Vladimir Putin’s popularity has ebbed and flowed over the 18 years he’s been in power — but nothing boosted him quite like the annexation of Crimea in 2014, which was genuinely popular among most Russians. But with Russia’s economy in the doldrums, shows of geopolitical resolve are an easy way for Putin to maintain popularity as he settles into his fourth presidential term (fifth term in power overall).
In this Quick Take, Ian Bremmer breaks down the growing tensions between the US and Iran, calling it "the next area of potential large-scale conflict where President Trump is interested in changing the facts on the ground."
392,000: The estimated number of people displaced across Mozambique by recent rain-induced floods. Severe flooding in the southern African nation, as well as in South Africa and Zimbabwe, has killed over 100 people.
