Global Watch

Malaysia is expanding its long-term energy presence deeper into Central Asia, with Petroliam Nasional Bhd, also known as Petronas, securing access to major gas fields in Turkmenistan.   On June 19, 2026, an agreement was reached following close engagement between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Turkmenistani President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, building on more than 30 years of Malaysia-Turkmenistan energy cooperation. The deal reflects both ...

Brazil has made significant progress in reducing deforestation in the Amazon. Under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, enforcement has increased and forest clearing has fallen sharply from the highs recorded under his predecessor.   But lower deforestation does not mean the Amazon is out of danger. Wildfires, illegal mining, logging, drought, and organized crime continue to damage large areas of the rainforest. In many places, the...

On May 4, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) announced a $100 million plan to build a new paramilitary mining guard to protect some of the world’s most valuable mineral sites. The country holds major reserves of cobalt and rare earth minerals that power electric vehicles, smartphones, and advanced defense systems. As global demand rises, so does competition, particularly between the US and China.   Mining Guard Plan Signals a...

China has formally imposed sanctions on Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, barring him, his wife, and his children from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.   The measures appear to be a response to Teodoro's outspoken criticism of China's repeated incursions into the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone. Speaking at the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31, 2026, Teodoro stressed that incursions in both the Eas...

The United States and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding that the White House is portraying as a diplomatic success. Yet the agreement also grants Tehran substantial economic relief after months of war and could provide the Islamic Republic with an opportunity to rebuild.   The memorandum calls for an immediate ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, renewed nuclear negotiations, the gradual removal of sanctions, the ...