The emergence of several high-profile cases in 2018 has raised concerns that abduction by state actors is becoming an increasingly common practice. In this article, we highlight some of the most notable instances of state-sanctioned disappearances in the past year, and provide an insight into what we can expect 2019.
Several significant elections are scheduled to take place around the world in 2019, and we review a number of these in this article. From Nigeria to Indonesia, Ukraine and Libya, the outcome of the 2019 electoral season will not only determine the sociopolitical and economic trajectories of individual countries, but also impact domestic and regional…
In this article, we examine the main kidnapping trends and incidents of 2018 from around the world, and look at some emerging trends likely to persist in 2019.
S-RM’s Robert Attwell takes an in-depth look at the unfolding political crisis in Sri Lanka and highlights what foreign firms need to know about the threat of civil unrest.
In August 2018, a 23-kilogram industrial device containing iridium-192, a radioactive material, went missing during transport in Malaysia. Whilst Malaysian authorities have attempted to calm public concerns, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), warned of the dangers that a missing radiological source presents. With a black market for such…
The September 2018 kidnapping of three Indonesian fishermen has raised concerns that the Abu Sayyaf Group has resumed its kidnap for ransom activities in the Sulu and Celebes seas after 18 months of relative inactivity, writes Rob Attwell.
Recent abductions in Cambodia and the Philippines have highlighted the links between loan sharks, organised criminal groups, casinos and the threat of kidnap-for-ransom targeting foreign nationals in Southeast Asia, writes Rob Attwell.
Following an opposition win at the 23 September general elections, concerns about rising authoritarianism and corruption under incumbent President Abdulla Yameen, are likely to drop off media headlines. Yet, there remain important concerns regarding political instability and corruption, particularly for the tourism industry, writes Rob Attwell.
Violent civil unrest, including malicious damage, in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands Region earlier this year highlights how foreign energy firms can be used as well-positioned pawns in conflicts between local landowners and the central authorities, writes Rob Attwell.
The May 2018 suicide bomb attacks on three churches and a police station in Surabaya raised concerns over the prevalence of Islamist militancy in Indonesia, and the extent to which Indonesia’s prisons - and prisoners – have come to shape and cultivate this threat, writes Rob Attwell.
Numerous recent scandals and violent incidents revolving around religious intolerance and social media raise concerns for companies operating in India, especially regarding reputation management and staff safety.
Despite tightening its control of cryptocurrencies over the past year, the Chinese government appears to have endorsed blockchain technology as a core component of the country’s future economy.