Volunteering helps the Asian Elephants – Welcome to the BamBlog!
One of the most memorable things anyone can do is watch Thailand's elephant population in its natural habitat. These amazing giants have their own language and you'll see them speaking back and forth with their friends and family. As they bathe, they will heartily trumpet and chirp in constant conversation that sounds so real, you'll wonder what they could be talking about.
Why do the elephants need our help?
Because Thailand's elephants are such magnificent and intelligent creatures, they have been used and misused for many years. For some time, the elephants were trained to work in the logging profession in Thailand, a work which they were very good at. Yet, this unfortunately meant that generations of elephants were not permitted to simply be elephants. These beautiful creatures play a crucial role in the Asian ecosystem, creating clearings and water holes for smaller animals as well as distributing seeds through their dung.
This can be partially be explained by how much elephants have in common with humans. Elephants are incredibly intelligent. Like us, they have complex social networks. They remember elephant and human faces for decades ("an elephant never forgets"), and, perhaps most movingly, they also mourn their dead.
Regardless of the beautiful friendships that some mahouts and their elephants formed, it cannot be denied that their involvement in the logging industry has done harm. Thailand was approximately 70% forest in 1950. Now it's around 25% . That's a lot of forest that elephants can now no longer inhabit.
In 1989, when logging in Thailand was deemed illegal, although this prevented the further habitat loss, and 20,000 domestic elephants were released from work, the mahouts who cared for these elephants lost their income. Elephants eat 200-600 pounds (90-270 kgs) of food per day . With no job, finding the money to feed not only your family, but an elephant too would be no easy feat. In response, some mahouts, with heavy hearts, took their elephants to the nearest cities to beg. Others entered the tourism industry, selling rides to visitors just to afford to properly care for their family and elephant.
Of course the ideal dream would be to get these elephants out roaming in their natural habitat in the wild again. But given the strong cultural roots of elephant-keeping and the bonds that Mahouts form with their elephants, it's not that simple. Imagine if someone told you that you had to give your pet dog or cat away – even if it was what was best for them, you'd be distraught, right?
As it's such a complex issue, Bamboo is partnering with a number of different organisations and communities who help the Elephants in three different ways.
By keeping elephants out of harmful employment.
By supporting the work of elephant sanctuaries that are transitioning elephants back into the wild.
By dreaming big of sponsoring elephants in the future.
To help these Mahouts who are still deeply connected to their elephants, Bamboo partners with a number of traditional rural Thai communities in the "Elephant Province" Surin.
Bamboo offers several unique volunteering placements in traditional Thai farming communities within the "Elephant Province", Surin. These villages have not changed much over the past 100 years and today there are still rice and sugar cane fields, along with dirt roads and huts fashioned of local wood. Elephants live in villages like these and are fed healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables. They receive loving care and regular health check-ups. The support that Bamboo offers these villages keeps the elephants out of harmful employment.
The most popular project that we run in these villages is our Elephant Village Life project. In this project, you spend five days a week learning to wash, feed, and train the elephants. Whilst there, you'll also learn a little about Thai cuisine, help with farming the land, as well as assist with some micro-development projects like a sustainable fish farm that give the families who look after the elephants supplementary income.
If you want to view this, or any of our other Surin-based volunteer programs, check out our program page here.
For those of you who want to support elephants on Stage 2 of their transition back to the wild, this tour is for you! This is a relatively new project that Bamboo is running where volunteers get the chance to assist work in an elephant sanctuary in Cambodia. On this program, elephants are living in wild-like conditions with acres of large open spaces and other elephants to socialise with. There, you will spend your days observing the beautiful creatures in their natural habitat whilst also volunteering to maintain and develop the site as an elephant care facility.
To learn more about what else this amazing tour has to offer, check out its program page here.
In the long term, Bamboo dreams of helping mahouts that are struggling with debt and ready to release their elephants by purchasing their elephants, and then placing them in a sanctuary. Here, they can be eased into life in the wild. However, a single elephant costs at least US $10,000. We're still working on a future plan for this, so keep your eyes peeled for further info!
You can also read about another dream we're working on, (inspired by Bank, the first elephant we ever fell in love with,) right here.
All of these projects involve baby (and big) steps towards helping elephants to just be elephants again. On these programs, you will get the chance to see elephants that are fed nourishing food, are protected from the dangers of begging in cities, and are treated with the great love and kindness they deserve.
We hope that this blog post has given you a small taste of why we love elephants so much! If you want any further information, don't hesitate to flick us an email at [email protected]. In the meantime, check out this video of us having an amazing time at the Cambodia elephant sanctuary. This could be you!
We're looking forward to helping you on your journey to assist some of the world's most beautiful and intelligent creatures.


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Butterfly Pond in The Square (Photo: ManawatuNZ.co.nz)
Manawatū's slow and steady rise as a business-friendly province
Keri Welham | Guest writer
The Fitz has been closed for almost a decade and Palmy is no longer defined by student culture and sheep. Now it's home to a new crop of innovators and startups who are thriving in the slower, more stable Manawatū business environment. Keri Welham talks to some of the key players shaping this North Island province.
Two years ago, Wade Cashmore was posted to Manawatū with the New Zealand Defence Force.
In Auckland, he and his partner Alesha McQuinn had often talked about owning a café. But the financial risk involved, primarily because of the economics of securing a stable lease, put them off. When they hit Palmerston North, they realised their cafe dream could come true without the Auckland-scale financial undertaking.
They set up Halcyon and paid the lease for the Cuba St premises out of disposable income. They're funding the fit-out and doing all the renovations themselves, and customers seem happy to support their work-in-progress. There's less competition than in Auckland, and McQuinn, 25, is able to run the small operation on her own while Cashmore, 28, concentrates on his day job.
"No matter how badly we mess this up," Cashmore says, "we won't be homeless."
And they're actually doing really well. After two years, they're now, gently, making moves towards operating as a bar.
Cashmore says he's conscious of "change resistance" in Palmerston North, so he's determined to move at the community's pace. He's learnt a lot from the example of The Looking Glass Lounge which closed after just nine months, in 2017. The owners had decades of experience in owning and running bars in New Zealand and overseas when they landed in town from Christchurch with plans for a "speakeasy-style" low-lit cocktail bar in the Grand Hotel Building. Locals who spoke to The Spinoff for this article described the now-defunct bar as expensive, "just weird", "a very Wellington thing", and "too ahead of the curve". Cashmore is determined Halcyon won't outrun its clientele.
Halcyon cafe (Photo: Tony Larsen)
James Gardiner, Massey University's corporate communications director, says young people like Wade and Alesha are increasingly seeking "an entrepreneurial life". They don't dream of working for a corporate; they want to row their own waka. Massey has responded by reworking its courses to bolster content which breeds innovation.
And the local business community insists that Manawatū isn't just a good place to learn about business – it can also be an easier place to start one.
Tech entrepreneur Joe Harper, 36, develops Instagram assistance tools. He and his young family moved from Auckland to Palmerston North to be closer to their wider whānau. He discovered an immediate benefit in terms of sourcing developer talent. In Auckland, huge players such as Microsoft sucked up all the talent. But in Palmerston North, he found a clutch of very talented developers who had moved to regional New Zealand to access affordability and lifestyle and were looking for interesting opportunities.
Harper says he's quickly built deeper connections across the business community here than he did in Auckland.
In a small place like Palmerston North, it feels like the city has your back, he says. People are cheering you on, willing you to succeed, and taking pride in your wins. The community is forgiving of speed wobbles; they'll give you another go if they can see you're trying hard. In this sense, he says Palmy is the perfect "test setting".
Manawatū is New Zealand's largest sheep farming region and home to a Massey University campus, Linton Military Camp and Ohakea Air Force Base. The region has a population of 117,000 – 87,000 of those in Palmerston North – and is home to 2.5% of New Zealand's population.
Linda Stewart is CEO of the Central Economic Development Agency. She says Manawatū's diverse economy spans everything from food research to logistics and defence, and includes 35 call centres, 22 software development companies, and 80 information technology and tech companies.
In February 2017, the region was home to 11,694 businesses, which is 51 more than a year earlier (by way of comparison, figures from 2016 show Hamilton – which enjoys enviable proximity to New Zealand's largest city and has double Palmerston North's population – had 14,424 businesses).
According to Statistics NZ, regional building consents grew 62% to $366 million in the year to June 2018.
Massey University is a massive presence in Manawatū, with roughly 5000 students and 3000 staff based in Palmerston North. Infamous student pub The Fitz closed in 2009 after 43 years amid extensive eulogising about its place in Palmy culture. James Gardiner says these days students seem to mostly head into town after midnight, Thursday to Saturday, following an evening of pre-loading. Among the working population, a new bar called Brew Union is enjoying mammoth success with a menu of craft beer and cheap eats.
Brew Union is located on Broadway, the shopping district that slumped when Farmers decamped to The Plaza in 2010. But Broadway is back: the avenue has risen again as a food and entertainment destination, led by a range of ethnic eateries offering lightning-fast service and low-cost meals. Longtime member of the local business community, Craig Nash, says it's taken a decade, but Palmy has finally transitioned from its nightlife being defined by The Fitz to embracing craft beer and great food.
"In sophistication, we tend to lag five years," he says.
Brew Union is enjoying mammoth success with a menu of craft beer and cheap eats (Photo: Facebook/Brew Union Brewing Company
Nash helps overseas companies relocate to central New Zealand. He says the Manawatū economy is "solid".
"It's an economy that doesn't boom, but it doesn't crash either. If you're going to start up a business, that's a very good point. It's dependable."
Nash contends the region was largely insulated throughout the GFC because a high percentage of locals worked for the government and had greater job certainty than those in the private sector. Around 26% of the region's workforce (14,627 jobs) work for government employers such as the Defence Force, MidCentral District Health Board and the IRD call centre. He says attrition is low because people choose to stay in the region long-term.
He says new businesses also benefit from a "culture of support" in the region.
"The people [of] Manawatū are very loyal to Manawatū," he says. "We're big enough to matter but small enough to have a great sense of community."
Nash says one of the downsides of Manawatū's location is its distance to Auckland, which is where most New Zealand companies are headquartered. Manawatū business people are constantly jumping on a plane to get access to important people in organisations that matter to their business.
He also says a business trading locally won't have as many potential customers as it would in a larger city and, with relatively high unemployment and low wages, customers' disposable incomes aren't as large.
In the June 2018 quarter, the Manawatū-Whanganui region had the highest unemployment rate in the country at 6.6%, compared with the national rate of 4.5%. The average income in Palmerston North in 2016 was $48,430; the average house price in the city in June this year was $391,000.
According to Statistics NZ's regional economies report, New Zealand GDP per capita averaged $57,002 in 2017. In Manawatū, it averaged $42,919.
Nash says business owners need to really understand the market to make sure they attract a meaningful portion of available business.
Palmerston North City Council's 10-year-plan, adopted this year, claims the city is New Zealand's most ethnically-diverse regional city. "Since 2004, Palmerston North has become home to small groups of former refugees from the Republic of Congo, Burma, Bhutan and Syria," it says.
Sculpture Trail (Photo: ManawatuNZ.co.nz)
The fact there's even a 10-year-plan "in this day and age" makes Reeanjou Ram's blood boil. She went along to a business consultation for the plan and was disappointed to realise the technology sector was woefully under-represented in the document.
"I thought: 'what on earth am I doing here?'"
Ram set up her Australian company's New Zealand base in Palmerston North last year. She was enticed by claims that Manawatū was "a place where things will happen".
Speaking from Melbourne, Ram says she'd intended to have 20 people working for her emerging tech company Blockbit Solutions in Manawatū by the end of this year. She was especially keen to snap up talented Massey graduates and keep them in the region. But almost a year after setting up the Manawatū branch in October last year, she's kept her Palmerston North team to six because she says she couldn't see evidence of the local tech opportunities she'd been sold. Ram says most of her New Zealand work is in Auckland and Wellington.
"I guess my experience has left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. I've invested in the region but the region hasn't invested in me."
She'd hoped for more integration with the local community, and perhaps some visibility of what contracts were coming up with agencies, such as the City Council, so she could have time to attract specialist staff and then be in a good position to tender and offer a local solution.
Ram sounds a word of caution to anyone thinking Manawatū might be an easy nut to crack.
In tech at least, it's hard to attract talent away from the main centres, and constantly flying to other cities to see clients will quickly erode the financial benefits of the region's cheaper living, she says.
"Make sure you've done your homework. Is there a market for your product?"
Local tech mega-success Frogparking has no trouble attracting talent.
The Palmerston North company is the world leader in innovative parking management solutions. It uses cloud-based technology to help organisations such as NASA and Disney manage huge parking facilities.
Fitzherbert Bridge over Manawatu River (photo: ManawatuNZ.co.nz)
Shareena Sandbrook started the company with her father Don in 2010. Frogparking's reputation is such that the company has lured brilliant minds from countries such as Egypt, North Korea, Slovakia, and China to the relative serenity of Manawatū.
These tech talents are "young and at the top of their game", Sandbrook says. Her international staff still work the long hours common in start-ups overseas, but it's only 10 minutes' drive home, their kids go to school just down the road, and the tight-knit team offer a readymade social life.
Sandbrook has also found Aucklanders willing to give Manawatū more than a casual glance. She says career-oriented people in their 40s are excited to realise they can move to Palmerston North, afford to buy a home, and still test and expand their skills on the international stage with a grunty, fast-growing start-up.
Sandbrook spends half her year overseas. Every time she comes home, she's reminded of the immense value of the relative calm of regional New Zealand. "It's an easier life."
Manawatū's slower-paced lifestyle, stripped of the noise of a large city, gives an innovator treasured time to think, reflect and focus on the next milestone, says Sandbrook. Her comments echo those of seasoned innovator Simon Barnett, who founded Palmerston North hockey equipment company OBO 24 years ago. He says innovation requires fresh thinking, and that requires time.
"Being based in the Manawatū means that you are not distracted by the busy and time-consuming rush of a big city… Time is now your friend."
Partner all that precious time with the ability to have deep connections with Massey University and modern technology that connects you instantly to the world, and Simon says true innovation can flourish on the fertile Manawatū Plains.
Sarah Cowan, 37 – Managing Director, The Herb Farm
Lynn Kirkland and Sarah Cowan of The Herb Farm (Photo: supplied)
Sarah Cowan says Manawatū is a great place to take risks. The community is incredibly supportive of people giving it a go with a bold venture and a business can exist "under the radar" nationally for a long time; learning from mistakes, fine-tuning, without the glaring eyes of a big city watching.
"It's a place where you'd be more inclined to take risks."
The Herb Farm was started by Sarah's mother Lynn Kirkland 25 years ago. Sarah was an international model, based in Milan, but decided to bring her business degree home and join forces with her Mum. The business is based on a tranquil property just above Ashhurst. Plants grown in The Herb Farm gardens are picked and manufactured on site in to a range of skincare products. Customers love the setting, the transparency of the manufacturing process, and the fact the ingredients grow in fresh air miles from even a small city.
Trudi Duncan, 28 – Managing Director, GYRO Plastics
Trudi Duncan of GYRO Plastics (Photo: supplied)
Trudi moved GYRO Plastics from Lower Hutt to Manawatū two years ago. The 50-year-old rotational moulding business, which Trudi took over when her father Ross Biggar retired, needed new premises. Trudi had been living in Manawatū for three years and commuting to Wellington for work, so she naturally took a look at options closer to home and found a great facility in Feilding.
"We could get the facility we needed for a price that was accessible. The more I looked in to it, the more it made sense."
Trudi says the Manawatū business community is characterised by a friendly, collegial attitude. People are easy to deal with and are taken at their word. If her staff are ever unable to help a customer, she encourages them to suggest other local businesses, even direct competitors.
"That's just how it is up here, you help each other out."
Trudi's family business is a long-term, stable organisation. But when it comes to start-ups, she's noticed the community will enthusiastically support people who are seen to be working hard and giving it a go with a new venture. She puts it down to "old-school, rural values".
Election 2020: The small business policies in two minutes
Jihee Junn

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Q: How to prove the sum of deviations from the mean is minimum? I am trying to prove that the sum of deviations from the mean is minimum. I saw this prove in a book

where $\bar{X}$ is the mean and $Y\neq \bar{X}$. What I am confused about is where does the zero in the last line come from?

A: The middle line should in fact be
$\displaystyle \sum_{i=1}^n (X_i-Y)^2 = \sum_{i=1}^n (X_i-\overline{X})^2 + 2(\overline{X}-Y)\sum_{i=1}^n (X_i-\overline{X}) + \sum_{i=1}^n (\overline{X}-Y)^2$
and you then have $\displaystyle\sum_{i=1}^n (X_i-\overline{X})=\left(\sum_{i=1}^n X_i\right) - n \left(\frac1n\sum_{i=1}^n X_i\right)=0$

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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(© Halfpoint - stock.adobe.com)
Nearly half of COVID-19 patients leave hospitals in 'worse condition' than they arrived
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — It's safe to say most people can agree hospitals are places where people go to feel better. During the coronavirus pandemic however, a new study reveals about half of all COVID patients are actually leaving hospitals in worse shape than when they entered. In another case of COVID "long-hauler" side-effects, a team from Michigan Medicine says around 45 percent of patients who survive the virus exit the hospital with significantly less physical function.
"Rehabilitation needs were really, really common for these patients," says pediatric physiatrist Alecia K. Daunter, M.D., in a university release. "They survived, but these people left the hospital in worse physical condition than they started. If they needed outpatient therapy or are now walking with a cane, something happened that impacted their discharge plan."
Researchers reviewed the health data of almost 300 adults hospitalized with COVID-19 between March and April 2020. This information included discharge data, each patient's therapy needs, and whether they needed special medical equipment or services after leaving the hospital.
The findings reveal doctors prescribed additional therapy for a staggering 80 percent of COVID-19 patients. Concerningly, nearly one in five patients lost so much of their physical ability they could no longer live independently after leaving the hospital.
"These patients may have needed to move to a subacute facility, or they might have needed to move in with a family member, but they were not able to go home," Daunter adds. "This has a massive impact on patients and their families – emotionally and physically."
The problem may be worse than the study shows
Researchers note their data comes from the pandemic's first two months, at the very start of the first wave. At that time, not only did doctors not have a full picture of COVID's effects, study authors say hospitals had to prioritize treating and releasing patients in order to free up bed space. With this in mind, Dr. Daunter believes the study is actually underreporting the number of COVID survivors who are losing their ability to live a normal life.
"Physicians and others in the health care system were working appropriately to discharge patients," the lead author says. "They needed to keep patients safe while maximizing available beds and minimizing exposure to staff. I think that contributed to many people not being assessed by a therapist or PM&R physician. So, the things we do to in the hospital to maximize functioning, like mobility interventions and assessing activities of daily living were, not happening as often."
Moving from COVID treatment to COVID rehabilitation
Study authors note that COVID-19 can systematically damage several organs throughout the human body. This trauma can result in neurological and musculoskeletal impairments which lasts for months after the infection clears. Michigan Medicine has even opened two new clinics to specifically address the issues COVID long haulers are facing.
Michigan Medicine physiatrist Edward Claflin says, even as the death toll drops and vaccinations continue, more and more people are now living with debilitating side-effects of their infection.
"These results help to highlight the true impact of the COVID-19 disease on our patients," Claflin says. "They fill in that gap in knowledge about how patients with COVID recover and what kind of rehabilitation needs they have."
"These problems are frequent, and the stakes are pretty high if we miss them, or allow them to progress during hospitalization," Daunter concludes. "Some of these people were working and many were living independently. To lose that level of function is meaningful. We want to make sure we're addressing those needs, not just looking at the black and white, survival or death."
The study appears in the journal PM&R.
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Common diabetes drug may trigger rare, life-threatening complications for COVID-19 patientsDecember 28, 2020


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text:
Why Study in France?
French Educational System
French Learning Institutions
Studying in English or French?
Types of Courses Where the French Really Excel
Business Schools in France
Other Popular Courses in France
France, the second most attractive destination for international students, survey finds
Accommodation in France
Costs of Living in France
Health and Medical Treatment
General Life as a Student in France
How to Apply at a University
Costs of Attending College in France
Visa and Entry Requirements
Before You Leave: Your Final Checklist
Study in FranceStudy Abroad in Lille, France
Study Abroad in Lille, France
Lille is a vibrant city with beautiful architecture and cloudy weather. Many people worldwide are astonished by this cultural and commercial hub, as well as its many historical centers. Lille was established in medieval times and was known as the "Capital of Flanders" a crossnational region in France and Belgium. In this bustling university city, among private and public universities, you will find ambitious research programs and a wide range of courses. Offering an affordable cost of living to all international students, Lille remains one of the most desired destinations for tertiary education in France. The French and Flemish influences are seen all over architecture, cuisine, and the indigenous way of living.
Reasons to Study Abroad in Lille
Cultural Richness
France is rich in culture. Upon your arrival in Lille, you will encounter a number of must-see attractions. This city boasts many large historical buildings, has a cheerful population, and delicious dishes. The Town Hall Belfry is what dominates Lille. This town hall is 104 meters high and it offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the city. It is now said without a doubt that Lille is an unmissable cultural destination. After being named the European Capital of Culture, Lille continued to pursue access to culture with events organized by Lille 3000: parades, great exhibitions, and concerts. Strolling around the old city you will feel mesmerized by the beautifully restored bricks and stone houses.
Being located at a major crossroads for road and rail transportation across Europe, Lille has a well-developed infrastructure and transportation network. Starting off with its airport which serves over 70 international destinations, two railway stations, down to two metro lines, the first metro line being fully automated. To emphasize it, Lille had Europe's first fully automated Metro system opened in 1983. Furthermore, the tramway system runs from the Lille Flandres and goes through Lille Europe, consisting of two long-distance stations in Lille. Car sharing is another transportation practice that seems to be quite widespread.
Having had a strong influence from both French and Belgian cultures, the cuisine of Lille has harvested many delicious dishes. One of the best dishes you should try is Carbonades Flamandes, which is a Flemish beef and onion stew popular in Belgium, the Netherlands, and French Flanders. Local foods will also astonish you. For example, Boulette de Cambrai is a French cheese originating from the region of Nord-pas-de-Calais. For those who have a sweet tooth, the Meert vanilla wafers are the most elegant and delicate waffles from Lille.
To study in Lille means that you will have easy and quick access to many cities and nearby countries. Since it is located in the northern part of France, this city has many geographical privileges. What makes this city special is the proximity of major European capitals, just a few hours from Amsterdam, Berlin, London, Brussels, Madrid, and Rome. You can visit most of these cities by rail, but not just on regular train lines but on high-speed lines that extend across France, the border to Belgium and the Netherlands, and needless to say, underneath the English Channel to London.
Study Abroad Programs in Lille
When it comes to study abroad programs in Lille, the ISEP is the first one that offers a number of exchange programs. ISEP is in partnership with a global community of universities not only in France but from all over the world.
Take a look at some study abroad programs in Lille:
Business, Science, Liberal Arts & French Language
The program of ISEP in accordance with the Université Catholique de Lille will give you freedom in picking elective courses. These elective courses include a variety of topics, such as business, art history, French culture, international communication, and many more. All the course instructions are given from the Université Catholique de Lille and this program is available to anyone regardless of the language level. Although the university is historically catholic, the activities and campus life are secular in nature.
International Business – ISEP Exchange
The International Business Administration in English ISEP program is conducted in a dynamic institution, Université de Lille. As an international student who is following the international business program, you will benefit from the brilliant studying conditions at a large public research university. This program will help you master leadership skills in an international environment, as well as develop the capacity to adapt to intercultural situations.
Biological Sciences – ISEP Exchange
The Biological Sciences program is a bilingual program that aims to help international students master scientific language skills in French and English. Most importantly, they will also develop their academic formation in biological sciences, such as biology, biotechnology, chemistry, and other interdisciplinary subjects. Instructions of the program are a combination of class lectures in French and small-group discussions and applied classes taught in English.
Universities in Lille
Here are some of the best universities in Lille:
University of Lille
Central School of Lille
Lille Catholic University
Lille University of Science and Technology
ISA Lille
Lille University of Health and Science
Charles de Gaulle University – Lille III
How Much Does It Cost to Study Abroad in Lille?
As a student, the cost of living in Lille might range from €600 to €700 per month. You may locate a place to live for roughly €400-500 per month, but you'll need to factor in other costs such as food and recreational activities. The tuition fees of universities in Lille will be higher for international students. However, there are some university programs that are part of the French National University System and consequently subsidized by the government. Generally, the admission fees for bachelor's degrees start from €180, whereas for master's degrees start from €250.
Before deciding on which university in Lille you would want to attend, it will be better to look up the cost of it. Generally speaking, the cost of education in Lille can be quite affordable. However, it may differ depending on the kind of institution. Private higher education institutions will ask a higher payment from international students.
Tuition Fees in Lille
University of Lille €295
ISA Lille €10,500
The major cost of living expenses is the accommodation. If you intend to live in the center of Lille then you will have to pay a bit more than the average cost of living. Considering the fact that you will be in Lille for studies, your monthly expenses will have to be well planned.
According to the French National Student Union, the average cost of living is slightly over €700 per month, with an average rent of €460 a month. Overall, €700 may be a little tight if you want to have a good time, dine out sometimes, and take advantage of Lille's nightlife.
Here's the average cost of living in Lille:
The Cost of Living in Lille
Meal in an Inexpensive Restaurant €13
Groceries and Personal Hygiene €250
Mobile Phone Plus Internet €26
Utilities €114
Public Transport Ticket €1,70
A comparison of the cost of living between Lille and Paris:
Living Expenses Lille Paris
Meal in an Inexpensive Restaurant €13 €15
Groceries and Personal Hygiene €250 €350
Mobline Phone Plus Internet €26 €30
Utilities €114 €180
Public Transport Ticket €1,70 €1,90
There are different types of accommodation options in France. The cost of living in Lille will differ depending on the sort of housing you select. Expect to pay between €220 and €330 for a room in the university residence. A hotel room in the city center would set you back between €300 and €600 per night. You must also consider your food budget in addition to your rent. Flatsharing is an excellent alternative for foreign students, particularly if you want to expand your social circle.
Here's the average cost of accommodation in Lille, France:
Type of Housing The Average Cost
Private room €400
Residence Halls €500
Studio/Small Flat €700
Hostel €30
Places to Visit in Lille
Having a wonderful geographical position, Lille boasts a number of historic and cultural landmarks.
Here's a list of places to visit during your stay in Lille, France:
Vieux Lille
Marché De Wazemmes
Town Hall (Belfry)
Lille Citadel
Lille Museum of Modern, Contemporary and Outsider Art (LaM)
La Vieille Bourse
La Piscine Museum
Study Abroad in Toulouse, France
Study Abroad in Nice, France
Study Abroad in Grenoble, France
Study Abroad in Montpellier, France
© Studying-in-France.org - 2023 - All rights reserved


I grew up surrounded by beautiful bushlands and National Parks. You may be familiar with our odd looking marsupials however, they can be hard to spot! But if you've ever been in the bush there's absolutely no escaping this rowdy lot!


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The central government had notified four labour codes, namely, the Code on Wages, 2019, on August 8, 2019, and the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020, and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 on September 29, 2020.
New Delhi: Though there is no official confirmation on the implememtation of the New Wage Code, media speculations refuse to die down. Several media reports are saying that the New Wage Code might be implemented soon. The four labour codes on wages, social security, industrial relations and occupation safety, health and working conditions may be implemented soon. Once the New Wage Code comes into effect, there could be a lot of changes in terms of salary restructuring, PF and gratuity component, working hours and Earned Leaves as per media reports.
If these labour codes are implemented, the new wage code will also impact full and final payment settlement in case of resignation, dismissal or removal from employment and services of the employees. Since these are now early speculations, nothing concreted should be infered till the government officially notifies the rules.
Till now, 23 states have pre-published draft rules on these laws, while the Centre has completed the process of finalising the draft rules on these codes in February 2021. The central government had notified four labour codes, namely, the Code on Wages, 2019, on August 8, 2019, and the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020, and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 on September 29, 2020.
Since labour is a concurrent subject, the Centre wants the states to implement these as well in one go, as has been reported earlier.
Reduced in-hand salary after implementation of Wage Code
The government's notification on Code on Wages 2019 may reduce the take-home pay while components like PF and Gratuity might rise. This is based on the grounds that the new wage code mentions provision entailing that the employee's basic salary will be at least 50 percent of his/her net monthly CTC. Hence, if this provision comes into effect, it will mean that employees will not be able to get more than 50 percent of his/her net monthly salary in form of allowance.
Higher PF after implementation of Wage Code
This also means that there will be a consequent rise in gratuity and PF contribution of the employee. Hence, while the take home pay of the employees may be reduced, the Gratuity and PF component may rise.
12 hours work-week after new wage code implementation
Experts also believe that the new draft will impact the working hours of employees with some media reports saying that employees may be allowed a four-day workweek but they will have to work for 12 hours on those four days. The labour ministry has apparently made it clear that 48-hour weekly work requirement is a must.
Big changes in Earned Leave policy after new wage code implementation
The biggest change could be seen in cases of Earned Leave. Government departments now allows 30 holidays in 1 year, defense employees get 60 holidays in 1 year. Employees can cash up to 300 holidays on carry forward, however the Labor union is demanding to increase number of holidays to 450 in new code. At present there are 240 to 300 holidays in different departments. Employees can take these holidays in cash only after 20 years of service.
New Wage Code rules on full and final settlement within 2 days of resignation
The New Wage Code says, "Where an employee has been – (i) removed or dismissed from service; or (ii) retrenched or has resigned from service, or became unemployed due to closure of the establishment, the wages payable to him shall be paid within two working days of his removal, dismissal, retrenchment or, as the case may be, his resignation."
Indian aviation sector 'absolutely.
Air India's load factor.
Lufthansa's Pilots Overwhelmingly Vote In Favor Of Industrial Action
Lufthansa's pilot's union affirms efforts to get sufficient pay to address inflation. A pilot strike is a distinct possibility during difficult times. Lufthansa's labor relations problems were amplified with 97.6% of the pilots union (Vereinigung Cockpit) voting to support the bargaining team's efforts to get better pay. This is after serious difficulties in negotiations led to a need
It has risen to 80% in February-June period, compared with 60%; but market share is lower than in January Management and leadership changes, in addition to synchronising operations between all its airlines, are showing visible results for Air India. Data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) show that there has been a marked improvement


Hey college football fans, if you want plenty of college football content on the go from the Worldwide Leader, check out ESPN's College Football app for the iPhone, iPad, and Android.
The ESPN College Football app is essentially a rebranded version of last season's "Bowl Bound" app. The ESPN College Football app, like it's predecessor, is loaded with content. Whatever team you follow whether it's a national power or perennial conference also-ran, you are sure to find news and videos.
In addition to that app features rankings, conference standings, the latest news, scores, and more.
The GameCast feature is very well done. In addition to the graphical football field with drive and scoring information, it's got all the stats you need, play-by-play and a social media component.
Some of the custom features, like the ability to set favorite teams and alerts require and ESPN account. Speaking of which, if you have the WatchESPN app and the proper TV subscriber credentials, you can load college football games from the app itself.
I thought last year's Bowl Bound app was generally pretty solid . This newly refreshed edition is pretty darn wonderful with just a few minor issues. For example, the scores and and time remaining don't appear to be updated in real time on the main scoreboard sections. They do seem to update, but not as fast as you would expect. It can also load a little slowly at times. However, the amount of video clips, highlights, stats, and more make it a must have for the college football fan.


Online accounting degrees are viewed favorably within the field because of the careful way in which training is set up. Specifically, computer-guided exercises may be even more efficient methods of training compared to previous approaches. Efficient and comprehensive, online accounting degrees may soon replace their old fashioned counterparts altogether.
Accounting remains a lucrative field for those with the savvy to stay on top of numerous industry changes. It is a high stress occupation for those who lack adequate training, and the best way to gain peace of mind is to select a high quality distance learning university. You should also be prepared to take periodic continuing education course so that you can stay abreast of changes and new developments, as well as brush up on old skills.
When evaluating potential online accounting degrees, the first thing you should do is review the curriculum. There should always, always be an ethics class. In addition, you should look for courses in finance and auditing, and inquire about the structure and format of these classes.
Online accounting degrees are valuable resources, both for where they can take you professionally and for their smart approach to technical training. When you find a program in which you are interested, ask about degree requirements and the time it takes to complete the program. Then ask for information on how many of their graduates are successfully placed once they finish the program.


As I had mentioned in my yesterday's post about my leftover dishes using soya granules brown rice biryani, posting my second recipe - Biryani roti using ragi flour. Biryani is made into fine paste and combined along with ragi flour and veggies to form a dough. The dough is further made into roti shape and cooked on a tawa on a low flame. Any leftover biryani can be used to prepare this flavorful roti. Importantly, remove the spices like bay leaves and elachi from the biryani while grinding, as it dominates the flavor. This can be served as a breakfast or dinner along with chutney or raita.
Add biryani into mixie jar and grind into fine paste. ( Do not add water ).
Remove and transfer it to a bowl.
Add chopped onion followed by green chillies, grated carrot, coriander leaves, salt and ragi flour.
Combine together and knead well to form a dough.
Add 1 tsp of olive oil and knead again.
Divide the dough into 3 big equal sized balls.
Take one ball and flatten into thin roti shape on a greased aluminum foil.
Heat non stick tawa and place the roti carefully on it.
Cook both the sides in a lower flame by smearing little olive oil.
Once done, remove from the flame and repeat the process for the remaining biryani dough.
Serve hot with chutney or low fat curd.


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Travel.. Eight hundred monasteries, five hundred mountain gorges, late Minoan necropolis and Venetian-style palaces. The island washed by the Aegean Sea is a dramatic scenery, which concedes nothing to the vision of "postcard"
Flying high on Cretan legends
written by Arianna Di Genova
Also filed under culture
Among the high mountain passes or vast maritime horizons, en route to the archipelagos appearing like constellations in a half-submerged land, travelers notice right away that the island of Crete has an identity all its own. It tastes of spiced herbs and fresh cheese, such as mizithra, and has an eccentric color, surprising in its sudden variations.
It would suffice to stand and admire "that brazen set-design," as described by Cesare Brandi, the art critic, that is the rebuilding of the lavish Minos' palace in Knossos, to glimpse this very characteristic. Everywhere you look there are reverberations of the same color palette reflecting throughout Greece, both in its islands and in its mainland.
This happens especially in Crete's western corner, the part protecting in its heart the remnants of a few city-states like Aptera (possibly a colonial settlement governed by the Dorian Apteros, one of the actors in Crete's occupation circa the end of the Minoan era), a city overlooking the fiery reds of the mountain range, of the rocks wedged amidst low thyme, rosemary and dictamnus hedges. The latter, is a perennial aromatic weed – sacred to the goddess Artemis – rumored to be eaten by goats and to mend arrow wounds, and it would later be promoted to plant for visionaries and prophets. In addition to this, there is also the pearl shade of gray permeating the impervious cliff passages, interrupted by the sudden candor of small parietal churches hanging from high slopes, and by that singular "peeled" sky – Brandi, again, defined it in his "Viaggio nella Grecia antica," while attributing to the many sea inlets running along the itinerary between Chania and Heraclion the adjective of "wine-like."
The palette includes the milky white of clouds eternally masking the peak of Mount Ida, on top of which Greek civilization was born when Rhea hid young Zeus in a rock cleft (today a pilgrimage site in its own right) to shelter him from the cannibalistic propensities of his father, Cronus, all the while feeding her husband a much less palatable rock. Thus, the life of the baby god was spared the cruel destiny that befell the rest of Rhea's children, and he was raised by a female goat, Amalthea, who fed him honey and ambrosia until he was grown and went on to conquer the throne: He overthrew his tyrannical father, forcing him to throw up all of his brothers. In doing so, he founded a new celestial world and, subsequently, a lineage of men and women to populate the earth.
Positively blooming at the dawn of time, today Crete appears more barren, covered by a vegetation close to the ground, with the exception of small palm trees by the sea, a native, protected species: the Phoenix Theophasti. We are, after all, in the land that grew olive trees since 3000 B.C. On the island, there are still about 4.5 million of them, and every five years they bear fruit, yielding smaller olives for the celebrated extra-virgin olive oil and larger ones,the kalamata olives, to be eaten.
Some of the trees have been at the mercy of the winds for at least 1,000 years, like the olive tree in Vuves, a village some 30 kilometers from Chania, considered one of the oldest olive trees on earth – to the point of having its own museum dedicated to its history and to that of its "neighbors." One may also happen to spy banana and avocado plantations – avocados are true protagonists in the small village of Lapa, where people still preserve the way of life and habits coming straight from Venetian colonization, mostly in surviving houses: Here avocado can be drunk, eaten and even used as a rejuvenating skin moisturizer.
The landscape anomaly represented by Crete, as compared to the idea we have of "touristic" Greece, is in its numbers: Its land – besides, of course, its beaches – is made of some 500 mountain clefts – many of which host the 800 monasteries present in the island – 1,000 waterfalls, Europe's longest canyon (the Samaria cleft, 18 kilometers long), and 60 mountaintops over 2,000 meters.
Crete is a labyrinth, as its own mythology suggests. It's the symbolic prison for the Minotaur (son of Pasiphaë, Minos' wife, but born out of wedlock through an adulterous relationship inspired by the gods) built by Daedalus to protect that very "regal" monster. Crete is disposed on layers, inhabited since the Neolithic era, and then "retold" in a whirlwind palimpsest of historically over-imposed conquests – the Minoan civilization spread its wings from here, where the Mycenaeans, the Dorians, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Venetians and the Turks arrived to conquer – and it is an island in between the Aegean and the Libyan sea: It does not budge to any outside desire to control it.
"Again, I had that feeling of the back pages of Dickens' novels, of a quaint, one-legged world, illumined by a jaded moon: a land that had survived any catastrophe and was now palpitating with a blood beat, a land of owls, and herons and crazy relics such as sailors bring back from foreign shores." Thus wrote Henry Miller in his The Colossus of Maroussi, when, in 1941, he sailed from Marseille to the Piraeus, advancing, stop-over after stop-over, toward Crete and returning to the reader the images of a remote land, difficult to decipher for an overseas traveler.
The writer promptly discarded rationalizing explanations, and any and all attempts at conveying things in a rigid structure, in favor of a stream of physical impressions. At the beginning, by the mere pronunciation of a first word: "Most beautiful like black, water," and then by tracing a complete portrait: "Greece is what everybody knows, even in absentia, even as a child or as an idiot or as a not-yet born. […] Crete is something else." He went on writing, "Crete is a cradle, an instrument, a vibrating test tube in which a volcanic experiment has been performed."
Moreover, each place has its own strong personality: Chania, for example, is Venetian, eclectic and individualist. In the words of another chosen traveler, Cesare Brandi, who published in 1954 his feelings in a little book by Vallecchi, Chania has "a haven that looks like a dismantled temple. And I mean that it has all of its dutiful natural structures, now barren, of course, appearing blandly as an ordinary town that at some point in time must have been prominent. Bitter fate, one befallen not on this city alone, but on an island that, after having been the breeding ground of a civilization that was primordial, mysterious, and most refined, preceding those along any coastline in the Mediterranean; and after just getting by with some honor up until the unexpected stroke of luck of falling under the Venetians – right at the end, when it thought it had escaped the Turkish invasion, those very Turks took it and in less than two centuries destroyed what was built in the preceding twenty-seven."
It is appropriately Venetian one of the most beautiful among the monasteries – Tzagarolon – taking its name from the two brothers, Lorenzo and Geremia, who had it built. It is in the Akrotiri peninsula, a place where, walking toward the sea, one finds the Stavros beach, a most coveted landmark for the Western imagination, after Anthony Quinn's sirtaki dance in Zorba the Greek on the notes of Mikis Theodorakis. It was the year 1964, and the sirtaki dance was born, inspired by the hasapiko, an ancient dance also called "the butchers' dance," straight from the Byzantine era. This dance, born with the intention of expressing freedom and life forces, has been adopted as a symbolic flag by the Greeks during the uprisings against the financial restrictions of the Troika.
Crete, nonetheless, is Europe's mother and nurturer; it is a birthplace, and the myths reinforce this concept, time and time again. The Old Continent found its name here, notwithstanding the island's marginal location. The Phoenician princess Europa, in fact, gave birth to Minos from a union with Zeus, moving from east to west and laying the foundation of a new civilization – a union, that between east and west, that was free from biases at the time the myth was born. Beautiful and sophisticated, she came from the city of Tyre where she fell prey to Zeus in the shape of a bull that appeared to be very tame when, in fact, he kidnapped her and transported her to Crete where she eventually gave Zeus three children.
Arianna Di Genova
Originally published in Italian on October 31, 2015http://www.ilmanifesto.info/leggende-cretesi-ad-alta-quota/ Translated by Nefeli Misuraca


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Home > Anthropology > News Articles
Anthropomorphizing Animals Could Help Conservation Projects
By News Staff | August 22nd 2013 08:07 AM | Print | E-mail
Anthropomorphism is overlooked as a powerful tool for promoting low-profile species that are either endangered or require urgent attention, say the authors of a new paper.
As has been noted in the past, it also helps to use cute animals.
At present, anthropomorphism in conservation is limited to social, intelligent animals, such as chimpanzees, polar bears and dolphins but the authors say we shouldn't imply that other species are not worthy of conservation because they are not like humans in the 'right' ways.
Basically, conservationists need to learn framing the way other fields have. By making conservationists more aware of how people construct anthropomorphic meanings around species and how they engage with species and attribute value to their characteristics – e.g. people may attribute personhood or emotions to species that they play with, such as pets or even livestock – they can create conservation programs which speak to people through their cultural expectations and emotional connections.
Co-author, Diogo Verissimo of the University of Kent's Durrell Institute of Conservation Ecology (DICE), said, "Anthropomorphization of species is a common way for people to relate to other species but as a conservation tool it is under-used and is not being utilized as a way of effectively promoting the relationships between people and nature through conservation programs.
"Despite there being some limitations of using anthropomorphism, for example inappropriate expectations of animals' behavior or species picking up negative social stereotypes by being human-like, there is a need for more research in marketing and social sciences that will lead to more effective used of anthropomorphism in conservation outreach."
Lead author, Dr Meredith Root-Bernstein of the University of Oxford, said, "Scientists have been wary of anthropomorphism for a long time, because it was seen as leading to unscientific hypotheses about animal behavior. But as conservationists we can look at it as a kind of popular folk theory of the similarities between humans and all other species. These popular ways of relating to the natural world are powerful and we should try to understand and work with them."
Citation: M. Root-Bernstein , L. Douglas, A. Smith and D. Veríssimo, 'Anthropomorphized species as tools for conservation: utility beyond prosocial, intelligent and suffering species', Biodiversity and Conservation August 2013 DOI: 10.1007/s10531-013-0494-4
The Animals We See As Friends Versus Food
The Big Bang And The Birth Of Culture
Like Modern Civilization? Thank Femininity
What Species Would Dominate If Humans Went Extinct?
Canine Cooperation Hypothesis: Thank The Social Skills Of Wolves For Dog-Human Cooperation


Who was the last POTUS that didnt start or escalate an armed conflict?
Do you respect deistic beliefs?
South Carolina Legislature, full of retards.
Is OBAMA too "intelligent" to be a good President?
American infatuation with the superficial.
"I cannot understand why we idle discussing religion.
New theoretical physics research. The universe is timeless.
Is the decentralization of the state possible?
Do you think nuclear energy is dangerous? Should it be utilized?
What are the best metaphysical arguments for the existence of God?
How offended were you by Donald Trump?
Is the "DEVIL" male or female?
Why are all the birthers white?
Are long life-spans putting religion on the ropes?
Dispelling the myth Blacks voted for Obama 90th percentile because he is Black.
Do Regulations Protect the Public?
Where do you go to talk politics in real life?
How can a country that doesnt produce/manufacture anything sustain itself?
Obama actually IS ineligible to be president! Has to do with 2008 McCain Resolution!
Rough day for the zionist regime..
The Fuel Project - "Know Your Enemy"
Advertisers start to boycott Donald Trump.
Someone was denied license plate saying "NO GOD"
Christians: Do you really believe everything the bible says?
POLL: Intentionally break levee to save town of 3000 (while displacing 200)?
Atheists how do you explain apple jacks, they don't taste like apples?
Is evolution just atheist propaganda?
Why is the federal government spending money on intl enforcement and wars?
Is the bread that Jesus taught can be taken literally?
What would happen if we ignored people like Donald Trump?
Why is Qatar buying up London?
I believe in the Holy Bible... But what religion should I take my life?
Dems/Liberals, is there a Republican out there who you would respect if they ran?
Ron Paul. What do you think?
A link between crime and homogeneity of a population?
Can we expect a surge in Obama's popularity?
Do you think we should leave Afghanistan straight away now?
So...the War on Terror is over now, right?
Now that Osama is dead..
Inb4 everyone is pro war.
Was Pakistan aiding Osama bin Laden?
Just brought a friend to jesus!
Was a bullet in the head too easy of a way out?
Anyone here feel like this?
Is it really bin laden?
i am getting a new job soon does it interfere with my faith?
Why don't some people want to give President Obama ANY credit?
Is there a chance that a non-interventionist will win the next election?
Something i always wondered about being "blessed" ???
Why didn't USA capture Osama instead of killing him?
How long was Pakistan hiding OBL?
Does stock market = economy?
Anyone remember the debates over Pakistan in 2008?
HAHA Donald Trump got Owned AGAIN!!!
The Devil likely died happy.
lol people are so retared, you deserve to be ruled by the shadow government.
How Osama's body was verified.
Barack H. Obama, the next president of the United States.
Britain welcomes end to Hamas-Fatah feud.
What happened to the ideals of the Misc (subforum)?
Does the soldier who killed Bin Laden deserve the Medal of Honor?
Obama's Report Card, how would you grade him?
so much talk about the US and Britain past few days..
Anyone suspicious they threw Bin ladden's body in ocean?
Rush Limbaugh "Thank God for President Obama"
Oh look, police being fascist pigs, this is new!


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Adelis Associates is in the business of sourcing, remarketing and providing full turnkey solutions for used semiconductor manufacturing equipment. With the exit of GE Capital, a big portion of their resource has now become available through Adelis Associates to the World since 2012. We have grown from strength to strength, representing major markets globally.


If you are a district resident, please follow the procedure below to register your child. If you reside outside the district, please check the resources for School Choice for your options.
Registration begins in the spring. Contact the school with any questions you may have.
The following steps are required to enroll your child. He or she must be five years old on or before September 1st or obtain a waiver in order to register.
Present an up-to-date immunization record (see link at left).
Present an original certified birth certificate.
Provide proof of residency within the Harper Creek district.
Complete the Harper Creek registration form.
Provide proof of vision screening – Kindergarten students only.
Michigan Law and Michigan Health Department Administrative Guidelines require that all children entering school this fall have the immunizations listed. As per Board of Education policy, school principals will exclude and/or not permit a child to enroll/enter school who is out of compliance with the immunization schedule required by the Michigan Public Health Code.
Two doses of MMR. Both must be after the child's first birthday and at least one month apart. The second MMR must have been given after 15 months of age.
Four doses of DPT. If all four of the doses were given before the 4th birthday, a 5th or booster is required.
Three doses of Polio. If all three of the doses were given before the 4th birthday, a 4th dose or booster is required.
One dose of Varicella (Chicken Pox) vaccine must be given. A second dose is recommended, but not required at this time.
A Tetanus booster is required 10 years after the last DPT or TD.
All school-age children must have been immunized against Hepatitis B. The Hepatitis B immunization is a three-shot series. The second shot is given 30 days after the first, and the third shot is given four months from the date of the first shot with a minimum of two months between the second and third shots. Do not start the series over if more time than indicated above has lapsed.
Children may receive the needed immunizations either through private physicians or clinics at the health department. More information Immunization Records Info.


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Q&A: Legal Framework and Environment for Nongovernmental Groups (NGOs) in Egypt
Does the new 2019 NGO law facilitate the process of registering an organization? Which organizations are required to register? What happens to organizations that are not registered or denied registration? Is there any way they can still…
Q&A: Justice for Serious International Crimes Committed in Sudan
Following months of protests, Sudan's president for 30 years, Omar al-Bashir, was ousted in April 2019 and replaced by a transitional military council. Negotiations between the military leaders and opposition groups led in August to the formation of a…
November 1, 2018 News
A Letter to the Egyptian Government Regarding Its Response to Khaled Hassan's Torture Allegations
On November 1, Human Rights Watch emailed the following letter to the Egyptian government. Diaa Rashwan Chairman of State Information Service Mr. Diaa Rashwan, On October 11, Human Rights Watch…
10 Questions the Saudi Crown Prince Needs to Answer
World Leaders, Journalists Should Demand Accounting for Rights Abuses
(Beirut) – Saudi Arabia's admission that government representatives killed Jamal Khashoggi at its Istanbul consulate on October 2, 2018 has sparked intensified and overdue scrutiny of the country's human…
Ten Questions about the drawdown of the US Counter LRA-Operation
1. Who are the LRA? 2. What has the LRA been fighting for all these years? 3. What is the US Counter-Lord's Resistance Army Operation and why does it exist? 4. How many LRA members…
Q&A: Call for Arms Embargo on Saudi Arabia
Why is Human Rights Watch calling for an arms embargo on Saudi Arabia? Human Rights Watch's call for suspending all weapons sales to Saudi Arabia comes after a year of documenting numerous unlawful airstrikes by the Saudi-led…
Recent International Criminal Court Developments on Kenya, South Africa
When the International Criminal Court's member countries gathered in November 2015 for their annual meeting, both Kenya and South Africa raised issues about developments at the ICC over the previous year that affected their countries. Kenya…
Q&A: Georgia and the International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, on October 13, 2015 requested authorization from the court's judges to open an investigation into crimes committed during the August 2008 conflict in Georgia…
Q & A on The Conflict in Yemen and International Law
Beginning early on March 26, 2015, a Saudi Arabia-led coalition used warplanes to attack the forces of Ansar Allah, known as the Houthis, in several locations in Yemen. The coalition members include: Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Sudan,…
Q&A: Egypt Mass Killings report "All According to Plan"
Human Rights Watch conducted a year-long investigation into the conduct of security forces who responded to demonstrations opposed to the military's July 3, 2013, ouster of Mohamed Morsy. Human Rights Watch found that police and army forces systematically…
Egypt: Q&A on the Trial of Hosni Mubarak
1. What are the charges against Mubarak? 2. What is the significance of the trial? 3. Why are Mubarak and other high-ranking former government members being tried in ordinary civilian courts while political activists are being tried in military courts? 4…
Q & A: US Targeted Killings and International Law
Following the attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush began a campaign of "targeted killings" against suspected members of al Qaeda and other armed groups. It has continued under the administration of President…
SADC: Q&A on The Tribunal
Regional Court's Future Hangs in the Balance
The Tribunal for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was established in 1992 as a sub-regional court, to provide, among other things, a remedy to citizens of the 15 SADC countries when their own countries were unwilling or unable to act on…
DR Congo: Q & A on the United Nations Human Rights Mapping Report
What is this report about? The UN mapping report has been prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and describes the most serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the Democratic…
Wanted for War Crimes and Candidate for Election
The International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Omar al-Bashir and Sudan's April elections
Omar al-Bashir - Sudan's president and a candidate in elections slated for April 2010 - is a fugitive from justice. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for his arrest on March 4, 2009, for war crimes and crimes against humanity…
Darfur: International Criminal Court's Decision on Bashir Arrest Warrant
On March 4, 2009, the pre-trial chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant of arrest for President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes. The warrant raises a number of important issues:…
Q&A: The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia Trial of Radovan Karadzic
Who is Radovan Karadzic? What are the charges against him? It's been more than 14 years since his initial indictment. Why is his trial important? Why hasn't Karadzic's co-accused, Ratko Mladic, been arrested? Doesn't Karadzic claim that he was…
Q&A: International Criminal Court Hearing Concerning the Rebel Bahar Idriss Abu Garda
Who is Bahar Idriss Abu Garda? What crimes is Abu Garda alleged to have committed? Why is it important to prosecute crimes against peacekeepers? What is the purpose of the upcoming confirmation-of-charges hearing and what will happen during the…
Darfur and the ICC: Myths versus Reality
The expulsion of international aid agencies from Darfur and the International Criminal Court arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir
On March 4, 2009, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. On March 5 the government of Sudan sought to divert attention from al-Bashir's…
Law on Occupation and Effective Control
1. When does the law on occupation apply to the Russian presence in Georgia? 2. Does applying occupation law to Russia affect the status of the territory that Russia occupies? 3. Is Russia an occupying force in buffer zones and in places where it…
Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
Targeted Killings and Drones


AIMS: Current risk scores for undiagnosed diabetes are additive in structure. We sought to derive a globally applicable screening model based on established non-invasive risk factors for diabetes but with a more flexible structure. METHODS: Data from the DETECT-2 study were used, including 102,058 participants from 38 studies covering 8 geographical regions worldwide. A global screening model for undiagnosed diabetes was identified through tree-structured regression analysis. The performance of the global screening model was evaluated in each of the geographical regions by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. RESULTS: The global screening model included age, height, body mass index, waist circumference and systolic- and diastolic blood pressure. Area under the ROC curve ranged between 0.64 in North America and 0.76 in Australia and New Zealand. Overall, to identify 75% of the undiagnosed diabetes cases, 49% required further diagnostic testing. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a globally applicable screening model to detect individuals at high risk of undiagnosed diabetes. The model performed well in most geographical regions, is simple and requires no calculations. This global screening model may be particularly helpful in developing countries with no population based data with which to develop own screening models.


Directors Bill and Anne Gregory opened Annandale Galleries in 1991 in a converted Masonic Hall. The large space that the Galleries provide stem from the building's initial construction as a Methodist church.
Through varying styles and contexts the aim of Annandale Galleries is to show the best of Australian and international contemporary art. Recent exhibitions have included a range of artists recognised and revered the world over.
Tuesday to Saturday, 11am – 5pm.


The SAITM Medical Faculty Student Activists committee has requested President Maithripala Sirisena to provide an opportunity to present their views regarding the solutions put forward by the Government regarding the Malabe Private Medical College.
In a letter addressed to the President they said that the government should enact the proposals promptly.
Meanwhile, the Government Medical Faculty Students' Parents Association said that they would commence a fast un to death tomorrow if proper solutions are not given regarding the Malabe Private Medical College.


Electronic product delays seem to be the new normal these days. Whether it's the launch of Google's Pixel, Nintendo's Switch gaming console or, most recently, Apple's iPhone X, consumers have come to expect products will be available weeks or months after they're promised. But delays affect manufacturers in more ways than just customer dissatisfaction. Unexpected wait times give competitors time to enter the market and can result in lost sales.
Production issues, including component shortages, often are cited as the primary reason for product delays. For example, according to The Digitimes, poor yields of the 3D NAND chips used in Apple's iPhones, were a direct contributor to supply constraints. In the printed circuit board industry, we are experiencing shortages primarily in capacitors, resistors and memory products. However, many other components also are in limited supply including transistors, logic devices, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and programmable logic devices (PLDs).
Higher Costs. When demand is high, and supply is limited, prices tend to increase; and PCB components are no exception. Assembly companies purchasing parts on behalf of customers are seeing premiums of 300 – 800% on traditionally low-cost components. When these hard-to-find parts finally are located, new minimum order quantities are in place, forcing buyers to purchase more than they need and pushing costs even higher.
Longer Lead Times. Lead times for most components now are eight to ten weeks, although some manufacturers are quoting lead times beyond 20 weeks. EPSNews reports passives lead-times are stretching to 30-plus weeks with some orders quoted for delivery into mid‐2019.
Counterfeit Parts. Another negative impact of the component shortage is the rise of counterfeit parts. Relabeled and out-of-date parts are entering the supply chain at an alarming rate. Companies without stringent sourcing requirements may unwittingly use these sub-standard parts and cause problems in product functionality later.
Fluctuating demand for electronic components over the past few years caused manufacturers to refrain from making large capital investments in their infrastructures or holding large inventories. While this makes sense from an economic standpoint, it resulted in wide-spread capacity constraints. In an article last September, Forbes.com reported that Micron, for example, expects DRAM supply growth to remain around 15% to 20%, while demand will grow between 20% to 25%.
Another driver behind the component shortage are an unusually high number of industry merger and acquisitions. In 2016, semiconductor and tech mergers reached an all time high with consolidation driven by Internet of Things, cross-border deals and private equity buying. According to EPSNews, there were 114 semi-conductor deals in 2016 with an aggregate value of $124.9 billion.
Maintain Relationships with Suppliers. Top-tier manufacturers such as Digi-Key, Mouser and Newark, provide the majority of electronic components for PCBs. Working directly with these suppliers often is the best first step in securing necessary parts. Some assembly shops even have dedicated quoting teams on-site at suppliers, which can give them priority access to available inventory. In addition to the direct manufacturers, there are a number of certified supply brokers that specializes in sourcing hard to find and/or obsolete parts and components. Working closely with these brokers can also help in locating and purchasing what you need.
Hold Inventory. Another best practice during this time is to purchase and maintain an internal inventory of high-demand parts. Once you find a supplier, purchase enough parts to meet your demand over the next 12 months, especially passives. Most PCB assembly companies allow customers to supply their own parts and boards, when necessary. By maintaining your own small inventory, you can avoid projects delays and eliminate the frustrating process of part location each time a job is ordered.
Plan Ahead. The sooner buyers can begin looking for parts, the better. If designers have specific component requirements, it is advisable to send the Bill of Materials to buyers and/ or your assembly partner as soon as possible. This way, they can begin the process of locating and securing parts, so they are ready to be placed once the design is verified and the order is ready to go.
Network with Other Designers.Most PCB assembly shops require customers purchase additional parts to account for any losses that may occur, especially with smaller components such as 0603, 0402, and 0201-sized capacitors, resistors and inductors. This is because small parts may get lost during mount/dismount from the feeder, and no one wants to put the project on hold while more parts are ordered. If these extra parts are not used, they are returned with the customer's completed order. As the English proverb states, "one man's trash is another man's treasure." While you may not have a need for the extra parts, they may just be what your colleague is trying to find for his or her project. Networking with other designers can be a valuable source of parts when supply is tight.
If analysts are correct, the current part shortage may continue through 2018, which means lead-times won't be decreasing anytime soon. Unfortunately, there is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Engineers need to stay informed and in close contact with their internal sourcing department or their assembly partner to make appropriate decisions. Together we can weather the storm and continue bringing high-quality products to market fast.
Want more component information? Check out our free "Complete Guide to Getting Smart with Components".