#Winners and #Losers: Digging Some Good News for a Change

The Week in Planting Trees

Winner: The Koreas—this is the only geopolitical good news we’ve had this year. And you know a summit was a success when the symbolic planting of a pine tree was a mere footnote to the proceedings. #BuryingTheHatchet

Loser: The Trumps and Macrons— unlike the other tree planting of the week, which nearly broke the internet. Macron came to Washington, gave some stirring speeches, had some awkward (but endearing) photo ops with the US president… and that’s about it. Nothing on Syria, nothing on climate, and nothing on Iran. #NoNewsIsBadNews

The Week in Protest Responses

Winner: Armenia—a clumsy attempt by Serzh Sargsyan to cling to power by transitioning from president to prime minister brought thousands into the streets. “The street movement is against my tenure. I am fulfilling your demand. Peace, harmony and reasoning for our country" he wrote in his surprisingly-earnest resignation letter. #NotEveryoneCanPutin

Loser: Nicaragua—to rein in state finances, the administration of Daniel Ortega attempted to push through changes to the social security system that would raise the mandatory contributions of workers and their employers while cutting the pensions of retirees. This, and attacks on demonstrators by pro-government thugs, set off nationwide protests that left dozens dead. Ortega relented and withdrew the policy, but the fiscal time bomb remains. As does Ortega. #StayTuned

The Week in Cabinet Nominee Vetting

Winner: Russia—Vladimir Putin wants all potential cabinet nominees to undergo rigorous training to be eligible for their posts, including cliff-jumping and diving under armored cars. The final roster of potential candidates was reportedly chosen this week. #ExtremeVetting

Loser: The US—while the confirmation of Mike Pompeo this week as Secretary of State was much-needed good news for the Trump administration, Secretary of Veteran Affairs-nominee Ronny Jackson had to withdraw from consideration following revelations of improper behavior while on the job as White House physician. #UnforcedError376   

The Week in Covering Others’ Costs

Winner: Mike Bloomberg—announces he will write a $4.5 million check to cover the US commitment to the Paris climate agreement this year. Power move. #IWannaBeLikeMike

Loser: Universal Basic Income—less than two years after launching a pilot program to test a radical new approach to social safety nets, Finland has decided not to extend its experiment past 2018. And the gig economy continues to expand. #CostsAndBenefits

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Ian Bremmer is president of Eurasia Group, foreign affairs columnist at TIME and Global Research Professor at New York University. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.