Algeria and Mali's Russia-Backed Rapprochement. And More.

Welcome to The Briefing Room, the weekly show where we step back from the cacophony of news blasting out of the Middle East to briefly take stock of what else is happening in the world. I'm Simon, and this week we'll be only covering two stories instead of three as one of our regular writers is off enjoying the summer. Or something like that.

Lucky bastards. But the two stories we do have are so under the radar as to be positively subterranean. Firstly, there's the growing rapprochement between former enemies, Mali and Algeria, a rapprochement that could reshape North Africa.

Then we're building to South America, where Colombia's incoming tough on-crime president has already faced his first legislative setback, one that may spell doom for his Bukali-inspired anti-gang agenda. As always, thank you for subscribing.