Each week, we break down international news into our four quadrants of risk and present ways to mitigate those risks. See below for the key issues from this week's edition: operational and physical risks: - On November 25, tens of thousands of people marched in the main cities of Peru to protest against the high rate of murders of women and gender violence that persists in the country. - In Canada last week, Manitoba health officials reported 1,268 cases of mumps since September 2016. Typically, there are less than five cases of mumps reported in a single year and yet there have been more than 1,000 in 2017. - On November 27, health officials in Ontario, Canada issued a health alert regarding the ongoing streptococcus outbreak in the Middlesex-London area. hazard and event risks: - In Kenya, opposition supporters clashed with security forces during the ongoing inauguration of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. market and economic risks: - Early last week, Turkey, Iran, and Qatar signed a trade and transport agreement to tackle obstacles to the movement of goods among the countries. - Per media reports, the Bank of Uganda (BoU), announced that it is willing to close more commercial banks that put clients' money at risk. - Late last month, Monsanto Company, a U.S. agro-chemical and biotechnology firm, revealed that the Mexican authorities withdrew its licenses to trade genetically modified soy in seven states. technology and information risks: - Researchers have warned about a newly-created post-intrusion violation technique called a Golden Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML). The Golden SAML, a technique which is used after an intrusion attack has been launched against a company, allows attackers to use a fake identity and forge authentication requests to access cloud-based apps. - Per media reports, researchers have warned about a recently detected Trojan, which is a new version of the "Ursnif" malware. The new version employs a tactic of redirection to divert victims to a fake website hosted on a server controlled by the attackers. - Last week, cyber-security researchers identified that macOS High Sierra has a critical vulnerability that can be exploited by malicious actors to gain root access to a device without needing a password. - On November 29, 2017, the global maritime shipping company, Clarksons, reported that they had been the victim of a ransomware attack. The company noted that they have refused to pay the ransom and confidential data is likely to be released.

Each week, we break down international news into our four quadrants of risk and present ways to mitigate those risks. See below for the key issues from this week's edition: technology and information risks: - A newly published report indicates that businesses around the world were targeted by up to eight distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack attempts each day during July-September, 2017; registering an increase of 35% compared to the April-June quarter. - According to an investigation by a group of analysts at Quartz, smartphones and tablets running Android have been collecting addresses from nearby cellular towers and sending this information to Google. - Early last week, the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) issued an alert regarding multiple vulnerabilities on Intel processors. operational and physical risks: - Per reports last week, Mitsubishi Materials, a core member of the Mitsubishi Group, admitted and "sincerely apologized" for three of its subsidiaries falsifying data for products supplied to the aerospace, automobile, and electric power industries. - Per media reports last week, electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in Nigeria have issued a notice to declare "force majeure." Force majeure indicates unexpected circumstances beyond control due to which one or both parties may refuse to fulfill the obligations specified in the contract. - In the U.S. last week, the groups Demand Progress, Fight For The Future, and FreePress Action Fund announced that they are organizing demonstrations at Verizon stores nationwide on December 7. The groups are protesting the pending vote on December 14 by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to end net neutrality. market and economic risks: - On November 21, 2017, the per barrel price of Brent crude oil rose 17 cents to 62.39 in us dollars while U.S. light crude jumped 30 cents to USD 56.72, on anticipation that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its non-OPEC partners will extend their agreement to cut output on November 30. - Per reports early last week, the Philippines afforded Chinese companies the "privilege to operate the third telecommunications carrier" in the country. - The Chamber of Deputies of Brazil has approved a bill to raise mining royalty rates to a wide range of raw materials, as part of reforms for the sector proposed by President Michel Temer. - In Mexico, local media revealed that lawmakers from Quintana Roo are promoting a new mobility law that aims to regulate transportation services in the state, including ride-sharing apps that are already operational. hazard and event risks: - Local media in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur state revealed that violence rates had markedly increased in recent months. Only in the last week, there were at least 30 homicides reported. - Law enforcement agencies and medical professionals in the U.S. have reported a sharp increase in counterfeit prescription painkillers and related deaths. The counterfeit pills often appear identical to the originals and contain the drug fentanyl.

Each week, we break down international news into our four quadrants of risk and present ways to mitigate those risks. See below for the key issues from this week's edition: technology and information risks: - Cyber-security firm Bitdefender Labs has published a whitepaper noting the discovery of a new variant of the Terdot banking trojan. - Earlier this month, cyber-security experts from Palo Alto Networks discovered that the Toast Overlay Attack method was integrated into live malware distribution for the first time. - In Sweden, an investigation commissioned by the government proposed that the police should have the right to conduct secret data reading and interception of online communications without prior approval from the court. Operational and physical risks: - Per Pinkerton Vigilance Network sources citing government authorities in Indonesia, the armed separatist group the West Papua National Liberation Army has detained at least 1,300 people in the villages of Kimberly and Banti since November 10. - Late last week, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) said that ships not in compliance with permissive sulfur emissions will be considered "unseaworthy." - Peru's Social Protection Commission (CPS) issued its proposal regarding the pension system reform. market and economic risks: - The European Securities and Markets Authority has alerted investors of the risks associated with investing in the cryptocurrency, Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). - Last week, the EU approved an arms embargo on Venezuela stating that "irregularities" in the October 2017 regional elections had deepened the economic crisis in the country. - Canada's Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna recently announced the launch of a joint campaign with the UK to eliminate coal-based energy globally at the ongoing annual United Nations climate change talks (COP23). Hazard and event risks: - According to media reports, Turkish authorities conducted a large-scale security operation at multiple locations last week. - In Brazil, workers and union members recently demonstrated against the reform launched by the government to modify labor regulations and the pension system. - In Mexico, members of cargo and passenger transport associations indicated that cargo theft increased 53% during the third quarter of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. Return to Pinkerton Insights Podcast home page  

Each week, we break down international news into our four quadrants of risk and present ways to mitigate those risks. See below for the key issues from this week's edition: Hazard and event Risks: - The Indian Medical Association has declared a public health emergency in the national capital region of Delhi after air quality deteriorated to the "severe" category. - Four foreign workers of Turkish company Enka were kidnapped in southwest Libya. - The Organization of American States revealed that following the municipal elections that took place on November 5, violent unrest broke out in the Caribbean Coast Region of Nicaragua. Technology and INformation Risk: - Crypto-wallet company Parity Technologies Ltd. issued a "critical" security alert after some users reported that their funds were "frozen." - Mexico's National Commission for the Protection and Defense of Users of Financial Services (CONDUSEF) warned clients of the multinational banking and financial services company, HSBC, about a new scam. - Late last week, reports stated that a number of false versions of the messenger application WhatsApp were available on the Google Play Store for Android devices. Operational and physical: - Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered military forces to halt construction work on a sandbar in a disputed area of the South China Sea. - The Organization of American States (OAS) revealed that following the municipal elections that took place on November 5, violent unrest broke out in the Caribbean Coast Region of Nicaragua. - Irish Rail workers will continue with their scheduled strikes despite a bid to resolve the dispute between the Irish Rail Management and the Trade Union Group, which includes the National Bus and Rail Union. Market and economic risks: - The Oil Companies Advisory Council, an umbrella organization of multiple oil marketing companies and refineries in Pakistan, threatened Honda Atlas Cars with legal action if it did not withdraw its complaint against fuel quality in the country. - The European Commission (EC) split over the use of glyphosate and could not muster the majority needed to renew its license for the next five years, even as its current license expires on December 15. - The Mexican Association of Insurance Institutions reported last week that there were 86,000 insured vehicles robbed during September 2016-September 2017.

In this special edition of the Pinkerton Insights Podcast, we provide an overview of the Spanish province of Catalonia's effort to become independent, issuing a referendum that was quickly refuted by the Spanish government. In this edition, we look at the international and business implications of Catalonia independence and provide our analysts' insight into how this could affect risk levels in Europe and beyond.

Each week, we break down international news into our four quadrants of risk and present ways to mitigate those risks. See below for the key issues from this week's edition: market and economic risks: - On Tuesday, the Brazilian Senate approved a legislative project to regulate applications related to private passenger transport services. - Last week, the Bank of England (BOE) stated that about 75,000 jobs in the financial services sector could likely be lost due to Brexit, especially in case a UK-EU financial services deal is not reached. - Per Chinese media reports on Thursday, the provincial authorities in Shanxi ordered the local government to limit industrial activity in the province to restrain winter smog. - Per reports on October 31, Singapore released the draft bill on carbon pricing for public consultation on the carbon tax. hazard and event risks: - In Mexico last week, at least three boxes containing human remains were found in downtown Irapuato along with cartel-related criminal messages. - Authorities from the Chilean Institute of Public Health (ISP) have confirmed that 43 people are currently infected with Q fever because of a bacterium that is affecting cattle in the southern region of the country. - Last week,, health authorities in South Africa issued a high alert following reported cases of the plague in Madagascar. technology and information risks: - Per media reports, artificial intelligence firm, Vicarious, has developed an algorithm that is capable of breaching through the security check known as CAPTCHA, which is short for  Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart. - Last week, it was reported that a cyber-security researcher had gained access to Google's internal issue tracker, known as "Buganizer," and viewed the full list of Google's unpatched vulnerabilities. - Per media reports, a major data breach was detected that compromised the personal information of approximately 50,000 Australian employees, including government officials and bank workers. Operational and Physical Risks: - The Dominican Republic's National Committee to Combat Climate Change (CNLCC) has announced the beginning of an indefinite strike, with the objective of halting construction of a thermoelectric plant in Catalina. - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Adern stated last week that a ban on foreign home buyers would be implemented in early 2018; however, the ban would not include Australian citizens seeking to buy houses in New Zealand. - On Wednesday last week, CBS-affiliate KFDM in Beaumont, TX announced recalls for Ford, Toyota, Lexus, Tesla, and Fiat Chrysler America.      

Each week, we break down international news into our four quadrants of risk and present ways to mitigate those risks. See below for the key issues from this week's edition: Market and economic risks: - The Bank of Canada's governing council recently issued a statement indicating that it would not raise interest rates for a third time in 2017. - Per reports on October 25, policymakers in Japan are considering forcing businesses to use their cash resources to increase salaries and revise fiscal measures to increase growth in the economy. - The European Central Bank has announced a 50% reduction in its bond-buying program, from  60 billion EUROS a month to 30 billion, starting January 2018. hazard and event risks: - Last week, a freight ship sailing from Equatorial Guinea en route to Monrovia, Liberia, was boarded by pirates three days earlier outside the coast of Nigeria. - In Asia, per a report by The Soufan Center, published last week, with the Islamic State (IS) losing territory in Iraq and Syria, returnees and foreign fighters will present a challenge to many countries "for years to come." technology and information risks: - Last week, computer systems worldwide were affected by a new ransomware termed "Bad Rabbit." The malware has been declared as one of the most dangerous in 2017, following WannaCry in May and NotPetya in June. - Per reports on October 22, the US government's privacy watchdog, the National Privacy Commission is monitoring the possible personal data breach of the Philippines' largest online stock brokerage firm, COL Financial. - Cyber-security researchers at Check Point have identified a new "massive" botnet that utilized unsecured Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices. - The US Department of Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigation have issued a joint warning regarding an ongoing advanced persistent threat of a cyber-attack targeting critical infrastructure sectors. Click to Return to Podcast Main Page

Each week, we break down international news into our four quadrants of risk and present ways to mitigate those risks. See below for the key issues from this week's edition: technology and information risks: - Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced last week that customers' credit card information might have been stolen in a breach. Information stolen included card numbers, expiration dates, and verification codes. - Last week,, Google announced that it will be introducing a new cyber-security product, the Advanced Protection Program, that would assist in data-protection for "high-risk users." - Researchers have announced the existence of a new exploit, KRACK, which targets Wi-Fi networks and access points. - Researchers working at the IT security company, ESET have announced that they discovered a new ransomware attack dubbed DoubleLocker which affects Android devices. Operational and physical risks: - In the United States, the Center for Auto Safety urged Ford Motor Company to issue a recall for 1.3 million 2011-2017 Ford Explorer SUVs due to concerns regarding carbon monoxide poisoning. - Per a report published last week by the UK's Public Accounts Committee, online retailers like Amazon and eBay are benefiting from activities of overseas tax evaders engaging in value-added tax fraud. - On Thursday, Sweden officially announced that it would reassess its engagement with Cambodia amid the latter's proposal to dissolve the opposition - the Cambodia National Rescue Party. - The Superintendent of Ports and Transportation of Colombia has announced its decision to make effective the June 20, 2017, fine imposed on Easy Taxi Colombia S.A.S. market and economic risks: - Per a report last week, minority shareholders in India are playing a more active role in corporate governance, even as the government has implemented legal changes to make the corporate system more transparent and accountable. - In the United Kingdom, per reports last week, sales numbers in September 2017 fell by almost 1%, registering the lowest growth rate for the country in the past four years. - ON Thursday, the president of the Federation of Argentine Regional Refrigeration Industries, demanded that the government create an official registry of butcher shops and slaughterhouses by way of the Federal Administration of Public Revenues to end tax evasion in the meat sector. hazard and event risks: - In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte declared that the city of Marawi was "liberated" from militants, even as the army said it was fighting at least 30 militants holding about 20 hostages. Back to Pinkerton Insights Main Page  

Each week, we break down international news into our four quadrants of risk and present ways to mitigate those risks. See below for the key issues from this week's edition: Hazard and Event Risks: - On October 12, a three-day hearing concluded in which Australia's High Court debated whether seven parliamentarians that hold dual citizenship are eligible to continue in office. The HIgh Court hearing the case has adjourned to deliberate the outcome. - On Monday last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice to U.S. citizens over a virulent plague outbreak in Madagascar. - The Peruvian government announced a 120-day extension to the state of emergency initially declared on June 13. With this measure in effect, approximately 200 military personnel will remain on the streets of the northwestern district of Tuman until November 9, 2017. technology and information risks: - Per reports last week, two hackers were arrested in Sri Lanka for targeting the Far Eastern International Bank in Taiwan with a malware attack. - Worldwide blog hosting service Disqus announced last week that a data breach in 2012 has likely affected about 17.5 million users. Along with Disqus, platforms Bitly and Kickstarter also announced that millions of users around the world were affected by a cyber-security breach from 2014. - Last week, anonymous cyber-security researcher @SwiftOnSecurity reported that there was a phony version of the popular AdBlock Plus extension for Google Chrome available in the company's official Web Store. The extension was available up until October 9th, and it was downloaded by more than 37,000 people. operational and physical risks: - Last week the chief executive officer of Japanese steel manufacturer, Kobe Steel, told media sources that more quality data about the company's products may have been falsified than was previously disclosed, posing a threat to operations worldwide. - Last week, Cambodia's Supreme Court issued an order to the opposition party, Cambodia National Rescue Party, stating that it had 20 days to respond to a complaint by the Ministry of Interior calling for its dissolution. - Per reports mid-last week, Microsoft software products were acquired by state organizations and private firms in Russia and Crimea in violation of sanctions prohibiting U.S. companies from doing business with them. - Employees of different institutions of Chile's Public Sector Committee announced their plans to begin a national strike on October 17. market and economic risks: - Per reports early last week, the Joint Foreign Chambers  of the Philippines along with other business groups demanded that the Congress retain zero value-added tax for Philippines Economic Zone Authority locators. - Spanish authorities have issued a decree that will make it easier for companies with legal headquarters in Catalonia to relocate to other parts of the country, as shareholders no longer need to approve a move. - Last week, Transparency International revealed that Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela record the highest bribery and corruption ratings in Latin America and the Caribbean region.  

Each week, we break down international news into our four quadrants of risk and present ways to mitigate those risks. See below for the key issues from this week's edition: Hazard and Event Risks: - Per media reports last last month, Australia is facing what could be the worst flu season recorded. At least 170,000 cases have been confirmed this flu season, which is 2.5 times more than the cases reported in 2016. - The official Saudi Press Agency reported that 22 people had been arrested for "inciting public feelings" on social media, one of which was a Qatari national. - Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajeet Pai proposed providing 77 million US Dollars to fund repairs to communication networks in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands that were damaged by hurricanes in 2017. - Late last month, Air France Flight 66 en route from Paris to Los Angeles lost an engine while over the Atlantic Ocean and was forced to land in Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada. Pinkerton finds it likely that Air France will curtail flights for the A-380 aircraft in its fleet until it inspects their engines for flaws that would lead to similar incidents. - El Salvador has experienced a sharp increase in the number of murders throughout the country in the past three weeks. This escalation has broken the decreasing trend that had been occurring since the beginning of 2017. technology and information risks: - Cyber-security firm Wordfence announced last week it has has discovered zero-day flaws in three WordPress plugins. - IB, a cyber-security firm, indicated the vulnerabilities of the financial sector with respect to the massive cyber-attacks sponsored by political groups. According to Verizon reports, the financial sector is ranked in the first position with regard to cyber-security threats during 2017. operational and physical risks: - Per reports last week, the government of India has taken steps toward strategic stake sales in five major companies, as part of its disinvestment plans for public sector organizations. - Telecommunications companies in India may layoff nearly 150,000 direct and indirect jobs in the industry due to mounting debt and continuing losses. - In Malaysia, authorities are investigating an embezzlement case involving senior officials siphoning off at least 100 million MYR or 23.7 million US Dollars. - Earlier this month, Catalan voters defied the Spanish constitutional court's ban on the Catalonian Independence referendum by taking to the polls. - Mexican media reported severe damages in the local and federal road network of the state of Oaxaca after the rainy season and the 8.2-magnitude earthquake registered on September 7. market and economic risks: - The European Union Commission has proposed plans to reform the Value Added Tax (VAT). This is the first time that a VAT reform has been discussed in the last 25 years. - In Columbia, the ongoing strike organized by 730 pilots of Avianca Airways this month has caused a sharp increase in airfare tickets throughout the country, especially on routes that are traditionally operated by the national airline and flag carrier of Colombia.