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Turkey: PKK Disarmament or Division?

Date first published: 11/03/2025 Key sectors: all Key risks: political stability; governance; regional escalation Risk development On 27 February Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), called for the group’s disarmament and dissolution, urging its leadership to convene a congress to finalise the decision. The PKK responded with an immediate ceasefire […]

Ones to Watch, 10 March 2025

Americas: Rice farmers launch nationwide blockades in Colombia  Sectors: all; agricultural Key Risks: business disruptions; trade disruptions; supply chain disruptions; cargo transport  In Colombia, on 3 March rice farmers initiated an indefinite nationwide campaign of road blockades in demand for fair prices – currently at COP180,000 (US$44) – for their harvests. The producers requested that […]

United States – Ukraine: You too, Brutus?

Date first published: 04/03/2025 Key sectors: all Key risks: war-on-land Risk development On 28 February a meeting between United States (US) President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House ended in a disastrous public spat as the two leaders argued over Trump’s push for peace talks to end the war in […]

Ones to Watch, 3 March 2025

Americas: ELN armed attacks against security forces likely to escalate in northeast Colombia Sectors: all Key Risks: violent clashes; targeted attacks; terrorism In Colombia, on 20 February the mayor of Cucuta, Norte de Santander department, imposed a 48-hour curfew – starting 19:00 local time – after the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group attacked police […]

Bangladesh: Hunting the Devil

Date first published: 20/02/2025 Key sectors: all Key risks: arbitrary arrests; partisan attacks; political polarisation Risk development As of 20 February, an estimated 5,500 people have been arrested as part of the government’s Operation Devil Hunt, with over 500 taking place within the past 24 hours. The operation, launched to re-establish order as civil unrest […]

Ones to Watch, 24 February 2025

Americas: Protests erupt against Tia Maria copper mine project in Peru Sectors: all; mining; transportation Key Risks: supply chain disruptions; business disruptions; civil unrest; violent clashes;  In Peru, on 17 February residents of the Valle del Tambo in Islay province, Arequipa region, launched protests against the Southern Cooper Corporation’s US$41.8bln Tia Maria copper mine project. […]

Lebanon: The balance of power changed

Date first published: 18/02/2025 Key sectors: all Key risks: political stability; governability; political polarisation Risk development On 8 February a new government was formed under Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, following the 10 January election of President Joseph Aoun, filling a two-year leadership vacuum. The new government, pending parliamentary approval, pledges to reform the country’s sectarian […]

Ones to Watch, 17 February 2025

Americas: Protests against pension reform likely to intensify in Panama in coming weeks Sectors: all Key Risks: civil unrest; violent clashes; business disruptions; vandalism In Panama, on 12 February a protest against the proposed pension reform bill by the National Construction Workers’ Union (SUNTRACS) led to violent confrontations with the riot police in the capital […]

China: DeepSeek shakes the AI world

Date first published: 12/02/2025 Key sectors: all Key risks:  business risks; business disruptions; economic risks Risk development  On 20 January, Chinese AI company DeepSeek shocked markets when it released DeepSeek-R1 and a paper detailing that training DeepSeek-V3 required less than US$6m worth of computing power from low-powered Nvidia H800 chips. The emergence of the low-cost […]

Ones to Watch, 10 February 2025

Americas: Private sector set to strike on 10 February in Bolivia Sectors: all Key Risks: economic risks; business disruptions; supply chain disruptions In Bolivia, on 10 February business unions and export associations are set to stage a nationwide 24-hour strike to protest President Luis Arce’s government’s refusal to repeal Article 7 of the 2025 General […]

Democratic Republic of Congo: Die by the sword

Date first published: 04/02/2025 Key sectors: all Key risks: insurgency; war-on-land; regional tensions Risk development On 27 January Rwandan-backed March 23 Movement (M23) rebels seized Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, marking the most serious escalation in the ongoing war since it resumed in 2022. At least 778 people have been killed and 2,880 others […]

Ones to Watch, 3 February 2025

Americas: Ecuador gears up for high-stakes presidential and legislative elections on 9 February Sectors: all Key Risks: political violence In Ecuador, on 9 February voters will head to the polls for legislative and presidential elections. While voters will have a choice of 16 presidential hopefuls, the voter intention polls suggest the presidential election will be […]