China

Europe

Cyber

Economics

Environment, Science & Technology

The European nonprofit privacy group noyb, an acronym for "none of your business," filed six complaints against AliExpress, Shein, TikTok, Temu, WeChat and Xiaomi for unlawfully transferring European users' data to China, Reuters reported on Jan. 17.

Europe: Noyb Files Complaints Against Six Chinese Companies

United States

Politics

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a free speech argument filed by Chinese-based TikTok owner ByteDance, upholding a law that will require the Chinese company to divest itself from the social media platform or face a nationwide ban by Jan. 19, NBC News reported on Jan. 17. 

U.S.: Supreme Court Upholds Law Paving Way for TikTok Ban

U.S.-China Relations

U.S. space technology company Blue Origin successfully executed the maiden launch of its New Glenn heavy-lift launch vehicle's payload into its intended orbit, AP reported on Jan. 16.

U.S.: Blue Origin Launches New Glenn Rocket, Increasing Competition Among Private Space Companies

The United States is expected to unveil new rules as early as Jan. 15 that are designed to restrict the ability of the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Samsung to send advanced chips to China, where they could be used in a variety of applications, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 14.

U.S., China: Washington To Strengthen Export Controls on Advanced Chips to China

U.S. President Joe Biden signed a new executive order that will direct federal agencies to identify and lease federal sites to private sector companies in order to facilitate artificial intelligence infrastructure development, according to a White House statement published on Jan. 14. 

U.S.: White House Announces Executive Order To Bolster AI Infrastructure

The European Union is reassessing its ongoing investigations launched under the Digital Markets Act since March 2024, including investigations into U.S. tech companies Apple, Meta and Google, The Financial Times reported on Jan. 14.

EU: Brussels Reassesses Ongoing Investigations Into U.S. Tech Companies

Chinese social media apps Xiaohongshu, or RedNote, and Lemon8 are the top two most downloaded apps in Apple's App Store, and Xiaohonshu is one of the top 10 most downloaded apps in the Google Play Store, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 13. 

U.S.: Looming TikTok Ban Prompts Shift to Other Chinese Apps While China Considers Possible Sale to Musk

Mali

Canada

Canadian mining company Barrick Gold said it will suspend operations at its Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex after Malian authorities began seizing the mine's gold output, Reuters reported Jan. 13.

Mali: Barrick To Suspend Operations At Loulo-Gounkoto Mine Following Gold Seizures

The world is connected, but even the broadest topics deserve an individual look. Below are our latest and most relevant science and technology analyses. 

Technology

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

Middle East and North Africa

South Asia

Agriculture

COVID-19

Supply Chains

_Energy

Environmental Issues

Globalization

The 4th Industrial Revolution

Assessments

Ethiopia

Egypt

The Geopolitics of Water

In the coming decade, water scarcity will likely contribute to the erosion of Egypt's economic and political independence, including its ability to act unilaterally against other countries vying for water along the Nile basin.

The Geopolitics of Water: The Threat to Egypt's Independence

Media

Podcasts

Military & Security

What is Salt Typhoon, and what happened in the recent hack against U.S. telecommunications companies? 

Essential Geopolitics: Unpacking China's Salt Typhoon Operation

Iran

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Syria

Turkey

North Korea

Ukraine

Russia

As 2025 approaches, we look back at the previous year and consider the top five events as measured by geopolitical impact.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

2024: A Geopolitical Review

Global Elections

India

Water utilities are uniquely vulnerable to cyberattacks due to frequent financial and security limitations, exposing water-stressed countries to threats from hacktivists and foreign adversaries.

 The Geopolitics of Water: Cyberattacks' Impact on Water Stress in the U.S. and Beyond

Algeria

Morocco

Tunisia

North Africa will struggle to combat its worsening drought amid overconsumption, mismanagement and technological shortcomings.

The Geopolitics of Water: A Prolonged Drought Dries Up North Africa's Resources

Columns

On Geopolitics

Statements made by Trump and his allies, including Elon Musk, offer insight into how his next administration will approach the regulation (or lack thereof) of AI, online content, data and monopolistic business practices.

Previewing Trump's Tech Policies

Cargo containers painted with Chinese and U.S. flags. Trade disruptions, shifting military conflicts and domestic political turbulence will shape global affairs in 2025.

Energy

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Social Issues

Trade disruptions, shifting military conflicts and domestic political turbulence will shape global affairs in 2025.

2025 Annual Forecast: A Global Overview

U.S.-Iran Relations

Depleted groundwater reserves threaten India's agriculture, energy and manufacturing sectors, potentially sparking unrest and inter-state disputes in the absence of a coordinated national policy.

The Geopolitics of Water: India's Groundwater Crisis

Bangladesh

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (R) and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) arrive for a joint press conference at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, on Feb. 25, 2020.

While U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will maintain many of the outgoing Biden administration's overarching policies toward South Asia, bilateral relationships will grow increasingly transactional.

What Trump's Second Term Means for South Asia

Japan

A ballot is cast in front of the Japanese flag. On Nov. 11, the country will select a prime minister and convene an extraordinary session of its bicameral Diet.

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Japan Selects a Prime Minister, Trump's Shadow Looms Over COP29

Mexico

Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to speak during an election event in the early hours of Nov. 6, 2024.

Trump will place more tariffs on U.S. trade partners and reduce support for Ukraine, but he will largely maintain Biden's approach to the U.S. tech rivalry with China and the Middle East conflict.

Trump's Win Will Ripple Across the World

Azerbaijan

A sign for COP29 on Nov. 3, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Negotiators at this year's U.N. Climate Change Conference will ultimately reach a new global climate finance deal, but progress on the global energy transition will not accelerate.

Negotiators at this year's U.N. Climate Change Conference will ultimately reach a new global climate finance deal, but progress on the global energy transition will not accelerate significantly.

What to Watch for at This Year's 'Finance COP' in Azerbaijan

Environment, Science & Technology

SITUATION REPORTS

Europe: Noyb Files Complaints Against Six Chinese Companies

U.S.: Supreme Court Upholds Law Paving Way for TikTok Ban

U.S.: Blue Origin Launches New Glenn Rocket, Increasing Competition Among Private Space Companies

U.S., China: Washington To Strengthen Export Controls on Advanced Chips to China

U.S.: White House Announces Executive Order To Bolster AI Infrastructure

EU: Brussels Reassesses Ongoing Investigations Into U.S. Tech Companies

U.S.: Looming TikTok Ban Prompts Shift to Other Chinese Apps While China Considers Possible Sale to Musk

Mali: Barrick To Suspend Operations At Loulo-Gounkoto Mine Following Gold Seizures

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