Geopolitical Diary
Editor's Choice

Annual Forecast 2016Free

With old geopolitical realities resurfacing across Eurasia and commodity prices stuck in a slump, 2016 is shaping up to be an unsettling year for much of the world. Read more…

Geopolitical Weekly
By Reva Bhalla
Reva Bhalla

Saudi Arabia: Palace Intrigue at a Time of Transition

Global Affairs
By Jay Ogilvy

A Year of Fissiparous Tendencies

Security Weekly
By Scott Stewart
Scott Stewart

Gauging the Jihadist Movement in 2016: The Islamic State Camp

Get Tomorrow's Intelligence
Not Yesterday's News.

Subscribe today!

Get Unrestricted Access to Stratfor.com Content! Special Offer for a Limited Time!

Analysis
Maps
Graphic of the Day

Vietnam's Delicate Balancing Act

Vietnam is seeking internal and external balance as it navigates economic and social changes at home and potential dangers in the South China Sea. Read more…

Jan 12, 2016 | 19:39 GMT
Video
Field Notes
Stratfor In The News

Stratfor Appoints Chief Intelligence Officer

Stratfor announces that Jon Sather, a 25-year veteran of the CIA, has joined the private intelligence and advisory firm as its chief intelligence officer.

Stratfor
Featured Analyst:
Jon Sather
Situation/Intelligence Reports

Iran: Two U.S. Boats In Custody But Will Be Returned

Two U.S. Navy vessels and their crew are in Iranian custody after the United States lost contact with them as they moved through the Persian Gulf, a spokesman for the Pentagon told AP on Jan. 12. Read more…

Venezuela: National Assembly Will Take A Stance On Court Ruling

Venezuelan parliamentary Speaker Henry Ramos Allup said the National Assembly will take a stance on Jan. 13 regarding the Supreme Court's order to remove three opposition lawmakers from their posts, El Universal reported Jan. 12. Read more…

Turkey: Istanbul Attack Killed 9 Germans, 1 Peruvian

Turkish officials confirmed that nine Germans and one Peruvian were killed in a Jan. 12 suicide attack attributed to the Islamic State in a popular tourist area in Istanbul, The Guardian reported. Read more…

Turkey: Istanbul Bombing Could Prompt A Military Response

Turkey is seriously considering a military response to the Jan. 12 Islamic State suicide attack in a popular tourist area in Istanbul, according to information received by Stratfor. Read more…

Iran: Nuclear Official Denies Sealing Of Arak Reactor

An Iranian nuclear official denied that technicians dismantled the core of the country's heavy-water reactor and filled it with concrete, as was recently reported by Iran's Fars News Agency, AP reported Jan. 12. Read more…

Yemen: Peace Talks Postponed

Peace talks to end the conflict in Yemen originally scheduled for Jan. 14 were postponed, according to a U.N. official, Reuters reported Jan. 12. Read more…

Turkey: Explosion Kills At Least 10 In Istanbul

At least 10 people were killed and 15 others wounded by an explosion in Istanbul's Sultanahmet Square, The Guardian reported Jan. 12. Read more…

Venezuela: High Court Nullifies Any Action By National Assembly

Venezuela's supreme court ruled Jan. 11 that any action taken by the National Assembly would not be recognized because of the participation of three opposition lawmakers who were sworn into office against the court's orders, AFP reported. Read more…

Iraq: Twin Islamic State Attacks Kill More Than 30

Two attacks by the Islamic State killed more than 30 people in Baghdad and the city of Miqdadiya on Jan. 11, CNN reported. Read more…

Egypt: President Expected To Pardon 100 Prisoners

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to pardon 100 convicts Jan. 25, the anniversary of the start of the country's 2011 revolution, in an attempt to forestall possible protests, The New Arab reported Jan. 11. Read more…

Syria: Aid Convoys Enter Besieged Villages

International aid convoys carrying food, water and medical supplies have entered three Syrian towns where trapped civilians are said to be living in extremely dire conditions, BBC reported Jan. 11. Read more…

Iraq: All Hostages Liberated From Baghdad Mall, Security Sources Say

All of the hostages being held in an eastern Baghdad mall attacked by gunmen linked to the Islamic State have been freed, Al Sumaria and Al Arabiya reported Jan. 11, citing security sources. Read more…

China: New Military To Focus On Winning Wars

China has reorganized its military structure with the establishment of the new Central Military Commission, Xinhua News Agency reported Jan. 11. Read more…

Saudi Arabia: Assailants Attack Intelligence Compound With Firebombs

Masked assailants threw firebombs at an intelligence service compound in the eastern Saudi city of Qatif, Reuters reported Jan. 11. Read more…

Iran: Nuclear Program Not Postponed

At his weekly news conference, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari said he hoped to announce the start of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action soon, BBC reported Jan. 11. Read more…

Spain: Catalonia's Parliament Swears In New Leader

Catalonia's Parliament elected Carles Puigdemont as the region's new president Jan. 10, El Pais reported Jan 11. Read more…

Egypt: New Parliament Holds Opening Session

Egypt's new parliament held its opening session Jan. 10, state television said, more than three years after a court dissolved the old Islamist-dominated chamber, Reuters reported. Read more…

Afghanistan: Troops Retake Northern District From Taliban

Afghan security forces have retaken the Darqad district in Takhar province near the northern border with Tajikistan, killing 30 Taliban fighters, the Defense Ministry said Jan. 10, Reuters reported. Read more…

Forecasts

Annual Forecast 2016Free

With old geopolitical realities resurfacing across Eurasia and commodity prices stuck in a slump, 2016 is shaping up to be an unsettling year for much of the world. Read more…