Lara Sierra-Rubia discusses the increasing trend of virtual kidnappings in the US, a low-investment high-yield scam that originated in Central America. This article originally appeared in KR magazine on 26 February 2016: http://www.krmagazine.com/2016/02/26/analysis-lara-sierra-rubia-at-s-rm-the-hostage-hoax-increasing-virtual-kidnappings-in-the-us/…
The latest mass shootings in the US highlight the difficulty in defining and understanding the phenomenon, writes Lara Sierra-Rubia
The economic slowdown hasresulted in protests in Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, which are likelyto increase the risk of wrongful detention in 2016 as authorities try to clampdown on dissent, writes Saif Islam.
Saif Islam discusses the prevalence of corruption and extortion in Russiaand Ukraine amid the regional economic contraction, which had a negativeimpact on investor confidence in 2015.
Lloyd Belton discusses the launch of a crowdsourcing app in 2015 used to combat extortion in Mexico in the face of inaction by authorities. In addition, he highlights some of the highest kidnap ransom demands across the region from the last year. Looking ahead at pertinent travel risks in 2016, upcoming favela security operations in anticipation of the August Olympics in Rio de Janeiro are likely to pose a threat to travellers in the area.…
Lara Sierra-Rubia assesses the significance of ransom policy changes implemented by US and UK governments in 2015. In addition, following several high-profile public mass shootings in the US over the past year, debates around how to define these incidents are explored.
The resurgence of Taliban militancy increases the risk of skirmishes along Central Asia's southern border. Although the prospect of major instability has been exaggerated, there are long-term security implications for Central Asia, writes Saif Islam.
The latest terrorist attacks in France suggest that operations carried out in the name of Islamic State are evolving, which is likely to prompt a shift in European security policy, writes Lara Sierra-Rubia.
Increased regional cooperation in the fight against Boko Haram has yielded some positive results, but participating countries will need to significantly improve their counterterrorism capabilities to stand a chance at eradicating the group, writes Gabrielle Reid.
The Islamic State's threat to Central Asian countries has been exaggerated. However, it should not be dismissed, writes Saif Islam.
A slow start to the new presidency has caused investors to fret. The real work is yet to begin, writes Paul Adams.