Open Briefing senior analyst Scott Hickie was recently interviewed for the International Affairs Forum, published by the Center for International Relations in Washington DC. In the interview, Scott discusses some of the findings of our July 2013 report into corruption within the pharmaceutical supply chain to the developing world.
Tag: Open Briefing
Transnational organised crime monthly briefing, March 2015: Spotlight on Polar regions
Monthly intelligence briefing on transnational organised crime from Dr Mary Young. This month's spotlight on Polar regions highlights how transnational organised crime gangs are exploiting the Arctic's vast uninhabited areas and lack of dedicated police officers and criminal intelligence officers for human, drug and weapons trafficking and other illegal activities. It also discusses the US Coast Guard's evolving efforts to tackle such crimes in the Arctic.
Remote-control warfare briefing #10, March 2015: Regional powers contemplating deploying special forces against Islamic State, proliferation of drones leads to calls for international regulation, UK surveillance laws need overhaul
Monthly briefing from the Open Briefing intelligence unit on developments in remote-control warfare. This month: Key countries in Middle East and North Africa contemplating special operations forces deployments against Islamic State; proliferation of drones leads to calls for international regulation; UK surveillance laws need overhaul according to parliamentary committee; and more.
Bibi’s upset comeback
After a last minute electoral upset, Israeli Prime Minster Benyamin Netanyahu will almost certainly form a new government. What does a fourth term for Bibi mean for Israel, Palestine and the wider region?
Intelligence brief: Reducing the supply of weapons to Boko Haram
This briefing assesses Boko Haram's arsenal, where those munitions come from, and how best to reduce the flow of weapons to the group. The group’s weaponry is predominantly of Russian and Eastern European stock looted from police stations and military bases within Nigeria. It will be impossible to stem the flow of weapons to Boko Haram completely. Ultimately, it will be efforts to tackle the deep structural socio-economic problems in northern Nigeria that will have the most success in fundamentally weakening Boko Haram.
The monthly briefing, March 2015: Philippines military engages militant Islamist groups, Hungary balancing between the East and West, fighting continues for control of key Syrian cities
Monthly briefing on political and security developments around the world. This month: Philippines military engages in large-scale offensives against militant Islamist groups; Hungary balancing between the East and West as prime minister seeks strong political ties with Russia; fighting continues for control of key Syrian cities as Islamic State kidnaps hundreds of Assyrian Christians; and more.
The monthly briefing, February 2015: China increases efforts to crackdown on separatist violence in Xinjiang province, political situation in Yemen unravels, regional task force to fight Boko Haram needs Nigerian support
Monthly briefing on political and security developments around the world. This month: China increases efforts to crackdown on separatist violence in Xinjiang province; political situation in Yemen unravels, spurring protest and domestic unrest; regional task force to fight Boko Haram needs Nigerian support; and more.
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.
