Governments use stablecoins and CBDCs to generate demand for debt and embed controls that postpone fiscal pain while avoiding market discipline. This is part two of the GIS series on cryptocurrency.

In early 2026, American military threats against Iran and renewed diplomatic engagement between the two countries have been at the center of global attention. With Iran and its so-called Axis of ...

Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodriguez, is guiding the country under U.S. oversight following Maduro’s capture, with amnesty and oil reforms underway. Jan. 15, 2026, Caracas, Venezuela: Venezuela ...

As the war in Ukraine drags on, Russia’s willingness to escalate is exposing Europe’s weak deterrence. A nuclear warning would force Europe to choose between ...

Russia’s war in Ukraine elevates Kyrgyzstan as a China-backed hub for sanctions avoidance, reshaping global trade transparency norms. Nov. 26, 2025: Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Kyrgyz ...

Across Europe, governing parties are facing mounting pressure as social discontent undermines confidence in liberal-democratic rule. Support for German Chancellor ...

As scarcity grows, rivers are turning from lifelines into instruments of power and conflict. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Africa’s biggest hydroelectric dam, has worsened Ethiopia’s years-long ...

Investments in AI companies have surged, but profitability remains out of reach for many, prompting concerns about future business models. Jan. 12: A robot learns to sort and deliver packages at a ...

China has become a leading partner for Latin America, boosting trade, infrastructure and strategic influence, though it now faces increasing U.S. pushback. Nov. 11, 2025, Lima, Peru: The Port of ...

European leaders are courting China while blaming Washington, ignoring their self-inflicted economic and foreign-affairs weakness and neglect of security issues. If Europeans would take a look at ...

Asian states with significant mineral reserves are recalibrating the terms under which their resources are extracted, processed and exported. Nov. 4, 2025: A box of “Made in China” germanium ingots, ...

President Trump urged oil giants to invest billions in Venezuela, but companies cite weak rule of law and entrenched resource nationalism as dealbreakers. Jan. 29, 2026: Oil workers carry a cardboard ...