German prosecutors request Puigdemont extradition to Spain

source: AFP
German prosecutors request Puigdemont extradition to Spain


AFP/File / Axel Heimken A portrait of Carles Puigdemont attached behind the fence of the prison at Neumuenster where the former Catalan president is being held

German prosecutors on Tuesday asked a court to order the extradition to Spain of Catalonia's ousted president Carles Puigdemont on a rebellion charge following his arrest in Germany last month.

The request comes after demonstrations by independence supporters at the weekend in Berlin and Catalonia calling for Puigdemont's immediate release.

"The prosecutor's office of Schleswig-Holstein state applied for an extradition arrest warrant against former Catalonian regional president Carles Puigdemont from the superior regional court," it said in a statement.

It was not immediately clear when the court would rule on Puigdemont's possible extradition.

Puigdemont was arrested by German police on March 25 as he was travelling from Finland back to Belgium, where he has been living in self-imposed exile since Catalonia's failed independence bid last October.

The detention came two days after a Spanish judge issued European arrest warrants for Puigdemont and other fugitive separatist leaders.

They have been ordered to stand trial for rebellion, misuse of public funds and disobeying the state for organising last year's referendum on Catalan independence, which Madrid deemed illegal.

Puigdemont's arrest has sent tensions soaring at home, triggering a wave of protests in the wealthy northeastern Spanish region.

- Matches 'treason' charge -

A lower court in Germany had already ordered Puigdemont to remain in custody in the northern town of Neumuenster as judicial authorities mull Spain's request for him to be handed over.

They have 60 days to make a decision.

German media say the request has been complicated by the fact that rebellion, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in jail in Spain, is not a crime under German law.


AFP/File / Odd ANDERSEN Protesters hold a banner reading 'Free Puigdemeont' during a demonstration


However, the prosecutor's office said that "after intensive review" it concluded that the rebellion charge "contains in essence the accusation of calling an unconstitutional referendum despite violent riots that could be expected," hence matching the German charge of "treason".

"Word-for-word conformance between the German and Spanish criminal codes is thus not legally required," it said.

Puigdemont's lawyer Jaume Alonso-Cuevillas said he would have been surprised if German prosecutors had not pressed for extradition and that his client's fate now rested with the courts.

"This case is extraordinary for its importance, its political implications and all the infringements of basic rights that we will prove have been committed by the Spanish state," he told Catalonia's Rac1 radio, calling Puigdemont a "political prisoner".

The superior regional court confirmed it had received the request, adding that it was "undetermined when a decision on the application can be expected".

The higher court must first decide if there is a legal basis to put Puigdemont in pre-extradition custody by reviewing the written request from Spain. It will then rule on the extradition bid itself.

Puigdemont can appeal an order of extradition to a German federal court, a course his lawyers have said they will pursue.

- 'Isolated' violence -

Puigdemont has already filed an appeal in Spain against a decision to prosecute him, arguing the rebellion charge against him is not justified.

The 85-page appeal, seen by AFP on Monday, asks that the Spanish Supreme Court's "actions" be declared "null" 10 days after Judge Pablo Llarena said 25 Catalan separatist leaders -- including Puigdemont -- would be prosecuted over the region's secession bid.

In the appeal, Alonso-Cuevillas demands that the court drop the charges of rebellion and misuse of public funds against Puigdemont and another of his clients -- former regional minister Clara Ponsati.

Both fled Spain for Belgium after the failed independence push. Ponsati then left for Scotland where she was detained after Spain issued European arrest warrants against fugitive separatist leaders, and freed on bail.

Alonso-Cuevillas also wants the court to drop charges of misuse of public funds and disobedience against another client, former regional minister Lluis Puig.

 AFP/File / Vincent LEFAI Puigdemont's trips

Trump rolls back Obama-era fuel efficiency rules

Trump rolls back Obama-era fuel efficiency rules



AFP/File / LEON NEAL The Trump administration has rolled back Obama-era pollution and fuel efficiency rules for cars and light trucks, saying they were too stringent

The Trump administration rolled back Obama-era pollution and fuel efficiency rules for cars and light trucks on Monday, saying they were too stringent.

The decision by President Donald Trump's Environmental Protection Agency means the emission standards for vehicles in the 2022-2025 model years will be revised, as sought by automakers.

"The Obama administration's determination was wrong," said EPA chief Scott Pruitt.

Former President Barack Obama's EPA "made assumptions about the standards that didn't comport with reality, and set the standards too high," Pruitt said in a statement.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers applauded the move, saying it would "keep new vehicles affordable to more Americans."

"This was the right decision, and we support the administration for pursuing a data-driven effort and a single national program as it works to finalize future standards," said the industry group representing Fiat Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen and others.

The rules set in 2012, known as the Corporate Average Fuel Economy or CAFE standards, sought to reduce pollutants released into the air by gradually increasing fuel efficiency across all models offered by manufacturers to 54.5 miles per gallon (4.32 liters per 100 kilometers), compared to 35.5 miles per gallon in 2016.

Pruitt said the EPA in 2012 cut short its review of the standards for "politically charged expediency," but he will work with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to develop new, "more appropriate" rules.

The agency is also examining the waiver that allows California, the most popular US state, to impose tougher requirements than called for under the Clean Air Act.

One state cannot "dictate standards for the rest of the country," Pruitt said.

"EPA will set a national standard for greenhouse gas emissions that allows auto manufacturers to make cars that people both want and can afford -- while still expanding environmental and safety benefits of newer cars."

This is likely to open a long legal battle between California, a traditionally Democratic state, and Trump's Republican administration.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said the EPA's "assault" on CAFE standards "risks our ability to protect our children's health, tackle climate change and save hardworking Americans money."

"We're ready to file suit if needed to protect these critical standards and to fight the Administration's war on our environment," Becerra said.

Trump has been scaling back many types of regulations, including environmental standards, set by his Democratic predecessor, including pulling out of the Paris climate accord.

Thousands of teachers march for US school funding

source: AFP
Thousands of teachers march for US school funding


GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP / BILL PUGLIANO Public school teachers and their supporters protest against a pension reform bill at the Kentucky State Capitol on April 2, 2018 in Frankfort, Kentucky

Thousands of teachers took to the streets of Kentucky and Oklahoma on Monday, rallying in the latest show of force by angry US educators demanding better pay and more funding for public schools.

Teachers have been flexing their political muscle in Republican-dominated states where education funding was cut in recent years.

Demonstrators were inspired by a nine-day strike that last month won West Virginia's teachers their first pay raise in four years. Teachers in Arizona held another rally in late March.

Organizers were predicting a turnout of 30,000 in Oklahoma City, where aerial television images showed a large crowd, with many in red shirts, gathered outside the state capitol.

"The message today I believe is about kids. It's about funding public education and really restoring the kind of support that all kids need in order to learn," Oklahoma state schools chief Joy Hofmeister told TV station KWTV.

Monday's walkouts shuttered some classrooms, with administrators unable to find enough substitutes to keep schools open. Other schools were already closed due to a scheduled holiday.

Some districts were facing days-long closures, as teachers vowed to continue until their demands were met.

Oklahoma City Public Schools announced its campuses would be shut through Tuesday. Hundreds of other school districts in the state also were closed, according to media reports.


GETTY/AFP / J Pat Carter Teachers in Oklahoma, like Emily Mercer (R), are protesting cuts to education


Teachers by the thousands also demonstrated in the Kentucky state capital Frankfort.

The Courier-Journal newspaper said that all 120 public school districts in that state were closed although most were already on their Spring break vacation.

- 'Not going to take it' -

Kentucky teachers were primarily protesting proposed changes to pension benefits and demanding more funding for public education.

A vocal crowd inside the state capitol rotunda in Frankfort chanted "public schools!" and sang "We're not going to take it anymore" as legislators began their work day.

Andrew Beaver, a math teacher in Louisville, Kentucky's largest city, told The New York Times that teachers were angered when the state legislature suddenly passed a bill last week to alter educators' retirement benefits.

"What I'm seeing in Louisville is teachers are a lot more politically engaged than they were in 2015 or 2016," Beaver said. "It really is a wildfire."

In Oklahoma, lawmakers recently agreed to a rare tax increase to bump teacher pay by an average of $6,100 a year. But, that was not enough to placate educators.


GETTY/AFP / BILL PUGLIANO Public school teachers and their supporters protest against a pension reform bill at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Kentucky

Some teachers said their salaries were so low that they needed second jobs -- such as working as restaurant waiters or mowing lawns -- to make ends meet.

Others said the state must do more to fund rural schools that serve low-income students.

Oklahoma teacher Jessica Lightle told CNN she was striking because of school conditions in her rural city of McAlester, where students created an online video showing the state of disrepair -- pointing to leaking ceilings and displaying textbooks that fell apart when opened.

- Students 'worth the investment' -

Oklahoma is one of 12 states that slashed education spending following the 2008 recession and failed to restore those funds as the economy improved, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, a left-leaning Washington DC research and policy institute.

Kentucky cut per-student public education funding again in its latest fiscal plan, according to the late-2017 think tank report.

Lily Garcia, president of the National Education Association (NEA), which represents public school teachers and higher education workers -- said teachers did not trust state legislators to act without public pressure.

"This is the result of a decade of underfunding public schools," Garcia told CNN, speaking from the Oklahoma protest.

"If we don't stand up today, and say, 'our students are worth the investment,' then it's going to be too late," she said.

Saudi prince says Israel has 'right' to its land

source: AFP

Saudi prince says Israel has 'right' to its land


 GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File / ALEX WONG Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's de facto leader, says Israel has a "right" to a homeland, a notable shift in the kingdom's position

The crown prince and de facto leader of Saudi Arabia said Israel has a "right" to a homeland, a notable shift in the kingdom's position published Monday.

Saudi Arabia and Israel still have no formal diplomatic relations, but behind the scenes, improvements in their ties have accelerated in recent years.

Both countries see Iran as their biggest outside threat and the United States as their key ally, and both see danger from armed Islamist extremists.

Israel's conflict with the Palestinians has long proved an obstacle to a full rapprochement, however, as Riyadh still supports their claim to sovereignty.

But now Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman -- speaking to the editor-in-chief of US news magazine The Atlantic -- appeared to put the rival land claims on an equal footing.

The prince was asked by Jeffrey Goldberg whether the "Jewish people have a right to a nation-state in at least part of their ancestral homeland?"

"I believe that each people, anywhere, has a right to live in their peaceful nation," said the prince, who is on a three-week US tour.

"I believe the Palestinians and the Israelis have the right to have their own land," he added.

"But we have to have a peace agreement to assure the stability for everyone and to have normal relations."

Since 2002, Saudi Arabia has been the main sponsor of the Arab Peace Initiative, which envisions a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

But no such senior Saudi official is known to have previously accepted that Israel has a "right" to any land beyond the practical need to secure a lasting deal.

If, as expected, the crown prince succeeds his octogenarian father King Salman and ascends to the Saudi throne, he will also become guardian of Islam's holiest shrines.

But he told Goldberg he had no "religious objection" to Israelis living alongside Palestinians, so long as the main Muslim holy site in Jerusalem -- the Al-Aqsa mosque compound -- is protected.

"We have religious concerns about the fate of the holy mosque in Jerusalem and about the rights of the Palestinian people," he said.

"This is what we have. We don't have any objection against any other people."

LATEST WORLD NEWS: 2C cap on global warming won't save Arctic sea ice: studies

source: afp
2C cap on global warming won't save Arctic sea ice: studies

GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File / MARIO TAMA The loss of Arctic sea ice is not only a consequence of global warming, but also an accelerant when millions of square kilometres of snow reflecting the Sun's radiation back into space are replaced with dark blue ocean that absorbs it instead

Even if humanity stops global warming in its tracks at two degrees Celsius, long seen as the guardrail for a climate-safe world, Arctic sea ice will still disappear in some years, scientists have warned.

Holding the line at 1.5 C (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), however, would make a huge difference, according to two separate studies published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change.

In a 2C (3.6F) world, the Arctic Ocean would be ice-free roughly one-in-four years, whereas if warming does not exceed 1.5C, the odds drop to one-in-40, the researchers concluded.

"I didn't expect to find that half-a-degree Celsius would make a big difference, but it really does," said Alexandra Jahn, author of one of the studies and an assistant professor at Colorado University in Boulder.

The 197-nation Paris climate pact enjoins the world to halt warming at "well under" 2C above mid-19th-century levels, and "pursue efforts" to cap the rise at 1.5C.

With one degree of warming so far, Earth has already seen a crescendo of droughts, heatwaves, and storms ramped up by rising seas.


AFP/File / Iris ROYER DE VERICOURT, Simon MALFATTO The Paris agreement: key points


The loss of Arctic sea ice is not only a consequence of global warming, but also an accelerant when millions of square kilometres of snow reflecting the Sun's radiation back into space are replaced with dark blue ocean that absorbs it instead.

Recent studies have also fingered dwindling sea ice as a likely driver of topsy-turvy winter weather that has seen days when the North Pole is tens of degrees Celsius warmer than Europe and North America.

- Ice-free Arctic -

In 2017, summer sea ice shrank to 4.64 million square kilometres (1.79 million square miles) in September.

That was well above the record low of 3.39 million square kilometres set in 2012, but long-term trends are unmistakable: over the last four decades, minimum sea ice extent has dropped by about 40 percent.

The Arctic Ocean is projected to become ice-free in summer -- defined as less than one million square kilometres -- by mid-century unless greenhouse gas emissions are rapidly and deeply reduced.

After remaining flat for three years, global CO2 emissions in 2017 went up by 1.4 percent, dashing hopes that they had peaked, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reported last week.

Voluntary national pledges made under the Paris pact to cut CO2 emissions, if fulfilled, would yield a 3C world at best.

That would transform the Arctic, which has thus far warmed at double the rate of the world as a whole.

"Under 3C global average warming, permanent summer ice-free conditions are likely," concluded the second study, led by Michael Sigmond, a researcher at the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis in Victoria.

The two modelling studies are among hundreds published since the Paris treaty was inked in 2015 exploring the feasibility and impacts of halting the rise in global temperature at 1.5C, a goal some climate scientists say is likely out of reach.

They are also the most recent to conclude that a 2C world will not prevent severe impacts such as mass migrations due to rising seas, regional food and water shortages, and an increase in extreme weather, including heatwaves, droughts and floods.

Only a few years ago, the 2C target was upheld as the threshold for avoiding such consequences.

Gay dating app Grindr scorched for handling of HIV data

source: AFP

Gay dating app Grindr scorched for handling of HIV data


 
Getty/AFP/File / Alberto E. Rodriguez Grindr founder and CEO Joel Simkhai attends an event at Milk Studios in Hollywood, California, in October 2015

Gay dating app Grindr was under fire on Monday for sharing information about users' HIV status or locations with two companies enlisted to optimize its software.

Grindr chief technology officer Scott Chen said in a Tumblr post that sharing data with partners such as Apptimize and Localytics was "industry practice" and that steps were taken to protect people's privacy.

"As a company that serves the LGBTQ community, we understand the sensitivities around HIV status disclosure," Chen said.

"Our goal is and always has been to support the health and safety of our users worldwide."

Grindr users have the option of sharing their HIV status and when they were most recently tested.

Researchers worried that including the health information with other data such as location and email address could result in people being identified.

Online rights champion Electric Frontier Foundation called Grindr's response "disappointing."

The Los Angeles-based company said that it uses Apptimize and Localytics to test and validate its platform, and that data it shares with them could include users' HIV status or location fields.

Sensitive data is encrypted when sent, and vendors are under strict contractual terms to keep it secure and confidential, according to Chen.

Norwegian nonprofit research group SINTEF uncovered the data sharing, and concern spread in the US after Buzzfeed reported the findings.

"Grindr has never, nor will we ever sell personally identifiable user information –- especially information regarding HIV status or last test date -– to third parties or advertisers," Chen said.

He noted though that Grindr is a public platform, and that should be kept in mind when deciding what to put in profiles.

News website Axios reported that Grindr's security chief said the company has stopped sharing users' HIV status with its third-party vendors.

"You guys should just close up now," read one of the few comments in an online chat forum under the Grindr post at Tumblr.

"No one cares about your efforts or industry standards. You betrayed the LGBT community in more than just the one way."

Latest World News: London murder rate overtakes New York as stabbings surge

source: AFP
London murder rate overtakes New York as stabbings surge
AFP/File / Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS London suffered 22 fatal stabbings and shootings in March 2018, higher than the 21 in New York

A surge of stabbings in London was blamed Monday for the city overtaking New York's monthly murder tally for the first time in modern history.

Fifteen people were murdered in London during February, compared to 14 in New York, according to police figures.

The British capital also suffered 22 fatal stabbings and shootings in March, higher than the 21 in New York.

There have been 10 fatal stabbings in London in the last 19 days, following on from the 80 fatal stabbings recorded in the city last year.

London's murder rate has grown by nearly 40 percent in three years, while police figures show that New York's has fallen by 87 percent since 1990, raising pressure on mayor Sadiq Khan and Metropolitan Police chief Cressida Dick.

Despite the recent surge, New York, which has a slightly smaller population than London, has still suffered more murders since the start of the year.

The right-wing Daily Express tabloid on Monday ran with a headline urging "Sadiq act now!"

Sean Yates, Scotland Yard's head of knife crime, said part of the rise could be blamed on courts not enforcing the "two strikes" law aimed at jailing those caught with a knife twice.

Police chief Dick meanwhile blamed social media for the soaring rate, with 31 fatal stabbings so far this year.

"There's definitely something about the impact of social media in terms of people being able to go from slightly angry with each other to 'fight' very quickly," she told the Times on Saturday.

US firm Harbour Energy makes bid for Australia's Santos

source: AFP
US firm Harbour Energy makes bid for Australia's Santos


 ExxonMobil PNG Limited/AFP/File / RICHARD DELLMAN Santos' main assets include 13.5 percent of Exxon Mobil's massive liquefied natural gas venture in Papua New Guinea
US private investment firm Harbour Energy Tuesday made an all-cash bid for Australian energy giant Santos, valuing the company at Aus$13.5 billion (US$10.3 billion).

Santos, a major oil and natural gas firm with interests notably in Papua New Guinea, said it had received a proposal for US$4.98 per share.

This is equivalent to Aus$6.50, representing a 28 percent premium to its closing price before the Easter break.

"The Santos board considers that, based on the indicative offer price of A$6.50 per share, it is in the interests of shareholders to engage further with Harbour," the company said in a statement.

Harbour, which will now carry out due diligence, is planning to fund the deal with US$7.75 billion of underwritten debt.

The move comes five months after Santos knocked back an unsolicited Aus$4.55 per share bid by the US investor, saying it undervalued the company.

While Santos has stakes in oil and gas production in several countries, including Indonesia and Vietnam, its main assets include 13.5 percent of Exxon Mobil's massive liquefied natural gas venture in Papua New Guinea.

It also has operations throughout Australia.

Harbour, an energy investment vehicle formed by EIG to acquire high-quality upstream and midstream assets globally, said it had plans to grow Santos by investing further in its existing facilities and adding other assets.

"We are pleased with the decision of the Santos board to engage further and look forward to progressing this transaction towards completion," said chief executive Linda Cook, a veteran former senior executive of energy giant Royal Dutch Shell.

Latest Job Vacancy For Maintenance Technician at Brosch Engineering Services

Brosch Engineering Services is an indigenous Engineering Company capable of handling every conceivable design in Construction, Civil Engineering and Allied fields. Brosch Engineering Services has significant experience in the maintenance and engineering capability of rotating and reciprocating equipment and providing electrical power solutions.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Maintenance Technician

Location: Lagos

Job Description

• We are looking for a thorough Maintenance Technician to undertake the responsibility to preserve the good condition and functionality of premises.
• You will perform maintenance tasks of great variety such as installations, landscaping etc.
• The ideal candidate will be able to work autonomously and responsibly by observing all health and safety guidelines.
• The goal is to maintain the company and common areas in the best possible condition.

Responsibilities

• Survey buildings and repair mechanical systems to ensure they are consistent with health and safety standards
• Perform maintenance of electrical systems (replace light bulbs and sockets, clean and repair circuit breaker panels etc.)
• Assist in the setup of ventilation, refrigeration and other systems and conduct repairs when necessary
• Maintain heating and plumbing systems to ensure functionality
• Inspect alarm systems (fire, protection) and schedule repairs when needed
• Perform manual repairs when necessary (fix locks, replace windows etc.)
• Undertake activities of pest control such as spraying insecticide
• Conduct general upkeep procedures (e.g. landscaping) and other tasks as assigned (painting, carpentry etc.)
• Assist in budget preparation and ensure it is followed.

Requirements

• Proven experience as maintenance technician
• Basic understanding of electrical, hydraulic and other systems
• Knowledge of general maintenance processes and methods
• Working knowledge of tools, common appliances and devices
• Manual dexterity and problem-solving skills
• Good physical condition and strength with a willingness to work overtime
• Minimum HND in Engineering or equivalent; Certificate in HVAC, building maintenance technology or relevant field will be a plus.

Remuneration
Very attractive

Application Closing Date
1st May, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Cover letter's and CV's to: hr@broschengineering.com.ng

Latest 2018 Job Vacancy For Customer Service Manager at Brosch Engineering Services

Brosch Engineering Services is an indigenous Engineering Company capable of handling every conceivable design in Construction, Civil Engineering and Allied fields. Brosch Engineering Services has significant experience in the maintenance and engineering capability of rotating and reciprocating equipment and providing electrical power solutions.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Customer Service Manager

Location: Lagos

Job Brief

• We are looking for an experienced Customer Service Manager to provide excellent customer service and to promote this idea throughout the organisation.
• The goal is to keep the department running in an efficient and profitable manner, to increase customer satisfaction, loyalty and retention and to meet their expectations.

Responsibilities

• Improve customer service experience, create engaged customers and facilitate organic growth
• Take ownership of customers issues and follow problems through to resolution
• Set a clear mission and deploy strategies focused towards that mission
• Develop service procedures, policies and standards
• Keep accurate records and document customer service actions and discussions
• Analyse statistics and compile accurate reports
• Mentor and develop customer service agents and nurture an environment where they can excel through encouragement and empowerment
• Keep ahead of industry’s developments and apply best practices to areas of improvement
• Control resources and utilise assets to achieve qualitative and quantitative targets
• Adhere to and manage the approved budget
• Maintain an orderly workflow according to priorities

Requirements

• Proven working experience as a customer service manager, or assistant manager
• Experience in providing customer service support
• Excellent knowledge of management methods and techniques
• Working knowledge of customer service software, databases and tools
• Awareness of industry’s latest technology trends and applications
• Ability to think strategically and to lead
• Strong client-facing and communication skills
• Advanced troubleshooting and multi-tasking skills
• Customer service orientation
• HND (Minimum) in any Engineering field.

Remuneration
Very attractive.

Application Closing Date
1st May, 2018.

How To Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's and Cover Letters to: admin@broschengineering.com.ng

Job Vacancy For Front Desk Representative at Brosch Engineering Services

Brosch Engineering Services is an indigenous Engineering Company capable of handling every conceivable design in Construction, Civil Engineering and Allied fields. Brosch Engineering Services has significant experience in the maintenance and engineering capability of rotating and reciprocating equipment and providing electrical power solutions.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Front Desk Representative

Location: Lagos

Job Description

• We are looking for a pleasant Front Desk Representative to undertake all receptionist and clerical duties at the desk of our main entrance.
• You will be the “face” of the company for all visitors and will be responsible for the first impression we make.
• The ideal candidate will have a friendly and easy going personality while also being very perceptive and disciplined.
• You should be able to deal with complaints and give accurate information.
• A customer-oriented approach is essential.
• The goal is to make guests and visitors feel comfortable and valued while on our premises.

Responsibilities

• Keep front desk tidy and presentable with all necessary material (pens, forms, paper etc.)
• Greet and welcome guests
• Answer questions and address complaints
• Answer all incoming calls and redirect them or keep messages
• Receive letters, packages etc. and distribute them
• Prepare outgoing mail by drafting correspondence, securing parcels etc.
• Check, sort and forward emails
• Monitor office supplies and place orders when necessary
• Keep updated records and files
• Monitor office expenses and costs
• Take up other duties as assigned (travel arrangements, schedules etc.)

Requirements

• Proven experience as front desk representative, agent or relevant position
• Familiarity with office machines (e.g. fax, printer etc.)
• Knowledge of office management and basic bookkeeping
• Proficient in English (oral and written)
• Excellent knowledge of MS Office (especially Excel and Word)
• Strong communication and people skills
• Good organizational and multi-tasking abilities
• Problem-solving skills
• Customer service orientation
• Minimum OND; additional qualifications will be a plus

Remuneration
Very attractive

Application Closing Date
1st May, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's and cover letter to: hr@broschengineering.com.ng

Job Vacancy for Finance Assistant at Brosch Engineering Services

Brosch Engineering Services is an indigenous Engineering Company capable of handling every conceivable design in Construction, Civil Engineering and Allied fields. Brosch Engineering Services has significant experience in the maintenance and engineering capability of rotating and reciprocating equipment and providing electrical power solutions.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Finance Assistant

Location: Lagos

Job Brief

• We are looking for a Finance Assistant to support our day-to-day transactions, including expenses and payroll.
• Finance Assistant responsibilities include processing payments, maintaining cost reports and managing invoices. If you have an accounting background and are interested in procedures like tax management and budget preparation, we’d like to meet you.
• Ultimately, you’ll help maintain our company’s financial health and make sure we use our resources beneficially.

Responsibilities

• Update financial spreadsheets with daily transactions
• Prepare balance sheets
• Track and reconcile bank statements
• Create cost analysis reports (fixed and variable costs)
• Process tax payments
• Support monthly payroll and keep organized records
• Record accounts payable and accounts receivable
• Process invoices and follow up with clients, suppliers and partners as needed
• Provide administrative support during budget preparation
• Participate in quarterly and annual audits

Requirements

• Work experience as a Finance Assistant, Finance Officer or similar role
• Good knowledge of accounting and bookkeeping procedures
• Advanced MS Excel skills (creating spreadsheets and using financial functions)
• Familiarity with accounting software (e.g. QuickBooks)
• Organizational and time-management skills
• Attention to detail, with an ability to spot numerical errors
• HND or BSc degree in Finance, Accounting or Economics

Remuneration
Very attractive

Application Closing Date
1st May, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should forward their CV's and Cover letter to: hr@broschengineering.com.ng

Latest Graduate Administrative Assistant at Brosch Engineering Services

Brosch Engineering Services is an indigenous Engineering Company capable of handling every conceivable design in Construction, Civil Engineering and Allied fields. Brosch Engineering Services has significant experience in the maintenance and engineering capability of rotating and reciprocating equipment and providing electrical power solutions.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Administrative Assistant

Location: Lagos

Job Brief

• We are looking for a responsible Administrative Assistant to perform a variety of administrative and clerical tasks.
• Duties of the Administrative Assistant include providing support to our managers and employees, assisting in daily office needs and managing our company’s general administrative activities.
• If you also have previous experience as a Secretary or Executive administrative assistant and familiarity within our industry, we’d like to meet you.
• Ultimately, a successful Admin Assistant should ensure the efficient and smooth day-to-day operation of our office.

Responsibilities

• Answer and direct phone calls
• Organize and schedule appointments
• Plan meetings and take detailed minutes
• Write and distribute email, correspondence memos, letters, faxes and forms
• Assist in the preparation of regularly scheduled reports
• Develop and maintain a filing system
• Update and maintain office policies and procedures
• Order office supplies and research new deals and suppliers
• Maintain contact lists
• Book travel arrangements
• Submit and reconcile expense reports
• Provide general support to visitors
• Act as the point of contact for internal and external clients
• Liaise with executive and senior administrative assistants to handle requests and queries from senior managers.

Requirements

• Proven experience as an administrative assistant, virtual assistant or office admin assistant
• Knowledge of office management systems and procedures
• Working knowledge of office equipment, like printers and fax machines
• Proficiency in MS Office (MS word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint, in particular)
• Excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritize work
• Attention to detail and problem solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multi-task
• Minimum of OND; additional qualification as an Administrative assistant or Secretary will be a plus.

Remuneration
Very attractive.

Application Closing Date
1st May, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's and Cover letter to: admin@broschengineering.com.ng

Latest Graduate Field Service Technician at Brosch Engineering Services

Brosch Engineering Services is an indigenous Engineering Company capable of handling every conceivable design in Construction, Civil Engineering and Allied fields. Brosch Engineering Services has significant experience in the maintenance and engineering capability of rotating and reciprocating equipment and providing electrical power solutions.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Field service technician

Location: Lagos

Job Brief

• We are looking for a self-starter Field service technician to deliver the desired customer service experience. The goal is to drive service success that improves customer satisfaction, maximizes customer retention and increases profitability.

Responsibilities

• Provide service and customer support during field visits or dispatches
• Tie workflow to schedule
• Manage all on site installation, repair, maintenance and test tasks
• Diagnose errors or technical problems and determine proper solutions
• Produce timely and detailed service reports
• Document processes
• Operate vehicle in a safely manner and use field automation systems
• Follow all company’s filed procedures and protocols
• Cooperate with technical team and share information across the organisation
• Comprehend customer requirements and make appropriate recommendations/briefings
• Build positive relationships with customers

Requirements

• Proven field service experience
• Ability to troubleshoot, test, repair and service technical equipment
• English literacy
• Ability to work flexible shifts and to adapt to changing work schedules
• Familiarity with mobile tools and applications
• Minimum of HND in Mechanical Enineering

Remuneration
Very attractive

Application Closing Date
1st May, 2018.

How To Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's and Cover letter to: admin@broschengineering.com.ng

Sudan's 'sister coach' takes love of football to field

AFP

Sudan's 'sister coach' takes love of football to field


AFP / ASHRAF SHAZLY Salma al-Majidi has been acknowledged by FIFA as the first Arab and Sudanese woman to coach a men's football team in the Arab world
In Sudan, where a women's national football team remains a distant dream, Salma al-Majidi knew the only way to take part in her beloved sport was to coach... and that the players had to be men.

Majidi, 27, acknowledged by FIFA as the first Arab and Sudanese woman to coach a men's football team in the Arab world, is a pioneer in a sport that dominates the region.

"Why football? Because it is my first and ultimate love," said Majidi, clad in sports gear and a black headscarf, as she led players of the Al-Ahly Al-Gadaref club at a practice session in the town of Gadaref, east of Khartoum.

"I became a coach because there is still no scope for women's football in Sudan," said Majidi, who is affectionately called "sister coach" by her team.

Daughter of a retired policeman, Majidi was 16 when she fell in love with football.

It came about as she watched her younger brother's school team being coached. She was captivated by the coach's instructions, his moves, and how he placed the marker cones at practice sessions.

"At the end of every training session, I discussed with him the techniques he used to coach the boys," Majidi told AFP, as she watched her own players practising on a hot day at a dusty ground in Gadaref.

"He saw I had a knack for coaching... and gave me a chance to work with him."

Soon Majidi was coaching the under-13 and under-16 teams of Al-Hilal club in Omdurman, the twin city of Khartoum on the west bank of the River Nile.

- Limits on women players -

Questions like whether she understood football or had the skills to coach men were all put to rest over time, said Majidi, speaking in a soft but confident tone.

Named in the BBC's 2015 list of "100 inspirational women", Majidi has coached the Sudanese second league men's clubs of Al-Nasr, Al-Nahda, Nile Halfa and Al-Mourada.

AFP / ASHRAF SHAZLY Majidi says she became a coach "because there is still no scope for women's football in Sudan"


Nile Halfa and Al-Nahda even topped local leagues under her coaching. She currently holds the African "B" badge in coaching, meaning she can coach any first league team across the continent.

The only other woman to have gained recognition in Sudan's footballing world was Mounira Ramadan, who refereed men's matches in the 1970s.

Sudan joined FIFA in 1948 and established the Confederation of African Football (CAF) along with Egypt, Ethiopia and South Africa. It won the CAF trophy in 1970.

Women's football has faced an uphill task since the country adopted Islamic sharia law in 1983, six years after which President Omar al-Bashir seized power in an Islamist-backed coup.

There is no legal ban on women's football in Sudan, but a conservative society coupled with the Islamist leanings of the government have left it in the shadows.

Women do play football but there are no competitions or women's clubs, and they do not play much in public.

"There are restrictions on women's football, but I'm determined to succeed," Majidi, whose dream is to coach an international team, said, as her players kicked up clouds of dust practising free kicks.

- 'Kids of Salma' -

Majidi's journey has not been easy.

"Sudan is a community of tribes and some tribes believe that a woman's role is confined only to her home," said Majidi, a university graduate in accounts and management.


AFP / ASHRAF SHAZLY Questions like whether she understood football or had the skills to coach men were all put to rest over time, Majidi says

"There was this one boy who refused to listen. He told me he belongs to a tribe that believed men should never take orders from women," she said.

It took months before he finally accepted her as coach. "Today, he is a fine player," said Majidi, who works full-time and receives a salary that is equivalent to that of a male coach.

At first, "people in the streets used to call us 'Salma's kids!'" said Majid Ahmed, a striker and an ardent fan of Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.

"In school we have female teachers, so what's the problem having a female coach?"

Majidi said her entrance to what was a male preserve is just a start.

"My message to men in general is to give women a chance to do what they want," she said as she prepared tea after a gruelling practice session.

- 'She was different' -

Coming from a traditional family, it was a challenge for Majidi to prove herself to their relatives, recalls her father, Mohamed al-Majidi.

 
AFP / ASHRAF SHAZLY Majidi says her entrance to what was a male preserve is just a start: "My message to men in general is to give women a chance to do what they want"


"Then one day, her uncle who used to criticise her saw crowds shouting 'Salma! Salma!' during a match," he told AFP at the family's mud-and-brick home in Omdurman.

"These same relatives now pray to Allah to support her."

From early on, Majidi's mother knew her daughter was different.

"She always preferred wearing trousers... And even when crossing the street, she would watch the boys playing football," said Aisha al-Sharif.

Trump outraged over Mexico migrant 'caravan'

source: AFP

Trump outraged over Mexico migrant 'caravan'

AFP / VICTORIA RAZO Central Americans, part of a 'caravan' called "Migrant Viacrucis"- wait in line to get a meal in Matias Romero, Oaxaca state, Mexico on April 2, 2018

President Donald Trump lashed out in fury Monday over immigration, an outburst triggered by images of a "caravan" of hundreds of Central American migrants headed toward the US border.

For the second straight day, Trump took to Twitter to attack Mexico for allowing the 1,500-strong group to march unimpeded toward the United States, their daily progress mapped out by US media.

He threatened to abrogate NAFTA -- the US-Mexico-Canada free trade pact -- while demanding Congress pass tougher immigration legislation and support his plan for a wall along the Mexican frontier.

He also declared he no longer supported a replacement for DACA, the program that had offered protection against deportation for about 700,000 undocumented immigrants, most of them Mexicans, who came to the US as children.

Since taking office more than a year ago, Trump has sought to crack down on legal and undocumented immigration, but some of his proposals have become tied up in court and Congress.

"As ridiculous as it sounds, the laws of our country do not easily allow us to send those crossing our Southern Border back where they came from. A whole big wasted procedure must take place," Trump tweeted in the evening, following similar comments in the morning and on Sunday.

"Mexico & Canada have tough immigration laws, whereas ours are an Obama joke. ACT CONGRESS."

The administration's own statistics showed that arrests of undocumented migrants soared in the first year of Trump's presidency, while illegal border crossings plummeted.

Data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement suggested, however, that processes to deport arrested illegal immigrants have become even more backed up than before.

 
AFP / Jonathan STOREY US immigration: the "Dreamers"


"Honduras, Mexico and many other countries that the U.S. is very generous to, sends many of their people to our country through our WEAK IMMIGRATION POLICIES. Caravans are heading here. Must pass tough laws and build the WALL. Democrats allow open borders, drugs and crime!"

The president has repeatedly tried to link immigration with crime but immigrant defenders say many immigrants are fleeing poverty and violence. Activists accuse authorities of rounding up longtime residents with families and jobs on minor infractions.

On Sunday he said Mexico "must stop the big drug and people flows, or I will stop their cash cow, NAFTA."

During his 2016 election campaign Trump called the North American Free Trade Agreement a disaster, and last year triggered a renegotiation of the 1994 pact which he has threatened to pull out of unless the US gets a better deal.

The next stage of those talks could take place next Sunday in Washington, after possible meetings between Mexican, Canadian and US negotiators this week in an effort to try to resolve remaining differences, sources said on Monday.

- 1,500 headed to border -


 AFP / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS US President Donald Trump has repeatedly tried to link immigration with crime

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto demanded that the United States respectfully pursue the continuing NAFTA trade talks, despite disagreements over immigration.

"We have been conducting serious negotiations," he said, expressing hope that "this spirit of positivity, mutual respect and cordiality" will continue, while looking for areas "that really favor the development of the three countries."

Organized each of the past five years by activists of Pueblo Sin Fronteras, or People Without Borders, the 1,500 migrants say they have fled El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras or Nicaragua because of poverty and widespread violence from criminal gangs.

They set off on March 25 from the southern Mexican state of Chiapas for the US border, where many hope to apply for asylum.

Mexico's government "under no circumstances" promotes irregular migration, the government said in a statement late Monday.

It described the caravan as "a public demonstration that seeks to draw attention to the migratory phenomenon and the importance of respecting the rights of Central American migrants."

The Mexican statement said "it is not the responsibility of this government to exercise immigration decisions of the United States or any other nation."

On Monday, the caravan was passing through the mountainous southern Mexican state of Oaxaca.

Trump appears to have become aware of them over the weekend from a report on Fox News, which he regularly watches.

He accused the migrants of seeking to benefit from DACA, but a leader of the caravan countered that Trump is using it as an excuse to stop any deal on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

The program would provide those qualified -- as many as 1.8 million people -- a path to citizenship.

Latest 2018 Graduate Brewing Operator at SABmiller Plc

SABMiller is in drinks business, bringing refreshment and sociability to millions of people all over the world who enjoy our drinks. We do business in a way that improves livelihoods and helps build communities. We are passionate about brewing and have a long tradition of craftsmanship, making superb beer from high quality natural ingredients.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Brewing Operator

Reference Number: BO001
Location: Port Harcourt, Rivers
Work Level: Junior
Type: Permanent

Duties and Responsibilities
Amongst other duties, the Brewing Operator will:

• Operate machine and equipment
• Monitor and control the process
• Operate the equipment according to the work instructions and adhering to safe working practices at all times.
• Apply the Manufacturing Way principles and practices
• Operate and control the process according to SOP’s
• Conduct autonomous maintenance
• Maintain housekeeping standards in his area of operation

Requirements, Qualifications and Experience
The occupants of this position should possess:

• Minimum of HND/B.Eng or equivalent in Chemical Engineering or Applied Sciences
• 1-2 years’ experience in an FMCG environment
• Computer Literate

Key Competencies and Attributes:

• Operate plant and process equipment
• Carry out basic machine maintenance(cleaning and inspection)
• Maintain a safe and healthy working environment
• Work in teams

Salary
Market Related.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

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

Oh deer: Japan park issues tips as animals nibble tourists

source:AFP

Oh deer: Japa park issues tips as animals nibble tourist

 Jiji Press/AFP/File / Japanese authorities have issued guidelines for feeding deer roaming the famous Nara Park

Faced with a growing number of injuries from deer bites, authorities in Japan's Nara Park have issued tips on feeding the hundreds of animals that attract tourists from around the world.

The picturesque park in Japan's ancient capital is home to more than 1,000 deer, which can even be found roaming the streets in search of special tasty crackers offered by tourists.

But their cute and calm demeanour can be deceptive and tourists can find themselves surrounded by aggressive animals when they try to feed them.

So authorities have erected a sign written in Chinese, English and Japanese entitled: "A polite request from the deer when feeding them" at the stalls where crackers are sold.

Small children should be accompanied by adults and "deer sign language" should be employed, showing both hands to the animals when feeding time is over.

"As they are wild animals, they get angry if people tease them," Nara official Yuichiro Kitabata told AFP.

"For example, if you keep them waiting when feeding, they can bite you ... but not all of tourists know they are wild, believing they are kept in the park," he added.

The sprawling park that also includes wooden temples and shrines built centuries ago is a major tourist attraction, welcoming some 13 million visitors annually.

But with a rise in the number of foreign tourists, the number of those injured by deer surged to a record 180 in the last fiscal year to March from 118 the previous year, according to Kitabata.

The deer at the park -- numbering on average about 1,200 -- are protected as a national treasure.

S.Africa celebrates Winnie Mandela after her death at 81

source:AFP
S.Africa celebrates Winnie Mandela after her death at 81

AFP/File / STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN Winnie Mandela died in a Johannesburg hospital at the age of 81 on Monday after suffering a long illness

South Africa paid tribute to Winnie Mandela's "fighting spirit" on Tuesday as plans were made to mark the life of the firebrand anti-apartheid campaigner and Nelson Mandela's former wife.

She died in a Johannesburg hospital at the age of 81 on Monday after suffering a long illness that failed to rob of her of the charisma and energy that defined her sometimes divisive character.

Mourners continued to gather at her Soweto home to honour the anti-apartheid fighter after President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that a memorial service would be held on Wednesday April 11 and a full state funeral on Saturday April 14.

The outspoken leader of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party Julius Malema, who became a confidante of Winnie Mandela in recent years, is expected to visit her modest two-storey red brick home on Tuesday.

The EFF paid tribute to Winnie Mandela's "fighting spirit" following news of her death.

AFP / MUJAHID SAFODIEN Mourners gathered outside Mandela's Soweto home after her death was announced


"She affirmed both the love and anger of black people; always committed to their right to defend their lives even (with) arms in the face of a deadly apartheid evil," the radical leftist party said in a statement.

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) party's Women's League, which Winnie Mandela once led, will stage a mass march to her home on Wednesday.

- 'Brutality of the apartheid state' -
The firebrand activist died in Johannesburg's Milpark hospital, her family said, adding that she had "fought valiantly against the Apartheid state" and that she was known "far and wide as the Mother of the Nation".

Winnie Mandela, who was married to Nelson Mandela for 38 years, played a high-profile role in the struggle to end white-minority rule, but her place in history was stained by controversy and accusations of violence.

"She died after a long illness, for which she had been in and out of hospital since the start of the year. She succumbed peacefully in the early hours of Monday afternoon surrounded by her family and loved ones," said her family in a statement.

After her death was announced, Ramaphosa described her as "a voice of defiance and resistance" who "was an abiding symbol of the desire of our people to be free".

 
AFP / MUJAHID SAFODIEN Ramaphosa described Winnie Mandela as "a voice of defiance and resistance"

"For many years, she bore the brunt of senseless brutality of the apartheid state with stoicism," he said.

"Despite the hardship she faced, she never doubted that the struggle for freedom and democracy would triumph and succeed."

Winnie Mandela often criticised the ANC, but she had expressed support for the current leadership of the party, which her husband led to power in the euphoric post-apartheid elections of 1994.

On Monday evening, Ramaphosa returned to her Soweto house as mourners gathered outside, singing struggle-era songs in tribute and praise.

- 'Sing when we're hurt' -

"In African culture, we sing when we're hurt," ANC Women's League official Winnie Ngwenya, 64, told AFP.


AFP / MUJAHID SAFODIEN The ruling African National Congress party's Women's League will stage a mass march to her home on Wednesday


Most of Winnie's marriage to Nelson was spent apart, with Nelson imprisoned for 27 years, leaving her to raise their two daughters alone and to keep alive his political dream under the repressive white-minority regime.

But her reputation came under damaging scrutiny in the twilight years of apartheid rule.

In 1986, she was widely linked to "necklacing", the burning alive of suspected traitors who had flaming, petrol-soaked tyres forced over their heads.

In 1990 the world watched when Nelson Mandela finally walked free from prison -- hand-in-hand with Winnie.

The following year, she was convicted of kidnapping and assault over the killing of Stompie Moeketsi, a 14-year-old boy.


AFP / Vincent LEFAI Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

In 1992, the Mandelas separated, and then divorced in 1996, after a legal wrangle that revealed she had an affair with a young bodyguard.

During her old age, she re-emerged as a respected elder who was feted as a living reminder of the late Mandela's legacy -- and of the long and celebrated struggle against apartheid.

French rail workers begin months of strikes in test for Macron

source: AFP

French rail workers begin months of strikes in test for Macron


AFP / CHRISTOPHE SIMON The strike will cause chaos for France's 4.5 million train passengers

French rail workers kicked off three months of rolling strikes Tuesday, part of a wave of industrial action that will test President Emmanuel Macron's resolve to reshape France with sweeping reforms.

The strike caused major disruption for France's 4.5 million daily train passengers and stoppages have been announced two days out of five until June 28 -- unless Macron drops his bid to force a major overhaul at state rail operator SNCF.

"We have been asking for the same thing for several weeks -- that the government completely reconsiders its plan," Philippe Martinez, head of one of France's biggest unions, the CGT, told France Inter radio.

Staff at Air France, garbage collectors and some energy workers are also staging separate walkouts Tuesday in a growing atmosphere of social strife 11 months after 40-year-old Macron came to power.

Only one in eight high-speed trains were running on what the French media dubbed "black Tuesday", with more than three quarters of train drivers on strike, according to SNCF management.

Only a fifth of regional trains were running -- and as commuters took to the roads instead, the streets of Paris were snarled with 370 kilometres (230 miles) of jams in the morning, "exceptional for the time of day", according to traffic website Sytadin.

Some commuters took precautions on the first of two days of strikes this week.

Farid Hachelef, a 32-year-old who works in construction, said he had spent the night in Paris with a friend rather than trying to travel in from the northern suburb of Argenteuil, "otherwise, I would never make it."

In the southern city of Lyon, lawyer Perrine Fontana said the rolling strikes were going to cause "huge problems" for her because she frequently travels for work.

 
AFP / CHRISTOPHE SIMON At the Gare de Lyon station in Paris, the platforms were so crowded that a woman fell onto the tracks


"I can understand the railroad workers to a certain degree, but their strike challenges the personal and professional lives of many people," the 27-year-old said.

At the busy Gare du Lyon station in Paris, the platforms were so crammed that a woman fell onto the tracks and had to be helped out by fellow passengers.

Three-quarters of Eurostar trains to London and Brussels will run Monday and Thalys trains towards Belgium and the Netherlands will operate almost normally, but there will be none at all to Spain, Italy or Switzerland.

At Air France, where staff are striking for the fifth time to demand a pay rise, managers said 75 percent of flights would operate. Further walkouts are planned for April 7, 10 and 11.

- French 'strike culture'? -

Macron says the SNCF, saddled with 46.6 billion euros ($57.5 billion) of debt, needs to make major changes as EU countries prepare to open passenger rail to competition by 2020.

It is 30 percent more expensive to run a train in France than elsewhere in Europe, according to his government, which wants to strip new SNCF hires of special rail workers' status guaranteeing jobs for life and early retirement.

 
AFP / PASCAL PAVANI Cars drive past a sign reading "strike: think carpool" on a highway in Toulouse, southwestern France

"We need to rid this country of its strike culture," Gabriel Attal, spokesman for Macron's Republic On The Move (LREM) party, said on Monday.

Unions accuse Macron, a centrist ex-investment banker, of seeking to "destroy the public railways through pure ideological dogmatism".

They fear that plans to turn the SNCF into a state-owned company could eventually lead to the rail operator being privatised -- something the government denies.

As for the SNCF's massive debts, Martinez blamed decisions by previous governments to "prioritise high-speed lines at exorbitant costs", while urging fresh guarantees that the operator will never be privatised.

"We are for a national rail company. That depends on the government -- we are ready to discuss it," he said.

Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne said the government's willingness "to listen, to hold a consultation, to have a dialogue" was unchanged, stressing she is meeting with unions on Thursday.

The rail strikes are being seen as the biggest challenge yet to Macron's sweeping plans to liberalise the French economy and make it more competitive.

He managed to pass controversial labour reforms in October, but the length and severity of the rail strikes are already earning comparisons with late British prime minister Margaret Thatcher's showdown with coal miners in 1984.

The industrial action is a major test, too, of how much influence France's once fearsome unions -- whose membership has plunged to just 11 percent -- still carry.

Pensioners, students and public sector workers have also taken to the streets in recent weeks protesting against far-reaching reforms by Macron, who insists he was elected on a mandate for change.

UN probes reports of 'serious harm to civilians' in Afghan airstrike

source: AFP
UN probes reports of 'serious harm to civilians' in Afghan airstrike

 
AFP / BASHIR KHAN SAFI The UN says it is investigating claims that civilians were affected by an Afghan air strike on a school in a Taliban-controlled area
The United Nations said Tuesday it was investigating "disturbing reports of serious harm to civilians" in an Afghan airstrike on a religious school that security sources say left dozens of children dead or wounded.

Hundreds of people were attending a graduation ceremony at the madrassa in a Taliban-controlled district in northeastern Afghanistan on Monday when Afghan Air Force helicopters struck, witnesses have told AFP.

"Human Rights team on ground establishing facts. All parties reminded of obligations to protect civilians from impact of armed conflict," the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said in a brief statement.

At least 59 people, including Taliban commanders meeting at the compound in the Dashte Archi district in Kunduz province, were killed in the attack, Afghan security sources told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Most of the civilian victims were children, they said. Government officials in both Kabul and Kunduz have given conflicting figures, with some denying any civilians had been killed or that a madrassa had been hit. Afghan officials have been known to minimise civilian casualties.

"I myself counted 35 bodies," Abdul Khalil told AFP at the hospital in the provincial capital Kunduz -- more than 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the airstrike -- where health officials said 57 injured had been taken.

 
AFP / AFP Afghanistan


"I arrived at the scene right after the airstrikes -- it was like a butcher's shop. Everywhere was covered with blood, the ground was littered with body parts, heads, limbs and other parts."

A man called Yousuf, who was at the ceremony when the airstrikes happened, told AFP he saw "blood and body parts everywhere".

Afghan television showed anguished relatives standing outside the hospital yelling "shame on you".

So far the defence ministry has denied civilians were among the casualties.

"Twenty Taliban, including the commander of their Red Unit in the district, and also a key member of the Quetta Shura were killed," defence ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanish told AFP on Monday.

The Red Unit is the insurgent group's elite unit and the Quetta Shura is its leadership council.

The same number were wounded, Radmanish added.

- Police deny madrassa hit -

Kunduz police chief General Abdul Hamid Hamidi told AFP on Tuesday that "72 of the enemy" had been killed in the airstrike.

Hamidi added that five civilians also died and another 52 were wounded but he denied a madrassa or mosque had been hit. Security forces have donated large quantities of blood to the hospital.

The Taliban on Monday confirmed the attack on the religious school but denied that any militants had been there.


AFP / Bashir KHAN SAFI There are wildly varying figures for the number of killed and injured in the attack

The madrassa was run by Islamic scholars sympathetic to the Taliban but the facility was open to the public, a senior Taliban commander speaking from an unknown location in Pakistan told AFP on Tuesday.

He said as many as 2,000 people were at the school on Monday, including 750 students, for a graduation ceremony, but insisted there were no senior Taliban leaders present.

He estimated that 400 people had been killed and an unknown number wounded. The Taliban are known to exaggerate battlefield claims.

Several boys with their arms and legs bandaged were seen lying in beds and along the corridors of the hospital.

One of the security sources said the Taliban had started meeting at madrassas in the hope of avoiding airstrikes.

US and Afghan forces are increasing ground and air offensives against Taliban and Islamic State insurgents as they try to get the upper hand in the 16-year war.

Turkey orders arrest of cleric Gulen over killing of Russian envoy

U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen at his home in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. July 10, 2017. REUTERS/Charles Mostoller

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey has ordered the arrest of the Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen and seven others over the 2016 assassination of the Russian envoy to Turkey, the Haberturk newspaper said on Monday, a day before Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the country.

Andrei Karlov was shot dead by an off-duty policeman while speaking at an Ankara exhibit opening in December 2016. The gunman shouted "Allahu Akbar" and "Don't forget Aleppo!" as he opened fire, apparently referring to Russia's involvement in neighboring Syria. He was shot dead by police at the scene.

Putin arrives on a two-day visit on Tuesday and will meet President Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Their three countries are the guarantors of the Astana peace talks that has set up "de-escalation" zones across war-torn Syria.

Erdogan said Gulen's movement was behind the assassination, a charge the cleric has denied. Erdogan also blames the preacher's network for an attempted military coup in July 2016.

Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999, has denied the charge and condemned the coup.

Haberturk said the authorities ordered the arrests of the eight as the killing was carried out on their orders.

Authorities have so far arrested seven others, including three policeman, in relation to the killing, the Hurriyet newspaper reported.

No one was immediately available for comment at the Ankara prosecutor's office.

The gunman came from Soke in southwest Turkey, considered one of the country's most secular regions. His father said his son's behavior started changing after he joined the police academy, where he became more pious, according to media reports at the time.

While the slogans he shouted suggest he was sympathetic to radical Islamist ideology, Gulen's network preaches interfaith dialogue. The Turkish government says such teachings are designed to mask the true nature of what they call a dangerous, secretive organization.

(Writing by Ece Toksabay; Editing by David Dolan and Hugh Lawson)

Job Vacancy For Superintendent Pharmacist at Calapharm Nigeria Limited

Calapharm Nigeria Limited is a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical factory situated in Calabar, Cross River State Nigeria. The First State Owned Pharmaceutical Company. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd is the Vision of His Excellency, Senator Professor Ben Ayade, the Executive Governor of Cross River State to produce essential medicines listed by WHO for Primary Health with a focus on Mother and Child Health, and to develop self-dependency and stability in the supply of WHO Standard medicine for His fellow Nigerians. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd. is an equal opportunity company.

We are seeking to recruit competent, committed, and self-motivated and Enthusiastic Candidates for the position below:

Job Title: Superintendent Pharmacist

Location: Calabar, Cross River

Minimum Qualification

• Pharmacist should possess relevant qualification.

Minimum Experience:

• 5 years work experience.

Application Closing Date
12th April, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's and Current Passport size photograph along with a scan of all credentials and experience certificates to the 'Head of Human Resource' via: hr.calapharm@gmail.com

Note

• Only CV received via email will be entertained for the shortlisting for interviews.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.

Latest Job Vacancy for Head of Finance at Calapharm Nigeria Limited

Calapharm Nigeria Limited is a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical factory situated in Calabar, Cross River State Nigeria. The First State Owned Pharmaceutical Company. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd is the Vision of His Excellency, Senator Professor Ben Ayade, the Executive Governor of Cross River State to produce essential medicines listed by WHO for Primary Health with a focus on Mother and Child Health, and to develop self-dependency and stability in the supply of WHO Standard medicine for His fellow Nigerians. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd. is an equal opportunity company.

We are seeking to recruit competent, committed, and self-motivated and Enthusiastic Candidates for the position below:

Job Title: Head of Finance

Location: Calabar, Cross River

Minimum Qualification

• FCA.

Minimum Experience:

• 5 Years should have thorough knowledge of Accounts, Audit ft Supply Chain.

Application Closing Date
12th April, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's and Current Passport size photograph along with a scan of all credentials and experience certificates to the 'Head of Human Resource' via: hr.calapharm@gmail.com

Note

• Only CV received via email will be entertained for the shortlisting for interviews.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.

Latest Job Vacancy For Production Manager at Calapharm Nigeria

Calapharm Nigeria Limited is a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical factory situated in Calabar, Cross River State Nigeria. The First State Owned Pharmaceutical Company. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd is the Vision of His Excellency, Senator Professor Ben Ayade, the Executive Governor of Cross River State to produce essential medicines listed by WHO for Primary Health with a focus on Mother and Child Health, and to develop self-dependency and stability in the supply of WHO Standard medicine for His fellow Nigerians. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd. is an equal opportunity company.

We are seeking to recruit competent, committed, and self-motivated and Enthusiastic Candidates for the position below:

Job Title: Production Manager

Location: Calabar, Cross River

Minimum Qualification

• M. Phil or above.

Minimum Experience:

• Should be currently working in capacity of Production Manager in Pharmaceutical Company

Application Closing Date
12th April, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's and Current Passport size photograph along with a scan of all credentials and experience certificates to the 'Head of Human Resource' via: hr.calapharm@gmail.com

Note

• Only CV received via email will be entertained for the shortlisting for interviews.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.

Latest Job Vacancy for Head of Quality Control at Calapharm Nigeria Limited

Calapharm Nigeria Limited is a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical factory situated in Calabar, Cross River State Nigeria. The First State Owned Pharmaceutical Company. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd is the Vision of His Excellency, Senator Professor Ben Ayade, the Executive Governor of Cross River State to produce essential medicines listed by WHO for Primary Health with a focus on Mother and Child Health, and to develop self-dependency and stability in the supply of WHO Standard medicine for His fellow Nigerians. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd. is an equal opportunity company.

We are seeking to recruit competent, committed, and self-motivated and Enthusiastic Candidates for the position below:

Job Title: Head of Quality Control

Location: Calabar, Cross River

Minimum Qualification

• Pharmacist/Chemist (Masters).

Minimum Experience:

• 5 years working Experience in QC or QA.

Application Closing Date
12th April, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's and Current Passport size photograph along with a scan of all credentials and experience certificates to the 'Head of Human Resource' via: hr.calapharm@gmail.com

Note

• Only CV received via email will be entertained for the shortlisting for interviews.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.

Latest Job Vacancy for Head of Quality Assurance at Calapharm Nigeria Limited

Calapharm Nigeria Limited is a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical factory situated in Calabar, Cross River State Nigeria. The First State Owned Pharmaceutical Company. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd is the Vision of His Excellency, Senator Professor Ben Ayade, the Executive Governor of Cross River State to produce essential medicines listed by WHO for Primary Health with a focus on Mother and Child Health, and to develop self-dependency and stability in the supply of WHO Standard medicine for His fellow Nigerians. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd. is an equal opportunity company.

We are seeking to recruit competent, committed, and self-motivated and Enthusiastic Candidates for the position below:

Job Title: Head of Quality Assurance

Location: Calabar, Cross River

Minimum Qualification

• Pharmacist/Chemist (Masters).

Minimum Experience:

• 5 years working Experience in QC or QA.

Application Closing Date
12th April, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's and Current Passport size photograph along with a scan of all credentials and experience certificates to the 'Head of Human Resource' via: hr.calapharm@gmail.com

Note

• Only CV received via email will be entertained for the shortlisting for interviews.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.

Latest Job For Head of Regulatory at Calapharm Nigeria Limited

Calapharm Nigeria Limited is a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical factory situated in Calabar, Cross River State Nigeria. The First State Owned Pharmaceutical Company. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd is the Vision of His Excellency, Senator Professor Ben Ayade, the Executive Governor of Cross River State to produce essential medicines listed by WHO for Primary Health with a focus on Mother and Child Health, and to develop self-dependency and stability in the supply of WHO Standard medicine for His fellow Nigerians. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd. is an equal opportunity company.

We are seeking to recruit competent, committed, and self-motivated and Enthusiastic Candidates for the position below:

Job Title: Head of Regulatory

Location: Calabar, Cross River

Minimum Qualification

• Pharmacist.

Minimum Experience:

• NAFDAC/other Regulatory Agencies experience.

Application Closing Date
12th April, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's and Current Passport size photograph along with a scan of all credentials and experience certificates to the 'Head of Human Resource' via: hr.calapharm@gmail.com

Note

• Only CV received via email will be entertained for the shortlisting for interviews.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.

Latest 2018 Job For Head of Sales at Calapharm Nigeria Limited

Calapharm Nigeria Limited is a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical factory situated in Calabar, Cross River State Nigeria. The First State Owned Pharmaceutical Company. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd is the Vision of His Excellency, Senator Professor Ben Ayade, the Executive Governor of Cross River State to produce essential medicines listed by WHO for Primary Health with a focus on Mother and Child Health, and to develop self-dependency and stability in the supply of WHO Standard medicine for His fellow Nigerians. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd. is an equal opportunity company.

We are seeking to recruit competent, committed, and self-motivated and Enthusiastic Candidates for the position below:

Job Title: Head of Sales

Location: Calabar, Cross River

Minimum Qualification

• Pharmacist/MBA.

Minimum Experience:

• Should currently be heading any pharmaceutical sales team. Territory knowledge and rapport with leading customers is a must.

Application Closing Date
12th April, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's and Current Passport size photograph along with a scan of all credentials and experience certificates to the 'Head of Human Resource' via: hr.calapharm@gmail.com

Note

• Only CV received via email will be entertained for the shortlisting for interviews.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.

Latest 2018 Job For Production Pharmacist at Calapharm Nigeria Limited

Calapharm Nigeria Limited is a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical factory situated in Calabar, Cross River State Nigeria. The First State Owned Pharmaceutical Company. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd is the Vision of His Excellency, Senator Professor Ben Ayade, the Executive Governor of Cross River State to produce essential medicines listed by WHO for Primary Health with a focus on Mother and Child Health, and to develop self-dependency and stability in the supply of WHO Standard medicine for His fellow Nigerians. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd. is an equal opportunity company.

We are seeking to recruit competent, committed, and self-motivated and Enthusiastic Candidates for the position below:

Job Title: Production Pharmacist

Location: Calabar, Cross River
Slot: 3

Minimum Qualification

• Must be Pharmacist.

Minimum Experience:

• 5 years working experience in production.

Application Closing Date
12th April, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's and Current Passport size photograph along with a scan of all credentials and experience certificates to the 'Head of Human Resource' via: hr.calapharm@gmail.com

Note

• Only CV received via email will be entertained for the shortlisting for interviews.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.

Job Vacancy for Production Technician at Calapharm Nigeria Limited

Calapharm Nigeria Limited is a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical factory situated in Calabar, Cross River State Nigeria. The First State Owned Pharmaceutical Company. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd is the Vision of His Excellency, Senator Professor Ben Ayade, the Executive Governor of Cross River State to produce essential medicines listed by WHO for Primary Health with a focus on Mother and Child Health, and to develop self-dependency and stability in the supply of WHO Standard medicine for His fellow Nigerians. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd. is an equal opportunity company.

We are seeking to recruit competent, committed, and self-motivated and Enthusiastic Candidates for the position below:

Job Title: Production Technician

Location: Calabar, Cross River
Slot: 6

Minimum Qualification

• Science graduate preferably Chemistry.

Minimum Experience:

• 2 years working experience in Lab or production.

Application Closing Date
12th April, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's and Current Passport size photograph along with a scan of all credentials and experience certificates to the 'Head of Human Resource' via: hr.calapharm@gmail.com

Note

• Only CV received via email will be entertained for the shortlisting for interviews.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.

Massive Job Vacancy for Packaging Staff at Calapharm Nigeria Limited

Calapharm Nigeria Limited is a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical factory situated in Calabar, Cross River State Nigeria. The First State Owned Pharmaceutical Company. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd is the Vision of His Excellency, Senator Professor Ben Ayade, the Executive Governor of Cross River State to produce essential medicines listed by WHO for Primary Health with a focus on Mother and Child Health, and to develop self-dependency and stability in the supply of WHO Standard medicine for His fellow Nigerians. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd. is an equal opportunity company.

We are seeking to recruit competent, committed, and self-motivated and Enthusiastic Candidates for the position below:

Job Title: Packaging Staff

Location: Calabar, Cross River
Slot: 24

Minimum Qualification

• Graduates (HND, B.Sc.)

Application Closing Date
12th April, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's and Current Passport size photograph along with a scan of all credentials and experience certificates to the 'Head of Human Resource' via: hr.calapharm@gmail.com

Note

• Only CV received via email will be entertained for the shortlisting for interviews.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.

Graduate Accounts Staff at Calapharm Nigeria Limited

Calapharm Nigeria Limited is a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical factory situated in Calabar, Cross River State Nigeria. The First State Owned Pharmaceutical Company. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd is the Vision of His Excellency, Senator Professor Ben Ayade, the Executive Governor of Cross River State to produce essential medicines listed by WHO for Primary Health with a focus on Mother and Child Health, and to develop self-dependency and stability in the supply of WHO Standard medicine for His fellow Nigerians. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd. is an equal opportunity company.

We are seeking to recruit competent, committed, and self-motivated and Enthusiastic Candidates for the position below:

Job Title: Accounts Staff

Location: Calabar, Cross River
Slot: 3

Minimum Qualification

• Accounts Graduate.

Minimum Experience:

• No experience required. Experience will be an additive advantage.

Application Closing Date
12th April, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's and Current Passport size photograph along with a scan of all credentials and experience certificates to the 'Head of Human Resource' via: hr.calapharm@gmail.com

Note

• Only CV received via email will be entertained for the shortlisting for interviews.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.

Job Vacancy For Quality Control Analysts at Calapharm Nigeria Limited

Calapharm Nigeria Limited is a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical factory situated in Calabar, Cross River State Nigeria. The First State Owned Pharmaceutical Company. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd is the Vision of His Excellency, Senator Professor Ben Ayade, the Executive Governor of Cross River State to produce essential medicines listed by WHO for Primary Health with a focus on Mother and Child Health, and to develop self-dependency and stability in the supply of WHO Standard medicine for His fellow Nigerians. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd. is an equal opportunity company.

We are seeking to recruit competent, committed, and self-motivated and Enthusiastic Candidates for the position below:

Job Title: Quality Control Analyst

Location: Calabar, Cross River
Slot: 6

Minimum Qualification

• Chemistry Graduates Lab Technology.

Minimum Experience:

• Lab Experience will be preferred.

Application Closing Date
12th April, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's and Current Passport size photograph along with a scan of all credentials and experience certificates to the 'Head of Human Resource' via: hr.calapharm@gmail.com

Note

• Only CV received via email will be entertained for the shortlisting for interviews.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.

Job Vacancy For Quality Assurance Staff at Calapharm Nigeria Limited

Calapharm Nigeria Limited is a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical factory situated in Calabar, Cross River State Nigeria. The First State Owned Pharmaceutical Company. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd is the Vision of His Excellency, Senator Professor Ben Ayade, the Executive Governor of Cross River State to produce essential medicines listed by WHO for Primary Health with a focus on Mother and Child Health, and to develop self-dependency and stability in the supply of WHO Standard medicine for His fellow Nigerians. Calapharm Nigeria Ltd. is an equal opportunity company.

We are seeking to recruit competent, committed, and self-motivated and Enthusiastic Candidates for the position below:

Job Title: Quality Assurance Staff

Location: Calabar, Cross River
Slot: 6

Minimum Qualification

• Chemistry Graduates Lab Technology.

Minimum Experience:

• Lab Experience will be preferred.

Application Closing Date
12th April, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's and Current Passport size photograph along with a scan of all credentials and experience certificates to the 'Head of Human Resource' via: hr.calapharm@gmail.com

Note

• Only CV received via email will be entertained for the shortlisting for interviews.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.