Abstract: The promulgation of the Belt and Road Initiative brings to fore the shift in world economic power to the east. The relations between members of Initiative and the changes of their positions will determine the long-term success or otherwise of this Initiative. The paper adopts social network analysis to set up the network relation between member countries, studies the network structure and its evolution trends, and identifies the position and role of members in the Initiative with data from bilateral investments for the period 2005 to 2015. We conclude that the network structure of Belt, Road Initiative’s broad purpose of ensuring a greater level of economic integration between and among countries on the Belt, Road corridor with regards to bilateral investments is gradually being achieved although at a slower pace than may have been expected by framers of the Initiative with less influence being exerted by China. The beneficial economic integration will be very much enhanced with China in the core position.

Abstract: Education as a means of achieving economic development has become a respectable and challenging subject for scholarly research and analysis. Most studies indicate that many children are growing up without proper guidance from their parents. The parents/ guardians are largely absent and housemaids, the media and peers have become the main socialization agents of most children today. This study established the part guardians and parents play in addressing students’ discipline problems in public day secondary schools in Nakuru sub County, Nakuru County, Kenya. Nakuru East sub-County has 31 public day secondary schools, 18,600 students, 31 principals, and 806 teachers. Sixteen schools were randomly selected for the study. Data was collected from 80 parents, 50 students, and 24 teachers who were selected randomly from the 16 schools using questionnaires. Eight principals were also interviewed. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics while qualitative data was analyzed using the thematic technique. Result found that stealing/ theft, skiving or truancy, and distraction in class were the most common forms of indiscipline in the schools. It was also found that there is little involvement of parent in addressing disciplinary issues. The study did arrive at a concrete verdict regarding the parenting styles of most parents/ guardians because different stakeholders have varying views. However, all stakeholders agreed that parenting style influences students’ discipline to a great extent. The study recommends that stakeholder particular teachers educate parents regarding parenting styles and their impact on student’s behavior. The study also recommends strengthening cooperation between teachers, students, principals, and parents so as to enhance discipline within the schools.

Abstract: This paper is related to study the potential of orange peel on the removal of copper ions from simulated wastewater using different design parameters by adsorption technique. The operating parameters studied to adsorb copper ions using orange peel as an adsorbent material were initial concentration of copper, absorbance material packing height which was orange peel, pH of copper feed inlet solution, and treatment time, these parameters were varied from (1-100) mg/l, (10-50) cm, (1-8), and (1-60) min respectively. All experiments were carried out at constant feed flow rate (1 l/min) and constant temperature 25°C. Results show that the higher removal efficiency was 89.25 % for copper from aquatic solution and this efficiency was decreased with increasing of initial concentration and pH while the removal efficiency increased with increasing adsorbent material bed height and contact time. The residues of orange peels that loaded with copper ions were prepared to use it as a rodenticide by applying it on the laboratory rats and calculate the half lethal dose (LD50). The residues show a good ability to use it as a rodenticide and the LD50 calculated was in the same range mentioned in the literature. By this way, it can possess different benefits in the same time, which are remove the toxic copper ions from contaminated the water by highly efficiency, get rid of agricultural waste orange peel and finally prepare an active, cheap and simple rodenticide. So, it can discard more toxic waste in a coast and eco-friendly method accessing to Zero Residue Level (ZRL) concept.

Abstract: The pricing role of idiosyncratic risk has remained debatable to date, In this paper, we applied an innovative method of dual-predictor regression models to test for the predictive power of idiosyncratic risk in major African stock markets, we find that even though the conventional measure of aggregate idiosyncratic risk exhibits some predictive power for future stock returns, the dual-predictor method, which is developed to reduce the noise effect and is subsequently applied to the US stock market in Ruan, Sun, and Xu (2016), can substantially improve the predictive power of idiosyncratic risk in all of the five major African stock markets, consistent with the effect of the dual-predictor on noise reduction. We conclude that innovative approaches help to improve the predictive power of idiosyncratic risk and just as is the case in the US markets, the same argument of noise reduction through innovation also holds in major African stock markets.

Abstract: This dissertation examines the way Arabs are stereotyped in Hollywood war films. The dissertation shows how the enemy is portrayed in Hollywood war films. After World War II Nazis were the enemy in Hollywood combat films, and most of the films about WWII, depict Nazis as such. After WWII, the role of the enemy shifted from the Nazis to the Vietnamese. The fear of communism and the victory after the Cold War led Hollywood to depict Vietnamese as enemy in Vietnam War combat films. To study the way the Arabs are stereotyped in Hollywood war films, this dissertation makes a comparison between the depiction of these historical enemies and the representation of Iraqis in war films. By analysing motion pictures produced by Hollywood following each war, similarities and differences are identified in the way enemies are portrayed.

Abstract: The weight of youth unemployment is felt globally with over 70 million youths being unemployed across the globe causing a decline in youth participation in the labour force. Kenya with the largest economy in East Africa has the highest unemployment rate in the region with 39% of the active population unemployed. The various initiatives by the government to alleviate youth unemployment has achieved much and the rate of youth unemployment is high in Nairobi City County due to migration to the city in search for employment, with Clay City Ward being the highest hit. A descriptive survey design was adopted on a target population of 400 unemployed youths in Clay City Ward aged between 21-25 years. A sample size of 30% of the target population which is 120 respondents was obtained through simple random sampling and a questionnaire administered. Key informant interview was also carried out with five youth leaders. Lack of proper technical and vocational training, capital, experience and dependency on parents and relatives was a major cause of youth unemployment. This has led to low living standards, low self-esteems, moral decay and some youths opting not to marry due to unstable income to support themselves and family. However some youths have taken the initiative to exploit their soft talents to earn a living. Despite the government investment in youth’s initiatives not much has been achieved due to poor governance and lack of accountability. The ministry of devolution and planning should devolve the youth’s funds and make it more accessible with adequate training for sustainable job creation.

Abstract: As professional’s teachers in the field of education, at least, they have the duties of teaching, mentors, class administrators, curriculum developers, professional developers, and community relations builders. Competence in the educational perspective is a necessity, because a professional job, in this case, the teacher, have to be based on the field of the knowledge. The purpose of this study was to describe teachers’ social competency in improving students’ extracurricular skills that extra-curricular activities can influence development in academics, social skills, and school completion. This study was literature research that discusses the social competence of the teacher in applying at school for improving students’ extracurricular skills surrounding Batam area. Over half of a student's time is spent being involved in some sort of structured activity. It is important for teachers, counselors, and parents to know the overall impact of participating and being involved in out-of school activities. Social competence of teachers as part of the community to communicate and socialize effectively with learners, fellow educators, education personnel, parents of learners, and the surrounding community. The school educates students to be smart and they must have a teacher who is competent in the field. If the teacher already has the competence then the student relationship with the teacher goes well, the achievement will also be good. The teachers need social competence because they share their knowledge to the students. Therefore the only teacher should learn a lot from communicating to be clear and cautious.