China

Europe

Economics

Environment, Science & Technology

The European Commission proposed changes on Dec. 16 to ease EU vehicle emissions rules, allowing some combustion engine vehicles to remain on the market beyond the planned 2035 phaseout, according to a press release.

EU: Brussels Weakens 2035 Combustion Engine Ban With Emissions Rule Overhaul

United States

Cyber

Politics

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order late on Dec. 11 that seeks to curb state-level artificial intelligence laws as part of the administration's larger deregulation push for the sector, The Washington Post reported the same day. 

U.S.: Trump Signs Executive Order Aiming To Curb State AI Laws

Israel

Australia

Japan

Singapore

South Korea

The U.S. Trump administration plans to sign the Pax Silica Declaration with Australia, Japan, Israel, Singapore and South Korea on Dec. 12, forming a coalition designed to counter China's control of critical minerals and its growing clout in the artificial intelligence sector, Politico reported the same day.

Global: U.S., Five Others To Sign Pax Silica Declaration in a Bid To Counter China in CRMs, AI

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently added artificial intelligence processors from Huawei, Cambricon and other Chinese companies to its government-approved list of suppliers, the Financial Times reported on Dec. 9.

China: Beijing Adds Domestic AI Chips to Government-Approved Supplier List

Mexico

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose an additional 5% tariff on Mexico if it does not immediately provide additional water to U.S. farmers, La Jornada reported on Dec. 9.

U.S., Mexico: Water Dispute To Further Fuel Tariff Uncertainty

Negotiators from the European Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on Dec. 9 to delay and scale back the European Union's sustainability reporting and due diligence framework, including significant reductions to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, the European Council said in a press release. 

EU: EU Negotiators Reach Deal To Scale Back Sustainability Requirements

Chinese officials are discussing ways to limit domestic companies' access to U.S. manufacturer Nvidia's H200 artificial intelligence chips, which are a generation behind Nvidia's Blackwell family of chips but still outstrip the most advanced Chinese-produced chips in memory bandwidth and processing performance, the Financial Times reported on Dec. 9.

China, U.S.: China Looks To Restrict H200 Chips After Trump Approves Their Export

U.S.-China Relations

The European Commission is delaying the release of or agreements on controversial plans regarding the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, emissions standards for vehicles and "Buy European" domestic content requirements over backlash from some European governments and departments within the European Commission, Reuters reported on Dec. 8. 

EU: Bloc Delays Plans To Set Domestic Content Requirements, Change 2035 Vehicle Emissions Rule

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

A container ship arrives Oct. 10 at the Port of Oakland, California. In 2026, political calculations among major global players will significantly shape international affairs.

Energy

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Military & Security

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

In 2026, political calculations among major global players will significantly shape international affairs.

2026 Annual Forecast: A Global Overview

Media

Podcasts

How could advancements in AI increase the threat of state-sponsored cyber activity?

Essential Geopolitics: The Role of AI in State-Sponsored Cyber Espionage Campaigns

Tanzania

Hong Kong SAR, China

Ukraine

Protesters help an injured demonstrator near burning barricades amid clashes in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Oct. 29, 2025. 

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

The Weekly Rundown: Unrest in Tanzania, an EU Summit in Ukraine

Brazil

Iraq

Syria

Campaign posters Nov. 6 ahead of Nov. 11 Iraqi parliamentary elections in central Baghdad.

The Weekly Rundown: Iraqi Elections, a U.S.-China Deal Enters Effect

The COP30 logo at the central building is seen ahead of the COP30 Brazil Amazonia 2025 on Nov. 3, 2025 in Belem, Brazil. 

Social Issues

The 30th U.N. Climate Change Conference is poised to highlight the enduring impasse between developed and developing nations, particularly regarding financial responsibilities and the transition from fossil fuels.

A Breakthrough on Climate Targets is Unlikely at Brazil's COP30

The Geopolitics of Trade

Global Trade

The recalibration of the European Union's sustainability framework will ease near-term compliance burdens and costs for businesses but preserve long-term uncertainty.

The Geopolitics of Trade: EU Steps Back From Ambitious Environmental Policies

Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, and other senior government members and deputies attend the second plenary session of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People on March 8, 2025, in Beijing, China.

The key political meeting will fill vacant Party seats and update economic and security goals, offering insights into China's policy priorities and the trajectory of Xi's political purges for the next five years. 

What To Watch for During China's Fourth Plenum

While countries will likely increasingly pursue trade deals with digital clauses, the slow pace of regulatory development, coupled with a global tendency toward protectionism, will impede the push toward building out more streamlined digital economy agreements.

The Geopolitics of Trade: The Role of Digital Trade in Modern Free Trade Agreements

Turkey

This aerial photograph shows dry areas near the Alacati Kutlu Aktas Dam in Izmir, Turkey, on July 30, 2025. 

The absence of a national water strategy leaves local authorities and businesses exposed to the mounting pressures of climate change, inefficient agricultural practices and population growth.

Water Scarcity Likely to Worsen With Climate Change, Deepening Turkey's Economic Challenges

Columns

On Security

An aerial view of the IAD71 Amazon Web Services data center is seen on July 17, 2024, in Ashburn, Virginia. 

AI's displacement of workers, the environmental impact of data centers and fears of pervasive surveillance are creating a potent mix of grievances likely to fuel violent extremism against targets associated with the technology.

The Coming Violent Backlash Against AI

An H1B visa (for specialty workers) stamp is seen in a passport.

The sudden implementation of a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas will disproportionately harm smaller companies and universities and weigh on the U.S. economy.

The H-1B Fee Will Undermine U.S. Innovation and Competitiveness

Snapshots

Flag of China on a red-painted printed circuit board.

Advancements in China's semiconductor sector are reducing Chinese companies' reliance on foreign technology, enabling them to push back more firmly against Western hegemony.

Environment, Science & Technology

SITUATION REPORTS

EU: Brussels Weakens 2035 Combustion Engine Ban With Emissions Rule Overhaul

U.S.: Trump Signs Executive Order Aiming To Curb State AI Laws

Global: U.S., Five Others To Sign Pax Silica Declaration in a Bid To Counter China in CRMs, AI

China: Beijing Adds Domestic AI Chips to Government-Approved Supplier List

U.S., Mexico: Water Dispute To Further Fuel Tariff Uncertainty

EU: EU Negotiators Reach Deal To Scale Back Sustainability Requirements

China, U.S.: China Looks To Restrict H200 Chips After Trump Approves Their Export

EU: Bloc Delays Plans To Set Domestic Content Requirements, Change 2035 Vehicle Emissions Rule

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