Media OutReach
Germany “rested on its laurels” too long, report finds
“It has become clear that Germany rested on its laurels for far too long”, the BGI Germany Report on the country’s governance performance says. It is based on the Berggruen Governance Index (BGI) and was conducted by researchers from the Los Angeles-based Berggruen Institute think tank, the Luskin School of Public Affairs at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), and the Hertie School, a German university.
In their report “Germany 2025 – Slow decline in governance performance erupts into crisis of government as geopolitics worsen” the researchers conclude that the country’s government and administrative systems have appeared increasingly sclerotic and hesitant to adopt necessary changes. Effective, often painful reforms are urgently needed, but political and economic constraints make them difficult to implement, the researchers write.
The 2024 BGI measures democratic accountability, delivery of public goods and state capacity on a scale from 0 to 100. It analyses the years from 2000 to 2021. According to the report, Germany has lost ground on all three measures, with structural problems festering since the “deceptively benign” years of the chancellorship of Angela Merkel (2005-2021). The Democracy Accountability Index score, for example, slid to 93 in 2021 from a near perfect 99 at the beginning of the century.
The data “suggests that some of Germany’s state capacity and democratic accountability challenges were masked by economic growth, driven by the success of its export-oriented model during the 2010s”, the report says. Chief among Germany’s challenges are economic troubles that have worsened in recent years, largely stemming from a lack of public investment during that period in areas such as digitalization and transport infrastructure.
On February 23, Germans go to the polls early after the ruling three-party coalition consisting of the Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens and the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) collapsed in November. Intra-government fighting over how to get the country’s ailing economy back on track was a main factor of the break-up.
At the same time, social trust is declining in Europe’s largest economy. However, a possible new government under the conservative CDU/CSU alliance and its candidate for the chancellorship, Friedrich Merz, seems poised to exacerbate divisions rather than resolving them, the researchers say.
The economic difficulties heighten uncertainty and discontent, the report argues – with migration emerging as the other major flashpoint. Rhetoric on economic scarcity is used to highlight tensions over migration, which are exploited by both the extreme right and left. That debate has been exacerbated by a recent deadly stabbing in which a migrant facing deportation from Germany is the main suspect.
Yet immigration is essential to Germany’s future growth, the BGI report says: “Any future government will have to attempt to reconcile anti-immigrant attitudes with the social reality of integration and the economic necessity of attracting foreign-born workers.”
Merz is promising a hard line on migration in case of an election victory. Despite provoking outrage from other political parties, Merz on Wednesday (January 29) pushed through a vote in parliament on proposals for tightening immigration controls. “Current asylum and immigration policy jeopardizes the security of the people and the confidence of all of society in the state,” the text of the motion by the CDU/CSU says.
The passed proposal includes a request to the German government to turn back asylum seekers at Germany’s borders. But even more incendiary in German politics has been Merz’s willingness to break long-standing taboos and use votes from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in order to pass the motion. All long-established parties in the lower house of the German parliament, the Bundestag, had previously said they would not work with the AfD, with many Germans alarmed at the rise of the party in recent years in a country still scarred by its Nazi past.
According to the latest opinion polls by the five major polling institutes, the conservative CDU/CSU is clearly in the lead, polling at between 28 and 34 per cent. Second comes the AfD with 19 to 21 per cent, followed by the SPD with 15 to 19 per cent. The current German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is a member of the SPD. The Greens are at 12 to 15 per cent in the opinion polls, while the FDP this time may not clear the 5-per-cent-threshold necessary to enter the Bundestag.
———————————————-
This text and the accompanying material (photos and graphics) are an offer from the Democracy News Alliance, a close co-operation between Agence France-Presse (AFP, France), Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA, Italy), The Canadian Press (CP, Canada), Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa, Germany) and PA Media (PA, UK). All recipients can use this material without the need for a separate subscription agreement with one or more of the participating agencies. This includes the recipient’s right to publish the material in own products.
The DNA content is an independent journalistic service that operates separately from the other services of the participating agencies. It is produced by editorial units that are not involved in the production of the agencies’ main news services. Nevertheless, the editorial standards of the agencies and their assurance of completely independent, impartial and unbiased reporting also apply here.
Further coverage by the Democracy News Alliance can be found in the DNA digital newsroom at https://www.presseportal.de/en/nr/174021
Hashtag: #DNA
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Media OutReach
Industry expert Jason Gerlis has been appointed as the Chief Revenue Officer at GoGlobal
With more than 15 years’ experience in helping businesses to scale internationally, his role will be to drive revenue growth at GoGlobal, align this to delivery excellence and add long-term value to those companies looking to expand and operate overseas.
“I’m delighted to welcome Jason into the fold,” states Jeremy Wastall, CEO at GoGlobal. “His extensive industry knowledge and global corporate services background support our strategy to deliver best‑in‑class business expansion and operational solutions to clients looking to enter new markets compliantly, and at speed.”
His appointment is also in-line with the company’s aim to build a business where cultural fit and mindset are just as important as experience.
“Alongside his impressive experience, Jason’s approach to leadership aligns with our brand values. I have full confidence in his ability to create a world-class environment where his teams will grow and excel,” adds Jeremy.
The move follows a series of recent senior hires and strategic investments designed to enhance GoGlobal’s ambitious growth plans, which include greater geographic reach, deeper technology capabilities and the continued development of market-winning solutions for clients.
Independence and long‑term focus
Explaining what drew him to GoGlobal, Jason points to the company’s independence and investment strategy.
“GoGlobal’s independence is a real strength,” he states. “It gives the business the freedom to invest in what genuinely matters to clients and focus on building sustainable, future growth. That long‑term perspective leads to better client outcomes, stronger partnerships and a more engaged, motivated workforce.”
Jason also highlights the company’s culture which is deeply grounded in servicing clients’ needs as a reason to join the business. He notes: “Understanding, consistency, collaboration and responsiveness are at the foundation of GoGlobal’s approach to client service, all of which resonate with me.
“And it’s these values and business ethics that truly set GoGlobal apart,” he concludes.
Strengthening global networks
Based in Charlotte, USA, Jason will spend his first months in the role engaging closely with GoGlobal’s global clients and partner ecosystem, while helping shape the company’s long‑term commercial strategy.
“I’m excited to work with clients across the full spectrum — from fast‑growing start‑ups and venture / private equity‑backed businesses to large multinationals — as we continue to build GoGlobal’s future roadmap,” he states.
Prior to joining GoGlobal, Jason spent five years as Global Head of Corporate Services at Ocorian and held several senior leadership roles at TMF Group over seven years, including Global Head of Consulting and Regional Director for North America and the Caribbean.
Hashtag: #GoGlobal
https://goglobal.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/goglobalgeo/
Wechat: GoGlobal环瑀
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
GoGlobal
GoGlobal – the global expansion business – helps companies set up and manage global operations compliantly and confidently. By combining global expertise with local execution, GoGlobal supports market entry, M&A activity and vendor consolidation through a single point of accountability.
Founded eight years ago in 2018, GoGlobal has grown from a startup into a fully decentralized global organization, supporting thousands of clients with their own growth stories.
It now has over 450 internal employees, operating across 85+ countries, and has enabled more than 1,000 clients to establish and manage their global operations across 145 markets.
Services include entity setup, compliance and management; accounting and tax services; HR and payroll support; Employer of Record (EOR); and Independent Contractor Solutions (ICS).
GoGlobal is headquartered in Tokyo but the leadership and operational teams are worldwide, enabling seamless support across time zones.
Media OutReach
Korean Liquor (K-SUUL), Raises Its First Flag for Globalization on Asia’s Largest Stage
“K-SUUL Pavilion” to Open for the First Time at the HKCEC on May 26-28
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 June 2026 – The National Tax Service of Korea (Commissioner: Lim Kwang-hyun), for the first time, opened the “K-SUUL Pavilion” at Vinexpo Asia[1], which was held for three days from May 26 to 28 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).
The opening of the “K-SUUL Pavilion” was served as a key milestone in raising the global profile of Korean alcoholic beverages and expanding overseas exports.
At the inaugural “K-SUUL AWARDS” held by National Tax Service of Korea last December, 175 small and medium-sized liquor producers from across Korea submitted a total of 366 products. Following document screening and blind testing, 12 products were selected.
The award-winning liquors, selected through a fair judging process with the participation of Korean citizens, was introduced to the global market through this exhibition, marking their first step toward overseas expansion.
The “K-SUUL Pavilion” was operated through cooperation between the National Tax Service of Korea and the liquor industry and association (the Korea Alcohol and Liquor Industry Association). It was designed as an integrated promotional platform to strengthen the export competitiveness of Korean alcoholic beverages and develop overseas sales channels.
The “K-SUUL Pavilion” was operated with a total of 16 booths (display and tasting booths), and 12 companies — including winners of the K-SUUL AWARDS — participated to hold consultations with overseas buyers.
Participating companies ranged from traditional liquor breweries to regional soju producers and major liquor companies, showcasing the diverse spectrum of Korea’s alcoholic beverage industry on a single stage.
In addition to the booths operated by the 12 participating companies, a dedicated booth was set up exclusively to showcase the award-winning liquors, further highlighting the significance of the K-SUUL AWARDS.
At the venue, promotional videos of the award-winning liquors were screened, while English-language brochures and souvenirs were distributed to attract local buyers and visitors to raise awareness of Korean alcoholic beverages.
In addition, meetings with the organizers of Vinexpo Asia, overseas buyers, and distribution industry officials were also held to identify rapidly changing global liquor market trends and assess the overseas expansion potential of Korean alcoholic beverages.
Han Yeong-seok Fermentation Research Institute expressed gratitude for being given the opportunity to participate in the exhibition, saying, “It was meaningful to showcase our award-winning liquor, ‘Dohan Cheongmyeongju,’ on the same stage as liquors from around the world through this exhibition. We did our best to promote Korea’s unique fermentation culture and the value of Korean liquor to the world.”
Going forward, the National Tax Service of Korea will continue to enhance the substance of the K-SUUL AWARDS, continuously discover outstanding liquors from promising small and medium-sized enterprises, and will actively support the globalization of Korean liquor (K-SUUL) by promoting it both domestically and internationally and helping these businesses expand their sales channels.
Hashtag: #K-SUUL
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Media OutReach
YesAsia Holdings Advances Dual-Engine Strategy with First YesStyle Concept Store in the US
Driving O2O Synergy: Expanding Offline Reach to Complement B2C Strategy
Celebrating 20 years of delivering trending Asian products worldwide, YesStyle has transformed 1,500 square feet into an immersive retail fantasy. Serving as a strategic extension of the Group’s core B2C business, this new physical footprint enhances offline visibility and reaches a wider demographic of consumers who value hands-on product discovery and immediate purchase. The store offers a “Yesful playground” where beauty lovers can connect with over 60 Asian brands, featuring interactive makeup stations with beloved K-beauty labels like UNLEASHIA, dasique, fwee, and rom&nd, alongside a customizable mask bar. This experiential retail environment functions as a powerful, culturally rich marketing engine, generating offline brand awareness and foot traffic that seamlessly feeds into the digital platform, creating a complementary offline-to-online (O2O) loop that supports repeat purchases and maximizes customer lifetime value (LTV).
Mr. Joshua Lau, Founder, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of YesAsia Holdings said: “The launch of YesStyle‘s retail store marks a significant milestone for our brand, as we bring our top-tier and bestselling K-beauty products, along with advanced skin care innovation, into an offline setting for customers in the Bay Area. The Bay Area holds a special place in our history as the city where the Group was founded and where our first office was established. Opening our first YesStyle beauty retail store here feels like coming home and reinforces our commitment to continue innovating and delivering exceptional experiences to our customers, both online and offline.”
Empowering the B2B Wholesale Business AsiaBeautyWholesale (ABW) Growth
This physical retail expansion also creates substantial value for YesAsia Holdings’ B2B operations, ABW. By physically showcasing a curated yet expansive selection of bestselling Korean beauty brands, including SKIN1004, Medicube, Anua, Dr. Althea, Beauty of Joseon, COSRX, and more, in a premium US retail environment, YesStyle acts as an effective market-testing ground. The elevated brand awareness and consumer validation generated at the retail level will bolster confidence among other local US retailers and distributors, effectively catalyzing B2B orders and driving synergistic growth across both of the Group’s core business modules.
Hashtag: #YesAsia #YesStyle
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About YesAsia Holdings Limited (02209.HK)
Established in 1997, YesAsia Holdings is a leading e-commerce platform operator recognized for its expertise in identifying and procuring quality Asian beauty, fashion, lifestyle and entertainment products. Headquartered in Hong Kong, the Group deliver products promptly and efficiently to a global audience through its strong ties with over 400 leading Asian beauty brand and supplier partners. The Group operates three major platforms: YesStyle, an e-commerce B2C platform for serving the increasingly popular Asian beauty, fashion and lifestyle products, particularly Korean beauty products; AsianBeautyWholesale, a B2B platform for Asian beauty products; and YesAsia, an e-commerce retail platform for entertainment products. YesAsia Holdings is a constituent of the MSCI Hong Kong Micro Cap Index.
For more information, please visit the Group’s official website: https://www.yesasiaholdings.com/
About YesStyle
YesStyle, a global B2C online retailer under YesAsia Holdings Limited. (02209.HK), is the go-to destination for the largest selection of authentic Asian beauty, fashion, and lifestyle products. As an authorized retailer of 400+ premium K-beauty brands, YesStyle aims to help everyone find their ‘yes!’ through innovative beauty inspired by Asia, friendly guidance and smart prices since 2006.
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism10 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking8 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy3 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn