Following the dramatic reporting covering a bus attack from the Saudi-led coalition that has killed over 50 people, with over half being children, drone strikes continue across the country. Naturally, with the Saudi-led coalition being provided United States of America support to conduct their campaign, drones being used are far more technologically advanced than those being supplied and used by Ansar Allah. Nonetheless, damage occurs from both sides using remote weapons and war rages across the country.

A resurgent Taliban has renewed devastation across the country, with citizens suffering with food supply shortages and being at constant risk of terrorism and exploitation.

The Caspian Sea Summit has concluded in Aktau, Kazakhstan involving the five littoral states reportedly reaching a key step in agreeing upon the legal status and maritime boundaries between all countries sharing shores along the world's largest inland body of water. The exact details of the summit conclusion are still quite vague, but the political implications are evident. The sanctioned countries of both Iran and Russia share an interesting relationship with the body of water, with the former likely losing its equal-sharing stance concerning the Caspian Sea after losing significant territory

The Turkish Lira has declined in value, coinciding with a worsening relationship with the United States of America. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on the public to invest in the domestic currency by selling off United States Dollars and European Union Euros. Turkey, along with Iran, is experiencing economic misfortune reflective in their currencies albeit with the latter receiving a more extreme level of economic pressure. Both Middle Eastern countries wield significant influence in the region and do have the possibility to strengthen relations with each other as a result of the

Denuclearization of the Korean peninsula has not yet occurred, but was also not realistically able to do so following the summit in which top political figures from both North Korea and the United States of America met. A serious process of denuclearization is not only time-consuming, but requires a series of confidence-building mechanisms that is particularly needed between adversaries.

Syrian governmental forces drop leaflets over the province of Idlib urging its inhabitants to return peacefully under the leadership of President Bashar Al Assad. Idlib is a large province in the country and is still host to rebel groups. However, as noted in the leaflets, the war is nearing an end and the victor is quite evident.

Mauritanian anti-slavery activist Biram Dah Abeid has been once again arrested earlier this week in his home. His arrest comes close to the legislative elections of the country, which is to be held September 1, 2018. Abeid founded the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement in 2008 and has since gained political traction in country. He additionally intended to run against the incumbent Mauritanian President, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz. Mauritania was the last country in the world to ban slavery when it did so in 1981. However, Mauritania still struggles with adhering to the

Diplomatic tensions between Canada and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have escalated further with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dismisses the Saudi Arabian call for an apology. Previously, Prime Minister Trudeau criticized Saudi Arabia for jailing women's rights activists.

The United States of America is set to reimpose sanctions on Iran that will target the automotive and precious metals sectors of the country. Sanctions will be implemented Tuesday August 7, 2018.

Djibouti is facing a significant debt to China. The Belt and Road Initiative has provided a means for smaller, less developed countries to finance desperately needed infrastructure projects. However, some additional financing does go to other unneeded and unsustainable projects, causing heavy debt burdens. Djibouti is positioned to take on public debt worth around 88 percent of the country’s overall $1.72 billion GDP, with China being own a large portion of this figure.