Based on 2020 crop yields combined with the officially planned commercial imports, North Korea still has a food gap of approximately 860,000 tons—equivalent to roughly 2.3 months of food use. If the gap is not accounted for through additional commercial imports or food aid, North Koreans could suffer from acute dislocations, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

SOURCE: "Assessing Fall 2021 Agricultural Conditions in North Korea" by CSIS's Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha, Andy Dinville, and Jennifer Jun.

According to the forecast for 2021, China will be the leading country worldwide in terms of spending on research and development, with R&D expenditure exceeding 621 billion U.S. dollars. The United States is expected to invest about 598.7 billion U.S. dollars into research and development.

SOURCE: "Chinese Military Dynamics and Evolving Strategy: Graphic Net Assessment" by CSIS's Anthony Cordesman.

The Maduro regime’s environmental degradation in Venezuela has resulted in mass deforestation, toxic mercury pollution throughout the Amazon River Basin, an increase in illicit activity in lawless mining areas, and oil flaring to the tune of 10 million cubic meters of methane per day—a crisis the international community can address at the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).

SOURCE: "Venezuela's Environmental Degradation" by CSIS's Ryan Berg.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies in OPEC+ are proceeding with their production plans despite the run-up in oil prices. On October 4 the group decided to continue adding 400,000 barrels per day (b/d) to the market each month, ignoring pressure from oil-importing states for greater volumes.

SOURCE: "OPEC Stays the Course despite Rising Oil Prices" by CSIS's Ben Cahill.