Here are some key events to keep a tab on,
- Russia-U.S. - Syria: Syrian government forces are emerging as victorious as they are on the verge of finally capturing entire Syria from rebel forces. Expect a United Nations-backed political process to begin soon.
- Iraq: After dwindling slowly over the past week, protesters flooded the streets of southern Iraq again on Sunday, nearly a month into a wave of unrest over corruption and decaying public services. Security forces were deployed as demonstrators railed against chronic power cuts, water shortages, and endemic unemployment, along with state incompetence and foreign interference.
- Korean Peninsula: The effect of the peace prospect continues. In the latest move, South Korea urged North Korea to speed up denuclearization and the United States to remain faithful in its promises. The top diplomats of the two Koreas and regional powers engaged in a flurry of diplomatic talks over the past few days in Singapore, although no breakthroughs were made toward Pyongyang's denuclearization and the proclamation to formally end the Korean War.
- Palestine - Israel: Israel is reportedly seeking a Gaza agreement with the rebels and Palestinians present there to reduce the violence that has surged in recent months in exchange for the easing of the blockade.
- Turkey-United States: The relations have taken a turn for the worse, as President Trump has imposed sanctions against Turkey's justice and interior ministers due to the detention of an American pastor. In response to the U.S. sanctions, Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan ordered the authorities to freeze assets of America’s justice and interior minister. However, It is unclear who that would affect, due to differing Cabinet roles in the United States than in Turkey, or if the U.S. officials even have any holdings in Turkey.
- Trade war: Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump and the EU Commission President Jean Claude Juncker announced weeks back that the United States and the EU are entering a negotiations phase to change the trade agreements. Now, President Trump wants to bring China to the table. Beijing has so far refused to rejoin negotiations as the first talk failed to achieve any middle ground. China has announced $60 billion retaliation against the U.S. goods if the U.S. further escalates the trade war.
- Saudi Arabia- Canada: Saudi Arabia has severed economic and diplomatic ties with Canada in response to Canada’s criticism of Saudi Arabia’s handling and capture of activists. Saudi Arabia ordered the expulsion on Monday of the Canadian ambassador and the halting of all new trade and investment deals between the two countries after Canada said it was gravely concerned about the recent arrests of Saudi civil society and women’s rights activists. It has also called back its diplomats from Canada.
Iran: Protests have reportedly been taking places across Iran as economic hardship continues. Part of U.S. sanctions on Iran went live from Today.
