With member states pledging to increase defence spending, the recent NATO summit could, in many respects, be seen as a success. Yet beneath the surface, significant tensions and unresolved issues persist. Richard Gardiner examines the outcomes of the summit, and the key challenges the alliance is likely to face in the years ahead.
A recent spate of kidnappings targeting wealthy cryptocurrency businesspeople and social media influencers in France has raised concerns that this is less an isolated phenomenon, and more an emerging threat that faces the global crypto industry, writes Tamsin Hunt.
US President Donald Trump’s ‘America first’ policies and threats to withdraw from NATO have highlighted the urgency for European countries to decrease their reliance on US military support. However, significant challenges remain in realising security independence, write Neo Tsotetsi and Shannon Lorimer.
With significant changes in governments across several elections in 2024, and similar shifts likely in upcoming polls in 2025, voters have signalled a desire to hold governments accountable in addressing political and economic grievances. Neo Tsotetsi discusses the implications for political and commercial stability as new governments settle into their…
Travellers in Europe remain more commonly affected by opportunistic petty crimes like pickpocketing and theft, rather than violent crimes like extortion and kidnapping.
Global defence spend has accelerated in recent years, reaching historic highs in many countries. Tamsin Hunt examines some of the developments driving increased military spending around the world.
The European Union has recently ramped up efforts to tackle organised crime in the region. Zaynab Hoosen explores notable characteristics of the bloc’s most threatening organised criminal networks and their transnational links.
On 18 April, a police crackdown on student protests at Columbia University in New York kickstarted a wave of demonstrations on campuses across the world calling on universities to sever their ties with Israel amid the Israel-Palestine conflict. The demonstrations have drawn comparisons to protest campaigns in the previous century, which may offer some…
While organised crime is often thought to occur on the fringes of society, a combination of shifting trafficking routes, migration, and socio-economic challenges are increasingly facilitating gang rivalries that have driven brazen, often indiscriminate violence in tourist hubs and major urban centres, writes Erin Drake.
While increased global engagement with combating climate change and other environmental issues has driven governments and organisations to adopt more responsible commercial practices, activists continue to target those falling short. Yet, the emerging conflict between competing environmental, community and industry goals is set to spur tensions and…
As sporting organisations extend their global reach and accumulate greater wealth, they face increased susceptibility to various threats, including criminal activities and targeted attacks that jeopardise the safety of athletes, coaches, and spectators. Additionally, a perceived lack of social awareness and responsibility within teams and organisations…
Following Hamas’s incursion into Israel, demonstrations in support of Israel and Palestine have taken place in Europe and North America, alongside attacks against Jewish and Muslim communities and businesses. As the conflict continues, escalating tensions could also encourage acts of violent extremism against Western targets, writes Shannon Lorimer.…