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Saturday, November 29, 2014

How to Pack a Carry-On-Bag for Women Travelling by Air:

Travel packing tips will help you decide how to pack, what to pack, and how much you can stuff into your bags.  Knowing how to efficiently pack a carry-on can save you a bunch of money when traveling by Air.   It is crucial before you book any flight, to check how much your bags will cost you. TravelArmy believes in making travel simple and easy. since there is no shortcut to any place worth going most especially when it comes to your travelling by air.

1. Decide what clothes you need to take – like really need to take – and then fold them up into neat piles and start with the smaller, lighter items like t-shirts and roll them up to save space. Then put half of them back. Select clothes in the same color family.

For instance, a five-day trip, you’ll likely need five shirts, two pairs of slacks or jeans, and one skirt while Muslim sisters who love wearing Hijab and Abaya, will probably need to pack three Hijab or scarf and three Abaya. It is necessary to iron it to compress it very well.

Note: the average 22-inch check-in bag fits roughly two pairs of jeans, three sweaters, two dresses, and five shirts.
Trust me, you don't need to bring as much as you think. Consider how often you are going to be seen by the same people and realize that you don't need to wear something different every day of your trip. Limit the number of shoes you bring. Remember you're already wearing one pair on the plane.

2. Take a heavier item like a pair of trousers and bundle them around a cluster of the smaller rolled items and also fold softer  garments such as underwear, T-shirts, cotton pants, and knitwear these can not wrinkle when rolled tightly.  Arrange rolled items in the bottom of the bag. Make sure you roll your clothing and pack from heaviest to lightest in order to easily fit everything you need.

3.  Stuff your socks and tights into your shoes to save space. It 's always worth putting your shoes in a plastic bag as well, so that you don't ruin our clean clothes with dirt from the soles of your shoes. Wear the heaviest pair of shoes and pack the other two.  Pack the large items first and then put the small items.

4. For your beauty product: Opt for travel-size multitask products. Choose a tinted moisturizer that serves as foundation, a soap, and shampoo in one, and wipes that clean hands and face. However, If you are going to carry-on then no liquid, gel, cream or ointment can be in a container greater than 100 ml or 3.3 ounces. And don't forget the one quart clear bag to show it all to TSA. So, leave home that big bottle of shampoo
and pour it into a small bottle. Hotels usually provide for free or sell toothpaste, shampoo, soap and tooth brushes. (If you’re flying with a carry-on, check current regulations for liquids at tsa.gov.)

5. Do not pack expensive jewelry in your luggage, instead put it on, to reduce risk of loss or theft.

6. Finally do a quick recap. Do you have everything? Make sure you don't forget anything important to your journey. It is recommended that you pack your bag like three days or more before your journey it will make you realise an unpacked essential items and if it requires going out to get them, you will still have time to purchase and pack it right away.
   
7. Check in online. Most airlines allow you to do it the day before, and since you’re traveling with a carry-on, you can skip the check-in desk and go straight to security.
           
Next thing is tricks on how to get everything into the pack bag (stated by WomansDay.com):

8. Think of your bag as being divided into three horizontal layers. Place your shoes and any other bulky or hard items (like a travel hair dryer) in first for the bottom layer. Fill in the spaces between them with smaller items, like underwear and T-shirts.

9. Second layer is for larger clothing items—fold them as you would normally and lay them on top.

10. The third tier is anything you might want to access on your way from A to B—an extra layer if you’re traveling somewhere cold or a lighter one if you’re going somewhere warm. Your quart-size bag of liquids should be in this layer, too, as close as possible to where your bag opens to make it easy to grab for security. Also, anything that might break or spill (like makeup), should be in this top layer so that the other items in your bag don’t squish it.

Remember to wear your heaviest clothing (like boots, jeans or sweaters) on the plane to save space in your luggage. You can always take off your jacket and use it as a pillow.

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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

International Scholarship in TAFE NSW, Australia, 2015.


TAFE (Technical and Further Education) in New South Wales comprises 10 institutes which cover different geographic areas of the state. Each Institute has more than one campus. TAFE NSW is Australia's largest training provider, with over 500,000 enrollments every year.

The TAFE NSW Institutes are offering 100 scholarships for international students who have demonstrated academic merit and other achievements. Each scholarship contributes $2,000 towards the tuition fees for a TAFE NSW course.                                    

Areas of Interest are: Offers are based on courses within the Hunter Institute, Illawarra Institute, Northern Sydney Institute, Riverina Institute, South Western Sydney Institute, Sydney Institute, Western Institute and Western Sydney Institute.

Coverage
Scholarships are available for Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree or Bachelor Degree courses.
                                                                                                                                                  Scholarship Provider
TAFE NSW (Technical and Further Education Commission CRICOS provider code: 00591E)
Scholarship can be taken at: Australia

Eligibility
To be eligible for the scholarship applicants must:
1. Be an international student
2. Have been offered a place in a TAFE NSW course with a minimum 18 months duration.
3. Commence studies in TAFE NSW in 2015
4. Attend the relevant TAFE NSW campus as a full-time student
5. Not be a family member or relative of a TAFE NSW employee or their agent
6. Not be in receipt of another scholarship or award,  including a TAFE NSW scholarship.

This Scholarship is open to International students.

Scholarship Description 
At TAFE NSW, they believe in providing affordable education to international students. They have made over 100 scholarships available to genuine applicants who want to fulfil their education dream in Australia. The scholarships will be awarded to students who have demonstrated academic merit and other achievements.

Number and Duration of award(s) 
Up to 100 TAFE NSW scholarships are offered and Students must be studying for a minimum 1.5 years.

What does it cover?
Each scholarship contributes $2,000 towards the tuition fees for a TAFE NSW course.

Selection Criteria
On the recommendation of a Selection Committee  scholarships are awarded each year to students who have demonstrated academic merit and other achievements.

Selection Process
Students must complete a scholarship application form and attached their academic transcripts. Other documents highlighting recent achievements, contributions or qualities (e.g. awards, leadership skills, extracurricular activities) will be considered.
On the recommendation of a Selection Committee scholarships are awarded each year to students who have demonstrated academic merit and other achievements. The decision of the Committee is final. Notification to successful applicants will occur approximately one month prior to the corresponding semester commencement.
                                                                                                                                                              How to Apply
Applicants should apply by post, in person or by email.
     
Deadline
The scholarship application deadlines are 12 December, 2014 for study in Semester 1, 2015 and Friday 29 May 2015.                                                   .                                                                        

Click here to apply: http://www.detinternational.nsw.edu.au/media-assets/tafe/scholarship-2015.pdf

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Sunday, November 23, 2014

NO MORE TOEFL AND TOEIC FOR UK VISA APPLICANTS

The UK Home Office and the Educational Testing Service (ETS) who administer the TOEFL and TOEIC tests, have ended their partnership.

This means that UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) will no longer accept TOEFL or TOEIC as proof of your English language skills. ETS will officially be removed from the list of approved English language test providers on 1 July 2014. However, UKVI state that they are accepting visa applications which rely on a TOEFL or TOEIC certificate as long as the visa application was made and the visa fee paid for before 22 July 2014. There are further exceptions to this for students who are going to study on a pre-sessional course and foundation course.

The latest guide on tests approved by UK Visas and Immigration to show that applicants have the required level of English for their visa can be found on this link: Approved English Language Tests

However, if you are applying to study at the UK, you will need to meet a specific English level requirement. The university is free to choose how to asses your level of English and therefore universities may still accept TOEFL as proof of your English language skills. While, the end of partnership between the UK Home Office and ETS, have made some universities decided that they will no longer accept TOEFL as proof of English language.


Please contact your chosen university to find out if they would accept a TOEFL test to meet the English requirement of the course.



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Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Obama Plans to Defend Up to 5 Million illegal Immigrants in US from Deportation:

President Obama as soon as next week will announce executive action on immigration reform that would defer deportations for up to 5 million people living in the U.S. illegally.

Obama's plans aim at rebranding the immigration policies to lift the threat of deportation for as many as 5 million undocumented immigrants, whom are mostly parents of U.S. citizens or children brought to the country as minors.

Obama’s actions will also expand opportunities for immigrants who have high-tech skills, shift extra security resources to the nation’s southern border, revamp a controversial immigration enforcement program called Secure Communities, and provide clearer guidance to the agencies that enforce immigration laws about who should be a low priority for deportation, especially those with strong family ties and no serious criminal history.

The White House has refused to publicly comment on the scope of the president’s executive action, saying he would not announce his actions until he returns from a weeklong trip to Asia.

Immigration advocates, who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of a public announcement, said final details of the plan remained in flux.
While, Some Republicans say Obama’s immigration efforts could thwart plans to pass a budget during the lame-duck session of Congress.




Sunday, November 16, 2014

Gates Millennium Scholars Program

The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program selects 1,000 talented students each year to receive a good-through-graduation scholarship to use at any college or university of their choice. The 2015 GMS Online Application is now open. For the complete list of eligibility criteria, click here.

Deadline: January 14, 2015

Study LevelUndergraduate: Any Discipline
Graduate: Only for continuing Gates Millennium Scholars in one of the following discipline areas: computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health or science

Value of Awards
Support for the cost of education by covering unmet need and self-help aid, including graduate school funding for continuing Scholars in the areas of computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health or science.                                              .                                                    
Who is eligible?
African American,
American Indian/Alaska Native,
Asian & Pacific Islander American
Hispanic American

  • Are a citizen, national or legal permanent resident of the United States
  • Have attained a cumulative high school GPA of 3.3 on an unweighted 4.0 scale or have earned a GED
  • Will enroll for the first time at a U.S. located, accredited college or university (with the exception of students concurrently pursuing a high school diploma) in the fall of 2015 as a full-time, degree-seeking, first-year student. First-time college enrollees can also be GED recipients.
  • Have demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular or other activities
  • Meet the Federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria
  • Have completed and submitted all three required forms: the student's application (Nominee Personal Information Form), an evaluation of the student's academic record (Nominator Form) and an evaluation of the student's community service and leadership activities (Recommender Form) by the deadline

How to apply
Applicant must complete the following:

  1. Student Application (Nominee Personal Information Form)
  2. Educator’s evaluation of the student’s academic record (Nominator Form)
  3. Evaluation of the student’s community service and leadership activities (Recommender Form) Pell Grant Eligibility

Hence, If selected as GMS finalists, students must demonstrate eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant Program as part of their financial aid package for the 2015 academic year. Students must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid Programs. Students are urged to file a 2015 FAFSA at their earliest opportunity.

The 2015 FAFSA form will be available January 1, 2015 at www.fafsa.gov. Federal Pell Grants typically are awarded to families that demonstrate significant financial need. Eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant is a function of many factors, including dependency status, family income, family size and the number of students in the family.

Click these links for Full Scholarship Details and here to Begin Your Application

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Study Free Courses from the World's Top Universities

Education is essential for everyone. It is an indispensable part of life both personally and socially. However, high tuition fee in most universities is still a major constrain for majority to further their education.              

Here are opportunities for you to improve your status and further your education with no tuition fee.

The following are free tuition courses provider from reputable Universities around the world such as Havard University, Koc  University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Wesleyan University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Manchester, University of Melbourne, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and lots more.

Here are my top 5 picks:                    .                                                        

1. Coursera:
Coursera is an education company that partners with the top universities and organizations in the world to offer courses online for anyone to take, for free. They have over 10 million users with over 800 free courses from 115 partner universities. Courses offered by Coursera are "accessible for free".
To commence your studies click www.coursera.org

2. Khan Academy:
Khan Academy is a not-for-profit with the goal of changing education for the better by providing a free world-class education for anyone anywhere.  With a library of over 4,500 videos on everything from arithmetic to physics, finance, and history and hundreds of skills to practice, Khan Academy will help you learn what you want, when you want, at your own pace.
Click here to start your studies with khan academy: www.khanacademy.org

3. Academic Earth:               
Academic Earth was launched on the premise that everyone deserves access to a world-class education with collections of free online college courses from the world’s top University.  The platform offers a comprehensive collection of free online courses from the world’s top universities.
For more information on how to commence your studies: www.academicearth.org                        

4. EdX:
This is a massive open online course (MOOC) provider and online learning platform. It hosts online university-level courses in a wide range of disciplines to a worldwide audience, some at no charge. It also conducts research into learning based on how people use its platform.
EdX was founded by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University in May 2012. There are currently more than 60 schools, nonprofits, corporations, and international organizations that offer or plan to offer courses on the edX website.[6] As of 22 October 2014, edX has more than 3 million users taking over 300 courses online. Edx issues certificate of completion for most of their courses.
To start your studies click: www.edx.org

5. Udacity:
This is a for-profit educational organization founded by Sebastian Thrun, David Stavens, and Mike Sokolsky offering massive open online courses (MOOCs).
According to Thrun, the origin of the name Udacity comes from the company's desire to be "audacious for you, the student".
While it originally focused on offering university-style courses, it now focuses more on vocational courses for professionals. Some of their courses are free online courses from reputable Universities.
For more information on Udacity check their website www.udacity.com

Other notable mentions that you must check are Open Culture, Open Education Database (OEDb)

Do you find this useful? Or have suggestions for other useful free course providers? Your contributions are much welcomed.

Happy Studying!

Mali confirms its second fatal case of Ebola Virus Disease(EVD)

Mali’s Ministry of Health has confirmed the country’s second fatal case of Ebola virus disease.
The case occurred in a nurse who worked at a privately-run clinic in the capital city, Bamako.

The nurse, who was showing Ebola-like symptoms, was isolated on the evening of 10 November following suspicions of Ebola infection in a patient from Guinea who was treated at the clinic in late October. These suspicions were raised by an alert from health authorities in Guinea. The nurse died during the night of 11 November.

Testing was done at the biosafety level 3 laboratory in Bamako. In line with standard procedures, samples are being sent to a WHO-approved laboratory for confirmation and further virological  analysis.

Like Mali’s first case, this second case is associated with the outbreak in Guinea. Chains of transmission are being investigated by health officials and WHO staff in both Mali and Guinea.
The 2 confirmed cases in Mali are not linked. They arise from independent chains of transmission involving different villages and different families across the border in Guinea.

Source: World Health Organisation (WHO).



Wednesday, November 12, 2014

U.S.A and China reach unrivalled climate change consensus.

The United States and China, the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases, announced new targets Wednesday to cut such emissions in a bid to halt climate change and persuade other nations to take equally ambitious measures ahead of a major climate treaty to be finalized next year.

US President Barack Obama announced a target to cut US emissions by 26 to 28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2025, doubling the pace of reduction it had previously targeted for the period from 2005 to 2020.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping pledged to cap its growing carbon emissions by 2030, or earlier if possible, while setting the challenging goal of increasing the share of zero-emission non-fossil fuel to 20 per cent of the country's energy mix by the same year.


USA AND CHINA NEW AGREEMENT ON TOURIST AND BUSINESS VISAS


Starting November 12, the United States and the People’s Republic of China will reciprocally increase the validity of short-term business and tourist visas and student and exchange visas issued to each other’s citizens.

Chinese applicants who qualify for a B-category nonimmigrant visa (NIV) may now be issued multiple-entry visas for up to 10 years for business and tourist travel. Qualified Chinese students and exchange visitors and their dependents who qualify for F, M, or J-category visas are now eligible for multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years or the length of their program. U.S. citizens eligible for Chinese short term business and tourist visas should also receive multiple-entry visas valid for up to 10 years, while qualified U.S. students may receive student residency permits valid up to five years, depending on the length of their educational program.

Benefits of Visa Validity Extension:

- The reciprocal extension of visa validity to 10 years for short-term business and tourist travel between China and the United States will increase travel and exchanges, enhance mutual understanding between our countries, and benefit our economies by increasing the ease of trade and investment. Ten years is the longest visa validity possible under U.S. law.

- This new arrangement will be more convenient and less costly for travelers. Prior to this, Chinese and American business travelers and tourists had to apply annually if visiting the United States or China each year.

- Until now, many Chinese students who left the United States for short visits abroad were required to apply for new visas. Under the new arrangement, Chinese students will find it easier and more convenient to return home because in many cases they will not be required to obtain new visas prior to returning to the United States to study.

- The arrangement underscores the U.S. commitment to promote bilateral tourism and trade and increase opportunities for people-to-people engagement.

Background:

- More NIVs are processed in China than in any other country; applications processed in China represent more than 14 percent of all NIV applications worldwide. More than 1.95 million NIV applications were processed for Chinese nationals in fiscal year 2014.

- Wait times for interview appointments in China have averaged less than one week at each post in Mission China for the last two years. Due to efficient processing, most applicants are able to enter the Embassy or Consulate, complete their interview, and depart in less than an hour. -

- The vast majority of foreign investment activities in the United States can be performed on a standard business/tourist (B1/B2) visa.

- Chinese nationals comprise the largest group of foreign students in the United States.

- Mission China processed more than 316,000 student and exchange visitor visa applications in FY2014, a 12 percent increase over the previous fiscal year.

- Student visas issued to Chinese nationals accounted for 16 percent of all types of U.S. visas issued in China. Student and exchange visitor visas issued to Chinese applicants represent 30 percent of all such visas issued worldwide.

- Changes in visa validity will not affect visa eligibility criteria, and the basic visa processing fee remains unchanged at the current rate of 160 USD.

For further information, please visit http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn

Monday, November 10, 2014

Hurry!! JOB Opportunities with IREX

The following are current job opportunities with IREX both local and international.
Click on any of these position that is applicable to your area to read more about the requirements and how to apply.

DOMESTIC OPPORTUNITIES
Position Title
Location
Closing Date
Washington, DC
11/14/2014
Washington, DC
11/30/2014
Washington, DC
11/21/2014
Washington, DC
11/14/2014
Washington, DC
11/21/2014
Washington, DC
11/27/2014
Washington, DC
11/30/2014
Washington, DC
11/20/2014
Washington, DC
11/27/2014
Washington, DC
11/17/2014
Washington, DC
11/21/2014

INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Position Title
Location
Closing Date
Amman, Jordan
11/13/2014
Egypt
11/28/2014
Indonesia
11/15/2014
Indonesia
11/15/2014
Indonesia
11/15/2014
Indonesia
11/15/2014
Jordan
11/28/2014
Morocco
12/31/2014
Morocco
12/31/2014
Morocco
12/31/2014
Turkey
11/10/2014

RECURRING OPPORTUNITIES
Position Title
Location
Closing Date
Washington, DC
12/20/2014
Washington, DC
12/31/2014
Worldwide
6/1/2015
Worldwide
6/1/2015
Worldwide
12/31/2014
Worldwide
12/31/2014