Nigeria

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

 President of the Nigerian Senate Godswill Akpabio announced that two of President Bola Tinubu's four tax reform bills had been approved and that the two remaining bills would be approved on May 8, Premium Times reported on May 7.

Nigeria: Senate Passes Tax Reform Bills, Ditches VAT Hike

United States

Europe

The European Union is preparing a sweeping retaliatory package targeting up to 95 billion euros ($108 billion) worth of U.S. exports should trade negotiations with the Trump administration break down, Bloomberg reported on May 8. 

EU, U.S.: Brussels Prepares New Retaliatory Package on U.S. Products Should Talks Fail

Venezuela

Russia

Energy

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro signed a strategic partnership deal and discussed energy and oil at a meeting in Moscow, Reuters reported on May 7. 

Venezuela, Russia: Strategic Partnership Unlikely To Yield Significant Developments

Israel

Qatar

Syria

Qatar will provide $29 million a month to Syria to help pay civil servant salaries for at least the next three months, Reuters reported on May 7, citing Syria's finance minister.

Syria: Qatar Gains U.S. Sanctions Exemptions To Pay Syrian Civil Servant Salaries

China

Switzerland

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng will meet in Switzerland on May 10-11 for trade talks, Bloomberg reported on May 6.

China, U.S.: Trade Talks To Commence in Switzerland

U.S.-China Relations

Brazil

Brazilian authorities said President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government opposes pressure from the U.S. Trump administration to designate Brazil's two largest organized criminal groups as terrorist organizations, Folha de S.Paulo reported on May 6. 

Brazil, U.S.: Brazil Opposes Designating Local Organized Criminal Groups as Terrorists

Germany

France

Newly elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to revive Franco-German cooperation to bolster Europe's security, economic resilience and global competitiveness in a joint article published by Le Figaro on May 7, just hours ahead of a bilateral meeting in Paris.

Germany, France: Merz and Macron Pledge To Revive Franco-German Engine

Tanzania

United Arab Emirates

Deputy President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan signed several agreements with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries, The Chanzo reported May 6.

Tanzania: Government Expands Cooperation With UAE on Healthcare, Mining and Trade

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

Assessments

United Kingdom

U.S. President Donald Trump -- flanked by Vice President JD Vance (left) and Peter Mandelson, the U.K. ambassador to the United States (right) -- holds a phone call with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the Oval Office of the White House on May 8, 2025. 

Global Trade

The agreement's narrow scope and quota system suggest the White House remains intent on restricting imports, meaning tariff relief for most other countries reaching deals will also be limited.

Trump Reaches First Post-Tariff Trade Deal With the U.K.

Poland

Supporters of the PiS party demonstrate April 12 in Warsaw, Poland. Poland will hold a presidential election May 18 and runoff June 1 if no candidate obtains more than 50% in the first round.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The outcome of Poland's election will determine whether Prime Minister Donald Tusk's centrist government will coexist with a cooperative president or continue to face institutional constraints from an ideologically opposed president.

Poland's Election: Potential Outcomes and Their Implications

Global Elections

Iraq

Saudi Arabia

Kazakhstan

The OPEC logo is seen outside the bloc's headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on Oct. 4, 2022.

The production boost will further decrease oil prices, which will provide some financial relief for oil-consuming countries affected by U.S. tariffs, while further straining the budgets of poorer oil producers like Iraq. 

The Mixed Economic Impact of OPEC's Production Increase

Australia

After winning the general election, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese waves as he arrives onstage at the Labor Party election night event in Sydney on May 3, 2025. 

The Labor Party's sweeping victory in Australia will strengthen Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's ability to increase public spending and bolster ties with foreign partners.

Albanese Returns Stronger Than Ever Following Australia's General Election

Singapore

Supporters of Singapore's ruling People's Action Party attend an election rally on May 1, 2025. 

While the ruling party is set to extend its 60-year rule, a weaker mandate could impede its ability to navigate economic headwinds and rising public demands for policy reform.

Previewing Singapore's Election

Ukraine

Drag-line excavator mines rare earth materials on Ukrainian soil on Feb. 25, 2025, in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine. 

A new U.S.-Ukraine economic deal offers Washington a long-term stake in Ukraine's critical resources -- and a potential lever in ceasefire diplomacy.

New Strategic Pact Gives U.S. Stake in Ukraine's Economic Future

Columns

On Geopolitics

Benin

Burkina Faso

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Comoros

Cote d'Ivoire

Djibouti

Gabon

Guinea

Madagascar

Mali

Mauritania

Niger

Republic of the Congo

Senegal

Togo

A picture released on July 12, 1963, of then-French President Gen. Charles de Gaulle (2L) and Jacques Foccart (L) greeting African, Malagasy and French overseas territories veterans arriving in Paris for French Bastille Day celebrations.

After decades of cultivating tight-knit relationships with francophone African countries, France has effectively ended its forward military presence in West and Central Africa amid shifting political dynamics in both regions, which will weaken its influence on the continent but enable Paris to reallocate resources towards Europe's security.

France, Africa and the Future, Part 1: A New Balance of Power 

Snapshots

Canada

Canadian Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader Mark Carney speaks to his supporters in Ottawa, Canada, on April 29, 2025, after winning the country’s early general elections. 

Canada's newly elected Liberal government, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, is poised to tackle an economic slowdown with tax cuts, domestic industry protection, and closer ties to Europe despite falling just short of a parliamentary majority.

Liberals Win Canada Election, but Minority Government Will Complicate Legislation

A digital illustration of the Chinese and EU flags.

Transatlantic trade tensions have created a window for tactical EU-China engagement, but structural constraints and unresolved disputes limit prospects for meaningful realignment.

Budding EU-China Rapprochement Amid U.S. Tariffs Will Have Its Limits

Media

India

Podcasts

Will India be able to stay on track for its growth goals?

Essential Geopolitics: The Outlook for India's Economy

Pakistan

An Indian paramilitary serviceman keeps watch in Pahalgam, south of Srinagar, on April 23, 2025, following a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. 

India and Pakistan's exchange of tit-for-tat diplomatic and economic moves is raising the risk of a military escalation, while also fueling domestic unrest due to rising nationalist sentiment in both countries.

India-Pakistan Tensions Surge Following Deadly Kashmir Attack

People walk past an electronic panel, promoting the contract service in the Russian armed forces, with a sign that reads "Our profession is to defend the Fatherland" in a shopping mall on May 11, 2024, in Moscow, Russia. 

Russia is signaling it may welcome back Western companies, but strict conditions, ongoing sanctions and reputational risks are likely to deter a widespread return.

Russia Opens Door to Western Firms, But With Major Strings Attached

Economics

SITUATION REPORTS

Nigeria: Senate Passes Tax Reform Bills, Ditches VAT Hike

EU, U.S.: Brussels Prepares New Retaliatory Package on U.S. Products Should Talks Fail

Venezuela, Russia: Strategic Partnership Unlikely To Yield Significant Developments

Syria: Qatar Gains U.S. Sanctions Exemptions To Pay Syrian Civil Servant Salaries

China, U.S.: Trade Talks To Commence in Switzerland

Brazil, U.S.: Brazil Opposes Designating Local Organized Criminal Groups as Terrorists

Germany, France: Merz and Macron Pledge To Revive Franco-German Engine

Tanzania: Government Expands Cooperation With UAE on Healthcare, Mining and Trade

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support