Global

Beijing has escalated pressure across multiple fronts by issuing travel warnings, launching coast guard patrols near the Senkaku Islands, increasing military activity around Taiwan, and reinstating a seafood import ban. Takaichi has adopted an unusually assertive stance toward China compared with her predecessors, while simultaneously pursuing closer security ties with South Korea to address shared regional threats. China could escalate to more disruptive measures, such as ra

The month of November marked a significant shift in Western European states’ defensive strategies. The UK encountered several Russian threats (a spy ship in British waters, cyberattacks, and satellite spying), while Germany and France increased their defence budgets and introduced voluntary conscription plans. The private sector is heavily implicated in European defence projects, especially as Russian threats manifest in hybrid forms; skills include AI, cyberspace, ammunition

Online extremism is rising across multiple ideologies, driven by social grievances, digital echo chambers, and global conflicts. Early online behaviours – including fixation, extremist memes, hate rhetoric, and network engagement – often precede real-world criminal or terror activity. OSINT tools and analytics can detect precursor signals at scale, enabling proactive policing and threat mitigation. Youths are increasingly vulnerable to radicalisation, making education and ear

Israel’s airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburb of Haret Hreik on 23 November 2025 eliminated Haytham Ali Tabatabai, Hezbollah’s Chief of Staff and its effective second-in-command. The IDF carried out the strike deep inside Dahieh, one of Hezbollah’s most secure strongholds, killing Tabatabai and four aides. Israeli officials described the operation as a precise, opportunistic action aimed at disrupting Hezbollah’s military rebuilding after the 2023–24 conflict.

On 20 November 2025, Spanish Republicans are flooding social media outlets with #ElBorbónEsFranquista focusing on King Felipe VI who inherited the throne from his father, accused of holding the Spanish crown thanks to Francisco Franco. The Republican activism in Spain is nowhere as active or considered as pressing as issues such as corruption or ongoing international conflicts. However, these demonstrations are still reported in Spain and intertwined with current affairs.

In November 2025, the CNSA reached out to NASA concerning a manoeuvre to move a satellite and prevent a collision. Satellite collision avoidance is paramount to space exploration as it creates space debris, harming private and government space projects. Bilateral cooperation on space issues between the US and China remains extremely limited. With no change in sight, it paves the way for private interests within both domestic space industries.

Brazil’s climate leadership is undercut by policy contradictions: green funds on one hand, new oil drilling on the other. Indigenous exclusion is stoking unrest, exposing firms to social and reputational risk. ESG disclosure rules now demand verifiable, auditable data, heightening scrutiny of supply chains. The Amazon has become a testing ground for both corporate ethics and regulatory resolve.

Crime-as-a-Service (CaaS) has transformed cybercrime into a commercial ecosystem, lowering the barrier for anyone to commit complex attacks. Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) remains the most profitable and damaging CaaS model, driving record global and UK cybercrime losses. CaaS markets thrive on anonymity, cryptocurrency, and specialisation, mirroring legitimate tech-industry dynamics. UK law enforcement and policymakers are responding with proposed bans on ransom payments and

UK prisons are facing a growing drone threat, as criminal networks increasingly use unmanned aerial vehicles to smuggle drugs, weapons, and contraband into secure facilities. Drone-facilitated smuggling fuels organised crime, disrupts daily prison life, and hinders rehabilitation by maintaining a pervasive drug culture. Counter-drone technology is evolving, with systems such as Sky Fence and advanced detection methods, but current measures remain inconsistent across pri

Trump and Takaichi’s meeting on 28 October enabled significant trade deals on rare earth extraction and processing, as well as nuclear energy development projects. ●       Trump’s APEC meeting with Xi on 30 October marked a temporary stop to the Chinese rare earth curbs. ●       As rare earths are increasingly sought and needed in manufacturing modern technologies, a wider variety of industries are affected by movement and disruptions in the rare earth supply chain.

Nearly all serious and organised crime now has a digital footprint, driven by global connectivity and emerging technologies, highlighting a stark contrast from how serious and organised crime has been known to operate in the past. Emerging technologies most commonly seen to aid and abet criminal activity include the dark web, cryptocurrency, cybercrime, encryption, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Cybercrime costs are projected to surpass $12.1 trillion by 2031, making

Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine has shattered assumptions about its strategic limits, showing that ideology and historical ambition can override logic. Moscow has sought to keep Kazakhstan as firmly within its sphere of influence as possible. Astana’s contingency planning against a potential Russian incursion has become a central pillar of its foreign policy. Kazakhstan has pursued a multivector approach, balancing ties with Russia, China, and the West.demographics, and log

China and Russia have signed an agreement to jointly commercialise and develop the Northern Sea Route, focusing on technological exchange and infrastructure development. ●      As a strategically located maritime route containing vast resources, countries are expressing a growing appetite for investment. ●      Tourism, shipping, mining, development, and various other industries interested in expanding into the Arctic need to account for the significant insurance costs, unp

Pre- and post-election violence in the country highlights growing dissatisfaction with President Paul Biya’s long rule and raises concerns about the legitimacy of the electoral process. The ongoing violence could lead to additional security measures, including restrictions on movement. Furthermore, western governments out of fear of escalating violence may issue travel warnings for their citizens. Armed groups and insurgents operating in the country could exploit the unre

Youth-led protests in Madagascar, initially sparked by chronic water and electricity shortages, culminated in a military seizure of power and President Rajoelina’s fleeing the country. The ensuing political crisis highlights deep structural and systematic challenges, including high poverty rates and inequality. A resolution to the crisis is dependent on whether the military leadership can successfully manage the transition timeline.

According to the latest UK Home Office crime statistics, data for the year ending March 2024 demonstrates a 25% increase in the number of religious hate crimes compared to the previous year. Spikes in hate crime can be partially attributed to the Israel-Hamas conflict, which began in October 2023. National Hate Crime Awareness week will take place from 11 to 18 October 2025. The UK government has implemented the Hate Crime Strategy 2025-2028 to reduce the impact of h

Kabila's sentencing might worsen ongoing crisis in Congo, possibly causing more violence as various groups/movements react to the ruling. The trial raises concerns about how the country’s justice system is being used for political gains, suggesting that the Tshisekedi administration may be targeting major opposition. The court’s ruling poses a threat to the already fragile peace agreements between DRC and Rwanda/M23, complicating efforts to bring stability to the Great

The recent string of youth-led protests across Indonesia, Nepal, and the Philippines highlights a shared sense of frustration at corruption and inequality. The pivotal role played by social media platforms, from offering an outlet for the generation of collective grievances to exposing the brutality of law enforcement’s response, was a notable catalyst.

Recent anti-government protests, often labelled as “Gen Z” movements, have been driven by deep-seated discontent with poor governance, corruption, economic inequality and high unemployment rates, which affect young populations. Over the years, social media has changed the face of activism as various platforms have evolved into crucial elements in mass mobilisation and content dissemination.

State-sponsored sabotage is assessed as the most likely explanation for the incursions, which have been described by Danish government officials as a "hybrid attack" and "systematic operation." The tactics, locations, and timing of the incursions suggest deliberate efforts to test the responses of NATO air defences and undermine political unity ahead of the European Political Community meeting, which is due to take place in Copenhagen on 02 October 2025.