Monthly intelligence briefing on transnational organised crime from Dr Mary Young. This month's spotlight on Asia and the Pacific includes details of efforts to tackle transnational organised crime gangs, which are to blame for the increase in environmental crime in Asia.
Tag: United States
Hack on Sony Pictures highlights key challenges in cyber security and conflict
The international relations fallout from the hacking of Sony Pictures Entertainment in November 2014 steadily increased through December and into January. The potential for miscalculation in cyber conflict is significant due to the absence of international norms or consensus, lack of shared understanding of relative offensive capabilities and limitations in attribution. As such, the Sony Pictures hack has highlighted far-wider issues than initially apparent.
Transnational organised crime monthly briefing, January 2015: Spotlight on Africa
Monthly intelligence briefing on transnational organised crime from Dr Mary Young. This month's spotlight on Africa includes details of the warship gifted to the Nigerian Navy by the United States to help combat transnational organised maritime crime in Nigerian waters, including piracy, oil theft and terrorism.
The monthly briefing, January 2015: Ongoing operations against al-Shabaab in Somalia reach pivotal phase, attacks in Paris risk further polarising French populace, Yemen’s security situation continues to deteriorate
Monthly briefing on political and security developments around the world. This month: ongoing operations against al-Shabaab in Somalia reach pivotal phase; attacks in Paris risk further polarising French populace and increasing prejudices against Muslims; Yemen’s security situation continues to deteriorate following number of violent incidents and kidnappings; and more.
Afghan policy reversal reinstates special forces night raids
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has overturned the ban on special forces night raids. There is acute awareness of Afghan public opposition to night raids and the danger that the policy reversal may expose Ghani to some future political attacks. However, the fact that Ghani and the White House are willing to stir up negative public sentiment during a politically fragile period may give some indication of the seriousness with which they are taking the threat posed by a resurgence in Taliban activity.
United States facing multiple cyber offensives from state and non-state adversaries
Vice Admiral Michael Rogers, the commander of US Cyber Command, has said that ‘state-sponsored hackers are looking to get into the sorts of systems that control critical infrastructure and embedding the capabilities to attack them’. In November, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and US Postal Service acknowledged they had been subject to hacking campaigns during September.
Transnational organised crime monthly briefing, December 2014: Spotlight on the Americas
The first in a new series of monthly intelligence briefings on transnational organised crime from Dr Mary Young. This month's spotlight on the Americas includes details of a drug smuggling trial of four French citizens that highlights corruption and human rights abuses in Dominican Republic’s judiciary.
Special forces, mercenaries, cyber warfare, drones and intelligence: Remote-control warfare briefing #7
Monthly briefing from the Open Briefing intelligence unit on developments in remote-control warfare. This month: Afghan policy reversal reinstates special forces night raids; historic verdict in Blackwater Iraq shootings trial could set precedent; United States facing multiple cyber offensives from state and non-state adversaries; and more.