China

Economics

Environment, Science & Technology

China's industry ministry released new draft guidelines for the electric vehicle battery industry that will "Guide enterprises to reduce manufacturing projects that simply expand production capacity," as well as "strengthen technological innovation, improve product quality, and reduce production costs," Bloomberg reported on May 8. 

China: EV Battery Guidelines To Address Quality, Not Western Overcapacity, Concerns

United States

Cyber

The U.S. Commerce Department is weighing new export restrictions on closed source or proprietary artificial intelligence models to China, Reuters reported on May 8.

U.S., China: Washington Weighs Restrictions on AI Model Exports to China

U.S.-China Relations

Russia

Military & Security

U.S. government agencies indicted and sanctioned Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev, a 31-year-old Russian national, for his role as the administrator and developer of LockBit, one of the most prolific global ransomware groups in the world, Reuters reported on May 7.

U.S.: Government Indicts Prolific LockBit Ransomware Group Leader

Politics

The U.S. State Department published the International Cyberspace and Digital Policy Strategy on May 6, outlining the government's plan to work with allies and stakeholders internationally "to shape the design, development, governance, and use of cyberspace and digital technologies."

U.S.: State Department Announces International Cyberspace and Digital Policy Strategy

China successfully launched its Chang'e-6 lunar lander from Hainan province, NBC reported on May 3.

China: Chang'e-6 Lunar Lander Launches on Sample Return Mission to Far Side of Moon

Eritrea

Cuba

Nicaragua

Venezuela

Egypt

Iran

Saudi Arabia

Turkey

Norway

Belarus

Reporters Without Borders published its 2024 World Press Freedom Index, indicating that suppression of journalists and political attacks on the press have "significantly intensified" in the last year, The Guardian reported on May 3.

Global: Press Freedom Declines Amid Pivotal Elections Around the World

Australia

United Kingdom

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

Eight major regional U.S. newspapers owned by Alden Global Capital filed lawsuits against OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement, Axios reported on April 30. 

U.S.: Major Regional Newspapers Sue OpenAI, Microsoft for Copyright Infringement

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

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Vietnam

An aerial photo taken on Sept. 25, 2022, shows solar panels at the Sao Mai solar energy plant in Vietnam’s An Giang province. 

Energy

Several ASEAN countries are on track to develop substantial renewable power capacities in the short term, but technical, political and financial constraints, coupled with incentives to keep burning fossil fuels, will impede long-term decarbonization goals.

The Challenges Facing Southeast Asia's Decarbonization

Perhaps the one area where the President and former President broadly agree is the national security implications of technology policy: Biden has maintained and expanded many of Trump's first-term restrictions on China's access to sophisticated American technology, and both share a revitalized interest in "reshoring" high-tech manufacturing. While a second Biden administration would put a greater emphasis on working in concert with America's allies on technology policy and would be more open to "friendshoring" key tech production, a second Trump term would be more likely to "go it alone" and would be far more transactional with friend and foe alike.

Trump vs. Biden: The Implications for U.S. Tech Regulation

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On Geopolitics

Fiji

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India

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

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

Glass-like molecules float against a green and purple background.

The European Union's gradual adoption of green hydrogen will bolster its energy security and create new global energy relations.

Europe's Green Hydrogen Future, Part 2: Charting the Path

Media

Forecast Webcast

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Social Issues

Join our analysts for this webcast recording exploring key topics identified in RANE's 2024 Second-Quarter Geopolitical Forecast.

2024 Second-Quarter Geopolitical Forecast Webcast

U.S.-Iran Relations

Snapshots

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

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

Germany

France

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 glass-like hydrogen molecule is superimposed over a green background.

Despite green hydrogen's promising applications in hard-to-abate sectors and potential to reduce emissions, funding and logistics issues are challenging its adoption in the European Union.

Europe's Green Hydrogen Future, Part 1: Hopes and Constraints

Podcasts

What steps can be taken to ensure data privacy?

RANE Insights: Broaching the Topic of Data Privacy in Today's Technological Environment 

Malaysia's experienced workforce and neutral status in the U.S.-China rivalry will continue to draw interest to its chip sector, but the country will struggle to move up the value chain.

Malaysia's Place in the Race for Semiconductor Business

Nascent regulations and nonbinding private sector pledges will likely fail to curb the spread of deepfakes and other generative AI content on social media during the 2024 elections in both territories.

The U.S. and EU Brace for AI-Powered Election Disinformation

What precautions should be taken to avoid COVID-19 and norovirus?

Beyond COVID: New Guidance From the CDC

Environment, Science & Technology

SITUATION REPORTS

China: EV Battery Guidelines To Address Quality, Not Western Overcapacity, Concerns

U.S., China: Washington Weighs Restrictions on AI Model Exports to China

U.S.: Government Indicts Prolific LockBit Ransomware Group Leader

U.S.: State Department Announces International Cyberspace and Digital Policy Strategy

China: Chang'e-6 Lunar Lander Launches on Sample Return Mission to Far Side of Moon

Global: Press Freedom Declines Amid Pivotal Elections Around the World

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

U.S.: Major Regional Newspapers Sue OpenAI, Microsoft for Copyright Infringement

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