Oliver Scanlan

Oliver Scanlan lives in Parbatipur, Bangladesh where he works for a local NGO which advocates for indigenous peoplesâÛª rights. He has studied Chinese and spent a year studying in Beijing, which inspired his twin passions for global affairs and tricky languages. He is an intern for oD's terrorism and security section.

The year in security

openSecurity's briefings team highlight a selection of security developments from the past year and the clues they hold for 2011.

By Oliver Scanlan

/ 1 Jan 2011

China seeks to calm Pakistan over closer India ties

China seeks to allay Pakistan’s concerns over closer ties to India. India is implicated in mass human rights abuses of Kashmiri detainees. EU foreign ministers keep pressure on Israeli over settlements and Gaza. All this and more, in today’s security update…

By Oliver Scanlan

/ 17 Dec 2010

Burma implicated in nuclear weapons construction

The Myanmar military government is allegedly attempting to gain nuclear weapons with the aid of North Korea. Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in absentia. A major new pipeline is set to be agreed on by central and south Asian leaders in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. All this

By Oliver Scanlan

/ 10 Dec 2010

Korean peninsula on ‘the brink of war’

On Friday, the official news service of North Korea accused the US and South Korea of pushing the peninsula to the brink of war. Israeli armed forces have been witnessed demolishing a mosque and other buildings in the occupied West Bank. Nouri al-Maliki has been asked by the Iraqi President to for

By Oliver Scanlan

/ 26 Nov 2010

Confusion over US-Israel settlement deal

The US and Israel deadlocked over settlement negotiations. The speaker of the Lebanese National Assembly has said the Israeli withdrawal from Ghajar does not mean the end of resistance. French President Sarkozy is under increasing pressure to speak out over his complicity in using funds from arms

By Oliver Scanlan

/ 19 Nov 2010

Hizbollah chief urges Lebanese to boycott Hariri investigation

Hassan Nasrallah calls for a boycott of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. A diplomatic row between China and Japan over disputed island territories flares up at an Asean summit. Iran has agreed to renew negotiations over its nuclear programme. Gunfire breaks out along the border between North and

By Oliver Scanlan

/ 29 Oct 2010

Israeli-Palestinian peace will isolate Iran, suggests Peres

Israeli President calls for Israeli-Palestinian peace as a means to isolate Iran. As the US and Pakistan foreign ministers meet to agree a new arms package, it is reported that the US will severe military aid to Pakistan army units implicated in committing atrocities in the Swat valley. Six Pakist

By Oliver Scanlan

/ 22 Oct 2010

Arab League may seek direct UN recognition of Palestinian state

Members of the Arab League may seek direct United Nations recognition of a Palestinian state as Netanyahu approved further settlement construction in East Jerusalem. The US expresses its concerns over UK defence cuts. Aid workers are kidnapped in Somalia. All this and more, in today’s security upd

By Oliver Scanlan

/ 15 Oct 2010

Chinese dissident wins nobel peace prize

The Nobel Peace prize is awarded to one of China’s foremost dissidents. Mohammad Abbas is set to seek Arab League backing for suspending dialogue with Israel over settlement construction. For the first time, a civilian peacekeeper has been abducted in the capital of Darfur. All this and more, in t

By Oliver Scanlan

/ 8 Oct 2010

North Ossetia suicide bombing kills eighteen

A suicide bombing in the restless north caucasian province of North Ossetia kills at least 18 people. A protest in Afghanistan against the proposed burning of Qurans by Florida Pastor Terry Jones leads to bloodshed. Street gangs shut down El Salvador’s public transport for a third day. A suicide a

By Oliver Scanlan

/ 10 Sep 2010

Taliban propose joint committee to investigate civilian deaths

The Taliban propose a joint committee to investigate civilian deaths in Afghanistan. Pakistan has announced a crackdown on charities connected with Islamist militants. Israel and Palestinian Authority are on the brink of direct talks. The South African government uses a heavy hand to suppress the

By Oliver Scanlan

/ 20 Aug 2010

Head of UN Lebanon force calls for calm

The commander officer of UNIFIL in southern Lebanon has appealed for calm in resolving disputes between peace keeping troops and local residents. The US and Russia are exchanging convicted spies. Pakistan has been struck again by a multiple bomb attack and the new head of US Central Command has be

By Oliver Scanlan

/ 9 Jul 2010