Daily Brief

Our flagship analysis product of short, consumable, forward-looking analysis covering the most important geopolitical events. Stay up-to-date on the latest geopolitics with our Daily Brief.

Saudi Aramco to sign join venture: IPO outlook gloomy

Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil giant is expected to sign agreements with at least 10 US…

Indonesia’s forest ban expires: neighbours pressure renewal

Indonesia’s moratorium on issuing new forest-clearing licenses will come to an end on Saturday. The…

East African Community meets: no deal on trade

Having been postponed three times, the East African Community (EAC) summit will finally take place…

Saturday, May 20

EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY MEETS PUSH FOR TRADE DEAL Having been postponed three times, the East…

Iranian’s elect president: conservatives consolidate vote

Iranians will head to the polls on Friday. While incumbent President Hassan Rouhani has been…

G20 health ministers meet: spectre of antibiotic resistance looms

More dangerous than war. And harder to control too.

An ageing monarch in an ageing land: Japan’s cabinet to approve abdication law

In a televised message last August, Japan’s Emperor Akihito suggested he was considering stepping down.…

Friday, May 19

IRANIAN’S ELECT PRESIDENT CONSERVATIVES CONSOLIDATE VOTE Iranians will head to the polls on Friday. While…

The Tumen River, at the border between North Korea and China, and the bridge which crosses the Tumen River into North Korea. Picture taken from the Chinese side of the Tumen River at Tumen City; the city of Namyang, North Korea is across the river. / China North Korea
An unhappy marriage: China’s approach to North Korea

Tensions are still rising on the Korean Peninsula but China will continue to support Pyongyang.

Reviving the Trans-Pacific Partnership: Japan to “exert leadership”

Senior APEC trade representatives will gather in Vietnam on Thursday ahead of this weekend’s ministerial…