Global Geopolitical Series: Key updates from across the world

Here are some key events to keep a tab on,

• Israel-Palestine-Jerusalem: The U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is touring the Middle East to shore up support for the U.S. backed peace plan. However, rift remains as Jordon’s King and Pence publicly agreed to disagree on the fact that Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital has poured cold water on the peace process and destabilize the Middle East.   
   
• U.S. government shutdown: U.S. government is facing a shutdown since Friday as both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate tussle over immigration policy. Trump wants funding for border wall and stricter immigration policies, while the Democrats want amnesty for all immigrants under DACA program.
   
• German coalition talks: The coalition talks between German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Conservative Party and the Social Democrats (SPD) could now begin formally with 56 percent of the party delegates voting in favor of the coalition talk at Sunday’s SPD conference.
   
• Turkey-Kurds-Syria: Turkey began bombing on the U.S. backed Kurdish forces in Syria’s Afrin. The U.S. defense secretary Mattis said that Turkey warned Pentagon before the attack.