The World Next Week

Taiwan’s Pivotal Elections, Apple Battles Regulations, Davos Addresses World Risks, and More

Taiwan holds its presidential and legislative elections, which have major geopolitical consequences for both the United States and China; tech giant Apple deals with patent infringement allegations while more governments consider regulations on tech; the fifty-fourth World Economic Forum Annual Meeting hosts global business and political leaders in Davos, Switzerland, to address multiple crises such as conflict, climate change, and misinformation; and France appoints Gabriel Attal, the country’s youngest and first openly gay prime minister.

 

Mentioned on the Podcast

 

Council on Foreign Relations, U.S.-Taiwan Relations in a New Era: Responding to a More Assertive China, 2023

 

David McCabe and Tripp Mickle, “U.S. Moves Closer to Filing Sweeping Antitrust Case Against Apple,” New York Times

 

David Sacks, “Taiwan’s Status Quo Election,” Foreign Affairs

 

David Sacks, “Taiwan’s 2024 Presidential Election: Analyzing Hou Yu-ih’s Foreign Policy Positions,” CFR.org  

 

David Sacks, “Taiwan’s 2024 Presidential Election: Analyzing Ko Wen-je’s Foreign Policy Positions,” CFR.org

 

David Sacks, “Taiwan’s 2024 Presidential Election: Analyzing William Lai’s Foreign Policy Positions,” CFR.org

 

David Sacks, “Why China Would Struggle to Invade Taiwan,” CFR.org

 

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/taiwans-pivotal-elections-apple-battles-regulations-davos-addresses-world-risks-and-more 

Mideast Tensions Grow, Consumer Electronics Show Spotlights AI, Divided U.S. Congress Returns, and More

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 

The World Next Year: Stories to Watch in 2024

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 

Guyana-Venezuela Border Dispute, Missile Defense Base in Poland, DRC Elections, and More

Guyana and Venezuela begin discussion on a territorial dispute over the Essequibo region; the Redzikowo U.S. missile defense base in Poland becomes operable; the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) holds presidential elections; and Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny goes missing.

 

Mentioned on the Podcast

 

Will Freeman, “Will Venezuela invade Guyana?,” CFR

 

Michelle Gavin, “The Democratic Republic of Congo Holds Tense Elections: What to Know,” CFR.org

 

Recommended Reading

 

Jerry Lewis, “The Nuclear Option,” Foreign Affairs

 

Carla Anne Robbins, “Antiballistic Missile System Gets Renewed Support From Clinton,” Wall Street Journal

 

Carla Anne Robbins, “Bush's Planned Missile-Shield Program May Violate ABM Treaty 'Within Months’,” Wall Street Journal

 

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/guyana-venezuela-border-dispute-missile-defense-base-poland-drc-elections-and-more 

Fighting Resumes in Gaza, EU Summit’s Ukraine Challenge, Egypt’s Elections, and More

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 

COP28 in Dubai, Russia Crackdown on Journalists, China Illness Spike, 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 

Winter Stalemate in Ukraine, Argentina’s Presidential Runoff, Turkey’s President visits Berlin, and More

Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russian forces stalls as the future of U.S. aid remains uncertain; Argentina gears up for its presidential election runoff while inflation rates soar; Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrives in Berlin to address refugee flows and the Israel–Hamas war with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz; and David Cameron returns to the United Kingdom government as foreign secretary.

 

Mentioned on the Podcast

 

Lucy Fisher, Anna Gross, and Jim Pickard, “David Cameron Brings Experience and Baggage as He Returns to Politics,” Financial Times

 

Brad W. Setser, “Argentina Election Draws Wider Attention to Embattled Economy,” CFR.org

 

“Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief on the Breakthrough He Needs to Beat Russia,” Economist

 

Andrew Wilks, “Turkey’s Erdogan Says He Trusts Russia as Much as He Trusts the West,” Associated Press

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/winter-stalemate-ukraine-argentinas-presidential-runoff-turkeys-president-visits-berlin 

Biden and Xi at APEC, Macron’s Gaza Conference, Arab League Emergency Summit, and More

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-Hamas War Ground Campaign, Biden Hosts Latin American Leaders, Congress Debates Israel and Ukraine Aid, 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

Diplomacy Intensifies With Israel-Hamas War, UK’s AI Safety Summit, China’s Foreign Minister Visits Washington, and More

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