Julian Karssen reviews the ways in which the Islamic State militant group has consolidated its operations in Iraq and Syria over 2015, with a focus on the group's diverse sources of income. Going into 2016, as IS's influence spreads throughout the globe, the group's growing array of affiliates are increasingly likely to replicate its modus operandi…
Gabrielle Reid, explores how kidnappings perpetrated by Islamist militantsin the Sahel re-emerged as a threat in 2015 as a result of protractedinsecurity in northern Mali. Looking ahead, various political evacuationorders are likely to be issued in Africa over the coming year and will requireclose monitoring.
Lloyd Belton underscores vulnerabilities facing certain Olympic event sites in the face of gang violence in Rio de Janeiro.
Virtual kidnappings pose an emerging threat in 2016 following changes in UK and US ransom policy, writes Lara Sierra-Rubia.
The recent spate of violence in Israel and the Occupied Territories of Palestine has drawn international attention back to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but the prospects for renewed peace negotiations are at a low ebb, writes Julian Karssen.
Small start-ups are big in Myanmar's mobile tech industry, writes Anna Beare
On the centenary of its foundation, infighting is threatening the existence of Japan's most notorious crime syndicate, writes Sam Nallen-Copley
It will be difficult to get national approval for the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, and even harder to enforce the fine print, writes Ashleigh Somaroo
To decrease costly gold imports, the Indian government is trying to stop locals buying physical gold whilst also increasing the country's domestic supply, writes Mandira Bagwandeen.
The emergence of Islamic State has had limited impact on Russia so far, but the militant threat should not be ignored, writes Saif Islam.
The kidnapping and execution of a Croatian national by the Islamic State's (IS) affiliate in northern Sinai indicates increasing co-operation between IS and criminal groups in mainland Egypt, writes Julian Karssen.