From a scholarly perspective, "boredom is a gold mine, " says Mark Fenske, a neuroscientist and researcher at the University of Guelph in Ontario.

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Chile has held ceremonies to mark the anniversary of the mine collapse that left 33 men trapped for 69 days.

BBC: Chile marks year since mine collapse

"Operations are running normally, people are at work, " Randgold Chief Executive Mark Bristow said from his Loulo mine, 215 miles west of Bamako.

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With earnings down year over year despite growth of nearly 7% in circulation revenues, the Times, under new CEO Mark Thompson, is also looking to mine revenues from several new sources.

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Mark Weir, 45, who ran Honister Slate Mine in Cumbria, died when his Gazelle aircraft crashed near the mine.

BBC: Mark Weir inquest: Helicopter crash death 'accident'

Father-of-three Mark Weir, 45, who ran Honister Slate Mine in Borrowdale, near Keswick, died when his Gazelle aircraft crashed near the mine on 8 March.

BBC: Tribute to crash death Honister slate mine owner

As well as clearing mines, the Cambodia Mine Action Centre, which co-ordinates the landmines operation, has been getting local people to help mark danger areas.

ECONOMIST: Cambodia