United States

China

Environment, Science & Technology

Politics

U.S. climate envoy John Podesta said he and his Chinese counterpart Liu Zhenmin narrowed their divide on climate finance (e.g., which countries should pay what portion of energy transition expenses) and discussed targets for 2035, but "some differences" remain, Reuters reported on Sept. 6.

China, U.S.: Another Round of Climate Talks Sees Minimal Movement

U.S.-China Relations

United Arab Emirates

Energy

UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan lauded the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant's completion and beginning of commercial operations, The National reported on Sept. 5.

UAE: Completed Nuclear Power Plant Marks First in Arab World

Australia

Japan

Philippines

South Korea

Cyber

Military & Security

Japan and Australia signed the Pacific Digital Development Initiative, or PDDI, following a meeting between the countries' defense and foreign ministers, Nikkei Asia reported on Sept. 5.

Japan, Australia: Countries Deepen Cybersecurity, Defense Ties

Singapore

India

Economics

During his two-day trip to Singapore, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, signed four memorandums of understanding focused on digital technologies, semiconductor development, health collaboration and skill enhancement, The Hindu reported on Sept. 5. 

India, Singapore: Four MoUs Strengthen Cooperation, Including on Semiconductors

Europe

United Kingdom

The European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States are expected to sign the Council of Europe's Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, or AI, in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Sept. 5, the Financial Times reported the same day.

Global: Council of Europe Members To Begin Signing Global AI Treaty

Brazil

The worst drought in Brazil's recorded history is affecting 58% of the country's territory, with many areas experiencing no rain in over 100 days and low river levels impacting hydroelectric power generation, Folha de S.Paulo reported on Sept. 4.

Brazil: Worst Drought on Record To Increase Electricity Prices

The European Commission received the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture's final report, according to a Sept. 4 European Commission press release.

EU: Strategic Dialogue on EU Agriculture To Inform Future Farming Policies

Australia's Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic will unveil 10 voluntary guardrails for high-risk research and development of artificial intelligence (AI) on Sept. 5, Bloomberg reported Sept. 4.

Australia: Canberra to Announce 10 Voluntary Guardrails for High-Risk AI R&D

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

Snapshots

Netherlands

The United States and the West are likely to continue tightening export controls on China's semiconductor and other high-tech industries to close loopholes exploited by Chinese companies.

Tightened Western Tech Export Controls on China Signal More to Come

Assessments

Turkey

Cambodia

Germany

France

Uzbekistan

Turkmenistan

Kazakhstan

Russia

Kyrgyzstan

Afghanistan

The Geopolitics of Water

The escalating impacts of climate change and water scarcity will inflame tensions between Central Asian countries, raising the risk of violent state conflict in the coming decades. 

The Looming Threat of Central Asian 'Water Wars'

Israel

Israel will continue using its advanced desalination technology to foster better relations with Arab neighbors, but the Gaza conflict currently limits the success of this water diplomacy and will ultimately hinge on Tel Aviv's future political and military actions in the region.

How Israel Will Leverage Desalination in Its Regional Normalization Efforts

Burkina Faso

Cameroon

Chad

Mali

Mauritania

Niger

Nigeria

Environmental conditions in the Sahel are likely to worsen due to desertification, rapid population growth and political instability. 

The Role of Desertification in Conflict in the Sahel

A Google sign is displayed outside the company's offices in New York City on Jan. 25, 2023.

Google's antitrust loss shows U.S. regulators can successfully challenge Big Tech, but without major reforms, such rulings are unlikely to weaken the tech sector's mega-corporations or prevent the creation of new ones.

 Washington's Antitrust Push Is Unlikely To Threaten U.S. Tech Firms' Global Dominance

China's water security plans could see it become a world leader in water management technologies, but they also risk impeding Beijing's efforts to defuse debt bombs and attract foreign investment. 

In China, Water Security Comes With High Costs

Media

Podcasts

RANE Insights: Beyond COVID: The Newest COVID-19 Data

What preventative steps should organizations take to protect themselves from cyberattacks? 

Essential Geopolitics: What We Can Learn from High-Profile Cyber Breaches

A stock photo shows the inside of a modern data center.

The proliferation of AI and cloud computing, and the energy-intensive data centers they rely on, will strain power supplies in certain U.S. areas, but are unlikely to pose systemic risks to the national grid.

In the U.S., the AI Revolution Could Create Localized Power Crunches

Guinea

A stock photo shows a large, open-pit iron ore mine with various layers of soil.

If the project's completion is not derailed by renewed political instability in Guinea, the giant Simandou mine's iron ore exports will help China diversify its supplies and decarbonize its steelmaking industry. 

What Africa's Largest Mining Project Means for Guinea, China and the World

Columns

On Geopolitics

Saudi Arabia

A man walks in front of the Maraya (Mirror), the world's largest mirrored building, in the desert canyon of Ashar Valley in Saudi Arabia's northwestern Al-Ula desert on Jan. 29, 2024.

Amid the rising costs of climate change, Saudi Arabia hopes an increasing reliance on market forces will keep its economy in the black.

Will Climate Change Singe Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030?

Europe's agricultural and industrial sectors, as well as energy production, will suffer under worsening water stress in the coming years.

What To Expect From Water Stress in Europe

Environment, Science & Technology

SITUATION REPORTS

China, U.S.: Another Round of Climate Talks Sees Minimal Movement

UAE: Completed Nuclear Power Plant Marks First in Arab World

Japan, Australia: Countries Deepen Cybersecurity, Defense Ties

India, Singapore: Four MoUs Strengthen Cooperation, Including on Semiconductors

Global: Council of Europe Members To Begin Signing Global AI Treaty

Brazil: Worst Drought on Record To Increase Electricity Prices

EU: Strategic Dialogue on EU Agriculture To Inform Future Farming Policies

Australia: Canberra to Announce 10 Voluntary Guardrails for High-Risk AI R&D

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