Virtual kidnappings have increased in North America over the last two quarters. As technology advances, new opportunities arise for criminals to authenticate their scams. In addition, information gleaned from public social media profiles presents an opportune source of details about potential victims, writes Tash Glazer.
Recent high-profile deaths of journalists have brought to light the dangers members of the profession face when doing their jobs. Markus Korhonen looks more closely at the global security environment for media workers.
As the anniversary of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan approaches, it is increasingly clear that the promises of freedoms under a reformed organisation have unravelled. Amid renewed international condemnation of the extremist group, Gabrielle Reid explores the current security landscape in Afghanistan.
As the security crisis in the Sahel has escalated, so has the threat of kidnapping for ransom. With numerous threat actors active within the region, Richard Gardiner explores the drivers of this increase in abductions and discusses the threat to foreign nationals.
Amid Russia’s ongoing military offensive in Ukraine, security incidents in Transnistria – the Russia-backed breakaway region located between Moldova and Ukraine – have made headlines. Such developments are unlikely to impact the Ukrainian conflict, but remain a source of concern for Moldova, writes Richard Gardiner.
Pro-Russian protests and rising anti-Russian sentiment in European cities will force leaders to balance public anger at Russia’s invasion with the need to protect civil liberties and prevent politically and ethnically motivated violence. Erin Drake explores the challenges facing European governments that could escalate societal tensions and drive unrest…
Erin Drake considers whether, facing a legacy of presidential ousting and political instability, President Pedro Castillo can avoid impeachment long enough to calm investor nerves and steer Peru away from growing unrest.
Russia’s close ally Kazakhstan’s neutral stance on the invasion of Ukraine is strictly driven by its national interests, but any deterioration in relations with Russia could have implications for Kazakhstan’s political stability in the longer term, writes Saif Islam.
Heavy military losses and a failed bid to rapidly seize Kyiv show Russia’s war in Ukraine has clearly not gone to plan. But in invading Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has succeeded in bringing about a major change in the European security dynamic, albeit one that runs precisely counter to Russia’s objectives: a more attractive NATO that looks…
The February 2022 kidnapping of five aid workers in Cameroon’s Far North region is a stark reminder of the growing complexities of Cameroon’s security crisis. Osob Dahir investigates the main threat actors amid the deteriorating security situation in northern Cameroon, highlighting the potential for further kidnappings of aid workers and others operating…
As organised crime spreads in Haiti’s ongoing security vacuum, foreign nationals and non-governmental organisations face increased threats of crime and kidnapping in 2022, writes Richard Gardiner.
As a crackdown on high-profile gang leaders in Venezuela continues, entrenched socio-economic problems and a long history of security policy failures show that tackling organised crime in the country is a Herculean task, writes Agnieszka Palutkiewicz.