Compass Daily Brief — 2026-05-28

Executive Summary

Multiple high-severity geopolitical tensions are escalating simultaneously, with Iran-US sanctions and India-Pakistan diplomatic confrontations reaching severity 7.5, while an expanding Ebola outbreak in DRC (1,000+ cases) is triggering international travel restrictions and quarantine measures. Critical infrastructure disruptions include Iran internet shutdowns (severity 9.0) and extreme weather alerts across Madrid and Denver (severity 10.0). Risk posture: Elevated due to converging health, geopolitical, and infrastructure threats affecting major outsourcing corridors.

Domain Highlights

Health & Travel: Ebola outbreak escalation (severity 7.5) is driving aggressive international responses - Canada suspended visas, US opened Kenya quarantine centers, and IndiGo cut domestic flights as fuel costs surge due to Iran tensions. Expect staffing disruptions in East Africa operations and potential quarantine protocols affecting employee mobility.

Geopolitical: US-Iran Strait of Hormuz sanctions and India-Pakistan UN confrontations (both severity 7.5) are creating regional instability in key BPO markets. Monitor for sudden policy changes affecting cross-border operations and data flows.

Infrastructure & Cyber: Iran experiencing internet shutdowns (severity 9.0) amid military actions, while cyber threats peaked at severity 10.0 in Denver. Critical for operations with Middle East connectivity or US mountain region facilities.

Weather: Severe temperature warnings hit Madrid (severity 10.0) and forest fires rage across India's Kasauli region (severity 7.0). Indian operations may face power grid stress and employee safety concerns during peak summer conditions.

Financial & Labor: South Korea wage agreements stabilizing (Samsung deal signed) while Bank of Korea holds rates steady amid inflation concerns (severity 6.5). Positive for Northeast Asia operational costs.

Active Incidents

No active incidents.

Severity Trends

Geopolitical domain showing elevated activity with average severity 4.4 (8 IWS-passing events), trending above normal baseline. Health domain demonstrates sustained high severity (average 4.9) driven by Ebola containment efforts. Weather patterns intensifying across India operations corridor with multiple high-severity alerts.

Recommended Actions

• Activate contingency staffing for East Africa and Middle East operations due to health emergencies and infrastructure disruptions

• Review employee wellness protocols for Indian sites experiencing extreme heat and fire conditions; consider flexible scheduling during peak temperature hours

• Assess data routing resilience for any operations dependent on Iran connectivity given ongoing internet shutdowns

• Monitor visa processing timelines for US-bound travel and Canadian operations due to new health screening requirements