News Watch 2018

Migrant Crisis
War and poverty in the Middle East and Africa have driven more than 1.7 million migrants across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe since 2014. Nearly 15,000 have drowned while attempting the journey in rickety boats. Europe has been so overwhelmed by the flood of migrants that there’s been a backlash against them. Several countries—including Hungary and Austria—have sealed their borders to keep them out. Tens of thousands of refugees remain stranded in Libya and Greece, creating a massive humanitarian crisis.

Russia
After 18 years in power, President Vladimir Putin retains an iron grip on the government. Despite many antigovernment protests in 2017, Putin is expected to run for—and easily win—another term in March. Relations with the U.S. remain seriously strained by Russia’s aggression, including its backing of armed separatist groups in Ukraine and the government of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. In July 2017, the U.S. Congress passed new sanctions against Russia for meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Brexit
The future of the European Union (E.U.) remains uncertain after the United Kingdom (U.K.) voted last year to exit the loose federation of 28 nations. The U.K. also faces hard choices as it negotiates its departure, known as Brexit, in March 2019. Many of the E.U. countries share free trade and open borders. Experts predict that the U.K. will lose billions of dollars a year in trade with E.U. nations as a result of leaving the union.

South Sudan
In 2011, South Sudan became the world’s newest country when it gained independence from Sudan. But just two years later, South Sudan was consumed by a civil war that still rages today. The conflict, which pits the government against rebel groups, has killed tens of thousands of people, devastated the economy, and caused life-threatening food shortages. Earlier in 2017, parts of South Sudan were in a famine, and millions there continue to starve.

Saving Elephants
Illegal hunting has put Africa’s elephants at risk of extinction. Tens of thousands of the animals are killed every year for their ivory tusks, which sell for about $330 per pound. Most of that ivory ends up in China, where it’s made into jewelry and other items. But now the Chinese government is on a mission to halt the nation’s ivory trade. The country recently started shutting down its ivory factories and shops and aims to close them all by the end of 2017.

North Korea
Under its reckless young dictator, Kim Jong Un, North Korea has stepped up its testing of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, which experts fear may already be able to reach parts of the U.S. Kim also continues to threaten neighboring South Korea and the more than 28,000 U.S. troops stationed there.

China
Although China’s economy has slowed, it’s still the second largest in the world (after that of the U.S.). In recent years, many U.S. companies have opened factories in China, where labor is cheaper. President Donald Trump has criticized the resulting loss of American jobs. Trump has also vowed to counter China’s aggressive stance in the South China Sea, where it has seized territory claimed by other countries.

Afghanistan
American troops have been fighting a war in Afghanistan since 2001, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the U.S. But after 16 years, Afghanistan remains unstable. The Taliban, a radical Muslim group driven from power early in the war, continue to battle U.S. and Afghan forces. President Trump is expected to send an additional 4,000 troops to try to stabilize the situation.

The Middle East is a region, not a continent. Most of it is in Asia, but it also includes parts of Africa (Egypt) and Europe (part of Turkey).

ISIS
The U.S.-led campaign to reclaim territory from the radical Islamist group ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) continues to make progress in Iraq and Syria. But the group has widened its reach in other areas, gaining a foothold in places such as Afghanistan and the Philippines. It also continues to attract recruits and inspire deadly attacks around the world.

Iran
Iran has agreed to limit its nuclear program—and its ability to build a nuclear weapon—following a 2015 pact with the U.S. and five other countries. In return, the U.S. and its allies have begun to lift sanctions that had devastated Iran’s economy. President Trump fears that Iran will continue to develop nuclear weapons anyway.

Mexico
Tensions between the U.S. and Mexico are high. President Trump vows to build a wall along the countries’ entire border to prevent illegal immigration. Trump has also insisted on renegotiating NAFTA, a trade deal between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada that he says hurts U.S. workers. Talks began in August 2017 but haven’t made much progress.

Puerto Rico
The governor of this Caribbean island warned of a humanitarian crisis after it was pounded by Hurricane Maria in September. The worst storm to hit the island in decades, Maria flattened homes, left 60 percent of the island without water, and cut off power to all of its 3.4 million people. President Trump promised federal help for this U.S. territory. But experts say that Puerto Ricans face severe food shortages and months without electricity. 

Cuba
The debate over U.S. policy toward Cuba is heating up again. Relations with the island nation had been frozen for more than 50 years until then-president Barack Obama restored them in 2014. But President Trump says Obama’s policy, which led to more travel and trade between the two countries, rewards an oppressive Communist dictatorship. Trump has reversed course, tightening restrictions on U.S. travel and trade with Cuba.

Venezuela
This South American country is on the brink of economic and political collapse. Because of a huge drop in the price of oil—Venezuela’s main source of revenue—the government can’t afford to import enough food and medicine. Severe shortages have led to long lines at stores, looting, and violence. Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in protest, calling for President Nicolás Maduro to step down.

Colombia
After 52 years of civil war against a rebel group called the FARC, President Juan Manuel Santos negotiated a peace deal to end the conflict in 2016. Since then, thousands of rebels have given up their weapons and begun to reintegrate into society. Many Colombians, however, say the deal lets the FARC off too easily.

Brazil
South America’s largest country remains in turmoil following years of political scandals and an economic recession. The nation’s unemployment rate is about 13 percent. Meanwhile, Brazilian officials have declared an end to the country’s national emergency over Zika after a sharp decrease in the number of cases. Zika is a highly contagious virus spread by mosquitoes. It has been linked to birth defects in dozens of countries, including the U.S.