News, Jobs, Scholarship and Business Tips: Mar 29, 2018

Thursday, March 29, 2018

WORLD NEWS: The F-35 Is Now on North Korea's Doorstep

The National Interest

The F-35 Is Now on North Korea's Doorstep
Kim Jong Un is not happy. The F-35 Is Now on North Korea's Doorstep

South Korea celebrated the rollout of its first Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter as the North Korean threat looms in the background.

Heightened tensions continue on the Korean peninsula after the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made a surprise visit to Beijing ahead of a potential summit with the United States.

While the F-35 will not be operational with the Republic of Korea Air Force for some time to come, the addition of the new stealth fighter will help to enhance South Korea’s security against a hostile North.

"Today is a truly meaningful day as we celebrate the roll-out of ROKAF's first F-35A, the world's best fighter jet, which will secure the sovereign airspace of the Republic of Korea," Song Young-moo, the Republic of Korea's Minister of Defense, said in a previously recorded message. "The deployment of the F-35 will serve as momentum to enhance the combined operations of the ROK-U.S. Air Forces, and advance ROKAF's support capabilities for ground operations."

Aside from its stealth and sensors, one the F-35’s major selling points is its interoperability with U.S. forces. If tensions on the Korean peninsula spillover into open warfare, South Korea and the United States will have to work hand in glove to defeat Pyongyang.

"This is a major step forward for our F-35 enterprise and our ROKAF partners as we deliver Korea's first F-35, the first of six F-35 aircraft that will be delivered this year," Vice Adm. Mat Winter, F-35 program executive officer, said. "The F-35A is a game-changing capability that will enable the South Korean Forces to operate side-by-side with our U.S. forces in protecting your nation's homeland. I extend my personal congratulations to the combined government and industry team in achieving this milestone."

Lockheed Martin is understandably proud of delivering jets to another customer after the F-35’s long and troubled developmental period.

"We are proud to support the Republic of Korea with the unrivalled fifth generation F-35," Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed Martin chairman, president and chief executive officer, said. "We know that it will be a symbol of strength reminding us all that when we partner together, our nations are safer, our people are more secure, and our future is brighter."

According to Lockheed Martin, the rollout ceremony was attended by more than 450 guests, including five members of the Republic of Korea National Assembly Defense Committee, as well as Suh, Choo-suk, vice minister of National Defense; and Lt. Gen. Lee, Seong-yong, vice chief of staff of the ROKAF.

Initially, South Korea’s first F-35s will be delivered to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona to train ROKAF personnel to operate and maintain the new jet. Operational F-35s will arrive in South Korea in 2019 where the aircraft will be based at Cheongju. South Korea is expected to buy 40 F-35A aircraft acquired through the U.S. government's Foreign Military Sales program. However, there is a good chance that South Korea will buy additional F-35s when time comes to recapitalize Seoul’s large F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet.

Dave Majumdar is the defense editor for The National Interest. You can follow him on Twitter: @davemajumdar.
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Marines' ultra-powerful heavily-armed mega-drone will devastate enemies of the US

Armed to the teeth with an array of powerful, destructive weapons, an incredible thinking drone- one that can conduct missions on its own without a human - may soon hit the skies to keep Marines safe. The Marine Corps is aiming to build a revolutionary drone called MUX (Marine Air Ground Task Force Unmanned Aircraft System-Expeditionary). MUX will terrify enemies of the United States. And with good reason. MUX isn’t just big and powerful – it will be ultra-smart. This could be a heavily armed drone that can take off by itself, fly itself, avoid obstacles by itself, adapt by itself and land itself- all without a human piloting it. If goals are met, the MUX will be a drone that can truly run vital ...Continue Reading>>>

Astronomers find the 'impossible': a galaxy without dark matter

ESA/Hubble/AFP/ESA / - The NGC 1052-DF2 galaxy is missing most, if not all, of its dark matter

Stupefied astronomers on Wednesday unveiled the first and only known galaxy without dark matter, the invisible and poorly-understood substance thought to make up a quarter of the Universe.

The discovery could revise or even upend theories of how galaxies are formed, they reported in the journal Nature.

"This is really bizarre," said co-author Roberto Abraham, an astronomer at the University of Toronto.

"For a galaxy this size, it should have 30 times as much dark matter as regular matter," he told AFP by phone. "What we found is that there is no dark matter at all."

"That shouldn't be possible," he added.

There are 200 billion observable galaxies, perhaps more, astronomers estimate.

Some 65 million light-years from Earth, NGC1052-DF2 -- "DF2" for short -- is about the same size as our Milky Way, but has 100 to 1,000 times fewer stars.

Dark matter's existence is inferred from the motion of objects affected by its gravitational pull.

"It is conventionally believed to be an integral part of all galaxies, the glue that holds them together and the underlying scaffolding on which they are built," said co-author Allison Merritt from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, in Germany.

- One surprise after another -

So-called ordinary matter -- including stars, gases, dust, planets and everything on them -- accounts for only five percent of all content in the Universe.

Dark matter and dark energy comprise the rest, and scientists have yet to directly observe either.

The discovery was made with a new kind of telescope developed by Abraham and lead author Pieter van Dokkum of Yale University.

Unlike mirror-based devices, the mobile Dragonfly Telescope Array is composed entirely of nano-coated lenses, 48 in all.

"Conventional telescopes are good at finding small, faint objects. Ours is really good at finding large ones," said Abraham.

Indeed, over the last few years Dokkum and Abraham have used it to uncover a whole new category of sparsely populated "ultra diffuse galaxies" -- and sparked a cottage industry as astronomers struggle to explain their strange properties.

"Everything about them is a surprise, starting with the very fact they exist," Abraham said.

Up to now, the analysis of galaxies has shown a fairly tight ratio of dark to ordinary matter. But this new class "is breaking all the rules," he said.

The first anomalies discovered were galaxies almost entirely composed of dark matter. That was odd enough.

But the real shocker was DF2, which has virtually none at all.

- An 'OMG' moment -

DF2 was first identified by Russian astronomers conducting a photographic survey, but it's uniqueness didn't come to light until later.

Dokkum's team used the Keck telescopes in Hawaii to track the motion of several star clusters -- each with about 100,000 stars -- within the galaxy.

The clusters, they found, travelled at the same speed as the galaxy, itself moving through the Universe. Had there been dark matter, the clusters would be moving slower or faster.

Abrahams recalls seeing the graphic plot showing the motion of DF2's constellations for the first time, and wondering if something was amiss.

"We asked ourselves where we had screwed up, if the measurements were wrong," he said.

"Then I suddenly realised the implications. That's as close to an 'Oh My God' moment as I got."

A galaxy entirely bereft of dark matter raises vexing questions that, so far, have stumped astronomers.

"It challenges the standard ideas of how we think galaxies work," said Dokkum.

Figuring out how something as big as a galaxy is held together without dark matter will be difficult, but understanding how it formed in the first place will be even harder, he said.

Whatever the explanation, a galaxy with no dark matter poses an ironic challenge to astronomers who question the very existence of the substances, according to the study.

WORLD NEWS: Trump ousts Veterans Affairs chief, taps WH doctor to replace him

source: AFP
Trump ousts Veterans Affairs chief, taps WH doctor to replace him

AFP/File / NICHOLAS KAMM White House physician Rear Admiral Ronny Jackson -- shown here giving a press briefing in January -- has been tapped by President Donald Trump to be the new Veterans Affairs Secretary

US President Donald Trump shook up his cabinet once again on Wednesday, sacking embattled Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin and nominating White House doctor Ronny Jackson as his successor.

"I am pleased to announce that I intend to nominate highly respected Admiral Ronny L. Jackson, MD, as the new Secretary of Veterans Affairs," said Trump, who has also replaced his secretary of state and national security advisor in the last month.

"I am thankful for Dr. David Shulkin's service to our country and to our GREAT VETERANS!" he said on Twitter.

Pentagon official Robert Wilkie would serve as interim department chief until Jackson receives Congressional approval, the president added.

Shulkin's sacking had been widely predicted after he was accused of spending $122,000 on a nine-day trip to Europe with his wife, which included sightseeing at castles and taking in professional tennis matches.

He was one of the few senior officials in the Trump administration who had also served during the presidency of Barack Obama.

Jackson's stock with Trump rose after he pronounced in January that the 71-year-old president was in "excellent" health.

After releasing the results from Trump's physical, Jackson said "he has incredible genes and that's the way God made him."

VoteVets, a progressive organization, urged Senators to "ask him blunt, direct questions about how the VA works" during his confirmation hearing.

"We are concerned about his readiness to assume control," the group wrote on Twitter.

- 'Hate to see him go' -

Shulkin's departure caps a dizzying month of changes to the Trump cabinet, most notably the sacking of Rex Tillerson as secretary of state on March 13.

Trump's top economic advisor Gary Cohn also exited the White House after the president announced plans to impose tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum, a policy Cohn did not endorse.

And National Security Advisor HR McMaster was axed only six days ago, replaced by the hardline Fox News pundit and former UN ambassador John Bolton.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is the second-largest federal agency after the Pentagon, employing 360,000 people.

Lack of funding has weakened the hospital network specifically dedicated to the health of veterans -- a key constituency for Trump.

And the system has come under criticism from many veterans and organizations for falling short, particularly in terms of psychiatric care.

Hundreds of thousands of veterans, many who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

The 58-year-old Shulkin had served as undersecretary of veterans affairs for health under Obama.

He previously worked as chief medical officer of the University of Pennsylvania health system.

During his tenure as secretary, he oversaw legislative changes including an expansion of benefits for post-9/11 veterans.

Following Trump's announcement, Phil Roe, a Tennessee Republican who chairs the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, praised Shulkin for a "fantastic job," adding: "I hate to see him go."

"That said, I respect President Trump's decision, support the president's agenda and remain willing to work with anyone committed to doing the right thing on behalf of our nation's veterans."

Malala makes first trip to Pakistan since Taliban attack

source: AFP
Malala makes first trip to Pakistan since Taliban attack

AFP/File / Fabrice COFFRINI Nobel peace laureate Malala Yousafzai -- shown here at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos in January -- is back in her native Pakistan for her first visit since being shot in the head

Nobel peace laureate Malala Yousafzai returned to Pakistan on Thursday, officials said, in her first visit to her native country since she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman for advocating education for girls in 2012.

Precise details of her itinerary have been "kept secret in view of the sensitivity surrounding the visit," a government official said of the trip, which is expected to last four days and include a meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

Accompanied by her parents, the 20-year-old student was escorted through Islamabad's Benazir Bhutto International Airport under tight security, according to still photographs broadcast on local television.

Malala has become a global symbol for human rights and a vocal campaigner for girls' education since a gunman boarded her school bus in the Swat valley on October 9, 2012, asked "Who is Malala?" and shot her.

She was treated for her injuries in the British city of Birmingham, where she completed her schooling.

Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, she has continued her campaigning while pursuing her studies at Oxford University.

Many Pakistanis on Twitter were pleased that the campaigner had returned for the visit, despite ongoing security fears.

"I welcome #MalalaYousafzai the brave and resilient daughter of Pakistan back to her country," politician Syed Ali Raza Abidi wrote on Twitter.

But she remains controversial among some conservatives at home, who view her as a Western agent on a mission to shame her country.

One leading Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir issued a plea for opposition politicians and commentators not to use bad language when talking about the visit.

"International media is highly focused on her return and this (bad language) will damage Pakistan's image," he said.

Malala began her campaigning career aged just 11, when she started writing a blog -- under a pseudonym -- for the BBC's Urdu service in 2009 about life under the Taliban in Swat, where they were banning girls' education.

In 2007 the Islamist militants had taken over the area, which Malala affectionately called "My Swat", and imposed a brutal, bloody rule.

Opponents were murdered, people were publicly flogged for supposed breaches of sharia law, women were banned from going to market, and girls were stopped from going to school.

But it was only after the shooting, and Malala's subsequent near-miraculous recovery in a British hospital, that she became a truly global figure.

She opened a new Twitter account on her last day of school in July 2017 and now has more than a million followers.

"I know that millions of girls around the world are out of school and may never get the opportunity to complete their education," Malala wrote at the time.

WORLD NEWS: Trump ousts Veterans Affairs chief, taps WH doctor to replace him

Trump ousts Veterans Affairs chief, taps WH doctor to replace him

Cricket Australia dropped by top sponsor Magellan after cheat storm

source: AFP
Cricket Australia dropped by top sponsor Magellan after cheat storm

AFP / GULSHAN KHAN Steve Smith (centre) is escorted through Johannesburg airport on Wednesday before heading back to Australia

One of Cricket Australia's biggest sponsors, fund manager Magellan, on Thursday tore up its contract with the governing body over the ball-tampering scandal that has rocked the game.

At the same time sporting goods company ASICS announced it was ending its relationship with David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, two of the players at the heart of the cheating incident, while breakfast cereal Weet-Bix dumped Steve Smith.

Magellan inked a three-year partnership in August 2017 as naming rights sponsor for Australia's domestic Tests in a deal estimated at the time to be worth Aus$20 million (US$15 million). It began with the recent Ashes series against England.

This, it said, was based on "shared values and reputations of integrity, leadership, dedication and an unwavering customer-first culture".

"A conspiracy by the leadership of the Australian men's Test cricket team which broke the rules with a clear intention to gain an unfair advantage during the third Test in South Africa goes to the heart of integrity," said Magellan chief Hamish Douglass in a statement.

"Regrettably, these recent events are so inconsistent with our values that we are left with no option but to terminate our ongoing partnership with Cricket Australia.

"We were delighted with the recent Magellan Ashes Series sponsorship and it is with a heavy heart that we have to end our partnership in these circumstances."

The plot to tamper with the ball during Australia's third Test against South Africa in Cape Town last weekend has rattled the game and badly tarnished the careers of Warner, Bancroft and captain Smith.

Warner and Smith have been banned from top-level cricket for a year while Bancroft got nine months.

The disgraced Smith, previously the golden boy of Australian cricket, was an ambassador for breakfast cereal brand Weet-Bix, but it said it no longer wanted to be associated with him.

"Weet-Bix ambassadors represent our brand values of trust and integrity, and they speak to everything that is good about being Australian," Todd Saunders, executive general manager of parent company Sanitarium, said in a statement.

"Their role as a 'Weet-Bix Kid' is to inspire millions of Aussie kids to be the best they can be.

"Based on the ball-tampering incident and the findings of Cricket Australia's investigation, we are unable to continue our relationship with Steve Smith."

Electronics giant LG on Wednesday dropped Warner as a brand ambassador and ASICS ended its relationship with him and Bancroft in a tweet.

"As a result of last weekend's events in Cape Town involving members of the Australian men's cricket team and following the sanctions made by Cricket Australia, ASICS has terminated its sponsorship contracts with David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, effective immediately," it said.

Both Smith and Warner have also been ejected from this year's Indian Premier League, losing contracts worth nearly US$2 million each.

Other team sponsors, including Qantas and Commonwealth Bank, have voiced their deep disappointment over the scandal but so far have taken no action.

LATEST WORLD NEWS: Conservatives angry over Netflix hiring Obama security aide

source:AFP
Conservatives angry over Netflix hiring Obama security aide

AFP/File / CHRIS KLEPONIS Susan Rice directed the National Security Council from 2013 to 2017, providing the daily briefing to then-president Barack Obama, and was responsible for foreign and national security policy, intelligence and military efforts

Netflix said on Thursday it had tapped former US national security advisor and United Nations ambassador Susan Rice to join its board of directors -- sparking an angry backlash from conservatives.

Rice, a visiting fellow at Harvard and an opinion writer for The New York Times, directed the National Security Council, providing the daily briefing to then-president Barack Obama during his second term.

This put her in charge of foreign and national security policy, intelligence and military efforts in the years following the 2012 attack on the US embassy in Benghazi, Libya, that left four Americans dead.

Rice came under fire from Republican lawmakers who accused her of underplaying the attack as a spontaneous act of violence in response to an anti-Muslim film, while Obama admitted it was a premeditated attack.

She was also berated for inappropriately "unmasking" the names of associates of President Donald Trump that appeared in intelligence reports last year.

National Rifle Association spokeswoman Dana Loesch took to Twitter to describe Netflix as "the perfect place for a former staffer who blamed a terror attack on a poorly-made short film."

"Netflix doubles down in support of Obama corruption -- compromised Susan Rice, who lied repeatedly on both Benghazi and the unmasking issue joins its Board of Directors," said Tom Fitton, president of the conservative foundation Judicial Watch.

Republican Twitter users threatened to cancel their Netflix subscriptions, pointing out that that Obama himself is reportedly in talks with the streaming service for a production deal.

Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings said in a statement, however, that the streaming service was "delighted" with its new hire.

"For decades, she has tackled difficult, complex global issues with intelligence, integrity and insight and we look forward to benefiting from her experience and wisdom."

Rice said she was thrilled to be joining a "cutting-edge company whose leadership, high-quality productions and unique culture" she admired deeply.

This boy is on fire: Vietnam drag queens electrify Hanoi

source: AFP

This boy is on fire: Vietnam drag queens electrify Hanoi

AFP / James Duong Drag queen Vanessa performs in a show at a bar in Hanoi -- one of a vanguard of Vietnamese cross-dressers shaking up the city's nightlife and social norms

Makeup artist by day, cross-dresser by night, Betty is among a vanguard of Vietnamese drag queens shaking up Hanoi's nightlife -- and social norms -- in a city where such performances remain little known.

In a lime green barely-there mesh dress and towering silver heels, the 22-year-old hopes to bring drag into the mainstream with regular performances in Hanoi, a conservative capital better known for its colonial charm than men in sequined minis.

AFP / James Duong The drag night started as a weekly viewing party for the hit TV series 'RuPaul's Drag Race' and quickly transformed into a show of its own -- drawing a handful of men in drag to the stage for punchy lip-sync performances

"If we dare to be pioneers, soon this art will be accepted in Vietnam," Betty told AFP before a show Saturday that stirred up crowds with renditions of hits by Whitney Houston and Alicia Keys.

The drag night started as a weekly viewing party for the hit TV series "RuPaul's Drag Race" and quickly transformed into a show of its own -- drawing a handful of men in drag to the stage for punchy lip-sync performances.

Organiser Tamah Lake said it's the only event of its kind in Hanoi.

"It's brought it more into the open... I think it's becoming slightly more mainstream and slightly more well-known," said Lake, not herself a drag queen, who works as a teacher during the week.

AFP / James Duong The drag queens who turn out for the parties say they have few places to perform in a city where cross-dressing is almost unheard of, unlike in the West where starlets like RuPaul have helped to popularise it

The drag queens who turn out for her Saturday night parties say they have few places to perform in a city where cross-dressing is almost unheard of, unlike in the West where starlets like RuPaul -- the drag queen mother -- have helped to popularise it.

"In Vietnam there are drag queens that have been active for a long time but have not been acknowledged. This show helps more people know about our art," said Betty, who started the five-member drag group "Victeam" in Haiphong, east of Hanoi.

AFP / James Duong Communist Vietnam is seen as relatively progressive on LGBT issues -- the one-party state decriminalised gay marriage parties in 2015, and the government is currently drafting a transgender law to allow legal gender changes

Communist Vietnam is seen as relatively progressive on LGBT issues -- the one-party state decriminalised gay marriage celebrations in 2015, although it stopped short of full legal recognition for same-sex unions -- and the government is currently drafting a transgender law to allow legal gender changes.

But cross-dressing can help to boost tolerance, according to Vuong Kha Phong, LGBT rights programme officer at Vietnamese NGO iSEE.

"Drag queens being out there performing helps tremendously in getting people to know and be more comfortable with diversity," Vuong told AFP.

Though the drag scene is still just emerging in much of Vietnam, cross-dressing has historic roots: the centuries-old ritual of "Hau Dong" requires mediums to dress as the opposite sex to channel spirits.

Still, when it comes to modern cross-dressing, some drag queens face pushback from the community for blurring gender norms.

First-time performer Za Za Zellia hopes the drag show will help to sway conservative attitudes.

"Hanoi is really traditional, they don't hate (drag) but they don't approve of it at the same time," the 25-year-old told AFP, after debuting in a Gatsby-inspired sequined look.

"This just tells people it's alright, it's completely normal," Za Za said after the show, a huge white feather emerging from a wig of thick black curls.

Women face uphill wage battle in British finance sector

source: AFP
Women face uphill wage battle in British finance sector

AFP / Daniel Leal-Olivas It's a man's world: Women's salaries still badly lag men's in British finance

There had never been much doubt that in London's testosterone-fuelled financial sector female workers' salaries lagged far behind those of their mostly male colleagues.

Now this has been confirmed in black and white after the British government forced UK-based banks to publish their own so-called gender pay gaps.

Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative government demanded that individual financial institutions reveal wage differentials between men and women across all employees -- from back-office staff to highly-paid traders and board members.

The results are unflattering for an industry that has long been marked by male-filled boardrooms and trading floors.

Men employed in London's 'City' financial district earn significantly more per hour than women excluding bonuses, according to the banks' data.

May is eager to see a change in the gender gap, or percentage difference between the average male salary and the average female salary -- in an eventual push toward pay equality, meaning the same money for a comparable job.

However, women still face an uphill struggle because nationwide across all sectors, British men earn 18.4 percent more per hour on average than women, according to official data from the Office for National Statistics.

Among retail banks, Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group -- both rescued with vast amounts of taxpayers' cash during the global financial crisis -- have pay gaps of 37.2 percent and 33 percent, respectively.

Among institutions that are more focused on investment banking, the difference is even wider.

Britain's Barclays has a gap of 48 percent at its London-based investment bank unit. The equivalent is 55.5 percent at US giant Goldman Sachs.

The gap at HSBC's entire UK operations, including investment and retail, is 59 percent.

- Barclays sees 'progress' -

Karen Frank, chief executive of private banking at Barclays, told AFP that her company was slowly closing the gap but simply needed to attract more women into top positions.

AFP/File / Paul ELLIS Banks admit that they have promoted too few women to the top

"From time to time one can get a bit discouraged by the lack of progress in diversity across all industries," said Frank, who has spent more than 25 years working in financial services.

"The good part about what we are seeing at Barclays is that we have actually made definitive progress.

"In line with other sectors, the finance industry doesn't yet have enough women at the top and the top of organisations is where the highest paid salaries are. For now at least, the majority of these roles are occupied by men," she added.

Frank insisted that Barclays was on a mission to "encourage the next generation of women and the generation after that to come up through the ranks and occupy more senior positions".

Barclays has noted that the gender gap is driven by two factors: the higher proportion of men in senior jobs and the higher proportion of women in more junior positions.

- 'Shocking in 2018' -

Conservative lawmaker Nicky Morgan, chair of parliament's influential Treasury Committee, said recently of the massive gender pay gap at Barclays' investment banking unit:

"For this to be the case in 2018 is shocking," although she acknowledged that the bank had committed to supporting the progression of female employees into senior jobs.

At the same time, Frank insists that women must perform harder and better than men to achieve that goal.

"We have to have the confidence to speak our mind, take risks and set our bar high," she said.

Frank further told AFP in an interview: "My personal philosophy, and that of Barclays, is that we are a meritocracy.

"We want to see and encourage diversity but we will always hire the best person for a role and for our clients."

Two Koreas agree to hold summit on April 27

source: AFP

Two Koreas agree to hold summit on April 27

KOREA POOL/AFP / - Cho (C) crosses the border line to attend talks held on the northern side of the truce village of Panmunjom

The two Koreas on Thursday set a date for a rare inter-Korean summit, following a high-level meeting that was held days after the nuclear-armed North's leader Kim Jong Un made his international debut with a surprise trip to China.

"According to the will of both leaders, the South and North agreed to hold the '2018 South-North summit' on April 27 at the South's Peace House in Panmunjom," said a joint press statement, read out in turn by both delegations' leaders.

The meeting between Kim Jong Un, leader of nuclear-armed North Korea, and the South's President Moon Jae-in will be only the third of its kind, and will be followed by landmark talks with US President Donald Trump which could come as early as May.

The venue will make Kim the first North Korean leader to set foot in the South since the end of the Korean War -- although according to Pyongyang's official accounts, during the conflict his grandfather and predecessor Kim Il Sung went several times to Seoul, which twice fell to his forces.

The two sides did not settle on the summit agenda at Thursday's meeting in the Unification Pavilion on Panmunjom's northern side, but the South's delegation leader Cho Myoung-gyon told reporters they agreed Kim and Moon should be able to hold "frank discussions on all matters".

That would include the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, Cho said.

The leader of Pyongyang's delegation Ri Son Gwon added: "What the people want is our agenda."

Another round of working-level talks next Wednesday will discuss issues including protocol and security.

Next month's meeting comes after previous inter-Korean summits in Pyongyang in 2000 and 2007, since when the North has made extensive progress in its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.

It has been subjected to multiple rounds of sanctions by the UN Security Council, US, South and others as a result, and tensions in the region have soared, with Kim and Trump engaging in a fiery war of words last year.

But a rapid rapprochement on the peninsula was kicked off by the Winter Olympics in the South and events have moved quickly since then, with a flurry of official visits between the two Koreas.

An advance team of Southern performers headed north on Thursday ahead of K-pop concerts in Pyongyang.

- Kim-Xi meeting -

Beijing welcomed Thursday's developments, with foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang saying improved relations between the Koreas "will help promote regional peace and stability".

"We believe it serves their mutual interests as well as the regional situation," he added.

China's top diplomat, State Councillor Yang Jiechi, arrived in Seoul Thursday to brief Moon and other officials on Kim's secretive visit to Beijing this week to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time.

It was the North Korean leader's first overseas trip since inheriting power following the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, in 2011.

AFP / Jung Yeon-je South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said that setting a date for the summit was a priority in the talks

China has long been the North's key diplomatic defender and provider of trade and aid, but relations have been strained by Pyongyang's weapons programmes, with Beijing showing a new willingness to implement UN sanctions against it.

Even so the two leaders hailed their nations' historic ties, with Xi accepting Kim's invitation to visit Pyongyang, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency.

"There is no question that my first foreign visit would be to the Chinese capital," it quoted Kim as saying, calling it a "noble obligation".

Kim pledged that he was "committed to denuclearisation" on the Korean peninsula, according to China's Xinhua news agency -- but added this would depend on South Korea and the US taking what he called "progressive and synchronous measures for the realisation of peace".

Analysts say both sides had reason to hold the meeting -- Pyongyang to secure Beijing's backing and support, and China to protect its interests in what it considers its backyard.

Robert Kelly, a professor at Pusan National University in South Korea, said: "Xi would not grant this meeting unless the Chinese were genuinely concerned about the summits to come and wanted some kind of role to play."

The South's JoongAng Daily newspaper said in an editorial Thursday that the meeting "makes the situation more complicated because Xi stepped into the negotiation all of a sudden".

"China will not simply look on," it added.

Facing outcry over data breach, Facebook again overhauls privacy settings

source: AFP
Facing outcry over data breach, Facebook again overhauls privacy settings

AFP / Mladen ANTONOV The new features follow fierce criticism after it was revealed millions of Facebook users' personal data was harvested by a British firm linked to Donald Trump's 2016 campaign

Facebook on Wednesday launched a fresh effort to quell the firestorm over the hijacking of personal data, once again unveiling new privacy tools and settings to give users more control over how their information is shared.

The new features follow fierce criticism of the social network giant after it was revealed that the personal data of tens of millions of users was harvested by a British firm linked to Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.

The company acknowledged that it needed to "do more to keep people informed," but said the changes have been "in the works for some time."

"We've heard loud and clear that privacy settings and other important tools are too hard to find," chief privacy officer Erin Egan and deputy general counsel Ashlie Beringer said in a blog post.

"We're taking additional steps in the coming weeks to put people more in control of their privacy."

The updates include easier access to Facebook's user settings and tools to easily search for, download and delete personal data stored on the site used by two billion people.

Facebook said a new privacy shortcuts menu will allow users to quickly increase account security, manage who can see their information and activity on the site, and control advertisements they see.

Facebook's terms of service and data policy are being updated to improve transparency about how the site collects and uses information, according to Beringer and Egan.

The social network said it is also shutting down 'Partner Categories,' a feature which enables more precise targeting of ads by combining information from Facebook with data aggregated by outside companies such as Experian and Acxiom.

"This product enables third-party data providers to offer their targeting directly on Facebook," product marketing director Graham Mudd said in a statement posted online.

AFP/File / Josh Edelson Facebook says its new privacy settings will give users more control of their data, but some say CEO Mark Zuckerberg has made similar promises before

"While this is common industry practice, we believe this step, winding down over the next six months, will help improve people's privacy on Facebook."

Earlier this month, whistleblower Christopher Wylie revealed political consulting company Cambridge Analytica had obtained profiles on 50 million Facebook users via an academic researcher's personality prediction app.

The app was downloaded by 270,000 people, but also scooped up their friends' data without consent -- as was possible under Facebook's rules at the time.

- Lukewarm praise -

Yet some analysts said Facebook and its chief Mark Zuckerberg have made similar promises in the past.

"Zuck promised easier, better privacy controls 'in the coming weeks' eight years ago," Zeynep Tufekci, a University of North Carolina professor who studies social media, said on Twitter.

"The solution isn't shifting the burden to the user because the problem is the negative externalities of the business model."

Jennifer Grygiel, a Syracuse University professor of communications, said the new privacy settings and tools "are so obviously important to users that one has to wonder why this wasn't already done."

AFP / Laurence CHU Facebook

She said Facebook has "some of the best talent in the industry" and that "their old interface was not a mistake, it was by design."

Dylan Gilbert of the consumer group Public Knowledge said Facebook's moves "are welcome steps forward" but "do little to remedy a larger systemic problem."

"Online platforms currently lack meaningful legal incentives to protect users before their privacy is violated," Gilbert said in a statement.

"Facebook similarly lacks business incentives to engage in responsible data collection because disgruntled advertisers don't have anywhere comparable to go."

- Deepening tech crisis -

Facebook's move comes as authorities around the globe investigate how the social network handles and shares private data, and after its shares have tumbled more than 15 percent, wiping out tens of billions in market value.

The crisis also threatens the Silicon Valley tech industry whose business model revolves around data collected on internet users.

The US Federal Trade Commission this week said it had launched a probe into whether Facebook violated consumer protection laws or a 2011 court-approved agreement on protecting private user data.

AFP / Gillian HANDYSIDE Cambridge Analytica affair

US lawmakers are trying to get Zuckerberg to come to Washington to testify on the matter.

Authorities in Britain have meanwhile seized data from Cambridge Analytica in their investigation, and EU officials have warned of consequences for Facebook.

Facebook has apologized and vowed to fix the problem.

On Wednesday, six consumer and privacy organizations called upon Facebook to cease all campaign contributions and election activity until they ensure the integrity of all apps on the platform.

"A company whose platform is self-admittedly powerful enough to influence elections, must stay out of them," said a letter from the groups including Consumer Watchdog, Electronic Privacy Information Center and the Center for Digital Democracy.

Ecuador stops Assange communicating from its London embassy

source: AFP
Ecuador stops Assange communicating from its London embassy

AFP/File / Justin TALLIS Wikileaks founder Julian Assange raises his fist on the balcony of the Embassy of Ecuador in London on May 19, 2017

Ecuador on Wednesday said it has stopped Julian Assange's ability to communicate to the outside world from its London embassy, where the WikiLeaks founder has been holed up since 2012.

The decision was taken because the Australian had broken a 2017 promise to not interfere in other countries' affairs while in the mission, an Ecuadoran government statement said without elaborating.

Under that deal, Assange had pledged "to not send messages that could be seen as interference in relations with other countries," the statement said, adding that it could take other, unspecified measures if he persisted.

The move to cut off Assange came after he used Twitter on Monday to challenge Britain's accusation that Russia was responsible for the March 4 nerve agent poisoning of a Russian former double agent in the English city of Salisbury.

Assange also questioned the decision by Britain and more than 20 countries to retaliate against the poisoning by expelling Russian diplomats deemed spies.

The comments prompted a British Foreign Office minister, Alan Duncan, to brand Assange a "miserable little worm" who should leave the embassy to turn himself over to British authorities.

AFP / Laurence SAUBADU, Jean Michel CORNU, Thomas SAINT-CRICQ WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange

In another tweetstorm on Tuesday, Assange attacked the arrest in Germany of former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont under an EU warrant issued by Spain over Puigdemont's failed bid last year to declare independence for his Spanish region.

Assange's "behavior, with his messages on social networks, puts at risk our good relations" with Britain and the European Union, the Ecuadoran government text said.

- Online activity -

Assange, 46, has spent much of his time in his small room in the embassy tweeting and at times contributing to RT, a Russian state-owned television channel that broadcasts Kremlin messaging, as well as taking part in media conferences via video link.

In 2016, Ecuador briefly suspended his internet connection for posting documents online that were seen as having an impact on the US presidential election from which Donald Trump emerged the victor.

In May 2017, Ecuadoran President Lenin Moreno asked Assange to refrain from commenting on the separatist crisis in Spain's Catalonia region, after he tweeted that Madrid was guilty of "repression."

An analyst, Michel Levi of the Simon Bolivar Andean University, said he believed the decision to render Assange incommunicado "isn't a change of policy in terms of his asylum, but rather to keep him to his conditions" of staying in the embassy.

- Extradition fear -

Assange took refuge in the diplomatic mission in 2012 after a British judge ruled he should be extradited to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault there.

Assange claims the accusations were politically motivated and could lead to him being extradited to the United States to face imprisonment over WikiLeaks' publication of secret US military documents and diplomatic cables in 2010.

Sweden dropped its investigation last year, but British authorities say they still want to arrest him for breaching his bail conditions.

Ecuador in December made Assange an Ecuadoran citizen and unsuccessfully tried to register him as a diplomat with immunity as part of its efforts to have the WikiLeaks founder leave the embassy without risk of being detained.

Ecuador's foreign minister, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, said Wednesday that a delegation would meet with Assange's lawyers in London next week "to explore what alternatives" existed to have Assange be able to leave the embassy.

"We continue to hold dialogue with the United Kingdom to seek a definitive and durable solution to this situation," she added.

Egypt's Sisi wins second term with 92% of vote: state media

source: AFP
Egypt's Sisi wins second term with 92% of vote: state media

AFP/File / Khaled DESOUKI Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has been reelected for a second term with 92 percent of the vote, state media says citing preliminary results

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has been reelected for a second term with 92 percent of the vote, preliminary results showed on Thursday, but turnout of just 40 percent dented his push for popular legitimacy.

Some 23 million of the 60 million registered voters turned out during the three days of polling that ended Wednesday, state-owned newspapers Al-Ahram and Akhbar el-Youm, and the official MENA news agency reported.

According to Al-Ahram, in addition to the 23 million who cast valid votes, two million spoiled their ballot papers, inserting the names of candidates who were not among the only two approved.

AFP / Gillian HANDYSIDE Abdel Fattah al-Sisi

Sisi's sole challenger was the little-known Moussa Mostafa Moussa, himself a supporter of the president, who registered immediately before the close date for applications, saving the election from being a one-horse race.

Other, more heavy-weight would-be challengers were all sidelined, detained or pulled out.

Sisi, who as army chief ousted Egypt's first freely elected president -- Islamist Mohamed Morsi -- after mass street protests in 2013, won his first term in 2014 with 96.9 percent of the vote.

- Turnout down on 2014 -

Turnout of 47 percent in that year's election was sharply higher than this year's 40 percent despite appeals from Prime Minister Sherif Ismail for voters to fulfil their patriotic duty.

Boycotters who cannot show good reason for not going to the polls could a face a fine of up to 500 Egyptian pounds (22 euros), the electoral commission has warned.

AFP / Mohamed el-Shahed Election commission official Mahmud al-Sherif said there had been no violations of Egypt's election law

At a news conference, election commission official, Mahmud al-Sherif, said there had been no violations of Egypt's election law.

Opposition groups had called for a boycott of this week's vote which they labelled a facade.

There were no presidential debates and Sisi himself did not appear at any official campaign events, although he spoke at a number of ceremonies.

In an interview days ahead of the vote, Sisi said he had wished there were more candidates, denying any role in sidelining them.

At a speech before the vote he also called for a high turnout.

"I need you because the journey is not over," Sisi told a mostly female audience. "I need every lady and mother and sister, please, I need the entire world to see us in the street" voting.

Morsi's removal had ushered in a deadly crackdown that killed and jailed hundreds of Islamists.

AFP / MOHAMED EL-SHAHED An Egyptian stains his finger after casting his vote at a polling station in Cairo's central Abdin neighbourhood on March 27, 2018, on the second day of voting in the 2018 presidential elections

The initial crackdown on Morsi's supporters expanded to include liberal and leftist secular activists

A jihadist insurgency since has killed hundreds of policemen and civilians.

Sisi gave the armed forces and police a three-month deadline in November to wipe out the Islamic State group in its Sinai Peninsula stronghold.

The deadline has since been extended, and on February 9 the armed forces launched their most comprehensive campaign yet to end the five-year-old jihadist insurgency.

But attacks by the jihadists have continued.

On Saturday, two policemen were killed in a car bomb targeting the provincial head of security for the Mediterranean city of Alexandria. The security chief was unharmed.

Egyptian cities, especially Cairo, have been flooded with banners showing Sisi and messages of support from business owners. Posters vowing support for Moussa, 65, are rarely seen.

While still popular, Sisi has embarked on tough economic reforms that have been welcomed by foreign investors but dented his popularity at home.

Malala: global icon of girls' education

source: AFP

AFP/File / Odd Andersen Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai displays her medal and diploma during the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize awards ceremony in Oslo

Malala Yousafzai, once a teenage girl among many struggling to get an education in Pakistan is now a celebrated international rights campaigner, Nobel laureate, and student at Oxford University.

The 20-year-old girls' education icon, who arrived in Pakistan on an unannounced visit Thursday for the first time since the desperate dash to a British hospital to save her life in 2012, is no ordinary young woman.

Few can lay claim to a Nobel Prize, or say they spent their 17th birthday lobbying Nigeria's president to do more to free hundreds of girls kidnapped by Islamist militants, or confronted US President Barack Obama in the White House over the drone war in Pakistan.

She had already been in the public eye for years when a Taliban gunman boarded her school bus on October 9, 2012, asked "Who is Malala?", and shot her in the head.

Her father Ziauddin, a school principal, helped propel the precociously talented girl from the Swat valley in northwest Pakistan into the limelight.

At his encouragement, Malala started writing a blog for the BBC's Urdu service under a pseudonym in 2009, aged just 11, about life under the Taliban in Swat, which the Islamist militants had taken over in 2007.

Opponents were murdered, people were publicly flogged for supposed breaches of sharia law, women were banned from going to market, and girls were stopped from going to school.

Her blog, written anonymously with the clarity and frankness of a child, opened a window on the miseries being perpetrated in Pakistan.

But it was only after the shooting in 2012, and Malala's subsequent near-miraculous recovery in Britain, that she became a truly global figure -- a formidable and instantly recognisable force for human rights.

- Tea with the Queen -

She received a standing ovation for a 2013 address to the United Nations General Assembly in which she vowed never to be silenced.

That year she also won the European Union's prestigious Sakharov human rights prize, and challenged Obama in the White House over drones.

In 2014, at the age of 17, she became the youngest ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, sharing the award with Kailash Satyarthi, an Indian children's rights activist.

She has also published an autobiography and been invited to tea with Queen Elizabeth II, achieving a level of fame more akin to a movie star than an education campaigner.

Her autobiography "I am Malala" revealed a more girlish side -- she was a fan of Canadian pop sensation Justin Bieber and the "Twilight" series of vampire romance novels. A documentary on her life released in 2015 also showed her soft spot for Brad Pitt.

But her activism has continued. On her 17th birthday in 2014 she was in Abuja, pushing President Goodluck Jonathan to meet with the parents of hundreds of girls who had been kidnapped by the Islamist group Boko Haram.

In 2014 she announced she would donate $50,000 (39,000 euros) to help rebuild United Nations schools in Gaza, then addressed a thousand schoolchildren in her home province via videolink, urging them to fight on for education.

She has also fought for Syrian refugees, declaring at the UN in 2015 that the world had "lost humanity" over their plight. On her 18th birthday she opened a school for Syrian girls in Lebanon.

She has criticised US President Donald Trump for his stance on refugees and Muslims, and fellow Nobel laureate Suu Kyi for her lack of action over the Muslim Rohingya in Myanmar.

- Controversial at home -

Her Nobel win was lauded by Pakistan's leaders, its liberal press and many girls and women in her native Swat who see her as an inspirational figure.

But she remains controversial among some conservatives at home, who view her as a Western agent on a mission to shame their country.

She remains undeterred, saying in 2013 that she hoped to become prime minister to "save" her nation.

In 2015 eight of the 10 men reportedly convicted and jailed for attempting to murder her were cleared and released. At the time, officials said they did not know where the men had gone.

Malala, meanwhile, has begun classes at Oxford University, where she has chosen to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics, a prestigious course that has produced many world leaders including late Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Earlier this month a school she used her Nobel Prize money to construct and fund opened its doors and began taking students in Swat, near where she was shot.

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LATEST WORLD NEWS: Distraught Smith breaks down as he accepts blame for cheat scandal

source: AFP

Distraught Smith breaks down as he accepts blame for cheat scandal

AFP / PETER PARKS Australian cricket captain Steve Smith in tears as he accepts full responsibility for a ball-tampering scandal

Distraught former Australian cricket captain Steve Smith accepted full responsibility Thursday for a ball-tampering scandal that has shaken the sport, breaking down in tears while denying it had ever happened before.

Cricket Australia have banned Smith and David Warner from all international and domestic cricket for a year while opening batsman Cameron Bancroft was exiled for nine months over attempted cheating during the third Test in South Africa

Smith, a golden boy compared to Donald Bradman for his batting exploits, was a broken man at an emotional press conference on his arrival back in Sydney from Johannesburg.

"I take full responsibility, I made a serious error of judgement and I understand the consequences. It was a failure of leadership," he said, choking back tears as he was comforted by his father Peter.

"I know I will regret this for the rest of my life. I am absolutely gutted. Cricket is my life and hope it can be again. I'm sorry. I'm absolutely devastated."

Smith's fall from grace has been dramatic, and fast.

AFP / PETER PARKS Cricketer Steve Smith (L) is comforted by his father Peter as he reacts at a press conference at the airport in Sydney on March 29, 2018, after returning from South Africa. Distraught Australian cricketer Steve Smith on March 29 accepted full responsibility for a ball-tampering scandal that has shaken the sport, saying he was devastated by his "big mistake".

He was jeered as he made his way through Johannesburg airport on Wednesday surrounded by police and media with concerns over his mental state in the current rabid climate and coach Darren Lehmann calling for all three men to be "given a second chance".

Former great Shane Warne, no stranger himself to controversy, offered the trio an olive branch despite days of a harsh and judgemental Australian public baying for blood.

"What the public wants to see is change. They want to see you be a better person," he wrote in a column for the Sydney Daily Telegraph. "They'll support you if they see that, and they'll forgive you."

- 'Warner: 'Stain on the game' -

Warner, a divisive figure who was charged with developing the plot and instructing Bancroft to carry it out, also broke his silence to say sorry and admit his actions had been "a stain on the game".

AFP / GULSHAN KHAN Former vice-captain David Warner of the Australian Cricket Team sits in the shuttle bus as he arrives at OR Tambo International Airport after the team was caught cheating in the Sunfoil Test Series between between Australia and South Africa on March 27, 2018.

"Mistakes have been made which have damaged cricket," he told his 1.6 million Instagram followers as he made his way back to Sydney.

"I apologise for my part and take responsibility for it.

"It's a stain on the game we all love and I have loved since I was a boy," he added.

In handing out their tough punishment, cricket chiefs bowed to uproar at home where sportsmen and women are held in high esteem and expected to act in the best interests of the game.

Authorities also needed to act decisively to counter mounting concern from sponsors over reputational damage.

CA's response wasn't enough to save an estimated Aus$20 million (US$15 million) partnership with naming rights sponsor Magellan which tore up its three-year contract Thursday after barely seven months.

The financial cost for the players is also growing with sporting goods company ASICS ending its relationship with Warner and Bancroft. Electronics giant LG axed Warner on Wednesday, while Weet-Bix and Commonwealth Bank dumped Smith.

Other team sponsors, including Qantas, have voiced their deep disappointment over the scandal but so far have taken no action.

- Bancroft: 'I ask forgiveness' -

An emotional Bancroft said he was ashamed of himself when he arrived back in Perth.

"All I can do in the short term is ask for forgiveness," he said, while denying he had ever tampered with a ball before, in comments echoed by Smith.

"I have made a big mistake for allowing this to happen," said Smith.

"This is the first time I have seen this happen and it will never be happening again."

Smith -- the world's number one Test batsman -- was charged with knowledge of the potential ball-altering plan, while Warner was charged with developing the plot and instructing Bancroft to carry it out.

AFP / Greg Wood Cricketer Cameron Bancroft attends a press conference at the Western Australian Cricket Association ground in Perth on March 29, 2018.An emotional Cameron Bancroft asked for forgiveness on March 29 over his part in a ball-tampering scandal, saying he was ashamed of himself, but refused to comment on the role David Warner played.

CA said Bancroft, who has played just eight Tests, had illegally attempted to "artificially alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper".

It added that Smith had continued to try to cover up the cheating plot by issuing "misleading public comments regarding the nature, extent and participants of the plan".

In a further blow, it ruled Smith and Bancroft would not be considered for team leadership positions until a minimum of 12 months after the end of their suspensions, and Warner will never lead again.

While they are banned from top-level cricket, they can still play at club level in Australia or in other countries.

Lehmann remains in charge because Cricket Australia said he was unaware of what was going on.

Wicketkeeper Tim Paine will take over the Australian captaincy for the fourth and final Test starting in Johannesburg on Friday, with Matt Renshaw, Glenn Maxwell and Joe Burns drafted in as replacements.

U.S. wants NATO to have force of 30,000 ready to deploy if Russia attacks With tensions high, rapid defense seen as necessary

The Wall Street Journal

U.S. wants NATO to have force of 30,000 ready to deploy if Russia attacks

With tensions high, rapid defense seen as necessary

AFP/Getty Images German tanks participate in NATO exercises in southern Germany last May.

By
JulianE. Barnes

BRUSSELS — If Europe came into conflict with Russia, only several thousand of the more than 1 million troops in its armies would be ready for rapid deployment, military planners fear.

The U.S. now wants to step up readiness and ensure that at least 30,000 troops, plus additional aircraft and naval ships, can reach a trouble spot within 30 days of NATO commanders putting forces on alert, current and former allied officials say. Tensions between Russia and the West are as high as they have been in years.

Boosting allied readiness in the face of resurgent threats from Russian has become a priority of U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. He has told the North Atlantic Treaty Organization it must speed decision-making, improve its ability to move forces and ensure it has units ready to deploy with little notice, alliance officials said.

NATO officials are debating the issue. Officials say there is general acceptance of the U.S. position and allies hope to reach an agreement before a summit of leaders in July. A U.S. proposal would have the alliance commit to having 30 battalions, 30 fighter squadrons and 30 naval ships ready to deploy. That would translate to roughly 30,000 troops and more than 360 fighter planes.

An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com.

Fresh Job For Office Boy at Stag Engineering Nigeria Limited - Lagos, Port-Harcourt & Abuja

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Office Boy

Locations: Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Abuja

Requirements

WAEC with 3 years office experience.

Application Closing Date
10th April, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Applications/CV's with Photocopies of Credentials to: careers@stagengineering.com
Or
The Advertiser,
P.O. Box 353,
Surulere,
Lagos State.

Hot Nigerian Jobs: Experienced Driver/Mechanic at Stag Engineering Nigeria Limited - Lagos, Port-Harcourt & Abuja

Stag Engineering Nigeria Limited is a leading wholly Nigerian owned engineering firm in Nigeria. The company has over 40 years experience in providing expert engineering services and mercantile power to discerning clients in Nigeria and West Africa.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Experienced Driver/Mechanic

Locations: Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Abuja

Requirements

WAEC with Grade B Driving License with 5 years experience.

Experienced Steam Cleaner at Stag Engineering Nigeria Limited - Lagos, Port-Harcourt & Abuja

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Experienced Steam Cleaner

Locations: Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Abuja

Requirements

WAEC with 5 years experience in Diesel Mechanics.

Fresh Job For Electrical/Electronic Installation Technician at Stag Engineering Nigeria Limited - Lagos, Port-Harcourt & Abuja

Stag Engineering Nigeria Limited is a leading wholly Nigerian owned engineering firm in Nigeria. The company has over 40 years experience in providing expert engineering services and mercantile power to discerning clients in Nigeria and West Africa.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Electrical/Electronic Installation Technician

Locations: Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Abuja

Requirements

HND/ City & Guild with 10 years industrial experience.

Latest 2018 Job For Marine Diesel Mechanic at Stag Engineering Nigeria Limited - Lagos, Port-Harcourt & Abuja

Stag Engineering Nigeria Limited is a leading wholly Nigerian owned engineering firm in Nigeria. The company has over 40 years experience in providing expert engineering services and mercantile power to discerning clients in Nigeria and West Africa.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Marine Diesel Mechanic

Locations: Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Abuja

Requirements

Marine Certification, Trade Test Grade I with 10 years practical experience.

2018 Plant Engineer/Supervisor Job at Stag Engineering Nigeria Limited - Lagos, Port-Harcourt & Abuja

Stag Engineering Nigeria Limited is a leading wholly Nigerian owned engineering firm in Nigeria. The company has over 40 years experience in providing expert engineering services and mercantile power to discerning clients in Nigeria and West Africa.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Plant Engineer/Supervisor

Locations: Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Abuja

Requirements

HND/ City & Guild with 10 years practical experience.

2018 Technical Sales Representative at Stag Engineering Nigeria Limited - Lagos, Port-Harcourt & Abuja

Stag Engineering Nigeria Limited is a leading wholly Nigerian owned engineering firm in Nigeria. The company has over 40 years experience in providing expert engineering services and mercantile power to discerning clients in Nigeria and West Africa.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Technical Sales Representative

Locations: Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Abuja

Requirements

HND/OND Certificate in Mechanical /Electrical Engineering with 10 years experience.

2018 Graduate Sales Engineer at Stag Engineering Nigeria Limited - Lagos, Port-Harcourt & Abuja

Stag Engineering Nigeria Limited is a leading wholly Nigerian owned engineering firm in Nigeria. The company has over 40 years experience in providing expert engineering services and mercantile power to discerning clients in Nigeria and West Africa.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Sales Engineer

Locations: Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Abuja

Requirements

B.Sc Mechanical/Electrical Engineering with 10-years experience.
COREN registration is an added advantage.

Latest 2018 Graduate Accounting Officer at Stag Engineering Nigeria Limited - Lagos, Port-Harcourt & Abuja

Stag Engineering Nigeria Limited is a leading wholly Nigerian owned engineering firm in Nigeria. The company has over 40 years experience in providing expert engineering services and mercantile power to discerning clients in Nigeria and West Africa.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Locations: Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Abuja

Requirements

Candidate must be a Chartered Accountant with strong knowledge in banking operations, importations, taxation and Auditing with at least 10 years practical experience.

Latest Graduate Executive Director, Marketing at (PwC)

PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC) - Our client is one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions providing insurance and financial services. They offer a range of business and personal insurance services including group life assurance, business travel insurance, mortgage protection, savings plan and credit life.

As part of our client’s mission to creating value and ensuring peace of mind in an uncertain world, it currently seeks a dynamic and competent individual to fill the position below:

Job Title: Executive Director, Marketing

Reference Number: 130-PEO00851
Location: Lagos

Roles & Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading the marketing efforts across all business units.
This individual will be reporting to the MD/CEO and would work closely with the Board of directors and stakeholders.

Other responsibilities include:

Provides oversight for the day to day operations of marketing operations functions
Development and implementation of the brand and marketing strategy for new and existing products
Ensuring that the marketing team implements the marketing objectives.
Directs the efforts of the marketing, communications and public relations staff and coordinates at the strategic and tactical levels with the other functions of the Organization.
Undertake continuous analysis of competitive environment and consumer trends
Ensures the implementation and adherence to policies and strategies on marketing, business acquisition and claims administration
Coordinate the appearance of all Organization print and electronic materials such as letterhead, use of logo, brochures, etc
Map out potential customers and generate leads for the Organization
Other duties as assigned by the MD/CEO

Requirements
Skills & Competencies:

Communication and presentation skills.
Limited insider relationships and links with competitors.
Confident, driven and dynamic leader.
Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to spot branding opportunities
Record of diligence, integrity, willingness and ability to be independent and objective as well as to serve actively as a director
A track record of success in business with familiarity and experience in performing the role of a board Member

Qualification:

Minimum of Second class Upper Bachelor's degree and Master’s degree in Marketing or a related field
Must be a fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria or any equivalent

Experience:

Experience in performing the role of a board Member
Over 15 years’ marketing experience in the insurance industry
Expertise in marketing of insurance products
Track record of success in business development, Marketing and Sales Management

Application Closing Date
30th April, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online now >>>

Latest 2018 Job For Learning and Development Associate - Internal Firm Services at PriceWaterhouseCoopers

PwC is a network of firms committed to delivering quality in Assurance, Tax and Advisory services. We help resolve complex issues for our clients and identify opportunities.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Learning and Development Associate - Internal Firm Services

Reference Number: 125-NIG00162
Location: Lagos
Department: Internal Firm Services
Job type: Permanent

Overall Purpose of the Job
The position supports the unit in various essential tasks such as the implementation of training curriculum for line of service (Assurance, Advisory, Tax, IFS, xLOS and Africa), formulation of training structure in alignment with skills and capability profiles, assessment of the effectiveness of training delivery and training contents and materials through formal and ongoing validation and to effectively manage and maximise the use of the firm’s learning management system.

The position also monitors the induction programme to ensure all new recruits undergo a level of training relevant to their roles, conforming to the firm’s corporate standards and requirements. It monitors the professional development of staff members, aligns training to TNA and the firm’s Performance, Coaching and Development Competency Framework by supporting line managers to embed it in the business thereby ensuring that all employees are competent to perform their role at all times.

Responsibilities
Specifically, the responsibilities of the Learning & Development Business Partner will be to:
Training Needs Analysis:

Conduct training needs surveys
Collate development needs and goals by grade, business units’ issues/needs)
Translate service and individual training needs into a training plan.
Attend LoS BU Meetings so as to understand the business and unit needs

CE Management (Assurance, Advisory, TRS,IFS):

Develop a training curriculum for the LoS
Deliver planned courses
Implementation of Training Plans ( Global & Local )
Logistic support for all courses
Provide support in respect of external training engagements
Continuously monitor the effectiveness of training and course delivery
Work with SME to develop training content
Download/acquire/develop training materials
Provide technical assistance for the conduct of external courses and training related assignments
Supervise and ensure CE resource persons (facilitators, etc.) apply required global standards and methodologies

LMS Management:

Enrolling participants on Mydevelopment
Ensure participants Evaluate the effectiveness of the course
Update the attendance register and print after course completion

Accreditation:

Apply for Accreditation of courses (ICAN/CITN and any professional body as it relates to LoS)
Make payment to the professional body
Ensure materials are sent to the professional body
File Letter, receipt and attendance sheet in the Accreditation file
Follow up with professional bodies until MCPE points are awarded

Instructing and facilitation:

Facilitate local L&E specific and soft skills courses
Develop and deliver effective training sessions

Planning, Budgeting and Reporting:

Provide inputs into firm wide L&E plan
Assess adequacy of planned L&E content by line of service
Keep the L&E Manager informed of L&E issues, developments and achievements relative to plan
Obtain feedback from staff on the effectiveness of training delivered
Report L&E Performance to appropriate stakeholders at local, regional and global levels
Input feedbacks and findings into process improvement initiatives

Industrial Training Fund:

Apply for ITF approvals for training programmes and courses
Ensure staff in LoS Adhere to the ITF requirements for approvals of training programmes

Personnel Specification of the Job
Education:

Essential: Good First degree
Desirable: Current membership of the relevant professional organization

Experience:

Essential: 3 years’ experience in a training responsibility position.
Desirable: Experience in Curriculum design

Competencies

Research skills
Knowledge sharing skills
Excellent communication skills
Problem solving
Managing change and innovation
Ability to work unsupervised and proactively on own initiative
Ability to develop successful business relationships across all business units
Ability to relate and communicate at all levels of seniority across business
Professional manner
Flexible attitude and approach
Self-motivated and able to motivate others

Other requirements:

Personal Qualities
Professional manner
Flexible attitude and approach
Self-motivated and able to motivate others.

Application Closing Date
2nd April, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online now >>>

2018 Job For Capital Markets and Accounting Advisory Services (CMAAS) Manager at PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC)

PwC helps organization and individuals create the value they’re looking for. We’re a network of firms in 157 countries with more than 223,000 people who are committed to delivering quality in Assurance, Tax and Advisory services.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Capital Markets and Accounting Advisory Services (CMAAS) Manager

Reference Number: 125-NIG00129
Location: Lagos
Department: Assurance
Job type: Permanent

Business Unit Overview

PwC’s Capital Markets and Accounting Advisory Services (“CMAAS”) is a group of highly-experienced professionals providing professional advisory services to clients as they work their way through the regulatory and technical aspects of complex situations, from assisting them to prepare to raise funds, to the issuance of debt or equity securities and further compliance with the listing obligations.
CMAAS also advises our clients navigate complexities associated with accounting change, whether that be relating to new accounting standards, moving from one accounting framework to another, or dealing with transactional related accounting complexity.

About our Capital Markets practice:

We assist clients as they plan and execute their capital markets transactions.
Whether the planned transaction is a domestic, regional or an international listing, our team has the requisite expertise and skills to assist, and typically advises on pre-transaction readiness diagnostics, listing requirements, financial statements preparation, accounting due diligence, accounting policies development, prospectus drafting, reporting obligations and corporate governance, among other things.

About our Accounting Advisory practice:

Our team includes accounting specialists with extensive IFRS, and other accounting framework capabilities, combined with industry expertise primarily in the financial services, energy, and telecommunications industries.
Our team also has access to the global PwC network which means that we can readily access industry expertise on any type of complex transaction. In addition to technical accounting advisory services, our team assists in the performance of purchase price allocation exercises, goodwill impairment reviews, and GAAP conversions.

Responsibilities

You will be required to possess strong project management skills as the delivery role requires client management, project budgeting and finance management, and coaching and resource management on a portfolio of clients. A key part of delivery will be the creation, review and delivery of complex client deliverables which will include executive level reporting through to detailed documentation;
Developing yourself personally, taking a keen interest in trends in capital markets and accounting matters and the impact on our clients so you can help shape their thinking and our success in the market;
You will also be required to possess a solid knowledge of IFRS and being able to conduct in depth research on complex matters, handle technical discussions with global industry experts and apply your critical thinking to provide our clients with high value and technically robust solutions;
You will be working with colleagues in various offices within PwC Africa on client work and internal initiatives as well as with international team where appropriate;
Keeping up to date with current trends from the region and from across the world;
As a Manager in the team, the role includes wider practice management responsibilities which will include coaching, training and mentoring junior staff, competency development and market eminence activities;
You will also be expected to build and maintain positive, productive and professional relationships with client personnel and colleagues;
The role sits within a rapidly growing part of PwC’s CMAAS team within our African Assurance practice. You will be an integral part of the team responsible for the delivery of capital markets solutions across a range of sectors. You will have access to all of the latest training and development tools and the support of the wider PwC network.

Position Requirements

The candidate will be achievement oriented with the ability to be flexible and adaptive on a daily basis.
He/She will be able to work independently and as part of a team with a fast pace and a high energy that will translate into a high quality output;
Education: Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in Business Studies, Accounting, or Finance;

Mandatory qualifications:

The following qualification(s) are mandatory for the candidate to perform the role: ACA, ACCA, or CPA;
Years of experience: 5-8 years of audit or other relevant experience in an accounting firm. Any capital markets experience is beneficial;
Excellent organizational skills, having the ability to prioritize work load whilst being resilient and being able to cope well under pressure and meeting tight deadlines;
Language skills: Excellent communication skills (verbal and written). Fluent in English;
In-depth understanding of IFRS and general accounting principles;
Strong interest and passion for enhancing technical accounting skills;
Ability and willingness to travel within Africa and worldwide as the project dictates.

Additional Information:

Travel Requirements: 25-50%

Application Closing Date
6th April, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online now >>>

Graduate Human Resources Manager at NIGACHEM Nigeria Limited

NIGACHEM Nigeria Limited was incorporated in 1987 as a private company with Certificate of Incorporation No. 97718. The Company Memorandum and Articles of Association and subsequent licences permit the Company to engage in Importation, marketing and sales of Commercial or Civil Explosives and related products like Ammonium Nitrate, Detonating Cord, Electric Detonators, Non-Electric Detonators (Nonel), etc.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Human Resources Manager

Location: Ikeja, Lagos

Requirements

HND/B.Sc. in any Social Sciences
A minimum of 5 years working experience
Ability to work with minimum or no supervision
Ability to work on any HR Softwares
Performance appraisal with good knowledge of KP1
Must be between the ages of 30-40 years

Application Closing Date
11th April, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Application to:
The Advertiser,
P.O. Box 10749,
Ikeja,
Lagos State.
Or
Email: a.oyeniyi@nigachem.com.ng

Area Sales Supervisor - North Central at a Blue-chip Company - CornerStone Staffing

CornerStone Staffing - Our client, a blue-chip company, is currently recruiting suitably qualified candidates to fill the position below:

Job Title: Area Sales Supervisor - North Central

Location: Abuja

Job Description

This high-flyer will be responsible for developing strategies, identifying best practices and delivering results in the areas of agent sales, recruitment, training, order fulfilment and customer service.

Responsibilities
Direct Sales Responsibility - 50%:

Accountable for developing and following up on various methodologies for achieving sales goals within a specific geographic area.
Review performance data to identify trends and opportunities for performance improvement; Present findings and recommendations to senior management.
Collaborate with sales captains and agents to address sales issues.
Achieve weekly and monthly sales targets.
Communicate effectively and quickly with captains, agents, recruitment/training, business intelligence, customer service and order fulfilment teams so as to drive sales results.
Develop working relations with personnel at various levels in order to communicate promotions, product availability, logistics issues, product specifications, and pricing issues as needed.

Training Communications - 30%:

Partner with Recruitment and Training Team in identifying, designing, and delivering training solutions that drive recruitment and increase skills and competencies for the sales organisation.
Maintain current knowledge of the company’s products, processes and customer service procedures so as to prepare for and conduct training that will increase sales.
Conduct ongoing assessment of training needs and effectiveness through surveys, feedback from agents and recruiters, observing sales encounters, studying sales results reports, and conferring with captains and agents.

Team Management - 20%:

Manage and become involved in agent matters so as to maintain outstanding agent relationships.
Work with sales agents, recruiters and captains who seek to develop their businesses and client base

Education and Experience

Bachelor's Degree in Business Management or equivalent from a recognised and accredited University
3 - 5 years of experience within assigned territory.
Minimum of 2 years management experience
Solid understanding of Fact Based Selling
Demonstrated success in exceeding sales targets using a consultative, solutions-focused approach is required
Ability to dive deep and analyze team performance showing impactful results with data

Skills and Competencies:

Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and Outlook) tools
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Proven ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
Ability to work to deadlines and targets, can prioritize tasks under pressure
Willingness to travel up to 50% of work time
Attention to detail is key

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply now >>>

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