Facing a growing political crisis, a stagnant economy, and a grinding Covid-19 outbreak, beleaguered Brazil now confronts another challenge. After years of relative dormancy, Felix Cook examines how so-called ‘express kidnappings’ are being fuelled by the unforeseen consequences of new technology and the country’s fraying social fabric.
Social discontent and the ongoing process of rewriting the country’s constitution will form the backdrop for Chile’s November 2021 elections. While a new government and constitution could calm further major unrest, it could also drive changes to the country’s current pro-business landscape, writes Erin Drake.
Haiti’s declining appeal as a foreign investment destination will suffer further setbacks as a weak, post-assassination interim government faces ongoing instability and struggles to prepare for elections, writes Erin Drake.
The Colombian government’s inability to implement tax reforms with the hope of boosting economic growth and investor confidence, coupled with protests and widespread supply-chain disruptions, will likely sustain political and economic instability ahead of elections in 2022, writes Erin Drake.
As protest action persists, the deterioration of public order has buttressed gangs and allowed opportunistic criminal activity to thrive, writes Erin Drake.
Against the backdrop of a deteriorating security environment characterised by gang violence and persistent civil unrest, the prevalence of kidnapping in Haiti has increased dramatically. Markus Korhonen looks into the kidnapping business in Haiti, and explains why the underlying conditions promise little reprieve from this threat looking forward.
Following the recent kidnapping of two foreign nationals in a militant-controlled area of Colombia, Erin Drake considers whether such cases remain isolated, or if the pandemic, coupled with ongoing insecurity, will create the opportunities for renewed kidnapping activity in 2021.
Amid a reported increase in maritime piracy in the Gulf of Mexico, Erin Drake considers the drivers of such attacks, and whether the economic impact of Covid-19 has contributed to the expansion of maritime crime in the area.
Ahead of several elections in 2021, Erin Drake considers the prospects for the commercial operating environment in Latin America, amid widespread socio-economic protests against right-leaning governments.
The pandemic has not only resulted in operational and financial challenges for the shipping industry but has also contributed to an increase in maritime attacks, writes Saif Islam.
Virtual kidnappings increased in North America during the Covid-19 pandemic, as people spent more time online and increased their exposure to such scams. However, even as lockdowns lift, the profitable and low-risk nature of such crimes will continue to drive incidents in the coming year, writes Erin Drake.
In some countries, the Covid-19 pandemic has allowed criminal groups to diversify and expand their operations. This could threaten foreign businesses and staff in affected countries in the coming year, writes Erin Drake.