The World Next Week

Russia’s rejection of extending the Black Sea Grain Initiative threatens global food security; Spain holds an early general election amid signs of a resurgent populist right; Comic-Con and the media industry cut back on events due to strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA); and a U.S. soldier crosses through the demilitarized zone into North Korea.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Kali Robinson, “Russia Killed the Black Sea Grain Deal. These Countries Could Suffer Most.,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/black-sea-grain-blockade-spains-snap-elections-hollywood-strikes-broader-impact-and-more 

Leaders from the European Union (EU), Latin America, and the Caribbean meet to renew a strategic partnership on issues including trade and climate change; the U.S. Congress wrestles with unprecedented divisions over the annual National Defense Authorization Act; thirty-two soccer teams land in Australia and New Zealand for the FIFA Women’s World Cup; and grim days appear likely for the Wagner Group amid a post-rebellion crackdown from the Kremlin.   Mentioned on the Podcast Jon Wertheim, “Australia and New Zealand Are Eager to Show a More Inclusive Version of Themselves,” Sports Illustrated   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/eu-latin-america-and-caribbean-summit-us-defense-spending-conflicts-womens-world-cup-down  

In this special episode of The World Next Week, Rosa Brooks, the Scott K. Ginsburg Chair in Law and Policy and professor at Georgetown University Law Center, joins Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins to discuss the books they recommend reading, the books they’re looking forward to reading, and other entertainment they’re enjoying this summer.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Carla’s Picks   Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, American Prometheus: The Triumph And Tragedy Of J. Robert Oppenheimer   Caitlin Doughty, From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death   Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer” Bob’s Picks   Konstantin Paustovsky, translated by Douglas Smith, The Story of a Life   Gabrielle Zevin, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow   “Jonathan GPT Swift on Jonathan Swift,” Conversations with Tyler Rosa’s Picks   Alex Mar, Seventy Times Seven: A True Story Of Murder And Mercy   George Black, Empire of Shadows: The Epic Story of Yellowstone   John Linson and Taylor Sheridan, “Yellowstone” Additional Books, Podcasts, Shows, and Games Mentioned on the Podcast   John Adams, Doctor Atomic   Edward Berger, “All Quiet on the Western Front”   Tyler Cowen, “Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide”   Joan Didion, The White Album   Craig Mazin, “The Last of Us”   Pong   Sam Shaw, “Manhattan”   Frank Spotnitz, “The Man in the High Castle”   Fred Zinnemann, “From Here to Eternity”   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw-special-what-read-summer-2023 

Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks to assert control and stability after the coup attempt by Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin; NATO prepares for its summit in Vilnius, Lithuania with mounting questions about Ukrainian membership; hundreds of thousands attend Denmark’s Roskilde music festival that highlights the power of art in society; and Zambia secures a deal to restructure its $6 billion in sovereign debt.   Mentioned on the Podcast Liana Fix, “For Europe, Time to Plan for a Post-Putin Russia,” CFR.org Stephen Sestanovich, “How Should NATO Think About Ukrainian Membership After Russia’s Coup Attempt?,” CFR.org Michelle Zauner, Crying in H Mart Music Selections Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul, “Blenda” Villano Antillano and Pedró, “Reina de la Selva” Bad Bunny and Rosalía, “LA NOCHE DE ANOCHE” Burna Boy, “Ye” Japanese Breakfast, “Be Sweet”   Rina Sawayama, “XS” Rema and Selena Gomez, “Calm Down” For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at:  https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/russias-post-rebellion-moves-natos-vilnius-summit-europes-21st-century-woodstock-and-more 

Heads of state from the European Union’s twenty-seven members meet in Brussels to discuss support for Ukraine and new initiatives to coordinate defense, economics, and migration; the Biden administration takes part in events marking the one-year anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which continues to draw international scrutiny; Guatemala holds its general election with voters concerned about poverty, crime, and political corruption; and the UN pledges $1.5 billion in aid to Sudan as fighting continues.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “Abortion Law: Global Comparisons,” CFR.org For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at:  https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/eu-leaders-summit-biden-marks-abortion-ruling-anniversary-guatemalas-election-and-more 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken finally heads to China amid hopes that U.S.-China tensions will subside; U.S. President Joe Biden hosts Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a state visit to focus on expanded, strategic economic ties; Ukraine presses on with its long-awaited counteroffensive; and four indigenous children survive forty days in the Amazon after a plane crash.   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/blinkens-rescheduled-china-trip-modis-state-visit-us-ukraines-counteroffensive-and-more 

Canada’s unprecedented wildfire season overwhelms Canadian firefighters, and many in the eastern United States deal with dangerous levels of smoke; the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries releases its monthly oil report as Saudi Arabia seeks to boost prices; Germany hosts NATO’s largest air defense exercise as a signal to Russia; and Ukraine rushes to respond to the humanitarian and security crises caused by the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam.   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/canadas-wildfires-opec-oil-report-natos-largest-air-drill-and-more 

The International Atomic Energy Association reports on the nuclear-powered submarines that the United States and the United Kingdom will provide to Australia within the AUKUS alliance; world leaders and defense officials meet in Singapore for Asia’s premier security event– the Shangri-La Dialogue; U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wraps up his Nordic tour with his final stop in Helsinki, meeting with Finnish officials to discuss North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) priorities; and NATO sends additional troops to Kosovo to respond to ethnically-charged clashes.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Frank Capra, Lost Horizon    Thomas L. Friedman, “NATO or Tomato?,” New York Times   Valona Tela, “Kosovo ‘Tactical Game’ Is A Strategic Blunder, Security Expert Charles Kupchan Warns Amid Balkan Violence,” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty   “Turkey’s Election [Twitter Spaces],” Council on Foreign Relations For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/australian-submarine-deal-asian-security-summit-blinken-finland-and-more 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his opponent Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu face off in Turkey’s runoff election; U.S. government leaders contend with a looming deadline to avoid a disastrous default; president-elect Bola Tinubu is sworn in as Nigeria contends with an economic crisis; Evan Gershkovich’s pre-trial detention is extended; and Sudan struggles to find a lasting solution to the conflict between the military and a paramilitary group, exacerbating its humanitarian crisis.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Steven Cook, “Here’s How to Read Turkey’s Election Results—So Far,” CFR.org   Mariel Ferragamo and Diana Roy, “What Is the Extent of Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis?,” CFR.org   Ebenezer Obadare, “Why Buhari Failed,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/turkeys-runoff-election-debt-ceiling-dangers-nigerias-tinubu-inaugurated-president-and

The Arab League summit marks the return of Syria and its president, Bashar al-Assad; Japan hosts the leaders of the Group of Seven democracies in Hiroshima, Japan, with concerns over China and Russia at the fore; the UN Security Council discusses sanctions on North Korea amid the country’s missile buildup; and migration slows at the southern U.S. border after the lifting of Title 42.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “After Twelve Years of Blood, Assad’s Syria Rejoins the Arab League,” The Economist   Recommended Reading   Kali Robinson, “Syria Is Normalizing Relations With Arab Countries. Who Will Benefit?,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/syria-returns-arab-league-g7-summit-japan-un-discussions-north-korea-and-more