Global Watch
The Kremlin is testing the mechanics of a fully sovereign internet, a decisive step that would sever ordinary Russians from the open web and hand the regime total command over information flows.

Emerging Challenges 2026-04-08

True cost of Putin's war hits Russian families hard

Behind battlefield headlines, Russia's war is quietly reshaping daily life at home—draining resources, straining healthcare, and deepening long-term instability.

The Kremlin is testing the mechanics of a fully sovereign internet, a decisive step that would sever ordinary Russians from the open web and hand the regime total command over information flows.

Emerging Challenges 2026-04-03

Latin American regimes turn to influencers to peddle policies

From Venezuela to Nicaragua, singers and online personalities are helping repackage propaganda as entertainment--blurring the line between lifestyle content and political manipulation.

The Kremlin is testing the mechanics of a fully sovereign internet, a decisive step that would sever ordinary Russians from the open web and hand the regime total command over information flows.

Emerging Challenges 2026-04-02

China's influencers advance party rhetoric

Beijing is quietly mobilizing celebrities and opinion leaders to weave patriotic messaging into lifestyle content, making it feel personal -- and not like propaganda.

The Kremlin is testing the mechanics of a fully sovereign internet, a decisive step that would sever ordinary Russians from the open web and hand the regime total command over information flows.

Emerging Challenges 2026-04-01

Russia's local influencers advance Kremlin narratives

Bypassing EU bans on RT and Sputnik, Moscow now pays and grooms seemingly grassroots voices to erode support for Ukraine and deepen Western divisions.

The Kremlin is testing the mechanics of a fully sovereign internet, a decisive step that would sever ordinary Russians from the open web and hand the regime total command over information flows.

Emerging Challenges 2026-03-27

Russia's race for the Arctic

As the Arctic melts, the Nordic Arctic becomes a dangerous battleground. Russia fortifies its nuclear submarine bastion while China pursues resources and routes. Full access by both would undermine global security.

The Kremlin is testing the mechanics of a fully sovereign internet, a decisive step that would sever ordinary Russians from the open web and hand the regime total command over information flows.

Emerging Challenges 2026-03-26

Energy security after Hormuz

As diplomats debate whether gas belongs in the clean-energy transition, the Strait of Hormuz crisis is exposing how fragile the world’s fossil-fuel system still is.

The Kremlin is testing the mechanics of a fully sovereign internet, a decisive step that would sever ordinary Russians from the open web and hand the regime total command over information flows.

Emerging Challenges 2026-03-20

Orbán's seizure of Ukraine funds highlights Moscow's hybrid tactics

The seizure of millions bound for Ukraine was an example of Moscow's hybrid warfare in action, using pro-Kremlin leaders to undermine Western support of Zelenskyy's leadership.

The Kremlin is testing the mechanics of a fully sovereign internet, a decisive step that would sever ordinary Russians from the open web and hand the regime total command over information flows.

Emerging Challenges 2026-03-18

China's Middle East push reveals resource vulnerabilities

China's strategic pivot to the Middle East exposes its hunger for raw resources, as Beijing races to lock in oil and minerals.

The Kremlin is testing the mechanics of a fully sovereign internet, a decisive step that would sever ordinary Russians from the open web and hand the regime total command over information flows.

Emerging Challenges 2026-03-17

North Korea's nuclear surge comes amid increasing citizen hardship

Kim Jong Un's expansion of his country's nuclear arsenal continues to drain resources from a population already stretched thin, as millions of citizens battle hunger.

The Kremlin is testing the mechanics of a fully sovereign internet, a decisive step that would sever ordinary Russians from the open web and hand the regime total command over information flows.

Emerging Challenges 2026-03-16

The 'United Front': Beijing's hidden influence army

Hidden in plain sight across NATO countries, more than 2,000 seemingly normal community groups, businesses, and cultural centers are actually part of a disciplined Chinese Communist Party network.