Israel: Ben-Gvir’s private paramilitary force

Date first published: 04/04/2023 Key sectors: all Key risks: political violence; internal conflict Risk development On 27 March after 12 consecutive weeks of protests, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a pause in the legislative process of the judicial reforms launched by his government. At the same time, to prevent the government’s immediate collapse, the […]
Ones to Watch, 3 April 2023

Americas: Former US president Donald Trump set to face criminal charges Sectors: all Key Risks: political polarisation In the United States, on 4 April former president Donald Trump is set to surrender to New York prosecutors. Trump, who is leading the race to become the Republican presidential nominee in 2024, faces criminal charges related to […]
Central African Republic: Pointing the trigger finger

Date first published: 28/03/2023 Key sectors: all; mining Key risks: terrorism Risk development On 19 March nine Chinese workers were killed and two others were injured by unidentified armed assailants during an attack at the Chimbolo gold mine, near Bambari, Ouaka prefecture. The assailants stormed the facility’s premises around 05:00 local time and quickly […]
Ones to Watch, 27 March 2023

Americas: Rare corruption probe suggests internal power struggle within Venezuela’s PSUV party Sectors: all Key Risks: political stability; business risk In Venezuela, on 25 March the Attorney General announced that a total of 21 people – including 10 officials and 11 businesspeople – had been arrested since a rare and ongoing government-led corruption probe began […]
Argentina: Drug violence (finally) in the spotlight

Date first published: 21/03/2023 Key sectors: all Key risks: drug trafficking; targeted killings; arson attacks; extortion; crime-related violence Risk development Drug trafficking and associated violence have finally made it to the national public and security agenda. On 7 March President Alberto Fernandez announced the deployment of additional federal security forces – including 300 gendarmerie […]
Ones to Watch, 20 March 2023

Americas: Foreign exchange shortage stokes concerns over Bolivia’s deepening financial crisis Sectors: all Key Risks: credit risk; economic risk; business risk In Bolivia, on 19 March President Luis Arce’s government admitted the country was facing a foreign exchange (FX) shortage following overdemand for US dollars. The Central Bank’s FX reserves fell from US$15.12bln in 2015 […]
Australia: A national security focus on investments

Date first published: 09/03/2023 Key sectors: mining; national security; foreign investment Key risks: economic risks; business risks; frustration of process Risk development On 15 February Treasurer Jim Chalmers blocked Chinese-owned Yuxiao Fund (YF) – the largest shareholder of Australian rare earths producer Northern Minerals (NM) – from increasing ownership from 9.92 to 19.9 per […]
Ones to Watch, 13 March 2023

Americas: Tech investment hit as SVB becomes second largest US bank to collapse Sectors: finance, technology Key Risks: banking crisis; slower investment In the United States, on 10 March Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapsed. SVB was the provider of banking services to around half of all venture-backed tech and life science companies in the country. […]
Ecuador: Further instability, disruptive unrest looms

Date first published: 07/03/2023 Key sectors: all; oil and gas; mining; cargo transport; retail Key risks: political instability; governability; business disruption; political violence; civil unrest Risk development Three recent developments underscore a fresh heightened risk of political instability and disruptive unrest in Ecuador. On 5 February conservative President Guillermo Lasso suffered a significant defeat […]
Ones to Watch, 6 March 2023

Americas: Fresh anti-government unrest expected in Peru’s southern regions Sectors: all; mining; cargo transport Key Risks: civil unrest; business interruption; political violence; political stability In Peru, local communities are set to resume the blockade of a key transport road in the Southern Mining Corridor from 6 March. The fresh unrest to demand President Dina Boluarte’s […]
US: attacks on infrastructure

Date first published: 28/02/2023 Key sectors: all Key risks: terrorism; civilian infrastructure Risk development In the first eight months of 2022, the Department of Energy recorded at least 101 incidents that they were deemed intentional attacks, threats of an attack or vandalism on the United States’ power grid. Between August 2022 and January 2023 […]
Ones to Watch, 27 February 2023

Americas: Ecuador’s CONAIE abandons government talks, demands Lasso’s resignation Sectors: all; cargo transport Key Risks: political stability; civil unrest In Ecuador, on 24 February the powerful Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) announced that it had ended talks with President Guillermo Lasso’s government, stating that the latter had not complied with the agreements reached […]