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In 1951, a batch of 24 young animals of both sexes of Chilla or Grey fox Lycalopex griseus from continental Magallanes region, Chile – and perhaps also from adjacent continental Argentina – were released at Onaisin (65 km ESE Porvenir town, 53°18′S) on Tierra del Fuego Island in southernmost South America, to control a European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) irruption that was considered detrimental to sheep (Ovis aries) ranching. Up to now, no attention has been paid to the temporal course of that introduction. Here we provide a historical account of the presence of foxes on the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago, starting with Charles Darwin account of 1839 until present. We also review the regulatory framework concerning hunting of those foxes and tally their culling for export of pelts. Finally, we provide estimates of the abundance of Chilla foxes on Tierra del Fuego Island for the period 1999–2007 and for 2021, and highlight their current spread. These translocated foxes have become an abundant and functional part of both steppe and forest ecosystems on the Fuegian archipelago, even though they are killed by hunters, without spatial, temporal, or numerical limits. We conclude that interesting scientific opportunities are being missed regarding the population genetics of a species that may have left founding effects and genetic bottlenecks in Tierra del Fuego, and perhaps some peculiar continental markers among the island population. We also raise the question whether this introduced native species may be deemed invasive, calling for research to determine its impact in its new environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article introduces the AESOP Thematic Group "Transboundary Planning and Governance" and its recent organisational and thematic changes. It also scans recent research from the viewpoint of two interlinked key dimensions of transboundary planning and governance: scale and scope. By doing so, the article aims to highlight promising research perspectives related to transboundary and integrated planning, crossing administrative borders and siloes respectively. This is especially relevant with a view to the multiple crises society is currently facing. To date, transboundary planning and governance is often portrayed through the challenges it is facing. However, as this article argues, there is a need to move forward and focus on how the transboundary setting -- often more flexible and malleable than other governance contexts -- can make a contribution to address current crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has resulted in international, cross‐border supply chains returning to a new prominence. The BRI presents opportunities for cross‐border supply chain collaboration (SCC) research. Assessing the influencing factors of cross‐border SCC is beneficial for understanding and improving this evolving, globally influential international trade policy. The BRI is quite complex so that subjective assessment methods are useful but need to be improved. To address this issue, this paper initially develops a cross‐border SCC factor framework based on synergetic theory. A vague set and DEMATEL methods are integrated to form a unified model to support the assessment. A combination weighting that uses analytic hierarchy process and an entropy weighting method, that is, a data crawler for BRI‐related documents, to ensure that objective importance weights of the factors in the Belt and Road context are achieved. The results show that information sharing, profit allotment, the degree of trust, and goal congruence as common drivers of SCC are not driving factors in the Belt and Road cross‐border context. They are core issues that do not affect cross‐border SCC directly. Senior manager support and customs regulation are two important drivers of cross‐border SCC. The practitioners of cross‐border SCC should not only focus on the support from senior managers and customs regulation but also attempt to improve performance, such as information sharing and trust, to obtain more support from senior managers and policy makers to promote cross‐border SCC indirectly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to present the need and the importance of using efficiently the energy and finding new ways to improve the transport based on renewable energy. The paper is based on a large number of official information sources which are structured and presented in the author's opinion. The main results emphasize that the Danube region is a large river basin and ecological corridor requiring a regional approach to nature conservation, spatial planning and water management. The environmental impact of transport links, tourist constructions or new energy production facilities must also be considered. Transport policy has been given a new direction: achieving a 'sustainable through flexibility' system, which means organizing transport in such a way as to optimize energy consumption. The development of the national transmission system shall be carried out in accordance with the requirements of conservation and environmental protection and the rational use of energy. The protection of human life and the environment is a priority in all transport-related relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Knowledge of plants and their uses is an essential link between people and the environment. To foster biocultural diversity as a vehicle for mutually beneficial coexistence, we need to understand how plant-related knowledge circulates. Considering the rapid loss of biocultural diversity, especially in peripheral areas, the local dimensions of ecological knowledge circulation merit greater scholarly attention. Exploring the current Polish-Lithuanian-Belarusian borderland, we found relatively homogeneous wild food plant knowledge circulated within historically united, yet now separated, local communities of Lithuanians and Poles. However, we call for deeper qualitative analysis in order to detect recent changes in the flow of knowledge. The circulation of local ecological knowledge (LEK) is a promising avenue of research for wild plant studies. To encourage the acceptance, celebration, and appreciation of biocultural diversity, which is rapidly disappearing nowadays, we need to estimate and assess multifaceted local ecological knowledge. It has direct application for local communities in informing effective policies for improving food security and building community-specific responses to environmental and social transitions. The present study draws on data collected among two ethnic groups—Lithuanians and Poles—via 200 semi-structured in-depth interviews and participant observation conducted in 2018 and 2019 in Podlasie Voivodeship (Poland), the Vilnius Region (Lithuania), and the Hrodna Region (Belarus). We aimed to observe LEK circulation in the border area through cross-ethnic and cross-country comparisons. A total of 2812 detailed use reports of wild plants were recorded. In total, 72 wild plant taxa belonging to 33 plant families were used across the food domain. Our findings show that cross-country differences were minimal, while there was some variation between the ethnic groups selected as case studies. We emphasize the need, in future studies, to combine quantitative research with qualitative approaches in order to more thoroughly identify peculiarities of cross-border circulation as a reservoir for community food resilience and biocultural diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this article, the authors briefly present the cross-border specificities of unconventional threats to the security of States generated by the new challenges of the international security environment. In the new context of the international security environment, some cross-border threats are developing, such as illegal trafficking, transit of migrants from Asia and Africa, as well as migration from Eastern European States to Western Europe. At the heart of the development of cross-border threats we can find the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the easy crossing of borders, low-cost land and water transport, corruption and the underground economy, drug trafficking routes through this region and the continued outbreaks of conflict.

Differences in perspective on territorial boundaries between local communities with customary rights based on customary law and the definition of territorial boundaries in the context of state administration raises a dilemma, one of which is the potential for statelessness. The existence of ulayat customary land is a factor that affects illegal border crossings. The Governments of the Republic of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea responded to this by entering into basic agreements and special arrangements. This article aims to examine the implementation and effectiveness of special arrangements and basic agreements in dealing with the emergence of statelessness problems. This study uses a statutory and conceptual approach. The results of the study found that the application of rules that were positivistic in nature could not be applied absolutely to residents of the border between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. The use of red and yellow card policies is only temporary, so a permanent policy is needed to address this issue.

This is an analysis of how cross-border minorities manage to communicate and provide humanitarian support to those who are in major difficulties in the context of the war in Ukraine. Therefore, in this paper, I propose an analysis of the way conflicts arise and unfold in a multicultural society, through the lens of the problems related to such a society, namely the issue of minorities and the idea of tolerance, and let's show how these conflicts are managed internationally.

Introduction: Delays between self-reported symptom onset and commencement of effective treatment contribute to ongoing tuberculosis (TB) transmission, which is a particular concern in patients with drug-resistant (DR)-TB. The study authors assessed improvements in time to commencement of effective treatment in patients diagnosed with DR-TB in the Torres Strait-Papua New Guinea cross-border region. Methods: All laboratory-confirmed DR-TB cases diagnosed in the Torres Strait between 1 March 2000 and 31 March 2020 were reviewed. Total time from self-reported onset of symptoms to effective treatment commencement in different programmatic time periods was assessed. Pairwise analyses and time to event proportional hazard calculations were used to explore the association between delays in median time to effective treatment, and selected variables. Data were further analysed to examine predictors of excessive treatment delay. Results: The median number of days from self-reported onset of symptoms to effective treatment commencement was 124 days (interquartile range 51-214) over two decades. Between 2006 and 2012, most (57%) cases exceeded this 'grand median' while the median 'time to treat' in the most recent time period (2016-2020) was significantly reduced to 29 days (p

This paper aims to unravel and describe cross-border tourism research trends by examining databases of prestigious journals. Primary data on this paper were collected from Scopus' database related to cross-border tourism published between early 1993 and late 2021. There are 334 documents included in the analysis. Furthermore, the collected data were analyzed using bibliometric analysis. The findings suggest that the cross-border tourism research trend has increased significantly in the last five years since the first article on the subject was published in the Scopus database in 1993. Cross-border tourism issues are widely published in the Annals of Tourism Research, Geojournal of Tourism and Geosites, as well as the Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism. Meanwhile, collaboration, shopping, and medical are the most prominent keywords identified as a subject theme closely associated with cross-border tourism. Dallen J. Timothy's works have received the most considerable attention in the cross-border tourism discussion, evidenced by the highest citation rate. Additionally, European countries are the most prolific and influential in the publication of cross-border tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main conflicts of the twentieth century occurred mainly because of political and ideological reasons. The borders of states became real insurmountable barriers not only for enemies, but several times also for their own citizens. This character of the borders created rather the role of elements that prevented the emergence of common activities and values. The dissolution of Yugoslavia at the beginning of the 90s created seven new independent states. After the armed conflicts that followed the initial proclamation of independence in several of these countries, a period of consolidation came, along with European integration as well as cooperation and reconciliation efforts. Managing territorial cooperation in the European Union and at its South Eastern borders is a social and economic investment that enables European societies to strengthen their cohesion and resilience and become more prosperous. It can be considered also a societal process in which the responsibility does not rest with a specific group, but with several. Civil society and its organizations play an important role in the development of territorial cooperation in all the target countries. These carry out valuable work assisting or even substituting for governments by providing guidance and support in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intensification of cross-border interactions, the progress achieved in the process of European integration and the expansion of the EU to the east raises the issue of cross-border cooperation in a political-geopolitical context. The issue of cross-border cooperation in general goes beyond geographical, economic and legal approaches. If we intend to treat the phenomenon from a specific point of view, we will find ambiguities and uncertainties regarding the role and functioning of some institutions in the process of cross-border cooperation and partnerships. Therefore, the full analysis of the cross-border cooperation process cannot be done only if we also evaluate the effects produced by the institutions in the local governance sector and their political dimension. The study aims to realize an inventory of the general trends and evolutions from the past century, regarding the perception of the Romania-Hungarian, but also focuses on the border cooperation activities which had an impact on transnational institution building amongst the local governance apparatus in Bihor County in the process of cross-border cooperation in the development period 2014-2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study explores a method of transferring a post graduate medical education curriculum internationally and contextualising it to the local environment. This paper also explores the experiences of those local medical educationalists involved in the process. Methods: Several methods were implemented. Firstly, a modified Delphi process for the contextualisation of learning outcomes was implemented with a purposefully sampled expert group of Malaysian Family Medicine Specialists. Secondly a small group review for supporting materials was undertaken. Finally, qualitative data in relation to the family medicine specialists' experiences of the processes was collected via online questionnaire and analysed via template analysis. Descriptive statistics were used. Results: Learning outcomes were reviewed over three rounds; 95.9% (1691/1763) of the learning outcomes were accepted without modification, with the remainder requiring additions, modifications, or deletions. Supporting materials were extensively altered by the expert group. Template analysis showed that Family Medicine Specialists related positively to their involvement in the process, commenting on the amount of similarity in the medical curriculum whilst recognising differences in disease profiles and cultural approaches. Conclusions: Learning outcomes and associated material were transferable between "home" and "host" institution. Where differences were discovered this novel approach places "host" practitioners' experiences and knowledge central to the adaptation process, thereby rendering a fit for purpose curriculum. Host satisfaction with the outcome of the processes, as well as ancillary benefits were clearly identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Delays between self-reported symptom onset and commencement of effective treatment contribute to ongoing tuberculosis (TB) transmission, which is a particular concern in patients with drug-resistant (DR)-TB. The study authors assessed improvements in time to commencement of effective treatment in patients diagnosed with DR-TB in the Torres Strait-Papua New Guinea cross-border region. Methods: All laboratory-confirmed DR-TB cases diagnosed ir the Torres Strait between 1 March 2000 and 31 March 2020 were reviewed. Total time from self-reported onset of symptoms to effective treatment commencement in different programmatic time periods was assessed. Pairwise analyses and time to event proportional hazard calculations were used to explore the association between delays in median time to effective treatment, and selected variables. Data were further analysed to examine predictors of excessive treatment delay. Results: The median number of days from self-reported onse of symptoms to effective treatment commencement was 124 days (interquartile range 51-214) over two decades. Between 2006 and 2012, most (57%) cases exceeded this grand median' while the median 'time to treat' in the most recent time period (2016-2020) was significantly reduced to 29 days (p<0.001). Although there was a reduction in the median 'time to treat' with the introduction of Xpert MTB/RIF (135 days pre-Xpert v 67 days post-Xpert) this was not statistically significant (p=0.07). Establishment of the Torres and Cape TB Control Unit on Thursday Island (2016-2020) was significantly associated with reduced treatment delay, compared to the previous TB program period (2000-2005, p<0.04; 2006-2012, p<0.001). Conclusion: Minimising TB treatment delay in remote settings like the Torres Strait-Papua New Guinea cross-border region requires effective decentralised diagnosis and management structures. The results of this study suggest that the establishment of the Torres and Cape TB Control Unit on Thursday Island significantly improved time to commencement of effective TB treatment. Possible contributing factors include better TB education, cross-border communication and patient-centred care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cross-border movements, especially from a malaria-endemic neighbour, contribute to importation of malaria, as they provide favourable conditions for malaria transmission in the receiving country. In the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province of South Africa (SA), the uMkhanyakude district is one of the endemic malaria areas where the borders are characterised by frequent cross-border movements of travellers coming into the province, mostly from Mozambique. Many studies have suggested that regional efforts through the implementation of cross-border measures are needed in both the high- and low-endemic countries to effectively address imported malaria. The implementation of cross-border measures to prevent imported malaria has led to a significant decline in malaria cases in KZN and SA; however, those measures are subjected to various challenges. Objective: This study sought to determine the health system challenges of implementing cross-border preventive measures for imported malaria at the Kosi Bay, Kwaphuza and Golela ports of entry in KZN. Methods: This inquiry consisted of a mixed methods approach, of which the qualitative component is reported here. In-depth interviews were conducted with four purposively selected health officers working at the legal and illegal ports of entry of the KZN province. Data were coded manually and then analysed using thematic data and descriptive analyses. Results: This study identified operational and prevention challenges. The related operational challenges included travellers' non-disclosure and refusal, uncontrolled cross-border movements and poor coverage as well as shortage of staff. The prevention challenges included lack of novelty in the existing cross-border preventive measures, insecurity and illegal migration. Concerning travellers' non-disclosure and refusal to cooperate, these issues occur at the legal ports of entry of Kosi Bay and Golela, where travellers were less cooperative in disclosing their health-related information to health border officers. They were more eager to cross and attend to their business. The findings revealed a lack of new ideas in the existing cross-border measures for the prevention of imported malaria, which some scientists considered as the reason for the failure of the elimination efforts in SA. Because of the porous borders and the shortage of staff to cover all the uncontrolled entries, travellers constantly crossed without any hindrances. Porous borders exposed the people living at the border areas and travellers to insecurity, promoted criminal activities and encouraged illegal migration. Conclusion: Cross-border malaria preventive measures are meant to contribute to decreased travel-related disease. Failure to attain this purpose must be carefully examined and mitigation strategies implemented. The study revealed the challenges of implementing cross-border measures at the KZN ports of entry of Kosi Bay, Kwaphuza and Golela. The challenges occurred at the operational and prevention levels, which, if not effectively addressed, could impede the decrease of imported malaria in the malaria-endemic district of KZN and SA in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major investigation challenges are summarised as multiple-identity, fraudulent actions, lack of interoperability and absence of an effective technical solution for exchanging Cross-Border information, and complexity of OSINT investigations. The EU published Regulations (EU) 2019/817 and 2019/818 for establishing a framework for EU interoperability between information systems in the field of borders and visa information systems, police and judicial cooperation, asylum, and migration. Existing systems such as EURODAC, SIS / SISII, and VIS must share data, and new systems such as ECRIS-TCN, EES, and ETIAS also need to follow these guidelines. Although the eu-LISA will implement the interoperability framework in 2023, new challenges will emerge, such as investigating multiple-identity and identity frauds due to the different formats and structures of data, low quality of biographic and biometric data, and low accuracy of matching algorithms. Furthermore, the Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) investigation process is not automated, consumes a lot of time, and is overwhelming. When border security and law enforcement officers use methods of OSINT to investigate terrorism and serious crime, it is very difficult to match and link the identity-related data and facial images of the suspects stored in the EU systems, Cross-Border systems, and open sources. The paper argues different Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods and algorithms and interoperability could be the optimum solution for the challenges mentioned above. The paper highlights a Person-Centric approach using Artificial Intelligence and interoperability to solve the challenges that emerge during investigations, such as multiple-identity, identity frauds, exchanging Cross-Border information, and the complexity of OSINT investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Having analysed the history of acquisitions by public Chinese companies over the period of 1996–2020, we document no persistent statistically significant short-term market reaction upon deal completion. Short-term cumulative abnormal returns are non-different from zero regardless of whether the acquisition is the first or one of many on acquirers' record, whether it is domestic or cross-border or whether it is vertical or horizontal as well as regardless of industry and declared purpose of acquisition. In the overwhelming majority of cases, acquirers' prior acquisition experience plays no role in shaping short-term post-acquisition returns. Lower returns are associated with serial acquirers especially if the series of acquisitions occurs within the same industry. Likewise, significantly lower cumulative returns are observed if the acquiree is a state-owned entity. Overall, the markets appear to attach no abnormal returns to firms' inorganic growth regardless of its span across geographies, industries and time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brantas Watershed covers almost all regions of the Greater Malang (the Batu City, Malang City, and Malang Regency) and Blitar Regency in the East Java Province. These four cities/regencies are in one landscape so that several strategic sectors are interrelated. Global climate change impacts the form of environmental disasters in this region, which is even more significant in the future. This phenomenon has changed the development paradigm in this region. The research conducted descriptive analysis and observation in these four administrative areas to reveal the impacts on particular sectors, evaluate the preparedness of the four local governments, and formulate the strategies to integrate the development agendas in the landscape of Upstream Brantas Watershed. The study found that vulnerability and risk studies need to be carried out in an integrated perspective, then the local governments need to strengthen their adaptive capacity and include this agenda in the development programs. Likewise, the resolution of the problem needs to be done together across administrative boundaries, which is often a different challenge in Indonesia's administrative form of decentralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides an outlook of the evolution of cross-border innovation literature. A sample of 226 articles addressing cross-border innovation and knowledge transfer published between 1997 and 2022 was screened using bibliometric methods. Data are split over three time slices and a thematic analysis is conducted, suggesting three main themes in literature: research-and-development, mostly linked with mergers and acquisitions and competitiveness, knowledge creation and transfer linked with innovations systems and performance, and innovation linked with networks, firms' capabilities, and absorptive capacity. A co-citation analysis was also conducted which showed that the background literature of the research stream is based on the internationalization process, knowledge transfer and competitiveness, research-and-development, business performance and innovation systems. Results further introduce a geographic boundary to the research in knowledge and innovation, particularly frontier and regional innovation systems. Based on the results, future research lines are suggested, including the role of organizational learning and knowledge creation, towards the innovation of new products and services of companies seeking internationalization, and how disruptive events in worldwide supply chains affect cross-border innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protection of consumers as weaker parties is an important goal in Indonesian society and in Indonesian law. The same applies to the EU Member States. When it comes to crossborder consumer contracts, special rules are needed to ensure this goal can still be achieved. In this regard the European Union developed rules on jurisdiction and applicable law which apply both to situations exclusively connected with EU Member States and to international situations connected with third countries. The Brussels I Regulation pursues an objective of legal certainty which consists in strengthening the legal protection of persons established in the European Union, by enabling the applicant to easily identify the court in which he may sue and the defendant reasonably to foresee before which court, he may be sued. The Rome I Regulation does the same for the law regulating the protection of the consumer. This way both the aims of protection of the weaker consumer and legal certainty on the side of the commercial party go hand in hand. Where legal certainty is an important precondition for international trade and thus for a nation’s economy, clear rules are needed. By presenting the EU rules in the dynamics of the caselaw of the European Court of Justice, this article aims to contribute to the discussion on how future cross-border consumer protecting regulations could be shaped in Indonesia and ASEAN.

Cross-border cooperation on the island of Ireland has a long history, if often a limited scope. The emergence of statutory North/South bodies after the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement of 1998 added a new dynamic. This paper argues that the further development of the Dublin–Belfast Economic Corridor will require key stakeholders to engage widely, not only with a private sector whose rationale will be greater levels of commercial activity along the Corridor but also with others who will bring additional agendas into discussion, including sustainability and quality of life. Political engagement will also be critical to ensure that the top-down support, in terms of investment and alignment with other policy priorities, is present. The framework for this collaboration is already in place, something that was absent in the 1990s. Actors and policy entrepreneurs who can bring together the different types of engagement on a cross-border basis are required.

Many rural areas are facing strong urban and demographic growth. This article focuses more specifically on rural areas subject to strong demographic growth and land pressure due to the influence of a border metropolis. We have chosen to study the French rural areas on the outskirts of Geneva and Luxembourg. We analyze collective action and practices of urban planning actors.We describe the spatial planning issues that actors face in rural areas. How spatial planning practices and actions are characterized in rural areas under the influence of border cities? How do public spatial planning actors manage and steer urban development in these rural areas?We show that the cross-border growth situation leads to particular regulation problems and that public actors respond at both local and state level. We highlight specificities of spatial planning situations concerning these rural areas: the difficulty of intervening at the source of growth dynamics because of the border; the importance of cooperation practices between public actors at different scales; the combination of generic and ad-hoc spatial planning instruments in order to control growth and its undesired effects.

Although many firms operate on global digital platforms, small countries and firms also play an essential role at the national level, especially during crises and the slowdown in globalization. This research investigates trade patterns in digital services at the country and firm level and identifies challenges in this area in providing new information and tools to startup mentors and policymakers, who need more evidence for national authorities to develop mentorship and digital programmes. The study also contributes to transaction cost theory, explaining how it is possible to reduce transaction costs. The methodology involves using quantitative and experimental methods, logistic regression for firms and correspondence analysis for countries. The WTO dataset was used to visualise trade in services data and to interpret clusters of digitalised countries. Interestingly, Estonia stands apart from other post-socialist countries in terms of digital services exports, being among smaller countries and hosting the highest concentration of startups per capita. The firmlevel analysis revealed that firms trading in digital services differ from others – being smaller, more focused on exports and more often controlled by non-residents. The study encourages investments in small countries and small firms that trade successfully in digital services.

The unprecedented outbreak of covid-19 has affected the living conditions of irregular migrants across the globe. This article explores the challenges of cross-border migrants amid the covid-19 outbreak. It accentuates on investigating the life trajectories of irregular migrant returnees since the pandemic started. A mini survey case study was employed to collect data from selected returnees quarantined in Dire Dawa city, Ethiopia. Humanitarian workers and returnee host community members were also entailed for the data triangulation. Key informant interview and questionnaire were administered during the data collection. Partial random and convenience sampling techniques were employed to outreach the survey participants, while key informant interviewees were purposively selected. The study establishes that irregular migrants are a severely affected segment of society by the pandemic outbreak. It is unveiled that covid-19 has induced forced deportation of migrants that has risked them losing advantages they sought at the beginning of their migration. Most of the irregular migrants were excluded from stimulus packages meant to mitigate the economic crisis induced by the pandemic because they lack legal documents to claim the benefit. It is confirmed that migrants contracted covid-19 to a greater extent, forced into deportation at the time cases surged and forced to quarantine on arrival at the home country, thereby increasing their vulnerabilities. Measures taken to curb the virus has interrupted informal business activities overwhelmingly absorbing irregular migrant workers which mutated them back into impoverishment. The study demonstrates that covid-19 has ravaged the living conditions of irregular migrants and that there is need for a specific adaptive response that is considerate of migrant victims from the concerned stakeholders.

In Ethiopia, most studies that were conducted so far on irregular cross-border migration are often tended to omit examining the relative weights of crucial factors associated with origin and destination countries, and personal attributes of the migrants that made evidence remained inconclusive for decision making. The study explored the major driving pull-push factors predicting irregular cross-border migration decision among 402 international returnees randomly drawn from Addis Ababa based on a cross-sectional survey to provide scientific evidence on the issue. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression models were used to analyze the data. Majority of the returnees (90%) concurred that economic factors took the most leading share in compelling the respondents to migrate in irregular manner. Socio-cultural and socio-political factors at abroad and homeland made the first and the second greatest contributions on irregular migration decision with the values of (ß = .403; and ß = .381) respectively at (p = 0.000<0.001). Meanwhile, nevertheless, the decision to migrate was influenced by situations in both the destination and the origin areas, the findings of the present study illuminated that the decision to migrate is robustly more predicted by conditions in the former areas than conditions in the latter ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) are highly transmissible epidemic diseases of livestock which have the capability for rapid spread to new areas and regions regardless of national borders. The TADs are a major threat to livestock of any nation as they have the potential to cause large-scale damage, staking the food security of the country, and can cripple the nation's economy significantly by direct loss in the form of disease conditions and deaths in affected population or indirectly due to required counter epizootic measures, loss in trade and probable zoonotic transmission. South Asian countries are more vulnerable to the introduction of Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) because people continue to move commodities and animals across borders. In addition to South Asian countries, TADs like Peste des Petits Ruminants, Avian Influenza, Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Lumpy Skin Disease and African Swine Fever are generating significant economic losses worldwide. Livestock diseases can result in significant losses for farmers' subsistence and have a negative impact on the nation's economy. The existing policies need a review in the light of recent understanding of drivers of emergence and re-emergence of transboundary animal diseases. Hence, there is a need for a critical review of the existing policies that regulate the preparedness for the prevention of TADs. Rapid diagnosis, surveillance, immunisation, and coordination among all the South Asian countries. The present study focuses on the state of several TADs in South Asia and provides plans of action and suggestions that the scientific community and authorities on animal health might implement. Transboundary animal diseases (TADs) pose a serious threat to the sustainability and economic viability of the existing animal agriculture ecosystem in south Asia. The rapid spread of African swine fever and lumpy skin diseases in south Asia must be considered a wake-up call to prevent the entry, spread, and establishment of new exotic TADs, as south Asia has the highest density of livestock populations, and it will have a huge socioeconomic impact. Regional cooperation for the prevention and control of TADs is necessary, but rational decisions should be made to initiate even sub-regional cooperation in the present geopolitical situation. Cross-border collaboration for surveillance, early warnings, and animal movement control should be encouraged on a bilateral or multilateral basis as many countries share a porous border. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), peste des petits ruminants (PPR), and avian influenza (AI) have been identified as regional priority TADs, and many regional and country initiatives have been undertaken in the last two decades that need to be translated into action. The incursion of exotic TADs into south Asia has compelled us to rethink overall policies and strategies for prevention and control of TADs. This paper took into consideration six emerging and endemic TADs of viral origin to suggest a future course of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the article is to highlight the crisis parameters of the development of the border society in the conditions of modern challenges associated with the Russo-Ukrainian war and the study of the influence of the multidimensional cross-border space on the formation and functioning of hybrid identity, algorithms for the formation of specific identification models of coexistence in border social spaces, variable local and regional cultural practices. Scientific approaches. The phenomenon of the border society did not occupy a prominent place in the humanitarian discourse for quite a long time, the combination of globalization processes with the phenomena of regionalization in areas adjacent to the borders and the application of the methodology of "cross-stories", geopolitical, geocultural and network approaches in their research made it a fashionable brand. The scientific novelty of the study of the social space of the border is determined by its consideration in the context of cross-border social networks, in which the "intersection" of various socio-cultural markers, identification matrices, behavioral stereotypes occurs and the transformation of local values, meanings and symbols is observed. The main conclusion. The local society of the border region is characterized by the presence of powerful conflict-causing factors of socio-cultural development, the multi-vector nature of cultural codes and the hybridity of identifications, the emergence of specific interpretations of social reality. Any border society, despite the additional opportunities that are due to easy crossing of the border, is a zone of increased social mobility and corresponding identification risks. And this means that without thorough scientific research and analytical monitoring of the processes taking place in border areas, it is impossible to find out the origins and consequences of the exacerbation of social problems abroad, to generate new identification strategies aimed at supporting socio-cultural stability and the formation of a sustainable identity. Modern challenges related to the military confrontation between Ukraine and Russia require a careful study of the influence of border states on the processes of hybrid identity formation and awareness of the risk-genic specificity of the ukrainian-russian border society, which, being at the intersection of civilizational borders, has its own logic of development, burdened with a powerful conflict potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective – This study aims to identify the appropriate strategy that can increase cross-border trade activities and policies that can be applied to reduce the negative impacts caused by parties who take advantage of cross-border trade. Methodology – The data were collected from interviews with informants and FGD. The data analysis technique is a qualitative and quantitative analysis developed within the study using EFAS, IFAS, and SWOT analysis. Findings – The study found that Indonesia and the Republic Democratic of Timor Leste (RDTL) border area have the potential and opportunity to be developed. The same cultural background causes cross-border trade interactions to occur between the two countries. Novelty – Belu Regency, as an area bordering the RDTL, has natural and economic potentials that can be developed as a center for small industrial development and a border area for cross-border trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mergers and acquisitions are important mechanisms for the growth of corporations, but up to now the evidence and explanations for good deals and bad deals are mixed. This study attempts to apply configuration theory to perceive and evaluate M&As holistically – that is, as a complex configuration of Timing, Environment, and People, an ideology that stems from ancient Chinese philosophers and has been spread in China for thousands of years. Overlooking the interdependent nature of the factors of Timing, Environment, and People in influencing M&As has limited our understanding of acquisition performance. Through examining the 80 largest cross-border M&A cases in Chinese listed companies by deal value between 2015 and 2018, relying on fuzzy-set methodology by using fsQCA, we investigate different configurations that lead to performance change; the result reveals two different configurations that equifinally result in post-merger performance growth, and three that decline. By constructing a typology of 'good' and 'bad' deals, we develop a mid-range theory of M&A performance change. Thus, the central contribution of this study is to help with the formation of a comprehensive understanding of M&As, and to offer novel managerial implications for practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel therapeutic options for cancer offer hope for patients and their families, particularly when the cancer has not responded to established treatment regimens. The CAR-T cell therapeutic approach has changed the treatment paradigm for relapsed or refractory lymphoma, extending the capacity of the patient's own T cells to detect and eliminate cancer cells through genetic modification of T-cell surface receptors. The process of establishing treatment centers and developing clinical expertize in this novel treatment strategy is complex. Time, resources, and a commitment to focusing health budgets on a new area are required. Currently, Singapore is the only country in southeast and south Asia with market authorization of the CAR-T product, tisagenlecleucel. Availability of CAR-T treatment across international borders provides patients in neighboring countries with choice in therapeutic options. This paper describes the unique hub-and-spoke cross-border collaboration developed between Singapore and its neighbors to provide access to CAR-T cell therapy for patients with relapsed or refractory lymphoma. To date in 2022, four patients have been included in the CAR-T treatment cross-border collaboration. Their stay in Singapore has been at least 2 months' duration, including the pre-treatment evaluation, apheresis, CAR-T cell infusion and post-treatment monitoring. Patient support from referring and treating physicians, critical to the success of the undertaking, is characterized by early communication, patient selection, multi-disciplinary care, post-treatment monitoring, and attention to detail. The patient journey and the development and implementation of this unique collaboration are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study empirically investigates China's participation in the globalized cross-border insolvency collaboration system. It is the first time for the development of China's cross-border insolvency law to be examined against the background of private international law on foreign judgment recognition and enforcement. The findings of this article reveal that foreign bankruptcy representatives face considerable difficulties in satisfying the treaty and reciprocity requirements when seeking judicial assistance from China, and that local protectionism in favour of China's state-owned and state-linked companies undermines foreign bankruptcy representatives' confidence in approaching China's courts for support. Although there are several court recognitions of foreign bankruptcy judgments in China, this article finds that they are only used to acknowledge the legal status of foreign bankruptcy representatives to meet the demands of government authorities; Chinese courts have not taken a substantial step in recognizing a foreign bankruptcy judgment so as to bar individual creditors' action in the interest of a foreign bankruptcy proceeding. On the contrary, for Chinese bankruptcy representatives seeking assistance abroad, they could take advantage of the liberal judicial infrastructure, especially of some advanced jurisdictions, to obtain recognition and relief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

THE CROSS BORDER COOPERATION BETWEEN ROMANIA AND UKRAINE HAD A SLOW START BUT WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME ROMANIA-UKRAINEMOLDOVA 2007-2014 AND AFTER THAT THE SECOND PROGRAMME FOCUSED ONLY ON ROMANIA AND UKRAINE, THE CROSS BORDER COOPERATION BETWEEN THIS TWO COUNTRIES BEGAN TO INTENSIFY, CREATING THE COOPERATION FRAMEWORK AT ALL LEVELS. BECAUSE OF THIS, THE PRIVATE OR THE PUBLIC SECTORS EITHER FROM ROMANIA OR UKRAINE BEGUN TO CREATE THEIR OWN PROJECTS OR THEIR OWN FORM OF COOPERATION. THIS IS HOW STARTING WITH A COOPERATION BETWEEN CERTAIN LINE, DICTATED BY THE JOINT OPERATIONAL PROGRAM, THE TWO STATES BEGAN TO CONSIDER THE REAL BENEFITS OF COOPERATION. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extraordinary growth of China from the early 2000s until now made it one of the biggest economies in the world. Over the years, more and more Chinese companies merged with the U.S. listed special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) to become public and attract foreign capital. This paper examines the differences between this specific subsample of SPACs focused on completing a merger with a business located in China among those listed on the U.S. Stock Exchanges and the other U.S. listed SPACs. The intent is to verify whether the sample differs from the rest of the market in their main characteristics, have better, equal, or worse prospects of completing a merger, and offer better, equal, or worse returns to investors. 329 SPACs were identified, of which 41 targeting Chinese businesses. Logistic regression is performed to understand whether the China market focus influences the chances of consuming a business combination. Moreover, two different models (event study approach and buy-and-hold approach) are implemented to assess the share performances of the two subsamples. The conclusions that stem from the obtained results are that China-focused SPACs differ consistently from the rest of the market in certain features but need similar time to identify a target and close the deal. Focusing on China seems to be beneficial for the SPAC’s prospects of closing a deal, being statistically significant at a 10% level. Last, a portfolio composed of the sample SPACs’ shares overperforms the non-China one in both the short and long terms. Acknowledgment The authors would like to thank their brilliant student, Mr. Daniele Notarnicola, for the precious support given during the review of the paper.

In today's society, given the countless litigations involving minors and arduous litigation that is difficult to manage for the parties involved, all heavily burdening the work of the courts, at European level and not only specialists insist on alternative, non-contentious conflict resolution procedures. One of these effectively proven procedures is mediation. Given the very high mobility of citizens, both nationally and crossborder, the number of cases involving minors is steadily rising, thus cross-border mediation is giving proof of its increasingly effective role.