-Government Protests” Abdi Latif Dahir -- Quartz, December 28, 2018

“Janjaweed, Ghost Squads and a Divided Nation: How Sudan's Bashir Stays in Power” Yousra Elbagir and Nima Elbagir -- CNN, December 31, 2018

Questions Arise in Bangladesh’s Election

“Western Powers Call for Probe into Bangladesh Election Irregularities and Violence” Ruma Paul and Zeba Siddiqui -- Reuters, January 1, 2019

“'They Threaten Everyone.' Sheikh Hasina's Landslide Win in Bangladesh Marred by Voter Suppression” Verena Holzl and A Hossain -- Time, December 31, 2018

U.N. Trouble with Somalia

“U.N. Envoy Ordered to Leave Somalia” Mohamed Olad Hassan -- Voice of America, January 1, 2019