United States

Syria

Economics

Politics

U.S. President Donald Trump notified Congress of his decision to rescind Syria's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, Reuters reported on July 8, citing an unnamed senior U.S. official.

U.S., Syria: Trump Moves To Rescind Syria's State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation

Zimbabwe

Military & Security

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, aged 83, signed into law a controversial constitutional amendment that extends his current presidential term by two years to 2030, Bloomberg reported on July 7.

Zimbabwe: President Signs Law Extending His Presidency to 2030

Japan

The ruling and opposition parties in Japan's lower house of the Diet agreed to put the issue of amending the Imperial Household Law to a plenary vote on July 10, breaking a two-week impasse in both houses of the Diet, Kyodo News reported on July 8. 

Japan: Takaichi Defuses Diet Impasses, Revives Economic and Defense Plans

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Sudan

Egypt

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed accused Sudan's internationally recognized government, Eritrea and the Tigray People's Liberation Front, or TPLF, of collaborating against Ethiopia with the support of unnamed external forces -- most likely Egypt -- in his first parliamentary address since his party's victory in the June 1 general election, Addis Standard reported on July 7.

Ethiopia: Abiy Denounces Anti-Ethiopia Coalition, Supports Two-Term Limits for Prime Minister

Colombia

Colombian President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella suspended the government transition process and accused outgoing President Gustavo Petro of plotting a coup, El Pais reported on July 7.

Colombia: Transition Suspension and Coup Plot Claims Underscore Heightened Polarization

Europe

Spain

At the opening of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had ordered Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to immediately halt "all trade" with Spain, La Vanguardia reported on July 8.

U.S., Spain: Trump Orders Treasury To 'End All Trade' With Spain

Iran

Energy

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control revoked the June 21 general license that allowed Iran to export crude oil as part of the terms of the June memorandum of understanding between the two countries, OFAC said in a July 7 statement published on its website.

Iran, U.S.: U.S. Revokes Sanctions Waivers for Iranian Oil Exports

U.S.-Iran Relations

Algeria

Algeria's election authority announced the provisional results of the July 2 parliamentary elections, with the pro-government National Liberation Front, Democratic National Rally and Future Front parties securing a total of 222 seats in the 407-seat lower house, giving the bloc a clear majority, TSA Algerie reported on July 6.

Algeria: Pro-Government Factions Win Provisional Parliamentary Majority

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

Below are our latest and most relevant politics analyses.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

Middle East and North Africa

South Asia

The Post-Apartheid Era Ends

Venezuela's Unraveling

The Saudi Survival Strategy

The Kurdish Struggle

Israel's Survival Strategy

Turkey's Resurgence

EU: Regional Blocs

Divided EU Foreign Policies

Brexit

Old Leaders in a New Africa

The U.S. and the Balance of Power

The Pulse of Political Islam

Broken Contracts in the Middle East

Russia's Internal Struggle

China in Transition

Southeast Asia: Burdened by Consensus

India's Own Worst Enemy

Pakistan: A Military With a Country

Assessments

France

Journalists surround French far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen (center) as she arrives with National Rally president Jordan Bardella (third from right) for a campaign rally in La Fleche, France, on July 8, 2026.

With the launch of Le Pen's campaign, the National Rally appears set to win France's 2027 presidential election, signaling a coming policy shift toward EU confrontation and weaker NATO integration, though various constraints would temper implementation.

As Le Pen Returns to the Race, What Would a Far-Right Presidency Look Like in France?

North Macedonia

Serbia

Croatia

Albania

Slovenia

Kosovo

Protestors hold national flags as they gather outside Albania's prime minister's office to oppose the construction of luxury resorts, in Tirana on June 25.

Social Issues

Driven by grievances like corruption and declining public trust, protests in the Western Balkans have evolved into deep challenges to ruling elites.


The Implications of Serbia and Albania's Massive Protest Waves

Philippines

The NATO headquarters is seen in Brussels, Belgium.

Environment, Science & Technology

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

The Weekly Rundown: Turkey Hosts NATO Summit, Iran Buries Slain Supreme Leader

Kenya

Protesters march outside Parliament to honor victims of the June 25, 2024, protest on June 25, 2026, in Nairobi, Kenya.

Despite declining public approval, President William Ruto remains well-positioned to leverage state resources and exploit opposition divisions to secure his standing ahead of next year's general election.


Kenyan Opposition Struggles To Unite Against Ruto Ahead of 2027 Elections

Columns

On Geopolitics

China

Chinese President Xi Jinping (center) and Premier Li Qiang attend a plenary session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People on March 9, 2026, in Beijing, China.

Beijing will prioritize employment and social stability over rapid economic growth in the coming years, pressuring businesses to boost hiring and expand benefits amid demographic pressures, rising youth unemployment and AI-related job disruptions.

China Plans To Stabilize Employment in an Age of Change

Snapshots

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Sudan's de facto leader and army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, waves to spectators after attending a soccer match at Kober Stadium in Khartoum on May 15, 2026.

The outbreak of the Iran war has redirected Western and Arab diplomatic attention away from Sudan, worsening the country's long-running civil war.

Humanitarian Disaster Looms in Sudan as RSF Prepares New Offensive

Computer chips are seen on top of the U.S. and Chinese flags.

The Trump administration's recent shift to a more restrictive, ad-hoc licensing regime for frontier AI models risks slowing U.S. innovation and giving Chinese rivals a competitive advantage.

From Laissez-Faire to Licensing: Understanding Trump's Evolving AI Strategy

U.S.-China Relations

Cyber

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

A fragile truce in the Middle East, persistent energy-driven inflation, shifting U.S. trade policy and escalating regional pressures from Europe to Africa will collectively shape geopolitical risk in the third quarter.

2026 Third-Quarter Forecast: An Excerpt

Canada

Mexico

United Kingdom

India

Cargo ships June 19 off the coast of the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal in Sharjah emirate, along the Gulf of Oman.

The Weekly Rundown: Japan's Takaichi Goes to India, an Unsteady U.S.-Iran Ceasefire

Israel

Lebanon

Oman

Maps4media-processed Sentinel-2 satellite imagery shows a broad overview of the Strait of Hormuz on June 16, 2026.

U.S.-Iran talks will face increasingly large obstacles as negotiators approach more contentious topics, namely Iran's nuclear program.

For the U.S. and Iran, the Hardest Negotiations Lie Ahead

The U.S. Treasury Department building in Washington, D.C.

The legal and geographical constraints of Washington's jurisdiction make freezing the assets of countries like Iran a far more flexible and effective diplomatic tool than outright seizure. 

American Financial Power: Freezing vs. Seizing Other Countries' Foreign Assets

Bahrain

Kuwait

Qatar

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C, top) meets with GCC foreign ministers during his visit to the Middle East to discuss with Arab Gulf allies the interim deal between the U.S. and Iran on June 25 in Manama.

While Qatar and Saudi Arabia explore restoring trade ties with Iran, the United Arab Emirates is aligning its security with Israel and the United States.

Divergent Approaches to Iran Expose Gulf Arab Splits

Politics

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S., Syria: Trump Moves To Rescind Syria's State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation

Zimbabwe: President Signs Law Extending His Presidency to 2030

Japan: Takaichi Defuses Diet Impasses, Revives Economic and Defense Plans

Ethiopia: Abiy Denounces Anti-Ethiopia Coalition, Supports Two-Term Limits for Prime Minister

Colombia: Transition Suspension and Coup Plot Claims Underscore Heightened Polarization

U.S., Spain: Trump Orders Treasury To 'End All Trade' With Spain

Iran, U.S.: U.S. Revokes Sanctions Waivers for Iranian Oil Exports

Algeria: Pro-Government Factions Win Provisional Parliamentary Majority

Forecasts

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