Gordon Brothers to Sell Machinery & Equipment Formerly Used by José Sánchez Peñate

Madrid, Feb. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gordon Brothers, the global advisory, restructuring and investment firm, is offering for immediate sale by private treaty machinery and equipment from four plants in the Canary Islands formerly leased by the firm to the Spanish food products manufacturer and distributor Jos Snchez Peate.

Jos Snchez Peate primarily produced dairy products from two plants in Tenerife, Spain and manufactured and supplied coffee and bakery products from two plants in Gran Canaria. The complete plant and available machinery equipment are as follows:

  • Milk plant, including preparation, mixing, sterilization, cooling, packaging and palletizing systems.
  • Yoghurt plant, including raw material reception, pasteurization of milk, mixing station, pasteurization of yoghurt, addition of starter, fermentation, packaging, palletizing, cooling and storage.
  • Coffee plant, including raw materials reception, recipe preparation, roasting, milling, packing of coffee beans for restaurants or ground coffee, packaging, palletizing and storage.
  • Bakery plant, including raw materials reception, kneading machines, forming machines, cutting and boarding, fermentation area, baking and cooling, packaging and palletizing.

"This unprecedented food manufacturing plant sale is already generating global interest and is an amazing opportunity to acquire machinery and equipment worth millions of euros," said Duncan Ainscough, Managing Director, Commercial & Industrial at Gordon Brothers. "With over 95 billion of assets appraised and disposed in the food and beverage industry, we are a trusted partner with a deep understanding of this sector and a strong history in maximizing asset value for companies in Spain and throughout Europe."

The machinery and equipment is installed and inspections are available by appointment only. To view the full list of available assets, visit Gordon Brothers' website: www.gordonbrothers.com/JSP.

About Gordon Brothers

Since 1903, Gordon Brothers (www.gordonbrothers.com) has helped lenders, management teams, advisors and investors move forward through change. The firm brings a powerful combination of expertise and capital to clients, developing customized solutions on an integrated or standalone basis across four services areas: valuations, dispositions, financing and investment. Whether to fuel growth or facilitate strategic consolidation, Gordon Brothers partners with companies in the retail, commercial and industrial sectors to provide maximum liquidity, put assets to their highest and best use and mitigate liabilities. The firm conducts more than $100 billion worth of dispositions and appraisals annually and provides both short– and long–term capital to clients undergoing transformation. Gordon Brothers lends against and invests in brands, real estate, inventory, receivables, machinery, equipment and other assets, both together and individually, to provide clients liquidity solutions beyond its market–leading disposition and appraisal services. The firm is headquartered in Boston, with over 30 offices across five continents.


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8741910)

ThreatLocker® Unveils the Future of Zero Trust with New Products

Orlando, FL, Feb. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ThreatLocker , a pioneer in endpoint protection technologies, has today announced at Zero Trust World the launch of ThreatLocker Ops, a community–driven threat detection tool. This new product assists administrators to detect attempted breaches or weaknesses in their systems.

"Zero Trust is the required foundation of security for all organizations," said Danny Jenkins, CEO & Co–Founder of ThreatLocker. "By combining controls with Ops, organizations are not only able to benefit from knowledge ThreatLocker has received of attempted attacks but from similar businesses defending their system from these attacks."

Ops is a policy–driven system that uses data received from the ThreatLocker agent to determine good or bad behavior. This data can be used to alert I.T. administrators of attempted attacks or to trigger actions to further harden an environment using other components of the platform. The Ops platform also integrates into ThreatLocker's new community, which allows like–kind businesses to public policies that are relevant to their business, which allows for information sharing and a more extensive set of alerts.

"I love when you can take the collective intelligence of an entire group and share it across a community," said Brent Yax, CEO of Awecomm. " ThreatLocker Ops creates an environment that will encourage IT professionals to share knowledge and expertise from a threat mitigation standpoint and will act as an extra tool set for risk mitigation and risk response."

Ops limits reliance on other IT resources with more security controls, less agent fatigue, and no overhead on personal computers (PCs).

ThreatLocker also announces the integration of Third Wall plug–in in its zero trust platform. This announcement follows the acquisition of Third Wall last November.

The powerful configurations manager for Windows consists of 58 lockdown policies and emergency actions to broaden the scope of ransomware prevention and ensure users are HIPAA, PCI, NIST, and GDPR compliant.

"Our security stack includes Third Wall to help us ensure that we have a good baseline policy to secure & prevent malicious activity on our systems, and ThreatLocker to ensure that only authorized third–party applications can run," said Harry Boyne, Co–Founder & Technical Director at Chalkline. "We are excited to see the two products working together which will further help improve our clients' security posture and increase efficiencies."

"The future of Zero Trust is simple; more controls, more automation, more alerts and the help and support of the community," Danny Jenkins, CEO and Co–Founder of ThreatLocker.

ThreatLocker's new additions satisfy many government regulations on implementing Zero Trust strategies to prevent modern–day attacks.

ThreatLocker will rollout out its new products to new and existing partners. It currently protects over one million endpoints globally.

Join the ThreatLocker Community

ThreatLocker's Ops is available in early access and will go into general availability over the coming months.

###

About ThreatLocker

ThreatLocker is a leader in endpoint security technologies, providing enterprise–level cybersecurity tools to improve the security of servers and endpoints. ThreatLocker's combined Application Allowlisting, Ringfencing, Storage Control, Elevation Control, and Endpoint Network Access Control (NAC) solutions are leading the cybersecurity market toward a more secure approach of blocking the exploits of unknown application vulnerabilities. To learn more about ThreatLocker visit: www.threatlocker.com

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GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8741904)

Secret Bay Resort & Residences – an approved citizenship by investment property in Dominica, announces new amenities

Roseau, Feb. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — New Amenities Include a Hillside Funicular, Garden–to–Fork Chef's Table Experience, Elevated Decks, Art Gallery & a Kombucha Brewery"

Secret Bay, one of Dominica's approved Citizenship by Investment real estate options, announced it is now accepting guest reservations for its new Clifftop Multi–Villa Estates for stays beginning June 2023.

Those looking to diversify their investment portfolios offshore should consider Secret Bay as the luxurious property that allows investors to also gain coveted second citizenship in one of the world's most beautiful islands.

The Commonwealth of Dominica, rated in the top three for best citizenship by investment programmes in the world by the CBI Index, offers multiple avenues for investors to tap into the country's, as well as the globe's, wealth of opportunities through its investment migration programme.

To qualify for"Dominican citizenship"under the real estate option investors only have to purchase"authorised property"worth at least USD$200,000 "" the real estate must be held for either three years from the date citizenship is granted or, if the future purchaser is also citizenship by investment applicant, five years from the date citizenship is granted.

A look at Secret Bay's new amenities

Secret Bay's array of new amenities – introduced as part of the award–winning resorts' multi–year master plan "" include a hillside funicular, garden–to–fork chef's table experience, elevated decks, an art gallery, and a kombucha brewery.

This evolution of Secret Bay is spread over 40+ acres of coastal land to allow for additional amenities in the future, and more private villas in the for–sale residence program, all while lowering the resort's overall density and granting guests the utmost in the luxury of time and space.

Dinesh Kissoon, general manager of Secret Bay said of the additions, "We're delighted to expand our private villas to this Clifftop region of Secret Bay and, for the first time, introduce a multi–villa estate offering for our guests."

"In addition to the new villas, we're also thrilled to bring even more new amenities and experiences to Secret Bay, and to continue to raise the bar for excellent hospitality and transformational experiences.""

The exclusive six–star, all–villa, Relais & Chteaux rainforest resort and residences are situated on top of a 200–foot cliff with expansive views of the Caribbean Sea and access to three swimmable and secluded beaches. The clifftop multi–villa estates are architectural masterpieces thoughtfully tucked in among the trees and natural landscape, reaffirming Secret Bay's commitment to environmental preservation.

Each clifftop estate features two villas, thoughtfully sited so that each has expansive views and ultimate privacy and seclusion. The addition of these villas increases the resort's inventory to 16 and four more clifftop villa estates are expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

The first clifftop eco villa comprises Secret Bay's iconic Zabuco Villa and popular Ti–Fy Villa designs and collectively features three bedrooms and four bathrooms. The two villas within the compound can be booked separately for a couples' getaway or together for family and friends traveling as a group.

Meanwhile, designed to be booked together, the renowned Zabuco Honeymoon Villa is accompanied by the newly–designed Mapou Cottage, which can be used as an alternative studio or relaxation space, as well as a private family and friends accommodation."

"We're incredibly excited about this new offering," said Gregor Nassief, proprietor of Secret Bay and The Residences at Secret Bay, and CEO of GEMS Holdings Limited. "Whether it's for couples, a large family, or a group of friends, Secret Bay's commitment to the luxury of time and space has organically evolved through these first–of–a–kind multi–villa estates. Designed with the utmost privacy in mind, the essentially independent, but connected villas can be booked separately or as a multi–villa estate.""""

Each villa within the villa estates is appointed with a gourmet kitchen, an in–nature private plunge pool, stylish bathrooms with rain showers and soaking tubs, and hand–crafted indoor furnishings.

Each multi–villa estate is set upon half to two–third–acres, having direct access to the resort's forthcoming funicular, one of the many amenities launching in 2023. Additional amenities, which will be unveiled over the next 12 months, include:

  • Gwiyavye' Heights "" Floating eight feet off the ground, three floating decks place guests at the height of the towering guava trees, revealing views of the sparkling Caribbean Sea and the emblematic beauty of Cabrits National Park.
  • Botanica Organic Garden & Chef's Table "" A garden–to–fork concept, the outdoor chef table experience is nestled into the chef's organic garden just next to the Cario River. Here, guests can indulge in a wholesome plant–based and/or fresh seafood experience focusing on fresh vegetables, fragrant herbs, aromatic spices, and other natural ingredients sourced from the chef's organic garden.
  • Botanica Nature Walk "" A meandering nature trail that starts at Secret Bay's Welcome House and winds through the rainforest beginning and ending with pedestrian bridges over the magical Cario River. The educational path alongside the riverbank reveals the island's unique flora and fauna. Guests can also forage here before experiencing the Chef's Table.
  • Bwa Denn: Food, Art, Retail & Kombucha Brewery "" A creative and cultural immersion like no other, the modern, minimalist three–level structure features a contemporary Caribbean and Latin American art collection of over 100 distinct pieces, as well as a casual gourmet all–day restaurant headed by Executive Chef Damith Ranaweera, a full–service bar, microbrewery dedicated to locally–made kombucha, private dining and conference space, mini theatre, a coastal–inspired retail boutique, cutting–edge wine cellar, and rooftop lounge with spellbinding ocean views.
  • Bwa Denn: Fitness & Play "" Located on the ground floor of the Bwa Denn, the property's Art Gallery, the open–air fitness and play area is designed for guests to reconnect and rebalance the body and spirit. The space is equipped with self–powered air bikes, a rower, a treadmill, two combo racks for strength workouts, dumbbells, kettlebells, power bars, pilates balls, mats, a ping pong table, and a relaxation lounge.

Tucked away on the unspoiled "Nature Island" "" one of the Caribbean's most sparsely populated, environmentally conscious, and culturally rich countries "" Secret Bay has been praised for its ability to effortlessly capture the luxury of time and space along with its artful fusion of high design, local craftsmanship, commitment to sustainable development through numerous green and eco–friendly initiatives and a reputation for authentic guest experiences custom–curated to personal preference.

For information or to book, interested parties can click here."


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8741603)

UN Secretary-General António Guterres Urges World Leaders to Support Education Cannot Wait at Upcoming ECW High-Level Financing Conference

By External Source
Feb 2 2023 (IPS-Partners)

 

UN Secretary-General António Guterres is calling on world leaders to support the UN’s global fund for education in emergencies, Education Cannot Wait (ECW), at the upcoming ECW High-Level Financing Conference in Geneva Switzerland, 16 and 17 February 2023.

Around the world, 222 million children and adolescents impacted by conflict, climate change, displacement and other protracted crises are in need of urgent education support.

In his video statement, Guterres called on leaders to support ECW and its strategic partners in realizing 222 million dreams for the world’s most vulnerable children.

The ECW High-Level Financing Conference seeks to mobilize much-needed resources from donors, foundations and high-net-worth individuals to deliver on ECW’s four-year strategic plan, which will mobilize US$1.5 billion in additional resources to reach 20 million children and adolescents caught in some of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

The Conference is co-hosted by Switzerland and ECW, in close collaboration with the Governments of Colombia, Germany, Niger, Norway and South Sudan, and will be open to the public as a live-streamed virtual event.

Register today

 


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It’s Time to Move Away from Public-Private Partnerships & Build a Future That is Public

Protesters in Mulhouse, France warn of the dangers of privatisation. The sign reads ‘when everything is privatised, we will be deprived of everything. Credit: NeydtStock / Shutterstock.com

By Océane Blavot, Rodolfo Bejarano and Mae Buenaventura
BRUSSELS / LIMA / MANILA, Feb 2 2023 – Last month, we joined more than 1000 representatives from all sectors of civil society who came together in Santiago de Chile to debate the future of – and threats to – public services the world over.

Participants discussed the chronic underfunding which continues to drive economic inequality, injustice and austerity, and the neocolonial policies that maintain the status quo.

Today those debates have resulted in the launch of “Our Future is Public: The Santiago Declaration for Public Services” – a momentous agreement signed by more than 200 organisations vowing to work to “transform our systems, valuing human rights and ecological sustainability over GDP growth and narrowly defined economic gains.”

One of the most damaging initiatives that has deeply affected the delivery of public services and infrastructure projects on all continents is the rise of public-private partnerships, or PPPs.

They have long been promoted by institutions such as the World Bank as a silver bullet to close the so-called gap to finance investments in services and infrastructure. The premise is that the private sector can deliver these services more efficiently and to a higher standard than the public sector, despite extensive evidence to the contrary.

We lay the pitfalls of PPPs bare in our new report History RePPPeated II: Why public-private partnerships are not the solution – the second in a series of investigations documenting the impacts of PPPs across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe.

Launched at the Santiago conference with some of the partners responsible for investigating and authoring the case studies, the report not only highlights negative impacts of PPPs, but sets out recommendations for how to better finance infrastructure and public services in the face of false solutions that have been proposed given the context of the current polycrisis.

These narratives wholly reflect red flags that are raised in the Santiago Declaration.

Through these investigations, we discovered failures on multiple levels in PPPs covering infrastructure such as roads and water supplies, as well as vital public services like healthcare and education.

From escalating costs for the stretched public sector to environmental and social impacts, we found time and again that communities had been ignored, displaced, and had their basic rights violated by thoughtless projects designed and implemented in the pursuit of profit.

A prime example is that of the the Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) in Nepal. First announced nearly a quarter of a century ago, the project’s aim was to deliver clean, reliable and affordable water to 1.5 million people in Kathmandu.

And yet, 24 years later, residents are still waiting, while communities at the Melamchi water source are facing scarcity of water and eroded livelihoods. Instead of safe, clean drinking water – an internationally recognised human right – they have witnessed an extraordinary revolving door of private companies and institutional funders, including the World Bank, who have each failed to deliver.

To add to the MWSP’s colossal failure, 80 hectares of farmland have been lost to the project, a heavy blow to local residents, and up to 80 households have been forcibly displaced due to construction.

Who owns and controls our resources and public services became even more vitally important with the outbreak of the Covid pandemic in March 2020. Market-based models cannot be relied upon to deliver on human rights or the fight against inequalities as they are accountable only to their shareholders and not to their users.

This resulting focus on profit is overwhelmingly apparent in our case study from Liberia. Here, US firm Bridge International Academies (now NewGlobe) ‘abandoned’ its students and teachers during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, shutting down schools and cutting teachers’ salaries by 80-90 per cent, despite being paid by the government.

And yet, in 2021 the Liberian government indefinitely extended the project, effectively subsidising a US for-profit firm at a cost that is at least double government spending on public schools.

In Peru, the Expressway Yellow Line has emerged as one of the most controversial projects ever carried out. This toll road was supposed to ease congestion issues in the capital city Lima, but instead toll rates have been unreasonably increased on at least eight occasions.

This generated almost $23 million for the private company involved and transpired with the complicity of public officials. Meanwhile, the Peruvian state suffered economic damages of US$1.2 million due to under the table negotiations between public officials and the private company, which led to the incorrect implementation and improper modifications of the contract years after it was initially signed.

Today, questions regarding the project and conflicts surrounding its implementation remain, while Lima residents’ expectations of quality road infrastructure to improve living conditions for those who have been most affected, continue to go unmet.

The human cost of the PPP projects showcased by History RePPPeated II is self-evident, but they are far from the exception. Rather they serve to illustrate common failures with the PPP model that risk compromising fundamental human rights and that undermine the fight against climate change and inequalities.

Their continuing promotion is one of the many reasons why we support the Santiago Declaration. Together with all its signatories, we will strengthen resistance to PPPs with their focus on private-led interests and promote public-public or public-common partnerships for a future that is public.

Océane Blavot is Senior Campaign and Outreach Coordinator, Development Finance, European Network on Debt and Development; Rodolfo Bejarano is Economist and Analyst – New Financial Architecture, Latin American Network for Economic and Social Justice; Mae Buenaventura is Debt Justice Programme, Team Manager, Asian People’s Movement on Debt and Development

The Santiago Declaration on Public Services, is a global manifesto signed by more than 300 organisations from around the world, and which was launched at the end of last week. The Declaration signals the start of an international movement to move away from the privatisation of public services and towards a future that is publicly funded and controlled. It is also the outcome of a 4-day conference during which several CSOs from around the world launched a report containing a series of investigations highlighting the failures of the PPP model in projects around the world, titled History RePPPeated II.

This OpEd is authored by three of the report’s authors.

IPS UN Bureau

 


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US Policies Slowing World Economy

By Jomo Kwame Sundaram
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Feb 2 2023 – Few policymakers ever claim credit for causing stagnation and recessions. Yet, they do so all the time, justifying their actions by some supposedly higher purpose.

Now, that higher purpose is checking inflation as if it is the worst option for people today. Many supposed economists make up tall tales that inflation causes economic contraction which ordinary mortals do not know or understand.

Jomo Kwame Sundaram

Inflating inflation’s significance
Since early 2022, like many others in the world, Americans have been preoccupied with inflation. But official US data show inflation has been slowing since mid-2022.

Recent trends since mid-2022 are clear. Inflation is no longer accelerating, but slowing. And for most economists, only accelerating inflation gives cause for concern.

Annualized inflation since has only been slightly above the official, but nonetheless arbitrary 2% inflation target of most Western central banks.

At its peak, the brief inflationary surge, in the second quarter of last year, undoubtedly reached the “highest (price) levels since the early 1980s” because of the way it is measured.

After decades of ‘financialization’, the public and politicians unwittingly support moneyed interests who want to minimize inflation to make the most of their financial assets.

War and price
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine began last February, with retaliatory sanctions following suit. Both have disrupted supplies, especially of fuel and food. The inflation spike in the four months after the Russian invasion was mainly due to ‘supply shocks’.

Price increases were triggered by the war and retaliatory sanctions, especially for fuel, food and fertilizer. Although no longer accelerating, prices remain higher than a year before.

To be sure, price pressures had been building up with other supply disruptions. Also, demand has been changing with the new Cold War against China, the Covid-19 pandemic and ‘recovery’, and credit tightening in the last year.

There is little evidence of any more major accelerating factors. There is no ‘wage-price spiral’ as prices have recently been rising more than wages despite government efforts ensuring full employment since the 2008 global financial crisis.

Despite difficulties due to inflation, tens of millions of Americans are better off than before, e.g., with the ten million jobs created in the last two years. Under Biden, wages for poorly paid workers have risen faster than consumer prices.

Higher borrowing costs have also weakened the lot of working people everywhere. Such adverse consequences would be much less likely if the public better understood recent price increases, available policy options and their consequences.

With the notable exception of the Bank of Japan, most other major central banks have been playing ‘catch-up’ with the US Federal Reserve interest rate hikes. To be sure, inflation has already been falling for many reasons, largely unrelated to them.

Making stagnation
But higher borrowing costs have reduced spending, for both consumption and investment. This has hastened economic slowdown worldwide following more than a decade of largely lackluster growth since the 2008 global financial crisis.

Ill-advised earlier policies now limit what governments can do in response. With the Fed sharply raising interest rates over the last year, developing country central banks have been trying, typically in vain, to stem capital outflows to the US and other ‘safe havens’ raising interest rates.

Having opened their capital accounts following foreign advice, developing country central banks always offer higher raise interest rates, hoping more capital will flow in rather than out.

Interestingly, conservative US economists Milton Friedman and Ben Bernanke have shown the Fed has worsened past US downturns by raising interest rates, instead of supporting enterprises in their time of need.

Four decades ago, increased servicing costs triggered government debt crises in Latin America and Africa, condemning them to ‘lost decades’. Policy conditions were then imposed by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank for access to emergency loans.

Globalization double-edged
Economic globalization policies at the turn of the century are being significantly reversed, with devastating consequences for developing countries after they opened their economies to foreign trade and investment.

Encouraging foreign portfolio investment has increasingly been at the expense of ‘greenfield’ foreign direct investment enhancing new economic capacities and capabilities.

The new Cold War has arguably involved more economic weapons, e.g., sanctions, than the earlier one. Trump’s and Japanese ‘reshoring’ and ‘friend-shoring’ discriminate among investors, remaking ‘value’ or ‘supply chains’.

Arguably, establishing the World Trade Organization in 1995 was the high water mark for multilateral trade liberalization, setting a ‘one size fits all’ approach for all, regardless of means. More recently, Biden has continued Trump’s reversal of earlier trade liberalization, even at the regional level.

1995 also saw strengthening intellectual property rights internationally, limiting technology transfers and progress. Recent ‘trade conflicts’ increasingly involve access to high technology, e.g., in the case of Huawei, TSMC and Samsung.

With declining direct tax rates almost worldwide, governments face more budget constraints. The last year has seen these diminished fiscal means massively diverted for military spending and strategic ends, cutting resources for development, sustainability, equity and humanitarian ends.

In this context, the new international antagonisms conspire to make this a ‘perfect storm’ of economic stagnation and regression. Hence, those striving for international peace and cooperation may well be our best hope against the ‘new barbarism’.

IPS UN Bureau

 


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Insecurity in Nigeria’s Southern Kaduna: Will the Elections Change the Scenario?

abitha Siman recalls an attack in Kaduna, Nigeria, which left her twin daughter, husband and co-wife dead. Insecurity in Nigeria is a major issue and is high on the agenda during the upcoming elections. Credit: Oluwatobi Enitan/IPS

abitha Siman recalls an attack in Kaduna, Nigeria, which left her twin daughter, husband and co-wife dead. Insecurity in Nigeria is a major issue and is high on the agenda during the upcoming elections. Credit: Oluwatobi Enitan/IPS

By Oluwatobi Enitan
ABUJA, Feb 2 2023 – Tabitha Siman, a survivor of an attack at her home, says life is not worth living after her twin daughters, husband, and co-wife were killed during an attack at her home.

Siman lives in southern Kaduna in Nigeria, where the impact of kidnapping in the region hit the headlines when bandits attacked a train heading for Abuja, killing eight and kidnapping 168. Many months later and after about USD 13 million in ransom money was paid, all were released. But the notorious rail incident is not an isolated incident. In the past year, Kaduna has seen more than 1800 deaths due to insecurity, with attacks being reported almost weekly.

Siman recalls her family were at home in Zango Kataf Local Government in July 2021 when they received information that a nearby village had been raided.

Her husband and a friend rushed to warn their neighbours because the Agbak, the village under siege, was very close.

“We started hearing sporadic gunshots. I shouted at the top of my voice, calling everyone to scamper for safety. I shouted the Fulani were attacking.”

She and her parents-in-law and one daughter were able to run to safety.

“Every other person we knew didn’t make it out on time. Here they lie in state in their mass graves.”

Insecurity, insurgency, and banditry are increasing concerns as the country returns to the polls next year for its seventh successive general election since it returned to democracy 23 years ago.

 

Security is one of tWomen pose outside a polling station during the 2019 Nigerian Elections. Analysts say security is one of the major issues Nigeria's future president will need to address. Credit: Commonwealthhe major issues Nigeria's future president will need to address. Credit: Commonwealth

Women pose outside a polling station during the 2019 Nigerian Elections. Analysts say security is one of the major issues Nigeria’s future president will need to address. Credit: Commonwealth

Analysts say rising insecurity in the country could impact its outcome – with Nigeria’s security apparatus unable to guarantee security.  writing in The Conversation, lists security as one of the five major challenges facing the next president. Other concerns are national cohesion, the economy, the university system and the fight against corruption.

“Nigeria is more divided and polarised than it’s ever been. The cleavages and fault-lines of ethnocentrism, sectarianism, sectionalism, parochialism and religious extremism are pushing the country to the brink,” Okoli writes.

He describes the state of national security as “apocalyptic”.

“The receding Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast is being substituted by a nexus of banditry and terrorism in the north-west. The north-central is still grappling with the deadly farmer-herder crisis. For its part, the south-east is enmeshed in separatist violence and the associated criminal opportunism. There is an upswing in gang and ritual brigandage in the south-west while south-south is still afflicted with militancy, piracy and oil theft.”

Nigeria’s insecurity has many antecedents, with many attacks, like the one affecting Siman, blamed on Fulani herders – who are seen as violent perpetrators, as climate change is believed to be behind their move to new migratory routes bringing them into conflict with settled farming communities. However, the Fulani are only one of several instigators of violence. According to the International Crisis Group, the insecurity has “escalated amid a boom in organised crime, including cattle rustling, kidnapping for ransom and village raids. Jihadist groups are now stepping in to take advantage of the security crisis.”

John Campbell writing for The Council on Foreign Relations, notes that Kaduna is increasingly the epicentre of violence in Nigeria “with conflicts over water and land use escalating in the rural areas.”

In the capital, Kaduna, there has been prolonged political, ethnic and religious violence – some dating back to colonial times when Lord Frederick Lugard, the first governor-general of an amalgamated Nigeria, built the city and encouraged the Muslims to inhabit the north and the Christians the south.

Whatever the cause of the ongoing banditry, kidnappings and violence, it’s uncertain whether the Nigerian security apparatus can keep it under control.

“The government needs put in place a robust and comprehensive security plan to deal with the risks to a smooth election process,” analysts and academics Freedom Onuoha and Oluwole Ojewale write in The Conversation. “Security forces must plan for operations involving, for example, ground and air raids against armed groups in their strongholds. There is also a need for information and psychological operations to tackle the propaganda and disinformation put out by armed groups.”

The International Crisis Group says a multipronged approach is needed. “Nigeria’s federal authorities and state governments in the northwest should work more closely, not only to heal longstanding rifts within communities and curb violence but also to address the structural causes of insecurity in the region. International partners should lend their support and expertise as well.”

Another attack survivor Jonathan Madaki, a schoolboy, remembers what happened on the morning of March 11, 2019, in an attack also blamed on Fulani, which left 73 people dead in Dogonoma Community, Kajuru Local Government Area.

On a Monday morning, they heard the sound of gunfire from a group they identified as Fulani. His mother told him to run; she went in one direction, and he and his sister in another.

“I was hit in the hand by a bullet, and I fell to the ground; despite being in pain, I appealed to my sister not to scream, and she did not scream. We stayed there for hours,” Madaki said.

The siblings finally trekked to another village and were hospitalised; once discharged, a good Samaritan enrolled him in school.

For villagers in Southern Kaduna, who are predominantly farmers, keeping body and soul together has been difficult for years. Farmers often cannot harvest crops because almost all the villages have become an enclave for the attacks.

Villagers like Bala Musa have equally lost hope in the Government restoring peace to the affected communities.

Musa, a blacksmith and a farmer, says they often find themselves in the centre of the conflict, targeted by attackers and accused by the police and soldiers of collaborating with bandits. Musa says the police shot him because they were convinced the locals were concealing weapons and hiding Fulani men.

All presidential candidates for the 2023 elections have pledged to address insecurity, but based on published articles, their promises lack details of in-depth strategies. – Additional reporting Cecilia Russell

IPS UN Bureau Report

 


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Coda Payments Appoints Shane Happach as Chief Executive Officer

Singapore, Feb. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Coda Payments ("Coda"), the leading provider of cross–border payments and distribution solutions to publishers of digital content, announced the appointment of Shane Happach as Chief Executive Officer.

An industry leader in payments and financial technology, Happach brings over 15 years of payments experience to Coda. Happach spent a decade driving more than 500% growth at Worldpay, one of the world's largest payment service providers, leading the commercial function of its online payments division from 2011 until 2016 and serving as its Executive Vice President from 2016 to 2021. He most recently acted as CEO of Mollie, a next–generation payments and financial services player for small and medium–sized enterprises.

Happach will be responsible for growing Coda's ecosystem of users, content publishers, and channel partners while expanding its consumer and B2B product offerings.

"Coda has unlocked billions of dollars of value for its clients and enriches the lives of tens of millions of users every month with a highly differentiated suite of offerings. I look forward to building on this foundation, leading the Coda team at this exciting moment in the company's growth," said Happach.

Neil Davidson, Coda's founder and executive chairman, said, "Shane is a seasoned payments executive and CEO, relishes delivering impactful solutions to clients, enjoys operating on a cross–border basis, and has a track record of creating value for shareholders both private and public. I look forward to working with him in the months and years to come."

Happach will relocate to Singapore and take up his new role in May. He takes over from Philippe Limes, who has served as CEO since 2019.

About Coda Payments

Coda Payments ("Coda") operates Codashop, the leading independent source for games and in–game currencies. Coda also offers Codapay, which allows publishers of digital content to accept the same range of hundreds of payment methods available on Codashop on their own websites, and xShop, which allows publishers to distribute their products through a range of e–commerce and other consumer–facing platforms.

The Coda vision is to be the platform of choice for taking life's digital experiences over the top.

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GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8741412)

CCC Marks 50th Anniversary of Canada-Bahrain Diplomatic Relations

OTTAWA, Feb. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Canada and the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Canada has enjoyed positive relations with Bahrain since February 2, 1973, and the bilateral relationship covers a broad range of issues related to security, trade and investment. Defence ties between the two nations are particularly strong as Canadian Forces personnel are deployed to Bahrain as part of Combined Task Force 150, a multinational coalition based in Bahrain that's responsible for naval maritime security and counterterrorism in the Horn of Africa region.

Canada has several commercial interests in Bahrain, including investments in aerospace, food production and telecommunications. CCC's trade experts recently met with H.E. Dr. Shaikh Abdulla Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Undersecretary for Political Affairs for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Al Khalifa conveyed that clean technologies are a priority for Bahrain, particularly wastewater treatment, hydrogen technologies, desalination, carbon capture, energy efficiency. He further emphasized that the Bahrain government is committed to reduce the country's carbon emissions to net zero by 2060.

"CCC looks forward to continued dialogue with the Kingdom of Bahrain to advance economic and trade opportunities," said Kim Douglas, Vice–President, Business Development and Marketing, CCC.

To learn more about opportunities in Bahrain, contact the export experts at CCC.

QUICK FACTS

  • In 2021, bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and Bahrain was $275.8 million, including $217.6 million in exports and $58.2 million in imports.
  • Bahrain is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council and offers interesting opportunities for Canadian companies. Bahrain's economy has grown over the past 10 years in part, as a result of its favorable economic policies, with a positive long–term outlook.

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CONTACT

For media enquiries, please contact communications@ccc.ca

ABOUT CANADIAN COMMERCIAL CORPORATION (CCC)
We are Canada's government to government contracting agency. We help build successful commercial relationships between Canadian businesses and governments around the world through our government to government contracting approach. We are also the Government of Canada's designated contracting authority for U.S. DoD requirements from Canada. To learn more about how we have facilitated billions in trade between Canadian businesses and governments around the world, visit www.ccc.ca/en/.


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Peru’s Democracy at a Crossroads

By Ines M Pousadela
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, Feb 2 2023 – On 25 January, roughly six weeks after being sworn in following her predecessor’s removal, Peruvian president Dina Boluarte finally recognised that elections were the only way out of political crisis. Elections were rescheduled for April 2024, much earlier than the end of the presidential term she’s been tasked with completing, but not soon enough for thousands who’ve taken to the streets demanding her immediate resignation.

Boluarte’s call for a ‘national truce’ has been met with further protests. Their repression has led to major bloodshed: the Ombudsman’s office has reported close to 60 dead – mostly civilians killed by security forces – and 1,500 injured.

What happened and what it means

It’s unusually easy to impeach Peru’s presidents: a legislative majority can vote to remove them on vaguely defined grounds.

Pedro Castillo, elected president in July 2021, had already survived two removal attempts and faced a third. On 7 December he made a pre-emptive strike: he dissolved Congress and announced a restructuring of the judiciary, as former president Alberto Fujimori had done decades earlier in the ‘self-coup’ that started several years of authoritarian rule.

Castillo announced the establishment of an exceptional emergency government where he would rule by decree and promised to hold congressional elections soon. The new Congress, he said, would have the power to draft a new constitution.

But unlike Fujimori, Castillo enjoyed meagre support, and within hours Congress voted to remove him from office. He was arrested and remains in pretrial detention on rebellion charges. Vice-president Boluarte was immediately sworn in.

In the whirlwind that followed there was much talk that a coup, or a coup attempt, had taken place – but opinions differed radically as to who was the victim and who was the perpetrator.

The prevailing view was that Castillo’s dissolution of Congress was an attempt at a presidential coup. But others saw Castillo’s removal as a coup. Debate has been deeply polarised on ideological grounds, making clear that in Peru and Latin America, a principled rather than partisan defence of democracy is still lacking.

Permanent crisis

Recent events are part of a bigger political crisis that has seen six presidents in six years. In 2021, a polarising presidential campaign was followed by an extremely fragmented vote. The runoff election yielded an unexpected winner: a leftist outsider of humble origins, Castillo, defeated the right-wing heiress of the Fujimori dynasty by under one percentage point. Keiko Fujimori initially rejected the results and baselessly claimed fraud. Castillo’s presidency was born fragile. It was an unstable government, with a high rotation of ministers and fluctuating congressional support.

Although Castillo had promised to break the cycle of corruption, his government, himself and close associates soon became the target of corruption allegations coming not just from the opposition but also from state watchdog institutions. Castillo’s response was to attack the prosecutor and ask the Organization of American States (OAS) to apply its Democratic Charter to preserve Peruvian democracy supposedly under attack. The OAS sent a mission that ended with a call for dialogue. Only two weeks later, Castillo embarked on his short-lived coup adventure.

Protests and repression

According to Peru’s Constitution, Boluarte should complete Castillo’s term. But observers generally agree there’s no way she can stay in office until 2024, never mind 2026, given the rejection she faces from protesters and political parties in Congress.

A wave of protests demanding her resignation rose as soon as she was sworn in, led mostly by students, Indigenous groups and unions. Many also demanded Castillo’s freedom and government action to address poverty and inequality. Some demands went further, including a call for a constituent assembly – the promise Castillo made before being removed from office – to produce more balanced representation, particularly for Indigenous people. For many of Peru’s poorest people, Castillo represented hope for change. With him gone, they feel forgotten.

Four days into the job, Boluarte declared a regional state of emergency, later extended to the whole country. Protests only increased, and security forces responded with extreme violence, often shooting to kill. No wonder so many Peruvians feel this isn’t a democracy anymore.

The state of Peruvian democracy

The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index rates Peru as a ‘flawed democracy’. A closer look at the index’s components suggests what’s wrong with Peruvian democracy: it gets its lowest score in the political culture dimension. In line with this, the Americas Barometer shows Peru has one of the lowest levels of support for democracy in Latin America and is the country where opposition to coups is weakest.

Peru’s democracy scores low on critical indicators such as checks and balances, corruption and political participation. This points to the heart of the problem: it’s a dysfunctional system where those elected to govern fail to do so and public policies are inconsistent and ineffective.

According to every survey, just a tiny minority of Peruvians are satisfied with their country’s democracy. The fact that no full-fledged alternative has yet emerged seems to be the only thing currently keeping democracy alive. Democratic renewal is urgently needed, or an authoritarian substitute could well take hold.

Inés M. Pousadela is CIVICUS Senior Research Specialist, co-director and writer for CIVICUS Lens and co-author of the State of Civil Society Report.

 


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