At 2:50 pm, on Monday April 15th, two bombs were detonated in quick succession by suspected homegrown terrorists near the finish line of the annual marathon held in Boston, Massachusetts, killing three and injuring some 200. Occurring four hours after the start of the race, the bombs exploded as the highest volume of participants typically finish the race. Streets and transportation networks were closed across Boston following the attack and security measures were increased citywide. New York and Washington, D.C. implemented similar security measures as a precaution. By the week's end, 26-year-old Tamerlan and 19-year-old Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, two ethnic Chechen brothers who had been living in the US for the past decade, were identified as the suspects, based on footage from closed circuit video cameras at the bomb site. In the weeks following the attack, officials gathered a trove of evidence on the background and motivation of the suspected terrorists. While much still remains unknown, the attack indicates the potential for similar homegrown terrorists to carry out operations and signals the potential future pattern of jihadist activity in the West. ...more

On March 5, 2013, President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez passed away in Caracas after 14 years in power following complications from his battle with cancer. Prior to his death, the president was absent from Venezuelan politics for over two months as he underwent treatment in Havana, Cuba, leaving Vice President Nicolas Maduro at the helm of the country's governance. Venezuela's political arena further divided over this period, as opposition politicians denounced the lack of transparency concerning President Chavez's health and the leadership of the country. New presidential elections are set to be held on April 14th, as mandated by the country's constitution, whereby acting-President Maduro will face the governor of Miranda state and opposition leader Henrique Capriles for leadership of Venezuela. The victor will face myriad challenges that were exacerbated under Chavez's regime, including inflation rates topping 25 percent, a rising public debt burden coupled with a devalued currency, pervasive social inequality, and one of the most violent environments in Latin America. Additionally, production in the petroleum sector, the lifeline of Venezuela's economy, has steadily fallen under Chavez. As the new election approaches, will Venezuelans break away from the "Chavismo" ideology that has polarized the country? ...more

In spite of intense multinational efforts to eradicate global organized crime, the illicit enterprise has continued to proliferate, both in its historical centers as well as in new frontiers. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reported in 2012 that organized criminal groups earn an estimated US$870 billion each year, through activities such as drug or human trafficking, extortion, and counterfeiting. These groups are also frequently responsible for acts of violence, which can undermine the stability of the regions in which they operate and threaten the lives and livelihoods of local residents. This WAIS report examines recent trends in organized crime in Italy, China, and Latin America – the historical hot spots of organized crime – through an analysis of local media sources. WAIS tracked incidents of organized crime such as murders, arrests of criminal leaders, and other significant developments, through the second half of 2012 and into 2013. ...more

On February 12th, 2013, a shallow earthquake with a magnitude of at least 4.9 on the Richter scale was detected, indicating that North Korea had carried out its third and most powerful nuclear test yet. The North Korean government admitted detonating a nuclear bomb and claimed it successfully detonated a "miniaturized device." The detonation came two months after Pyongyang carried out a long-range rocket test. These two tests raised tensions in East Asia, an area already marked by territorial disputes, arms build-ups, and nationalist rhetoric. Ultimately, the most significant risk is not that North Korea would launch a suicidal nuclear attack on the United States or South Korea, but that a nuclear North Korea would significantly undermine efforts to combat nuclear proliferation. ...more

Kroll's Worldwide Advisory & Information Service (WAIS), in collaboration with Harary Security Consulting International, is pleased to bring you this color-coded risk guide to the 172 largest Mexican cities. This Relative Threat Rankings report ranks the relative security threat levels for Mexican cities with a population greater than 50,000 people. The data is derived from Mexican and U.S. government authorities, media outlets, incident reports, actual Kroll critical incident reports, and local sources. Cities are ranked on a scale from 1 to 10; broken down into four categories: Low to Moderate Threat Levels, Dangerous, Very Dangerous, and Absolutely No Travel; additionally, cities with a ranking of 8 or above will include color commentary regarding the primary threats in that locale.

This report costs just US$250 and is an essential tool for both large multinational firms and small companies operating in Mexico and looking to determine the threat level in multiple locations. To see the first page of this report, please follow the link below. If you are interested in purchasing this report or have any questions please contact us at WAIS@Kroll.com. This is the final offer for this product. ...more