Kazakhstan

Russia

Economics

Energy

Politics

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree authorizing the joint venture between Rosneft and Shell to execute transactions regarding its 7.5% stake in the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, Reuters reported on Dec. 8.

Russia, Kazakhstan: Putin Authorizes Shell's Exit From Caspian Pipeline Consortium

Pakistan

The International Monetary Fund's executive board approved Pakistan's latest loan review, releasing roughly $1.2 billion and helping keep Pakistan's IMF program on track, Reuters reported on Dec. 9.

Pakistan: IMF Executive Board Approves Funding Under Pakistan's Second Review

Mexico

United States

Environment, Science & Technology

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose an additional 5% tariff on Mexico if it does not immediately provide additional water to U.S. farmers, La Jornada reported on Dec. 9.

U.S., Mexico: Water Dispute To Further Fuel Tariff Uncertainty

Tanzania

Military & Security

Tanzanian authorities deployed police and army troops across major cities, particularly in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, to prevent planned protests on Independence Day, celebrated on Dec. 9, Reuters reported the same day.

Tanzania: Security Forces Deployed To Counter Anticipated Anti-Government Protests After Preemptive Arrests

Europe

Negotiators from the European Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on Dec. 9 to delay and scale back the European Union's sustainability reporting and due diligence framework, including significant reductions to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, the European Council said in a press release. 

EU: EU Negotiators Reach Deal To Scale Back Sustainability Requirements

China

Chinese officials are discussing ways to limit domestic companies' access to U.S. manufacturer Nvidia's H200 artificial intelligence chips, which are a generation behind Nvidia's Blackwell family of chips but still outstrip the most advanced Chinese-produced chips in memory bandwidth and processing performance, the Financial Times reported on Dec. 9.

China, U.S.: China Looks To Restrict H200 Chips After Trump Approves Their Export

U.S.-China Relations

France

Lawmakers in France's lower house of parliament will vote on the government's social security budget bill on Dec. 9, only days after the chamber narrowly endorsed its taxation measures, Le Figaro reported the same day. 

France: Parliament To Vote on Social Security Budget Bill

Argentina

Argentina's government permanently reduced tariffs on exports of soybeans, corn and wheat to their lowest level in almost 19 years, Clarin reported on Dec. 9. 

Argentina: New Export Tax Reduction Indicates Gradual Economic Normalization

The world is connected, but even the broadest topics deserve an individual look. Below are our latest and most relevant economics analyses.

Below are our latest and most relevant economics analyses.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

Middle East and North Africa

South Asia

Beyond Quantitative Easing

The New Silk Road

The Fate of the Eurozone

South America: Split Decisions on Trade

Banking

Commodities: A Cautionary Tale

Social Issues

European Disintegration

Russia's Internal Struggle

China in Transition

A Japanese Awakening

East African Integration

Columns

On Geopolitics

Taiwan

Taiwanese President William Lai (center), flanked by other top officials in his government, discusses plans to propose a $40 billion supplemental defense budget during a news conference in Taipei on Nov. 26, 2025.

The 2025 Taiwan National Defense Report reflects Taipei's growing intent and tactical capabilities for deterrence by denial against a Chinese invasion, but it also highlights persistent challenges that contribute to a continually rising risk of conflict through 2028.

Taiwan Report Highlights Evolving Security Orientation

Assessments

Ukraine

Russia's President Vladimir Putin, accompanied by Kremlin economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev and Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, meets with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner at the Kremlin in Moscow on Dec. 2, 2025.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Fundamental disagreements between Ukraine and Russia over territorial concessions and security guarantees suggest that peace negotiations are unlikely to lead to a comprehensive breakthrough.

Despite U.S. Diplomatic Push, Ukraine Peace Still a Long Way Off

India

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin on Sept. 1, 2025.

Global Trade

While Putin's Dec. 4-5 visit may yield some progress in defense, energy and trade cooperation, India will likely maintain selective engagement with Russia as it navigates U.S. pressure and continues diversifying its arms suppliers.

What To Expect as Putin Visits India

Honduras

Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their bilateral meeting during the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit.

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Putin-Modi Meeting, Honduras General Election

United Kingdom

Portugal

Spain

People visit the 1627 Pilgrim Village at "Plimoth Plantation," where role-players portray pilgrims seven years after the arrival of the Mayflower, in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

On Thanksgiving, the United States celebrates the Plymouth Colony. However, few know that New England's colonization was a response to major geopolitical pressures -- particularly England's struggle against the Spanish both on the Continent and in the New World.

Thanksgiving and Puritan Geopolitics in the Americas

While efforts by China and others to de-dollarize their international trade will fragment the international trade financing regime to some extent, they will do little to undermine the dollar's dominance.

The Geopolitics of Trade: De-dollarization and International Trade

Employees work at a garment factory in Tiruppur, in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu, on Sept. 23, 2025.

While the reforms will eventually create a more competitive, transparent and predictable labor market, the potential for uneven state-level adoption and protests will create challenges for companies in the near term. 

India's Labor Code Reforms: Opportunities and Implementation Challenges

Angola

South Africa

Japan

South Korea

Banners bearing portraits of leaders of the G20 on Nov. 20 in Johannesburg. The South African government has focused the G20 summit's agenda on issues key to African countries.

The Weekly Rundown: A High-Stakes British Budget, South Africa Hosts the G20

Snapshots

View of a Honduran national flag at La Laguna neighborhood, in the north of Tegucigalpa, on Nov. 11, 2025. 

Honduras' next government will face legislative gridlock, political instability and unrest, regardless of the victor.

The Challenges Facing Honduras' Upcoming General Election

Global Elections

Syria

Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa delivers a speech in Damascus on July 3, 2025, during the unveiling of the "New Visual Identity of the Syrian Arab Republic." 

The transitional government's decision will boost reconstruction and counter-terrorism efforts, but it will also risk alienating internal hard-liners and could eventually fuel an Islamic State resurgence if Syria's economic recovery stalls.

The Implications of Syria Joining the U.S.-Led Fight Against the Islamic State

Italy

Italian Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on March 18 in the Italian Senate in Rome. Smaller fiscal deficits are unlikely to cut government debt in the medium term given Italy's modest economic growth outlook and significant social and defense spending pressures.

Smaller fiscal deficits are unlikely to cut government debt in the medium term given Italy's modest economic growth outlook and significant social and defense spending pressures.

Modest Growth and Spending Pressures Will Limit Italy's Debt Reduction Efforts

Canada

The clock tower outside of Canada's parliament building is seen in Ottawa, Ontario.

Canada's push to revive its economy and diversify its trade and security ties beyond the U.S. will likely see slow progress and could prompt U.S. retaliation, while the associated deficit spending will risk long-term fiscal strain.

The High Stakes of Canada's Attempt To Pivot Away From the U.S.

Economics

SITUATION REPORTS

Russia, Kazakhstan: Putin Authorizes Shell's Exit From Caspian Pipeline Consortium

Pakistan: IMF Executive Board Approves Funding Under Pakistan's Second Review

U.S., Mexico: Water Dispute To Further Fuel Tariff Uncertainty

Tanzania: Security Forces Deployed To Counter Anticipated Anti-Government Protests After Preemptive Arrests

EU: EU Negotiators Reach Deal To Scale Back Sustainability Requirements

China, U.S.: China Looks To Restrict H200 Chips After Trump Approves Their Export

France: Parliament To Vote on Social Security Budget Bill

Argentina: New Export Tax Reduction Indicates Gradual Economic Normalization

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