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IN TODAYβS EDITION
1οΈβ£ Is big tech fuelling a war in Central Africa? |
2οΈβ£ Your Intrigue job board |
3οΈβ£ Film of the day |
Hi Intriguer. Youβll see todayβs briefing has a cinematic feel to it, so here are three screen/geopolitics crossovers that make me lol.
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First, I once met someone pitching a comedy called The Kevins, about how every Kevin (whether former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd, NBA star Kevin Durant, or actor Kevin Bacon) is part of a secret society trying to control the world. The idea still makes me lol (please make it).
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The second is about a DC-based influencer called βTony Pβ, who just did an online welcome to Washington for the big NATO summit. Apparently when his agent first called him about this gig for NATO (the alliance), he thought it was a gig for Sharknado (the B-grade films). This also makes me lol.
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The third one is our film of the day below, so youβll need to read on. But in the meantime, weβll brief you on some interesting reports about a rebel group now controlling the worldβs largest coltan mines, and why itβs relevant to that phone in your pocket.
THE HEADLINES
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NATO pledges more help for Ukraine at DC summit.
The US, Germany, Romania, Italy, and the Netherlands have all pledged to help send additional air defence systems to Kyiv, while the broader alliance has also promised to deliver more short and medium range missiles. During his speech, the US president said NATO βis stronger than itβs ever been in its historyβ, and presented outgoing Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Airstrike in southern Gaza.
Local witnesses and officials say an Israeli airstrike has hit a camp for displaced people outside a school in southern Gaza, leaving scores dead. Israel says it was targeting a βterrorist from Hamas’ military wingβ who had taken part in the October 7 attacks. Meanwhile, the US-built aid pier off Gaza will reportedly soon be dismantled permanently, after being plagued by bad weather and other challenges.
Russian court orders arrest of Yulia Navalnaya.
The economist and widow of opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who died in a Russian penal colony earlier this year, now stands accused of participating in an βextremistβ organisation. Sheβs currently living in an undisclosed location outside Russia with her two children. Responding on Twitter/X, she said βwhen you write about this, please donβt forget to write the main thing: Vladimir Putin is a murderer and a war criminalβ.
Saudi Arabia tried saving Russian assets from G7 seizure.Β
The kingdom reportedly warned it might sell European debt if the G7 seized $300B in frozen Russian central bank assets, according to Bloomberg. Itβs unclear if the Saudis were acting out of self interest (fearing a precedent) or solidarity with Russia. The Saudis deny issuing any threats, though the G7 ultimately decided to seize the profits earned by the frozen assets, rather than the assets themselves.
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Europe launches a rocket.
The Ariane 6 launcher, the culmination of a decadeβs work by a French-led team of 13 European countries, successfully took off from French Guyana yesterday (Tuesday). Itβs aiming to compete in the commercial space launch market currently led by Elon Muskβs SpaceX. The Ariane 6βs first commercial contract is to launch a French spy satellite in December.
TOP STORY
Is big tech fuelling a war in Central Africa?
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The US State Department issued a βStatement of Concernβ on Monday, warning that critical minerals bought from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda are fuelling the ongoing conflict in Central Africa.Β Β
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This isnβt the first warning,Β either. The US dropped its statement shortly after a UN report cautioned that the worldβs rush for tech-critical minerals (like tantalum) is both threatened by – and fuelling – ongoing violence in the region.
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Some quick context:Β emerging from a lengthy and miserable European colonisation and then the 1994 Rwandan genocide, many locals crossed into DRC and formed or joined 120 or so rival armed factions that are still fighting.
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And while that conflict doesnβt make headlines, itβs displaced around 7.3 million people, making it one of the worldβs worst humanitarian crises. Itβs also spiked recently after a ceasefire with the βM23β rebels collapsed.
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Often backed by regional powers, M23 and its rivals have been vying for control over the mineral-rich eastern DRC. And the Rwanda-backed M23 just seized some of the worldβs biggest coltan mines there, with allegations of forced labour meaning minerals from the Rubaya region are now βineligible for tradeβ under UN guidelines.
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But they keep making their way over borders and out into international markets.
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So then, who cares about coltan? To name-drop Vanessa Amorosiβs 2000s-era pop tune that somehow ended up #1 in Hungaryβ¦ βabsolutely everybodyβ.
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Coltan is how we get tantalum, which plays a key role in portable electronics and potentially quantum processing. Thatβs why both the US and EU have labelled tantalum a βcriticalβ raw material.Β But thatβs also why itβs a little tricky that 60% of the worldβs supply now comes from the DRC and Rwanda.
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So what to do?
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While it struggles on the battlefield at home, the DRC is also shining a light on coltanβs buyers abroad: itβs accused Apple of using conflict-sourced coltan in its iPhones (something the tech giant denies). Itβs also calling for an embargo on all coltan exported by neighbouring Rwanda, alleging those exports have actually been stolen from the DRC by Rwanda-backed rebels (Rwanda denies this).
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Meanwhile, there are various regional tracing systems to help assure global buyers, but these seem to be collapsing due to the conflict.
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And some governments (particularly in the West) have also passed new laws to drive transparency around how our products hit our shelves, though they largely shift the burden onto businesses themselves.
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So then, what are the options for businesses?
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All sorts of consultancies will happily charge millions to tell you what weβve just told you for free above (did we pick the wrong line of work?)
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Or you can (per OECD advice) invest in more upstream and on-the-ground scrutiny and engagement, which can be tricky given the conflict
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Or you can pay a premium to get your tantalum from the other 40% of global supply thatβs supposedly not tainted, though that just tweaks your dilemma: you face higher costs but could still end up with tantalum thatβs tainted (thanks to the industryβs broader tracing challenges).
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So then that leaves the final piece of the puzzle, which is the rest of us: consumers. But our options donβt seem much better than those for businesses.
INTRIGUEβS TAKE
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Much like a good movie, life eventually forces the protagonist (whether itβs you or, say, Tom Cruise) to choose between two irreconcilable goods: a comfortable living, or a clean conscience (The Firm); the love of your life, or the job of your dreams (Jerry Maguire). And so on. The choices we make reveal who we are.
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But much like how Tom eventually figures out a way to get love and cash on screen, weβre hopeful we can (with good engineering and policy) find ways to hit seemingly competing priorities in the real world.
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In this instance, itβll involve a mix of ingenuity around supply chains (like using blockchain to improve traceability) and materials science (like using alternatives such as niobium from Canada or Brazil).
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But as inevitable as these developments may seem to us, βinevitableβ doesnβt necessarily mean βquickβ, which is probably what folks in the eastern DRC really need right now.
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Also worth noting:
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Rwanda recorded an unprecedented rise in coltan exports in 2023, up 50% from 2022. The UN and US statements above both note reports of coltan being smuggled out of the DRC to Rwanda and Uganda.
MEANWHILE, ELSEWHEREβ¦
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π΅π°Β Pakistan: Pakistan has suspended its expulsion of undocumented Afghan migrants after discussions with the UNβs top refugee official, whoβs just wrapped up a three-day visit. Pakistan announced its mass expulsions last year after a sharp rise in terrorist attacks which it attributed to the refugee population.Β
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πͺπΊΒ European Union: Employees participating in a survey at the European Central Bank have reported high levels of burnout, with thoughts of self-harm up 50% since 2021. While various global crises seem to have taken their toll on the staff, nine in 10 also pointed to βfavouritismβ and other perceptions of unfair treatment at the bank.
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π¦πΊΒ Australia: Canberra has appointed its first-ever special envoy to combat antisemitism, naming a senior business executive to the role for the next three years. In her first public remarks in the position, she said reports of antisemitism in Australia spiked 700% immediately after the Hamas October 7th attack on Israel.
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ππΉΒ Haiti: The newly selected prime minister (Garry Conille) has toured Haitiβs largest hospital after local police announced theyβd seized it back from armed gangs over the weekend.Β Around 200 Kenyan police have now arrived as part of a multinational peacekeeping force, with 2,300 more expected from Kenya, the Caribbean and beyond.
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πΈπ¦Β Saudi Arabia: The new Saudi-owned Riyadh Air has signed a deal with US-based Delta Airlines, paving the way for codeshare and interline arrangements between the two carriers. Riyadh Air has yet to launch its first flight, but says it plans to begin operations in 2025.
EXTRA INTRIGUE
The Intrigue job board is back! Here are some listings we thought you might like
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Head of Marketing @ Porsche in Singapore
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Strategic Partnerships Specialist @ UNDP in Islamabad
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Managing Counsel, Energy Products @ Tesla in Texas
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Anti-Money Laundering Analyst @ Citi in Sao Paulo
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Sustainability Operations Manager @ Riyadh Air in Riyadh
FILM OF THE DAY
Left: A poster for the film. Right: Germanyβs former leader, Chancellor Angela Merkel.
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Angela Merkel has led many lives: quantum chemist, Germanyβs first female Chancellor, world stateswoman and now β¦ amateur detective. Or at least, thatβs how a German film (and its sequel!) is imagining the retired politician. Solving mysteries and murders Miss Marple style, she also has a pug as her sidekick, which is a bold creative direction by the screenwriters given Merkelβs well-known fear of dogs.
Of course, Merkel isnβt the only world leader with her own spinoff: Venezuelan autocrat Nicholas Maduro features as a superhero (called βSuper Mustacheβ) in a childrenβs cartoon, while others have ended up in power after stints on stage – whether itβs the comedians like Guatemalaβs Jimmy Morales or Sloveniaβs Marjan Ε arec, popstars like Haitiβs βSweet Mickyβ, or beyond.
DAILY POLL
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Β
Would you be more likely to buy a pricier gadget if it came with a supply chain guarantee? |
Yesterdayβs Poll: Do you think this Japan-Philippines treaty will make any difference?
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π©π©π©π©π©π©Β π Yes, collectively all these actions will help deter China (62%)
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π¨π¨π¨β¬οΈβ¬οΈβ¬οΈ β No, China wants regional control and will persevere (36%)
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β¬οΈβ¬οΈβ¬οΈβ¬οΈβ¬οΈβ¬οΈ βοΈ Other, write in! (3%)
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Your two cents:
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πΒ C.M: βAbsolutely. The Philippines will feel a bit more comfortable in challenging China’s aggressive behaviour to the betterment of the entire region.β
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βΒ D.R: βI believe we are yet to witness an action that will result in China backing away from long-term strategic goals.β
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βοΈ A.S: βIt is only a beginning in the effort to deter China.β
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