ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - May 16, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - May 16, 2024

ZeroFox physical security experts collect, curate, and analyze information derived from open and proprietary sources for comprehensive context of the circumstances surrounding global events. Here is today’s daily roundup of major developments.

Brief Highlights

• Slovakia’s Prime Minister in Hospital After Alleged Assassination Attempt; Suspect Arrested
• IS Claims Responsibility for Attack on Iraq’s Military Post
• U.S. Increases Tariffs on Billions of Chinese Imports

Slovakia’s Prime Minister in Hospital After Alleged Assassination Attempt; Suspect Arrested

On May 15, newly re-elected Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot after a government meeting in Handlova, near the capital Bratislava. Media reports suggest that Fico was targeted in a politically motivated shooting, sustaining five gunshot wounds. The suspect has been arrested. Fico recently won re-election in September 2023 after stepping down over his links to the killing of a journalist in 2018. Fico, traditionally a left-leaning politician, campaigned on reducing support for Ukraine, and after assuming office, he ended military aid shipments to Ukraine. Since assuming office, there have been mass protests against a Fico decision to remove judges investigating potential corruption. Political opponents accuse Fico of trying to consolidate power and bring Slovakia closer to Russia and further from the EU.

IS Claims Responsibility for Attack on Iraq’s Military Post

On May 14, the Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a military post in a remote part of northern Iraq. Security forces repelled the attack, which took place on May 13 but suffered five dead and five wounded. Iraq has seen relative stability since the government declared victory over IS in 2017 but IS cells remain active and occasionally launch attacks on military posts or energy infrastructure.

U.S. Increases Tariffs on Billions of Chinese Imports

On May 14, U.S. President Joe Biden announced new tariffs on a range of Chinese imports, led by electric vehicles, solar panels, semiconductors, batteries, port cranes, some medical products, and some critical minerals. In total, around USD 18 billion worth of imports will have added tariffs, out of USD 427 billion worth of Chinese imports. The changes are staggered to take effect from 2024 to 2026. The biggest increase will be tariffs for EVs, which will increase from around 27 percent to 102 percent. Most of the other tariffs are either new, like for port cranes and medical devices, or doubled from earlier versions, like solar panels and semiconductors.