Paul Whelan’s arrest and subsequent conviction for espionage in Russia has raised concerns over the use of detention as a tool for political manoeuvring on the international arena. Cvete Koneska argues that Russia’s recent record suggests foreign nationals visiting the country will face a growing risk of wrongful detention.
The 4 August explosions in Beirut highlight an entrenched political and socio-economic crisis in Lebanon, which is fuelling criminal activity across the country, writes Saif Islam.
A recent skirmish between Indian and Chinese border guards resulted in fatalities for the first time since 1975. Despite the aggressive rhetoric and military posturing, both sides will continue to seek a diplomatic resolution, writes Darren Davids.
The COVID-19 pandemic will have severe socio-economic consequences for South Africa. This is not least because of worsening economic conditions as well as government mismanagement and maladministration experienced prior to the outbreak of the virus. Investors and commercial operators alike will need to navigate growing challenges including stifled economic…
While there has not been a notable uptick in terrorist incidents during the Covid-19 pandemic, diverted security resources and the longer-term effects of the pandemic may result in a growing threat of terrorism, writes Markus Korhonen.
Criminals in Mexico have increasingly sought to use hotels for staging virtual kidnap attempts. Erin Drake considers the methods and tactics used by kidnappers to carry out a fake abduction.
Criminal groups have experienced reduced revenue in the Covid-19 lockdown period. As criminals look to bolster their diminishing income in the coming months, they will likely aim to intensify and diversify extortion and kidnap activities, writes Erin Drake.
Recent demonstrations triggered by George Floyd’s killing during an arrest by Minneapolis police have been unparalleled in terms of their scale and global reach, writes Saif Islam.
As has been the case for several years, the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) was the world’s piracy hotspot in the first quarter of 2020, despite a slight decrease in incidents compared to the same period in 2019.
The rising insurgency in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province highlights the threat to oil and gas personnel in the region. Darren Davids writes that militants in the region are likely to target expatriate workers in the oil and gas industry, underscoring the importance of a resilient crisis management plan that effectively addresses country evacuation…
The COVID-19 outbreak has led to worldwide travel bans and restrictions as well as nearly a complete stop in global passenger air traffic, leaving hundreds of thousands of people stranded in foreign countries. Saif Islam highlights the varied challenges of evacuating and repatriating people amid the pandemic.
In recent months, kidnappings have increased in Haiti. Emboldened by widespread political instability, violent protests, and the recent COVID-19 outbreak, criminals will continue to make use of the country’s unstable security environment to step up kidnapping activities, writes Erin Drake.