Colombia

Economics

Politics

Ricardo Bonilla resigned from his post as finance minister at Colombian President Gustavo Petro's request amid an ongoing corruption investigation into the alleged irregular allocation of funds from the National Disaster Risk Management Unit, or UNGRD, and Petro announced finance vice minister Diego Guevara as a replacement, El Colombiano reported Dec. 4.

Colombia: Deepening Corruption Scandal To Weaken President Petro

Sub-Saharan Africa

United States

China

U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed that the United States would provide an additional $600 million in financing to support the development of the Lobito Corridor, which will connect Zambia's Copperbelt to the Atlantic Ocean, Bloomberg reported on Dec. 4.

U.S., Africa: Biden Confirms $600M in New Financing for Lobito Corridor

France

Ousted French Prime Minister Michel Barnier formally presented his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron a day after his government lost a vote of no confidence in the National Assembly on Dec. 4, France 24 reported on Dec. 5.

France: Barnier Formally Resigns as Macron Looks for a Replacement

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Nigeria

Venezuela

Algeria

Iran

Iraq

Kuwait

Libya

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Russia

Energy

OPEC+ countries agreed to delay the phase-out of 2.2 million barrels of oil per day of production cuts from Jan. 1, 2025, until April 1 and to phase those cuts out over 18 months instead of the originally planned 12 months, Argus Media reported on Dec. 5. 

OPEC+: Members To Delay Boosting Oil Production for Third Time

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier's minority government lost a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly, with 331 lawmakers voting in favor of a motion presented by the left-wing New Popular Front alliance, Le Figaro reported on Dec. 4.

France: Parliament Topples Minority Government in No-Confidence Vote

Vietnam

Vietnam's Politburo laid out a plan to reduce the number of government ministries and agencies from 30 to 21 through mergers and dissolutions, the Vietnam News Agency reported on Dec. 4.

Vietnam: Politburo Lays Out Government Restructuring Plan

India

Nepal

Nepal finalized a framework agreement with China under the Belt and Road Initiative, opening the door to collaboration on projects, Reuters reported on Dec. 4.

Nepal, China: Governments Sign Belt and Road Initiative Agreement

Mozambique

Military & Security

Mozambique's opposition leader Venancio Mondlane called for prolonged anti-government protests lasting two to three months following the disputed October presidential election, in which the ruling Liberation Front of Mozambique party, better known as Frelimo, claimed a sweeping victory, Club of Mozambique reported on Dec. 4.

Mozambique: Opposition Leader Calls for Months of Fresh Protests

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.

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Europe

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

Assessments

Ghana

A voter casts their ballot in a voting booth in Ghana in June 2020.

An opposition victory would likely see the new government prioritize boosting the manufacturing sector and easing fiscal consolidation, while a ruling party victory would raise the risk of post-election violence.

Previewing Ghana's General Elections

Global Elections

Snapshots

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier delivers a speech at the National Assembly, the French Parliament's lower house, in Paris on Dec. 2, 2024.

France faces heightened political instability as no-confidence votes threaten the government following Prime Minister Barnier's use of Article 49.3 to pass the 2025 budget without parliamentary approval.

Barnier's Budget Gambit Triggers Political Showdown in French Parliament

Syria

Rebel fighters pose for a picture on a tank on a road leading to Syria's northwestern Idlib province on Nov. 30, 2024. 

The resurgence of Turkish-backed rebels in northern Syria will escalate the 13-year war and could eventually destabilize the al-Assad government by exacerbating its myriad economic and security challenges.

Syria's Frozen Civil War Heats Up As Rebels Seize Aleppo

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

Israel

Yemen

Fighters loyal to Yemen's Houthi group chant in Sanaa, Yemen, on Sept. 21, 2024, during a military parade marking the anniversary of the Houthis’ 2014 takeover of the capital.

The Houthis' economic vulnerabilities, along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates' desire to avoid being re-entangled in Yemen's decade-long civil war, will reduce the risk of a major escalation in Yemen. 

Gulf States Work to Avoid Major Escalation With Yemen’s Houthis

Canada

Mexico

NYSE workers during morning trading Nov. 26 in New York. Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump is unlikely to place large tariffs on Canada and Mexico immediately upon taking office, but the mere threat to do so will likely chill investment in North America amid growing uncertainty about U.S. trade policy.

Though tariffs are unlikely, threats alone will likely chill investment amid growing uncertainty about U.S. trade policy.

Trump's Tariff Threats Alone Likely to Chill North American Investment

Senegal

Voters wait in line outside a voting station in Dakar on Nov. 17, 2024, during Senegal's parliamentary elections.

Senegal's ruling PASTEF party secured a strong parliamentary majority in the Nov. 17 elections, which paves the way for the implementation of its reformist manifesto and the advancement of much-needed fiscal consolidation measures.

What's Next for Senegal After the President's Landslide Victory in Snap Legislative Elections

The Geopolitics of Water

Environment, Science & Technology

Depleted groundwater reserves threaten India's agriculture, energy and manufacturing sectors, potentially sparking unrest and inter-state disputes in the absence of a coordinated national policy.

The Geopolitics of Water: India's Groundwater Crisis

South Korea

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol attends the third session of the G-20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Nov. 19, 2024.

Multiple political disputes could see Yoon start stretching the limits of his power as his term winds down, pushing anti-union activity and arms exports.

In South Korea, Political Clashes Limit the President's Room To Maneuver

Austria

A view of the Gas Connect Austria natural gas distribution hub stand at Baumgarten an der March, Austria, on Nov. 16, 2024.

A muted market reaction to disrupted gas supply in Austria signals Europe's preparedness for a likely cut-off of Russian gas in the coming months.

Markets Shrug Off Russia's Gas Cut-Off to Austria

Brazil

A G-20 summit banner on Nov. 12 at City Hall in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will host G-20 leaders Nov. 18-19 in Rio de Janeiro, where he will try to secure support for three main proposals.

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

The Weekly Rundown: Brazil Hosts the G-20, Constitutional Crisis Looms in Israel

Bangladesh

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (R) and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) arrive for a joint press conference at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, on Feb. 25, 2020.

While U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will maintain many of the outgoing Biden administration's overarching policies toward South Asia, bilateral relationships will grow increasingly transactional.

What Trump's Second Term Means for South Asia

Economics

SITUATION REPORTS

Colombia: Deepening Corruption Scandal To Weaken President Petro

U.S., Africa: Biden Confirms $600M in New Financing for Lobito Corridor

France: Barnier Formally Resigns as Macron Looks for a Replacement

OPEC+: Members To Delay Boosting Oil Production for Third Time

France: Parliament Topples Minority Government in No-Confidence Vote

Vietnam: Politburo Lays Out Government Restructuring Plan

Nepal, China: Governments Sign Belt and Road Initiative Agreement

Mozambique: Opposition Leader Calls for Months of Fresh Protests

Forecasts

ANALYSES

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