South Africa

Economics

Politics

South Africa's National Assembly adopted Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's fiscal framework -- the first of three key pieces of legislation to pass the budget -- by 192 votes against 184, Daily Maverick reported on April 2.

South Africa: Adoption of Key Budget Document Risks Implosion of Coalition Government

China

Military & Security

Gen. He Weidong, Chinese vice chair of the Central Military Commission, has not been seen in public since March 11 and missed another public event, this time an annual People's Liberation Army tree-planting ceremony in the suburbs of Beijing, Bloomberg reported on April 2. 

China: Missing Top Military Figure Suggests Another Purge

Mozambique

The Mozambican parliament unanimously approved a proposed law based on a March 5 agreement between President Daniel Chapo and all parliamentary opposition political parties, Club of Mozambique reported on April 2.

Mozambique: Parliament Approves Law on Political Agreement

Myanmar

Myanmar's military junta declared a temporary nationwide ceasefire in the country's civil war until April 22 to facilitate humanitarian relief following the recent earthquake, AP reported on April 2. 

Myanmar: Junta Declares Temporary Ceasefire Amid Earthquake Recovery Efforts

Taiwan

The Chinese military announced on April 2 that it had conducted the "Strait Thunder-2025A" exercises around central and southern Taiwan, complemented by an aircraft carrier deployment east of Taiwan and live-fire drills in an area 300 kilometers (186 miles) north of Taiwan.

China, Taiwan: More Chinese Drills Around Taiwan To Follow Lai's Policies

Turkey

Ozgur Ozel, the head of Turkey's opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, called for an economic boycott on April 2 to protest the arrest of CHP presidential candidate Ekrem Imamoglu and the arrest of 301 university students in subsequent protests, Hurriyet reported on April 2.

Turkey: Opposition Calls for Economic Boycott 

United States

Iran

Qatar

The United States is "seriously" considering Iran's proposal for indirect nuclear talks through Omani intermediaries, Axios reported on April 2, citing two U.S. officials. 

U.S., Iran: Trump Administration Weighs Iran's Offer of Indirect Nuclear Talks 

South Korea

South Korea’s Constitutional Court announced that it would make a final decision on the impeachment case against President Yoon Suk Yeol on April 4, with the decision due to be broadcast live, the Korean Broadcasting System reported on April 1.

South Korea: Court Decision on Yoon's Impeachment Due April 4, Police Prepare 

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

Assessments

Somalia

Egypt

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Philippe Lazzarini (C), the commissioner general for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, attends a humanitarian conference for Gaza in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 2, 2024, amid the continuing Israel-Hamas war.

Egypt's economic limitations will continue to restrain its assertiveness in foreign policy, constraining its ability to project power in the region.

Egypt's Economic Priorities Sideline Assertive Foreign Policy

Columns

On Geopolitics

Russia

Members of the Spanish and Bulgarian armed forces during the NATO exercise Steadfast Dart on Feb. 13, 2025, in Tsrancha, Bulgaria. 

Any U.S. retrenchment away from Europe will more likely be gradual, shaped by strategic realities, shared interests and material constraints, but this transition will still carry profound military, economic and societal implications that will deeply reshape the Continent's security landscape and accelerate the transition to a truly multipolar world.

The Future of Transatlantic Security Cooperation, Part 1: The View From Washington

Canada

A "Canada First" rally addressed by Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre on Feb. 15 the at the Rogers Center in Ottawa, Canada.

Global Trade

The Liberal Party will most likely win enough seats to form a government -- a stunning turnaround since former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Jan. 6 resignation.

Canada's Election: Potential Outcomes and Their Implications

Snapshots

France

French far-right Leader Marine Le Pen leaves the courtroom after a guilty verdict in her embezzlement case trial on March 31, 2025 in Paris, France. 

Marine Le Pen’s conviction for embezzling EU funds and an immediate five-year ban from public office has shaken French politics, threatening government stability and fueling far-right outrage ahead of the 2027 election.

Le Pen's Five-Year Political Ban Sets the Stage for Renewed Political Instability in France

Cyber

Energy

Environment, Science & Technology

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Social Issues

Intensifying trade wars, a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, continued volatility in the Middle East and consequential elections in key countries will shape the quarter.

2025 Second-Quarter Forecast: An Excerpt

Global Elections

U.S.-China Relations

U.S.-Iran Relations

Germany

United Kingdom

Ukraine

People wave flags and chant slogans during a protest in front of the municipality headquarters in support of arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19, 2025, in Istanbul, Turkey. 

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. To Announce Tariffs, Protests in Turkey Rage On

Bolivia

Morales supporters march against the Arce government and denounce the economic crisis Jan. 13 in La Paz, Bolivia. The crisis will fuel political instability ahead of the country's August presidential election amid shortages of dollars and fuel.

The crisis will fuel political instability ahead of the country's August presidential election amid shortages of dollars and fuel.

Bolivia's Socioeconomic Crisis Will Spiral Ahead of Its Presidential Election

People in Istanbul, Turkey, walk past a currency exchange board showing the Turkish lira, which fell to historic lows against the dollar upon the news of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's arrest on March 19, 2025. 

Extensive foreign exchange sales have so far kept the Turkish lira relatively stable, but this is a high-risk strategy as it could eventually force Ankara to allow for significant exchange rate depreciation.

Turkey's Efforts To Stabilize Markets Amid Protests May Not Be Sustainable

Italy

Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Italy's Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, discusses a new draft law on nuclear energy with the press at Palazzo Chigi on Feb. 28, 2025, in Rome, Italy. 

Reintroducing nuclear power could enhance Italy's energy security, industrial competitiveness and economic growth, but major political and technical hurdles make a nuclear comeback unlikely in the next decade.

The Challenges Facing Italy's Nuclear Comeback

Escorted by riot police, students burn flares on March 24, 2025, as they march along the streets of Istanbul, Turkey, in support of the city's mayor after he was arrested on corruption charges. 

The protests will likely last for several more weeks following the arrest of Erdogan's top rival, but unless organizers can tap into other grievances, the movement eventually risks losing momentum.

Assessing the Pro-Democracy Protests in Turkey and Their Threat to Erdogan

New Zealand

India

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) walks with New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (R) before their meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, on March 17, 2025. 

U.S. tariff threats are pushing India to revamp negotiations over free trade agreements, but protectionist trade policies and other obstacles will challenge the progression of talks.

India Dusts Off Old FTA Negotiations Ahead of U.S. Tariffs

Brazil

Lebanon

Japan

Vietnam

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a joint press conference Feb. 16 at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem. Senior Israeli officials from the security and intelligence ministries will visit the United States to discuss Iran's nuclear program and Israeli border demarcation talks with Lebanon.

The Weekly Rundown: The U.S. and Israel Coordinate on Iran, the U.K. Chancellor Seeks Fiscal Discipline

Politics

SITUATION REPORTS

South Africa: Adoption of Key Budget Document Risks Implosion of Coalition Government

China: Missing Top Military Figure Suggests Another Purge

Mozambique: Parliament Approves Law on Political Agreement

Myanmar: Junta Declares Temporary Ceasefire Amid Earthquake Recovery Efforts

China, Taiwan: More Chinese Drills Around Taiwan To Follow Lai's Policies

Turkey: Opposition Calls for Economic Boycott

U.S., Iran: Trump Administration Weighs Iran's Offer of Indirect Nuclear Talks

South Korea: Court Decision on Yoon's Impeachment Due April 4, Police Prepare

Forecasts

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