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Politics

German European Parliament lawmaker Maximilian Krah said he will remain the lead candidate for the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, party in the June European Parliament elections even though one of his aides was arrested for Chinese espionage, DW reported on April 24.

Germany: Another Scandal May Hurt Far-Right AfD in Upcoming EU Elections

Benin

Cote d'Ivoire

Ghana

Niger

United States

Italy

Military & Security

The United States agreed to withdraw troops from Niger and vacate its two military facilities in the country, AP reported on April 20.

Niger: U.S. To Withdraw Troops From Niger, Seek New Drone Base in West Africa

Economics

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to address issues such as overcapacity, dumping and copyright infringement and ensure fair competition for foreign companies operating in China during a meeting between the two leaders in Beijing, Reuters reported on April 16.

Germany, China: Scholz and Xi Meet in Beijing Amid Rising Trade Tensions

France

Belgium

Netherlands

European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager is set to announce that the European Commission is launching a new anti-subsidy investigation into imports of Chinese wind turbines during a speech at Princeton University in the United States, Politico reported April 9.

EU, China: Brussels to Launch Anti-Subsidy Probe into Chinese Wind Turbines

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck and Italian Industry Minister Adolfo Urso discussed plans for an "omnibus directive" aimed at cutting red tape and boosting industrial competitiveness in the European Union ahead of the European Parliament elections in June, Euractiv reported on April 8.

EU: France, Germany, Italy Call for Comprehensive European Industrial Strategy

Japan

South Korea

Finland

Poland

Ireland

Cyber

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Poland and South Korea joined the U.S.-led international coalition against the proliferation and dissemination of spyware, according to a joint statement released by the White House on March 18. 

Cyberspace: Additional Countries Join International Anti-Spyware Coalition

The European Council and the European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement to ban products made with forced labor from the EU market, a press release from the European Commission shows March 5.

EU, China: EU Reaches Provisional Agreement to Ban Products Linked to Forced Labor

Energy

European natural gas prices fell to pre-crisis levels, with Dutch Title Transfer Facility natural gas futures (Europe's benchmark price) falling to 22.53 euros ($24.39) per megawatt hour on Feb. 23, its lowest since May 2021, the Financial Times reported the same day.

EU: European Natural Gas Prices Fall to Pre-Crisis Levels

Assessments

Brazil

Colombia

Iran

Israel

Palestinian Territories

India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) April 12 in Dausa, India.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

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

The Weekly Rundown: Indian Elections, Scholz Goes to China

Australia

United Kingdom

Chinese car manufacturer BYD's stacked electric vehicles wait to be loaded onto a ship at the international container terminal of Taicang Port at Suzhou Port in China's eastern Jiangsu province on Sept. 11, 2023.

U.S.-China Relations

As Chinese electric vehicles threaten to flood Western markets, Washington and Brussels prepare restrictions to protect domestic manufacturers and secure sensitive data. 

Chinese Electric Vehicles Prepare to Hit the Great Wall of Western Tariffs

European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders (left) and European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton (right) give a joint press conference on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence draft law at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Feb. 23, 2022.

If approved, the controversial directive would increase costs, paperwork and liability risks for large companies operating in the EU. But growing anti-ESG backlash within the bloc and upcoming elections may water down the proposal or block its ratification.

The Window Is Closing for the EU's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Law

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ethiopia

Senegal

Egypt

Taiwan

Displaced Palestinians camp near the fence separating the Gaza Strip from Egypt on Feb. 16, 2024, in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Egypt will continue to prepare a contingency plan in case Palestinians cross the Egypt-Gaza border amid growing signs that the Rafah offensive could start as early as this week.

The Weekly Rundown: Egypt Plans for a Palestinian Influx, African Union Heads of State Meet

El Salvador

Pakistan

A picture taken from Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip shows smoke rising over buildings in Khan Yunis during an Israeli bombardment on Feb. 2, 2024. 

U.S.-Iran Relations

The Weekly Rundown: A Potential Gaza Cease-Fire, Elections in Pakistan and El Salvador

Romania

Spain

A woman waves a French flag in support of protesting farmers as a tractor drives by in Agen, southwerstern France, on Jan. 25, 2024.

Farmers across Europe are protesting environmental regulations, foreign competition and falling government support, which will likely impede Brussels' ability to enact climate reforms and negotiate new trade deals.

Growing Farmer Protests Add to the EU's Political Woes

Ukraine

Russia

A view of the Russian Central Bank headquarters is seen in downtown Moscow on May 26, 2022.

To unlock more money for Kyiv, the U.S. and Europe may confiscate Russian government assets stashed in Western nations, which would escalate the greater economic tit-for-tat between Moscow and the West.

Ukraine's Western Allies Mull Seizing Frozen Russian Assets

Snapshots

Luxembourg

Lithuania

Malta

Latvia

Czech Republic

Greece

Estonia

Sweden

Bulgaria

Portugal

Croatia

Cyprus

Austria

Slovakia

Slovenia

Hungary

Members of the European Parliament take part in voting on the Artificial Intelligence Act during a plenary session at the European Parliament.

The EU's recently negotiated Artificial Intelligence Act will bolster the European Union's dominance as a regulatory heavyweight in emerging technologies, yet anticipated enforcement challenges and stringent stipulations with the Act risk impeding AI innovation within the bloc.

EU Lawmakers Clinch Agreement on Artificial Intelligence Act 

Columns

On Geopolitics

Demonstrators hold Spanish flags during a protest called by the country’s far-right Vox party in Madrid, Spain, on Nov. 12, 2023. 

Far-right parties are expected to perform strongly in sub-national, national and EU elections next year, portending significant shifts in governance and policies.

In Europe, Far-Right Parties Are Again on the Rise

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz prepares to deliver a speech in parliament about the budget crisis on Nov. 28, 2023, as Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (left), Finance Minister Christian Lindner and Economy Minister Robert Habeck look on. 

While the three members of the ruling coalition will likely reach a compromise, complex negotiations over spending cuts could still collapse the government next year.

Where Is Germany's Budget Crisis Headed?

Denmark

Israeli and EU Flags

A lack of a unified EU response to the Israel-Hamas War highlights divisions among member states' foreign policies, complicating the bloc's plans to play a meaningful role in the conflict, as well as efforts to maintain unified support for Ukraine.

Israel-Hamas War Highlights Divisions Among EU Member States

Liberia

The U.S. Capitol. 

The Weekly Rundown: The U.S. House Attempts to Elect a New Speaker, a Possible LNG Strike in Australia

<p>Germany is a country located in Central Europe, bordered by Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark. The country has mountainous terrain in the south, dominated by the Alps, with a plateau and forests in the center and the north. The Rhine, the Danube and the Elbe rivers, combined with Germany&#39;s central location in Europe and its access to the North Sea, allowed the country to become a leading exporter and one of the most prosperous economies in Europe. Between the late 10th and early 19th centuries, the territories of today&#39;s Germany were the heart of the Holy Roman Empire, a collection of small kingdoms, principalities, duchies and city-states. This led to the development of multiple seats of political and economic power that achieved unity in 1871. While Berlin is Germany&#39;s capital and most populous city, the country also has several economic and political centers, including Hamburg, Munich, Cologne and Frankfurt. Germany&rsquo;s location in the heart of the North European Plain has led to constant conflicts with its neighbors like France and Russia. After World War II, Germany was divided between East Germany, in the Soviet orbit, and West Germany, integrated to the European Economic Community and NATO. The country achieved reunification in 1990. Germany&rsquo;s main geographic challenge is preserving its territorial unity and maintaining a political balance between regions within the country. It also seeks to maintain a political alliance with France and a balance of power in Europe to preserve peace and keep markets open for trade. Berlin&#39;s efforts to keep the European Union closely integrated amid the current economic crisis are in line with this strategy.</p>

EU: Regional Blocs

Divided EU Foreign Policies

The Fate of the Eurozone

European Disintegration

SITUATION REPORTS

Germany: Another Scandal May Hurt Far-Right AfD in Upcoming EU Elections

Niger: U.S. To Withdraw Troops From Niger, Seek New Drone Base in West Africa

Germany, China: Scholz and Xi Meet in Beijing Amid Rising Trade Tensions

EU, China: Brussels to Launch Anti-Subsidy Probe into Chinese Wind Turbines

EU: France, Germany, Italy Call for Comprehensive European Industrial Strategy

Cyberspace: Additional Countries Join International Anti-Spyware Coalition

EU, China: EU Reaches Provisional Agreement to Ban Products Linked to Forced Labor

EU: European Natural Gas Prices Fall to Pre-Crisis Levels

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