Academic literature on the topic 'Overseas country identification'

This personal account chronicles the journey of one expatriate family that tested the viability of the migration evangelism model set forth in 1961 by Mennonite theologian John Howard Yoder. Reflecting on nearly two decades of cultural identification and church involvement as self-supporting English teachers in Japan, the author identifies ways in which their tentmaking status impacted nearly every aspect of their lives, from their legal status in the country to their relationships with other Mennonite missionaries. The article concludes that the experiment was financially successful, replicable, and led to long-term commitment, providing a satisfying, practical, and compelling paradigm for overseas missions.

Manganese is mostly used in the iron and steel industry and serves as an important metal mineral in the national economy. It is difficult to substantially increase the output of China’s manganese ore because it is of low grade and high impurity content. However, as a large consumer in the world, it is very important to ensure the long-term stable supply of this mineral. Collecting historical data on manganese ore in China over the past 20 years, we identified and evaluated risks during the whole process of production, supply, consumption, reserves, and trade of resources using the Volkswagen and German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (VW-BGR) method by selecting nine indicators: current market equilibrium, market price volatility, Reserve/production ratio, import dependence, import concentration, country risks, country concentration and future supply and demand trend. Furthermore, we assessed its economic importance by calculating the contribution of manganese ore involved in different value chains. It shows the same downward trend both in manganese ore consumption and economic importance, and the future demand of manganese ore will slow down, and the global supply will exceed demand. Based on the comprehensive evaluation of supply and demand trends in the past and future, it was concluded that the current market balance, import dependence and country concentration risks are the main driving factors for the supply risk of manganese ore in China, showing higher supply risk than that of the other factors; the resource and geostrategic risks are moderate, and may significantly reduce the supply risk if effective measures are implemented. As per the aforementioned analysis, to address the risk of supply interruption, this study provides some suggestions and measures, such as strengthening resource reserves and low-grade manganese ore utilization at home, actively exploring foreign markets, exploiting overseas resources, expanding import channels, extending the industrial chain, and adopting equity mergers and acquisitions abroad.

Preventing and controlling the risk of importing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has rapidly become a major concern. In addition to air freight, ocean-going ships play a non-negligible role in spreading COVID-19 due to frequent visits to countries with infected populations. This research introduces a method to dynamically assess the infection risk of ships based on a data-driven approach. It automatically identifies the ports and countries these ships approach based on their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) data and a spatio-temporal density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (ST_DBSCAN) algorithm. We derive daily and 14 day cumulative ship exposure indexes based on a series of country-based indices, such as population density, cumulative confirmed cases, and increased rate of confirmed cases. These indexes are classified into high-, middle-, and low-risk levels that are then coded as red, yellow, and green according to the health Quick Response (QR) code based on the reference exposure index of Wuhan on April 8, 2020. This method was applied to a real container ship deployed along a Eurasian route. The results showed that the proposed method can trace ship infection risk and provide a decision support mechanism to prevent and control overseas imported COVID-19 cases from international shipping.

Abstract During the last century, considerable interest arose regarding Chinese knowledge of western territories, with a long list of works being published on the topic. Joseph Needham’s Science and Civilisation in China (1959) states that Arab thinking had clearly influenced the Chinese conception of geography over the centuries. Zhang Xinglang analyses the relationship between the Chinese empire and countries overseas, focusing on Islamic countries and particularly those in the north of Africa. Feng Chengjun’s western territories toponyms and Gudai nanhai diming huishi have provided two powerful and even fundamental tools for the research presented here. The first gathers together a large collection of toponyms from various literary works; these are written in western language with their relative transcription or translation in Chinese. The second, the Gudai nanhai diming huishi, is divided in two volumes analysing many Chinese toponyms and their use in several geographical works. Li Qingxin’s Haishang Sichou zhilu, focuses on the development of the Maritime Silk Road and its economic-political consequences for China’s empire. Gabriele Foccardi’s research focuses instead on the motives for Chinese travellers and their expeditions, highlighting the historical and social differences between the different dynasties. Friedrich Hirth and William Rockhill provide a crucial literary resource with their translation of Zhao Rukuo’s work, Zhufanzhi (1966), as does J.V.G. Mills with his annotated translation of Ma Huan’s Yingya shenglan, a journey work of the fifteenth century. Yang Wuquan’s research into Zhou Qufei’s work, published in 1999, identifies several toponyms used by Zhou and compares several foreign geographical works. Zhou Qufei and Zhao Rukuo were both imperial officials during the Southern Song dynasty. They spent many years in the border territories of China: Zhou Qufei in Qinzhou, Guangxi province, and Zhao Rukuo in Quanzhou, Fujian province. Their works mention several toponyms never used before in Chinese texts: ‘Meilugudun’, or ‘Meilugu’ (as written by Zhao Rukuo), is one of these. The identification of this toponym has not been determined until now. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to determine which kingdom was identified with the ‘Meilugudun’ toponym during the Song Dynasty. Two different questions are here discussed and resolved. First, can the land of Meilugudun be identified with the city of Merv in Turkmenistan? Second, do Zhou’s ‘Meilugudun’ and Zhao’s ‘Meilugu’ both stand for the same place? This paper can be divided into four sections. The first section focuses on Zhou Qufei, the second on Zhao Rukuo. The third analyses and compares previous scholars’ studies. The fourth proposes the new identification of the Meilugudun kingdom.

Purpose Based on the linkage-leverage-learning (LLL) framework developed by Mathews (2006), the purpose of this paper is to examine how linking, leveraging and learning capabilities influence the choice of foreign-entry mode, and the way such influences are contingent on context factors in the emerging markets. Design/methodology/approach Contrary to a prior literature applying the LLL framework, which mainly used case studies, this paper adopts a quantitative approach and is based on a sample of 321 Chinese listed companies to test the hypotheses. Findings The results show that multinational firms from emerging markets (EMFs) with stronger LLL capabilities are more likely to choose the wholly owned mode in foreign entries. In addition, the relationship between linking capability and wholly owned entry mode choice is weaker at higher levels of cultural distance between home and host country. At the same time, the relationship between learning capability and wholly owned entry mode choice is weaker at higher levels of cultural distance between home and host country, and of institutional distance between prior entries and the focal entry. Research limitations/implications An entry mode strategy for firms without ownership advantages and the identification of boundary conditions for applying different LLL capabilities are recommended. The generalizability of the findings from a single-country setting still needs further validation with other emerging economies. Originality/value This paper treats internationalization of firms from emerging countries with a different perspective. The underlying idea in this study is that internationalization is not only a process for EMFs to utilize externally accessible assets abroad, but also a process of simultaneously combining internationalization with experiential learning and capability utilization in overseas markets. In addition, the authors also contribute to the literature by providing strong empirical evidence for validating the LLL model and extending the existing entry mode studies.

There is no one widely accepted method of managing international agricultural research and numerous different models exist. Here we review one in particular, referred to as the ‘institute without walls’, from the perspective of the UK Department for International Development's (DFID) Renewable Natural Resource (RNR) Research Strategy (1990–2006). We begin with a brief history of the RNR Research Strategy from 1990 to 2004. We then draw on nearly 15 years experience of managing one of the programmes within the RNR Research Strategy to assess critically the impact of externally and internally imposed organizational and management changes on the performance of the DFID Plant Sciences Programme (PSP). The current RNR Research Strategy (1995–2006), with its emphasis on demand-led research, has greatly increased the relevance and effectiveness of DFID's natural resources research. A comparison between the PSP in 2004 and the early 1990s inevitably concludes that the programme has been transformed: unlike in 1991, research is now firmly demand-driven, much is based in developing countries and farmers are benefiting from the research. Over time, the outputs of the long-term strategic research have been applied in practical plant breeding and participatory crop improvement programmes. Key to the success of the PSP has been the provision of continuous, long-term funding which has allowed projects time to develop and produce outputs of real value to end users. Alongside this, the ability of the PSP to build long-term, in-country partnerships has ensured the effective adoption of its research outputs. We conclude that the successes of the PSP have largely derived from (i) identification of research that is clearly demand driven, (ii) continuous long-term funding that has allowed research to move from the strategic to adaptive phase, (iii) continuity of management, and (iv) the flexibility to develop a wide range of partnerships, both in-country and overseas, based on their ability to deliver.

Organization and content specificities as well as the basic principles of some teaching and educative strategies useful for Ukrainian schooling activity overseas (Sunday and Saturday Ukrainian schools, schools providing Ukrainian study courses, bilingual schools, etc.) that is functioning in the countries with Ukrainian ethnical component are analyzed in the article. On the base of sources and special literature studying, it was clarified that implementing aspects of pedagogical strategies in the domain of Ukrainian studies are out of scientific interest of the national and foreign researchers. Thus, the objective of this article is to outline the range of basic strategies which could become practical for coordination of the youth teaching and educating in Ukrainian schools abroad.Nowadays life requires of teachers to improve and understand their competent responsibility, as a teacher should be a person able to actively affect the progress of those, who are taught and educated. Educational paradigm of the XXI century must rely on the dominant when the talented individual’s activity as a teacher and creator is to move beyond the course and become the medium as well as transmitter of the world and national values. Pedagogical activity due to these terms will logically result in teacher’s awareness, directed to the balanced achievements of their students, the ability to use their skills formed, to understand the national originality, especially being surrounded by different ethnical and cultural conditions of another country.In any country, where Ukrainian studies are promoted, the implementation of teaching and educating strategies in educational affiliations has its own peculiarities. There is the necessity to widely use Ukrainian study components during teaching and educating process, because they are important for national self-identification formation of the students. This is the basic purpose of Ukrainian institutions’ activity abroad. For this reason, a teacher should accurately choose efficient as well as aim- appropriate teaching and educating strategies out of those, which are ‘programmed’ to realize the purpose mentioned above.Therefore, the basic opportunities of realization, teaching and educating requirements and goals due to multilingual and multicultural availability were outlined in the article. Specific examples of practical strategies implementing in national schools abroad were given. In particular, the attention was drawn to potential of using strategies integrated with individually oriented, programmed, differentiated teaching as well as scouts education strategies and some other.The peculiarities of curricula usage in pedagogical practice regarding to Ukrainian schooling abroad were also reviewed.

Structural and macroeconomic imbalances have been an inalienable feature of the socio-economic development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) since independence. Both types of disproportions produce a negative impact upon fundamental development trends in the region. Against this background, this paper analyses the structure and hierarchies of imbalances in the region of the Middle East and North Africa. The article argues that broad-range monitoring of fiscal and macroeconomic indicators can facilitate the identification of emerging imbalances and provide ways of overcoming them. The article contends that the natural and climatic and resource factors quite rigidly determined the economic profile of the region, which, in turn, predetermines the key structural and macroeconomic imbalances that affect MENA socio-economic development. The historical asymmetry in the development of the MENA states, which for a long time had been parts of the British, French and Ottoman colonial empires, with their economic or strategic roles determined by the overseas rulers, created prerequisites for the subsequent economic differentiation of the countries of the region. Over the years of independence, the uneven development of the initially similar agrarian-Bedouin economies has increased dramatically as a result of the socio- economic policies carried out by the sovereign governments in accordance with the resource capacities of each country. The authors categorise MENA countries, dividing them into five groups, depending on the nature and determinants of economic development. The authors insist that almost all the current social and economic problems of the region are related to its two fundamental specific characteristics: colossal rental incomes (mainly of oil and gas origin) and relative overpopulation. The article exposes main macroeconomic imbalances MENA states, demonstrating the asymmetry of intra-regional development and structural distortions of the economic and demographic nature. On the basis of complex fiscal and macroeconomic data analysis the authors identify the existing imbalances. The paper produces a critique of existing macroeconomic stabilization policies in MENA states and their attempts to overcome the existing imbalances. I. Abramova and L. Fituni provide an augmented assessment of the typical policy failures in MENA. The research results in a forecast of the dynamics of financial determinants of macroeconomic stability in the region and the authors’ vision of ways to overcome or limit the existing and imminent imbalances. The authors come to the conclusions that that MENA countries need to accelerate structural reforms in order to overcome imbalances and to achieve diversification of their economies. Expanding the opportunities for the national private sector and increasing its importance in the non- oil segment of the economy could help to alleviate the employment situation and increase the effective consumer demand.

The sponsoring of mega-events enables organizations to capitalize on the power of sport to stimulate passionate brand identifications among attendees. However, a critical issue that has not been addressed by scholars is whether the effects of sponsoring mega-events such as the Olympics by a foreign brand will resemble the equivalent sponsorship by a domestic counterpart. In particular, few scholars have investigated attendee perceptions of congruities between event sponsor and self-sponsor brand favorability emanating from an overseas country with where there are longstanding tensions and from home. This study investigated attendees at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, a city with a long history of patriotic nationalism directed against Japan. The researchers identify that self-domestic sponsor congruity mediates the impact of patriotism among domestic attendees on their favorability toward domestic brands. Self-foreign sponsor congruity moderates the impact of event liking on favorability, even in the case of sponsors from a country with hostile connotations. The study has managerial implications for targeting and localization strategies by sponsor brands both domestic and overseas. It is proposed that foreign brand sponsors of mega-events should pursue local brand adaption through the incorporation local narratives with which residents can identify.

ABSTRACT A commonsense approach is proposed for the provision of guidance to developing countries engaged in the formulation of national oil spill response systems. Key to the concept is the development of the system by the country's own professionals with the help of an international assistance team (IAT). The membership of the IAT is custom designed to suit the culture and technical needs of each country. The international assistance team provides the training necessary to the professionals from the receiving country who will draft the national response policy and oversee the drafting of the national contingency plan. The IAT then enters into a partnership with this core group to complete the remaining response system development. The involvement of the IAT decreases as the program progresses towards self-sufficiency. The program's goal is to develop a sustainable response system. The planning process will follow already established, internationally accepted practices such as risk assessment and identification of sensitive areas to protect. In cases where the identified risks and sensitive areas necessitate a larger system than the country can sustain, bilateral and regional agreements will be sought to guarantee rapid assistance in the event of a spill. The program is compatible with the concept of “twinning,” where a developed country enters into partnership with a developing country, thereby increasing the sustainable level of response.

The object of this research was to develop an international market screening methodology which selects highly attractive markets, allowing for the ranges in diversity amongst organisations, countries and products. Conventional business thought is that, every two to five years, dynamic organisations which conduct business internationally should decide which additional foreign market or markets to next enter. If they are internationally inexperienced, this will be their first market; if they are experienced, it might be, say, their 100th market. How should each organisation select their next international market? One previous attempt has been made to quantitatively test which decision variables, and what weights, should be used when choosing between the 230 countries of the world. The literature indicate that a well-informed selection decision could consider over 150 variables that measure aspects of each foreign market's economic, political, legal, cultural, technical and physical environments. Additionally, attributes of the organisation have not been considered when selecting the most attractive short-list of markets. The findings presented in the dissertation are that 30 criteria accounted for 95 per cent of variance at cross-classification rates of 95 per cent. The weights of each variable, and the markets selected statistically as being the most attractive, were found to vary with the capabilities, goals and values of the organisation. This frequently means that different countries will be best for different organisations selling the same product. A

Australian High Country Raptors covers raptor species that regularly breed in the high country above 600 metres, from Goulburn in New South Wales down to the hills outside Melbourne, Victoria. Author Jerry Olsen explores the nature of these striking animals that are classified as Accipitriformes (diurnal hawks, falcons, kites and eagles), Falconiformes and Strigiformes (nocturnal owls). Comparisons between these high country raptors and lower-elevation breeders are also provided, in addition to comparisons with raptors found overseas, especially from North America and Europe. The book begins with a description of habitats and vegetation types in the high country, and which raptors are likely to be seen in each habitat type. It continues with sections on finding and watching raptors, raptor identification, hunting styles, food, breeding and behaviour, and conservation. Appendices provide species accounts for diurnal breeding species in the high country, with basic information about their ecology, distribution and conservation, as well as detailed instructions about handling an injured or orphaned raptor. Illustrated throughout with photographs and drawings, Australian High Country Raptors offers readers a chance to look into the lives of Australia’s fascinating birds of prey.

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic brought with it the potential risk for personnel abandonment of various oil and gas installations that was unprecedented in the industry. Uncertainties on how to implement and monitor these processes was a significant challenge. This pandemic scenario required that operators and regulators work together to reformulate their normal way of working to decrease the risk of virus exposure to personnel, while still ensuring critical elements were implemented for safe operations. Regulators were required to act quickly to implement and adjust regulations to meet the new demands for safe operations during the global pandemic. Through joint discussions with industry associations and an understanding of the situation, the Brazilian oil and gas industry regulator, ANP, was able to immediately implement tracking requirements and, within less than one month after formal declaration of a state of emergency, issued new regulations for the restart and operations of installations. These measures assisted in a better understanding of the COVID-19 situation onboard offshore installations and in disseminating learnings across Exploration and Production (E&P) industry. Operators across Brazil all implemented modified emergency response plans, new hazard identification measures and means to reduce the risks of these identified hazards in response to COVID-19. The ANP worked to oversee the manner in which these measures were conducted, while successfully assisting in reducing demands on offshore work during the pandemic by migrating to a fully-remote means of regulatory enforcement and auditing. Regulators and operators all worked across five key areas and within the joint efforts significantly mitigated the impacts which COVID-19 had on the industry in Brazil. These key areas were: Operational Safety Documentation, procedures within the regulations and management system to cope with the pandemic scenario; Tracking of COVID-19 cases and effective response measures/learnings across industry; Hazard Identification related to the operational conditions impacted by the COVID-19 crisis; Risk Assessment for the identified hazards because of the pandemic; and Emergency Response plans for response to the worst-case operational scenario during a pandemic. Although severe outbreaks did occur on several installations, causing temporary shutdowns, there have to date been no major operational accidents as a result of COVID-19 personnel evacuations or procedures. Additionally, the total oil and gas production levels for Brazil have been maintained or increased across the sector. These high-level performance indicators demonstrate that through the efforts of the ANP, operators, service providers and other regulators, the pandemic situation is being managed successfully while the industry also continues meet the necessary energy demands of the country. Although the global pandemic has been a sobering and dark period in history for all, there have been positive outcomes for the oil and gas exploration and production industry. The three most apparent positive outcomes are: Ability of regulators and operators to adapt together; A focus by all players on the safety of the workforce and environment;. Effectively operating under adverse conditions with reduced and essential workforce.