U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken returns to the Middle East as the region reacts to attacks in Iran, Lebanon, and the Red Sea; the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas previews new products and services equipped with artificial intelligence (AI); the U.S. Congress returns from its holiday recess with divisions over migration and defense aid; and the stabbing of South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung stirs fears ahead of elections.   Recommended Listening   “The Year of AI and Elections,” Why It Matters   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/mideast-tensions-grow-consumer-electronics-show-spotlights-ai-divided-us-congress-returns 

In this special, year-end episode, Nahal Toosi, Politico’s senior correspondent for foreign affairs and national security, joins Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins to review the biggest events of 2023 and the stories to keep an eye on in the coming year. They discuss instability caused by the Israel-Hamas war and Russia’s war in Ukraine, the global push for a greener future, challenges to immigration policy, the numerous elections of 2024, U.S. global leadership, and more.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Matthieu Favas, “The Green Transition Will Transform The Global Economic Order,” The Economist   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/world-next-year-stories-watch-2024 

Will Freeman, an expert on the potential conflict between Venezuela and Guyana, discusses the territorial dispute over the Essequibo region. Michelle Gavin, an analyst on the tense elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, talks about the ongoing presidential elections. Other interesting topics covered include the missile defense base in Poland and the disappearance of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Palestinian civilians find fewer safe places to shelter as Israeli forces expand ground operations south in the Gaza Strip; European Union (EU) leaders discuss prospects for more aid and EU membership for Ukraine; Egypt holds presidential elections amid an economic crisis; and a former senior U.S. diplomat is charged as a spy for Cuba.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “How a Sombre Mood Gripped Europe,” Economist   “How Victor Manuel Rocha Got Away with Spying for Cuba for So Long,” All Things Considered   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/fighting-resumes-gaza-eu-summits-ukraine-challenge-egypts-elections-and-more 

The United Arab Emirates, a major oil and gas producer, hosts the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), where hundreds of world leaders meet to discuss limiting global warming and helping states that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change; Russia arbitrarily detains a journalist with U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; and the World Health Organization asks China for information on a spike in respiratory illness.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “CPJ and Partners Call on Blinken to Designate RFE/RL’s Alsu Kurmasheva ‘Wrongfully Detained’ by Russia,” Committee to Protect Journalists    Justin Rowlatt, “UAE Planned to Use COP28 Climate Talks to Make Oil Deals,” BBC   Recommended Reading   RFE/RL’s Idel.Realities, “Russian Rights Group Memorial Recognizes RFE/RL’s Kurmasheva As Political Prisoner,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty   Robert McMahon, “Russia Is Censoring News on the War in Ukraine. Foreign Media Are Trying to Get Around That,” CFR.org For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/cop28-dubai-russia-crackdown-journalists-china-illness-spike-and-more 

Lucy Fisher, Anna Gross, and Jim Pickard discuss Ukraine's counteroffensive, Argentina's presidential election, Turkey's President visiting Berlin, and David Cameron returning to the UK government as foreign secretary. They highlight the uncertain future of US aid to Ukraine, the economic challenges in Argentina, and Turkey's role in negotiating peace. The experts also mention the Israel-Hamas conflict, Sweden's NATO bid, and the divisions among countries on foreign policy.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit begins in San Francisco with U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping set to meet on the sidelines; French President Emmanuel Macron hosts a humanitarian conference to discuss new aid options for civilians in the Gaza Strip; the Arab League holds an emergency summit in Riyadh at the request of the Palestinian Authority and Saudi Arabia; and the United States and China discuss nuclear arms control.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Ian Johnson, “Can a Summit Ease U.S.-China Tensions?,” CFR.org   Inu Manak, “Unpacking the IPEF: Biden’s Indo-Pacific Trade Play,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/biden-and-xi-apec-macrons-gaza-conference-arab-league-emergency-summit-and-more 

Israel’s ground operations in the Gaza Strip intensify as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Israeli leaders amid calls for a pause in fighting; U.S. President Biden hosts the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity Summit to discuss regional economic growth and the migration crisis; Congress considers aid to Israel and Ukraine as a government shutdown approaches; and conflict displaces 6.9 million people in the Democratic Republic of Congo.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Center for Preventative Action, “Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” CFR.org   Noël James, “Women This Week: Sexual Assault Increasing Among Displaced Women in the Congo,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/israel-hamas-war-ground-campaign-biden-hosts-latin-american-leaders-congress-debates

Diplomatic contacts surge ahead of anticipated escalation in the Israel-Hamas war; the United Kingdom (UK) hosts its first artificial intelligence (AI) Safety Summit to develop strategies that mitigate the risks of AI; Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrives in Washington, DC to speak with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan; and Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan possibly faces the death penalty.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “The Future of the Israel-Hamas War, With Linda Robinson,” The President’s Inbox   “The Middle East, Including the Palestinian Question: Vote on Competing Draft Resolutions,” What's In Blue   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/diplomacy-intensifies-israel-hamas-war-uks-ai-safety-summit-chinas-foreign-minister-visits   

As the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip continues, diplomacy ramps up in the Middle East amid concerns of spreading tensions; Argentina holds an election while its economy suffers record inflation; Russian President Vladimir Putin and other top Russian officials venture abroad to seek allies as their war with Ukraine grinds on; and the death toll from Sudan’s conflict reaches at least nine thousand.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Keith Bradsher, Anatoly Kurmanaev, and David Pierson, “Putin Visits China to Bolster Ties With ‘My Friend,’ Xi,” New York Times   Christina Bouri and Diana Roy, “The Israel-Hamas War: The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza,” CFR.org   Steven A. Cook, “Will Egypt Play a Role in Easing the Gaza War?,” CFR.org   Steven A. Cook, “Why the U.S. Tolerates Qatar’s Hamas Ties,” Foreign Policy   Shannon K. O’Neil and Will Freeman, “Latin America This Week: September 20, 2023,” CFR.org   “President Joe Biden: The 2023 60 Minutes Interview,” 60 Minutes   David J. Scheffer, “What International Law Has to Say About the Israel-Hamas War,” CFR.org   “The Genocide That No One’s Talking About,” The Intelligence   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/eyes-gaza-argentinas-presidential-vote-putin-seeks-friends-and-more