Situation Reports

A government security report found that as of the end of June 2025, armed groups had expanded by an estimated 45% since President Gustavo Petro took office in mid-2022, Reuters reported on July 8.

An Iranian-linked ransomware group is offering large financial payouts to affiliates that target Israeli and U.S. organizations, according to a new report by Israeli-based cybersecurity company Morphisec published on July 8.

The Philippines announced its visiting forces agreement with Canada is ready for signing, Bloomberg reported on July 9.

On July 8, the U.S. Trump administration announced it would ban Chinese nationals and other foreign adversaries from purchasing U.S. farmland, citing national security concerns, AFP reported the next day.

Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, announced that the militant group's armed struggle against Turkey had ended and called for a transition to democratic politics in a video message, Reuters reported on July 9.

EU lawmakers voted to remove the United Arab Emirates and seven other countries from the European Union's money laundering "grey list," the Financial Times reported on July 9. 

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the United States' planned imposition of 30% tariffs on South Africa is "subject to modification" as his government advances trade negotiations with the Trump administration, Bloomberg reported on July 8.

The heads of state of Gabon, Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea Bissau and Liberia will attend a luncheon and hold bilateral meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump during their visit to the United States on July 9-11, Radio France Internationale reported on July 9.

French financial police searched the Paris headquarters of the far-right National Rally party as part of a probe into suspected campaign finance violations, party leader Jordan Bardella announced on July 9 in a post on X, denouncing the operation as politically driven.

Saudi Arabia's government announced on July 8 that it will allow foreigners to own real estate in limited areas in Jeddah and Riyadh starting in 2026, with strong blocks remaining for Mecca and Medina, Bloomberg reported on July 9.