South Africa

Australia

United Kingdom

Economics

Politics

South Africa's Competition Commission said Australian mining company BHP's takeover of British mining company Anglo American's South African operations would require a mandatory merger notification, the Financial Times reported on May 3. 

South Africa: Competition Commission To Manage BHP Takeover of Anglo American

Partial results from local elections in England and Wales show the opposition Labour Party is on track to make significant gains across hundreds of municipalities at the expense of the ruling Conservative Party, the BBC reported on May 3. 

U.K.: Local Election Results Confirm Labour on Track for Comfortable Victory in General Election

United States

Environment, Science & Technology

Military & Security

Science & Technology

The United States agreed to reduce licensing requirements for weapons and sensitive technology transfers to the United Kingdom and Australia, Reuters reported on May 1. 

U.S., U.K., Australia: Easing Arms, Technology Transfers Will Boost AUKUS Pillar II

Canada

China

Japan

Germany

France

Italy

India

Energy

The Group of Seven's energy ministers agreed to phase out the use of coal in power generation "during the first half of (the) 2030s," according to a communique released on April 30.

Global: G7 Agrees To Phase Out Coal-Fired Power Generation by 2035

Australian multinational mining company BHP is consulting investors to issue a revised proposal to acquire British multinational mining company Anglo American after the company's first takeover bid was rejected on April 26, Reuters reported on April 29.

South Africa: BHP Consults Investors Ahead of Likely New Bid in Anglo American 

Rwanda

The British government's Safety of Rwanda Bill, which aims to save a controversial plan to relocate asylum seekers to the African country, will become law after receiving the backing of the upper house, The Guardian reported on April 23.

U.K.: Parliament Approves Controversial Plan To Send Asylum Seekers to Rwanda

Argentina

Argentina's government formally requested to join NATO as a global partner during talks in Brussels, Belgium, between NATO's Deputy General Secretary Mircea Geoana and Argentine Defense Minister Luis Petri, AP reported on April 18. 

Argentina: Government Requests To Join NATO as Global Partner

Russia

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said the United Kingdom is considering possible new outbound investment and export restrictions on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, cryogenic equipment and facial recognition technology due to potential security risks tied to technology transfers to adversarial countries such as Russia and China, Bloomberg reported on April 18.

U.K., China: London Considers New Restrictions on Emerging Tech Over Security Risks

Snapshots

Ballots are counted during local elections in Thornaby, England, on May 3, 2024. 

The outcome of the votes in England and Wales confirms the ruling Conservative Party will likely perform poorly in the general election, but also that the opposition Labour Party will face competition from smaller parties.

What To Make of the Local U.K. Election Results

Columns

On Geopolitics

Fiji

Indonesia

New Zealand

North Korea

Philippines

Singapore

South Korea

Vietnam

A 3D rendering of Southeast Asia from space at night with city lights showing Southeast Asian cities in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

U.S.-China Relations

In the Asia-Pacific, countries are increasingly pursuing complex networks of political, economic and defense ties as part of a burgeoning "multi-alignment" strategy that seeks to avoid U.S.-China strategic competition.

Examining 'Multi-Alignment' in the Asia-Pacific

Europe

A rendering of Earth from space at night with abstract 5G connection zones. 

Cyber

In the United Kingdom and the United States, a focus on innovation will sideline robust artificial intelligence regulations.

The U.S. and U.K. Ramp Up Innovation-Focused AI Collaboration

Assessments

Chinese car manufacturer BYD's stacked electric vehicles wait to be loaded onto a ship at the international container terminal of Taicang Port at Suzhou Port in China's eastern Jiangsu province on Sept. 11, 2023.

As Chinese electric vehicles threaten to flood Western markets, Washington and Brussels prepare restrictions to protect domestic manufacturers and secure sensitive data. 

Chinese Electric Vehicles Prepare to Hit the Great Wall of Western Tariffs

A stock photo shows a street scene in the financial district of London. 

In the coming years, the U.K. economy will continue to underperform relative to its pre-Brexit trajectory, but this is unlikely to compel any future governments to consider re-joining the EU.

The U.K.'s Post-Brexit Economic Struggles Look Set To Linger

Pakistan

Chinese officials at the Fifth Plenary Session of the National People's Congress on March 12, 2023 in Beijing. Beijing will host the annual Two Sessions meetings of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, an industry and societal consultative body, and the rubberstamp National People's Congress from March 4-11.

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

The Weekly Rundown: Pakistan Selects a New Premier, China's Two Sessions

Belgium

Portugal

Romania

Austria

A photo taken on Jan. 20, 2024, shows cars driving by campaign billboard posters in Sao Pedro do Estoril, Portugal, ahead of the country's March 10 parliamentary elections. 

Social Issues

Of the various European countries holding elections this year, Portugal, Belgium, Austria, Romania and the U.K.'s votes have the potential to yield the most drastic leadership and policy changes.

Previewing Europe's 2024 National Elections

Guatemala

Yemen

Taiwan

Ukraine

Houthis during the capture of an Israel-linked cargo vessel in November 2023 at an unnamed location in the Red Sea.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: The Possible Houthi Reply to U.S.-U.K. Strikes, Taiwan's General Elections

Iran

A Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft returns to berth following a strike mission on Yemen's Houthi rebels at RAF Akrotiri on Jan. 12, 2024, in Akrotiri, Cyprus. While U.S.-British joint strikes on the Houthis will degrade some of their capabilities, they are highly unlikely to dissuade the Yemeni militant group from continuing to target shipping in the Red Sea.

The strikes will degrade some Houthi capabilities, but are highly unlikely to dissuade the Yemeni militant group from continuing to target shipping in the Red Sea.

What Western Strikes on the Houthis Mean for Yemen and the Region

Burkina Faso

Mali

Niger

Mexico

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Turkey

Hong Kong SAR, China

Poland

Spain

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Bangladesh

In this scorecard, we take a critical look at our successes and slip-ups in forecasting geopolitical events over the past year.

Grading Our 2023 Annual Forecast

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak holds a press conference in the Downing Street Briefing Room, as he gives an update on his migration plan, on Dec. 7, 2023, in London, the United Kingdom.

While the U.K. prime minister has staved off an internal rebellion over a plan to send migrants to Rwanda, the issue will spur more infighting within his ruling party.

In the U.K., Sunak's Rwanda Migration Bill Survives Its First Vote, But Divisions Remain

Luxembourg

Lithuania

Malta

Finland

Latvia

Czech Republic

Greece

Estonia

Sweden

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

Slovakia

Slovenia

Netherlands

Ireland

Hungary

Members of the European Parliament take part in voting on the Artificial Intelligence Act during a plenary session at the European Parliament.

The EU's recently negotiated Artificial Intelligence Act will bolster the European Union's dominance as a regulatory heavyweight in emerging technologies, yet anticipated enforcement challenges and stringent stipulations with the Act risk impeding AI innovation within the bloc.

EU Lawmakers Clinch Agreement on Artificial Intelligence Act 

<p>The United Kingdom is located in Northwestern Europe and includes the island of Great Britain, surrounding islands and part of Ireland. The country is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the Irish Sea and the English Channel. The rugged coastline &mdash; around 12,500 kilometers long &mdash; and surrounding waters, covering important oil and gas reserves, offer the nation protection; particularly from rivals in continental Europe. The United Kingdom&#39;s main geographic challenge is the integration of the British Isles. The rugged topography of the islands fostered the development of strong regional identities. Competing regions like Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland make it difficult to maintain control from the core region in the fertile lowlands around London. When British governments overcome domestic divisions, they can turn their attention outward. Control over the surrounding seas was vital for dominance of the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean, and from there, the development of the British Empire. Substantial coal and iron deposits along with an intricate river and canal system were among the factors that drove the country to lead the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s. The dominance of the Royal Navy gave Britain control of the oceans and global trade. The United Kingdom&#39;s detachment from continental Europe offers protection since a united European empire could challenge the country&#39;s independence. Having a voice in the European Union and strong military and economic ties with the United States help London counter this potential threat.</p>

SITUATION REPORTS

South Africa: Competition Commission To Manage BHP Takeover of Anglo American

U.K.: Local Election Results Confirm Labour on Track for Comfortable Victory in General Election

U.S., U.K., Australia: Easing Arms, Technology Transfers Will Boost AUKUS Pillar II

Global: G7 Agrees To Phase Out Coal-Fired Power Generation by 2035

South Africa: BHP Consults Investors Ahead of Likely New Bid in Anglo American

U.K.: Parliament Approves Controversial Plan To Send Asylum Seekers to Rwanda

Argentina: Government Requests To Join NATO as Global Partner

U.K., China: London Considers New Restrictions on Emerging Tech Over Security Risks

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