Zimbabwe's military will entrench its influence

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Policy ◽  
Military Intervention ◽  
Structural Constraints ◽  
Tight Control ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Electronic Money ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Sectors ◽  
Democratic Change ◽  
Robert Mugabe

Significance Since coming to power following November's military intervention and ouster of former President Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa and his government have promised an overhaul of the economy, including reversing controversial indigenisation policies. However, unresolved structural constraints in key sectors, including the military’s ongoing influence, limit the potential for success. Impacts The opposition is likely to fracture further as a succession struggle takes hold within the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T). The military's influence over agricultural policy will allow tight control and repression of the rural electorate ahead of polls. A de-dollarisation of the economy is unlikely in the short term; a mix of US dollars, bond notes and electronic money will still be used.

Intervention in The Gambia may prove unique

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Military Intervention ◽  
West African ◽  
The Gambia ◽  
Truth Commission ◽  
Economic Community ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Assistance ◽  
Tourism Sector ◽  
Security Guarantees

Significance For over a month, Jammeh rebuffed diplomatic efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to accept Adama Barrow's victory in the December 1 presidential poll. An ECOWAS military intervention into The Gambia -- accompanied by last-minute diplomatic efforts and purported financial and security guarantees -- finally forced Jammeh to accept defeat. Impacts A truth commission offering amnesty for military officials and the outgoing government could prompt discord within the new ruling alliance. Military restructuring will be a priority for Barrow's government. International assistance will likely flow in support of the new president. The Gambia's tourism sector -- which makes up nearly 20% of the country's GDP -- will struggle to recover in the short-term. The ECOWAS intervention could prove unpopular among members' domestic constituencies if a lengthy, costly mission emerges.

EU drought response may focus on short-term fixes

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Agricultural Policy ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Food Prices ◽  
Drought Response ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Eu Policies

Significance The resulting drought in many parts of the continent and its impact on agriculture have highlighted the threat posed by climate change to future food production. It has also raised questions about the role of EU policies in exacerbating or mitigating this threat. Impacts Weather conditions in Europe and elsewhere will increase the prices of many agricultural commodities. Higher food prices will affect poorer households disproportionately. Reforming EU agricultural policy will remain a secondary consideration, after the priorities of producers and wider budgetary battles.

Mozambique's FRELIMO faces military intervention push

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Alliances ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Military Intervention ◽  
Liquefied Natural Gas ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Humanitarian Crisis ◽  
Political Issue ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Succession Process

Significance Oil and gas major Total has suspended work on its nearby liquefied natural gas (LNG) site, while a humanitarian crisis has worsened. Pressure for an external military intervention has increased dramatically, notably from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), but Mozambique’s ruling FRELIMO remains reluctant. Impacts A delay to planned LNG projects, coupled with ongoing insecurity, mean economic growth will remain subdued through the medium term. Delays to FRELIMO’s succession process to replace President Filipe Nyusi will become an increasingly explosive political issue. An outside military intervention would force FRELIMO to re-align its regional and international strategic alliances in the short term.

Zimbabwe's ZANU-PF faces growing opposition challenge

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Power Sharing ◽  
Presidential Candidate ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Democratic Change ◽  
Robert Mugabe

Significance The country's first elections since November's ouster of former President Robert Mugabe appear likely to be more competitive than initially anticipated. A freer campaign environment has seen the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa move into close contention with incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Impacts A narrow defeat for either side would likely prompt public protests and increase support for a transitional government of national unity. A decisive first-round win or power-sharing arrangement would find favour with international actors and likely boost the economy. Fears will persist that some 275,000 problematic voters' roll entries could be used by a partisan electoral commission to break a close tie.

Presidential handover in Philippines would be messy

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Presidential Election ◽  
Military Intervention ◽  
Vice President ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Drug War ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Downward Pressure ◽  
Step Down

Subject Possible scenarios if Philippine president were to step down for health reasons. Significance President Rodrigo Duterte at the start of this month abruptly cancelled appointments to meet earthquake victims; his spokesperson, Salvador Panelo, said the president was unwell. Duterte’s frequent absences from public duties, due to ill health, have raised doubts about his ability to complete his six-year term, which began in June 2016. If he is forced to step down, possible successors include Vice President Leni Robredo, who was elected separately in 2016 and is a Duterte critic, and former Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, whom Robredo defeated in the vice-presidential election. Impacts A premature end to the Duterte presidency would put downward pressure on the peso, at least in the short term. Duterte stepping down would raise concerns about possible military intervention in politics. Whereas Robredo would aim to wind down the drug war, Marcos would probably sustain it.

Zimbabwe’s vice president could be sidelined by party

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Foreign Investment ◽  
Vice President ◽  
Economic Uncertainty ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financial Decision Making ◽  
Finance Minister ◽  
Financial Decision ◽  
Robert Mugabe

Subject ZANU-PF infighting. Significance A cabinet reshuffle by President Robert Mugabe on October 9 removed key allies of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and demoted him to vice president without portfolio. Among persistent wrangling between the rival ‘G40’ and ‘Lacoste’ factions ahead of the 2018 elections, the ZANU-PF politburo has agreed to hold a ‘Special Congress’ in December at which there will be elections for senior posts. If the extraordinary congress is held, Mnangagwa could be the biggest leadership casualty. Impacts Confirmation of an early poll would cause heightened economic uncertainty and deter foreign investment in the short term. More centralised and politically motivated financial decision-making is likely under the new finance minister. Minister of Defence Sydney Sekeramayi could emerge as a potential presidential successor for the ailing 93-year-old Mugabe.

An improved model on forecasting temperature rise of high-speed angular contact ball bearings considering structural constraints

2018 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
De-xing Zheng ◽  
Weifang Chen ◽  
Miaomiao Li
Keyword(s):  
Heat Generation ◽  
Temperature Rise ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Structural Constraints ◽  
Ball Bearings ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Grid Model ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
Operation Parameters ◽  
Improved Model

Purpose Thermal performances are key factors impacting the operation of angular contact ball bearings. Heat generation and transfer about angular contact ball bearings, however, have not been addressed thoroughly. So far, most researchers only considered the convection effect between bearing housings and air, whereas the cooling/lubrication operation parameters and configuration effect were not taken into account when analyzing the thermal behaviors of bearings. This paper aims to analyze the structural constraints of high-speed spindle, structural features of bearing, heat conduction and convection to study the heat generation and transfer of high-speed angular contact ball bearings. Design/methodology/approach Based on the generalized Ohm’s law, the thermal grid model of angular contact ball bearing of high-speed spindle was first established. Next Gauss–Seidel method was used to solve the equations group by Matlab, and the nodes temperature was calculated. Finally, the bearing temperature rise was tested, and the comparative analysis was made with the simulation results. Findings The results indicate that the simulation results of bearing temperature rise for the proposed model are in better agreement with the test values. So, the thermal grid model established is verified. Originality/value This paper shows an improved model on forecasting temperature rise of high-speed angular contact ball bearings. In modeling, the cooling/lubrication operation parameters and structural constraints are integrated. As a result, the bearing temperature variation can be forecasted more accurately, which may be beneficial to improve bearing operating accuracy and bearing service life.

Short-term effects of milkshake containing polydextrose and maltodextrin on subjective feelings of appetite, energy intake and blood glucose in healthy females

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
İsmail Mücahit Alptekin ◽  
Ece Erdoğan ◽  
Aylin İşler ◽  
Esma Cansu Yanalak ◽  
Funda Pınar Çakiroğlu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Glucose ◽  
Energy Intake ◽  
Postprandial Blood Glucose ◽  
Dietary Fibers ◽  
Analog Scale ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Desire To Eat ◽  
Healthy Females

Purpose Previous studies have reported that dietary fibers such as polydextrose and maltodextrin can reduce food intake; however, the studies on the differences of this effect are insufficient. The purpose of this paper is to compare the effects of dietary fibers maltodextrin and polydextrose on alterations of short-term satiety, energy intake and postprandial blood glucose in healthy females. Design/methodology/approach This study was designed as a randomized, crossover and double blind research. For this purpose, 21 healthy females consumed a milkshake containing 0 g (control), 15 g polydextrose (PDX) and 15 g maltodextrin (MDX), and an ad libitum lunch meal was served 150 min later. Subjective appetite scores (hunger, satiety, prospective food consumption and desire to eat) were measured using a visual analog scale. Appetite scores and blood glucose were measured before preload and once per 15 min after milkshake consumption. Findings Visual analog scale scores showed that PDX had an improved effect on satiety and hunger feelings. Compared to the control, dietary fiber increased the Area Under Curve (AUC) scores of satiety (p < 0.001) and decreased the AUC scores of hunger (p < 0.001), prospective food consumption (p < 0.001) and desire to eat (p < 0.001). Energy intake during ad libitum meal was significantly lower in PDX (Control: 862 (54.3) Kcal versus PDX: 679 (35.4) Kcal and MDX: 780 (49.3) Kcal. Moreover, the blood glucose levels were significantly lower in MDX. Originality/value This study conducted with healthy females demonstrated that PDX was more effective in inducing satiety during subsequent food intake, and that postprandial blood glucose were within more healthy levels in MDX.

Purchasing behaviour and supplier base evolution – a longitudinal case study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Dubois ◽  
Lars-Erik Gadde ◽  
Lars-Gunnar Mattsson
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Longitudinal Case Study ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Supplier Relationships ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Purchasing Behaviour ◽  
Time Periods

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to describe and analyse the evolution of the supplier base of a buying firm and the reasons behind these changes. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on a case study of the changes over 52 years in a sub-set of the supplier base of a firm manufacturing fork-lifts. Findings The study shows that some relationships feature substantial longevity. However, the duration of one-third of the total relationships is shorter than five years. There was considerable variation over time in the dynamics of the supplier base in terms of entries and exits of suppliers. Owing to this variation, research findings and conclusions in short-term studies are heavily dependent on the specific conditions at the time of the study. Finally, no less than one-fourth of the terminated supplier relationships were reactivated later. Research limitations/implications The study was designed in a time when purchasing was considered entirely from the perspective of the buying firm. Further studies, therefore, must increasingly emphasise the role of suppliers and the interaction in the buyer–supplier relationships, as well as the embeddedness in networks. Originality/value The findings of the study are unique in two ways. First, they are based on systematic observations over more than 50 years. Second, the study involves the purchases of 11 components representing different technical and economic features. The (few) previous studies are based on much shorter time periods and involves fewer suppliers/components. Moreover, the findings regarding re-activation of terminated relationships represent unique contributions.

Florida voters react to Biden's Caribbean policy

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Relief ◽  
Electoral Politics ◽  
The State ◽  
Pivotal Role ◽  
Economic Recovery ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Family Connections ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
The Government

Significance Many areas of the Caribbean have trade, investment and family connections with communities in Florida. As the state now plays a pivotal role in US electoral politics, crises in the region can take on added political importance for parts of Florida’s electorate. Impacts Forecasts of short-term economic recovery for Florida remain highly uncertain given the continuing impact of the pandemic. Clashing interests across the Caribbean may demand greater coordination of US policy than the government can currently offer. Healthcare and disaster relief capabilities within the state are severely overstretched and could be overwhelmed by a new crisis.

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