Senegal’s crisis response may heighten tensions

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Deep Sea ◽  
Crisis Response ◽  
Oil Exploration ◽  
School Students ◽  
State Of Emergency ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Bilateral Relations ◽  
The Government

Significance This comes despite increasing cases of COVID-19 cases nationwide, with the government forced this week to postpone the planned return of school students after ten teachers tested positive. Despite the relaxations, a state of emergency remains in place, which President Macky Sall appears to be using to his advantage to stifle dissent. Impacts Domestic concern will build over a possible third term bid by Sall. The country’s first exports of oil, originally scheduled for 2022, now face likely delays. Improving bilateral relations with neighbouring states bodes well for deep-sea, cross-border oil exploration.

Telework amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: effects on work style reform in Japan

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masahiro Hosoda
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Document Analysis ◽  
Environmental Barriers ◽  
State Of Emergency ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Style ◽  
The Government ◽  
Japanese Companies ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose This study aims to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected telework initiatives in Japanese companies and investigate the factors that affect telework based on the technology, organization and environment (TOE) model, through the analysis of published documents. Design/methodology/approach Document analysis was adopted. Documents were collected from English news articles in the Nikkei Asian Review and Nikkei Asia which cover Japan's economy, industries and markets. The results of surveys by the Persol Research Institute and Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry were also provided to discuss factors promoting and hindering telework. Content analysis was adopted to analyse the documents. Findings COVID-19 had an unavoidable impact on the implementation of telework that the government had previously failed to instigate. Japanese listed companies tend to implement telework, whereas small- and medium-sized companies are struggling. The ratio of telework has been low even after the declaration of the state of emergency because there exist organizational, technological and environmental barriers to telework in Japan. Originality/value This study contributes to discussions on work style reform by focusing on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on telework. This research also gives new insight into operationalization of telework in organizations not only in Japan but also in other countries known for low rates of telework and inflexible work styles such as Korea.

Smuggling will weigh on Tunisian economy and politics

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Coalition Government ◽  
Security Threats ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Tax Revenues ◽  
Border Towns ◽  
General Elections ◽  
The Government

Significance Essid has been working to form a new coalition government since general elections in late December. The new unity government will face tremendous pressure to jumpstart the economy, ensure political stability, and counter growing security threats. One major challenge -- cross-border smuggling -- poses a particularly serious threat to the new government. Smuggling costs the government some 615 million dollars per year, representing nearly 5% of total tax revenues, and undermines legitimate trade, further damaging growth. Impacts If the government fails to address smuggling, it will continue to lose critical revenue. Yet cracking down on smuggling will probably meet with considerable opposition -- particularly in rural areas and border towns. The new government's lack of a decisive mandate will impede reforms.

Morales will not push coca farmers in Bolivia

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Eradication Programme ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bilateral Relations ◽  
The Government ◽  
World Output

Subject Coca politics. Significance Farmers from the Yungas region have demanded the resignation of President Evo Morales following clashes with police over the government's coca eradication programme. The area of land cultivated with coca has risen in the last three years, reflecting higher prices. Producers in the Yungas have long adopted a more independent stance from the government than those in the Chapare region, Morales's key social base. They have been largely successful in resisting eradication. Impacts Internationally, the government will continue to defend its position in seeking to regulate, not eliminate coca. Further complaints from Washington will place continued tension on bilateral relations. Until production is curbed in Colombia, Bolivia's share of world output will probably decline.

Uganda-Rwanda tensions will inflame regional relations

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Consensus Building ◽  
African Union ◽  
East African ◽  
Content Type ◽  
East African Community ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Bilateral Relations ◽  
Border Trade ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
African Community

Subject Uganda-Rwanda bilateral relations. Significance Rwanda and Uganda have held a series of meetings aimed at defusing tensions following a string of controversial deportations of Rwandans from Uganda. The highest profile saw Rwandan President Paul Kagame meet Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on the sidelines of the African Union Summit on January 28. Following the discussion, exchanges of hostile rhetoric have eased. However, relations remain fragile, and the recent friction has inflamed deep-seated antagonisms. Impacts Regional crises in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) could become a further point of contention. Uganda-Rwanda frictions may hamper consensus-building in the already-divided East African Community. A spike in tensions could impact cross-border trade and tourism.

Moon’s legacy will last as his presidency winds down

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
North Korea ◽  
Democratic Party ◽  
Third Wave ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
The Government

Significance Despite all this, his ruling Democratic Party (DP) has used its rare parliamentary majority to force through a raft of far-reaching legislation affecting politics, the economy and relations with North Korea. Impacts Labour and ‘fair economy’ legislation will increase costs for businesses. A third wave of COVID-19 -- the largest yet -- may finally force the government to impose a lockdown. Hopes that banning cross-border propaganda balloon launches by activists will lure Pyongyang back to engagement are unduly optimistic.

Myanmar's ethnic troubles will pose security threats

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Politics ◽  
Ethnic Relations ◽  
Security Threats ◽  
Security Risks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Political Conditions ◽  
The Government ◽  
Race And Religion ◽  
Coordination Team

Subject Ethnic relations, politics and security in Myanmar. Significance Three developments are pushing ethnic relations to the forefront of Myanmar's domestic politics: the Muslim Rohingya/Bangladeshi migrant crisis, 'race and religion' laws and difficulties reaching a national ceasefire between armed ethnic groups represented by the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) and the government in Naypyidaw. With elections in November, and significant international concern, resolving these problems is paramount. Yet domestic political conditions constrain this, portending growing security risks and political difficulties ahead of November, and for the post-November government. Impacts The new ethnic negotiating team will bolster NCCT unity, but its renegotiation demands will slow the peace process. A probable NLD victory in November elections will not immediately resolve the Rohingya matter. China-Myanmar cross-border relations will improve, for now.

Guerrillas could prompt Turkish state of emergency

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Local Population ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Islamic State ◽  
State Of Emergency ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Parliamentary Elections ◽  
The Government ◽  
Turkish State ◽  
Kurdistan Workers Party ◽  
State Group

Significance They were responding to increasingly serious attacks on Turkish soldiers and police by Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) guerrillas in eastern Turkey. With President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowing fierce retribution, and conflicts between the authorities and the local population growing in the Kurdish-dominated south-east, the country is braced for full-scale war, just as it prepares for fresh parliamentary elections on November 1. Impacts Business and the economy face a sharp downturn with the lira growing steadily weaker. The conflict with the Kurds will intensify and Kurdish demands for full-scale independence will increase. The government will not seek a compromise with the Kurds and will be prepared to allocate any resources needed for a military solution. A more authoritarian style of government is likely to emerge after November. Turkey looks increasingly vulnerable to serious Islamic State group (ISG) attacks in urban centres, though probably not before the election.

Chinese investment in India will grow

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chinese Investment ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Bilateral Relations ◽  
Chinese Companies ◽  
Border Dispute ◽  
Security Relationship

Subject Chinese investment in India. Significance China is one of the fastest-growing sources of foreign direct investment (FDI) in India. The two countries are trying to stabilise bilateral relations that deteriorated after a tense 73-day border dispute in mid-2017. Impacts Chinese companies’ demand for Mandarin-speaking manpower in India will rise. With India having launched e-business visas for Chinese nationals, cross-border business trips will increase. Delhi’s deepening security relationship with Washington, Tokyo and Canberra will prompt distrust in Beijing.

Thai government infighting may hurt economic recovery

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Prime Minister ◽  
Economic Recovery ◽  
State Of Emergency ◽  
Legal Cases ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Investor Confidence ◽  
Thai Government ◽  
The Government

Significance Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha remains under pressure to carry out a cabinet reshuffle to contain government infighting. At the same time, the government is trying to spur a recovery from the economic slump caused by the COVID-19 crisis. Impacts The departure of technocratic ministers from the cabinet would set back investor confidence. A COVID-19 state of emergency could be extended beyond end-July, even though Thailand appears to have the pandemic under control. The government will continue to direct legal cases against opposition leaders to hamper their parties.

Worsening US relations weigh on Cuba tourism prospects

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Barack Obama ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Social Spending ◽  
Window Of Opportunity ◽  
Donald Trump ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bilateral Relations ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Government

Subject Cuba tourism challenges. Significance The US State Department in March reduced tourist visas for Cuban nationals, in a further sign of cooling bilateral relations. Under US President Donald Trump, several confidence-building bilateral measures introduced under former President Barack Obama have been rolled back, with limits on tourist visits and investment in Cuba by US firms reinstated. This is set to have a major impact on the tourism industry, one of the main drivers of Cuba’s economic growth and a key sector for investment by US companies. Impacts The Venezuela crisis will exacerbate Cuba-US tensions, with Washington blaming Havana for supporting Caracas. The government will prioritise tourism investment over social spending, potentially reducing incomes for Cubans. Conversely, tighter US rules may trigger a brief surge in US tourism to Cuba, for fear that the window of opportunity to visit is closing.

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