United States

China

Singapore

Economics

Environment, Science & Technology

Politics

Authorities in Singapore charged two Singaporeans and one Chinese national for allegedly defrauding U.S. tech company Nvidia Corp. by illicitly shipping its semiconductors to China, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 28.

Singapore, China: Singapore Charges Three Men Over Chip Transfers to China

Pakistan

According to Pakistan's Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, an International Monetary Fund mission will visit Pakistan the week of March 3 for discussions ahead of the first review of the $7 billion bailout program, which is scheduled for March, Reuters reported on Feb. 26.

Pakistan: IMF Mission To Visit Ahead of First Bailout Review

New Zealand

Vietnam

Military & Security

New Zealand and Vietnam upgraded ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, Vietnam's highest level of bilateral tie short of an alliance, Vietnamese state-run newspaper Bao Chinh Phu reported on Feb. 26. 

New Zealand, Vietnam: Countries Upgrade Ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Indonesia

Indonesia lifted its sales ban on Apple's iPhone 16 after Apple broadened its previous offer to invest $1 billion, establish research and development and training centers, and begin limited accessory manufacturing (particularly for AirTags) in Indonesia, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 25.

Indonesia: Jakarta Lifts Sales Ban of iPhone 16 in New Deal With Apple

Taiwan

The Taiwanese coast guard detained a Chinese freighter, the Hong Tai 58, and its eight-person Chinese crew after it found the ship loitering around a recently cut undersea telecommunications cable off the coast of Tainan that provides internet service to the Penghu Islands, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 25. 

Taiwan: Detention of Chinese Cable Cut Crew Risks Minor Disruptions, Escalation

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to sign a memorandum on Feb. 21 that will authorize the creation of reciprocal tariffs in response to foreign digital services taxes, or DSTs, imposed by various other countries on a variety of large U.S. technology companies, Bloomberg reported the same day.

U.S.: White House Expected To Greenlight Reciprocal Tariffs Targeting Digital Services Taxes 

United Kingdom

Cyber

Apple stopped offering its Advanced Data Protection feature for new users in the United Kingdom following London's January order for Apple to build a backdoor enabling the government to access encrypted user data, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 21.

U.K.: Apple Stops Offering End-to-End iCloud Encryption Service in U.K.

Social Issues

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission announced on Feb. 20 a public inquiry into major tech platforms' content moderation policies and decisions to ban users over the content of their speech or affiliations. 

U.S.: FTC Launches Tech Censorship Inquiry

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

Europe

Eurasia

Middle East and North Africa

South Asia

Agriculture

COVID-19

Supply Chains

_Energy

Environmental Issues

Globalization

The 4th Industrial Revolution

Assessments

A photo of the U.S. Capitol overlaid with a pixilated blue and red pattern.

The United States will continue to prioritize AI innovation over regulation, and the European Union is set to partially reconsider its rules amid a broader push to increase competitiveness. 

The Future of AI Regulation Under the West's New Leadership

Germany

CDU leader Friedrich Merz (left) and the party's secretary general, Carsten Linnemann, hold a post-election press conference in Berlin, Germany, on Feb. 24, 2025. 

Energy

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Germany's new government will likely be more stable than its predecessor, enabling the CDU/CSU to pursue economic stimulus and a more assertive foreign policy.

German Election Results Position the Center-Right To Retake the Helm

Global Elections

While wars over water remain rare, its unequal distribution, growing demand and climate change-driven stress will increasingly shape global challenges and geopolitical tensions in the decades to come.

The Geopolitics of Water: Conclusion

The Geopolitics of Water

South Africa

While government reforms will help catalyze much-needed investments in water infrastructure, these are unlikely to rapidly resolve the country's water supply challenges, which threaten to undermine South Africa's economic growth amid more frequent droughts. 

The Geopolitics of Water: The Cascading Effects of South African Underinvestment in Water Infrastructure

India

South Asia's rising demand for water resources will exacerbate disputes over key waterways, particularly the Brahmaputra and Indus rivers.

The Geopolitics of Water: Regional Rivals Compete for South Asia's Rivers

Canada

Mexico

U.S. President Donald Trump holds up an executive order after signing it during an indoor inauguration parade at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C, on Jan. 20, 2025.

While some will face legal challenges, Trump's initial orders on immigration, trade, energy and climate issues lay the groundwork for his ambitious agenda.

What To Make of Trump's Day 1 Executive Orders

Brazil

Changes in rainfall patterns and extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change will increasingly challenge Brazil's crop production, causing unrest.

The Geopolitics of Water: The Impact of Climate Change on Brazil's Agribusiness

Ethiopia

Egypt

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

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

Essential Geopolitics: Unpacking China's Salt Typhoon Operation

U.S.-China Relations

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.

2024: A Geopolitical Review

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

Environment, Science & Technology

SITUATION REPORTS

Singapore, China: Singapore Charges Three Men Over Chip Transfers to China

Pakistan: IMF Mission To Visit Ahead of First Bailout Review

New Zealand, Vietnam: Countries Upgrade Ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Indonesia: Jakarta Lifts Sales Ban of iPhone 16 in New Deal With Apple

Taiwan: Detention of Chinese Cable Cut Crew Risks Minor Disruptions, Escalation

U.S.: White House Expected To Greenlight Reciprocal Tariffs Targeting Digital Services Taxes

U.K.: Apple Stops Offering End-to-End iCloud Encryption Service in U.K.

U.S.: FTC Launches Tech Censorship Inquiry

Forecasts

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