Malaysia’s shock election result hinged on Mahathir’s revival as an unlikely reformer, but is he all bark and no bite? Rebecca Lawrence examines whether Mahathir can really deliver on the promises that paved the way to his stunning victory, and what it means for investors going forwards.
China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (‘BRI’) raises significant concerns for India and Japan, especially regarding maritime security. In response, New Delhi and Tokyo are jointly planning their own infrastructure projects which, while smaller in scale than BRI, will nevertheless offer significant economic opportunities in the coming years, writes…
Kidnappings in the region highlight the complex links between poverty, crime, militancy, and terrorist financing.
The murder of a Korean businessman shines a light on abuses of power by Philippine police.
In addition to the direct threat posed by cyber-criminals and state-actors engaged in illicit online activities, firms should also be aware of how cyber-extortion can have reputational and regulatory implications as well.
Despite sanctions and diplomatic isolation, North Korea has maintained the upper-hand going into 2018. Using the promise of talks and good behaviour, it will attempt to drive a wedge between South Korea and the US. Furthermore, Washington's efforts to contain the country's nuclear ambitions by improving the missile-defence capabilities of its allies…
Multiple violent incidents involving separatist militants, including an ongoing hostage situation in several villages near Tembagapura, have been reported between October and November in Papua, Indonesia's easternmost province. These incidents have highlighted the continuing threat posed to business operations in the region, particularly to Indonesia's…
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.
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…
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,…