New judicial interpretation of PRC Anti-Unfair Competition Law issued

The Supreme People's Court of China has announced the firstjudicial interpretation of the PRC Anti-Unfair Competition Law(‘the Law’), to clarify the ambiguities in the applicationof the Law. Issues covered include passing off by the use oftrade names, packaging or trade dress of well-known products,or the use of the business name or personal name of anotherenterprise or individual, false or exaggerated advertising,and unauthorized use of trade secrets.     

Management and safety of a medical mission: occupational hazards of volunteering

Medical aid missions involve travel to conflict or danger zones, posing safety risks in addition to the usual occupational risks arising from daily medical work. The note reports on a volunteer mission, using personal reports, anecdotal experiences, and the formal annual report to undertake an assessment similar to worksite assessments for hazards and control measures. Hazards were found to be prevalent, including physical noise and heat, infectious exposure from patients and local vectors, poor water sanitation, and psychosocial stress from unfamiliar environments and large patient numbers with limited means. Implementable preventative measures include increasing awareness with appropriate protective equipment usage and safety guidelines. Mission planning and management should also involve occupational health input.     

The effects of the IMF on expropriation of foreign firms

This paper seeks to explain the determinants of foreign expropriation in the developing world. We argue that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) helps to reduce the likelihood of nationalization because of the direct leverage the Fund holds over borrowers, especially as expropriation is a blatant violation of international property rights. Using expropriation data from 1961 to 2006, and several different measures for the Fund, we find that countries under IMF agreements are less likely to nationalize foreign firms. We also show that the Fund’s influence is greatest when the IMF loan represents a larger share of the borrower country’s gross domestic product (GDP) as well as in countries with weaker political institutions. The takeaway is that IMF continues to influence policy choices in the developing world.     

Why Japan and Russia have failed to solve the territorial dispute: the 1956 Joint Declaration and the mechanism of political coherence

Despite the several chances of agreement, Japan and Russia have failed to solve the dispute over the Northern Territories/South Kuril Islands. The 1956 model seems to be the most plausible method, but the lack of political coherence of the central politics and the will of negotiation became the factors that hinder the two countries from reaching an agreement. By reviewing the conflicting footprints and strategies of the two countries, the authors argue that the more democratized and diffused a political system is, the more difficult it is to come to an agreement in negotiations. This intensifies the existing theory of foreign policy decision-making process emphasizing the influence of domestic constituents.     

马来西亚国民型华文小学多元化现象

马来西亚国民型华文小学(华小)是以华语为媒介语的小学。现今一些华小,学生的族群背景已开始从单一种族走向多元种族,即从早期以华裔学生为主到近期非华裔学生人数不断增长,学生来源不再维持单元化。多元化的学生背景给教学和行政带来了改变,尤其是校内的交际语言。根据对一所多元种族学生的华小所进行的观察,全校学生不只是华裔,三分之一是马来人、印度人和其他种族。校内的各族学生并用华语、马来语或其他各自母语来沟通。老师中也包括不谙华语的马来教师,因此校内行政运作的语言是华语和马来语并用,但逐步转向单用马来语。华小的各种改变和现状调查对国内外关心华文教育者有重要的参考价值。华小学生和教师的族群和母语背景不再单元化,意味着华文教育本质发生变化。华小走向多元化,是华文教育的一大挑战。     

马来西亚华人家庭语言的转变

马来西亚华人的语言在当地多语社会和现代化环境下备受冲击,而作为社会基本单位的家庭所使用的语言也受其影响而发生变化.本文根据在马来西亚进行的实地调查所得到的数据和实例,从夫妻、兄弟姐妹、父子以及祖孙用语四大角度来考察华人家庭语言的现状以及变化,研究对象包括福建、广东、客家、潮州和海南五大华人方言群体.研究证实,马来西亚华人的家庭语言正处于从华人方言逐渐转向华语和英语的历史性过渡中.