Political and security risk updates from around the world. This week: Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association withdraws support for Robert Mugabe; Federal police in Brazil arrest 10 people suspected of planning to carry out terrorist attack during Olympic Games; four violent attacks occur across southern Germany in last week, with two linked to Islamic State; and more.
Tag: European Union
Weekly political and security risk update, 21 June 2016: US Senate votes down gun control measures; Britain gears up for EU referendum; Russia plans to maintain mliitary presence in Arctic
The first in a new series of weekly briefings covering political and security risk updates from around the world. This week: the US Senate has voted down four separate gun control measures in the aftermath of the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, which killed 49 people; the United Kingdom will shortly vote on its membership of the European Union against the backdrop of an increasingly antagonistic campaign and the shocking far-right murder of a pro-EU MP; Russia has announced it plans to maintain its military presence in the Artic region; and more from Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Polar regions.
Remote-control warfare briefing #14, April 2016: Mercenaries increasingly being used in Yemen conflict, covert activities of French and Italian special forces in Libya revealed, US Department of Defence developing robotics and autonomous systems strategy
Monthly briefing from the Open Briefing intelligence unit on developments in remote-control warfare. This month: mercenaries are increasingly being used in Yemen conflict; the covert activities of French and Italian special forces in Libya are revealed; the US Department of Defence is developing its robotics and autonomous systems strategy; and more.
Transnational organised crime special briefing: People smuggling and the Syrian refugee crisis
Approximately 12 million Syrians have fled their homes as a result of the civil war in their country. Nearly eight million are internally displaced within Syria, and more than four million have sought refuge in nearby countries. Many are making the perilous journey to Europe in search of a better life, and over 500,000 Syrians have applied for asylum in EU countries. Not all who attempt the journey to Europe survive it. There were 4,800 known drownings of people attempting to cross the Mediterranean between October 2013 and April 2015 alone. These tragedies are being facilitated by the organised crime groups that peddle their lucrative trade in smuggling human beings.
Why the EU wants Pakistan to condemn Russia. (And why it probably won’t.)
In December 2014, the EU envoy to Pakistan, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, urged the country to condemn Russia over what he characterised as ‘violations by a very aggressive Russia against Ukraine’. His intervention has been made at a time when there is a thaw in Pakistan-Russia relations after decades of animosity and mistrust. While the new friendship with Moscow is attractive for Islamabad, Wigemark’s warning puts Pakistan in a difficult position.
The weekly briefing, 20 October 2014: Ebola in West Africa, dialogue between North and South Korea, attentions turn to Lebanon
Political and security risk updates from Open Briefing and Bradburys Global Risk Partners. Ebola continues to destabilise a number of West African countries, little progress made in dialogue between North and South Korea, attentions turn to Lebanon in balancing regional sectarian threat, and more.
The weekly briefing, 15 September 2014: EU and US impose additional sanctions on Russia, Syrian army regains control of Halfaya from al-Nusra Front, Nigerian military on high alert as Boko Haram threatens Maiduguri, and more
Political and security risk updates from Open Briefing and Bradburys Global Risk Partners. Nigerian forces on high alert following increase in frequency of Boko Haram operations in Borno State, European Union and United States impose additional sanctions on Russia, Syrian army regains control of Halfaya from al-Nusra Front, and more.
The weekly briefing, 28 July 2014
Political and security risk updates from the Open Briefing intelligence unit. United States to consider limited refugee programme in Central America amid immigration emergency, European Union scales up economic sanctions against Russia, international efforts to secure ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continue as death toll tops 1,000, and more.