Happ, Springer open MLB season with homers in triumphs

source: AFP

Happ, Springer open MLB season with homers in triumphs

 
GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP / Mark Brown Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs rounds the bases after hitting a lead off home run during Opening Day against the Miami Marlins in Miami, Florida

Chicago Cubs leadoff hitter Ian Happ smashed the opening pitch of the 2018 Major League Baseball season for a home run Thursday as the Cubs beat the Miami Marlins 8-4.

Marlins pitcher Jose Urena endured a nightmare start in the first game of the new campaign, which will conclude with the World Series in October.

Happ, playing his first major league opening day after joining the Cubs in May last year, blasted the opening offering from 26-year-old Dominican right-hander Urena into the right-field stands.

It was not the first time a season's first pitch was swatted for a homer. Boston's Dwight Evans homered on the first pitch of the 1986 season at Detroit off Tigers star pitcher Jack Morris.

Happ wasn't the only leadoff hitter to homer as Houston's George Springer smacked the third pitch from Texas starter Cole Hamels over the rightfield fence to launch the new season for the World Series champion Astros.

"It felt great to hop on the first one and get us on the board," said Springer. "It's a great way to start the season."

Springer, last year's World Series Most Valuable Player, became the first season leadoff homer hitter for a defending World Series champion. He's also the only player to hit a leadoff homer on opening day in consecutive years, having also homered in last year's opener against Seattle.

Jake Marisnick also homered for the Astros in their 4-1 victory.

Happ, 23, became the youngest Cub to hit an opening-day homer since 1955. He smacked 24 homers and batted in 68 runs last year as a rookie for the Cubs.

Urena's horror show only began with the homer, however, as his first opening-day start saw the Marlins hurler surrender three runs on 57 pitches in the first inning. All nine Chicago batters came to the plate.

Happ became the first player to homer off the first pitch his team faced in a season since Japan's Kazuo Matsui in 2004 for the New York Mets.

- School shooting tribute -

Both teams paid tribute to the 17 people killed at a mass shooting last month at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School by wearing matches with the initials "MSD" and 17 stars.

Cubs first baseman Rizzo, who as a teen attended Stoneman Douglas, will host the school's baseball team at Friday's Marlins-Cubs game, when four families of victims or survivors are scheduled to make a ceremonial first pitch.

The Cubs showed support for the gun-control and voter registration pushes being made by student survivors, wearing special T-shirts before the game made by Cubs manager Joe Maddon's charity foundation.

"The kids are standing up for what they believe in," said Rizzo, who also homered in the game.

- Ohtani singles to open -

Japan's Shohei Ohtani, expected to be the first regular pitcher-batter in the major leagues since Babe Ruth's heyday a century ago, singled off the first major league pitch he saw for the Los Angeles Angels at Oakland, batting eighth in the lineup as a designated hitter in his debut after coming over from the Nippon Ham Fighters. The 23-year-old is scheduled to start on the mound Sunday against the A's.

Ohtani finished 1-for-5 as the Angels fell 6-5 in 11 innings, but said it was a day to remember.

"That (first) at-bat, I'm probably never going to forget the rest of my life," added Ohtani who is scheduled to start on the mound on Sunday for the Angels.

Dominican 38-year-old slugger Albert Pujols hit his 615th homer, seventh on the all-time list, for the Angels in the sixth inning.

An emotional pre-game ceremony before the New York Yankees opened at Toronto paid tribute to former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay, who was killed in a plane crash last November.

Halladay's sons walked to the mound and placed the ball there ahead of a moment of silence. The Blue Jays retired Halladay's number 32 jersey.

The Yankees, snapped a club-record six-opener losing streak with a 6-1 win over Toronto as Giancarlo Stanton homered twice in his Yankees debut.

Child footballers 'offered boots and underwear for sex work'

source: AFP

Child footballers 'offered boots and underwear for sex work'

AFP/File / Trainee footballers at Argentinian giants Independiente were coaxed into underage prostitution with offers of football boots or even just underwear, a Buenos Aires public prosecutor says

Trainee footballers at Argentinian giants Independiente were coaxed into underage prostitution with offers of football boots or even just underwear, a Buenos Aires public prosecutor has said.

The shocking revelation of an illicit sex network operated at one of Argentina's most prestigious and successful clubs was made after a 17-year-old told an Independiente psychologist he had been encouraged, alongside another 19-year-old player, to prostitute himself to adult men in a trendy Buenos Aires neighbourhood, local press said.

Public prosecutor Maria Soledad Garibaldi has asked to meet all 50-plus boys aged between 13 and 19 housed at a boarding facility operated by the club in the Avellaneda suburb of the sprawling Argentine capital.

"Of the five boys I spoke with (on Monday), three gave me some information," said Garibaldi, quoted by local press.

"One of them told me it didn't happen, but that they had been approached. The children knew something was going on.

"They've allowed me to reveal that they were offered to do it for a pair of boots or underwear."

Football referee Martin Bustos and his lawyer have been arrested over the scandal, which was brought to the judicial authorities' attention by Independiente club bosses.

Bustos's lawyer is suspected of having destroyed a mobile phone in order to hide evidence.

According to Garibaldi, there might also be similar underage prostitution networks operated at other clubs.

"Unfortunately, that doesn't surprise me," admitted Independiente coach Ariel Holan.

"It's something that's hidden and it's a problem in society, like drugs, alcohol and human trafficking.

"It's not an issue that's confined to sport or to Independiente."

According to Andres Bonicalzi, a lawyer for a rape victims charity, young players from the vast interior of the country -- well away from Buenos Aires on the western shore of the Rio de la Plata estuary -- who are far from their families, are particularly vulnerable to exploitation.

"They see the club as a role-model, they see it as a father-figure. They're far away from their own fathers," said Bonicalzi.

"(The perpetrators) have exploited their immaturity and these children's need to belong to something."

Independiente are the fourth most successful team in Argentine history with 16 national titles, behind fellow Buenos Aires outfits River Plate (36), Boca Juniors (32) and their local rivals from Avellaneda, Racing (17).

They've also won the continental Copa Libertadores -- South America's equivalent to the UEFA Champions League -- a record seven times, having never lost a final.

Part of a multi-discipline sports organisation, Independiente has a host of different teams throughout the youth ranks as well as a football academy and an education centre for children throughout their compulsory schooling period.

Out of this world: Inside Japan's space colony centre

source: AFP
Out of this world: Inside Japan's space colony centre

 
AFP / Richard CARTER A team of Japanese researchers are studying new ways to keep humans alive on a potential moon or Mars colony

A newly created Space Colony Research centre led by Japan's first female astronaut is bringing cutting-edge technology to bear on one of mankind's greatest questions: Can we live in space?

Tucked away in high-tech laboratories at the Tokyo University of Science, a team of 30 researchers directed by Chiaki Mukai are studying new ways to keep humans alive on a potential moon or Mars colony.

"It's in our nature to explore. The Earth is too small for us, don't you think?" asked Mukai, a petite and energetic 66-year-old who spent more than 500 hours in space on two separate missions.

Human space exploration is entering a new era, said Mukai, with commercial ventures like Elon Musk's SpaceX and US President Donald Trump's pledge to explore beyond the moon and towards Mars.

Billionaire entrepreneur Musk has grand visions for private space exploration, including sending tourists into orbit around the moon and eventually colonising Mars.

In December, Trump directed US space agency NASA to set up a lunar base as a first step in a mission to Mars.

"It's very realistic to establish a colony on the moon by 2030," said Mukai, who said humans needed to think beyond the International Space Station, which she described as a "campsite -- you have to bring everything with you".

One of her team's innovations is a unique food production system using liquid plasma created by passing high-voltage electricity through a saline solution.

This reduces the damaging algae usually formed in water when growing crops, and tests simulating conditions in space have shown that potatoes can be grown quicker and more efficiently using this system.

The Space Colony Research Centre has also developed a system to create electricity using tiny thermoelectric sensors about the size of an iPod Nano that could be attached to a potential colony.

The colony would be kept at comfortable room temperature, but outside it would vary between 130 degrees Celsius (266 Fahrenheit) during the day and -230 at night.

The technology harnesses the difference in temperature -- heat flux -- between inside and outside to create enough electricity to "power an entire space colony," said Tsutomu Lida, in charge of the project.

"The same device can be used for day and night. There are no moving parts, so there is no maintenance required," said Lida.

Another team is working on early detection and capture of space debris.

More than 29,000 pieces measuring at least 10 centimetres (four inches) across orbit Earth and could pose a danger to potential space colonists.

- Space flight attendant -

Mukai, who established the centre as part of the Tokyo University of Science at the beginning of the year, said many of the technologies they are working on have applications here on Earth.

"We are not only developing the technology for a moon base but as a spin-off, we will be able to help many issues that we need to solve on Earth," she said.

For example, she said hydroponic technology -- growing food without soil -- could be valuable in countries in parts of sub-Saharan Africa lacking natural resources and minerals.

Mukai said she was "certain" she would see a fully-functioning moon colony in her lifetime and was itching to go back into space, taking as her example former colleague and US astronaut John Glenn, who went into orbit aged 77.

The former heart surgeon said that with her medical expertise and extra-terrestrial experience, she could be very useful on future commercial space tourism flights.

"My dream is to get a job as a flight attendant on a commercial spaceflight so I can help to get people to the moon," she said, laughing.

Shanghai SIPG's million-euro Brazilian 'miracle doctor'

source: AFP
Shanghai SIPG's million-euro Brazilian 'miracle doctor'


AFP / Johannes EISELE Shanghai SIPG’s Brazilian doctor Eduardo Santos has been dubbed a "miracle worker"

It was the 2015 Champions League and Paris Saint-Germain's chances took a hit even before their daunting quarter-final against Barcelona with the news that central defender David Luiz faced several weeks out.

The Brazilian international looked sure to miss both legs against the eventual European champions with a serious hamstring tear.

Luiz contacted his fellow Brazilian Eduardo Santos, then employed by Zenit St. Petersburg, and flew off to Russia in a desperate bid to keep his Champions League hopes alive.

With Santos's medical intervention, Luiz stunned observers by recovering in just a few days to play 69 minutes as a substitute in the first leg and the whole second leg.

PSG were beaten 5-1 on aggregate, but Santos was dubbed "miracle doctor" in French media.

Santos, 38, now head of the medical department at Shanghai SIPG in the Chinese Super League (CSL), blushes at the nickname.

But it helped forge his reputation among many of the world's top footballers as the go-to man for getting back to fitness in rapid time -- and keeping them there.

A list of some of the stars to have sought his help would make a very decent five-a-side team: Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes; Manchester City's Eliaquim Mangala with Luiz in defence; Mousa Demeble of Tottenham in midfield; Radamel Falcao of Monaco in attack.

- Fixing Hulk -

"What we do is not a miracle," Santos told AFP at the training ground of SIPG, who broke the Asian transfer record last year to buy attacking midfielder Oscar for 60 million euros from Chelsea and also boast another Brazilian star, the formidable forward Hulk.


AFP/File / Adrian DENNIS Footballer David Luiz was treated by fellow Brazilian Eduardo Santos and stunned observers by recovering from a hamstring tear in just a few days


"I do science, and of course the results that I have are really, really good. Normally in football, most of the injuries happen in the hamstring muscle. But at SIPG, we don't have these kinds of injuries."

SIPG had a noticeable lack of injuries last season in coming second in the CSL under Andre Villas-Boas, since replaced by another Portuguese coach, Vitor Pereira.

"We give a coach a very good headache because he can choose whoever he wants to play, there's no injuries," Santos said.

Yet Santos's spectacular results have left some fellow professionals in doubt.

"I'm a scientist and base my work on what has been published," the French doctor Jean-Pierre de Mondenard told France Football magazine.

"If he (Santos) wants to remove any doubt, he has to stop all the mystery because when there's mystery, there's suspicion."

Santos, who was with Vitesse Arnhem in the Netherlands before moving to Zenit and then SIPG in September 2016, laughs off attempts to glean more details about what makes him so successful.

But he said good communication between the coaching and medical teams is critical.

He described how they stopped the bulldozer-like Hulk getting injured.

Hulk, Santos and former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Villas-Boas were at Zenit at the time. All three would later move to SIPG.

"At that time Hulk was getting a lot of injuries, a lot of problems," Santos said.

"When you look at Hulk, you think, 'Wow, he's a very strong player.'

"But he has weak muscles, his hamstrings were very poor, he doesn't have any kind of power in his hamstrings.

"He had a lot of power in his quadriceps (front of the thighs), but in the hamstrings -- zero.

"So we started balancing his muscles because we made a personal evaluation of him, we found the problem, we made the programme of rehabilitation and preventive work.

"And from there? No problems anymore."

- Adopting Chinese methods -

Santos said he left Zenit in 2016 after SIPG stumped up one million euros for him, in what was effectively a transfer much like when a player switches clubs.

Prising Santos away for that kind of money is testament to his reputation, and Chinese football's growing financial clout.

Santos -- who can treat players from other sides if called upon -- has a medical team of eight at SIPG and wanted all his staff to be Chinese, partly because he was eager to learn new expertise from them.

He is a convert to the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine, particularly acupuncture.

"In my programme of rehabilitation I mix the Western way with the things that we use here in Asia because of course I cannot come here to China and ask the Chinese players that are used to being treated with Chinese medicine since they are really young to just, 'Come on, forget what you do.'

"I don't like that."

Santos says he has resisted offers to work for major European clubs because he has freedom at "open-minded" SIPG.

And he said that at some big European teams, not enough importance is given to the medical side.

"For me, it's very, very strange. They need to invest money in the medical team, not just buy the best machines in the world, they need to invest in the humans that are working there.

"And have a coach that listens to them."

China says Earth-bound spacelab to offer 'splendid' show

SOURCE: AFP
China says Earth-bound spacelab to offer 'splendid' show

 
AFP / William ICKES Fall of Chinese space station Tiangong-1

An out-of-control space laboratory that will plunge back to Earth in the coming days is unlikely to cause any damage, Chinese authorities say, but will offer instead a "splendid" show akin to a meteor shower.

China's space agency said on Thursday that the nearly eight-tonne Tiangong-1 will re-enter the atmosphere some time between Saturday and Monday. The European Space Agency has a smaller window between midday Saturday and early Sunday afternoon GMT time.

But there is "no need for people to worry", the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) said on its WeChat social media account.

Such falling spacecraft do "not crash into the Earth fiercely like in sci-fi movies, but turn into a splendid (meteor shower) and move across the beautiful starry sky as they race towards the Earth", it said.

The lab was placed in orbit in September 2011 and had been slated for a controlled re-entry, but it ceased functioning in March 2016 and space enthusiasts have been bracing for its fiery return.

Beijing sees its multi-billion-dollar space programme as a symbol of the country's rise. It plans to send a manned mission to the moon in the future.

China sent another lab into orbit, the Tiangong-2, in September 2016 and hopes to turn it into a crewed space station by 2022.

Experts have downplayed any concerns about the Tiangong-1 causing any damage when it hurtles back to Earth, with the ESA noting that nearly 6,000 uncontrolled re-entries of large objects have occurred over the past 60 years without harming anyone.

The CMSEO said the probability of someone being hit by a meteorite of more than 200 grammes is one in 700 million.

During the uncontrolled re-entry, atmospheric drag will rip away solar arrays, antennas and other external components at an altitude of around 100 kilometres, according to the Chinese space office.

The intensifying heat and friction will cause the main structure to burn or blow up, and it should disintegrate at an altitude of around 80 kilometres, it said.

Most fragments will dissipate in the air and a small amount of debris will fall relatively slowly before landing, most likely in the ocean, which covers more than 70 percent of the Earth's surface.

Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, estimates that the Tiangong-1 is the 50th most massive uncontrolled re-entry of an object since 1957.

"Much bigger things have come down with no casualties," McDowell told AFP.

"This thing is like a small plane crash," he said, adding that the trail of debris will scatter pieces several hundred kilometres apart.

At an altitude of 60-70 kilometres, debris will begin to turn into "a series of fireballs", which is when people on the ground will "see a spectacular show," he said.

LATEST WORLD NEWS: Leaked Facebook memo questions cost of growth

source: AFP
Leaked Facebook memo questions cost of growth

 
AFP/File / NORBERTO DUARTE Facebook continues to be battered by a data breach involving Britain-based Cambridge Analytica, a consulting firm linked to Donald Trump's presidential campaign

Facebook troubles worsened late Thursday with the leak of a two-year-old memo from a high-ranking executive hinting that the social network was determined to grow despite risks to users.

The 2016 memo published by news website Buzzfeed was written by veteran Facebook executive Andrew Bozworth, considered part of chief executive Mark Zuckerberg's inner circle.

"The ugly truth is that we believe in connecting people so deeply that anything that allows us to connect more people more often is 'de facto' good," the memo read.

The memo pointed out that connecting people can lead to good outcomes, such as finding love or preventing suicide.

It could also have negative consequences, Bozworth reasoned.

"Maybe it costs a life by exposing someone to bullies," the memo read.

"Maybe someone dies in a terrorist attack coordinated on our tools."

Bozworth is known to be an outspoken defender of Facebook, and unabashed in expressing his views.

"I don't agree with the post today and I didn't agree with it even when I wrote it," Bozworth said in a statement to AFP.

"The purpose of this post, like many others I have written internally, was to bring to the surface issues I felt deserved more discussion with the broader company."

In response to an AFP inquiry, Zuckerberg referred to Bozworth as a talented leader who says provocative things, the leaked memo among them.

"This was one that most people at Facebook including myself disagreed with strongly," Zuckerberg said.

"We've never believed the ends justify the means. We recognize that connecting people isn't enough by itself. We also need to work to bring people closer together."

Even if the Bozworth memo was meant solely to get colleagues to grapple with tough issues, it hints that Facebook executives were aware of risks associated with connecting and sharing on the social network.

The leak of the memo came as Facebook continued to be battered by a data breach involving Britain-based Cambridge Analytica, a consulting firm linked to Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

Facebook faces probes on both sides of the Atlantic over the hijacking of 50 million users' personal data by the firm.

The firestorm has raised new awareness on how personal data is stored and shared by internet platforms and marketers.

Facebook has begun to produce documents and wants to be "cooperative" with a New York investigation into the Cambridge Analytica data breach, state attorney general Eric Schneiderman said Thursday.

On Monday, the Federal Trade Commission, a US consumer protection agency, said it had opened an inquiry into Facebook's privacy practices, including whether the company violated an earlier agreement with the FTC on how it handles user data.

Facebook signed a consent decree with the consumer agency in 2011 settling charges that it deceived consumers by telling them they could keep their information on Facebook private, and then allowing it to be shared and made public.

Artist Jeff Koons on money, risk and acceptance

source: AFP
Artist Jeff Koons on money, risk and acceptance


 AFP / Anthony WALLACE US artist Jeff Koons poses during an interview with AFP in Hong Kong

To his critics his work is overrated, overpriced and obvious. To his fans, he is a living legend -- the incarnation of the Pop Art movement. Either way, at 63, Jeff Koons says he just wants to focus on creating the art he wants to make.

Koons' works are brash, voluptuous and carry astronomical price tags but that hasn't dimmed appetite for his pieces in Asia, where he is presenting at Hong Kong's edition of Art Basel -- a top event for wealthy collectors looking to snap up new status symbols.

The American pioneer has brought some of his signature mirror-polished steel sculptures to the fair as well as his Gazing Ball series, in which shiny blue spheres are inserted into reproductions of classic European masterpieces, including works by Rembrandt and Tintoretto.

Koons set an auction record for the highest price paid for any work by a living artist in 2013 when his orange "Balloon Dog" fetched US$58.4 million at Christie's in New York.

But he insists the monetary value attached to his art is just an "abstraction" to him.

"I’m flattered that my works are perceived by society as having some relevant value. But the beauty to have impact with real individuals, that they can come across their own potential, that’s what really brings me joy," he tells AFP, impeccably dressed in a sharp dark blue suit.

His work is polarising. In January, artists, gallery owners and officials in Paris signed an open letter objecting to a planned 12-metre tall "Bouquet of Tulips" memorial designed by Koons as a tribute to the victims of the terror attacks on the city in November 2015.

 
AFP / ANTHONY WALLACE US artist Jeff Koons poses in front of his artwork 'Bluebird Planter' at the Art Basel fair in Hong Kong


The letter described Koons as an "emblem of industrial art which is spectacular and speculative".

Koons would not comment on controversy, but when asked how he deals with criticism, he said he tries to focus on his work.

"I think that people always find honesty very shocking. So when you are honest and just make the things that you want, it reveals something about human nature," he said.

- Facing failure -

Pennsylvania-born Koons' works are bright, extravagant and large-scale.

He seems unafraid of controversy -- he gained notoriety for a series portraying himself and his porn star ex-wife Ilona Staller in explicit poses.

Today Koons is relaxed and lively at Hong Kong's David Zwirner gallery where some of his Gazing Ball pieces are on display, their glazed surfaces reflecting every corner of the exhibition space.

"Reflected surface affirms the viewer, affirms you, right here, right now, but it also affirms everything else in the world," says Koons.

 
AFP / Anthony WALLACE Koons says surrealist art has been a means for self-exploration since he was a teenager

He describes the sapphire-coloured spheres as "objects trying to communicate with the viewers". His balloon animals are inspired by what it means to be a living, breathing organism, he says, with art a process of accepting oneself and others.

Koons says surrealist art has been a means for self-exploration since he was a teenager.

"Once you can go inward and find where you accept yourself, automatically you want to go outside, and you want to go to the external world. That’s the journey that art can take you (on)," he says.

Koons describes technology as a "wonderful tool" and recently partnered with Snapchat to create a Pokemon-Go type game in which users hunt virtual Koons sculptures around the world.

He says he is working on a virtual reality project to be released in a year's time but warns young artists not to see tech as a quick creative fix, rather a means to express something "metaphysical".

Most importantly, he says they must believe in themselves, recalling how when he started out there was no audience for his art and he had to move back in with his parents.

"I’ve always been a risk taker, because I believe in going for something. I believe in the excitement, the stimulation, of trying to achieve something," he says.

"If there was failure, I really didn't have any option other than to go for it."

Foreign companies in China brace for VPN crackdown

source: AFP
Foreign companies in China brace for VPN crackdown


AFP / WANG ZHAO VPNs give users in China a way to see blocked websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Google and Western news outlets

Chinese people and foreign firms are girding for a weekend deadline that will curb the use of unlicensed software to circumvent internet controls, as the government plugs holes in its "Great Firewall".

A virtual private network (VPN) can tunnel through the country's sophisticated barrier of online filters to access the global internet.

VPNs give users a way to see blocked websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Google and Western news outlets, as well as certain business network tools such as timesheets, email and directories.

But new government regulations unveiled last year sent chills among users of the software, with a March 31 deadline for companies and individuals to only use government-approved VPNs.

Currently, many foreign companies have their own VPN servers in locations outside of China. But in the future, dedicated lines can only be provided by China's three telecom operators.

Critics have slammed the new policy as a revenue grab that will eliminate cheaper VPN options and make internet users more vulnerable to surveillance.

But some companies are still planning to comply.

"We will apply for a VPN line with (the government)," the chief executive of a foreign-owned technology company told AFP.

"As a company that is globally-focused based in Beijing, I think that's the best option... because we don't want to break the rules or have our VPN access disrupted," she said, requesting anonymity.

Some embassies in Beijing experienced disruptions to their communications due to restrictions on VPN usage late last year, prompting the European Union delegation to send a letter to the government to complain, diplomatic sources told AFP.

American Chamber of Commerce Shanghai President Kenneth Jarrett warned that foreign companies and their employees could "bear the brunt of the new policies".

"Foreign companies, especially entrepreneurs and smaller companies rely on overseas platforms such as Google Analytics and Google Scholar," Jarrett told AFP.

"Limiting access to affordable VPNs will make it harder for these companies to operate efficiently and just adds to the frustration of doing business in China."

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has dismissed concerns that using state-approved providers could jeopardise the security of private data, saying they "are not able to see information related to your business".

- 'At the mercy of regulators' -

A member of China-based anti-censorship group GreatFire.org, which tracks internet restrictions, said the new rules are aimed at wiping out low-cost Chinese VPN providers and increasing control over access to information.

"Are foreign companies at the mercy of Chinese regulators? Yes, probably. Will there be more surveillance? Absolutely," said the member, who uses the alias Charlie Smith.

Under the new licensing regulations, it is unclear whether companies or individuals will be punished for using unauthorised VPNs, or if the software will be blocked.

But on December 21, Chinese citizen Wu Xiangyang from the south Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region was given a five-and-a-half-year prison sentence and 500,000 yuan ($76,000) fine.

Wu "illegally profited" from setting up VPN servers and selling software "without obtaining relevant business licenses", according to a news site managed by the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

It was the most severe known VPN-related conviction.

Last September, a 26-year-old man from Guangdong province was sentenced to nine months in prison in a similar case.

Samm Sacks, who researches China's technology policy at the US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, said it is likely that China will be lenient to most foreign companies.

"We will probably see selective enforcement. So far, there have not been many foreign companies that have experienced problems with their company VPNs," Sacks said.

"It just adds a new layer of uncertainty at a time when foreign companies are already facing a host of challenges to doing business in China," she said.

In the European Chamber of Commerce in China's 2017 survey of its members, companies reported suffering from restricted internet and slow and unstable connections in China, before new VPN restrictions were announced.

"Poor internet connectivity not only damages China's efforts to portray itself as an innovative society, it also impacts overall productivity," chamber president Mats Harborn told AFP.

"Some reported losses of more than 20 percent of their annual revenue as a result."

- 'No, we don't sell VPNs' -

Earlier this month, in the southern trade hub of Guangzhou, a small shop with the letters "VPN" painted in red on its wall said they no longer offered them.

"No, we don't sell VPNs," a Chinese shopkeeper said curtly, refusing to explain why.

But it was business as usual for a nearby store that was licensed to sell VPNs from state-owned telecommunications operator China Telecom.

"We've had no problems. Our clients are mostly Chinese and African traders who want to keep in touch using Whatsapp," a technician said.

Filipinos celebrate Easter with crucifixion, flogging

source: AFP
Filipinos celebrate Easter with crucifixion, flogging


AFP / Noel CELIS Bare-chested men, some of whose faces were concealed by hoods, lashed their backs bloody, as onlookers watched

Filipino zealots marked Good Friday with a bloody display of religious frenzy by having themselves nailed to crosses and whipping their backs raw in Asia's bastion of Catholicism.

Though frowned upon by the Church, the gruesome re-enactments of Christ's final moments draw thousands of believers -- and tourists -- in a carnival-like atmosphere that is big business for locals.

In a collection of towns located north of Manila, eight people had eight-centimetre (three-inch) spikes driven through their palms and feet in hot, dry fields meant to echo the site where Christ was crucified some 2,000 years ago.

Among an otherwise male field of penitents was 39-year-old Mary Jane Sazon, who made her seventh trip up onto the cross.

"Fulfilling my vow is important to me because ever since I started this the Lord answers my prayers," Sazon told reporters as she pushed her dark hair back with freshly bandaged hands.

She would not be drawn on being the only woman crucified on Friday, saying "I don't care what other people might say."

While the ordeal is undeniably painful, the penitents' weight rests on a wooden step and they spend only a few moments nailed to the cross before being carried to the medical tent for treatment.

At the same time, scores of bare-chested men, some of whose faces were concealed by hoods, lashed their backs bloody, as they walked through the streets before selfie-snapping onlookers.

The swinging of their whips left droplets of blood on cars, houses and even bottles of soda displayed on snack vendors' tables that lined the road.

"If one of my family members gets sick, this is what we do," said Norman Lapuot, 25, as he flogged himself with a bamboo-tipped whip. "I do this for my relatives."

- ' I felt the pain' -

Lapuot, who said it was his fourth time taking part in the ceremony, added that he believed the ritual bloodletting had helped his grandfather recover from a stroke.

While a majority of the Philippines' 80 million Catholics spend Good Friday at church or with family, participants undergo the ordeal to atone for sins or to seek divine intervention.

The gruesome sights left some of the roughly 12,000 in attendance wide-eyed and wincing with vicarious pain.

"The most terrifying was the feet part, when the guy was screaming very loud," said 28-year-old Juliette Pawinska, referring to when the spikes were driven in during one crucifixion.

"I actually felt the pain that he felt," added the Polish national, who lives in the Philippines and works as a computer programmer.

The mock crucifixions on Good Friday have been going on for decades despite official disapproval from the nation's dominant Catholic Church.

"The Church never encourages self-flagellation, much less crucifixion," Father Roy Bellen, a spokesman for the archdiocese of Manila, told AFP.

"All sacrifices being asked from Catholics during Lent and Holy Week should lead to actions that benefit the poor and the needy," he added.

Food stalls, cab drivers and even souvenir stands get a boost from the event which draws thousands of visitors every year.

Rose Anne Galang, whose full-time job is as a factory worker, said she pulled in some extra cash selling pork dumplings to hungry tourists.

"It's my first time, but business was really good," she added with a smile. "I'll be back next year."

Nearly 80 percent of people in the Philippines are Catholic, a legacy of the nation's 300 years of Spanish colonial rule that ended at the turn of the 20th century.

Tears and sympathy: support grows for Smith over cricket ban

source: AFP
Tears and sympathy: support grows for Smith over cricket ban


AFP / Peter PARKS Cricketer Steve Smith apologises at a press conference at the airport in Sydney on March 29, 2018, after returning from South Africa

A wave of sympathy for disgraced Australia skipper Steve Smith gathered pace on Friday after his heart-wrenching apology and as opposition grew to the severity of bans handed out in a ball-tampering scandal.

Smith's tearful appearance in front of media helped trigger the resignation of coach Darren Lehmann and also prompted calls to rein in criticism which has verged on hysterical during an extraordinary week for Australian cricket.

Both Smith and vice-captain David Warner were banned for 12 months and Cameron Bancroft for nine months for ball-tampering during the third Test in Cape Town.

Lehmann -- who had earlier warned about the players' mental state -- said he was convinced to step down by the emotional apologies of Bancroft and Smith, which also drew messages of support.

"Dear Australia, that's enough now," ran a headline in British newspaper The Times. "This was ball-tampering, not murder."

The ball-tampering scandal has unleashed a torrent of vitriol against Smith and Warner in particular, and heavy criticism of a team long perceived as arrogant and out of touch.


AFP / Gal ROMA Cricket cheating scandal


Australia's leg-spin great Shane Warne wrote in Sydney's Daily Telegraph: "We are all so hurt and angry and maybe we weren't so sure how to react. We'd just never seen it before.

"But the jump to hysteria is something that has elevated the offence beyond what they actually did, and maybe we're at a point where the punishment just might not fit the crime."

Former England captain Michael Vaughan said Smith and Bancroft, who also faced media on Thursday, were "decent guys who had a moment of madness".

"They deserve a 2nd chance and hopefully get the right support around them now .. Takes a lot guts to do what they did today," he tweeted.

- 'Glaring anomalies' -

The Australian Cricketers' Association voiced concern over the welfare of the players, and argued that the sanctions were disproportionate compared to other sanctions for ball-tampering.

"There are a number of glaring and clear anomalies in the process to date which causes the ACA to query the severity and proportionality of the proposed sanctions," a statement said.

 
AFP / WIKUS DE WET Head Coach of the Australia cricket team Darren Lehmann announces his resignation during a press conference in Johannesburg

Warner, a divisive figure who was charged with instructing Bancroft, one of the team's junior members, to tamper with the ball using sandpaper, is expected to face the media on Saturday.

Pressure also remains on CA, which has been hit by an exodus of sponsors over the damaging saga and uncertainty surrounding current broadcast rights negotiations.

CA's losses include an estimated Aus$20 million (US$15 million) partnership with naming rights sponsor Magellan, which tore up its three-year contract after barely seven months.

Following the fourth Test in Johannesburg, which starts later on Friday with Tim Paine as stand-in captain, Australia's next assignment is an ODI series in England that starts in June.

Former Test opener Justin Langer is a strong favourite to become Lehmann's successor, although reports said Australia could name a separate coach for the ODI and Twenty20 teams.

Israel shelling kills Palestinian ahead of Gaza protests

source: AFP
Israel shelling kills Palestinian ahead of Gaza protests


AFP / MAHMUD HAMS A Palestinian farmer was killed in Gaza by an Israeli strike just hours before the start of a major demonstration, which is set to kick off six weeks of protests leading up to the inauguration of the new US embassy in Jerusalem around May 14

Israeli shelling killed a Palestinian farmer in Gaza early on Friday, the enclave's health ministry said, just hours before the launch of mass protests along the border.

A second Palestinian was wounded by the tank fire near Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, a ministry spokesman said.

The ministry identified the dead man as Omar Samour, 27. Witnesses said he was working his land near the border when the shells hit.

An Israeli army spokesman said: "Two suspects approached the security fence along the southern Gaza Strip and began operating suspiciously.

"In response an (Israeli) tank fired towards them," he said, adding that the army was aware of reports of a death.

The shelling came just hours before the opening of large protest camps near the border, which have prompted the Israeli army to deploy reinforcements, including more than 100 special forces snipers, for fear of mass attempts to break through the security fence.

 
AFP/File / MENAHEM KAHANA Israeli tanks monitor the security fence on the volatile border with Gaza on February 18, 2018


Hundreds of people, including women and children, are expected to march to the camps in an event dubbed "The Great March of Return," which has the backing of Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas.

The protest camps are expected to remain in place for more than six weeks in the runup to the inauguration of the new US embassy in Jerusalem around May 14.

US President Donald Trump's recognition of the disputed city as Israel's capital in December has infuriated Palestinians, who claim its annexed eastern sector as the capital of their future state.

Hamas has fought three wars with Israel since 2008 and Israeli chief of staff Lieutenant General Gadi Eisenkot has warned the Gaza protests pose the most serious risk of renewed conflict since he took up his post in 2015.

- Rare family protest -

Protests along the border are common, often culminating in young Palestinian men throwing stones at Israeli soldiers who respond with tear gas, and rubber and live bullets.

The March of Return protest is different because it involves hundreds of Palestinians, including whole families with women and children, camping along the border for weeks.

Five main camp sites have been set up spanning the length of the heavily fortified frontier, from near the Erez border crossing in the north to Rafah, where it meets the Egyptian border in the south.

 
AFP / SAID KHATIB A Gazan protester hurls stones at Israeli troops during a clash at the border fence near Khan Yunis on March 23, 2018

Cultural events are planned in the larger communal tents, including traditional Palestinian dabke dancing, while tens of thousands of meals will be handed out on Friday, organisers said.

A young couple were married near one of the camps on Thursday evening.

The launch of the protests comes as Palestinians mark Land Day, commemorating the killing of six unarmed Arab protesters in Israel in 1976.

It is expected to begin on Friday morning but swell after the main weekly Muslim prayers at midday.

Organisers say the camps will remain in place until May 15 when Palestinians commemorate the Nakba, or "catastrophe", when more than 700,000 Palestinians fled their land or were expelled during the war that led to the creation of Israel in 1948.

According to the United Nations, some 1.3 million of Gaza's 2 million residents are refugees or their descendants and the protest is calling for them to be allowed to return to land that is now Israel.

Washington's plans to launch its new embassy around the same time, to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the Israeli state, have further stoked Palestinian anger.

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, on Thursday labelled the protest an "organised planned provocation" and reiterated "Israel's right to defend its sovereignty and protect its citizens."

Pakistanis welcome Malala home, but visit shrouded in security

source: AFP

Pakistanis welcome Malala home, but visit shrouded in security


 
AFP / Nighat DAD The whereabouts of Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai were being kept a closely-guarded secret on Friday, during her emotional return to Pakistan

Malala Yousafzai's whereabouts in Pakistan were being kept a tightly-guarded secret Friday, one day after her emotional return more than five years after being shot by Taliban gunmen.

The Nobel laureate, whose arrival in the country dominated headlines and social media, broke down in tears as she delivered an emotional televised speech Thursday saying it was a "dream" to be home.

But with intense criticism among the many messages of welcome, her itinerary was being kept under wraps over security fears, with even those meeting her not being told of her presence until the last moment.

Malala is widely respected internationally as a global icon for girls' education, but opinion is divided in Pakistan, where some conservatives view her as a Western agent on a mission to shame her country.

"Pakistan has not done well by its heroes," an editorial in the English-language Dawn newspaper on Malala's homecoming said Friday, noting that the country's other Nobel laureate -- physicist Abdus Salaam -- had been widely shunned for being a member of the persecuted Ahmadi minority.

 
AFP / AFP Malala Yousafzai


Women's rights activist Nighat Dad said that she and a group of other feminists from across Pakistan who were gathered on Thursday were not told they would be meeting Malala until the last moment.

The organiser, Oscar-winning director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, only told them "It'll be the highlight of your year," Dad said -- adding that she had been right.

Malala's schedule for Friday was not clear, though there was some speculation she would return to her native Swat, where she was shot and where, earlier this month, a school built with her Nobel prize money was opened.

Malala became a global symbol for human rights after a gunman boarded her school van on October 9, 2012, asked "Who is Malala?" and shot her.

The Pakistani Taliban accused her of "anti-Islamic" activities and of "smearing" the militant group in statements released after the attack.

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

The youngest-ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, she has continued to be a vocal advocate for girls' education while studying at Oxford University.

Swat, in Pakistan's rugged northwest, was overrun by the Taliban in 2007, where they imposed a brutal regime including banning girls from school.

They were pushed out in a military operation in 2009, but security has remained fragile, as the attack on Malala three years later demonstrated.

However in recent weeks authorities have lifted prohibitions against tourists visiting the mountainous region, famed for its beauty, as security improves.

Residents say Malala's story has changed the lives of other girls in the area.

"Parents are sending their girls to school so Malala has been successful in her aim," Swat resident Shahista Hakeem told AFP.

Many of those who live in the area were happy to hear of Malala's return to Pakistan, Hakeem said, adding: "We want that she should come to Swat also."

Latest 2018 Vendor Reconciliation Specialist at an Innovative Blue-chip Company - CornerStone Staffing

CornerStone Staffing - Our client, an innovative blue-chip company,  is looking to engage dynamic, self- motivated individuals to fill the position below:

Job Title: Vendor Reconciliation Specialist

Location: Lagos

Job Description

• Working within the Vendor Management team, the Vendor Reconciliation Specialist is responsible for the processing and payment of large volume of external vendor reimbursements according to Service Level timing.

Responsibilities

• Perform periodic settlements of Vendor's balances considering all the documents and transactions applicable for the period.
• Manage effective communication and cooperate with internal departments (Finance / Treasury / Operations)
• Participate in, and at times lead, daily huddles between the Finance Group and vendor team to discuss priorities for the day, issues identified and review daily processing metrics
• Assist with risk management and the on-going monitoring of performance SLAs for the vendor team
• Responsible for applying judgment and discretion as they ensure the validity and appropriateness of each payment they process
• Review vendor invoices and provide Finance with insights into billing variances.

Education and Experience

• Minimum 5 years working experience in a high volume environment, preferably in the area of Audit, Accounts Payable or Treasury.
• A business-related bachelor's degree (or higher) preferably in Accounting or Finance from a recognized University.
• Master's Degree is a plus
• ACA or ACCA qualifications
• Previous experience within a Reconciliation, Cash Control, or Settlement environment

Skills and Competencies:

• Able to summarize facts, variables, alternatives, and potential outcomes to assist decisions-making.
• Demonstrates strong project management capabilities and excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Detail oriented with proven ability to question assumptions and identify opportunities within existing practices and results driven.
• Demonstrates a big picture understanding of the business, its interrelationships and priorities.
• Demonstrates a willingness to examine own position and accept input from others.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

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

Latest 2018 Head of Sales Recruitment at PricewaterhouseCooper

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: Head of Sales

Reference Number: 130-PEO00852
Location: Lagos
Department: People & Change Nigeria
Job type: Permanent

Roles & Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be reporting to the Executive Director - Marketing and will be responsible for overseeing all sales activities of the company and meeting sales target. Other responsibilities include:

• Devise strategies and techniques necessary for achieving the sales targets
• Development and implementation of the brand and marketing strategy for new and existing products
• Ensures that the marketing team implements the marketing objectives.
• Coordinates 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.
• Setting activity and revenue targets for members of the sales team
• 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
• Ensures continual training and development of all members of the sales department.

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

Qualification & Experience
Qualification:

• Minimum of Second class Upper Bachelor's Degree in Marketing or a related field.
• Must be a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria or any equivalent.
• A Master's Degree will be an added advantage.

Experience:

• Over 10 years' marketing experience in the insurance industry
• Expertise in marketing of insurance products
• Previous experience successfully managing sales teams from a similar industry
• Proven track record of achieving targets and driving sales growth in a business.

Application Closing Date
30th April, 2018.

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

2018 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

Latest 2018 Job For Graduate Operation Manager at Doluchie Concept

Doluchie Concept - Building the bridge between career seekers and the industries. Advancement of career, skills, and employee portfolio development. Recruitment by head hunt for specific core competence need of corporate organization.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Operation Manager

Location: Lagos

Job Description

• We are looking for a professional Operations Manager to plan, direct and coordinate all organization’s operations.
• Selected candidates will be responsible for improving performance, productivity, efficiency and profitability through the implementation of effective methods and strategies.
• And manage a team of managers, training managers, and other direct reports.

Responsibilities

• Ensure that all workings are manufactured in a correct, cost effective and timely manner
• Contribute towards the achievement of company’s strategic and operational objectives
• Perform quality controls and monitor production.
• Cater to clients’ or personnel’s concerns

Requirements

• Proven work experience as operations manager
• Adequate knowledge of organizational effectiveness and operations management
• Familiarity with business and financial principles and practices
• Basic IT skills (databases, MS Office etc)
• Ability to effectively communicate with all levels of the organization
• Leadership and organizational skills
• HND/BS degree in operations management or related field

Application Closing Date
18th April, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should forward their CV's to: doluchieconcept@gmail.com

Latest Job Vacancy for Deputy Managing Director (DMD) at PricewaterhouseCooper

PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) - Our client in the Investment Banking sector, is looking to fill the position beow:

Job Tite: Deputy Managing Director (DMD)

Reference Number: 130-PEO00859
Location: Lagos
Department: People & Change Nigeria
Job type: Permanent

Roles & Responsibilities

• Initiate new client relationships
• Manage deal pipeline and provide marketing to existing and new potential clients
• Develop opportunities across asset management, securities trading and trustee subsidiaries and thus develop strong internal relations with same to maximize cross-selling strategies
• Responsible for all aspects of a transaction life cycle: client sourcing, due diligence, negotiations, valuation analyses, and transaction closings
• Mentor, lead and develop team members

Requirements

• Minimum of 15 years experience in a reputable Investment Banking firm
• Proven track record with increasing responsibilities of lead generation
• Exceptional interpersonal communication skills with an ability to bring in new clients
• Self-driven with ability to work independently

Application Closing Date
6th April, 2018.

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

Latest 2018 Graduate Executive Director, Marketing Job 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 >>>

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 >>>

Latest 2018 Graduate Finance Intern Job at CornerStone Staffing

CornerStone Staffing - Our client, a big player in the FMCG Industry, is recruiting suitably qualified candidates to fill the position below:

Job Title: Finance Intern

Location: Lagos
Employment type: Internship

Job Description

• This role is responsible for the delivery of the financial and business processes and systems in line with corporate standards; the post holder will undertake specific work within Finance and contribute to improving functional efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Assist in preparation and managing of budget and forecasts for business units
• Update detailed operating and projections/financial models, working closely with multiple departments
• Assist in analyzing and monitoring financial and operational performance.
• Assist with monthly closes and coordinate with Accounting to ensure accurate financial results and reporting
• Identify trends and issues and address problems to ensure quality financial results
• Assist in corporate finance and business development work. Perform quantitative analyses to help evaluate and implement strategic options.
• Assist in developing KPIs and new measurements and metrics to assess business performance.
• Assist in driving financial considerations in decision-making framework to improve business profitability and capital efficiency
• Prepare presentations for management and participate in ad hoc projects as needed

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Finance or Accounting or related field
• Advance proficiency in Microsoft Word processing and spreadsheet applications; ability to utilize database application
• Advanced level of Microsoft Excel (Pivot tables, Vlookups, and nestedifs formulas)
• Ability to interpret Financial Data from various systems and in various formats

Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent analytical and quick-decision making skills
• Strong attention to detail with highly organized, advanced office skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to learn new processes quickly
• Ability to manage multiple decision processes while working in a fast-paced paperless environment using multiple systems and databases
• Ability to resolve problems

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

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

Area Hot Jobs: Sales Supervisor - South South 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 - South South

Location: Port Harcourt, Rivers

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 online >>>

Latest 2018 Graduate Administration Manager at Doluchie Concept

Doluchie Concept - Building the bridge between career seekers and the industries. Advancement of career, skills, and employee portfolio development. Recruitment by head hunt for specific core competence need of corporate organization.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Administration Manager

Location: Lagos

Job Description

• We are looking for an experienced Administration Manager to supervise daily support operations of our company and plan the most efficient administrative procedures.
• You will lead a team of professionals to complete a range of administrative duties in different departments.
• A great administration manager has excellent communication and organizational skills. The ideal candidate will be well-versed in departmental procedures and policies and will be able to actively discover new ways to do the job more efficiently.
• The goal is to ensure all support activities are carried on efficiently and effectively to allow the other operations to function properly.

Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate administrative procedures and systems and devise ways to streamline processes
• Recruit and train personnel and allocate responsibilities and office space
• Assess staff performance and provide coaching and guidance to ensure maximum efficiency
• Ensure the smooth and adequate flow of information within the company to facilitate other business operations
• Manage schedules and deadlines
• Monitor inventory of office supplies and the purchasing of new material with attention to budgetary constraints
• Monitor costs and expenses to assist in budget preparation
• Ensure operations adhere to policies and regulations
• Keep abreast with all organizational changes and business developments

Requirements

• Proven experience as administration manager
• In-depth understanding of office management procedures and departmental and legal policies
• Familiarity with financial and facilities management principles
• Proficient in MS Office
• An analytical mind with problem-solving skills
• Excellent organizational and multitasking abilities
• A team player with leadership skills
• HND/B.Sc in Business Administration or relative field

Application Closing Date
18th April, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should forward their CV's to: doluchieconcept@gmail.com

Latest 2018 Job Vacancy for Business Intelligence Developer at Doluchie Concept

Doluchie Concept - Building the bridge between career seekers and the industries. Advancement of career, skills, and employee portfolio development. Recruitment by head hunt for specific core competence need of corporate organization.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Business Intelligence Developer

Location: Lagos

Job Description:

• We are looking for a Business Intelligence (BI) Developer to create and manage BI and analytics solutions that turn data into knowledge.
• In this role, you should have a background in data and business analysis. You should be analytical and an excellent communicator. If you also have a business acumen and problem-solving aptitude, we’d like to meet you.
• Ultimately, you will enhance our business intelligence system to help us make better decisions.

Responsibilities

• Translate business needs to technical specifications
• Design, build and deploy BI solutions (e.g. reporting tools)
• Maintain and support data analytics platforms (e.g. Micro Strategy)
• Conduct unit testing and troubleshooting
• Evaluate and improve existing BI systems
• Collaborate with teams to integrate systems
• Develop and execute database queries and conduct analyses
• Create visualizations and reports for requested projects
• Develop and update technical documentation

Requirements

• Proven experience as a BI Developer or Data Scientist
• Industry experience is preferred
• Background in data warehouse design (e.g. dimensional modeling) and data mining
• Familiarity with BI technologies (e.g. Microsoft Power BI, Oracle BI)
• Knowledge of SQL queries, SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) and SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)
• Proven abilities to take initiative and be innovative
• Analytical mind with a problem-solving aptitude
• B.Sc/BA in Computer Science, Engineering or relevant field

Application Closing Date
18th April, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should forward their CV's to: doluchieconcept@gmail.com