Congo insecurity may grow as public order unravels

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Order ◽  
Single Event ◽  
Armed Groups ◽  
Local Economies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Productive Activities ◽  
Political Protests ◽  
Eastern Congo ◽  
Electoral Calendar

Subject Insecurity in eastern Congo Significance Generalised insecurity has gripped eastern Congo in early 2018. While no single event or specific dynamic has driven this destabilisation, a series of different trends suggest a deeper pattern of deterioration. Against the backdrop of increasing countrywide political protests in urban centres, the deteriorating security situation has had an impact not only on rural hotspots but also on larger cities once considered stable. Impacts New security problems may cause further delays in the electoral calendar. Deteriorating security may drive a further expansion and fragmentation of eastern Congo's armed groups. Local economies will face increasing strains, with currency instability, displacement and insecurity impacting on productive activities. Already overstretched neighbouring countries may struggle to absorb significant new refugee flows.

Tshisekedi looks for regional help in eastern Congo

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Armed Groups ◽  
Military Operation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Competing Interests ◽  
Bilateral Action ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Eastern Congo

Significance However, he also met his host, President Yoweri Museveni, to discuss the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including the possibility of an integrated military approach to neutralising armed groups operating there. This follows an earlier attempt to create a joint military operation between the DRC, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania, which was blocked because Uganda refused to sign the final declaration. Impacts A military operation involving DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Tanzania could swiftly fracture and engender more regional tension. Bilateral action involving either Uganda or Rwanda also risks regional relations, given the competing interests of DRC and its neighbours. Foreign troops on Congolese soil have historically been a source of deep divisions within the Congolese establishment, and could be again. Rumours that Rwandan troops are already clandestinely deployed to eastern DRC may intensify Ugandan appetite for involvement.

Politics undermine eastern Congo security gains

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Entry Point ◽  
Armed Groups ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Human Rights Abuse ◽  
International Donor ◽  
Rebel Group ◽  
Eastern Congo ◽  
The Government

Significance MONUSCO on February 11 had already halted its support for the planned offensive, linking its decision to concerns over human rights abuse allegations against two Congolese generals tasked with leading the operations. Tensions between the government and its main international partners come at a time of growing instability in the eastern provinces, threatening to reverse gains made since the 2013 defeat of the main rebel group in the Kivu provinces, the M23 Movement. Impacts The UN is the international donor community's main entry point into DRC, making it a key diplomatic pawn. MONUSCO is unlikely to withdraw completely given the range of security and development functions it offers. However, its offensive role against armed groups through the Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) will become increasingly political.

Colombia palm oil outlook is mixed

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Palm Oil ◽  
International Investment ◽  
Production Model ◽  
Armed Groups ◽  
Local Economies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Environmentally Sustainable ◽  
Land Acquisitions ◽  
Negative Impacts

Subject Palm oil and diaplacement Significance Surging demand for palm oil has seen the land devoted to palm plantations in Latin America double over the last decade. By cultivating on land previously cleared for pasture, rather than forests, Colombia -- the region’s largest producer -- has an opportunity to create a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable production model. However, unlawful land acquisitions and industry links to illegal armed groups persist, weighing on international investment. Impacts Changes in patterns of land used for palm oil production present an opportunity for conservation. Collaboration with international efforts to achieve sustainability could help firms become more competitive. Consultation with communities and NGOs would help reduce negative impacts on local economies.

Demobilisation will be a long-term challenge in Libya

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Armed Groups ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Near Term ◽  
The Many ◽  
Financial Arrangements

Significance Although a ceasefire has been in place since October 2020, very little has been done during that time to integrate or demobilise the many armed forces and groups that exist across the country. The obstacles are formidable. Impacts Significant demobilisation and reintegration will not happen in the near term. Local security will continue to rest on fragile political and financial arrangements between armed groups and governing authorities. The current high levels of oil and gas revenue will tend to discourage unrest.

Colombian border violence will Venezuela worsen crisis

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Armed Forces ◽  
Organised Crime ◽  
Border Crossings ◽  
Armed Groups ◽  
Military Operations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Criminal Violence ◽  
Organised Crime Groups

Significance The closure of border crossings since March 2020 has fuelled violent competition for control of lucrative informal crossings (trochas) and frontier towns. However, the Venezuelan military is ill-prepared to deal with the expanding presence of Colombia’s irregular armed groups. Recent incursions highlight weaknesses in the Venezuelan armed forces, which have suffered casualties. Impacts The penetration of organised crime groups into Venezuela’s disintegrating state and economy will continue to intensify. Organised criminal violence coupled with the violence of military operations will fuel displacement, COVID and civilian casualties. A speedy, negotiated solution to Venezuela’s political impasse is needed to preclude fusion with Colombia’s own protracted insurgency.

Diverging incentives for reforming China’s restrictions on digital innovations

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Francesca Ferracane ◽  
Hosuk Lee-Makiyama
Keyword(s):  
National Security ◽  
Industrial Policy ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Public Order ◽  
Content Type ◽  
State Owned Enterprise ◽  
Policy Objectives ◽  
New Perspective

Purpose This paper aims to investigate China’s policy on digital trade with the objective to highlight the rationales behind such policy. Design/methodology/approach China’s policy on digital trade is assessed by analysing the main regulations imposed in the country in the period from 1985 to 2016 that have an impact on digital trade. Findings It was found that there are more than 70 measures imposed today that have a negative impact on digital trade. The measures are diverse and can be justified with several policy objectives, namely, industrial policy, public order and national security, and these support China’s fiscal and state-owned enterprise structure. Originality/value This paper analyses China’s policy on digital trade from a new perspective and provides insights on the rationales behind this policy.

Competitive framing, emotion and heterogeneity: framing effects on Twitter in the case of an alt-right rally

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Porismita Borah
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Free Speech ◽  
Framing Effects ◽  
Emotional Reaction ◽  
Emotional Reactions ◽  
Public Order ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
News Frames ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Concepts

PurposeThe current study has three main purposes: (1) replicate results from prior framing effects studies on social media. To do so, the study examines the influence of news frames (free speech vs. public order) on participants' attitudes toward an alt-right rally (2) expand prior research by examining the emotional reaction of participants to these frames and (3) probe the moderating effects of face-to-face heterogenous talk and heterogenous social media feeds.Design/methodology/approachDrawing from theoretical concepts such as competitive framing, emotions and heterogeneity, the study uses a randomized online experiment. The study examines a conversation in a Twitter thread that includes both free speech and public order frames in the comments to the thread. The total number of participants was 275.FindingsThe results show that free speech versus public order frame did not impact attitudes of the participants toward the alt-right rally. Findings also show the significant main effects of free speech and public order frames and the interaction of exposure to heterogeneity on emotional reactions of outrage and anger toward the alt-right rally. These findings suggest that framing research needs to take social media features into consideration for a complete picture of framing effects on social media.Originality/valueUsing a classic framing effects experiment, the study includes variables relevant to social media discussions on Twitter and examined the moderating effects of heterogeneity on emotional reactions. In addition, one of the important methodological contributions of the current study are the framing manipulations for an externally valid experimental design.

Event-based tracking of human hands

Sensor Review ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 382-389
Author(s):  
Laura Duarte ◽  
Mohammad Safeea ◽  
Pedro Neto
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Estimation Error ◽  
Computational Cost ◽  
Motion Blur ◽  
Hand Position ◽  
Single Event ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Event Camera ◽  
Event Based ◽  
Human Hands

Purpose This paper proposes a novel method for human hands tracking using data from an event camera. The event camera detects changes in brightness, measuring motion, with low latency, no motion blur, low power consumption and high dynamic range. Captured frames are analysed using lightweight algorithms reporting three-dimensional (3D) hand position data. The chosen pick-and-place scenario serves as an example input for collaborative human–robot interactions and in obstacle avoidance for human–robot safety applications. Design/methodology/approach Events data are pre-processed into intensity frames. The regions of interest (ROI) are defined through object edge event activity, reducing noise. ROI features are extracted for use in-depth perception. Findings Event-based tracking of human hand demonstrated feasible, in real time and at a low computational cost. The proposed ROI-finding method reduces noise from intensity images, achieving up to 89% of data reduction in relation to the original, while preserving the features. The depth estimation error in relation to ground truth (measured with wearables), measured using dynamic time warping and using a single event camera, is from 15 to 30 millimetres, depending on the plane it is measured. Originality/value Tracking of human hands in 3 D space using a single event camera data and lightweight algorithms to define ROI features (hands tracking in space).

Foreign powers jockey for position in Libya

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Oil Industry ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Armed Groups ◽  
Content Type

Significance The outcomes of these meetings may indicate the dynamics of external states' future behaviour, which will shape domestic developments until elections are held on December 24. Impacts Turkish investment in Libya will increase, strengthening Ankara’s foothold. Greece and Egypt will be most affected by Turkish dominance in Libya and both will seek to undermine any status quo that supports it. The new government will rely on oil money to secure support from the various armed groups and constituencies. Investment in the oil industry will rise as government provides support to repair and upgrade infrastructure and increase output.

Tourism as a lever for a more inclusive society

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 731-738
Author(s):  
Javier González-Soria Moreno de la Santa
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Tourism Development ◽  
Local Economies ◽  
New Destinations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Models ◽  
Social Opportunities ◽  
Inclusive Society ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Tourism is an industry with an enormous capacity for galvanizing local economies and for offering economic and social opportunities to broad sectors of the population. But it is not sufficient to just create and develop new destinations, products and services; new models for development that have inclusion at their core need to be adopted, taking up the opportunities offered by a prosperous and growing market. Design/methodology/approach This paper provides a viewpoint analysis of the link between inclusive tourism and tourism development. Findings This paper demonstrates that tourism is about reducing uncertainty around what to expect from a destination or service. It is also about creating an environment where all people feel welcome and included. It creates choice and instils confidence in all people, empowering them to sign up for new experiences. Practical implications In the light of growing inequality globally, this paper demonstrates that it is important to consider how to make tourism, one of the world’s largest industries, more inclusive. Originality/value This paper offers an experience-based analysis and reflection of the bridge between tourism and inclusiveness, particularly in remote and less developed areas.

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