Italians vote in a snap general election with an expected populist surge; occupied territories in Ukraine stage referendums on whether or not to join Russia; and the Joe Biden administration holds a summit with Pacific Island leaders to counter growing Chinese influence. 
 
Mentioned on the Podcast
Jason Horowitz, “Giorgia Meloni May Lead Italy, and Europe Is Worried,” New York Times

Italy’s Pivotal Election, Putin’s Referendums, U.S.-Pacific Island Summit, and More

News

Politics

Ukraine rushes to push back against a new Russian offensive in its northeast Kharkiv region; U.S. President Joe Biden invites Kenyan President William Ruto for a state visit, the first U.S. state visit for an African leader since 2008; London’s High Court decides on whether to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States to stand trial; and tens of thousands protest in Tbilisi, Georgia, after its parliament passes the controversial “foreign agents” bill.
 
Mentioned on the Podcast
 
Rachel Chason, “U.S. Threats Led to Rupture of Vital Military Ties, Nigerien Leader Says,” Washington Post
 
For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/ukraine-tries-halt-russian-advance-biden-woos-kenya-fate-assange-and-more

Ukraine Tries To Halt Russian Advance, Biden Woos Kenya, the Fate of Assange, and More

Israel’s newest military operation in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah stirs concerns of catastrophe for Palestinians in Gaza, and prompts the United States to condition its offensive military aid for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war broke out; Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meet in Ankara, Turkey, to continue their diplomatic efforts; the seventy-seventh Cannes Film Festival showcases new films ranging from niche to blockbuster; and Russian President Vladimir Putin orders tactical nuclear weapon drills as a signal to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
 
Mentioned on the Podcast
 
Ali Abbasi, The Apprentice 
 
“Anyone Who’s on the Ground in Gaza is in ‘Danger,’ WFP Chief McCain Says,” NBC News
 
Jacques Audilard, Emilia Perez
 
Christina Bouri and Diana Roy, “Few Options for Gazans as Israel Enters Rafah,” CFR.org
 
Francis Ford Coppola, Megalopolis 
 
David Cronenberg, The Shrouds 
 
“Emmanuel Macron In His Own Words,” Economist
 
Yorgos Lanthimos, Kinds of Kindness 
 
George Miller, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga  
 
War in Gaza Update: The Rafah Incursion and Negotiations Over Hostage Release and Ceasefire, Council on Foreign Relations
 
“Why Lithuania is Considering Sending Soldiers to Ukraine,” Financial Times
For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/israels-rafah-plans-greece-and-turkey-boost-diplomacy-cannes-festival-unveils-new-films

Israel’s Rafah Plans, Greece and Turkey Boost Diplomacy, Cannes Festival Unveils New Films, and More

In this special episode to mark World Press Freedom Day, Jeffrey Gedmin, cofounder and editor-in-chief of American Purpose and former president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, joins Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins to discuss the global state of press freedom. They cover the challenges that a growing number of journalists face in exile or imprisonment, the U.S. role in upholding freedom of the press, and more. 
 
Mentioned on the Podcast
 
“Exile Journalists Map—Fleeing to Europe and North America,” Reporters Without Borders
 
“Media Freedom,” Freedom House
 
2023 World Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders
 
Journalists: 
 
Parnaz Azima
 
Jamal Khashoggi
 
Alsu Kurmasheva
 
Monica Lovinescu
 
Georgi Markov
 
For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at:  https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/world-press-freedom-day-2024-mounting-threats-renewed-purpose

World Press Freedom Day 2024: Mounting Threats, Renewed Purpose

Secretary of State Antony Blinken wraps his second visit to China as tensions mount over Beijing’s military support of Russia’s war in Ukraine and ongoing threats in the South China Sea; International Workers’ Day on May 1 comes at a time of revived labor activism over wages and inequality; and U.S. President Joe Biden approves a $61 billion foreign aid package providing critical military assistance to Ukraine, potentially improving the situation on the ground in the war with Russia.
 
Mentioned on the Podcast
 
“2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices,” Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. Department of State
 
“Global Military Spending Surges Amid War, Rising Tensions and Insecurities,” Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
 
Max Boot, “Weapons of War: The Race Between Russia and Ukraine,” CFR.org
For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/blinken-visits-china-may-day-stirs-workers-rights-concerns-us-resumes-ukraine-aid-and-more

Blinken Visits China, May Day Stirs Workers’ Rights Concerns, the U.S. Resumes Ukraine Aid, and More

Concerns grow over the widening Middle East conflict after Iran launches three hundred ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones at Israel; European Union (EU) leaders discuss how to bolster aid to Ukraine amid an uptick in Russian attacks and the situation unfolding in the Middle East; India kicks off the world’s largest democratic election—spanning more than forty-four days—where the incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to win again; and warming water temperatures cause a mass bleaching of coral reefs.
 
Mentioned on the Podcast
 
Steven A. Cook, “Iran Attack Means an Even Tougher Balancing Act for the U.S. in the Middle East,” CFR.org
 
“How India’s Imports of Russian Oil Have Lubricated Global Markets,” Economist
 
Andy Bounds, Laura Dubois, Christopher Miller, “Germany Urges Dozens of Allies to Send Air Defense Systems to Ukraine,” Financial Times
 
For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/aftermath-irans-attack-israel-eu-talks-ukraine-indias-massive-election-and-more

Italy’s Pivotal Election, Putin’s Referendums, U.S.-Pacific Island Summit, and More

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