Global Watch

Every year, Chinese fishing boats extract millions of tons of seafood from oceans far from home. Squid from the South Atlantic. Tuna from the Pacific. Catch from waters off West Africa, Latin America, and increasingly near the Arctic.   China operates the largest "distant-water" fishing fleet in history. Estimates of its size range from roughly 2,000 core vessels to more than 16,000 when militia-linked and foreign-flagged ships are include...

Corn is one of the world’s most important food crops. It feeds billions of people, supports livestock, and is used for fuel and industry. But climate change is putting corn under serious threat, turning a basic food into a growing geopolitical problem.   Why Corn Is at Risk Corn needs large amounts of water to grow. As droughts and heatwaves become more common, corn harvests are shrinking in many parts of the world. This is especial...

Russia is quietly taking over security roles once dominated by the United States and Europe in Africa. Instead of sending official troops, Moscow relies on hired fighters, proxy militias, and security contractors to protect leaders, fight rebels, and train armies. The payoff is political influence, access to natural resources, and loyal partners in global diplomacy. For many African leaders, this is an attractive bargain. For Western powers, it r...

More than 140 years after losing its Pacific coastline to Chile and becoming a landlocked country, Bolivia is trying a new approach. Instead of focusing solely on reclaiming sovereign sea access, Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz is promoting a pragmatic economic plan: offering Chile access through Bolivian land corridors to connect Pacific ports with Brazil’s vast markets.   From Old Rivalry to Surprise Partnership For generations, Bo...

The Arab League, made up of 22 Arab countries, was created in 1945 to promote unity, peace, and cooperation across the Arab world. Nearly eight decades later, the organization continues to play a role in regional and global politics, despite deep internal divisions that often limit its power.   From conflict mediation to diplomatic statements, the Arab League remains influential, though its effectiveness is frequently questioned. Here&rsqu...