Friday, February 21, 2020

Homework Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Homework - Case Study Example A pivot table can then break down the numbers to show the amount sold by each employee. Then, it could even go further and break those numbers down by cities. So you would know which employee made the most number of sales, in which city the most number of sales were made, and which singular employee made the most number of sales in just one city. Data from the pivot table could then be used to allocate funds and estimate future sales based on the data from the pivot table. Comparisons could then be made across previous time periods and a comparison could be made to show the trends of certain employees or locations. Changes could then be made based off this data by either firing an employee or stop selling products in a city that is underperforming. 1- Because they are amazing tools used to quickly explore and manipulate data from a spreadsheet. A pivot table uses existing data and allows users to sort that data by any field they choose. The user can select which fields they would like to be displayed and whether it should be a column or a row header. That table can then be manipulated by integrating formulas into the table to quickly get inventory counts, cost percentages, sales commissions, regional growth, or anything else you need to determine. Using pivot tables to explore crosstab data is much easier than searching through spreadsheets, pulling out the pertinent data, then creating a new spreadsheet with the data necessary. Pivot tables make analyzing large quantities of data a user-friendly experience. You can actually create a pivot table in as few as 10 mouse clicks! You are correct in that using a pivot table can significantly reduce the time it takes to analyze data. All it needs is for just a few spaces to be filled in and the pivot table will display all the information you need in a nice and easy format. You might want to mention though that the use of pivot tables is not simply reduced to business-related activities but can

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Artificial reefs on the gulf coast and why funding should remain for Essay

Artificial reefs on the gulf coast and why funding should remain for them - Essay Example The fact that they are artificial means that they are manmade. It follows that man has to effect necessary measures including funding in order to protect this type of unique environment. Once the funding is provided it is expected that the relevant authorities will ensure that is properly used for the good of the artificial reefs in general. The emergence of artificial reefs can be compared to oases in deserts. Artificial reefs can also be described as safe underwater havens made up of hard surfaces on which invertebrates attach themselves. These invertebrates include corals, bryozoans, barnacles, hydroids and clams. A simple theory has always been that invertebrates will start living around the reef once it has been established. A marine food will therefore develop in that ecosystem. Naturally, other forms of marine life will also be attracted in the area (Bortone, Brandarini and Otake, 251). A typical scenario is that bigger fish will head for the reef in order to feed on the smaller ones that arrived earlier thus the common saying that larger fish are usually right behind the smaller ones. Some areas such as Florida used to establish artificial reefs by sinking any object for instance refrigerators, fridges, washing machines among others. This was a haphazard approach of building the reefs since they would soon be de stroyed by hurricanes or tropical storm. Today, establishment of an artificial reef requires careful planning and choice of materials. Bortone et al (260) asserts that the main objectives are to enhance the original habitat at the bottom of the sea and increase the population of local fish. Generally looking at the Gulf coast, the area with the most number of permitted artificial reefs is the state of Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is thus the one responsible for establishing guidelines for the deployment of artificial reefs. There are close to 2,700 artificial reefs along Florida’s

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Non Controlling Interests And Goodwill Accounting Essay

Non Controlling Interests And Goodwill Accounting Essay Introduction IFRS 3 which involves Business Combinations will build important changes in business combinations accounting. IFRS 3 develops more the acquisition representation and applies to more day to day transactions, because combinations by contract only in addition to combinations of common entities are incorporated in the standard. Nevertheless, ordinary managed transactions and the development of joint ventures are not factored in the revised standard. IFRS 3 applies to the 1st period of accounting commencing on 1/07/09. Notably, retrospective appliance to previous business combinations isnt permitted. It can be used early as long as its not in the period of accounting commencing on or after 30/07/07. Background In 2008 the International Accounting Standards Board finished the 2nd stage of its Project on Business combinations by releasing a revised edition of IFRS 3 relating to Business Combinations. It was amended in order to replace the 2004 version. The revised IFRS 3 is the outcome of a combined project with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Scope Description of business combination . Its a occurrence of transactions whereby the purchaser gains power over 1 or many business entities. A business entity is described as an incorporated place of actions that is able to perform and operate in order to give a return to shareholders or other capital owners or any other participants in the business. The purchaser or the acquiring company ought to be recognized or identified. IFRS 3 stipulates that an acquirer must be acknowledged or identified in all cases involving business combinations. Variations in the scope from the 2004 version of IFRS 3 as compared to 2008 IFRS 3 version is used in combinations of joint business entities as well as combinations which do not have consideration for example dual listed company shares. Such are not included in unrevised IFRS. Exclusions from the scope: The IFRS 3 cannot be used in case of development of a joint venture or combination of business entity under common management or control. IFRS 3 cannot be used the purchase of an asset or a collection of assets which dont comprise a business entity. Purchase consideration Important changes to the standard involve the purchase consideration. Fair value of all benefits held formerly by the acquirer in the newly acquired company is currently incorporated in the consideration. This incorporates all interest in joint ventures undertaken and associate as well as equity interests in the newly acquired company. Any preceding venture is perceived to be given up in order to obtain the company/entity and on disposal date a gain or loss is taken into account. In case the acquirer previously had interest in the entity obtained prior to acquisition, IFRS3 stipulates that the current venture to be revalued to fair cost as at the acquisition date, factoring in all changes to the profit and loss account as well as any gains formerly documented in equity that pertain to the current holding structure. A gain is accepted in the income statement during the period of business combination. Contingent consideration requirements have been modified. Contingent consideration is nowadays accepted at fair value even in cases where its not likely to pay at the acquisition date. All ensuing modification to liability contingent consideration is taken to the income statement, instead of goodwill account because it is perceived to be a debt acknowledged in the international accounting standard 32/39. If debts for superior performance by the results in the subsidiary cause expenditure in the income statement to increase and under-performance by the subsidiary against targets will lead to a cutback in the anticipated payment and will be accounted as a profit in the statement of income. These changes in contingent consideration were formerly taken in the goodwill account. The standard no longer treats transaction costs as a component of the purchase cost; such overheads are expensed throughout the accounting period. Transaction costs are now considered not to constitute what is given to the party selling the entity. They arent supposed to be taken as assets of the acquired entity which ought to be acknowledged on the purchase date. The standard stipulates that businesses should reveal the quantity of transaction expenses that have been paid. IFRS 3 takes into consideration the treatment of employee share-based payments by including supplementary regulation on estimation, as well as how to come to a decision on whether share payments constitute part of the payment for future service compensation or business combination. Non-controlling interests and Goodwill IFRS3 provides businesses with an alternative, on an individual operation basis, to value minority interest or non controlling interest at fair value in relation to their share of particular liabilities and assets or at their fair value. The 2nd technique will consider goodwill relating to the non-controlling interest together with the controlling interest acquired while the 1st technique will lead to valuation of goodwill, which is essentially similar to the current IFRS Measurement of goodwill can also be undertaken using the full goodwill basis, in this method goodwill is measured for the minority interest/ non-controlling and also the controlling interest in a subsidiary. In the preceding edition of IFRS 3, non controlling interest was valued at their proportion of net assets and excluded any goodwill. Under the Full goodwill method it means that minority interest (non controlling interest) together with goodwill is increased by the value of goodwill that pertains to minority interest. Example Mercer has purchased a subsidiary company on 2 February 2008. The net assets fair value of the subsidiary company is $2,170million. Mercer purchased 70 percent of the total shares of the subsidiary company for $2,145million. The minority interest was measured at $683million. Goodwill recognized on the full and partial goodwill techniques under IFRS 3 would be computed as: Mercer partial goodwill method Assets (net) 2,170 Minority interest (Non Controlling Interest) (30% x 2,170) (651) Assets purchased 1,519 Consideration on acquisition (2,145) Goodwill amount 626 Full goodwill Method Fair value of identifiable net assets 2,170 Minority interest (683) Assets taken over 1,487 Consideration on Purchase (2,145) Goodwill amount 658 Goodwill is in actual fact adjusted for the variation in the figure of the minority interest which factors in the goodwill belonging to the non controlling interest. This preference of technique of accounting for non controlling interest only causes a disparity in acquisition figures where less than 100 percent of the entity obtained is bought. The full goodwill technique will cause an increase in net assets reported on the statement of financial position which means that any prospective goodwill impairment will be greater. While valuing non-controlling interest at reasonable cost may be complex, testing goodwill impairment may be less difficult in full goodwill, because there is no point of summing-up goodwill for subsidiary companies which are partially owned. Fair measurement of liabilities and Assets IFRS 3 has brought about some alterations to liabilities and assets documented in the statement of financial position. The present conditions to distinguish the net identifiable liabilities and assets of the entity being acquired are retained. Assets ought to be measured at fair value excluding some specific items for example pension liabilities and deferred tax. International accounting standard board has given supplementary regulations that are likely to lead to recognition of additional intangible assets. Purchasers are obliged to identify and record trade licenses, client relationships and brands, plus other assets classified as intangible. There are minor alterations to existing regulation under IFRS in relation to contingencies.. Following the business combination date, conditional liabilities are re-valued at the initial figure and the quantity in current relevant standard whichever is higher. Contingent assets are not identified or recorded, and contingent liabilities are valued at fair cost. Other Matters and Issues IFRS 3 gives direction on some precise details of combinations of entities such as : business combinations done with no reallocation of consideration acquisitions done in reverse identifying and recording assets which are intangible the re-examination of the purchasers contractual provisions at the date of acquisition Holding Companys Disposal or Acquisition of extra shares in Subsidiary Proportional sale or disposal of a subsidiary while still maintaining control. . This is treated as an equity exchange with shareholders as well as loss or gain not recoded. Proportional disposal of a subsidiary where control is lost. Losing controlling power on re valuing of the remaining fair value held. Disparity between carrying value and fair value is treated as a loss or gain on the disposal, recorded in the income statement. Afterwards, using international accounting standard 28 and 31 is suitable, to the outstanding investment. Purchase of extra shares after control of subsidiary was gained This is treated as a transaction involving equity with shareholders (such as purchase of shares in the treasury. Goodwill is not revalued in such an event. Disclosure The purchaser must reveal all relevant financial information to users of its annual reports to assess the financial outcome of a business combination that happens throughout the present reporting phase or subsequent to the end of the phase but before the reports are approved for issue. Disclosures necessary to meet the previous purpose are : A depiction and also the name of the purchaser Date of purchase proportion of voting interests purchased Principal s purpose of the business combination and a explanation of method used by the purchaser to acquire power over the seller Account of the reasons that show goodwill recorded, for example probable synergies from combining activities, and non qualifying assets. purchase-date fair cost of the combined consideration taken over and the purchase-date fair cost of every main category of consideration Particulars of dependent consideration provisions as well as indemnification assets taken over. Particulars of purchased receivables the value for all key category of assets purchased and debts implicit Particulars of contingent liabilities recorded. Combined value of goodwill that is anticipated to be removed for purposes of tax. Facts of all activities that take place individually from the purchase of assets and debts in business combination Facts concerning negative goodwill. In conclusion I believe that the speedy endorsement of IFRS 3 will end the doubt regarding the treatment of financial statements and reports. Hopefully the aims of the revised IFRS Board will be achieved and end the requirement for reconciliation between different accounting standards as well as end the conflicting use of the revised IFRS3 in the accounting profession . I look forward to the outcome caused by the implementation of the IFRS3 with interest!

Monday, January 20, 2020

An Analysis of Humes Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion Essay

An Analysis of Hume's Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion ABSTRACT: Hume's Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion (1779) may be read in the way Cleanthes (and Philo as well) reads Nature, as analogous to human artifice and contrivance. The Dialogues and Nature then are both texts, with an intelligent author or Author, and analogies may be started from these five facts of Hume's text: the independence of Hume's characters; the non-straightforwardness of the characters' discourse; the way the characters interact and live; the entanglements of Pamphilus as an internal author; and the ways in which a reader is also involved in making a dialogue. These and other analogies should reflect upon the Author of Nature as they do upon Hume's authorship: They do not prove the existence of their respective authors, but may well shed some light on the nature of these disparate beings. The bulk of Hume's Dialogues concerning Natural Religion is given over to two discussions of "the" so-called argument from design. (1) In Part 2 Cleanthes succinctly states an "argument a posteriori" that attempts to "prove at once the existence of a Deity, and his similarity to human mind and intelligence." According to this argument, the world and its parts are (like) intricate machines or human contrivances, implying "by all the rules of analogy" that their cause, "the Author of Nature," is a designing intelligence (all 2.5.Cleanthes to Demea and Philo). Philo then subjects this argument to various and withering criticisms in Parts 2-8, although he later ends up confessing, more than once, (2) his inability to deny the powerful attraction this form of argument and its natural theological conclusion has for everyone, himself included. In Parts 10 and... ...otelian Society Supplementary Volume 18, 179-228. Tweyman, Stanley. 1986. Scepticism and Belief in Hume's Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff. Williams, B. A. O. 1963. "Hume on Religion," in David F. Pears, ed. David Hume: A Symposium. London: Macmillan; New York: St. Martin's Press, 77-88. Wollheim, Richard, ed. 1963. Hume on Religion. London: William Collins Sons/Fontana Library. (editor's introduction, 7-30) Wood, Forrest E., Jr. 1971. "Hume's Philosophy of Religion as Reflected in the Dialogues." Southwestern Journal of Philosophy II, 185-193. Yandell, Keith E. 1976. "Hume on Religious Belief." In Livingston, Donald W. and James T. King, eds. Hume: A Re-Evaluation. New York: Fordham University Press, 109-125. ________. 1990. Hume's "Inexplicable Mystery": His Views on Religion. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Hugo Boss Case Study

Options 4/3/2012 Option: you have the choice to buy something for a certain price but if the price is less than that price forget about the contract. The most you ever pay is the contract price. You have the possibility of doing better. Nothing to lose only gain since you locked in a certain price; seller of contract can only do worse. The person whom makes the contract charges a price to enter into the contract, the seller keeps this contract. This price is called the premium, options start life with a value, it is an impure derivative.The underlying is instrument is what the contract is about person whom buys the contract Is known as the option buyer/investor, seller is known as the option writer/issuer, what you pay if you exercise the contract is known as the strike price or exercise price. Options have expiration days after that we can not use them anymore, another parameter is the type of option that it is Six parameters: Underwriting asset, parties involved, strike price/exerc ise price, expiration date, type of option.The premium fluctuates with demand, the contract could be sold Underlying: SBUX 1,000 Strike Price: 60 a share 1 Month: Type: Call Premium: 8 If you do not exercise the option it is allowed to expire Options come in types, Styles, and classes Put option right to sell at a certain price Put option: Underlying: sbx, 1000 shares, spot price 55 Strike price: 50 Time: 1 Month Premium: in a put option you pay for the buy to sellOptions come in three styles: European Style: You can exercise on a certain date, only at expiration American Style: You can exercise at any time, makes premium from an American option more but not by much only worth a lot more when dividends high dividends and low interest rates are present Bermuda Options: specific dates when you can exercise them Pay off diagram 50 55 60 (exercise price) Starbucks pricePayoff 300 400 500 60 0 7010 8020 10040

Friday, January 3, 2020

The Juxtaposition in the Hope of Roman Light Essay

On that first fateful day, when Romulus struck down his own brother Remus, the cauldron of Rome was forged in blood and betrayal. The seeds on the Palatine hill cultured one of the most potent and stretching empires of human history. Though this civilization seemingly wielded the bolts of Zeus, they were infested with violence, vanity, and deception. Yet, one man—or seemingly â€Å"un†-man—outshone and out-graced his surroundings and everyone within it. He brought Rome several victories and rescued his beloved country from an early exodus, thus providing her a second beginning. This man was Marcus Furius Camillus, and against a logical and emotional mind, he was oft less than loved and celebrated. At times he was disregarded, insulted and even†¦show more content†¦His belief and trust in a higher power at all times, not just in his time of need, is what Livy seeks for Roman citizens to emulate. Here at the pinnacle, is the highest of Roman saviors. Nonet heless he still kneels and recognizes the fleeting nature of worldly power. Religion and faith in the gods, is his constant, not a lifeboat to be called for in times of duress. Faith must be lived, breathed, and walked. Livy underscores this idea for Romans and forever future readers with a piercing question: is it our â€Å"pleasure that†¦the gods of Rome†¦ [are not] interrupted in wartime†¦[but] are abandoned during peace?† (Livy, Rome 5.52). As shown through the actions of our protagonist, the gods are not your self-service; you are theirs. In addition, Camillus’s actions after wars continue his persona of selflessness. Immediately after his omnipotent position during war was no longer necessary, he â€Å"resigned the dictatorship† (Livy, Rome 5.23). Many times he was given the dictatorship, and many times he released it. Unlike other Roman monarchs—many who killed even family members for a taste of the throne—power for Marcus Fur ius was nothing more than the seeds of a white dandelion: easy to liberate and used as a way to spread the honor of his home and country. Livy’s illumination stands in direct contrast to the authority-addicted population of Rome, where even in times of war, a majority of rulersShow MoreRelatedThe Pianist Analysis824 Words   |  4 PagesJews of their rights, relocate them to a ghetto, and dehumanize their entire community. Throughout the course of The Pianist the filmmaker, Roman Polanski, visualizes the differences between the Privileged and the oppressed in Warsaw during World War II using a variety of cinematic techniques such as lighting and focus, and narrative elements such as Juxtaposition and character development. In The Pianist, there are a variety of characters that both generalize groups and stand out from the crowd. CharactersRead MoreJupiter s Aeneid : Fama And Imperium1245 Words   |  5 Pagesand secondary, as well and see how she cites her secondary sources throughout the paper, and how she does this to create a discussion within her academic community. Hejduk’s article â€Å"Jupiter’s Aeneid: Fama and Imperium† challenges readers of the Roman epic to rethink how they interpreted the god Jupiter and his motivation, through the poem. She claims that while Jupiter is regarded by both readers and characters within the epic as an optimistic benign god, his intentions tell us otherwise. He isRead MoreThe Symbolism Of A Voyage Gone Wrong1725 Words   |  7 PagesPequod being out of reach of any help and destined not to return home. The theme of death in the entire novel is emphasized here, the ill-fated mission of the Pequod dooming her and her crew to never complete their journey home. 7. Device: Juxtaposition Quote: The narrative of Ishmael onboard the Pequod is interrupted by Ishmael telling a story of a ship the Pequod encountered. He is speaking to a group of men in Peru, long after his voyage with the Pequod. He begins the story with, â€Å"For my humorRead MoreAnalysis Of Marlow s Heart Of Darkness Essay2381 Words   |  10 Pagesâ€Å"And this also, said Marlow suddenly, ``has been one of the dark places of the Earth. (Conrad) Are the first words spoken aloud by Marlow in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. Marlow goes on the say that he was thinking about the Roman conquerors who came to England 1900 years ago. This comparison that Marlow divulges into in the beginnings of his story frames this story and what it intends to cover in its subject matter. Marlow begins here his only overt characterization of imperialism.Read MoreThe Rule Of The Republic2448 Words   |  10 Pagesgovernments of the Florentine Renaissance. Duke Alessandro de’Medici’s assassi nation in 1537 and widespread uncertainty surrounding his inexperienced and young successor, Cosimo de’Medici, momentarily rekindled hope for a return of the Republic. However, not only did Cosimo thwart any hope for the return of the Republic, he went on to rule Florence for almost forty years and erect a Grand Dukedom that lasted until the mid-18th century. Propaganda in the form of art played a huge role in the consolidationRead MoreHow†©to†©Read†©a†©Roman†©Portrait†©3451 Words   |  14 PagesHow†©to†©Read†©a†©Roman†©Portrait†© SHELDON†©NODELMAN†© from†© E.†©D’Ambra,†©ed.,†©Roman†©Art†©in†©Context.†©NY:†©Prentice†©Hall.†©1993†©pp.†©10†20†© Like all works of art. the portrait is a system of signs; it is often an ideogram of â€Å"public’ meanings condensed into the image of a human face. Roman portrait sculpture from the Republic through the late Empire-the second century BCE. to the sixth CE -constitutes what is surely the most remarkable body of portrait art ever created. Its shifting montage of abstractions fromRead MoreBury My Heart At Wounded Knee And Manifest Destiny2120 Words   |  9 Pagescontinuing the theme of the white man’s feelings of entitlement over the growing country. The introduction of General Hancock begins what was a deeply personal confrontation between him and Roman Nose. Hancock’s warning that whites will sweep over the Indians’ land will, of course, come true, but an undeterred Roman Nose responded to the provocation by predicting that he would slaughter Hancock. In the Kiowas, Brown offers another example of the warrior ethic that drove many Indian tribes. Upon seeingRead MoreThe sentry2864 Words   |  12 Pagesagainst the lids And said if he could see the least blurred light He was not blind; in time they’d get all right. ‘I can’t,’ he sobbed. Eyeballs, huge-bulged like squids’, Watch my dreams still – Here, Owen meets the demands of rhyme and metre by a skilful combination of direct speech, indirect speech and plain description. The politeness with which the blinded sentry addresses his commanding officer (‘O sir’) stands in ironic juxtaposition to his repeated realisation that he has lost his sightRead MoreChristopher Nol An Auteur And Postmodern Filmmaker2218 Words   |  9 Pagesscene juxtaposes Angier’s prime, with his lowest. This juxtaposition of this scene has allowed Nolan to concisely show us that people are mortal, humanity is mortal and society is mortal. Everything can and will, eventually, end. We see within thirty seconds Angier being worshipped by his crowd and then struggling for one final breath. This is symbolic of how the mighty fall and that we must remember our humility. It reminds me of how mighty the Roman Empire was and yet is now nothing more than a memoryRead MoreThe Christian Views On Happiness2532 Words   |  11 Pagesperseveranc e† (James 1:2). This paradoxical juxtaposition of suffering and joy appears throughout the old and new Testament as God’s faithful people faces trials of life, backed by His power. Christians can face times of hardship with joy and hope with confidence in the goodness of their God. Paul proclaims that, â€Å"we know that for those who love God all things work together for good† (Romans 8:28). The bible also provides numerous examples of joy in light of both prosperity and destitution. The Old

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Afghanistan Country Facts and History

Afghanistan has the misfortune of sitting in a strategic position at the crossroads of Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the Middle East. Despite its mountainous terrain and fiercely independent inhabitants, the country has been invaded time after time throughout its history. Today, Afghanistan is once more embroiled in war, pitting NATO troops and the current government against the ousted Taliban and its allies. Afghanistan is a fascinating but violence-wracked country, where East meets West. Capital and Major Cities Capital:  Kabul, population 4.114 million (2019 estimate) Kandahar, population 491,500Herat, 436,300Mazar-e-Sharif, 375,000Kunduz, 304,600Jalalabad, 205,000 Afghanistan Government Afghanistan is an Islamic Republic, headed by the President. Afghan presidents may serve a maximum of two 5-year terms.  The current president is Ashraf Ghani (born 1949), who was elected in 2014.  Hamid Karzai (born 1957)  served two terms as president before him. The National Assembly is a bicameral legislature, with a 249-member House of the People (Wolesi Jirga), and a 102-member House of the Elders (Meshrano Jirga). The nine justices of the Supreme Court (Stera Mahkama) are appointed to terms of 10 years by the President. These appointments are subject to approval by the Wolesi Jirga. Afghanistan Population In 2018, the population of Afghanistan was estimated at 34,940,837 million. Afghanistan is home to a number of ethnic groups. Current statistics on ethnicity are not available. The constitution recognizes fourteen groups, Pashtun,  Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Baloch, Turkmen, Nuristani, Pamiri, Arab, Gujar, Brahui, Qizilbash, Aimaq, and Pasha. Life expectancy for both men and women within Afghanistan is 50.6 for males and 53.6 for females. The infant mortality rate is 108 per 1,000 live births, the worst in the world. It also has one of the highest maternal mortality rates. Official Languages Afghanistans official languages are Dari and Pashto, both of which are Indo-European languages in the Iranian sub-family. Written Dari and Pashto both use a modified Arabic script.Other Afghan languages include Hazaragi, Uzbek, and Turkmen. Dari is the Afghan dialect of the Persian language. It is quite similar to Iranian Dari, with slight differences in pronunciation and accent. The two are mutually intelligible. Dari is the lingua franca, and around 77% of Afghanis speak Dari as their first language. About 48% of the people of Afghanistan speak Pashto, the language of the Pashtun tribe. It is also spoken in the Pashtun areas of western Pakistan. Other spoken languages include Uzbek 11%, English 6%, Turkmen 3%, Urdu 3%, Pashayi 1%, Nuristani 1%, Arabic 1%, and Balochi 1%. Many people speak more than one language. Religion The overwhelming majority of Afghanistans people are Muslim, around 99.7%, with between 85–90% Sunni and 10–15% Shia. The final one percent includes about 20,000 Bahais, and 3,000–5,000 Christians. Only one Bukharan Jewish man, Zablon Simintov (born 1959), remains in the country as of 2019. All of the other members of the Jewish community left when Israel was created in 1948, or fled when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Until the mid-1980s, Afghanistan also had a population of 30,000 to 150,000 Hindus and Sikhs. During the Taliban regime, the Hindu minority was forced to wear yellow badges when they went out in public, and Hindu women had to wear the Islamic-style hijab. Today, only a few Hindus remain. Geography Afghanistan is a land-locked country bordering on Iran to the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to the north, a tiny border with China at the northeast, and Pakistan to the east and south. Its total area is 251,826 square miles (652,230 square kilometers. Most of Afghanistan is in the Hindu Kush Mountains, with some lower-lying desert areas. The highest point is Noshak, at 24,580 feet (7,492 meters). The lowest is the Amu Darya River Basin, at 846 ft (258 m). An arid and mountainous country, Afghanistan has little cropland; a scant 12 percent is arable, and only 0.2 percent is under permanent crop-cover, the rest in pasture. Climate The climate of Afghanistan is arid to semiarid with cold winters and hot summers and temperatures varying by altitude. Kabuls average January temperature is 0 degrees C (32 F), while noon temperatures in July often reach 38 Celsius (100 Fahrenheit). Jalalabad can hit 46 Celsius (115 Fahrenheit) in the summer. Most of the precipitation that falls in Afghanistan comes in the form of winter snow. The nation-wide annual average is only 10–12 inches (25–30 centimeters), but snow drifts in the mountain valleys can reach depths of over 6.5 ft (2 m). The desert experiences sandstorms carried on winds moving at up to 110 mph (177 kph). Economy Afghanistan is among the poorest countries on Earth. The per capita GDP is estimated in 2017 as $2,000 US, and about 54.5% of the population lives under the poverty line. The economy of Afghanistan receives large infusions of foreign aid, totaling billions of U.S. dollars annually. It has been undergoing a recovery, in part by the return of over five million expatriates and new construction projects. The countrys most valuable export is opium; eradication efforts have had mixed success. Other export goods include wheat, cotton, wool, handwoven rugs, and precious stones. Afghanistan imports much of its food and energy. Agriculture employs 80 percent of the labor force, industry, and services 10 percent each. The unemployment rate is 35 percent. The currency is the afghani. As of 2017, $1 US 7.87 afghani. History of Afghanistan Afghanistan was settled at least 50,000 years ago. Early cities such as Mundigak and Balkh sprang up around 5,000 years ago; they likely were affiliated with the Aryan culture of India. Around 700 BCE, the Median Empire expanded its rule to Afghanistan. The Medes were an Iranian people, rivals of the Persians. By 550 BCE, the Persians had displaced the Medians, establishing the Achaemenid Dynasty. Alexander the Great of Macedonia invaded Afghanistan in 328 BCE, founding a Hellenistic empire with its capital at Bactria (Balkh). The Greeks were displaced around 150 BCE. by the Kushans and later the Parthians, nomadic Iranians. The Parthians ruled until about 300 A.D. when the Sassanians took control. Most Afghans were Hindu, Buddhist or Zoroastrian at that time, but an Arab invasion in 642 CE introduced Islam. The Arabs defeated the Sassanians and ruled until 870, at which time they were driven out again by the Persians. In 1220, Mongol warriors under Genghis Khan conquered Afghanistan, and descendants of the Mongols would rule much of the region until 1747. In 1747, the Durrani Dynasty was founded by Ahmad Shah Durrani, an ethnic Pashtun. This marked the origin of modern Afghanistan. The nineteenth century witnessed increasing Russian and British competition for influence in Central Asia, in The Great Game. Britain fought two wars with the Afghans, in 1839–1842 and 1878–1880. The British were routed in the first Anglo-Afghan War but took control of Afghanistans foreign relations after the second. Afghanistan was neutral in World War I, but Crown Prince Habibullah was assassinated for purported pro-British ideas in 1919. Later that year, Afghanistan attacked India, prompting the British to relinquish control over Afghan foreign affairs. Habibullahs younger brother Amanullah reigned from 1919 until his abdication in 1929. His cousin, Nadir Khan, became king but lasted only four years before he was assassinated. Nadir Khans son, Mohammad Zahir Shah, then took the throne, ruling from 1933 to 1973. He was ousted in a coup by his cousin Sardar Daoud, who declared the country a republic. Daoud was ousted in turn in 1978 by the Soviet-backed PDPA, which instituted Marxist rule. The Soviets took advantage of the political instability to invade in 1979; they would remain for ten years. Warlords ruled from 1989 until the extremist Taliban took power in 1996. The Taliban regime was ousted by U.S.-led forces in 2001 for its support of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. A new Afghan government was formed, supported by the International Security Force of the United Nations Security Council. The new government continued to receive help from  US-led NATO troops to battle Taliban insurgencies and shadow governments. The US war in Afghanistan was officially ended December 28, 2014. The U.S. has approximately 14,000 troops in Afghanistan engaged in two missions: 1) a bilateral counter-terrorism mission in cooperation with Afghan forces; and 2) the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission, a non-combat mission providing training and support to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.   Presidential elections were held in the country in September 2019, but an outcome has yet to be determined. Sources Afghanistan. CIA - the World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency.Adili, Ali Yawar, and Thomas Ruttig. Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (7): Dithering over peace amid a lacklustre campaign. Afghanistan Analysts Network, Sept. 16, 2019.  Geographica World Atlas Encyclopedia. 1999. Random House Australia: Milsons Point, NSW Australia.Afghanistan: History, Geography, Government, Culture. Infoplease.com.US. Relations with Afghanistan. United States Department of State.