scholarly journals The Asian region and COVID-19: approaches and gaps in controlling the virus

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Poonam Mehta
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
Social Stigma ◽  
Macro Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Slowing Down ◽  
Asian Region ◽  
The World ◽  
Almost All ◽  
International Boundaries ◽  
Relevant Factors

PurposeThe world is facing an unprecedented transformation in its social, economic and financial environments due to the emergence of a new pandemic called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The norms on social distancing, lockdowns and sealing of international boundaries are the common measures taken by almost all regions of the world. However, the Asian region is found to have a relatively lesser number of infected cases and deaths due to COVID-19 in comparison to the other regions of the world. The present study has been aimed to review the roles of various factors as approaches, such as technology, business–government collaborations, financial bailouts and policies from government side and geographical and demographical factors of the countries in slowing down the transmission of virus in the Asian region including East Asia, South Asia and South East Asia for controlling COVID-19. Besides, the present study has also emphasised the gaps which have disabled the Asian region in controlling the transmission of virus.Design/methodology/approachFor framing the paper, various articles, national and international reports and academic papers have been reviewed, which are published in the period 2000–2020. The studies are shortlisted on the basis of keywords, such as COVID-19, coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome-like coronavirus ( SARS-CoV-2), pandemic, virus, quarantine, Asia, etc.FindingsThe study has emphasised the roles of government, technology, business–government collaborations and geographical and demographical factors of countries as relevant factors in controlling COVID-19. Also, the study has highlighted inefficient health infrastructure, fear of social stigma and misinformation amongst citizens as those gaps where Asian regions are simultaneously found to be unprepared and inefficient to control the pandemic.Research limitations/implicationsThe present review would aid researchers in explaining the relevance of macro-level factors such as technology, business–government collaborations, government policies and financial bailouts and geographical and demographical factors of the region in controlling the transmission of pandemics and epidemics.Practical implicationsThe study would assist decision makers, governments and individuals in framing of the various strategies and interventions to control pandemics and epidemics.Social implicationsThe present study has explained the relevance of various behavioural and social factors as gaps which are responsible for speeding up the transmission of COVID-19. Here, the study would guide the society in taking various right steps during the phase of pandemic and lockdowns.Originality/valuePreviously, rarely any study has been found which has reviewed the roles of macro-level factors as approaches and gaps in the context of the Asian region to slow down the transmission of COVID-19.

English in Asia, Asian Englishes, and the issue of proficiency

English Today ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 3-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kingsley Bolton
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
East Asia ◽  
South Asia ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
English Learning ◽  
Outer Circle ◽  
Asian Region ◽  
The World ◽  
Basic Issue

ABSTRACTThe contemporary visibility and importance of English throughout the Asian region coupled with the emergence and development of distinct varieties of Asian Englishes have played an important part in the global story of English in recent years. Across Asia, the numbers of people having at least a functional command of the language have grown exponentially over the last four decades, and current changes in the sociolinguistic realities of the region are often so rapid that it is difficult for academic commentators to keep pace. One basic issue in the telling of this story is the question of what it is we mean by the term ‘Asia’, itself a word of contested etymology, whose geographical reference has ranged in application from the Middle East to Central Asia, and from the Indian sub-continent to Japan and Korea. In this article, my discussion will focus on the countries of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia, as it is in these regions that we find not only the greatest concentration of ‘outer-circle’ English-using societies but also a number of the most populous English-learning and English-knowing nations in the world.

scholarly journals Changing Molecular Epidemiology of Vibrio cholerae Outbreaks in Shanghai, China

mSystems ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalong Hu ◽  
Zhiqiu Yin ◽  
Chao Yuan ◽  
Pan Yang ◽  
Chengqian Qian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southeast Asia ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Vibrio Cholerae ◽  
Watery Diarrhea ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
Genome Sequences ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The World ◽  
Pandemic Strains

ABSTRACT The 7th cholera pandemic began in 1961 in Sulawesi, Indonesia, and then spread around the world in at least three waves. However, the lack of genome sequences for Vibrio cholerae strains under long-term surveillance in East Asia, especially in China, has restricted our understanding of the dynamics of the intracountry and intercountry evolution and transmission of the 7th-pandemic clones. In this study, we obtained the genome sequences of 60 V. cholerae strains isolated in Shanghai, the largest port in the world and the largest city in China, from 1961 to 2011. Our whole-genome-based phylogeny of 7th-pandemic strains revealed that all but one fell into five “stages,” most of which are single clades and share independent ancestors. Each stage dominated in succession for a period, with little overlap between them. In addition, two near-identical Shanghai strains belonging to a pre-7th-pandemic precursor and 4 nontoxigenic O1/O139 strains attributed to independent recombination events at the O-antigen loci were present. The major lineages of the 7th pandemic in Shanghai appeared to be closely related to V. cholerae strains isolated from South or Southeast Asia. Stage succession was consistently related to changes in society and human activity, implying that human-caused niche change may play a vital role in the cholera dynamics in Shanghai. IMPORTANCE V. cholerae is the causative agent of cholera, a life-threatening disease characterized by severe, watery diarrhea. The 7th pandemic started in Indonesia in 1961 and spread globally, currently infecting 1.3 million to 4 million people annually. Here, we applied whole-genome sequencing to analyze a long-term collection of V. cholerae clinical strains to reveal the phylogenetic background and evolutionary dynamics of the 7th pandemic in Shanghai, which had undergone breathtakingly rapid development in the last half-century. All but one of the Shanghai 7th-pandemic strains fell into five “stages” that were dominant in Shanghai and appeared to be closely related to 7th-pandemic strains of South or Southeast Asia. Our findings extended the understanding of the dynamics of the evolution and transmission of the 7th-pandemic clones in East Asia and the relationship between social changes and cholera epidemiology.

Syrian-Lebanese food shortages will drive instability

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
World Bank ◽  
Humanitarian Aid ◽  
Syrian Refugees ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
The World Bank ◽  
The World ◽  
Food Shortages ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The Eu

Significance While Lebanon is experiencing what the World Bank dubbed “the worst economic crisis in more than a century”, civil war-torn Syria has been hit by one of the most severe droughts of the past decade. An estimated 77% of Lebanese households do not have enough food, and almost all Syrians suffer from reduced availability. Impacts Neighbouring countries such as Jordan and Turkey will be the first affected by any new migration wave. The EU may also see more migration from the Levant as a result of food insecurity. The return of Syrian refugees from Lebanon could increase pressure on the humanitarian aid sector in Syria. Israel may more tightly secure its Lebanese and Syrian borders for fear of spillover from rising tensions.

Riding the tiger of world university rankings in East Asia: where are we heading?

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 230-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Hallinger
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
East Asia ◽  
East Asian ◽  
University Rankings ◽  
Content Type ◽  
University Development ◽  
World University Rankings ◽  
The World ◽  
University Leaders ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The region's universities are “riding a tiger” of university rankings in East Asian higher education, in a race to gain in the list of the world's top 100 universities. While this race impacts universities throughout the world, it takes on particular importance in East Asia due to the stage of university development and the needs of regional societies. The purposes of this paper are to: To examine the emergent global emphasis on world university ranking as a driver of change in higher education, To discuss how the world university rankings are impacting East Asian universities, To assess consequences for higher education in the region, To explore options for leading universities in a more meaningful direction in East Asia. Design/methodology/approach – This paper examines research and commentary on the impact of world university rankings on universities in East Asia. Findings – This paper proposes that the world university rankings have, over a relatively short period of time, had unanticipated but potentially insidious effects on higher education in East Asia. This paper proposes that the “tiger” is carrying most East Asian universities towards goals that may not reflect the aspirations of their societies, or the people that work and study in them. Yet, climbing off the “tiger” often feels just as risky as hanging on to its back. Instead of seeking to lay blame at any one party, the paper suggests that the problem is systemic in nature. Multiple parts of the system need to change in order to achieve effects in the distal parts (e.g. faculty, students, and society). Only leadership can bring about this type of change. The scholarly community must gain some degree of input and monitoring over the rules of the rankings game. Only by joining hands can university leaders in the region change the “Ranking Game” to reflect the reality and needs of university development and social contribution in East Asia. Only by cooperation can the region's university leaders create reciprocal pressure on other parts of the system. In response to systemic problems, “I” may be powerless, but “we” are not. Originality/value – The originality and value of this paper lie in its aim to elevate underlying dissatisfaction with the rankings into a broader and more explicit debate over the direction in which East Asian universities are riding on the back of the tiger.

Nasser'S Pan-Arab Radicalism and the Saudi Drive for Islamic Solidarity: A Response for Security

1992 ◽  
Vol 48 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Noor Ahmad Baba
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
World War Ii ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
World War ◽  
Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia ◽  
Post World War Ii ◽  
Asian Region ◽  
The World ◽  
Almost All

Post World War-II era has witnessed great upheavals of far-reaching social, political and economic consequences, overtaking almost all regions of the World. This changed the very context of international relations in these areas. West Asian region dominated by conservative monarchies under varying degrees of western colonial influences, could not escape this all pervading currents of change especially since the late 40s and early 50s. A series of developments in a quick succession changed the very patterns of relationships in the region and shook the very foundations of the conservative regimes there.1 One of the prominent regime that felt threatned and survived by successfully responding to the situation, is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the most potent threat that it had to confront with was the post 1952 revolution in Egypt

Small uptick in South-east Asia piracy is likely

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The World ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Unregulated Fishing ◽  
Financial Losses ◽  
Singapore Strait

Significance More than one-third of reported incidents occurred in the Singapore Strait, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. A key factor in this rise in regional maritime crime was the pandemic-related economic downturn. Impacts A rising problem of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing by Chinese vessels will strain regional coast guards. Racketeers will continue to tempt Rohingya refugees in Bangladeshi camps to attempt perilous sea voyages to South-east Asian states. Shipping companies will suffer increasing financial losses from cyberattacks against shore-based operations and vessels at sea.

Heritage interpretation, conflict and reconciliation in East Asia: global issues in microcosm

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
William Logan
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
Critical Element ◽  
International Conflicts ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Issues ◽  
Policies And Procedures ◽  
The World ◽  
Heritage Protection ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Heritage Interpretation

PurposeDespite being the intellectual foundation on which the notion of heritage is built and a critical element in all programmes aimed at heritage protection, interpretation as a concept and practice is not well understood or used.Design/methodology/approachThe paper explores the reasons for and consequences of heritage interpretation as a concept and practice not being well understood using case studies within the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) heritage arena in East Asia.FindingsThe paper shows how heritage interpretation impacts both positively and negatively on nation-building within states and the shaping of international relations between states. It identifies heritage interpretation approaches that might help to achieve reconciliation between peoples recently engaged in international conflicts. These concerns are not confined to East Asia but apply across the world.Originality/valueThe discussion draws together the three principal forms of heritage in UNESCO's global project: heritage places, protected under the World Heritage Convention; living or embodied heritage, safeguarded under the Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention and documentary heritage preserved under the Memory of the World Program. Suggestions are made as to how the organizations and agencies charged with heritage protection should and could modify their interpretation policies and procedures to help remediate existing negative impacts and avoid creating new tensions in future.

scholarly journals Trend analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic in China and the rest of the world

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albertine Weber ◽  
Flavio Iannelli ◽  
Sebastián Gonçalves
Keyword(s):  
Exponential Growth ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Exponential Phase ◽  
List Type ◽  
Slowing Down ◽  
Johns Hopkins University ◽  
Local Case ◽  
The World ◽  
China And Japan ◽  
Almost All

AbstractThe recent epidemic of Coronavirus (COVID-19) that started in China has already been “exported” to more than 140 countries in all the continents, evolving in most of them by local spreading. In this contribution we analyze the trends of the cases reported in all the Chinese provinces, as well as in some countries that, until March 15th, 2020, have more than 500 cases reported. Notably and differently from other epidemics, the provinces did not show an exponential phase. The data available at the Johns Hopkins University site [1] seem to fit well an algebraic sub-exponential growing behavior as was pointed out recently [2]. All the provinces show a clear and consistent pattern of slowing down with growing exponent going nearly zero, so it can be said that the epidemic was contained in China. On the other side, the more recent spread in countries like, Italy, Iran, and Spain show a clear exponential growth, as well as other European countries. Even more recently, US —which was one of the first countries to have an individual infected outside China (Jan 21st, 2020)— seems to follow the same path. We calculate the exponential growth of the most affected countries, showing the evolution along time after the first local case. We identify clearly different patterns in the analyzed data and we give interpretations and possible explanations for them. The analysis and conclusions of our study can help countries that, after importing some cases, are not yet in the local spreading phase, or have just started.HIGHLIGHTSAll the provinces of China show very similar epidemic behaviour.Early stages of spreading can be explained in terms of SIR standard model, considering that reported cases accounts for the removed individuals, with algebraic growing (sub-exponential) in most locations.Worldwide, we observe two classes of epidemic growth: sub-exponential during almost all stages (China and Japan) and exponential on the rest of the countries, following the early stage.The exponential growth rates ranges from 0.016day−1 (South Korea) to 0.725day−1 (Brunei) which means 1.6% to 107% of new cases per day, for the different countries but China.

Globalization and interconfessional communications

2001 ◽  
pp. 13-17
Author(s):  
Serhii Viktorovych Svystunov
Keyword(s):  
21St Century ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Modern World ◽  
The World ◽  
Target Set ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Rapid Appearance

In the 21st century, the world became a sign of globalization: global conflicts, global disasters, global economy, global Internet, etc. The Polish researcher Casimir Zhigulsky defines globalization as a kind of process, that is, the target set of characteristic changes that develop over time and occur in the modern world. These changes in general are reduced to mutual rapprochement, reduction of distances, the rapid appearance of a large number of different connections, contacts, exchanges, and to increase the dependence of society in almost all spheres of his life from what is happening in other, often very remote regions of the world.

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