What in the World?

Eastern Congo is rife with conflict over control of the region’s critical mineral deposits—including nearly 70 percent of the world’s supply of cobalt, as Witney Schneidman and Vera Songwe write.

The drop has been attributed to lower oil prices, which are putting a strain on Saudi Arabia’s endeavors to construct a new state-sponsored nationalism, Jon Hoffman writes.

The woman was caught “red-handed” in the act of passing information on Zelensky’s whereabouts and movements to Russia, FP’s Alexandra Sharp reports in World Brief.

Leaders from eight Amazon rainforest nations discussed regional cooperation, climate change, and deforestation, FP’s Alexandra Sharp reports in World Brief.

Haiti’s gangs, which control around 80 percent of the capital city, are more than independent warlords; they’re part of how the country functions, Pierre Espérance wrote in Foreign Policy last month.

The move from the Biden administration comes on the heels of China’s export restrictions on certain critical minerals. FP’s Agathe Demarais termed the Chinese action a bluff—one Biden appears to be calling.

The Wagner Group’s expansion into Belarus, contrary to Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko’s belief, could lead to the destabilization of the country’s regime, Katia Glod wrote last month.

Indonesia recently signed a joint declaration with other forest-rich countries to preserve rainforests and commit to additional climate efforts, FP’s Catherine Osborn writes in Latin America Brief.

Whereas previous research relied primarily on archaeological findings, advances in ancient DNA technology have allowed researchers to make strides in analyzing the relationships between individuals thousands of years ago, Interesting Engineering reports.

Zoom said that employees living within 50 miles of a company office would need to start working in person at least twice a week in the coming months, the BBC reports.