WPR’s Most-Read Articles of 2020
Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020
News Wire
United States
Trump Gives Clemency to More Allies, Including Manafort, Stone and Charles Kushner
By Maggie Haberman & Michael S. Schmidt | The New York Times
Trump Vetoes Defense Bill, Teeing Up Holiday Override Votes in Congress
By Karoun Demirjian | The Washington Post
Trump Warns Iran of Retaliation After Attacks on U.S. Embassy in Baghdad
By Helene Cooper | The New York Times
Trump Administration Pushes Forward on $500 Million Weapons Deal With Saudi Arabia
By Missy Ryan & Karen DeYoung | The Washington Post
With Hacking, the United States Needs to Stop Playing the Victim
By Paul R. Kolbe | The New York Times
United States
Trump Demands Changes to Coronavirus Relief Bill, Calling It a ‘Disgrace’
By Luke Broadwater & Alan Rappeport | The New York Times
Trump Pardons Two Russia Inquiry Figures and Blackwater Guards
By Maggie Haberman & Michael S. Schmidt | The New York Times
U.S. Navy Ships Arrive in Somalia for Withdrawal
By The Editors | AFP
FBI Links Iran to Online Hit List Targeting Top Officials Who’ve Refuted Trump’s Election Fraud Claims
By Ellen Nakashima, Amy Gardner & Aaron C. Davis | The Washington Post
Why Biden Needs to Confront Corruption
By Alexandra Wrage & Michelle D. Gavin | Foreign Policy
Africa
Ethiopian Military ‘Kills 42 People Involved in Deadly Attack’
By The Editors | Al Jazeera
Zambian Police Say Two Shot Dead as Opposition Crowd Dispersed
By Noel Sichalwe | Associated Press
Kidnapped Nigerian Schoolboys Say Ransom Was Paid, Tell of Beatings
By Joe Parkinson & Gbenga Akingbule | The Wall Street Journal (subscription required)
Africa CDC: New Virus Variant Appears to Emerge in Nigeria
By Cara Anna | Associated Press
Insider Bazoum Emerges as Likely Winner in Niger’s First Democratic Transfer of Power
By Boureima Balima | Reuters
Africa
Rebels in the Central African Republic Seize Bambari City, Russia Confirms Sending Military
By The Editors | Al Jazeera
U.N. to Halt Joint U.N.-AU Peacekeeping in Darfur by Year’s End
By Samy Magdy | Associated Press
U.N. Probe in Mali Sees War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity
By The Editors | AFP
Democracy in Africa Is in Retreat
By David Pilling | Financial Times (subscription required)
The Americas
Media, NGO Offices Taken Over by Government in Nicaragua
By AP Editors | Associated Press
The Americas
First Batch of Approved COVID-19 Vaccines Reaches Latin America
By AP Editors | Associated Press
Argentine Man Cleared in Deadly Bombing at Jewish Center
By Almudena Calatrava | Associated Press
Journalist Killed in Honduras, Fourth So Far This Year
By AP Editors | Associated Press
Nicaragua Opposition Ban Draws International Condemnation
By AP Editors | Associated Press
Mexico’s Three Main Opposition Parties Form Unlikely Alliance
By AP Editors | Associated Press
The Americas
Ecuador Presidential Contender Hits at IMF Deal and Pledges Reforms
By Michael Stott & Gideon Long | Financial Times (subscription required)
Rio de Janeiro Police Arrest Outgoing Mayor Marcelo Crivella
By Mauricio Savarese & Diarlei Rodrigues | Associated Press
Asia-Pacific
China Launches Antitrust Investigation Into Alibaba, Its Most Successful Internet Company
By Gerry Shih | The Washington Post
Japan’s Prime Minister Apologizes Over Scandal Tarring His Term
By Ben Dooley | The New York Times
Assassins Silence Another ‘Voice of Afghan Democracy’ in Kabul Killing
By Pamela Constable & Sharif Hassan | The Washington Post
Asia-Pacific
Pakistan Court Orders Man Convicted of Murdering Wall Street Journal Reporter Daniel Pearl to Be Freed
By Saeed Shah | The Wall Street Journal (subscription required)
The World China Wants
By Rana Mitter | Foreign Affairs
Europe
Britain and EU Poised to Announce Christmas Eve Brexit Deal
By George Parker, Sam Fleming & Jim Brunsden | Financial Times (subscription required)
Britain Finds Two Cases of Coronavirus Variant Linked to South Africa; Travel Resumes Across English Channel
By Paul Schemm & Siobhán O’Grady | The Washington Post
With New Aircraft Carrier, France Looks to Bolster Military Ties With U.S.
By James Marson | The Wall Street Journal (subscription required)
Europe
China-EU Talks Hit Another Snag as Biden Camp Objects
By Jack Ewing, Steven Lee Myers & Ana Swanson | The New York Times
Three Police Officers in France Are Killed After Responding to Domestic Abuse Reports
By Aurelien Breeden | The New York Times
France and Britain Strike Deal to Reopen Border for Freight and Some Travel
By Benjamin Mueller | The New York Times
Russia Expels Two Colombian Diplomats in Tit-for-Tat Move
By The Editors | Reuters
Thousands Protest in Armenia, Demand PM’s Resignation
By Avet Demourian | Associated Press
Middle East & N. Africa
Right-Wing Challenge to Netanyahu Builds Ahead of Israeli Election
By Rami Ayyub | Reuters
Tunisia Minister Sacked and Arrested in Scandal Over Illegal Waste From Italy
By Simon Speakman Cordall | The Guardian
The End of the Road for Bibi?
By Neri Zilber | Foreign Policy
Israeli Government Collapses, Forcing Fourth Election in Two Years
By Isabel Kershner | The New York Times
Qatar Minister Calls for Deescalation of Gulf Crisis, Gulf-Iran Dialogue
By The Editors | Reuters
Middle East & N. Africa
Israel Deploys Submarine to Persian Gulf in Message of Deterrence to Iran
By Shira Rubin | The Washington Post
United States
December 24, 2020
Trump Gives Clemency to More Allies, Including Manafort, Stone and Charles Kushner
By Maggie Haberman & Michael S. Schmidt | The New York Times
Trump Vetoes Defense Bill, Teeing Up Holiday Override Votes in Congress
By Karoun Demirjian | The Washington Post
Trump Warns Iran of Retaliation After Attacks on U.S. Embassy in Baghdad
By Helene Cooper | The New York Times
Trump Administration Pushes Forward on $500 Million Weapons Deal With Saudi Arabia
By Missy Ryan & Karen DeYoung | The Washington Post
With New Aircraft Carrier, France Looks to Bolster Military Ties With U.S.
By James Marson | The Wall Street Journal (subscription required)
With Hacking, the United States Needs to Stop Playing the Victim
By Paul R. Kolbe | The New York Times
December 23, 2020
Trump Demands Changes to Coronavirus Relief Bill, Calling It a ‘Disgrace’
By Luke Broadwater & Alan Rappeport | The New York Times
Trump Pardons Two Russia Inquiry Figures and Blackwater Guards
By Maggie Haberman & Michael S. Schmidt | The New York Times
U.S. Navy Ships Arrive in Somalia for Withdrawal
By The Editors | AFP
FBI Links Iran to Online Hit List Targeting Top Officials Who’ve Refuted Trump’s Election Fraud Claims
By Ellen Nakashima, Amy Gardner & Aaron C. Davis | The Washington Post
Why Biden Needs to Confront Corruption
By Alexandra Wrage & Michelle D. Gavin | Foreign Policy
December 22, 2020
Congress Passes Huge Coronavirus Relief Bill
By Emily Cochrane | The New York Times
Treasury Department’s Senior Leaders Were Targeted by Hacking
By David E. Sanger & Alan Rappeport | The New York Times
Trump Administration Weighing Legal Immunity for Saudi Crown Prince in Alleged Assassination Plot
By Spencer S. Hsu & Kareem Fahim | The Washington Post
Africa
December 24, 2020
Ethiopian Military ‘Kills 42 People Involved in Deadly Attack’
By The Editors | Al Jazeera
Zambian Police Say Two Shot Dead as Opposition Crowd Dispersed
By Noel Sichalwe | Associated Press
Kidnapped Nigerian Schoolboys Say Ransom Was Paid, Tell of Beatings
By Joe Parkinson & Gbenga Akingbule | The Wall Street Journal (subscription required)
Africa CDC: New Virus Variant Appears to Emerge in Nigeria
By Cara Anna | Associated Press
December 23, 2020
U.S. Navy Ships Arrive in Somalia for Withdrawal
By The Editors | AFP
Insider Bazoum Emerges as Likely Winner in Niger’s First Democratic Transfer of Power
By Boureima Balima | Reuters
Rebels in the Central African Republic Seize Bambari City, Russia Confirms Sending Military
By The Editors | Al Jazeera
U.N. to Halt Joint U.N.-AU Peacekeeping in Darfur by Year’s End
By Samy Magdy | Associated Press
U.N. Probe in Mali Sees War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity
By The Editors | AFP
Democracy in Africa Is in Retreat
By David Pilling | Financial Times (subscription required)
December 22, 2020
1998 U.S. Embassy Bombing Victims Are Assured Equal Compensation in Deal With Sudan
By Lara Jakes | The New York Times
The Americas
December 24, 2020
Media, NGO Offices Taken Over by Government in Nicaragua
By AP Editors | Associated Press
First Batch of Approved COVID-19 Vaccines Reaches Latin America
By AP Editors | Associated Press
Argentine Man Cleared in Deadly Bombing at Jewish Center
By Almudena Calatrava | Associated Press
Journalist Killed in Honduras, Fourth So Far This Year
By AP Editors | Associated Press
December 23, 2020
Nicaragua Opposition Ban Draws International Condemnation
By AP Editors | Associated Press
Mexico’s Three Main Opposition Parties Form Unlikely Alliance
By AP Editors | Associated Press
Ecuador Presidential Contender Hits at IMF Deal and Pledges Reforms
By Michael Stott & Gideon Long | Financial Times (subscription required)
Rio de Janeiro Police Arrest Outgoing Mayor Marcelo Crivella
By Mauricio Savarese & Diarlei Rodrigues | Associated Press
Russia Expels Two Colombian Diplomats in Tit-for-Tat Move
By The Editors | Reuters
December 22, 2020
Navy Warship’s Secret Mission Off West Africa Aims to Help Punish Venezuela
By Eric Schmitt & Julie Turkewitz | The New York Times
Nicaragua Essentially Bans Opposition From 2021 Elections
By AP Editors | Associated Press
U.S. Evidence Against Mexican Ex-Defense Minister Raises Conviction Doubts
By José de Córdoba & Santiago Pérez | The Wall Street Journal (subscription required)
Alarm at Colombia Plan to Exclude Migrants From Coronavirus Vaccine
By Joe Parkin Daniels | The Guardian
Mexico World’s Deadliest Country for Journalists, New Report Finds
By Nina Lakhani | The Guardian
Asia-Pacific
December 24, 2020
China Launches Antitrust Investigation Into Alibaba, Its Most Successful Internet Company
By Gerry Shih | The Washington Post
Japan’s Prime Minister Apologizes Over Scandal Tarring His Term
By Ben Dooley | The New York Times
Assassins Silence Another ‘Voice of Afghan Democracy’ in Kabul Killing
By Pamela Constable & Sharif Hassan | The Washington Post
Pakistan Court Orders Man Convicted of Murdering Wall Street Journal Reporter Daniel Pearl to Be Freed
By Saeed Shah | The Wall Street Journal (subscription required)
The World China Wants
By Rana Mitter | Foreign Affairs
December 23, 2020
China-EU Talks Hit Another Snag as Biden Camp Objects
By Jack Ewing, Steven Lee Myers & Ana Swanson | The New York Times
Nepal’s Top Court Starts Hearing Challenge to PM Oli’s Dissolution of Parliament
By Gopal Sharma | Reuters
‘Each Day Is Critical’: South Korea’s 11th-Hour Battle With COVID-19
By Choe Sang-Hun | The New York Times
Hong Kong High Court Grants Bail to Newspaper Publisher Jimmy Lai
By Natasha Khan | The Wall Street Journal (subscription required)
Indonesian Military Says Troops Suspected of Killing Two Papuan Civilians
By Stanley Widianto | Reuters
Will Pakistan’s Military Lose Its Grip on Power?
By Aqil Shah | Foreign Affairs
December 22, 2020
Denuclearizing North Korea: Six Options for Biden
By Victor Cha | War on the Rocks
Europe
December 24, 2020
Britain and EU Poised to Announce Christmas Eve Brexit Deal
By George Parker, Sam Fleming & Jim Brunsden | Financial Times (subscription required)
Britain Finds Two Cases of Coronavirus Variant Linked to South Africa; Travel Resumes Across English Channel
By Paul Schemm & Siobhán O’Grady | The Washington Post
With New Aircraft Carrier, France Looks to Bolster Military Ties With U.S.
By James Marson | The Wall Street Journal (subscription required)
December 23, 2020
China-EU Talks Hit Another Snag as Biden Camp Objects
By Jack Ewing, Steven Lee Myers & Ana Swanson | The New York Times
Three Police Officers in France Are Killed After Responding to Domestic Abuse Reports
By Aurelien Breeden | The New York Times
France and Britain Strike Deal to Reopen Border for Freight and Some Travel
By Benjamin Mueller | The New York Times
Russia Expels Two Colombian Diplomats in Tit-for-Tat Move
By The Editors | Reuters
Thousands Protest in Armenia, Demand PM’s Resignation
By Avet Demourian | Associated Press
December 22, 2020
Treasury Department’s Senior Leaders Were Targeted by Hacking
By David E. Sanger & Alan Rappeport | The New York Times
EU Regulator Authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine, With Hopes to Speed Doses to all 27 Member Countries
By Chico Harlan & Michael Birnbaum | The Washington Post
Germany’s CDU Faces Momentous Choice on New Leader After Merkel
By Guy Chazan | Financial Times (subscription required)
Putin Signs Law Letting Ex-Presidents Become Senators for Life
By The Editors | Reuters
Middle East & North Africa
December 24, 2020
Trump Warns Iran of Retaliation After Attacks on U.S. Embassy in Baghdad
By Helene Cooper | The New York Times
Trump Administration Pushes Forward on $500 Million Weapons Deal With Saudi Arabia
By Missy Ryan & Karen DeYoung | The Washington Post
Right-Wing Challenge to Netanyahu Builds Ahead of Israeli Election
By Rami Ayyub | Reuters
Tunisia Minister Sacked and Arrested in Scandal Over Illegal Waste From Italy
By Simon Speakman Cordall | The Guardian
The End of the Road for Bibi?
By Neri Zilber | Foreign Policy
December 23, 2020
FBI Links Iran to Online Hit List Targeting Top Officials Who’ve Refuted Trump’s Election Fraud Claims
By Ellen Nakashima, Amy Gardner & Aaron C. Davis | The Washington Post
Israeli Government Collapses, Forcing Fourth Election in Two Years
By Isabel Kershner | The New York Times
Qatar Minister Calls for Deescalation of Gulf Crisis, Gulf-Iran Dialogue
By The Editors | Reuters
Israel Deploys Submarine to Persian Gulf in Message of Deterrence to Iran
By Shira Rubin | The Washington Post
Turkish Court Sentences Exiled Journalist to 27 Years in Prison for a News Report
By Kareem Fahim | The Washington Post
A Decade After the Tunisian Revolution, We’re Still Fighting for Freedom and Change
By Emel Mathlouthi | The Washington Post
December 22, 2020
Trump Administration Weighing Legal Immunity for Saudi Crown Prince in Alleged Assassination Plot
By Spencer S. Hsu & Kareem Fahim | The Washington Post
Making Sense of History in Real Time: How WPR Covered 2020
Judah Grunstein
Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020
The Center Holds in Romania, but a New Far-Right Party Spells Trouble
Andrew MacDowall
Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020
In Papua New Guinea, Political Infighting and Debt Hamper Marape’s Reforms
David Green
Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020
How Biden Can Push Back on Bolsonaro’s Toxic Populism in Brazil
Eduardo Mello
Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020
‘We Must Be Free or Die Trying.’ Bobi Wine’s Campaign Braves Violence in Uganda
Sophie Neiman
Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020
