Job Vacancy For Account Partner - Strategic at MTN Nigeria 2018/2019

MTN Nigeria - The leader in telecommunications in Nigeria, and a part of a diverse community in Africa and the Middle East, our brand is instantly recognisable. It is through our compelling brand that we are able to attract the right talents who we carefully nurture by continuously improving our employment offerings even beyond reward and recognition.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: Account Partner - Strategic

Location: Ikoyi, Lagos
Job Type: Permanent

Job Description

• To provide professional account management inputs to the creation and maintenance of Enterprise Solutions sales strategy and plan that will deliver shareholder value.
• To direct enterprise sales efforts for allocated corporate accounts within the framework of agreed account development plans which meet operational targets for revenues, profitability and customer satisfaction.
• Increase MTN market share by achieving set target through effective account management, acquisition of new accounts as well as development and maintenance of current accounts.
• Seek new clients and create more business opportunities daily, from existing clients so as to Increase company revenue.
• Carry full responsibility for the fulfillment of the sales process – from lead generation to bill delivery. Prepare weekly and monthly corporate sales status reports.
• Perform continuous analysis of the relevant industry, to identify new prospects or opportunities for the corporate sales department.
• Conduct research on potential customers and their disposable income using the data mining system.
• Prepare and present all sales (weekly and monthly), contractual documentation and status reports according to MTN quality standards.
• Manage virtual team to ensure log of all customer requests for service, queries and complaints, escalate and troubleshoot where necessary.
• Build an in-depth knowledge of the customers’ industry operating environment, business drivers, ambition, issues, problems and obstacles in order to develop and implement solutions to meet their strategic corporate needs
• Maintain excellent partnership-relationships with customers, up to C-level, based on trust and an in-depth understanding of the customers’ business
• Assist customers in understanding the value proposition and differentiations of the MTN data products and services.
• Ability to liaise with supervisors on discount issues

Job Condition

• Normal MTNN working conditions
• May be required to work extended hours
• Open plan office

Requirements, Experience & Training

• First degree in any related discipline
• Fluent in English
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in an area of specialisation; with experience with working with others
• Experience working in a medium organization

Training:

• Basic IP Networking, Internet and VPNs
• Internal conferences on telecommunications and consumer trends
• Sales Training
• Key Account Management Training
• Relationship Management
• Customer care/focus

Minimum qualification

• BA, B.Ed, B.Eng, B.Sc, B.Tech or HND

Application Closing Date
8th June, 2018.

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

Job Vacancy For General Manager, IS Solutions Delivery at MTN Nigeria 2018/2019

MTN Nigeria - The leader in telecommunications in Nigeria, and a part of a diverse community in Africa and the Middle East, our brand is instantly recognisable. It is through our compelling brand that we are able to attract the right talents who we carefully nurture by continuously improving our employment offerings even beyond reward and recognition.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: General Manager, IS Solutions Delivery

Location: Lagos

Job Description

• To oversee the development of the IT architecture and planning at all levels, and development of new products and services based on business roadmap.
• To oversee solution delivery activities, quality assurance and management of the delivery partners.
• To provide planning and strategy support to the CIO and ensure the company’s IT architecture sustains current and future business requirements.
• Drive an increase in Shareholder return by ensuring that IS Processes are aligned to achieve all elements on the business score card. (I.e. Grow Market Share, Grow ICT & Data Revenue, Increase EBITDA margins, Assure Revenue, CAPEX Returns Management and Net Subscriber Additions).
• Plan and execute medium to long term projects to enhance revenue assurance operations and identify new revenue opportunities, ensuring compliance with corporate governance procedures and policies
• Develop budget for the division’s operations and services, in accordance with laid down rules and procedures.
• Provide support initiatives that will ensure cost savings and reduction to drive EBITDA growth for the organization. (OPEX/COS savings).
• Actively monitor the approved project budget, ensuring it is used in accordance with MTN expenditure regulations.
• Champion/Sponsor the review of Business Processes (headcount, process optimisation, business optimisation etc), to drive efficiency gains to ensure at least 5% reduction in Divisional budget year-on-year.
• Review MTNN corporate direction and develop Information Services strategy ensuring alignment with MTN corporate strategic objectives and develop plans to support business initiatives and enhance IS support capacity.
• Provide support for  Contract negotiations to reduce cost and drive MTNN Value Creation Philosophy
• Assess resource requirements for the department and develop budget for the Enterprise Services function and regularly monitor resources of the department ensuring they are allocated and utilized in a cost effective and financially disciplined manner and in line with budget provisions.
• Monitor changes in regulations and technology that may affect revenue assurance functions in MTNN and ensure revenue leakage is minimised.
• Drive planned strategy for the successful delivery of MTN group and MTNN transformation initiatives focusing on Customer centricity, including Perfect 10 Project.
• Improve MTNN’s Net Promoters Score
• Drive planned strategy for the successful delivery of MTN Group and MTNN transformation initiatives focusing on Customer centricity, including Perfect 10 Project.
• Facilitate and guide the processes for identification and justification of the information technology requirements of the various business sectors and co-ordinate the initiation of project proposals for meeting the requirements.
• Ensure the strategic policy development processes are in accordance with norms and standards of MTN Group.
• Ensure that corporate governance is implemented and adhered to within the IS division.
• Direct the development of optimal and integrated IS plans for MTNN, consolidating various IT business plans and ensuring plans have clear indications of expected value contributions and in line with corporate vision and mission.
• Develop framework, policies, standards, methodologies and procedures to guide IS operations and to enable the division to provide high quality services to customers and attain set goals and objectives of MTNN.
• Lead the development comprehensive IT and data architecture that will balance the business, financial and technical demands both now and into the future and serves as a map.
• Facilitate the coordination of the various aspects related to Information Systems Planning, such as the plan quality, the stakeholder’s requirements, plan outcome, etc.
• Regularly monitor, review and report progress against the integrated IS plan and conduct business risk analysis, review technical audits and project post-implementation reviews.
• Review risk for IS systems, develop IS Risk Management Strategy and ensure the deployment of risk mitigating action plans and business continuity of MTNN operations.
• Create an ‘IS blueprint’ that addresses business needs and takes into consideration the Data Architecture, Systems Architecture and Computer Architecture of the organization and ensure that the business has a reliable 5 year IT roadmap covering potential industry developments as well as ISD initiatives.
• Provide technical leadership /advice in the formulation and development of enterprise    framework, policies/guidelines and ensure compliance of operations with MTN policies and procedures.
• Lead and collaborate with other business units in the development of business models for use in MTNN and develop measurement strategies to support ongoing strategy development and project optimization.
• Continuously seek self-professional development to sharpen skills and capabilities in a versatile and evolving digital landscape.
• Provide leadership and direction in the operations, leading team to deliver on respective business targets and improve overall performance of the department.
• Review the performance of individual team members and complete appraisals in accordance with the employee performance appraisal procedures and time schedules.
• Identify, evaluate and track the development needs and performance of Enterprise Services staff, providing opportunities for staff to build on the company’s investment in their training and improve productivity.
• Coach and mentor the IS team to ensure understanding of the objectives and goals of the department, awareness of all related job requirements and accountabilities and leverage human resources career development programs for staff career development.
• Deliver business value through partnership with MTNN’s Ecosystem Partners
• Partner effectively with MTNN’s critical high value customers to enhance MTN’s Corporate Brand
• Develop strategies and champion customer centric culture across the organization and develop/reform relationships with MTNN’s internal and external customers to transform the MTNN’s revenue.

Job Condition:

• Normal MTNN working conditions
• May be required to work extended hours

Experience & Training
Education:

• Fluent in English and language of country preferable
• First degree in any discipline preferably Computer Science or equivalent
• Masters Degree in a relevant discipline will be an added advantage.

Experience:

• 12 years working experience including;
• Senior management track record of 3 years or more in strategy formulation, technology forecasting, enterprise architecture, network economics, project management, operations management, strategic planning and quality control management.
• Experience  in relevant industry/sector
• Experience working in a global/multinational enterprise (understanding emerging markets advantageous)
• Worked across diverse cultures and geographies

Training: 

• Information Architecture
• ITIL Foundation Certificate, Practitioner in Availability and Capacity Management will be an added advantage
• Performance Testing execution and overall methodologies
• TOGAF, COBIT, Agile
• Self training on Digital and mobility frameworks
• Information Systems Security Certification

Minimum Qualification

• BA, B.Eng, B.Tech, HND or B.Sc

Application Closing Date
12th June, 2018.

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

Job Vacancy For Engineer Solution Design (Supervisory) at MTN Nigeria 2018/2019

MTN Nigeria - The leader in telecommunications in Nigeria, and a part of a diverse community in Africa and the Middle East, our brand is instantly recognisable. It is through our compelling brand that we are able to attract the right talents who we carefully nurture by continuously improving our employment offerings even beyond reward and recognition.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: Engineer Solution Design (Supervisory)

Location: Lagos
Employment Status: Permanent

Job Description

• To design and develop IS solutions for MTNN in adherence to IS architecture and design specifications
• New business growth from data access, ICT & Digital to sustain and complement traditional revenues
• Review functional specifications, acquire a detailed understanding of the testing requirements for a given design, and advise on practicability of proposed architecture /design.
• Develop designs that support the functional requirements business application projects and include the conceptual, high-level and detailed design specifications for build, implementation and support of these business solution.
• Assess implications of a given design current and future support model; and prepare an implementation and transition plan.
• Develop an understanding and lay out a plan of the system performance and capacity requirements, standards and criteria to satisfy the customer's business requirements for the solution.
• Organize and coordinate the activities of the systems design team and communicate
• All business process changes to them and highlighting the implications on design.
• Manage work flow processes, document weekly reports per functional area and provide input to monitor and execute URS.
• Monitor application development projects through the individual lifecycles.
•  Complete an analysis of the customer's business requirements, as it relates to technical infrastructure design, and ensure traceability of the design to the business requirements.
• Conduct and coordinate regular team/project meetings to provide feedback and receive input from staff members.
• Continuously seek self-professional development to sharpen skills and capabilities in a versatile and evolving digital landscape.
• Foster active collaboration and relationships with employees across all levels and divisions in line with MTN’s VB and values.

Job Condition

• Normal MTNN working conditions
• May be required to work extended hours
• Open plan office

Experience & Training
Education:

• First degree in Computer Science, mathematics, Software Engineering or related discipline from a reputable institution.
• Fluent in English

Experience:

• 3 – 7 years of experience  in Information Technology roles; with experience with working with others
• Experience working in a medium organization.
• Experience in software solution architecture and design – Wire-framing, Prototyping and use of design tools such as Unified Modeling Language (UML).
• Strong knowledge and experience in software solution development and integration- The skill set to include - Java/ J2EE platform, SOA (REST, WSDL/XSD/XML), enterprise system integrations (B2B),Web design and development.
• Knowledge of telecommunications applications - CRM, ERP systems, Billing, Payment solutions, Call Detail Record Analysis, Mobile application design, Inter connect and Value Added Services (VAS), Cloud computing.

Training:

• Formal training in system design architecture, technology architecture and systems integration.
• Specific training on functional business processes
• Elementary leadership training courses

Minimum qualification:

• BA, BEng, BTech or HND

Application Closing Date
12th June, 2018.

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

Job Vacancy For General Manager, IS Infrastructure at MTN Nigeria

MTN Nigeria - The leader in telecommunications in Nigeria, and a part of a diverse community in Africa and the Middle East, our brand is instantly recognisable. It is through our compelling brand that we are able to attract the right talents who we carefully nurture by continuously improving our employment offerings even beyond reward and recognition.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: General Manager, IS Infrastructure

Location: Lagos

Job Description

• To develop and manage all system operations for the Information Systems Group (IS) and ensure that adequate capacity, system availability and excellent user support is provided.
• Review IS infrastructure best practices, new technologies and the corporate needs and assess infrastructure requirements of MTNN.
• Provide thought leadership and direction on approaches to managing the following areas: Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery Plans, Quality Management System, Systems Management, Capacity Management, Performance Problem and Change Management, Security and Service Level Agreements.
• Create and maintain governance structure for processes and ensure processes and policies are developed, documented and maintained in accordance with established set /industry guidelines and benchmarks.
• Develop framework, policies, standards, methodologies, plans and procedures to guide IS infrastructure management operations and to enable the division to provide high quality services to customers and attain set goals and objectives of MTNN.
• Monitor and control the technical content of IS infrastructure to ensure business relevance, scope realism, suitability for intended purposes and timely obsolescence.
• Support IS and Telecom convergence as a value stream and support VAS that taps voice and data convergence, network and IT convergence.
• Develop and implement processes and procedures for tracking company assets to oversee quality control throughout their lifecycles.
• Lead and collaborate with other business units in the development of business models for use in MTNN and develop measurement strategies to support ongoing strategy development and project optimization.
• Define and implement Key Performance Indicators and Metrics for support and operational activities and use these metrics to drive service delivery excellence
• Continuously seek self-professional development to sharpen skills and capabilities in a versatile and evolving digital landscape.
• Provide leadership and direction in the operations, leading team to deliver on respective business targets and improve overall performance of the department.
• Identify, evaluate and track the development needs and performance of IS Infrastructure staff, providing opportunities for staff to build on the company’s investment in their training and improve productivity.
• Coach and mentor the IS team to ensure understanding of the objectives and goals of the department, awareness of all related job requirements and accountabilities and leverage human resources career development programs for staff career development.
• Deliver business value through partnership with MTNN’s Ecosystem Partners to customers to enhance MTN’s Corporate Brand
• Promote the infrastructure management vision and institute a customer centric culture and interface between IS, its client base and the rest of the organisation.

Job condition:

• Normal MTNN working conditions
• May be required to work extended hours
• Local and International travel

Experience & Training
Education:

• Fluent in English and language of country preferable
• First degree in an IT related field
• Master’s Degree in Business Admin/management is desirable
• Professional IT certification/ project management would be desirable

Experience:

• 12 years’ experience which includes:
• Senior management track record of 3 years or more; with at least 3 years in relevant sector/ industry as per relevant role
• Experience working in a global/multinational enterprise (understanding emerging markets advantageous)
• Worked across diverse cultures and geographies
• Senior management experience in strategy formulation, technology forecasting, enterprise architecture, network economics, project management, operations management, strategic planning and quality control management.
• Experience in IT service delivery

Training:

• Strategy Development
• Leadership Development Programs
• Security
• Business Continuity
• Cost management

Minimum Qualification

• BA, B.Eng, B.Sc or B.Tech

Application Closing Date
12th June, 2018.

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

Latest Job Vacancy For Financial Planning Accountant (Budget) at MTN Nigeria

MTN Nigeria - The leader in telecommunications in Nigeria, and a part of a diverse community in Africa and the Middle East, our brand is instantly recognisable. It is through our compelling brand that we are able to attract the right talents who we carefully nurture by continuously improving our employment offerings even beyond reward and recognition.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: Financial Planning Accountant (Budget)

Location: Lagos
Employment Status: Permanent

Job Description

• To prepare, analyse, oversee and manage the annual business plan (consolidated) for MTNN by applying fundamental budgetary concepts, practices, and procedures and ensuring it complies with International Financial Reporting Standards
• Prepare budget formats, standardised forms and input sheets on the Business Planning Software and assist in the testing of all calculations.
• Review and analyse departmental budget requests, make recommendations for approval or modifications as required.
• Supervise in the distribution of budget and related material, responding to enquiries regarding budget procedures and information from stakeholders.
• Assist in the development of strategy documents and the preparation and automation of MTNN business plan in the Business Planning Software, ensuring that sub projects are incorporated and business plan calculations are accurate and realistic.
• Assist in integrating other systems such as Magic, IFS with the Business Planning Software.
• Verify accuracy of data received from departments such as Assumptions, Headcount, Organogram and Opex, ensuring alignment with company strategy.
• Participate in the coaching of all budget coordinators in other divisions on budget presentation tools, business planning and other budget software.
• Coordinate the uploading of the MTNN financial and non-financial budget on the Group’s consolidation software (Hyperion Financial Management).
• Facilitate effective budgetary control systems by providing the budget assumptions in explaining monthly OPEX variances, liaising with budget coordinators to facilitate timely submission of inputs.
• Monitor adherence to standard budgetary working policies, processes and procedures

Job Condition

• Normal MTNN working conditions
• May be required to work extended hours

Experience & Training

• First degree in Accounting or any other numerate discipline
• A professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA etc) 4 Years work experience
• Finance, budget or management reporting in a multinational environment
• Experience in a Financial Reporting function is desirable
• Experience in Data mining and analysis
• Experience in Enterprise Financial Systems
• Experience in telecommunications industry will be an added advantage Training
• Best practices in budget preparation.
• Financial Analysis.
• Advanced Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• Business Modelling
• Basic leadership skills
• International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)

Minimum qualification

• BA, BEd, BEng, BSc, BTech or HND

Application Closing Date
12th June, 2018.

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

JOB VACANCY FOR Financial Planning Accountant (Financial Reporting) at MTN Nigeria

MTN Nigeria - The leader in telecommunications in Nigeria, and a part of a diverse community in Africa and the Middle East, our brand is instantly recognisable. It is through our compelling brand that we are able to attract the right talents who we carefully nurture by continuously improving our employment offerings even beyond reward and recognition.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: Financial Planning Accountant (Financial Reporting)

Location: Lagos
Employment Status: Permanent

Job Description

• To ensure prompt and accurate financial reporting of MTNN operating activities (income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement).
• Review accounts, including Operating Expenses and Asset/Liability accounts for completeness and accuracy, raising manual journals to correct any error discovered.
• Prepare financial statements for statutory purposes and internal reporting (MIS).
• Monitor accurate reporting of management fees, ensuring financial accounts are in compliance with Accounting Standards (IAS, SAS, SA, IFRS and GAAP).
• Perform analytical review of monthly income statement.
• Identify, follow up and escalate issues from statutory audits.
• Identify and escalate needs and requirements from the ERP system.
• Prepare, update and provide links to trend analysis for actual data (IS).
• Ensure value is created when responding to enquiries regarding expenses and information from internal customers.
• Provide guidance to stakeholders on postings into operating expenses account when required.
• Continuously seek self-professional development to sharpen skills and capabilities in a versatile and evolving digital landscape.
• Foster active collaboration and relationships with employees across all levels and divisions in line with MTN’s VB and values.

Experience & Training

• First degree in Accounting or any other related discipline
• Fluent in English
• A professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CPA)
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in an area of specialisation; with experience working with others
• Experience working in a medium organization
• Experience within a leading organisation’s financial department • Experience in working with enterprise financial systems
• Experience in telecommunications industry (desirable) Training:
• Middle Management Development Programme.
• Knowledge update on accounting and financial standards and best practices.

Minimum Qualification
BA, BEd, BEng, BSc, BTech or HND.

Job Condition    

• Normal MTNN working conditions
• May be required to work extended hours
• Open plan office.

Application Closing Date
12th June, 2018.

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

Job Vacancy For Financial Planning Manager (Technical Accounting) at MTN Nigeria

MTN Nigeria - The leader in telecommunications in Nigeria, and a part of a diverse community in Africa and the Middle East, our brand is instantly recognisable. It is through our compelling brand that we are able to attract the right talents who we carefully nurture by continuously improving our employment offerings even beyond reward and recognition.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: Financial Planning Manager (Technical Accounting)

Location: Lagos
Job Type: Permanent

Job Description

• To record all company-wide Financial Operations functions - Fixed Assets, Revenue, Expenditure and General Ledger and support various divisions on financial issues.
• To maintain commercial relationship with suppliers, government agencies, internal and external customers, inter-connect partners, international roaming partners and value added service providers in line with MTN group policies, accounting standards, regulatory and tax requirement pronouncements
• Provide operational support for the division including maintaining the budget, Profit and Loss accounts, special programs and contract analysis.
• Analyse the general Ledger transactions (Capex, Opex and Revenue) and all transactions posted into IFS to ensure proper classification and correction, as well as ageing of all Balance Sheet accounts.
• Prepare trend analysis of Capex, Opex and revenue transactions, all General Ledger/Sub- ledger Accounts reconciliation, as well as weekly and monthly performance reports.
• Conduct in-depth analysis to identify specific trends, explain past performance and recommend opportunities for improvement, within the division
• Provide supporting documents, records and schedules to meet audit and regulatory requirements; and all schedules /reports (including age analysis, assets movement, etc).
• Implement finance policies as well as guarantee compliance with established internal controls, MTN Processes, Policies and Procedure, IFRS, IAS and GAAP in processing all transactions.
• Process and post all account payables and receivables; and all month end deliverables within the monthly reporting timelines.
• Raise and post journal vouchers and other financial transactions in the ERP system, resolve all reconciling items promptly and maintain set departmental filing system.
• Relate with relevant customers and suppliers.
• Relate with other divisions and departments on revenue, expenditure and fixed assets related issues.
• Interaction with marketing division on billing and information systems functions
• Continuously seek self-professional development to sharpen skills and capabilities in a versatile and evolving digital landscape.
• Foster active collaboration and relationships with employees across all levels and divisions in line with MTN’s VB and values.
• Consolidate all MTNN transactions and reconciliations including foreign currency accounting in line with GAAP requirements and other accounting standards.
• Analyse additions for upload into Asset register and depreciation groups as well as ensure prompt update of databases.
• Manage Fixed Assets and record disposals/movements in fixed asset register.
• Interface with management in various departments and post Inter-company transactions, analyse quarterly balance sheet and P & L fluctuation; and assist in inter-company relationship management.
• Provide tax unit with detail analysis of disposed assets for capital gains tax purposes and deferred tax reversal.
• Ensure accuracy of financial statements ,balance sheet accounts reconciliations Month-end/quarter-end /year-end closing , monthly expense variance analysis as well as property, sales and franchise tax returns in accordance with GAAP and compliance to internal policies.

Job Condition

• Normal MTNN working conditions
• May be required to work extended hours
• Deal with a lot of paper work.

Requirements, Experience & Training

• First Degree in any discipline, but a finance related degree is desirable.
• Part qualification in any recognised professional accounting examinations (ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA, etc) will be an added advantage.
• 3 - 7 years of experience in an area of specialisation; with experience working with others
• Experience working in a medium organization
• Experience in using an ERP system is desirable

Training:

• Numerate and analytical skills.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Effective communication.
• Time management.
• Personal Effectiveness
• Creative thinking

Minimum qualification

• BA, B.Ed, B.Eng, B.Sc, B.Tech or HND.

Application Closing Date
12th June, 2018.

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

Job Vacancy For Analyst Reporting, Transformation Officer at MTN Nigeria

MTN Nigeria - The leader in telecommunications in Nigeria, and a part of a diverse community in Africa and the Middle East, our brand is instantly recognisable. It is through our compelling brand that we are able to attract the right talents who we carefully nurture by continuously improving our employment offerings even beyond reward and recognition.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: Analyst Reporting, Transformation Officer

Location: Lagos
Employment Status: Permanent

Job Description

• The role will support the Ignite Programme Lead/Programme Director in re-thinking MTNN’s operating model and ensuring that project initiatives are aligned to deliver business objectives in the immediate and long term.
• Responsible (along with initiative owners and sponsors) for the implementation of MTN’s transformation initiatives, track progress of the dedicated work streams and highlight/report on issues.
• Drive increase in Shareholder return by ensuring that Ignite – Back to Glory initiatives are aligned to achieve all elements on the business score card. (E.g. Grow Market Share, Grow ICT & Data Revenue, Increase EBITDA margins, Assure Revenue, CAPEX Returns Management and Net Subscriber Additions).
• Financial tracking of progress against commitments to the bottom line.
• Support the Ignite Programme Director, Programme Lead and Work-streams achieve set objectives of MTNN transformation; including data and information collection, impact analysis, documentation and trouble-shooting.
• Utilise project management disciplines for individual Project management and Programme management across the transformation.
• Collaborate with the Programme Director, Programme Lead and internal stakeholders to translate aspirations into initiatives and projects.
• Continuously review initiatives, initiative action plans, initiative KPI’s and business plans. Highlight gaps to set objectives and deviations.
• Keep the Transformation Office and Work-streams informed of actions, progress and issues and present updates during internal stakeholder meetings, where required.
• Tracks progress of the initiatives; Identify, highlight and report any issues that merit further investigation by the Programme Lead, Programme Director or Initiative Leaders.
• Prepare relevant content including reports, pre-reads and presentations for the Steerco, GTB, TO and other meetings.
• Ensure hygiene of initiative data and information captured on Wave by all Work-streams.
• Serve MTNN’s customers and provide solutions to improve the customer experience.
• Drive planned strategy for the successful delivery of MTN Group and MTNN transformation initiatives focusing on Customer centricity to reflect in a positive and improving Net Promoter Score.
• Develop/reform relationships with MTNN’s ecosystem partners to create value and transform MTNN’s revenue.
• Ensure that internal stakeholders are kept informed of the progress of the TO in achieving business targets.

Job Condition

• Normal MTNN working conditions.
• May be required to work extended hours.

Experience & Training

• First degree in any relevant discipline
• Fluent in English and language of country preferable
• Possession of Project Management certification or an MBA is advantageous
• With at least 3 years experience in relevant sector/ industry as per relevant role.
• Experience working in a global/multinational enterprise (understanding emerging markets advantageous)
• Proven project management or business analysis experience
• Strategic outlook and attention to detail
• High performing individual with strong standing, credibility across organization and a natural internal network.
• Strong analytical skills and sound business judgment.
• Excellent problem solving skills, ability to help others organize problem solving
• Excellent communication skills; strong networking and influencing skills.
• Experience creating and presenting presentations
• Knowledge of relevant software skills (e.g., Excel, PowerPoint, Wave) Training: Competitor Insights/Business Analytics.
• Programme Management.

Minimum Qualification    
BA, BEd, BEng, BSc, BTech, HND, LLB or BArch.

Application Closing Date
6th June, 2018.

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

Job Vacancy For HLS Engineer at MTN Nigeria

MTN Nigeria - The leader in telecommunications in Nigeria, and a part of a diverse community in Africa and the Middle East, our brand is instantly recognisable. It is through our compelling brand that we are able to attract the right talents who we carefully nurture by continuously improving our employment offerings even beyond reward and recognition.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: HLS Engineer

Location: Lagos
Employment Status: Permanent

job Description

• To handle and resolve all Switching Network related queries. Test and verify all new functionality both S/W & H/W and improve Network Performance
• Identify, analyse and plan for current and future needs of Network Operations in respect of high level support of network performance
• Implement, install and Integrate new nodes into Network as well as co-ordinate the calibration and repair of test equipment in the region.
• Implement all radio-related resolution once received from Head Office.
• Complete detailed Investigations on Cellular Network to optimize Network protocol layers and architecture (Includes SS7 signaling and AXE Plex Investigations) as well as New Functionality and Service testing as required
• Assist Radio Engineers/Optimization/Facilities on Implementation; and Support personnel and One-man-bands (OMBs) with clearing of complex faults.
• Provide auditing and mentorship of regional radio staff and ensure basic level of competency for the Radio Engineers is maintained by providing necessary informal training and guidance.
• Assist Head Office RHLS with the evaluation of new Global Systems for Mobile communications (GSM) radio equipment, configurations, software releases, test and peripheral equipment.
• Report radio-related problems in the network that cannot be resolved in the region to Head Office RHLS.
• Resolve all Networks related faults and issues that maybe required from Second line Operation and Maintenance (SMC/CNO/DCG).
• Control and Administer Customer Service Requests (CSR’s) to relevant Switching Element Supplier(s), as well as test and integrate software upgrades/releases from Suppliers.
• Provide information and instructions from Head Office RHLS to all relevant regional staff.
• Distribute new software to relevant regional staff and generate report and update RHLS Activity Database.

Job Condition

• Normal MTNN working conditions
• May be required to work extended hours
• National travel and a valid drivers license
• Prepared to Work overtime and some long shifts

Experience & Training

• First degree in Computer/Electrical/Electronics Engineering
• Minimum of 3years’ experience in an area of specialisation; with experience working with others
• Experience working in a medium organization
• Experience in Telecoms sector.
• Ericsson AXE /or EWSD switching experience is desirable

Minimum qualification

• BEd, BEng, BSc, BTech or HND

Application Closing Date
6th June, 2018.

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

Job Vacancy For Account Partner, Corporate (Supervisory) at MTN Nigeria

MTN Nigeria - The leader in telecommunications in Nigeria, and a part of a diverse community in Africa and the Middle East, our brand is instantly recognisable. It is through our compelling brand that we are able to attract the right talents who we carefully nurture by continuously improving our employment offerings even beyond reward and recognition.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: Account Partner, Corporate (Supervisory)

Location: Lagos

Job Description

• To provide professional account management inputs to the creation and maintenance of Enterprise Solutions sales strategy and plan that will deliver shareholder value.
• To direct enterprise sales efforts for allocated corporate accounts within the framework of agreed account development plans which meet operational targets for revenues, profitability and customer satisfaction.
• Increase MTN market share by achieving set target through the acquisition of new accounts as well as development and maintenance of current accounts.
• Account for the fulfilment of the sales process – from lead generation to bill delivery.
• Seek new clients and create more business opportunities daily, from existing clients so as to Increase company revenue.
• Conduct research on potential customers and their disposable income using the data mining system.
• Carry out continuous analysis of relevant industry, to identify new prospects or opportunities for the corporate sales department
• Prepare and present all corporate sales (weekly and monthly), contractual documentation and status reports according to MTN quality standards.
• Carry out continuous analysis of relevant industry, to identify new prospects or opportunities for the corporate sales department.
• Log all customer requests for service, queries and complaints, escalate and troubleshoot where necessary.
• Build an in-depth knowledge of the customers’ operating environment, business drivers, ambition, issues, problems and obstacles in order to develop and implement solutions to meet their strategic corporate needs
• Maintain excellent partnership-relationships with customers, based on trust and an in-depth understanding of the customers’ business
• Assist customers in understanding the value proposition and differentiations of the MTN data products and services.
• Ability to liaise with supervisors on discount issues
• Continuously seek self-professional development to sharpen skills and capabilities in a versatile and evolving digital landscape.
• Foster active collaboration and relationships with employees across all levels and divisions in line with MTN’s VB and values.

Job Condition:

• Normal MTNN working conditions
• May be required to work extended hours
• Open plan office

Experience & Training    
Education:

• First  degree in any related discipline
• Fluent in English

Experience:

• 3 - 7 years of experience in an area of specialisation; with experience with working with others
• Experience working in a medium  organization

Training:

• Internal conferences on telecommunications and consumer trends
• Sales Training
• Key Account Management Training
• Relationship Management
• Customer care/focus

Minimum Qualification

• BA, B.Ed, B.Sc or HND

Application Closing Date
12th June, 2018.

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

June 12 could be a big date for US-China ties — and not because of North Korea

source:cnbc
June 12 could be a big date for US-China ties — and not because of North Korea

A senior U.S. official is expected to attend a June 12 launch for the American Institute in Taiwan's new office in a move that could irritate China.
The non-profit organization operates as the de-facto U.S. embassy in Taipei and its new facility represents strengthened U.S.-Taiwan relations.
Beijing opposes other countries pursuing relations with the island.



The hot-and-cold relationship between the world's two largest economies could potentially take a turn for the worse on June 12. Not because of the anticipated U.S.-North Korea summit scheduled for that day, but due to a new office building in Taiwan.

The American Institute in Taiwan, a non-profit that operates as the de-facto U.S. embassy in Taipei, is set to launch its new office that day and a senior U.S. official — many theorize it could be National Security Advisor John Bolton — is widely expected to attend.

The $250 million facility is reportedly twice the size of the current building and represents a major strengthening of U.S.-Taiwan relations. But it could also add strain to a U.S.-China relationship that's already weighed down by trade tensions.


Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
President Donald Trump visits the Forbidden City with China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing on November 8, 2017.


The Asian powerhouse, which claims Taiwan under a policy known as "One China," opposes other countries pursuing relations with the self-ruled island. That means nations seeking ties with China must cut off diplomatic links with Taipei. Washington did that in 1979 but it created the American Institute, or AIT, the same year to maintain relations on an unofficial basis.

Trump's outreach to Taiwan, which includes a 2016 telephone call with President Tsai Ing-wen, increased arms sales and a law that ended restrictions on official travel between U.S. and Taiwanese officials, has already irked Beijing. That piece of legislation, according to the Chinese embassy in Washington, violated the political foundation of the Sino-U.S. relationship.

"[The U.S.] should therefore seize opportunities to signal its opposition to China's punitive tactics. Sending a senior U.S. official is one of those opportunities." -Richard Bush, Brookings Institution


Depending on which high-ranking White House employee attends the AIT launch, Beijing's displeasure could grow.

Not only is China unhappy "with the scope and scale of the U.S. relationship with Taiwan, particularly in the security field," the country "also objects to U.S. actions that suggest that its relationship with Taiwan is actually official," Richard Bush, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said in a recent note for the U.S.-based think tank: "If it had its way, it would probably prefer that Washington have a simple trade office in Taipei, as other countries have."

The new AIT compound was expected to house barracks for U.S. marines, according to Taiwanese media, but AIT director Kin Moy dismissed those reports in a May press conference. The de-facto ambassador said increased U.S. support for Taiwan did not mean Washington was changing its acknowledgment of the "One China" policy — despite Chinese media indicating otherwise.

Bush, a former AIT chairman, described how the institute has operated out of a complex built in the 1950s, noting that employees "have long deserved a new building."

China's intensifying crackdown on Tsai's administration may also influence the White House's decision on who to send to Taipei.

Fearful that Tsai will push for formal independence even though the 61 year-old has said she wants to maintain the status quo, Xi's government has been restricting the island's role in the international community and conducting provocative military exercises nearby.

China is also believed to be poaching Taiwan's allies using pledges of investment and financial assistance — last month, the Dominican Republic become the fourth country to cut ties with Taiwan since Tsai entered office.

The world's largest economy "should therefore seize opportunities to signal its opposition to China's punitive tactics," said Bush: "Sending a senior U.S. official is one of those opportunities."

Speaking over the weekend, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis reaffirmed Washington's commitment to Taiwan, stating that his department "remains steadfastly committed to working with Taiwan to provide the defense articles and services necessary to maintain sufficient self-defense."

US ambassador to Germany says he wants to 'empower' conservatives in Europe

source: cnbc
US ambassador to Germany says he wants to 'empower' conservatives in Europe

U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell said he wanted to "empower" conservatives in Europe, Breitbart News reported.
The ambassador added that "a lot of conservatives" in Europe had reached out to him about how they felt there was a "resurgence going on," Breitbart said.


Odd Andersen | AFP | Getty Images
U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell


U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell said he wanted to "empower" conservatives in Europe, right-wing media platform Breitbart News reported.

"I absolutely want to empower other conservatives throughout Europe, other leaders. I think there is a groundswell of conservative policies that are taking hold because of the failed policies of the left," Grenell told the conservative news site.

The ambassador added that "a lot of conservatives" in Europe had reached out to him about how they felt there was a "resurgence going on," Breitbart said.


The comments from Grenell, a former spokesman for the U.S. at the United Nations during the Bush administration, have drawn some criticism over his apparent line-crossing when it comes to diplomatic norms.

"When I raised concerns to Grenell about politicizing this post, he personally assured me that once he became Ambassador he would stay out of politics. This interview is awful - Ambassadors aren't supposed to "empower" any political party overseas," Chris Murphy, a Democratic U.S. Senator for the state of Connecticut, said in a tweet.

The U.S. State Department and Germany's embassy in Washington, D.C., did not reply to emailed requests for comment sent outside of regular working hours.

Grenell's comments also came at a time when ties between the U.S. and Germany, as well as other members of the European Union, have become increasingly fraught. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who former president Barack Obama once referred to as his "closest ally," has had a rocky relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Some took the ambassador's comments as an affront to Merkel's government: She leads a center-right party that has been on the defensive against a growing far-right movement.

Tensions between the U.S. and the European Union have also run high, most recently after Trump's administration decided to apply tariffs on steel and aluminum imports on the European Union.

Trump: 'I have the absolute right to PARDON myself'

 source: cnbc
Trump: 'I have the absolute right to PARDON myself'

President Trump said "I have the absolute right to PARDON myself."
But he suggested he wouldn't do that because "I have done nothing wrong."
Trump's lawyers argued that the president holds broad constitutional powers, including the power to pardon, in matters related to the special counsel's Russia probe.
Kevin Breuninger | @KevinWilliamB Published 2 Hours Ago Updated 4 Mins Ago CNBC.com


Trump: 'I have the absolute right to pardon myself' 6 Mins Ago | 01:00

President Donald Trump said Monday he has "the absolute right" to pardon himself — but added that he has "done nothing wrong."

The tweet followed The New York Times' publication of a confidential letter over the weekend, in which Trump's lawyers argued to special counsel Robert Mueller that the president's broad powers mean he could not have obstructed justice.

The 20-page letter also suggested that the president even wields the constitutional ability to exercise the pardon power in matters related to the special counsel's probe of the links between the Trump campaign and Russia.

The assertion that a U.S. president holds an "absolute" power to pardon himself was endorsed on Sunday by Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York and a current member of Trump's legal team.

In an ABC News interview, Giuliani said Trump "probably does" have the power to pardon himself, though "he has no intention" of doing so.

In word and action, Trump's latest uses of the pardon power could hold implications for how the president plans to act as the Russia probe, and the numerous lawsuits it has spawned, move forward.

Trump exercised his power to pardon last week for a sixth time, for conservative author and filmmaker Dinesh D'Souza, who was convicted of making an illegal campaign contribution. In a tweet, Trump said D'Souza "was treated very unfairly by our government!"

Later that day, Trump told reporters he was considering pardoning celebrity chef Martha Stewart and was considering commuting the sentence of ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich of Illinois. He said both also had been treated "unfairly."

Stewart was convicted in 2004 and sentenced to five months for a conviction related to a stock-selling scheme. Blagojevich, a Democrat, was sentenced in 2011 to 14 years in prison on corruption convictions, including trying to trade the Senate seat that became vacant when President Barack Obama went to the White House. Stewart and Blagojevich had ties to Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice" reality TV show.

But Trump's latest tweets suggest he may be considering pardons for the very people who could be offering information about him to federal investigators.

In just over a year, the special counsel has issued more than a dozen indictments, against Russians accused of working to affect the 2016 election as well as former Trump campaign officials, such as former campaign chief Paul Manafort.

Mueller's team has also secured guilty pleas from Trump's first national security advisor, Michael Flynn, and Manafort's longtime associate, Rick Gates, among others. Both men have agreed to fully cooperate with the probe.

No president has ever pardoned themselves. But a Justice Department memorandum from 1974 — shortly before the resignation of President Richard Nixon — asserted that the president did not possess such a power.

"Under the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case, the President cannot pardon himself," Mary Lawton, former acting assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Counsel, said in the memorandum.

Mark Osler, a former federal prosecutor who runs a commutations clinic at the University of St. Thomas, said the most controversial legal question is not the pardon itself, but what comes after.

"He can issue himself a pardon warrant. There is nothing to stop him from doing so," Osler said. The question is what happens next. It could that it could not be challenged until a prosecutor presented a charge against him, and he relied on the Pardon as a defense."

Trump attacked the legal legitimacy of the special counsel in a follow-up tweet. Mueller's team, which was appointed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in May 2017, is "totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL," Trump said.

The president maintained in both tweets that he has done "nothing wrong."

Numerous Trump campaign associates and other individuals have been interviewed as part of Mueller's investigation. While Trump has previously said he would like to participate in an interview, the letter argues that the special counsel must meet a high standard to prove that only the president himself could provide the information they seek.

The special counsel is also looking into whether an obstruction of justice occurred as part of the investigations into Russian meddling and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.

But Trump's lawyers contend in the letter that the commander in chief "could neither constitutionally nor legally constitute obstruction because that would amount to him obstructing himself, and that he could, if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon if he so desired."

A spokesman for the special counsel declined to comment on Trump's tweets. The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.

--CNBC's Tucker Higgins contributed to this report.

WORLD NEWS: US trade policy 'deplorable', rages Japan

US trade policy 'deplorable', rages Japan
source: AFP

 GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File / SCOTT OLSON US tariffs could have a 'grave impact' on ties, warns Japan

US-imposed trade tariffs on its close allies could have a "grave impact" on ties and the world trading system, the Japanese government said Monday, describing the situation as "extremely deplorable".

Washington found itself isolated at a weekend meeting of G7 finance ministers over its stinging steel and aluminium tariffs and Tokyo kept up the barrage in unusually strong language.

"It is extremely deplorable that the situation has not improved even after Japan has explained to the US its concerns at various levels," said government spokesman Yoshihide Suga.

Close allies Tokyo and Washington have been at loggerheads over trade policy after the US refused to give Japan an exemption from the tariffs, which came into effect on Friday.

"The US government's trade measures, citing its security, makes us concerned that they could disrupt the global market," Suga told reporters.

"On top of that, we think that it may have a grave impact on the economic cooperation between the allies Japan and the United States and on the whole multilateral trading system under the WTO (World Trade Organization) rules."

The trade row has cast a shadow over the relationship between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump, who have forged otherwise close ties.

Last month, Tokyo informed the WTO it had the right to impose tariffs worth 50 billion yen ($456 million) on American goods -- equivalent to the impact of the US tariffs newly imposed on Japanese steel and aluminium products.

According to the most recent data, Japan's trade surplus with the US was 615.7 billion yen in April ($5.6 billion), a gain of 4.7 percent on higher demand for cars and construction machinery.

WORLD NEWS: Curry sinks NBA Finals record 9 3-pointers in Warriors romp

Curry sinks NBA Finals record 9 3-pointers in Warriors romp
source: AFP

 GETTY/AFP / Lachlan Cunningham Stephen Curry finished by shooting 11-of-26 from the floor, 9-of-17 from 3-point range with seven rebounds and eight assists as the Golden State Warriors beat Cleveland 122-103

Defending champion Golden State moved to two wins from a third title in four seasons Sunday with Warriors guard Stephen Curry sinking an NBA Finals record nine 3-pointers in a 122-103 rout of Cleveland.

Curry scored 33 points on 11-of-26 shooting from the floor, hitting 9-of-17 from 3-point range, with seven rebounds and eight assists as Golden State seized a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven championship series.

"To be on top of that 3-point list is pretty special," Curry said.

"Pretty special night. And hopefully some more special things happen when we get two more wins."

The Warriors, who never trailed, can sweep the series with wins in Cleveland on Wednesday and Friday.

Curry, a 30-year-old guard, broke the old mark of eight 3-pointers in a finals game set by Ray Allen of Boston in 2010.

"He was tremendous," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "Nine threes and seemed to hit the big shot every time we needed one. Yeah, he was fantastic."

Curry scored 16 points in the fourth quarter, including a corner 3-pointer, a desperation heave from 35 feet and the record breaker from the left side with 3:30 remaining.

"He makes tough shots. That's what he does," Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said. "Once he releases it, (if) he sees the basket, he usually makes it."


GETTY/AFP / EZRA SHAW Cavaliers superstar LeBron James netted 29 points with 13 assists and nine rebounds, but it wasn't enough to stop Golden State winning 122-103


Kevin Durant added 26 points, Klay Thompson had 20 and JaVale McGee added 12 to spark the Warriors.

Cavaliers superstar LeBron James netted 29 points with 13 assists and nine rebounds while Kevin Love added 22 points and 10 rebounds, but Cleveland came no closer than five points in the second half.

"It sucks to lose," a grim-faced James said. "It sucks when you go out there and you give it everything that you have and you prep and your mind is in it and your body is in it and you come out on the losing end."

- 'Just getting started' -

The Cavaliers and Warriors are meeting for the fourth consecutive NBA Finals, with Golden State having won titles in 2015 and 2017 while Cleveland captured the 2016 crown, rallying from a 3-1 deficit in the greatest comeback in finals history.

"We're happy with the way we played," Kerr said. "But we know this is just getting started."

After an overtime opener loss James called one of the worst defeats of his career, the Cavaliers couldn't play Golden State as close, Curry and his teammates thwarting every threat.


GETTY/AFP / Lachlan Cunningham Kevin Love (L) of the Cleveland Cavaliers defends against Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors

"You definitely notice the looks on their faces when he hit some of the shots," Warriors forward Draymond Green said of the Cavaliers.

"It was like dagger after dagger. Play great defense and he pulled up and hit a three in your face. You definitely notice the effect that it has on the opposing team."

Cavs guard J.R. Smith, whose late-game blunder in the opener denied Cleveland a potential winning shot, was greeted with a standing ovation by Warriors fans and chants of "M-V-P" when he went to the free throw line.

Smith went 2-of-9 from the floor and scored only five points in what he called a "terrible" performance, but said the crowd wasn't a factor.

"I'm always a person the fans like to heckle. I like it," Smith said. "I'd rather them do that than not acknowledge me at all. I appreciate it."

"We have confidence in J.R," Lue said. "He's got to keep taking his shots.

- Curry's 'Dagger shot' -

"In that third quarter I thought we did a good job," Lue added. "We did a great job of attacking offensively and playing more physically defensively. I was proud of our guys the way we competed. We could have let go of the rope down 13."

Cleveland pulled within five points three times in the third quarter but the Warriors carried a 90-80 lead after three quarters.

"You've got to withstand that kind of stuff and keep playing and keep going," Kerr said. "Our guys did a good job of that."

James opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer but Curry followed with back-to-back 3-pointers for a 96-83 Warriors edge and sank a desperation heave for a 103-89 edge.

"That was kind of like a dagger shot," teammate Thompson said.

US first lady not going to Canada, Singapore: spokeswoman

US first lady not going to Canada, Singapore: spokeswoman
source: AFP

AFP/File / SAUL LOEB US First Lady Melania Trump was hospitalized in May, undergoing an embolization procedure for a "benign" kidney condition

US First Lady Melania Trump will not accompany the president to the Group of Seven summit in Canada, nor to planned North Korea nuclear talks in Singapore, her spokeswoman said Sunday.

"She will not attend the G7 and there are no plans for her to travel to Singapore at this time," Stephanie Grisham told AFP.

Melania Trump was hospitalized in May, undergoing an embolization procedure for a "benign" kidney condition, according to Grisham.

Embolization is most frequently used to cut off the flow of blood to a tumor or growth.

The first lady has not participated in a public event since returning from the hospital in mid-May.

She sought to quell speculation about her health last week, tweeting that she was "feeling great" and was at the White House "working hard on behalf of children and the American people!"

WORLD NEWS: Eminem fuels Nicki Minaj dating rumors

Eminem fuels Nicki Minaj dating rumors
source: AFP

 GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File / KEVIN WINTER, Angela WEISS Teasing or for real? Eminem fuels speculation he is dating Nicki Minaj

Eminem on Sunday fueled rumors that he was dating Nicki Minaj, creating an ultimate hip-hop power couple -- and one which few would have anticipated.

Eminem, the top-selling rapper of all time, addressed speculation of the relationship as he headlined the Governors Ball festival in New York -- although his phrasing was odd enough to leave lingering doubts.

"I'm going to tell you something about Nicki that she don't even know," Eminem told the crowd.

"We go together!" he said to cheers. "That's all I wanted to say. Thank you for letting me get that off my chest."

Minaj, one of the most influential women in hip-hop, suggested a relationship with Eminem late last month when she contributed a verse to the song "Big Bank" by rapper YG.

"Told 'em I met Slim Shady / Bag the Em / Once he go black he'll be back again," she said, using one of the alter ego character names of the white rapper.

Posting the verse on Instagram, Minaj was asked by a fan whether she was in fact dating Eminem and she replied, "Yes."

But the unusually direct response stirred social media chatter that the relationship was little more than teasing between the two, and Eminem was coy on the subject when addressing an earlier concert.

Eminem, 45, has generated headlines for his turbulent personal life -- and often violent lyricism about women -- since he emerged in the 1990s. He twice married and divorced Kim Scott, his high school sweetheart from Michigan.

The Trinidad-born Minaj, 35, last year said she had ended a two-year relationship with fellow rapper Meek Mill.

The eight-year-old Governors Ball drew some 150,000 people over three days to the city's tiny Randall's Island. Other performers included garage rocker Jack White, boisterous rap star Travis Scott and fast-rising pop singer Halsey.

WORLD NEWS: Ex-sex worker made a dame in New Zealand honours list

Ex-sex worker made a dame in New Zealand honours list
source: AFP

AFP/File / Olga MALTSEVA Prostitution has been legal in New Zealand since 2003, thanks to a campaign spearheaded by Catherine Healy, who has now been recognised in the Queen's Birthday honours list

A former sex worker was made a dame in the Queen's Birthday honours list in New Zealand on Monday, in recognition of her services to the sex industry.

Catherine Healy was instrumental in bringing about New Zealand's 2003 decriminalising of sex work and the introduction of some of the most liberal prostitution laws in the world.

But the 62-year-old said she was surprised at the honour, which officially makes her a dame companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

"It's not something I would have expected," she told Radio New Zealand.

"In fact, I always say I expect to be arrested at dawn, not to have this kind of tremendous honour and I was just very affected, very touched."

Healy has led the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective since 1989 and her honours citation said she had built it "into a globally respected public health provider".

She spearheaded the campaign for the 2003 law reform which allowed brothels and street workers to operate legally.

The reform meant sex workers were covered by employment, health and safety laws, giving them rights they had never previously enjoyed.

Healy said her new title showed how much attitudes had changed.

"This honour, and to have it given to me, is about saying, 'Okay, it's okay, you can come in from the cold, you and yours'," she told the national broadcaster.

New Zealand awards honours twice a year -- at New Year and to mark the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II in early June.

Other recipients honoured on Monday included former prime minister Bill English, who was made a knight.

WORLD NEWS: China 'regrets' EU challenge at WTO

China 'regrets' EU challenge at WTO
source: AFP

AFP/File / Johannes EISELE The EU has accused China of unfairly requiring foreign firms to hand over their technology to Chinese companies

China voiced regret over the European Union's decision to lodge an intellectual property rights complaint at the World Trade Organization, just as Beijing is embroiled in a similar dispute with Washington.

The EU brought the challenge to the WTO on Friday, accusing Beijing of unfairly requiring foreign firms to hand over their technology to Chinese companies in order to do business in China.

"China expresses regret over the EU launching the complaint and will properly handle it according to the WTO dispute settlement procedures," China's Ministry of Commerce said in a statement published late Sunday.

"The Chinese government has always attached great importance to the protection of intellectual property rights and has adopted many powerful measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of domestic and foreign intellectual property rights holders."

Foreign companies need to form joint ventures with local companies to do business in the massive Chinese market, which often involves sharing their technology and know-how.

US allegations that China steals company secrets are at the heart of the ongoing trade dispute between the world's two biggest economies.

Washington launched its own WTO challenge over alleged Chinese IP breaches on March 23.

The two countries have held a series of negotiations aimed at averting a trade war.

US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He held talks at the weekend, which ended with Beijing warning that any deals would be void if Washington follows through on threats to impose massive tariffs on Chinese goods.

North Korea 'military reshuffle' raises eyebrows in Seoul

North Korea 'military reshuffle' raises eyebrows in Seoul
source: AFP

 AFP / Ed JONES Reports say the North Korean reshuffle could be aimed at taming the influential military

South Korea is monitoring developments in the North's armed forces, it said Monday after reports Pyongyang replaced three of its top military officials ahead of a summit with the United States.

President Donald Trump is due to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore, with Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal high on the agenda.

Reports said the reshuffle could be aimed at eliminating resistance to the peace overtures.

Pyongyang's armed forces, known as the Korean People's Army, are immensely influential in the North and a centre of power in their own right, symbolised by the way Kim is habitually flanked by generals on one side and civilians on the other when attending major ceremonial events.

Late last month the North's state media revealed that Kim Su Gil had been appointed director of the military's powerful General Political Bureau (GPB), replacing Kim Jong Gak.

According to Yonhap news agency, which cited intelligence sources, the chief of the general staff Ri Myong Su has also been replaced by his deputy, Ri Yong Gil.

Defence minister Pak Yong Sik has been succeeded by No Kwang Chol, previously first vice minister, it added.

The wholesale reshuffle would be unusual if confirmed, Seoul's unification ministry said.

"We will monitor related developments," ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun told reporters.

According to researchers at NK Leadership Watch, the change at the top of the GPB "represents a continuation of tightening Party control over the KPA".

The political bureau could be in a position to resist policy decisions by the leadership or try to profit from future South Korean economic aid, it said.

"Both of these things lend themselves to creating alternate power centres," it noted.

But new GPB director Kim Su Gil was a "highly trusted" lieutenant of leader Kim Jong Un, it added, who appointed him to the Pyongyang party committee -- once a power base for his uncle Jang Song Thaek -- after having the older man executed for treason in 2013.

- Hardliners vs moderates? -

Reports said the wider changes could be aimed at preventing objections in the North's senior military ranks to any sudden changes in the country's nuclear policy.

The country remains technically at war after hostilities in the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, and Kim's father and predecessor Kim Jong Il expounded a "Songun" or "military-first" policy that is a foundational plank of the North's ideology.

Pyongyang has long argued that it needs nuclear weapons to protect itself against a possible invasion by the US.

Yonhap cited the intelligence source as saying No Kwang Chol, the new defence minister, was known as a "moderate".

"The North appears to have brought in new figures... as the previous officials lacked flexibility in thinking," the source said.

But analysts said the personnel change was more likely a response to an internal matter.

"It's meaningless to divide North Korean officials into hardliners and moderates," said Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University.

The personnel change was probably intended to implement the new economy-centred policies, he said, and officials with a better understanding in the area had been appointed.

No had formerly overseen the military's financial issues as the chair of the Second Economy Commission, Kim said.

"It looks like they needed someone who can have a firm grip on the military and dynamically push ahead with the new policies amid changes in US-North Korea relations," he added.

Search for missing after Guatemala volcano kills 25

Search for missing after Guatemala volcano kills 25
source: AFP

AFP / ORLANDO ESTRADA Guatemala's Fuego volcano erupts

Emergency workers will resume the search on Monday for Guatemalans missing after the eruption of the Fuego volcano, which belched out clouds of ash and flows of lava and left at least 25 people dead.

The volcano expelled hot muddy material that caused the deaths -- including of several children -- in communities located on its southern slope, disaster agency spokesman David de Leon said in a WhatsApp group.


AFP / NOE PEREZ Police officers carry a man injured by the eruption of Guatemala's Fuego volcano


Search and rescue operations were suspended due to low light and dangerous conditions, but were to resume early on Monday morning, he said.

The Institute of Volcanology said the eruption ended after over 16 hours of activity, but warned that it could resume again and recommended precautionary measures be maintained.

The eruption of the 3,763-meter (12,346-foot) volcano sent ash billowing over the surrounding area, turning plants and trees gray and blanketing streets, cars and people.


AFP / HO A picture released by the Guatemalan National Army shows soldiers evacuating a victim of the eruption of Guatemala's Fuego volcano

Farmers covered in ash fled for their lives as civil defense workers tried to relocate them to shelters during the event.

"This time we were saved; in another (eruption) no," said Efrain Gonzalez, 52, sitting on the floor of a shelter in the city of Escuintla, where he arrived with his wife and one-year-old daughter after fleeing the hard-hit El Rodeo community.

Gonzalez was overwhelmed with despair, as two more of his children, aged 10 and four, are missing. They were trapped in their home, which was flooded with hot mud that descended from the volcano.

National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred) chief Sergio Cabanas did not rule out the number of dead increasing, as there are "missing persons, but we do not know how many."

- Thousands evacuated, airport closed -

Cabanas said that the eruption also left 20 injured and affected more than 1.7 million people.

President Jimmy Morales and his government declared three days of mourning and a state of emergency for Escuintla, Chimaltenango and Sacatepequez, which must still be ratified by Congress.


 AFP / John SAEKI Guatemala volcano


Hundreds of personnel from the police, Red Cross and military have been dispatched to support emergency operations, Morales said.

Cabanas said that the dead included a civil protection official.

Some 3,000 people were evacuated due to the eruption, which affected rural communities around the volcano as well as Antigua Guatemala, a colonial-era town very popular with tourists in the Central American country, he said.


Guatemala National Army/AFP / HO A picture released by the Guatemalan National Army shows soldiers at the International airport in Guatemala City cleaning ash spewed out by the eruption of the Fuego volcano

Dense ash blasted out by the volcano shut down Guatemala City's international airport, civil aviation said.

People were working to clean ash off the runways to get the airport operating again.

The eruption is the second major one this year from the peak, following another that subsided at the beginning of February after sending ash towering 1.7 kilometers into the sky.

A September 2012 eruption of the volcano saw 10,000 people evacuated, while another in February 2015 forced the closure of the capital's main airport.

Apart from the Fuego volcano, there are two other active volcanos in Guatemala. One of them, Pacaya, is just 20 kilometers from Guatemala City.

All Blacks call up injury cover ahead of France Test

All Blacks call up injury cover ahead of France Test
source: AFP

AFP/File / Christiaan Kotze Sam Whitelock, who is struggling to shake off concussion, is one of the All Blacks on a growing sick list ahead of the first Test against France

The All Blacks called up injury cover for their forward pack Monday as the world champions' sick list grows ahead of the first Test against France on Saturday.

Locks Luke Romano and Tom Franklin, along with loose forward Matt Todd were called into the New Zealand camp in Auckland.

Romano and Franklin are set to replace Brodie Retallick, who has a torn pectoral muscle, and Sam Whitelock, who is struggling to shake off concussion.

"I can't say anything definite about Brodie, other than he won't be playing Saturday," coach Steve Hansen said, adding he was still hopeful Whitelock would start.

Todd will stand in for Sam Cane if an abdominal strain prevents the flanker from playing against France.

There are also question marks over the fitness of Jordan Taufua, Jack Goodhue and Ryan Crotty, while Kieran Read, Sonny Bill Williams, Patrick Tuipulotu and Dane Coles are all out of the series.

In some good news for the New Zealanders, Liam Squire has been cleared to play after the SANZAAR judiciary threw out a striking charge against him.

The judiciary found Wellington Hurricanes half-back TJ Perenara fell just as Squire committed to a tackle and dismissed the charge.

Ex-Arsenal footballer Kanu robbed of $11,000 at Moscow airport: agency

Ex-Arsenal footballer Kanu robbed of $11,000 at Moscow airport: agency
source: AFP

 AFP/File / Kanu was robbed as he transferred to a flight to Kaliningrad at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, the state news agency reported Sunday

Former Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu had $11,000 (9,300 euros) stolen from his suitcase at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport on his way to playing in a friendly match organised by FIFA, TASS reported.

Kanu, 41, who captained the Nigerian national team and played for Arsenal and Inter Milan, was robbed as he transferred to a flight to Kaliningrad at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport after arriving from London, the state news agency reported Sunday.

TASS quoted Russian police as saying that they detained two baggage handlers who were unloading luggage from the London flight and stole the money from checked-in luggage.

"The stolen money has been confiscated and will shortly be returned to its owner," police spokeswoman Irina Volk said. Police confirmed to TASS that the luggage belonged to Kanu.

Moscow and Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave, will both host World Cup matches in a tournament that will see thousands of international fans travelling between the 11 host cities. Starting Monday, fans with tickets can travel to Russia visa-free. The first teams will also arrive in Russia this week.

Kanu played in Kaliningrad in a special "Relive the Legends" friendly match on Sunday as part of a team of FIFA Legends against a team of Russian veterans. Kanu's team won 6-4.

Sheremetyevo saw a similar crime in March when a baggage handler was arrested and admitted stealing 56,000 euros from a package belonging to a Moscow bank.

Seven killed in Kabul suicide blast near clerics' gathering

Seven killed in Kabul suicide blast near clerics' gathering
source: AFP

AFP/File / WAKIL KOHSAR Militants are stepping up their headline-grabbing assaults on the heavily fortified capital

At least seven people were killed in a suicide bombing Monday near a gathering of top clerics in Afghanistan's capital Kabul, roughly one hour after the group proclaimed such attacks a sin, police said.

The blast in the western part of the city, near universities and a police academy, is the latest demonstration of the militants' chilling ability to carry out attacks in the heart of Kabul, which is now the deadliest place in the country for civilians.

The bomber detonated at about 11.30 am (0700 GMT) at the gates of Kabul's Polytechnic University, police and officials said. The Loya Jirga tent where thousands of clerics from across Afghanistan were meeting is on the campus.

The tent is a huge venue often used for top religious or government gatherings. "Loya Jirga" means "grand assembly" in Pashto.

Most of the casualties were civilians.

"According to our initial information, seven people have been killed including a policeman. Nine others have been injured, including two policemen," police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai told media.

Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish confirmed it was a suicide attack, and said the bomber had been on foot when he detonated his explosives at the university gate.


AFP / Laurence CHU Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish confirmed it was a suicide attack


Police spokesman Stanikzai said the blast was outside the tent.

No group has claimed the attack, but the Taliban issued a statement on Twitter saying its fighters had "nothing to do" with the bombing.

Both the Taliban and the Islamic State group have stepped up their headline-grabbing assaults on the heavily fortified capital in recent months.

Roads around the university were quickly blocked by security officials after the blast, with heavy traffic jams building in the city as many commuters headed home due to Ramadan, the holy Islamic fasting month, during which government offices close early.

Shortly after the first blast, a second explosion was heard, but police said it was a sticky bomb in a market several kilometres away which wounded an unspecified number of civilians.

- Civilians bearing the brunt -

Local media said thousands of clerics had gathered at the Loya Jirga tent for the meeting of the Ulema Council, Afghanistan's top religious leaders.

Roughly an hour before the attack, they issued a fatwa against the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, where the Taliban have been fighting an insurgency against government forces for nearly 17 years, while other militant groups have also been carrying out attacks.

The Ulema Council -- seen by the militants as having some links to the government -- termed suicide attacks and explosions "haram", or prohibited in Islam. They have issued such fatwas in the past.

"Executing, financing and supporting such acts are against Sharia law," they said in a statement tweeted by the government.

Fighting in the name of jihad in Afghanistan, where the majority of the population is Muslim, has "no legitimacy" in Islam, they added, calling for peace talks.

"As the war in which tens of people die on a daily basis is prolonged... then both sides, the government and the Taliban, should come to the negotiation table and put an end to the calamity."

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in late February proposed peace talks with the Taliban. The group has not officially responded, but deadly attacks have proliferated since then, particularly in Kabul.

The capital accounted for 16 percent of all civilian casualties last year, when 1,831 civilians were killed or wounded nationwide, according to the United Nations.

The myriad attacks since 2017 included two of the deadliest in the city since the US invasion: a truck bomb on May 31, 2017 that killed more than 150 people, and an ambulance bomb on January 27 this year which killed more than 100.

The UN has warned that 2018 could be even deadlier.

Many fearful residents have restricted their movements as a result, afraid to linger in bazaars or to become trapped in traffic during rush hour, a prime time for attacks.

WORLD NEWS: Netanyahu heads to Europe seeking tougher line on Iran

Netanyahu heads to Europe seeking tougher line on Iran
source: AFP

 POOL/AFP / Sebastian Scheiner Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embarks on a three-day European tour in Germany on Monday with strategic differences on Iran set to dominate as leaders attempt to rescue the nuclear deal after US withdrawal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embarks Monday on a three-day European tour in Germany set to be dominated by strategic differences on Iran, as leaders attempt to rescue the nuclear deal after the US withdrawal.

With partners in Berlin, Paris and London still reeling from President Donald Trump's decision last month to exit the hard-fought 2015 accord, Netanyahu is expected to seek European cooperation on a still-to-be-determined Plan B.

"I will meet with three leaders and I will raise two issues there: Iran and Iran," Netanyahu said as he left Israel, calling for "increased pressure" on Tehran over its nuclear programme.

"It could be that there is not full agreement on this at the moment but in my opinion, such an understanding will take shape," he said.

Germany, France and Britain are three of the signatories of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between world powers and Iran, aimed at keeping Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu, who has railed against the deal which offers sanctions relief in exchange for strict limits on Iran's nuclear activities, will hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin in the late afternoon, followed by a joint news conference.

He will continue on to Paris for meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday and British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday.

- 'Not perfect' -

In the face of the US retreat, all three European leaders strongly defend the agreement as the best way to head off a regional arms race and have vowed with Russia and China, the two other signatory countries, to keep it alive.


POOL/AFP / Sebastian Scheiner Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives to chair a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem ahead of a European tour set to be dominated by strategic differences on Iran


German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas huddled with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Thursday and insisted that Berlin "wants to maintain the nuclear agreement and make sure Iran maintains it too".

At the same news conference, Wang launched an unvarnished attack on US reliability in global affairs under Trump.

"It is a truism of international law that international accords must be respected... (and) major countries must set an example, not do the opposite," he said.

Supporters also fear the reimposition of US sanctions could hit European firms that have done business with Iran since the accord was signed.

Merkel has acknowledged that while European powers see the JCPOA as the best guarantee against an Iran with nuclear weapons, it is "not perfect".

The Europeans have proposed hammering out a supplementary deal with Tehran covering its ballistic missile programme as well as its interventions in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

Western powers view Iran's meddling as destabilising for the region while Israel sees it as a direct threat to its existence.

Netanyahu said Monday that he sought agreement with European partners "on blocking Iran's aggression in the region, especially its attempts to establish a military presence against us in Syria and attack us from there".

Foes Iran and Israel have been kept at bay for decades. However, an unprecedented May 10 escalation in Syria that saw Israel bomb alleged Iranian targets after blaming Tehran for a rocket barrage has sparked fears of open war.

Israel is considered the leading military power in the Middle East and believed to be the only country in the region to possess nuclear weapons.

- Far-right 'minimising Holocaust' -

The visit to Germany, traditionally Israel's closest European ally due to the enduring responsibility Berlin accepts for the Holocaust, comes at a time of further diplomatic tensions.

Merkel has repeatedly criticised expanding Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory as destructive to long-thwarted hopes for a two-state solution.

Berlin has nevertheless defended Israel's right to retaliate against rocket attacks from Gaza amid the worst military flare-up in the beleaguered Palestinian enclave since a 2014 war.

Netanyahu accused Iran last week of "encouraging" Hamas and other militant Gaza groups in the violence.

Meanwhile Merkel has vowed in recent months to fight a resurgence of anti-Semitism in Germany stemming from homegrown extremists and the massive influx of Muslim asylum seekers since 2015.

Alexander Gauland, a leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany, the biggest opposition party in parliament, unleashed a storm of protest at the weekend when he described the Nazi period and the Holocaust as little more than a "speck of bird shit in over 1,000 years of successful German history".