Global Geopolitical Series: Key updates from across the world

Here are some key events to keep a tab on,

• Russia-U.S. - Syria: Russia is reportedly started bombing the rebel position in the South West of Syria, which area is the last major stronghold of the rebels. With no support from the United States, the area is likely to overtaken by the pro-government force eventually.       
   
• Iraq: Political unrest continues in Iraq with a spread across cities. The protest against the government, amid years of economic stagnation, has now reportedly reached Baghdad. The communication services like interment and social media remain closed to the situation as the government tries to control the spread of real news as well as false information.
   
• Korean Peninsula: The effect of the peace prospect continues. After Chairman Kim of North Korea sent an appreciating letter to President Trump, thanking for the summit and expressing a desire for future meetings, the latest media reports suggest that the soft diplomacy is continuing too. North Korean players are going back home after a successful friendly table tennis match with the southern counterparts. North Korean media has called for the South to take up active efforts to formally end the Korean War.
   
• Palestine - Israel: Donald Trump is moving closer to another victory as the global rating for PA President Mahmoud Abbas declining after PA’s violent crackdown of Palestinian protesters last month, who were protesting against cuts in their pay packages. President’s special envoy to Jared Kushner announced that the peace plan would go ahead with or without PA President Mahmoud Abbas. Amid tensions with the United States, PA continues to suffer credit crunch. In the latest blow, Australia ended its direct aid to Palestine citing concerns over the report that the money is used for terrorist funding. To counter U.S. pressure, the Palestinian leadership has now turned to Russia and will meet President Putin later this week. In the latest move, violence has escalated in Gaza, where Israeli air force launched massive bombing attacks in response to mortar fires from the region, targeting Israeli towns near the border.
   
• Turkey-Israel-United States: Despite an agreement between Turkey and the United States over Syria, the relation continues to worsen. U.S. lawmakers approved a halt in selling advance U.S. fighter jets F35s to Turkey.  Turkey has also announced its unwavering support for the Palestinians. Turkey has also announced that its decision to purchase Russian made S-400 missile defense systems. However, a U.S. - Turkey working group has meetings and discussions to improve the relationship. The latest meetings have started taking place focusing on looming U.S. sanctions against Iran.
   
• Italy vs. EU: A deal has probably been reached between Italy and the European Union as the government has focused away from attacking the bureaucrats in Brussels. Instead, the focus has turned to the looming budget, where big tax cuts are likely to arrive and the looming debt sale in the market on July 26th.
   
• Trade war: G20 finance ministers and central bankers after the meeting hailed the Argentina meeting as successful as everyone was keen on listening to others but declared that the differences on the issue of trade persist.
   
• Mexico: The new Mexican President Mr. Obrador has reportedly written a personal letter to president Trump seeking to re-negotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).