Global Scans · Geopolitics · Weekly Summary

• [New] In terms of nation state threats: China's cyber operations focused regionally on targets in Taiwan, Japan, and Hong Kong, especially anything related to semiconductor tech or political intelligence. DeepStrike
• [New] Geopolitics of compute: As cloud giants scale national footprints, the global AI infrastructure map will look less centralized around a handful of Western regions and more distributed. News, Events, Advertising Options
• [New] China itself attracted very little attention - whether for example modern slavery issues and associated restrictions, political interference, alliance with Russia, threat to Taiwan, or whatever. CROAKING CASSANDRA
• [New] The balance between federal enforcement operations (Agency Politicization, Human Rights, Sub-national Autonomy) and community resistance (Contentious Politics, Civil Society Oversight) will continue affecting multiple democracy factors. RealTime DemTrends
• [New] The Agriculture Department threatened to withhold SNAP nutrition benefits from Democratic-led states unless they provide immigration enforcement data, using food assistance programs as political leverage for unrelated policy compliance. RealTime DemTrends
• [New] Multiple violent incidents, political threats, and identity-based tensions indicated breakdown in social cohesion across American communities this week. RealTime DemTrends
• [New] Small modular reactors (SMRs) can help Europe into a new era of nuclear power and drive its energy independence, but require the political, public and financial will to realise their potential, an energy conference heard recently in Bilbao, Spain. The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency
• [New] Based on reliable sources from 2025, supply chain volatility posed significant risks to manufacturing, driven by tariffs, geopolitics, and disruptions, leading to cost increases of 5-10% and productivity losses of 10-20%. Devox Software
• [New] For years, Syria's leaders were programmed to monopolise power, an approach that will no longer work as they attempt to include all citizens in the political mix. Al Jazeera
• [New] The combination of domestic political gridlock and ongoing global trade tensions requires investors to be disciplined about portfolio strategy and maintain flexibility to adjust their risk stance as new information emerges. Northern Trust
• [New] Global brands should anticipate localization requirements, data residency rules, and political sensitivities around AI vendor choice. MarketingProfs
• [New] In the coming years, we will see the rise of AI that can personalize arguments, test what works, and quietly reshape political views at scale. MIT Technology Review
• [New] The EU's recent retreat from its 2035 internal combustion engine ban illustrates how even flagship green policies can be rolled back when confronted with commercial realities and political pressure. NE Global Media
• [New] European Political Shocks: Elections in Germany and France could provide sharp moves in the EUR. Fusion Markets | Low Cost Forex Broker
• [New] German and French Political Uncertainty: Domestic political risks, including German elections and policy uncertainty in France, add further downside pressure to the euro. Fusion Markets | Low Cost Forex Broker
• [New] Countries like Indonesia, Turkey, Brazil, and South Africa will play increasingly strategic roles because they are not tied to rigid political blocs like during the Cold War era. The Southeast Asia Desk
• A leftist movement in Sri Lanka that took power after an economic collapse is seizing a rare opportunity to rally more women into politics. Our Secure Future
• Ukraine risks entering a postwar environment defined not by Russian aggression, but by Ukrainian fragmentation-regional mistrust, ethnic resentments, ideological vendettas, and political scapegoating - basically a hellscape that will affect all facets of life. War and Civilization
• Gulf and Asian financial markets will become more integrated, leading to greater cross-border flows and increased political engagement to protect investments. Asia House
• Delays in the specific claims process expose Canada to litigation, reputational damage, and political instability, and create risks to planned infrastructure and 'Nation-building' projects. UBCIC
• International mining ventures in West Africa increasingly rely on sophisticated partnership structures that distribute operational, financial, and political risks across multiple stakeholders. Discovery Alert
• Civil unrest in Europe and the UK: Migration, identity politics, and economic pressures could destabilize governments. Economic Times

Last updated: 14 December 2025