United States

Ukraine

Russia

Economics

Energy

Military & Security

Politics

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he would give Russia 10-12 days to reach a ceasefire with Ukraine, shortening the initial 50-day deadline he issued on July 14, Bloomberg reported on July 28.

Russia, Ukraine: Trump Compresses Ceasefire Ultimatum Deadline, Signals Pivot to Economic Coercion

North Korea

South Korea

North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, stated that new South Korean President Lee Jae-myung was no different from his predecessor, citing as evidence continued U.S.-South Korea joint drills, and noted that Pyongyang had no interest in Seoul's plans for greater inter-Korean dialogue, Bloomberg reported on July 28.

Korean Peninsula: North Korea Rejects South Korea’s Dialogue Efforts

Cameroon

Maurice Kamto, the main opposition leader in Cameroon and runner-up in the 2018 presidential election, has been excluded from the list of candidates for the Oct. 12 presidential vote, BBC reported on July 28.

Cameroon: Main Opposition Leader Barred From Running in October Presidential Election

Argentina

President Javier Milei announced a permanent reduction of tariffs on agricultural exports, the so-called retenciones, for soybeans, beef, corn, sorghum and sunflower, La Nacion reported July 26.

Argentina: Milei to Capitalize on Agricultural Export Tax Reduction 

Syria

Syria will hold its first post-Assad elections for the newly expanded 210-seat parliament on Sept. 15-20, with foreign observers invited to monitor the results, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported on July 27.

Syria: Parliamentary Elections To Be Held in September

Israel

Yemen

A Houthi spokesperson announced that the Yemeni militant group would target any vessel affiliated with companies conducting business with Israeli ports, regardless of nationality or destination, Reuters reported July 27.

Yemen: Houthis Threaten to Target Vessels Affiliated with Companies Doing Business with Israeli Ports

Cambodia

Thailand

Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an unconditional ceasefire following Association of Southeast Asian Nations- (ASEAN)-led mediation after five consecutive days of border clashes that killed over 30 people and displaced more than 200,000, according to multiple international, Thai and Cambodian sources.

Thailand, Cambodia: Ceasefire to Take Effect at Midnight Local Time

The government of new South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said it would respect universities' decision to allow striking medical students to return to classes in the fall, Yonhap News Agency reported on July 25.

South Korea: Striking Medical Students Allowed To Return to School

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

Europe

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

Snapshots

China

Taiwan

A voter leaves a booth during voting for the recall election at a polling station in Taipei, Taiwan, on July 26, 2025. 

Its victory in the recall votes will embolden the opposition KMT to press on with controversial reforms and defense spending cuts, but it will also help prevent a near-term escalation of cross-strait tensions.

A Failed Recall Emboldens Taiwan's Opposition

The EU flag is seen on stacked cargo containers.

Global Trade

The framework deal avoids an escalation of tit-for-tat tariffs that would have strained both economies, but various unresolved issues could still reignite transatlantic trade tensions in the future.

New U.S.-EU Deal Averts Full-Blown Trade War -- For Now

Assessments

Canada

Mexico

Japan

A Cambodian soldier stands on a truck with a rocket launcher in Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province, which borders Thailand, on July 25, 2025. 

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

The Weekly Rundown: U.S. Tariff Deadline Passes, Thai-Cambodian Border Tensions Persist

U.S.-China Relations

Australia

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks during a luncheon at Parliament House in Canberra on June 17, 2024. 

The Australian prime minister's efforts to stabilize relations with Beijing will yield short-term economic benefits, but rising regional security concerns will ultimately limit long-term engagement.

The Challenges Facing Albanese's Bid to Reset China-Australia Relations

Iraq

A gas flare is seen in the disputed Penja Ali district of Kirkuk in northern Iraq.

The oil-salary agreement could cement the Iraqi government's control over Kurdistan, permanently clipping the region's autonomy ambitions, but several roadblocks to implementation remain.

New Iraq-KRG Oil Deal Institutionalizes Baghdad's Dominance

A photo taken on Feb. 21, 2025, shows Subaru vehicles bound for shipment at a port in Yokohama, Japan. 

The deal is a win for Japan's economy and its ruling party, but it may hasten Prime Minister Ishiba's exit. It will also help South Korea and Taiwan secure their own U.S. trade deals.

U.S. Trade Deal Is a Mixed Victory for Japan, a Template for Regional Partners

A protester holds a Ukrainian flag in downtown Kyiv on July 22, 2025, during a demonstration calling for President Volodymyr Zelensky to veto a law that reduces the powers of Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies.

A new law placing Ukraine's two anti-corruption agencies under executive control raises the risk of further protests that could destabilize Zelensky's government and undermine its war effort.

In Ukraine, a Controversial Law Fuels Protests and Corruption Concerns

Media

Bahrain

Iran

Kuwait

Oman

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Podcasts

How have Gulf Arab states' positions on the Israel-Iran conflict evolved?

Essential Geopolitics: The Future of Gulf-Iranian Relations

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba addresses the media at the vote counting center in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) headquarters in Tokyo on July 20, 2025.

Prime Minister Ishiba's days are likely numbered following his party's poor electoral performance, which will worsen policy gridlock and potentially weaken Tokyo's position in trade talks with Washington.

LDP's Defeat in Japan's Upper House Elections Will Stoke Political Instability

Flags of EU countries are seen outside the European Parliament building in Brussels, Belgium, on April 5, 2025.

The proposed budget prioritizes competitiveness, defense and strategic autonomy, but it will face significant internal resistance regarding revenue sources, spending cuts and greater centralization.

Reviewing the 2028-2034 EU Budget: New Priorities and Anticipated Pushback

South Africa

Philippines

 The European Union and China will hold a high-level leaders' summit July 24 in Beijing, marking the 50th anniversary of Chinese-EU diplomatic relations.

The Weekly Rundown: An EU-China Summit, South Africa's Budget Vote

What are the key implications of the possible election outcomes?

Essential Geopolitics: Japan's Upper House Parliament Elections

Politics

SITUATION REPORTS

Russia, Ukraine: Trump Compresses Ceasefire Ultimatum Deadline, Signals Pivot to Economic Coercion

Korean Peninsula: North Korea Rejects South Korea’s Dialogue Efforts

Cameroon: Main Opposition Leader Barred From Running in October Presidential Election

Argentina: Milei to Capitalize on Agricultural Export Tax Reduction

Syria: Parliamentary Elections To Be Held in September

Yemen: Houthis Threaten to Target Vessels Affiliated with Companies Doing Business with Israeli Ports

Thailand, Cambodia: Ceasefire to Take Effect at Midnight Local Time

South Korea: Striking Medical Students Allowed To Return to School

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