Namibia activists could prompt moderate policy shifts

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Land Reform ◽  
Customs Union ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
Price Bubble ◽  
State Sponsorship ◽  
The Government ◽  
Moderate Policy ◽  
Policy Shifts ◽  
Opposition Movement

Significance President Hage Geingob's administration last week agreed with the opposition movement Affirmative Repositioning (AR) to allocate the site, which was previously off-limits. AR had threatened Zimbabwe-style land invasions if the government failed swiftly to resolve outstanding land reform applications. Impacts State sponsorship of low-interest housing loans could exacerbate the emerging price bubble, posing risks to the financial sector. Soft diamond prices, which have fallen 12% over the past five years, will hasten the government's diversification plans. Falling revenues from the regional customs union, caused partly by South Africa's lacklustre economy, will likely cause fiscal strains.

Baku hopes Islamism will buttress Azerbaijani regime

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Political Islam ◽  
Relevant Factor ◽  
The West ◽  
Double Standards ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Government ◽  
Policy Shifts ◽  
Charlie Hebdo

Subject Indications from reactions to the Charlie Hebdo incident in Paris of a shift in Azerbaijan's geopolitical orientation. Significance The January 7 terrorist attacks in Paris against the Charlie Hebdo magazine and a Jewish supermarket received international condemnation. While Baku joined international public opinion in denouncing the attacks, official and semi-official outlets variously justified the attacks or claimed Western anger was tantamount to 'double standards'. Among the population, internet reactions echoed similar themes on social media, and religious protesters held rallies against Charlie Hebdo. While Azerbaijan and its regime are typically portrayed as models of absolutist secularism, reactions to the Paris attacks -- and foreign policy shifts in the past year -- indicate that political Islam is becoming an increasingly relevant factor in politics. Impacts The government will continue and probably increase its use of Islamic language and justifications as part of its campaign against the West. Yet at the same time, the authorities will continue to burnish their secular credentials in English-language and international outlets. Azerbaijan-Iran relations will continue in a positive trajectory. The regime will be willing to incorporate elements of Iranian Shia Islamism as a means of buttressing its security.

Rural education across China’s 40 years of reform: past successes and future challenges

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ai Yue ◽  
Bin Tang ◽  
Yaojiang Shi ◽  
Jingjing Tang ◽  
Guanminjia Shang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Rural Education ◽  
Junior High School ◽  
Junior High ◽  
Compulsory Education ◽  
Rural Children ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
Rural Schooling ◽  
The Government

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe the policy and trends in rural education in China over the past 40 years; and also discuss a number of challenges that are faced by China’s rural school system. Design/methodology/approach The authors use secondary data on policies and trends over the past 40 years for preschool, primary/junior high school, and high school. Findings The trends over the past 40 years in all areas of rural schooling have been continually upward and strong. While only a low share of rural children attended preschool in the 1980s, by 2014 more than 90 percent of rural children were attending. The biggest achievement in compulsory education is that the rise in the number of primary students that finish grade 6 and matriculate to junior high school. There also was a steep rise of those going to and completing high school. While the successes in upscaling rural education are absolutely unprecedented, there are still challenges. Research limitations/implications This is descriptive analysis and there is not causal link established between policies and rural schooling outcomes. Practical implications The authors illustrate one of the most rapid rises of rural education in history and match the achievements up with the policy efforts of the government. The authors also explore policy priorities that will be needed in the coming years to raise the quality of schooling. Originality/value This is the first paper that documents both the policies and the empirical trends of the success that China has created in building rural education from preschool to high school during the first 40 years of reform (1978-2018). The paper also documents – drawing on the literature and the own research – the achievements and challenges that China still face in the coming years, including issues of gender, urbanization, early childhood education and health and nutrition of students.

Exploration of COVID-19 impact on the dimensions of food safety and security: a perspective of societal issues with relief measures

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Janpriy Sharma ◽  
Mohit Tyagi ◽  
Arvind Bhardwaj
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Food Safety ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Food Industries ◽  
Societal Issues ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

PurposeOutbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has created the catastrophic situation, it has crippled all the economic activities and seized off the operations of food supply chain (FSC). Disrupted FSC escalated the societal concerns related to food safety and security. The purpose of this study is to consolidate various issues, exploring the perspectives associated with the agricultural practices, food industries and society concerns related with the FSC performance system dynamics amid of COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachTo structure this work, a detailed research literature insight focussing on the key findings associated with the past disease outbreaks like influenza, avian flu, Ebola, bird flu, SARS, foot and mouth disease and ongoing phase of COVID-19, encompassing the perspective related with various agricultural and concerned supply chain practices is clustered. Furthermore, issues having relevancy with the notion of this work, sourced from platforms of print and electronic media have been incorporated to ground the reality associated with the impacts, for better visualisation of the perspectives.FindingsThis study outlays the key findings which are relevant with the past pandemic outbreaks from the core of the research literature. It details the impact of the current COVID-19 scenario on the various FSC operations, focussing on dimensions allied with the industry, economic and society concerns. For the same, to mitigate the effects, relief measures focussing on the short- and long-term perspectives have been incorporated. Steps ramped up by the Government of India (GOI) to safeguard masses from the threat of food security, accelerate pace of the FSC operations and upscale operating capacities of the industries and agriculture practices have incorporated.Research limitations/implicationsPresented work is persuaded amid of the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions hence it outlays the theoretical perspectives only. But, these perspectives portray the ongoing scenario's impacts, extending its implication to the people coming from the industry and academia background. This study can felicitate the government bodies to make them familiar with the various impacts which indented the FSCs, food industries and added woes to the society concerns.Originality/valueIndia is the second largest populated nation of the world, and outspread of the COVID-19 has capsized the FSCs and raised the various instances, making population vulnerable to the threats of food insecurity. This study encompasses effect of the FSC disruption by incorporating its effect on the food industries practices, societal issues and extending possible relief measures to restructure the FSC dynamics. As of now, study focussing on the Indian FSC concerns, detailing of impacts due to pandemic outbreak, relief measures to sail out of the hard times are not available.

Romania heads for clash with EU over legal sovereignty

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Rule Of Law ◽  
Judicial Independence ◽  
Constitutional Court ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
Court Of Justice ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Eu

Significance After accentuated rule-of-law erosion during 2017-19, the new government encouraged hopes that such violations would become a thing of the past. However, last month, the government sacked the ombudsman, while the Constitutional Court declared void a judgement of the EU Court of Justice (CJEU) defending judicial independence. Impacts Recent developments erode hopes that last month’s positive CVM report will lead to Romania’s Schengen zone accession later this year. Failure to replace the ombudsman will not affect the coalition parties electorally, given the politicisation of rule-of-law issues. Subnational courts will be left confused whether to apply the Constitutional Court or the CJEU ruling to legal disciplinary cases.

Legal analysis of Qatar’santi-money laundering and combating terrorist financing legislation and regulation amidst the summer 2017 GCC crisis

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 793-804
Author(s):  
Mohammed Ahmad Naheem
Keyword(s):  
Money Laundering ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Legal Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Terrorist Financing ◽  
The Past ◽  
Regulatory Bodies ◽  
The Government ◽  
Financing Of Terrorism

Purpose The recent diplomatic split between members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Qatar with accusations of terrorist financing (TF). This paper aims to study Qatar’s domestic legislations, which specifically targets money laundering and TF activities. The country has stringently worked in compliance with international standards on combating financing of terrorism (CFT) and anti-money laundering (AML) practices by imparting autonomous power to regulatory bodies, such as the Qatar Central Bank and other agencies. Design/methodology/approach This paper studies independent legislations passed under the Emir’s decree over the past decade advancing Qatar’s AML ranking, with significant effort in CFT regulations. The paper also analyses the advancement in AML/CFT regulation and their validity with respect to international standards set by various governmental, intergovernmental and non-profit agencies. Findings The analysis finds Qatar in compliance with strong AML/CFT regulations. Further, it finds the government to have provided transparent oversight to international organizations that attest to the findings of the legislative efforts. This paper disproves claims and accusations that have possibly been presented to the GCC and subsequently led members to abruptly end diplomatic relations with Qatar over allegations of TF activities, amongst others. Originality/value The paper offers insight into Qatar’s legislative and regulatory advancement with respect to the AML/CTF in the past decade. The paper also discusses Qatar’s legislative advancement in relation to the evolutions of the country’s financial system, adopting a more robust mechanism to combat financing of terrorism and ML.

May will pursue ‘hard’ Brexit

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Single Market ◽  
Customs Union ◽  
Current Form ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Government ◽  
Article 50 ◽  
Freedom Of Action ◽  
The Eu

Significance This followed a landmark speech on January 17 in which she added more clarity and detail to her previous stance on the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU. May indicated a willingness to leave the single market, strongly implied that the United Kingdom would not be part of the customs union in its current form and asserted that she would rather quit the EU with no permanent or transitional deal agreed than accept an arrangement which limited the United Kingdom’s future freedom of action. Impacts The government is likely to meet its preferred timetable for triggering Article 50 even if it has to obtain approval from parliament. The United Kingdom will probably lose its passporting rights, which allow UK-based banks to sell their products across the EEA. Paris and Frankfurt will probably benefit as banks may seek to move some of their staff out of London.

Policy will lag practice for Japan's foreign workers

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Labour Markets ◽  
Foreign Workers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
Labour Shortage ◽  
Personal Services ◽  
First Time ◽  
Policy Shifts

Subject Foreign workers in Japan. Significance The number of registered foreign workers in Japan last year topped 1 million for the first time. Including the unregistered and undocumented workforce, the figure is almost twice that. For the past 30 years, immigration into Japan has responded to labour markets rather than to policy. Indeed, policy moves have been listless even as foreign workers have surged into and out of the country. Since the late 1980s, Japan has attracted foreigners when specific labour markets tighten, even though the broader economy is not overheated. Impacts Labour-shortage sectors such as construction and personal services are most likely to accept foreign workers. Government immigration agencies will permit this passively, as they did the late 1980s. It will require a large and widespread worker deficit before major policy shifts occur.

South Sudan's multiple conflicts will not subside

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Sudan ◽  
Humanitarian Aid ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
Political Crisis ◽  
Peace Agreement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
South Sudanese ◽  
The Government ◽  
Sudanese Refugees

Significance South Sudan is facing severe conflict and insecurity, a prolonged political crisis, and dire economic conditions. A peace agreement signed in August 2015 is falling apart, and fighting and violence during the past year has caused the number of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda to rise to 900,000 -- with a further 375,000 in Sudan and 287,000 in Ethiopia. Earlier this year, aid agencies declared a famine situation in several counties, and appealed for more humanitarian aid and improved access. Impacts Oil output is likely to remain at, or near, 130,000-160,000 barrels per day. Juba’s fiscal situation will remain precarious, with the government unable to secure loans from donors. Unrest and limited strikes over salary arrears could increase.

Ghanaian banking reforms should strengthen sector

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
Banking Reforms ◽  
The Government

Significance The move follows a streamlining process by the government over the past two years that has seen nine major banks liquidated by the Bank of Ghana (BoG). President Nana Akufo-Addo has said this is necessary to address liquidity shortfalls and combat corporate governance transgressions. Impacts The New Patriotic Party (NPP) government may struggle to counter accusations of a politically biased rationalisation process. Higher capitalisation requirements will compound barriers for new domestic entrants. The government will prioritise financial inclusion measures amid fears over the possible negative effects of rationalisation.

Ortega will see out his term in Nicaragua

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Economic Decline ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Legal Challenges ◽  
The Government ◽  
Outward Migration ◽  
Opposition Movement

Subject Nicaragua unrest. Significance Protests were held across Nicaragua on April 18 to mark the first anniversary of the beginning of demonstrations against President Daniel Ortega and his government. In the year since, the government has successfully consolidated its control through a combination of security crackdowns and legal challenges to the protests, effectively extinguishing the opposition movement for now. With Ortega’s position secure, he looks set to remain in power until the 2021 elections at least, ignoring opposition calls for early elections to resolve the conflict. Impacts Economic decline will fuel outward migration, with the effects being felt primarily by neighbouring Costa Rica. Recent sanctions citing the Nicaragua Canal may indicate that further investors or individuals involved in that project could be targeted. Companies with links to Caracas could also be targeted, with Washington using Nicaragua to put pressure on Venezuela and vice versa.

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