World roundup: December 14 2022

Stories from Turkey, Bulgaria, Peru, and elsewhere

INTERNATIONAL

In today’s global news:

• Worldometer is tracking COVID-19 cases and fatalities.

• The New York Times is tracking global vaccine distribution.

MIDDLE EAST

YEMEN

US Senator Bernie Sanders had been pushing another war powers resolution that could have ended the US role in supporting the Saudi war in Yemen, but he withdrew that resolution on Tuesday amid pressure from the Biden administration. Sanders says he intends to discuss the war with the White House and could renew his war powers effort if he’s dissatisfied with those discussions. The Quincy Institute’s Annelle Sheline looks at the ramifications of the resolution’s withdrawal and suffice to say they’re not good:

Yesterday’s events may embolden the many members of Washington’s foreign policy elite who would like to ensure that the president’s capability to unilaterally wage war remains unchallenged by Congress’s constitutional prerogative over matters of war and peace. 

But we shouldn’t reduce yesterday’s events to just another political parlor game. The resolution’s withdrawal in the face of White House pressure signals ongoing U.S. support for the Saudi-led war, despite consistent evidence that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is no friend to the United States and its interests. Continuing to provide U.S. assistance demonstrates that the administration has chosen the dysfunctional U.S.-Saudi relationship over Yemeni civilians who have suffered greatly as a result of a war and blockade facilitated by U.S. support.