Last week in Japan, a man driving a minivan rammed into a crowd in Takeshita Street, in the famous Harajuku area in Tokyo; initial reports indicate that the driver told the police that this was a terrorist attack. Authorities arrested the 21-year-old Japanese suspect who was driving a rented vehicle with license plaques from Osaka. Upon arrest, he said that he had perpetrated an act of terrorism in retaliation for an execution and that he would not make any excuses for his actions. The police found 20 liters of kerosene inside the vehicle, which he stated he planned to use to burn the vehicle after the attack. Nine people were injured during the attack, and one of the victims remains in critical condition. It is still unclear if he has any affiliation to any group or if he acted alone. 

This incident comes after several lone wolf attacks that have taken place in recent years throughout the country, with the most notorious of them being the killing of 19 people at a mental health facility in Sagaamihara, about 48km away from Tokyo. Even though the Japanese government has increased its measures to counter possible terrorist threats, security experts are worried that the country could be ill-prepared in this regard for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games. Pinkerton recommends clients operating in the country review their security measures, as many of these attacks have been possible due to a general lack of security preparedness and emergency response. Clients are always advised to exercise situational awareness, even when in cities which are generally considered safe such as Tokyo, as unexpected and dangerous events can take place at any time and place. 

As 2019 draws to a close, it's important to not only take a look back, but also a look forward at the Corporate Risk and Security Management landscape. As we are all keenly aware, this landscape is ever-evolving, and it can be difficult to accurately predict. However, there are certain items that are readily apparent. 

In a special edition of the Pinkerton Insights Podcast, Pinkerton President Jack Zahran  discusses those topics, and what the industry can do to prepare for what's coming in 2019 and beyond.

Bangladesh political campaigns turned violent last week during the second official day when police officers attacked citizens with pellet guns and mobs went after rival candidates. Clashes were reported at least in seven major towns including Dhaka, the capital city. At least 200 people were injured, and in Thakurgaon, a northern district, a motorcade from the BNP party was attacked by a large crowd. Police officers claim they were obliged to respond with violence as the campaign was getting out of control. About 100 million citizens are registered to vote in the elections that will take place this year on December 30. 

We assess this will be a relevant matter for all clients traveling or operating in Bangladesh in the near to medium term as it is still unknown how the campaigns will be controlled. These types of demonstrations in the country are usually violent, and it is recommended to avoid crowded areas as much as possible. Clients are advised to stay informed about the development of the political atmosphere and to avoid any demonstration of sympathy towards any political party to avoid becoming a target of attacks. 

In Thailand, the Phuket Public Health Office recently reported that the chikungunya cases in the southern provinces of Thailand quadrupled from 538 to 2,143 in one month. According to the Office, chikungunya virus infections are increasing in areas where people live close together, especially in densely populated areas. Additionally, over the same period, just over 80,000 dengue cases have been reported nationwide, causing 107 fatalities. 

We assess that the meticulous containment of persons already infected is imperative for thwarting the rapid transmission of the virus; especially considering that the dramatic increase in new cases is related to the population density. The chikungunya virus is transmitted by the bite of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. People infected usually show symptoms after the incubation period of 1-12 days. These symptoms could include headache, high fever, maculopapular rash, joint stiffness, and arthralgia in limbs and large joints. We advise using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and avoiding areas with high concentrations of mosquitoes. 

A commerce ministry spokesman announced last week that China will immediately implement the consensus both China and the U.S. sides already reached on agricultural products, energy, autos, and other specific items. These declarations came out after the discussions between presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping concluded that they would give 90 days to negotiators to figure out their trade spat. Both sides stated that they would also discuss intellectual property protection, technology cooperation, market access, and fair trade. However, there have been no clarifications regarding the measures that will be taken in order to maintain the agreement conditions, causing stock markets to destabilize. 

We assess that this will be a relevant matter for all clients operating in both countries or buying products from them in the near to long term as the measures are likely to be implemented immediately and would continue in order to keep the agreement. Until the conditions of the agreement are announced, it is possible that stock markets will continue to fluctuate. We recommend all clients to consider this situation before making any investment in the affected industries and to stay informed about any official declarations in order to anticipate the effects that the agreement will have. 

The Qatari government announced last week that they are leaving the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC. This announcement comes shortly before a meeting at the organization's headquarters in Vienna. The withdrawal of the country will be effective on January 1, 2019. Qatar explained that its government wants to increase the production of liquefied natural gas by more than 50%, creating an independent industry. Some specialists stated that the country's decision to withdraw from OPEC is due to the historical tensions with Saudi Arabia; however, the Qatari Energy Minister denied that version.

We assess that the announcement of the Qatari withdraw from the OPEC is unlikely to affect oil prices worldwide given that it is a small producer within the organization. However, we find it likely that the exit of Qatar will question the efficiency of the international organization to be able to go beyond political or economic divisions. Two years ago, the OPEC allied with non-members to control oil production, since then Russia has been an ally of Saudi Arabia regarding oil production. If smaller OPEC countries follow the example of Qatar, it is highly likely that Saudi Arabia and Russia will have a key role in determining oil prices worldwide due to the lack of counterbalance those countries could have in OPEC in the long term. We recommend clients follow developments with the Qatari departure, especially if OPEC applies measures against Qatar that affect the oil markets. We advise clients in the oil industry or heavily relying on the resource, to analyze the situation and to adjust business plans to the new and likely fluctuating oil prices.

And in our last story this week, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the end of further fuel-tax hikes for inclusion in the coming budget following largescale protest activity last week. The move comes as the government seeks to end widescale, violent protest activity against rising living costs. In addition, the government announced an amendment to a wealth tax seen as prioritizing the wealthy. In addition, recent analysis by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD showed that France is the most highly taxed country in the developed world. Further, alongside student protests, trade unions conducted strike action. Further strikes in the energy sector and at ports have been announced for December 13. Total, a fueling station company, reported that many of its stations were low on fuel following roadblocks. 

Despite the concessions, we find it likely that further protests will occur in the short term. As the government is considering deploying troops currently tasked with anti-terrorism patrols to protect public buildings, we find it likely that clashes between demonstrators and security forces will occur. We further find it likely that the government will institute further concessions as a means of quelling the unrest. Current polling in France indicates 72% of the population support the protest activity against Macron's policies, but 82% condemn the violence. Due to the high support, we find it likely that protest activity will continue over the medium term. We further find it likely that the French government will consider reducing taxes over the long term. 

• Last week, Bangladesh authorities announced that the dengue fever outbreak continues to spread through the country, becoming one of the deadliest outbursts in less than 20 years. 
• As previously reported, violent protests continue throughout France, with the most recent reports stating clashes between 300,000 protesters and riot police in several parts of the country. 
• Authorities from the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported last week that the Ebola outbreak announced on August 1 in the northeast area of the country has become one of the worst health outbreaks in the history of the DRC. 

•  In Argentina, The Argentine Confederation of Transport Workers launched a short strike nationwide last week. Union leaders accused President Mauricio Macri of going back on several campaign promises made in 2015 to limit income tax on workers in the sector. 
• The New Zealand Transport Agency is contacting around 4,000 motorists to recheck their warrants of fitness issued by the Westland Automotive and Tyre certifier.
• Last week, local authorities reported an explosion in the vicinity of a chemical plant in the city of Zhangjiakou, in the province of Hebei in northern China. 

• Last week in the UK, Uber was fined by Britain's Information Commissioner's Office 385,000 British pounds and Dutch officials imposed a 600,000 Euro fine for violating data protection laws. 
• In the US, Atrium Health informed patients last week that personal information was compromised after a breach from this past September. 
• As reported last week, Amazon user's email addresses were exposed due to a technical error.

• In Mexico last week, the Morena political party issued a law initiative in the Senate to modify the current Mining Law. 
• The Japanese government last week promoted a revision of the Immigration ControlLaw to grant more work visas as of April 2019. 
• The president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, announced last week that they would propose a reform to make the World Trade Organization more efficient in the process of dispute resolutions at the G20 Summit.

• In the U.S., ethanol producer Green Plains Inc. is ceasing production at its plants in Superior and Lakota, Iowa; and will maintain the half-capacity operations at its facility in Fairmont, Minnesota. 
• The State of Mexico Industrial Union (or UNIDEM) announced that the constant increase in the electricity tariff that has been taking place during the last three years is severely affecting the industrial sector in the state.
• According to the president of the Argentinian Bread Producers Chamber, the flour price had increased over 100% during the last seven months.
• The European Commission, an EU antitrust regulator, announced it will investigate whether Daimler, BMW, and Volkswagen colluded in the restriction of clean emission technology rollouts. Should the allegation prove accurate, the carmakers would face large fines.

• Oryx Midstream Services recently announced that its operating subsidiaries in New Mexico and West Texas will build a gathering and transportation pipeline network of over 500mi in the two states.
• On September 11, a polio case was confirmed at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, the country's capital city. A state of emergency was declared in July 2018, when a six-year-old boy presented a case of vaccine-derived poliovirus which differs to wild poliovirus.

• Cyber-security researchers identified a critical flaw in NUUO software that renders hundreds of thousands of Internet of Things (IoT) devices vulnerable to remote viewing and feed tampering.
• Last week cyber-security researchers announced that firmware present on "nearly all" computers renders the devices vulnerable to cold boot attacks. Cold boot attacks enable malicious actors with physical access to a device to obtain highly sensitive data from the device's memory, including passwords and encryption keys.
• India is the latest country to move toward a data law that will require tech firms with operations there to store the firms' customer data in-country as well….A move that would affect Indian global tech giants as much as it would U.S.-, UK-, or EU-based technology firms operating in the country.

• The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) declared that at least 1,872 people from Arauquita, in the Colombian department of Arauca, which borders with Venezuela, were affected by the overflow and flooding of the La Colorada and Totomal rivers.

• Last week, the president of the Mexican Gas Distributors Association (ADIGAS) stated that during the current year, the industry had reported losses of nearly MXN 7 billion (USD 364 million) due to criminal activities and the illegal gas market growth.

• On September 10, 2018, the Argentina government approved a new 17% increase in fuel acquisition and biodiesel prices. According to authorities, the most affected brands were Shell and YPF, they had to increase their prices immediately between 2% and 2.5%.

• On September 6, 2018, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit the country of Ecuador about 94km (58mi) south of the city of Ambato and at a depth of 112km (69m). Even though the earthquake did not cause significant damage, it was followed by five smaller aftershocks and another tremor of 6.5 during the evening.

Nothing to report this week.

• Large protests by far-left and far-right activist groups clashed with each other and riot police in response to an August 25 incident on Chemnitz when a German citizen was stabbed and killed. Police arrested two male suspects in the incident, a Syrian and an Iraqi, both in their early twenties.
• Last week in Croatia, Uljanik shipyard company workers and those from its division 3 Maj shipyard, the most important shipyard companies in the country, demonstrated in the capital city of Zagreb.
• The heavy rains reported in the Indian state of Kerala during August have caused the death of 322 people and the displacement of more than 1.5 million from the state.
• In Nigeria on August 25, police officers arrested 57 men at Kelly Ann Hotel in Lagos due to alleged homosexual activity.
• The Democratic Alliance and the African National Congress condemned violence resulting from protest activity and called for calm in the Soweto suburb of Johannesburg. The protest activity resulted in 15 arrests and two deaths.

• Hackers breached cryptocurrency platform Atlas Quantum. Over 260,000 user's information was stolen. Through Atlas Quantum, users can add Bitcoin to accounts and make profits by trading it on various platforms.

• Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin softened pension changes following protests and a drop in his approval rating.
• In Germany, Berlin Mayor Michael Mueller stated that the city was considering implementing a ban on non-residents purchasing property in the city.
• The Mexican Energy Regulation Commission announced that the governmental institution responsible for the operation of all airports in Mexico, Airports and Auxiliary Services, will no longer provide free aircraft fuel storage.
• Late last month, the Argentine central bank increased interest rates by 15 points to 60%. The rate increase comes just after President Mauricio Macri appealed for quicker payouts from the International Monetary Fund.

• Peru's President Martin Vizcarra has declared a health emergency for 60 days, in the northern border zone that abuts Colombia.

• Human rights activists in Malaysia have called for authorities to review a court decision to punish two local women to caning and a fine of 3,300 Malaysian ringgits or 806 US dollars after they attempted to engage in homosexual activity.

• Cyber-security firm, Kaspersky Lab, identified a malware known as Dark Tequila that has been affecting users in Mexico since 2013.

• As reported on August 15, police arrested a suspect on suspicion of terror offenses for ramming a car into cyclists and pedestrians outside the UK Houses of Parliament on August 14.

• Cuba's Communist Party has initiated public discussions on its proposed revision of the country's constitution, referred to as the 1976 Magna Carta.
• On August 11, investors filed a lawsuit against Tesla founder Elon Musk over his online comment considering taking the company private. The comment is thought to have increased shares by 11% and then dropped.

• Since late March 2018, fuel shortages have spread through Sudan causing scarcity of commercial diesel, cooking gas, and jet fuel.
• A major earthquake struck the Indonesian island Pulau Lombok, immediately east of Bali. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the north side of the island at a depth of 31km (approximately 19mi).
• The government of Puerto Rico has submitted a recovery plan to the U.S. Congress. The recovery plan calls for USD 139 billion (EUR 121 billion) for economic and disaster recovery and was developed with input from the public and from U.S. federal agencies.

• On August 6, 2018, the state-owned fuel company, Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales (YPF) announced an increase in the gasoline and gasoil prices throughout the country.
• U.S. President Donald Trump said that during the week of August 13, his administration would make an announcement on reducing prices for medications.

• On August 7, 2018, Ivan Duque officially assumed the position of President of Colombia. The right-wing leader now faces the challenges of the increasing coca and cocaine production in the country that doubled in the last two years, negotiations with the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group, and re-establishing relations with Washington.
• On August 9, after the Argentine Senate rejected the legalization of voluntary abortion, a wave of protests and clashes took place in several locations of the capital city, Buenos Aires.

• A computer security company released a report about a new mining malware called PowerGhost that is attacking corporate networks.
• Cyber-security researchers released a report detailing Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) hijacking attacks on the Domain Name Service (DNS) servers of three U.S. payment processing companies.