Situation Reports

The Federal Communications Commission plans to ban undersea telecommunication cables containing Chinese technology or equipment from connecting to the United States, according to a statement issued on July 16.

Facing a 36% U.S. tariff threat, Thailand proposed eliminating tariffs and nontariff barriers on 90% of U.S. goods -- up from 60% -- in a last-ditch bid to reach a deal before U.S. President Donald Trump's Aug. 1 deadline, Bloomberg reported on July 17.

Syrian government forces began withdrawing from their positions in Sweida following another ceasefire agreement with the Druze community, CNN reported on July 17.

Former Nigerian presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar terminated his membership of the opposition People's Democratic Party, or PDP, through a letter dated July 14, citing the party's perceived divergence from its core principles, Vanguard reported on July 16.

Ethiopian authorities said they arrested 82 individuals suspected of links to the Islamic State Somalia Province, which operates in neighboring Somalia's Puntland region, Addis Standard reported on July 16.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a landmark bilateral agreement in London designed to deepen cooperation on defense, trade and migration, according to a joint press release on July 17.

The European Commission unveiled a proposal for a 1.98 trillion euro ($2.31 trillion) EU budget for 2028-34 on July 16, a press release shows.

A Turkish court sentenced key opposition figure and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu to one year and eight months in prison for insulting Istanbul's chief prosecutor, although he was not banned from running for office, Politico reported on July 16.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia "continues to analyze" U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose a 100% tariff on countries purchasing Russian oil unless Moscow agrees to a peace deal with Kyiv by early September, Reuters reported on July 17.

The Iraqi government will resume budget transfers to the Kurdistan Regional Government after reportedly reaching an agreement with the KRG on its financial dispute, Rudaw reported on July 17.