The most important foreign affairs events of the week

July 31

“On Monday, The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proposed in a document to include Venice and its lagoon on its World Heritage in Danger list. It said the city had not made enough progress in preventing damage from mass tourism, climate change and development projects, adding that the corrective measures that Italy has proposed ‘are still insufficient.’ The UNESCO list, which includes 55 endangered sites from the Old City of Jerusalem to Timbuktu, is seeking to spur on conservation, according to the agency. Including a site on the list commits the United Nations to develop a plan of corrective measures alongside national authorities and then monitor the implementation.”

Click here to read more about the issue.

The noun heritage means “something that is passed down from preceding generations; a tradition.”

The transitive verb to spur on means “to incite or stimulate; contribute to the progress or growth of (something).” Close synonyms are “encourage”, “promote”, “boost”, and “advance.”

August 1st

“On Tuesday the former United States President, Donald Trump, was charged with four counts in connection with his widespread efforts to overturn the 2020 election following a sprawling federal investigation into his attempts to cling to power after losing the presidency. The indictment, filed by the special counsel Jack Smith in Federal District Court in Washington, accuses Mr. Trump of three conspiracies: one to defraud the United States; a second to obstruct an official government proceeding, the certification of the Electoral College vote; and a third to deprive people of a civil right, the right to have their votes counted. Mr. Trump was also charged with a fourth count of obstructing or attempting to obstruct an official proceeding.”

Click here to read more about the issue.

The adjective sprawling means “spreading out in different directions.”

The noun indictment means “A set of written criminal charges issued against a party, where a grand jury, under the guidance of a prosecutor, has found that sufficient evidence exists to justify trying the party for that crime.”

August 2

“The Biden Administration is finally basking in what is arguably the best run of economic data to date in the Democratic presidency. Inflation is cooling, business investment is rising, job growth is powering on, and surveys suggest rising economic optimism among consumers and voters. Even though recent polls still show that Joe Biden remains underwater on his handling of the economy, there are signs that voters may be brightening their assessment of the economy under Biden’s Administration, in part thanks to the mounting effects of the infrastructure, manufacturing, and climate bills he has signed into law. The economy grew at a 2.4 percent annual rate in the second quarter of the year, handily beating economists’ expectations” 

Click here to read more about the issue.

The expression to bask in something means “to enjoy or revel in something, such as praise, fame; to take great pleasure or pride in something.”

The adverb handily means “In an easy manner; easily; in a handy manner; dexterously.”

August 3

“On Thursday, Niger’s coup leaders said that they had severed military ties with France, their country’s former colonial ruler. This decision threw into uncertainty the future of 1,500 French troops based in the African country. The leaders of the coup also dismissed Niger’s ambassadors to France and the United States, another military partner, as well as the ambassadors to Togo and Nigeria, an essential trade partner. These extreme measures came after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), along with the US and France, threatened military action against Niger, unless the country’s democratically elected president was to be restored to office by the past Thursday. Niger has been not only an important military partner to Western powers, within a region destabilized by islamic extremism, but also a major source of uranium (Niger is the second biggest supplier for nuclear power plants in France).” 

Click here to read more about the issue.

The transitive verb sever means “to break up (a relationship, for example); dissolve; to break or interrupt.” Close synonyms are “dissolve”, “dissociate”, and “terminate.”

The expression along with means “in addition to someone or something; together with someone or something.”

August 4

“On Friday, Ukraine attacked a Russian warship in Novorossiysk, the most important Black Sea port city. This drone strike not only served as another blow for the Russian Navy, but also signaled that Moscow’s economy is ever more squarely in Ukraine’s cross hairs, bringing the war to one of Russia’s most critical commercial ports. The Novorossiysk commercial seaport is one of Russia’s largest by volume and among the biggest in Europe — a major node in the export of Russian grain, oil, and other products to countries around the world. Before Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, the Kremlin allocated significant resources to the construction of the naval base at Novorossiysk, turning the port into one of the country’s main naval hubs for the Black Sea. The attack, and the subsequent pause in maritime traffic at the port, prompted wheat futures to rise on Friday, especially because Russia is the world’s largest wheat exporter.”

Click here to read more about the issue.

The adverb squarely means “in a straightforward manner; without equivocation; firmly; solidly.”

The transitive verb prompt means “To move to act; spur; incite; to give rise to; inspire.” Close synonyms are “cause”, “stimulate”, “spur”, and “impel.”