Even if politicians deal, Lebanon faces a bleak future

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Aid ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Economic Reforms ◽  
Financial Strain ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Food Shortages

Significance The audit and wider structural economic reforms are preconditions for urgently needed foreign aid. Economic conditions in Lebanon are still worsening, with power cuts, food shortages and rising poverty. Impacts A new government would allow reform planning to resume and temporarily stall the decline of the currency. The easing of the global pandemic will somewhat reduce the financial strain, as Lebanon reopens its economy. Soaring poverty rates could provoke large-scale ‘bread riots’ in the coming months. Further devaluation of the currency will make poor Lebanese more dependent on sectarian protection and strengthen patronage. If the situation worsens, sectarian rural areas could revert to warlordism in the medium term.

Key performance indicators for a sustainable recovery strategy in health-care supply chains: COVID-19 pandemic perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Towfique Rahman ◽  
Md. Abdul Moktadir ◽  
Sanjoy Kumar Paul
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Production Capacity ◽  
Key Performance Indicators ◽  
Recovery Strategy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Sustainable Recovery

Purpose Supply chains’ (SCs’) sustainability practices and recovery strategies are attaining popularity in academia and industries to improve the resilience of the SCs and to manage large-scale disruptions. The global pandemic caused by the COVID-19 has raised the question of the sustainability of essential health-care products’ SCs of Bangladesh. It is an essential avenue for making the life of people safe and secure. Despite its importance, most of the health-care SCs in Bangladesh are struggling to meet the demand of its nation due to capacity shortage, technological backwardness of the manufacturers, delivery capacity shortages and less advanced forecasting capabilities. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the key performance indicators (KPIs) of a sustainable recovery strategy in the context of health-care SCs considering the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach This study used a dynamic method named graph theory and matrix approach to evaluate the most critical KPIs of a sustainable recovery strategy in the context of Bangladeshi health-care SCs. Findings The result revealed that dynamic forecasting and planning with a smooth delivery and distribution support system, production capacity diversification and having alternative or multiple suppliers during extraordinary disruptions may aid in the sustainability of the health-care SCs in Bangladesh. Originality/value This study is unique as no previous study has identified and examined the sustainable recovery strategy perspective KPIs considering the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of Bangladeshi health-care SCs. This study will also add value by guiding decision-makers of the health-care SCs of Bangladesh to adopt strategies toward the sustainability of SCs.

scholarly journals Applications of Bacillus subtilis Spores in Biotechnology and Advanced Materials

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (17) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaopei Zhang ◽  
Amal Al-Dossary ◽  
Myer Hussain ◽  
Peter Setlow ◽  
Jiahe Li
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Advanced Materials ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approaches ◽  
Food Shortages ◽  
Material Sciences ◽  
Basic Studies

ABSTRACT The bacterium Bacillus subtilis has long been an important subject for basic studies. However, this organism has also had industrial applications due to its easy genetic manipulation, favorable culturing characteristics for large‐scale fermentation, superior capacity for protein secretion, and generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status. In addition, as the metabolically dormant form of B. subtilis, its spores have attracted great interest due to their extreme resistance to many environmental stresses, which makes spores a novel platform for a variety of applications. In this review, we summarize both conventional and emerging applications of B. subtilis spores, with a focus on how their unique characteristics have led to innovative applications in many areas of technology, including generation of stable and recyclable enzymes, synthetic biology, drug delivery, and material sciences. Ultimately, this review hopes to inspire the scientific community to leverage interdisciplinary approaches using spores to address global concerns about food shortages, environmental protection, and health care.

Tensions to shape, but not derail, Ivory Coast poll

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Civil War ◽  
Ivory Coast ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
User Fees ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Foreign Investors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High User ◽  
Infrastructure Investments

Significance The most serious challenger to President Alassane Ouattara's re-election, N'Guessan's candidacy probably marks the end of election boycotts by FPI, but rifts linger from the 2010-11 civil war. Impacts Large-scale infrastructure investments will facilitate medium-term economic growth, despite possible volatility around the election. Foreign investors are likely to refrain from making major decisions before the poll but inflows will pick up in 2016. High user fees for the new Henri Konan Bedie toll bridge in Abidjan will probably reduce congestion by commuters. High global cocoa prices and robust output (Ivory Coast is the world's largest producer) will buoy government revenues.

IMF loan conditions will worsen Egyptian discontent

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Exchange Rate ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
Market Exchange ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Dissent ◽  
Market Exchange Rate ◽  
Economic Collapse ◽  
The Government

Significance The government's struggle to stave off economic collapse has become increasingly frantic, as inflation has surged, the gap between the official and black market exchange rate has reached or exceeded 100%, and consumers have difficulty finding basics such as sugar and rice. Impacts Increased incidents of popular protests and political dissent reflect worsening economic conditions. Measures to be taken as part of the IMF deal, notably devaluation and further subsidy cuts, could exacerbate social and political tensions. Sisi will deflect some of the blame for the economic crisis onto the government and the central bank. If the government survives this crisis, the economy could recover in the medium term.

Fidesz victory will bring more Hungary-EU conflict

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Political Influence ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Content Type

Significance The ruling party’s landslide promises Hungary more of the same. However, a degree of uncertainty lingers in the short-to-medium term. The party has structural weaknesses, but to exploit them, the opposition needs unity and a more articulate vision. Impacts After such a crippling defeat, large-scale opposition reorganisation is inevitable. Central Europe's Eurosceptic populist bloc will strengthen, accelerating moves towards an EU of various integration ‘circles’. Russia’s and China’s economic and political influence in Europe will remain stable, with Hungary committed to friendship with both.

Singapore's Lee will call early poll despite risks

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Opposition Party ◽  
Deputy Prime Minister

Significance Bringing the poll forward could be risky for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's People's Action Party (PAP), as it faces a new opposition party and worsening economic conditions. Impacts Tan Cheng Bock will at the next election attempt to unite the opposition behind his Progress Singapore Party. Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat will likely succeed as prime minister when Lee eventually leaves the post. Singapore's economy is unlikely to benefit from any large-scale redirecting of investment from Hong Kong, despite the protests there.

ECB sovereign QE could support inflation trends

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Euro Area ◽  
Risk Sharing ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
The United States ◽  
Wealth Effects ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
European Institutions ◽  
The Us ◽  
Asset Backed Securities

Significance The programme expands existing purchases of asset-backed securities and covered bonds with large-scale buying of bonds issued by euro-area governments, agencies and European institutions. Purchases will amount to a combined total of 60 billion euros (69 billion dollars) per month, starting in March. They will continue until at least September 2016 -- or until there is progress towards the central bank's medium-term inflation goal. Impacts The larger than expected size of the programme will be achievable thanks to partial risk sharing among national central banks. Wealth effects will be smaller than in the United States and United Kingdom, as euro-area capital markets are less deep. The QE programme will amount to 12% of euro-area GDP, while the US programme was larger, at 25% of GDP.

Ukraine's banking sector to grow leaner but stronger

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Capital Requirements ◽  
Real Sector ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quick Recovery ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
National Bank

Subject Early signs of recovery and consolidation in Ukraine's banking sector. Significance For Ukraine's banking sector, the effects of the economic crisis since early 2014 include dramatic currency devaluation, the undermining of public trust and numerous bankruptcies. The crisis has also had positive effects as the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) set about purging the sector of weak, poorly run institutions. Impacts Capital requirements will cause significant consolidation in the near-to-medium term, as many smaller banks will be unable to comply. By failing to resume large-scale lending to the real sector, the banks will limit the chances of a quick recovery. Russian-owned banks are not immediately threatened by official sanctions, owing to the hefty deposit base they have developed.

Chinese firms face changing competition in Myanmar

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Investment ◽  
Chinese Population ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Chinese Firms ◽  
Regional Economic ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ethnic Chinese ◽  
Economic Diplomacy

Significance Myanmar's new government needs foreign investment to pay for development, creating fresh opportunities for China. However, attitudes to foreign investment within Myanmar's government and populace are shifting. Impacts Myanmar's ethnic Chinese population, perhaps currently numbering 2.5 million, will grow. Medium term, securing the energy pipelines traversing Myanmar will be a linchpin for China's regional economic diplomacy. Protests against large-scale Chinese projects could diminish the NLD's hold on local socio-environmental activists' loyalty.

COVID-19 will further set back Jordan’s reform efforts

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Aid ◽  
Financial Support ◽  
Economic Reforms ◽  
External Support ◽  
Business Sector ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Policy Responses ◽  
The Government ◽  
Roll Back ◽  
Economic Outlook

Subject Economic outlook post-COVID Significance In recent days, the government has begun gradually to roll back its stringent lockdown measures, imposed to combat the spread of COVID-19. These restrictions had gone a long way towards limiting the spread of the virus and offering some protection to the most vulnerable in society, but they have further increased the country's dependence on external support. Although easing the restrictions will help the business sector begin its recovery, the kingdom's progress on implementing economic reforms is under threat. Impacts The easing of the restrictions will do little to alleviate the wider impact of policy responses to the pandemic on the economy. Jordan faces a potential loss of foreign aid as other countries tighten their own budgets. Financial support from the international community for refugee communities will also diminish, placing further demands on the government. The services industry, which was intended to be an engine of growth, will be hardest hit and will take many years to recover. Public patience may soon wear thin and lead to a new round of protests expressing discontent with the economic situation and corruption.

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