Global Geopolitical Series: Key updates from across the world

Here are some key events to keep a tab on,

• Russia-U.S. - Syria: Tensions are high, as fighting has resumed in Syria’s Idlib province between rebels and government forces. It is interesting to note, that the relations between Turkey and the United States have reached lowest ever at the same time as this rise in violence in Idlib. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been calling on Syrian forces not to invade Idlib. As the U.S. relations deteriorate, Turkey is hoping for an agreement with President Putin over Idlib and the presence of YPG rebels. Everything remains so far in the direction of the deal between U.S. and Russia.       
   
• Iraq: Violence has somewhat abated and vote recount has found no major changes from the earlier count and it was clear that Nationalist Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr's alliance won Iraq's legislative election but not an outright majority. A government formation can be on the way.
   
• 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 next meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae in and North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un has been scheduled for September.
   
• Palestine - Israel: Violence has significantly increased along the Gaza borders with hundreds of rockets being fired by rebels targeting Israel and with Israeli forces carrying out hundreds of attacks in response.  
   
• 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. In the latest move, President Trump has doubled the tariffs on Turkey citing sharp currency declines. Turkey’s currency has declined by 80 percent, however, Turkey’s government led by Recep Tayyip Erdogan has refused to back down and release the detained U.S. Pastor as demanded by President Trump.
   
• Trade war: With trade war at a halt with the European Union, the Trump administration is focusing on bringing China to give in to the demand of trade reforms. President Trump has threatened 25 percent tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.
   
• 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 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. Canada is reportedly working with several countries including the United Arab Emirates to resolve the issue diplomatically.
   
• Iran: Protests have reportedly been taking places across Iran as economic hardship continues. Part of U.S. sanctions on Iran went live from Today. The government of the United Kingdom has sided with the European Union despite U.S. requests to side with it in its bid to support the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), better known as the Iran nuclear agreement, which the United States pulled out of in May.