Jalisco cartel presents a threat to the Mexican state

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Flexibility ◽  
Security Forces ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Drug Enforcement ◽  
Mexican State ◽  
The Us ◽  
Security Costs ◽  
Drug Traffickers ◽  
New Generation ◽  
Drug Enforcement Agency

Subject The rising strength of the CJNG. Significance In the four months since members of the New Generation Jalisco Cartel (CJNG) ambushed and gunned down 15 policemen on a mountain road to the Mexican resort town of Puerta Vallarta, the group has regularly been in the headlines for violent confrontations with security forces as it expands its criminal activities. The CJNG's leaders are, according to the US Drug Enforcement Agency, now "the richest of Mexico's drug traffickers". The growth of the organisation into a formidable force raises new questions regarding the extent of the threat it poses. Impacts While government attacks on the CJNG will escalate violence in Michoacan and Jalisco, heavy-handedness could discredit security forces. The CJNG's business diversity, strategic flexibility and deep community links will make it difficult to dismantle. CJNG expansion could bring it into conflict with the Sinaloa Federation. Though cartel activity will not affect investment, businesses will likely suffer high security costs and may be subject to extortion.

Navigating the US “Green Rush”: anti-money laundering and de-risking implications for banking cannabis-related businesses in Jamaica

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohan Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Money Laundering ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Medical Cannabis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Drug Enforcement ◽  
The Us ◽  
Banking Relationships ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Related Drug ◽  
Us Federal Government

Purpose This paper aims to illuminate the diverging approaches to marijuana-related drug enforcement at the federal and state levels in the USA, which have facilitated a boom in the US medical cannabis industry (i.e. the “Green Rush”). It further sheds light on how the USA’ aggressive extraterritorial approach to anti-money laundering (AML) enforcement might simultaneously suppress the banking of cannabis-related businesses in Jamaica due to the lingering fear of de-risking. Design/methodology/approach An international and comparative legal and policy analysis was conducted of the nexus among shifting drug enforcement policies, AML laws and the banking of cannabis-related businesses. Findings This study found that the constitutional relationship between the US federal government and states has created a de facto comparative advantage for the US medical cannabis-related businesses that benefit from limited access to financial services. This was found to pose far-reaching implications for the banking and development of the Jamaican cannabis sector due to the dependence of the country’s financial institutions on correspondent banking relationships with the US banks that are regulated by federal AML statutes. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this paper is the first of its kind to examine the extraterritorial regulatory risks to the banking of cannabis-related businesses in Jamaica.

Afghan Taliban use violence to hasten US troop exit

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Armed Force ◽  
Bad Faith ◽  
Donald Trump ◽  
Security Forces ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Creation

Significance At the same time as pursuing peace talks with the Afghan government, the Taliban are using calibrated armed force to push the United States into withdrawing all its troops. In an incontrovertible breach of their agreement with Washington, the insurgents launched their largest military offensive in years in October. As though this were not happening, President Donald Trump ordered the US force in Afghanistan to be reduced to 2,500 by the end of his term. Impacts NATO and other coalition allies in Afghanistan will mirror the US exit with proportionate troop drawdowns. Opposition to talks is hardening in Kabul as sceptics claim the Taliban are acting in bad faith. Reverses suffered by the Afghan security forces will focus debate on whether they can cope once US forces leave. The Afghan president is accelerating the creation of the 'Territorial Army', recruited from the militias of former warlords.

Bahrain’s foreign military bases could become a target

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Military Bases ◽  
Internal Stability ◽  
Security Forces ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Arab Uprisings ◽  
Regional Role ◽  
Military Presence ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Uk

Significance Manama is gradually rolling back some of the reforms to limit the power of the security forces that were put in place after the post-2011 Arab uprisings. The government has been emboldened by Saudi backing and by its security alliance with key Western powers. The new US administration’s more confrontational policy towards Iran’s regional role, which has been echoed by the UK government, could strengthen that alliance. Impacts The strategic importance to Washington of its military presence in Bahrain will rise as tensions with Iran increase. Spillover from US and Saudi confrontations with Iran in Yemen or Gulf shipping lanes could affect Bahrain’s internal stability. Iranian-linked Shia militant groups such as Saraya al-Ashtar or Saraya al-Mukhtar may escalate hostilities. The US and UK governments will seek to increase base security, but could also quietly pressure Manama to make concessions to the Shia.

Taliban assaults set to slow NATO's Afghan drawdown

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Private Security ◽  
Security Force ◽  
Security Forces ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Asian Security ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
The Us

Subject Security outlook. Significance Fighting between Afghan security forces and the Taliban for control of the centre of Kunduz is continuing with no immediate prospect of the insurgents being driven from the city's suburbs. Meanwhile, Taliban forces have launched attacks elsewhere, straining but crucially not paralysing Kabul's response. The prevailing insecurity has led the US administration and its NATO allies to reconsider their plans to withdraw combat troops. Impacts Foreign businesses can obtain a degree of security via a private security force or local deals with Taliban forces. The NATO drawdown will dampen investor appetite, leaving Kabul ever-more dependent on donors' largesse. Taliban offensives in the northern provinces will undercut Central Asian security.

Israel will keep shooting Palestinian protesters

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
West Bank ◽  
The United States ◽  
The West ◽  
Security Forces ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Independent Investigation ◽  
The Us

Significance However, the United States has already blocked a Kuwaiti-drafted statement expressing “outrage” at Israeli security forces’ killings of protesters and calling for an independent investigation. The demonstrations by thousands of Gaza Palestinians approaching the Israeli security fence coincided with the formal opening of the new US embassy in Jerusalem. Impacts The turn in international opinion against Israel could bolster Iran and its Lebanese protégé Hezbollah. Events in Gaza make progress in the stalled Egypt-backed ‘reconciliation’ agreement with the West Bank authorities even more unlikely. Few countries will follow the US example of moving their embassies to Jerusalem, despite Israeli inducements. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s recent foreign policy successes could bolster his position against corruption investigations.

New spending alone will not revive Turkish south-east

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Security Forces ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Turkey ◽  
The Government ◽  
Security Costs ◽  
Kurdistan Workers Party ◽  
Government Construction

Subject Prospects for engineering economic revival in south-eastern Turkey. Significance Visiting Diyarbakir on September 5, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim announced a series of measures to boost the economy in south-eastern Turkey, the scene of incessant attacks by Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) guerrillas, mainly against the security forces, and large-scale counter-operations by Turkish security forces. Impacts Some local businesses will benefit from government construction contracts and related business. Less troubled provinces such as Erzurum and Malatya will offer opportunities in labour-intensive manufacturing, agroindustry and services. Internationally, concrete investments will create some impression that the government runs the region and is working for all its people. Extra spending will slightly raise risks to the public finances amid increased military and security costs and a decelerating economy.

OCIE issues risk alert on the most frequently identified advisory fee and expense compliance issues

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Robert Van Grover
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Investment Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Informed Decisions ◽  
Policies And Procedures ◽  
The Us ◽  
Investment Advisers ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose To summarize and interpret a Risk Alert issued on April 12, 2018 by the US SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) on the most frequent advisory fee and expense compliance issues identified in recent examinations of investment advisers. Design/methodology/approach Summarizes deficiencies identified by the OCIE staff pertaining to advisory fees and expenses in the following categories: fee billing based on incorrect account valuations, billing fees in advance or with improper frequency, applying incorrect fee rates, omitting rebates and applying discounts incorrectly, disclosure issues involving advisory fees, and adviser expense misallocations. Findings In the Risk Alert, OCIE staff emphasized the importance of disclosures regarding advisory fees and expenses to the ability of clients to make informed decisions, including whether or not to engage or retain an adviser. Practical implications In light of the issues identified in the Risk Alert, advisers should assess the accuracy of disclosures and adequacy of policies and procedures regarding advisory fee billing and expenses. As a matter of best practice, advisers should implement periodic forensic reviews of billing practices to identify and correct issues relating to fee billing and expenses. Originality/value Expert guidance from experienced investment management lawyer.

Absence of the weekend effect and industry-style portfolios

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 463-475
Author(s):  
Selma Izadi ◽  
Abdullah Noman
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Stock Market ◽  
Structural Breaks ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Structural Break ◽  
Weekend Effect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Market Portfolio ◽  
The Us ◽  
Using Data

Purpose The existence of the weekend effect has been reported from the 1950s to 1970s in the US stock markets. Recently, Robins and Smith (2016, Critical Finance Review, 5: 417-424) have argued that the weekend effect has disappeared after 1975. Using data on the market portfolio, they document existence of structural break before 1975 and absence of any weekend effects after that date. The purpose of this study is to contribute some new empirical evidences on the weekend effect for the industry-style portfolios in the US stock market using data over 90 years. Design/methodology/approach The authors re-examine persistence or reversal of the weekend effect in the industry portfolios consisting of The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), The American Stock Exchange (AMEX) and The National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations exchange (NASDAQ) stocks using daily returns from 1926 to 2017. Our results confirm varying dates for structural breaks across industrial portfolios. Findings As for the existence of weekend effects, the authors get mixed results for different portfolios. However, the overall findings provide broad support for the absence of weekend effects in most of the industrial portfolios as reported in Robins and Smith (2016). In addition, structural breaks for other weekdays and days of the week effects for other days have also been documented in the paper. Originality/value As far as the authors are aware, this paper is the first research that analyzes weekend effect for the industry-style portfolios in the US stock market using data over 90 years.

The effect of Medicare Part D on prescription drug composition and demand

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Zimmer
Keyword(s):  
Prescription Drug ◽  
Medicare Part D ◽  
Medicare Part ◽  
Part D ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Us ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Shed Light

Purpose – The US Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 introduced optional prescription drug coverage, beginning in 2006, widely known as Medicare Part D. This paper uses up-to-date nationally representative survey data to investigate the impact of Part D not only on drug spending and consumption, but also on the composition of drug consumption. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Specifically, the paper investigates whether Part D impacted the number of therapeutic classes for which drugs were prescribed, and also whether Part D lead to increased usage of drugs for specific medical conditions that typically receive drug-intensive therapies. Findings – In addition to confirming findings from previous studies, this paper shows that Part D increased the number of therapeutic classes to which seniors receive drugs by approximately four classes. Part D also lead to increased usage of drugs used to treat upper respiratory disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Originality/value – While mostly concurring with previous studies on the spending impacts of Part D, this paper is the first to shed light on other impacts of Part D, specifically with respect to its impact on therapeutic classes for which drugs are prescribed.

Looking for and replicating model programs for ‘at risk’ children and families

2004 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-36
Author(s):  
Frank Ainsworth
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Family Preservation ◽  
Children And Families ◽  
Cultural Traditions ◽  
At Risk Children ◽  
Systematic Effort ◽  
The Us ◽  
Program Innovation ◽  
New Generation ◽  
Model Programs

At the present time there is a need for a new generation of programs to address the needs of ‘at risk’ children and families. This is an issue that is exercising the minds of service planners in both government and non-government community service organisations. This need arises from the fact that many existing programs have yet to be rigorously evaluated and are of questionable effectiveness. This lack of evidence of effectiveness does not sit well in the current climate of accountability. It also runs contrary to the increasingly strident calls for evidence based practice.Many new programs arrive in Australia from the US as this country is often the source of program innovation as illustrated by the importation in the 1980s and 1990s of family preservation and family reunification programs. In the US, promotion of ‘model programs' has taken another step and a systematic effort at program replication is now in evidence. The question is, how might model programs from overseas be successfully replicated in Australia? And what is required, if anything, to replicate these models effectively taking account of our different cultural traditions?

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