With corruption scandals simmering at the upper levels of the Brazilian government and opposition to unpopular austerity measures growing, political instability looks set to continue in 2017. Anti-corruption and anti-austerity protests are likely to increase in frequency and size this year.
Thousands of ransomware attacks across the globe in May 2017 were allegedly tied to a North Korea-affiliated group of cyber-criminals. As US-led calls for tougher economic sanctions gain traction internationally, the North Korean government is likely to stage further cyber-attacks as a form of asymmetric warfare and as a means of generating revenue,…
The Mali-based group, Jamaat Nasr al Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), is currently holding five foreign nationals captive in northern Mali. This has put the group in a lucrative position, as the phased release of hostages following ransom payments will offer useful cash injections to prolong JNIM's armed campaign, writes Gabrielle Reid.
The arrest of one of Nigeria's most notorious kidnap kingpins, Chukwudubem Onwuamadike, has been hailed as a potential turning point in the battle against criminally-motivated kidnappings in the country. Yet, the case has also exposed the sophistication of kidnap gangs in Nigeria and why perpetrators continue to elude law enforcement, argues Reinet…
The recent abduction of Afgan Mukhtarli not only puts Georgia's democratic credentials under scrutiny, but also highlights the variety of threats faced by independent journalists in many parts of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), including wrongful detention, writes Saif Islam.
The death last September of long-time Uzbek dictator Islam Karimov, who ruled the Central Asian state from its independence in 1991, was an opportunity for the isolated country to open up to the world and liberalise its oppressive regime, writes Filip Rambousek. The Uzbek government appears to be seizing its chance.
From Hong Kong to Mexico City, there has been a notable increase in scams involving hoax kidnappings in recent years. Virtual kidnapping involves attempts to extort a ransom from individuals by perpetrators falsely claiming they have abducted a loved one. S-RM Latin America and Asia Pacific analysts, Rufus Kleinwort and Rob Attwell, highlight some recent…
Former Catalonian President Carles Puigdemont's determination to hold an independence referendum has led to an historic stalemate in Spain that is threatening political and economic stability, writes Genevieve Frydman.
Three major anti-government demonstrations since early 2017 have taken the Kremlin by surprise, but they are highly unlikely to challenge regime stability, writes Tim Geschwindt.
Threats to an international beer festival and religious minority places of worship, as well as a dramatic increase in terrorism-related arrests in recent years, highlight the increasing threat of Islamist militancy in Malaysia and the commercial impact this can have, writes Rob Attwell.
Only a year and a half on from the publication of the Panama Papers, another massive data leak has hit the offshore services industry, leaving a maelstrom of negative headlines in its wake. The developments have highlighted more than ever the need for offshore services providers to invest in robust cyber security measures to protect the sensitive data…
Mexico's most powerful criminal organisation is in crisis. And that might not be good news.