Democratic Republic of the Congo

Rwanda

Uganda

Economics

Environment, Science & Technology

An expanding Ebola outbreak in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has prompted neighboring Uganda to halt all flights and public transport to and from the country, as well as suspend weekly markets in western Uganda, though cross-border transport of goods remains permitted, Bloomberg reported May 22.

Congo: Growing Ebola Outbreak Prompts Uganda To Restrict Travel

South Korea

Politics

Samsung Electronics management and the Samsung Electronics Labor Union reached a tentative agreement on bonus payments on the evening of May 20, during mediation led by South Korean labor minister Kim Young-hoon, KBS reported.

South Korea: Government-Mediated Deal Avoids Samsung Labor Strike

Military & Security

The World Health Organization declared a "public health emergency of international concern" surrounding a deadly Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, Reuters reported on May 17.

Congo, Uganda: WHO Declares Global Health Emergency Following Ebola Outbreak

United States

China

Kazakhstan

Cove Kaz Capital, a U.S. citical minerals company linked to two of U.S. President Donald Trump's sons through its planned merger with Skyline Builders, asked the U.S. Defense Department's Office of Strategic Capital for an additional $400 million to develop the Northern Katpar and Upper Kairakty tungsten projects in Kazakhstan, the Financial Times reported on May 12.

Kazakhstan, U.S.: Kazakhstan Tungsten Project Seeks More U.S. Backing

As U.S. President Donald Trump landed in China, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng held roughly three hours of trade talks in South Korea aimed at preparing the summit agenda between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14-15, with topics including tariffs, semiconductors, rare earths, agriculture, aerospace, energy and the Iran conflict, Reuters reported on May 13.

China, U.S.: Summit Prep Points to Limited Trade Accommodations, Taiwan Friction

Europe

The European Commission entered talks to bring the European Union into Pax Silica, a U.S.-led initiative aimed at building a trusted network for semiconductors, AI infrastructure, critical minerals and data centers to reduce reliance on China, Bloomberg reported May 12.

EU, U.S.: Brussels Enters Talks to Join U.S.-Led Pax Silica Alliance

Iran

Ukraine

Russia

Cyber

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Alex Karp, the CEO of U.S. artificial intelligence company Palantir, as Kyiv expands its use of AI in the war against Russia, Reuters reported on May 12.

Ukraine: Kyiv Expands Palantir AI Partnership as Drone War Raises the Value of Combat Data

Iranian news outlets linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps published proposals on May 9 for Iran to start charging international companies a fee to use undersea internet cables in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran: State-Affiliated News Outlets Encourage Levies on Regional Sea Cables

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

Argentina

Bolivia

Chile

Global Trade

The Geopolitics of Natural Resources

Argentina, Bolivia and Chile are poised to benefit from the expected rise in lithium demand in the coming years, but they are unlikely to see a substantial surge in wealth without a more monumental market change.

The Outlook for the Lithium Triangle Amid the Global Energy Transition, Part 2

Argentina, Bolivia and Chile have had varying degrees of success in developing their lithium production capacity, with Chile achieving the greatest success of the three, and Bolivia lagging behind.

The Outlook for the Lithium Triangle Amid the Global Energy Transition, Part 1

Media

Podcasts

Could a single AI model render decades of corporate cybersecurity obsolete overnight?

The Decision Advantage: Will Mythos Change the Cybersecurity Landscape for Better or for Worse? 

U.S. President Donald Trump (right) and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a bilateral meeting in Busan, South Korea, on Oct. 30, 2025.

The May 14-15 meetings will likely yield a limited extension of the current U.S.-China economic detente while leaving core strategic disputes over technology controls, Taiwan and Iran largely unresolved.

Trump-Xi Summit Likely To Preserve Trade Truce, Test Strategic Fault Lines

U.S.-China Relations

Brazil

If Flavio Bolsonaro wins in October, his right-wing administration would largely abandon Brazil's environmental and climate commitments, accelerate extractive investments and projects, and pursue strong geopolitical alignment with Washington.

The Balance Between Environmental and Extractive Policies in Brazil's Presidential Election, Part 2

How are evolving cyber tactics reshaping the threat landscape for the Iran war?

The Decision Advantage: Iran, Russia and the Future of Cyber Warfare

Columns

On Geopolitics

Energy

Weaponizing raw material exports can provide short-term political leverage, but it often pushes the targeted nations to permanently restructure their trade relationships to reduce dependencies.

The Historical Lessons of Global Commodity Weaponization

Snapshots

View of the Perito Moreno Glacier at Los Glaciares National Park near El Calafate, Santa Cruz province, Argentina, taken on June 8, 2025.

By dismantling uniform national protections in favor of provincial oversight, Argentina aims to stimulate its extractive-export economy but will risk the long-term security of water-dependent sectors and the environment.

Argentina's Revised Glaciers Law Will Unlock Mining Investment, but Risks Environmental Degradation

This photo, taken in Lima in November 2024, shows Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte attending the inauguration ceremony for the Chinese-built and operated "megaport" in the small Peruvian town of Chancay.

As Washington formalizes a new hemispheric doctrine centered on security and supply chain dominance, regional governments face mounting pressure to align their defense and economic policies with U.S. geopolitical interests.

How the U.S.'s Anti-China Strategy for Latin America Could Unfold

As competition for natural resources and critical raw materials intensifies, companies -- not just countries -- must be more mindful of risks in their physical supply chains.

The Geopolitics of Natural Resources: An Introduction

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Social Issues

The second quarter will test global resilience as lingering conflicts and energy shocks converge to heighten economic uncertainty and geopolitical volatility.

2026 Second-Quarter Forecast: An Excerpt

South Africa

A general view of power lines near the Lethabo power station between Vereeniging and Sasolburg, South Africa, on April 17, 2024.

Although South Africa's power sector reforms remain years from completion, their gradual advancement will still attract investment in energy projects that support the country's long-term energy security and decarbonization goals.

Environment, Science & Technology

SITUATION REPORTS

Congo: Growing Ebola Outbreak Prompts Uganda To Restrict Travel

South Korea: Government-Mediated Deal Avoids Samsung Labor Strike

Congo, Uganda: WHO Declares Global Health Emergency Following Ebola Outbreak

Kazakhstan, U.S.: Kazakhstan Tungsten Project Seeks More U.S. Backing

China, U.S.: Summit Prep Points to Limited Trade Accommodations, Taiwan Friction

EU, U.S.: Brussels Enters Talks to Join U.S.-Led Pax Silica Alliance

Ukraine: Kyiv Expands Palantir AI Partnership as Drone War Raises the Value of Combat Data

Iran: State-Affiliated News Outlets Encourage Levies on Regional Sea Cables

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