Monday, July 9, 2018

Job Vacancy For Operations Specialist at Deloitte Nigeria

Deloitte is the largest private professional services network in the world. Every day, approximately 263,900 professionals in more than 150 countries demonstrate their commitment to a single vision: to be the standard of excellence, while working towards one purpose to make an impact that matters.

Deloitte West Africa is a cluster of Deloitte offices that has joined together to provide seamless cross-border services to our clients in the region and to pass on the benefits of scale and access to resources that this organization can generate. Our West Africa practice serves multinationals, large national enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises and the public sector across these regions: Nigeria and Ghana.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Operations Specialist

Requisition code: NG153421VA
Location: Abuja
Direct Report: Director, Finance, Operations and Compliance
Business Unit: General

Programme Description

Deloitte is leading a power sector transformation programme which has been established by a development agency to support reform within Nigeria’s power sector.
Key objectives of the reform programme include addressing gas to power challenges, competitive procurement of clean and conventional energy, utility distribution sector reform, and off-grid electricity access.
Ideally, the project will enable 10,000 MW of new-rehabilitated electricity generation capacity, and 3 million new electricity connections, enabling reliable and affordable electricity access to millions of people for the first time.

Position Description

The Operations Specialist is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day activities at the project office in Abuja and managing the Operations Team (HR Manager, Admin Assistants, and Procurement Specialist, etc.).
Mostly, this individual should delegate tasks effectively and manage project personnel and resources so that all project operations can run smoothly.

Responsibilities

Oversee office operations and day-to-day activities in an organized fashion, and effectively manage the Operations Team, which consists of the HR Manager, Procurement Specialist, Administrative Assistant(s), and any other personnel deemed necessary by project leadership, to ensure all tasks are being addressed and handled properly
Delegate tasks to members of the Operations Team and consistently check in with them to ensure progress and assist where needed. As part of this, the Office Manager will ultimately be held accountable for the successful competition of work by the Operations Team.
Liaise with project leadership and technical leads to ensure their operational and logistics needs are met.
Schedule and coordinate All-Hands team meetings and be the owner/enforcer of all office procedures (i.e., timesheet submissions, leave requests, performance evaluation meetings, general office space expectations, etc.).
During flux times where workload is high, fill in where needed on the Operations Team to make sure day-to-day activities can continue to run smoothly or project leadership to see what additional support they require

Requirements
Educational Requirements

Applicants into senior roles are expected to have either a minimum of either an MS/MA/MBA with at least 6 years of relevant experience; a BS/BA degree with at least 7 years of relevant experience or a degree less than a BS/BA with at least 8 years of experience.
For junior roles, applicants are expected to have a minimum of either an MS/MA/MBA, a BS/BA degree or a degree less than a BS/BA with at least 3 years of experience.

Required Skills:

Skills with use of Microsoft Word Office Suite, such as Word and Excel
Strong quantitative and analytical skills
Collaborative worker and team building ability
Experience with advanced computer systems, such as Oracle, Sales force, HTML
Able to work under a flexible schedule
Knowledge of content management systems

Leadership / Behavioural Capabilities:

Living our Purpose - Acts as a role model, embracing and living our purpose and values, and recognizing others for the impact they make
Influence - Influences clients, teams, and individuals positively, leading by example and establishing confident relationships with increasingly senior people
Performance drive - Delivers exceptional client service; maximizes results and drives high performance from people while fostering collaboration across businesses and borders
Strategic direction - Understands key objectives for clients and Deloitte, aligns people to objectives and sets priorities and direction
Talent development - Develops high-performing people and teams through challenging and meaningful opportunities
Competitive Edge - Applies deep knowledge of disruptive trends and competitor activity to drive continuous improvement
Inspirational Leadership - Establishes a strong leadership brand and inspires followership through passion, integrity, and appreciation of others.

Benefits

At Deloitte, we know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and offer employees a broad range of benefits.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

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

Massive Procter & Gamble Plant Technician Internship Programme 2018

Procter and Gamble is one of the largest FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) company in the world with strong brands like Pampers, Ariel, Always, Gillette and Oral B just to name a few. We have been in existence for over 179 years globally and 24 years in Nigeria.

Applications are invited for:

Title: Plant Technician Internship Program - Product Supply

Ref No: MFG00005776
Location: Ibadan, Oyo
Schedule Full-time

Job Description

P&G Plant Technician Internships: The P&G plant technician internship program provides student with training and valuable work experience.
Successful candidate will work in the P&G Manufacturing plant in Ibadan. Candidates will be required to work on a full-time basis where they will be given all necessary tools to build their capability.
The key focus will be to develop candidate towards qualifying as Production Technicians at a world-class facility.
Successful completion of the internship program will offer the candidate a stronger chance of full time employment with P&G in the short and long run

What does P&G Offer?

Investment in your continuous learning and growth
Creating a Personal Development Plan together
Meaningful work experience from Day 1
Exposure to manufacturing standard practices in a world-class facility
Competitive pay
A great manager determined to invest in onboarding & early development plans
A high-performing and stimulating work environment
Diverse experience working with multi-cultural teams
Exciting work experience and employee engagement programs

Qualifications

Applicant must have completed OND in Electrical Electronic engineering ONLY- Any higher qualification will be rejected.
Applicant must have a fresh IT letter approved by the school authority
Leadership and willingness to challenge the status quo
Medically and physically fit to operate in a manufacturing environment
Excellent analytical skills

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

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

Massive Access Bank Entry-level Graduate Trainee Programme 2018

Access Bank Plc is a financial institution with presence in 9 countries in Africa and the United Kingdom and in all major cities in Nigeria. Also referred to as the Africa's Bank of Best Practise, Access Bank operates on a platform of strong ethics, governance and professionalism.

Applications are invited for:

Access Bank Entry-level Training Programme 2018

Location: Democratic Republic of Congo

Description

Are you driven, confident and enthusiastic about the banking industry?
Would you like to make your passion your career?
Are you willing to join us in our journey to becoming a world-class financial institution? The Access Entry Level Training Programme is just for YOU!
Your career journey with us starts with a 4-month intensive training program at the School of Banking Excellence, giving you an opportunity to be trained with other high caliber applicants.

Requirements

A graduate with a minimum of a second class upper division from a university acceptable to the bank, NYSC certificate and a maximum age of 24 years for Bachelor degree holders, 26 years for lawyers with a law degree.
A graduate with a minimum of a second class lower from a university acceptable to the bank, NYSC certificate,a Masters' degree from top tier Universities acceptable to the Bank and a maximum age of 26 years.

Benefits

In our quest to retain the best pool of exceptional talents in the industry, the Bank consistently rewards high-performing employees and teams with adequate monetary and non-monetary compensation.
This practice has had a significant impact in spurring our people to greater personal and organizational achievement.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

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

Massive Cadwell Limited Graduate Talent Pipeline Programme 2018

Cadwell Limited, a foremost Real Estate Group of Companies seeks to employ fresh graduates for its Talent Pipeline Program.

We invite applications from suitably qualified candidates for the:

2018 Cadwell Limited Talent Pipeline Programme

Location: Lagos

Description
Who we are looking for

We are looking for fresh talent – young responsible graduates with ambition, drive and a curious mind who are inspired by a working environment that is inclusive, courageous, resilient and values innovation and teamwork.
To be considered for the program, you will have to be a graduate of any of the below fields from a reputable university in Nigeria or abroad with a strong academic background and minimum GPA of 3.5 or a Second Class Upper Division.
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Architecture
- Law
- Estate Management and
- Economics
Must have completed NYSC
Must not be older than 25 years of age
Have a natural knack for knowledge seeking and resilient
Demonstrate leadership capabilities gained through volunteer, community or extra-curricular activities
Ability to multi-task with regular interruptions
Must be hardworking and a “curious thinker”
Must be a strong communicator with ability to connect with people at all levels

Application Closing Date
25th July, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Applications to: tpp@cadwellltd.com

Application Requirements
Applicants must submit the following:

Personal Statement & Cover Letter - No longer than three pages that exemplifies the applicant's best writing and is business-appropriate. This should include why you are interested in pursuing a career with the Westfoster Group and why you have chosen to apply for the Executive Training Program. (Published items are NOT welcome)
A resume
University Transcript
Copy of International Passport (bio-data page) or Birth Certificate
Letters of recommendation - Two signed letters should come from someone who knows you and can confidently comment on your capabilities & character in the corporate world: a current/former supervisor, a professor, advisor, or someone comparable. Preferably they should be on letterhead with an original signature.

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Massive Cadwell Limited Graduate Talent Pipeline Programme 2018

We are looking for fresh talent – young responsible graduates with ambition, drive and a curious mind who are inspired by a working environment that is inclusive, courageous, resilient and values innovation and teamwork.
To be considered for the program, you will have to be a graduate of any of the below fields from a reputable university in Nigeria or abroad with a strong academic background and minimum GPA of 3.5 or a Second Class Upper Division.
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Architecture
- Law
- Estate Management and
- Economics
Must have completed NYSC
Must not be older than 25 years of age
Have a natural knack for knowledge seeking and resilient
Demonstrate leadership capabilities gained through volunteer, community or extra-curricular activities
Ability to multi-task with regular interruptions
Must be hardworking and a “curious thinker”
Must be a strong communicator with ability to connect with people at all levels

Personal Statement & Cover Letter - No longer than three pages that exemplifies the applicant's best writing and is business-appropriate. This should include why you are interested in pursuing a career with the Westfoster Group and why you have chosen to apply for the Executive Training Program. (Published items are NOT welcome)
A resume
University Transcript
Copy of International Passport (bio-data page) or Birth Certificate
Letters of recommendation - Two signed letters should come from someone who knows you and can confidently comment on your capabilities & character in the corporate world: a current/former supervisor, a professor, advisor, or someone comparable. Preferably they should be on letterhead with an original signature.

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

THE NEWS: Shares in China's Xiaomi fall on Hong Kong debut

Shares in China's Xiaomi fall on Hong Kong debut
source: AFP

AFP/File / FRED DUFOUR Despite being one of the most anticipated Chinese technology IPOs this year, Xiaomi saw a disappointing valuation of US$54 billion, well below its ambitious US$100 billion target.

Shares of Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi fell almost 6 percent in its trading debut in Hong Kong Monday, a long-awaited IPO overshadowed by the start of a US-China trade war and bearish investor sentiment.

Shares opened at HK$16.60 ($2.12) in Hong Kong -- down from their IPO price of HK$17.00 -- and dived 3.8 percent in morning trading, falling as much as 5.9 percent to HK$16 at one point.

Investors felt a lack of confidence even before public trading started, selling their shares at a discount on the unofficial "grey market" last week, Bloomberg News reported.

Despite being one of the most anticipated Chinese technology IPOs this year, Xiaomi saw a disappointing valuation of US$54 billion, well below its ambitious US$100 billion target.

Founded in 2010 by entrepreneur Lei Jun, Xiaomi has grown from a start-up in Zhongguancun -- China's "Silicon Valley" -- to become the world's fourth-biggest smartphone vendor at the end of last year, according to International Data Corp.

Lei has described Xiaomi as a "new species" of company with what he describes as a "triathlon" business model combining hardware, internet and e-commerce services. Its products range from smart home gadgets like air purifiers to non-tech items such as pillows and ballpoint pens.

A delay in Xiaomi's plan to launch new so-called Chinese Depository Receipts (CDRs) in Shanghai as well as doubts about the sustainability of its business model were also among reasons for the lower valuation, analysts said.

Chinese authorities devised the CDR programme, under which homegrown companies listed abroad can simultaneously list at home, after watching technology heavyweights Alibaba and Baidu launch on Wall Street.

The plan aims to help development of China's still relatively immature and volatile share markets and allow domestic investors to invest in the country's big tech champions.

Beijing-based Xiaomi is the first firm in Hong Kong to trade with a controversial dual-class structure since listing rules were overhauled to allow weighted voting rights for different sets of shareholders.

Analysts say Hong Kong's technology listings have struggled in recent months, deflating investor interest.

"Nothing can help because the sentiment is no good at the moment... Most of the IPOs listed this year were not that profitable," said Dickie Wong of Kingston Securities, adding he does not see any "upsides" until the CDR listing which would boost interest.

THE NEWS: Passing the baton: Chinese conductors seek global fame

Passing the baton: Chinese conductors seek global fame
source: AFP

AFP / WANG Zhao Jing Huan, one of a new generation of Chinese conductors, performing in Beijing

Jing Huan twirls her conductor's baton nervously in the wings while the brass and string sections of China's Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra tune their instruments.

Aged 36, Jing is part of a new breed of foreign-trained conductors, as China hopes to gain recognition in the field after winning global fame for its soloists, including piano and string virtuosos.

After long relying on Western conductors, a growing number of symphony orchestras around the country are now entrusting the baton to a fresh generation of Chinese music directors.

Jing studied at the University of Cincinnati and served as the conducting assistant of the symphony orchestra there before joining the Guangzhou orchestra in southern China.

Last year her orchestra performed on a prestigious Beijing stage as part of a "musical marathon" that saw nine ensembles play one after another to mark the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Music Festival.

AFP / WANG Zhao After long relying on Western conductors, a growing number of symphony orchestras around the country are now entrusting the baton to a fresh generation of Chinese music directors

"In China, in the Central Conservatory of Music, we focus on technique," she told AFP. "So technically, we are very strong... but as a young conductor you don't have many chances to conduct a real orchestra immediately in China, while in America, it's easy to get a lot of experience early on," she said.

According to prominent music critic Xu Yao, there are now some 80 symphony orchestras in China -- backed by local governments who see Western music as a matter of prestige -- compared to about 30 just eight years ago.

"But the shortage of conductors remains: most orchestras are led by Chinese, but one conductor can sometimes be in charge of three orchestras!" said Xu, pointing to the lack of "small musical groups" that would allow young conductors to gain experience, as is the case in the West.

- 'Chinese-style Beethoven' -

China has come a long way however, said Long Yu, 54, artistic director of the Shanghai and Guangzhou symphony orchestras, and founder of the Beijing Music Festival.

"I grew up in Shanghai in the midst of the Cultural Revolution," a period of political turmoil from 1966-1976 during which Western music was banned, the maestro told AFP.

Long secretly learned the piano from his grandfather, a renowned composer, and in the 1980s became one of the first Chinese musicians to study abroad as the Communist government started to open up to the rest of the world.

He trained in Berlin before returning to China in the early 1990s, where conducting remained difficult.

"It is a very special job. You have to deliver a message on the interpretation of the music to the musicians themselves, so it's quite difficult," he said.

Long bristles when he hears about a "Chinese style" of playing classical music.

"There is no such thing as a Chinese-style Beethoven!", he said.

Conducting in China still carries its special challenges -- and rewards, said violinist Jian Wang, who also trained in the United States.

"It's very interesting and challenging at the same time to play in China (because) part of the audience is hearing the pieces for the first time," she said.

AFP / WANG Zhao Most musicians in Chinese orchestras were trained as soloists and have little experience playing music as a "collective endeavour"

In addition, most musicians in Chinese orchestras were trained as soloists.

Ten years ago, French conductor Emmanuel Calef came up against the problem when he took the podium with the Guiyang Symphony Orchestra, a private venture in the remote southwestern province of Guizhou.

Musicians in their 20s "were technically ready, but not culturally ready, and they had not been trained to participate in a collective endeavour", he told AFP.

He also remembers the "cultural shock" he felt when he found that neon signs would light up to indicate to the audience when to applaud.

And while rich businessmen who financed the orchestra were ready to rent a prestigious Steinway piano or a precious Amati violin, they were reluctant to buy quality scores, the French conductor said with a smile.

- 'It takes time' -

Ten years on, classical music is no longer seen in China as an "import product", although the repertoire is often confined to the "very big" composers such as Beethoven, Bach and Brahms, said Calef.

AFP / WANG Zhao Few Chinese conductors have been recognised internationally but that could soon change

For more modern composers, "some (Chinese) musicians have similar reactions that their Western counterparts had when discovering the scores in the late 19th or early 20th centuries," he said.

Long agreed, but said the repertoire is growing gradually as the public becomes more familiar with it. "It is a culture that is still foreign today, and there is still a lot of work to be done."

For him, the real difficulty is that few Chinese conductors have won plaudits abroad.

Notable exceptions include Chinese pioneer Tang Muhai, who conducted the Berlin Philharmonic during the 1983-1984 season, then continued a successful career in the US, Portugal, Australia and Finland.

There are other examples like China's Zhang Xian, who in 2009 became the first female musical director of a symphony orchestra in Italy, in Milan.

"There are incredible talents among conductors from China, Japan, Korea and Singapore, but I don't think Asian conductors are totally accepted yet in the West. It takes time," sighed Long.

THE NEWS: NATO leaders fear Trump crisis at key summit

NATO leaders fear Trump crisis at key summit
source: AFP

AFP / MANDEL NGAN NATO leaders face a major threat to the credibility of their military alliance at their summit this week-- not from traditional foe Russia, but from the head of their most powerful member, US President Donald Trump

NATO leaders face a major threat to the credibility of their military alliance at their summit this week-- not from traditional foe Russia, but from the head of their most powerful member, US President Donald Trump.

The gathering at NATO headquarters in Brussels, days before Trump meets his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, is shaping up to be the most difficult in years, analysts and officials told AFP.

Allies are braced for a barrage of invective from Trump for not spending enough on defence, and are apprehensive that his often sceptical tone on the alliance that has underpinned European security for 70 years might turn into outright hostility.

The 28 other NATO leaders fear a repeat of what happened at last month's G7 summit, which ended in disarray when Trump abruptly rejected the closing statement.

"What Trump says will be decisive for the future of the alliance, but we do not know what he will say," a diplomat from a NATO country said.

"It is a shadow that hangs like the sword of Damocles over the summit."

Diplomats fear an acrimonious meeting could undermine efforts to show unity in the face of the growing threat on the alliance's eastern flank -- particularly with Trump set to meet Putin in Helsinki a few days later.

German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen on Friday told Bloomberg TV that the summit must show unity, warning that "our opponents would be delighted if there is a division in NATO".

Trump's own ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison made a similar plea for harmony during a call with reporters Thursday.

- 'Schmucks' -

But the mercurial tycoon set the stage for a fractious meeting by writing to around a dozen NATO allies to berate them for lagging on a 2014 pledge to try to spend two percent of GDP on defence by 2024.

Currently only three European countries hit the two percent target, and while alliance officials are hopeful that four more will join the list by the July 11-12 summit, it is unlikely to satisfy Trump.

He accuses European NATO allies of freeloading, telling a rally this week that they had treated the US like "schmucks".

Trump has even called into question NATO's principle of collective defence -- under which an attack on one member draws a response from all -- for allies he feels are not paying their dues.

NATO officials all the way up to Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg point to increased military investment by the US in Europe since Trump took office as evidence of Washington's continuing commitment to the alliance.

But comments made by Trump have undercut this, most recently when he told other leaders at the G7 that NATO was "as bad as NAFTA", the North American trade deal he has threatened to tear up.

Unwavering support for NATO has been a basic tenet of US foreign policy since the alliance was founded in 1949, but as Trump's emerging trade tariff war with Europe shows, the president has no qualms about upending conventional thinking on major international issues.

- Putin 'will enjoy' summit -

Stoltenberg has stressed the alliance's ability to overcome differences in the past, but Tomas Valasek, director of the Carnegie Europe and former Slovak ambassador to NATO, said the situation with Trump had already undermined its ability to deter would-be aggressors.

"We've had violent falling outs over Libya, Iraq in 2003, but it's qualitatively different in that the biggest of the allies doesn't just have disagreements with us, but actually seems willing to walk away," Valasek said.

"The deterrence has already been weakened."

Tobias Bunde, the head of policy and analysis at the Munich Security Conference, went even further telling AFP "whether NATO can survive his presidency might very well be up to debate".

Bunde said NATO would "very likely never be defeated by outside forces" so long as it keeps to shared democratic values.

"But this prerequisite is now undermined from within -- by a couple of illiberal governments in the Alliance, and now even by the US president."

The tensions with Trump look all the more stark in the context of a summit that will take important decisions to boost NATO's ability to defend itself from the threat it sees from Russia.

They will sign off on two new military commands -- one to protect Atlantic shipping lanes and one to coordinate troop movements in Europe -- as well as a plan to beef up NATO's ability to mobilise forces quickly in the event of a crisis.

But any divisions will overshadow these concrete steps -- and play well in Moscow.

Thomas Carothers of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said Putin "will enjoy the NATO summit from the perspective that it embodies further division and fragmentation."

THE NEWS: Musk proposes mini-submarine to save Thai cave boys

Musk proposes mini-submarine to save Thai cave boys
source: AFP

AFP/File / PETER PARKS After garnering headlines with initial ideas of installing a giant air tube inside the cave complex and using his firm's penetrating radar to dig holes to reach the boys, Elon Musk's latest concept is a mini-submarine

American tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has proposed a mini-submarine to save the boys trapped inside a flooded Thai cave, floating the idea on social media while linking it to his space exploration business.

After garnering headlines with initial ideas of installing a giant air tube inside the cave complex and using his firm's penetrating radar to dig holes to reach the boys, Musk's latest concept is the pod.

"Primary path is basically a tiny, kid-size submarine using the liquid oxygen transfer tube of Falcon rocket as hull," Musk said in a tweet to his 22 million followers.

"Light enough to be carried by 2 divers, small enough to get through narrow gaps. Extremely robust."

An accompanying video of people testing the submarine in a swimming pool in Los Angeles that was posted overnight Sunday attracted more than 3.1 million views in 10 hours.

Many people offered positive comments, with fans hailing Musk and his engineers for their creativity.

Other people, however, questioned whether Musk's plan was credible.

"Seriously? No kid or adult will want to be in there for any amount of time. Re think this. CAT or open MRI machines create unsurmountable anxiety. Go back to drawing board," one person wrote to Musk on Twitter.

The mini-submarine is due to arrive in Thailand on Monday, Musk wrote.

ROYAL THAI NAVY/AFP / Handout Elite divers began a rescue mission Sunday, successfully escorting four of the trapped Thai boys out, and were aiming to extract the others swiftly before fresh monsoon rains made escape impossible

Last week Musk said he was sending teams to Thailand from his private space exploration firm, SpaceX, and engineering firm, Boring Co. which is developing tunneling systems for transport projects.

While offering the mini-submarine as a potential saviour, Musk again used the opportunity to promote space exploration.

"With some mods, this could also work as an escape pod in space," Musk said on Twitter.

Thai authorities have said they are welcoming all offers of help in the rescue effort for the boys, who became trapped in a complex cave system in mountainous northern Thailand on June 23 when rising waters hemmed them in.

Twelve boys aged from 11 to 16, plus their 25-year-old coach, were caught inside the cave.

Elite divers began a rescue mission Sunday, successfully escorting four of them out, and were aiming to extract the others swiftly before fresh monsoon rains made escape impossible

THE NEWS: Indian court upholds death sentences over 2012 gang-rape

Indian court upholds death sentences over 2012 gang-rape
source: AFP

AFP/File / SAJJAD HUSSAIN An Indian social activist holds a placard during a protest against a rape in New Delhi on February 21, 2017

India's Supreme Court on Monday upheld death sentences handed down to three men over the gang-rape and murder of a woman in New Delhi in 2012, saying there were no grounds for a review.

"The review petition of all the three convicts has been rejected," A. P. Singh, a lawyer for the defendants, told reporters.

Jyoti Singh was raped by a gang of five men and a teenager on a bus. The case triggered angry protests by thousands of people as well as soul-searching about the country's treatment of women.

The six gang raped and tortured the woman with an iron bar as the bus drove loops through the Indian capital.

Singh was dumped on the streets 45 minutes later with horrific internal injuries, and died 13 days later in a Singapore hospital.

Four men were convicted in September 2013 for murder, gang rape, theft, conspiracy and "unnatural acts" after a seven-month trial in a fast-track court.

Only three of them were involved in the appeal rejected on Monday.

A fifth man, the suspected ringleader, was found dead in jail in a suspected suicide, while a 17-year-old was sentenced to three years in a detention centre and has since been released.

THE NEWS: Indian court upholds death sentences over 2012 gang-rape

Indian court upholds death sentences over 2012 gang-rape
source: AFP

THE NEWS: Reuters reporters to face Myanmar trial for 'breaking' secrecy law

Reuters reporters to face Myanmar trial for 'breaking' secrecy law
source: AFP

AFP / STR Myanmar nationals Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were both "charged under the state secrets act", Judge Ye Lwin told the court, setting a first court date for July 16

Two Reuters reporters accused of breaking Myanmar's draconian secrecy law during their reporting of a Rohingya massacre must face trial, a judge said Monday, in a ruling swiftly decried as a "black day" for press freedom in the country.

Myanmar nationals Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were arrested in December and accused of possessing leaked sensitive material linked to security operations in crisis-hit Rakhine state.

The pair, who have been held in custody for nearly seven months of pre-trial hearings, were both "charged under the state secrets act", Judge Ye Lwin told the court in Yangon, setting a first court date for July 16.

If convicted the two could face up to 14 years in prison under the colonial-era law.

Reuters says the pair are innocent and were simply doing their job by reporting on a massacre of Rohingya Muslims in September, and has urged the court to dismiss the case.

But Judge Ye Lwin decided the prosecution had shown enough proof that the men were "collecting evidence" from state officials to allow the case to proceed to trial.

The legal action against them has been lambasted by rights groups and foreign observers as an assault on media freedom and an effort to stifle reporting on the Rohingya crisis.

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and free speech group Article 19 lambasted Monday's ruling.

"This is a black day for press freedom in Myanmar," said Tirana Hassan, Amnesty International's director of crisis response, labelling the court decision "farcical" and "politically motivated".

Article 19 said the decision underscores Myanmar's "wide-ranging efforts to obstruct reporting on the Rakhine state crisis and to whitewash human rights violations by authorities".

The western state has been largely sealed off from independent monitors since the crackdown started.

AFP / STR In court, Kyaw Soe Oo denied any wrongdoing saying "I worked as a journalist according to the ethics."

During pre-trial hearings the prosecution argued the reporters tried to access "secret papers" about security forces and therefore deserved punishment.

The reporters say they were entrapped by police -- a version of events seemingly backed up in court by a whistleblowing cop who testified that officers were ordered to set up the reporters.

The pair had been investigating a massacre of ten Rohingya Muslims at Inn Din village in Rakhine state during last year's military-led crackdown on Rohingya militants.

Before Reuters published its report on the massacre, Myanmar authorities admitted 10 Rohingya men had been extra-judicially killed at the village, later prosecuting several members of the security forces.

But Myanmar has been at pains to say Inn Din was an isolated incident and not part of a wider campaign of ethnic cleansing directed against the Muslim Rohingya, as the UN and US have alleged.

- 'Deeply disappointed' -

Wa Lone, who has issued a defiant "thumbs up" to waiting journalists at each court appearance, vowed to fight the case.

"We have the right to a defence. The court did not decide we are guilty," he said.

In court, Kyaw Soe Oo denied any wrongdoing saying, "I worked as a journalist according to the ethics."

Army operations in August 2017 forced more than 700,000 Rohingya, who are denied citizenship in Myanmar, to flee to Bangladesh.

They took with them harrowing accounts of murder, rape and arson of their villages by Myanmar security forces and mobs of ethnic Rakhine Buddhists.

The European Union, which has sent observers to the Reuters trial in Yangon, renewed calls for the charges against the journalists to be dropped, while the International Commission of Jurists said the prosecution has failed to provided credible evidence of wrongdoing.

In March prominent rights lawyer Amal Clooney, the wife of actor George, joined the Reuters legal team to add weight and profile to their defence.

But the company's efforts were not enough to persuade the judge to dismiss the case.

"We are deeply disappointed that the court declined to end this protracted and baseless proceeding," Reuters editor-in-chief Stephen J. Adler said in a statement.

THE NEWS: Landslide warnings as Japan digs through rain devastation

Landslide warnings as Japan digs through rain devastation
source: AFP

AFP / Martin BUREAU In one part of Kumano, Japan, the nose of a white car was just visible underneath the top floor of a home that had been torn from the rest of the building and swept down a hillside by floods

Desperate relatives braced for bad news Monday as rescuers dug through landslides in the wake of severe floods that have killed more than 100 people and left swathes of central and western Japan under water.

With the toll mounting, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe cancelled a four-country foreign trip, the government's top spokesman said.

As the floods receded, emergency workers reached previously cut-off places where authorities fear they could find more bodies in the wreckage of homes devastated by rivers of mud and debris.

"I have asked my family to prepare for the worst," said Kosuke Kiyohara, 38, as he waited for word of his sister and her two young sons.

"I can't reach her phone," he told AFP, sitting across from a house that had been ripped apart and tossed on its side by a huge landslide.

Rescue workers said it was still possible that survivors could be found, but acknowledged the odds were getting longer.

"It has been three days... It's possible that survivors will be found, but as the days pass the likelihood becomes slimmer," a soldier at the scene told AFP.

AFP / Laurence CHU Floods in Japan

At the end of last week rivers engorged by more than a metre (three feet) of rain burst their banks, engulfing entire villages and forcing people on to rooftops to await evacuation by helicopter.

Hillsides gave way under the weight of water, with deadly landslides crushing wooden houses and erasing roads.

The government said at least 103 people had been killed, and with many people still missing, the tally was expected to rise further.

- Search for survivors -

Government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said 73,000 police, firemen and troops were taking part in the rescue effort, with 700 helicopters deployed to help.

In Kumano, soldiers and other emergency workers were using diggers to clear crushed cars and mangled homes and chainsaws to cut up tree trunks.

But they were moving carefully, looking as they went for survivors, or the remains of those killed in the disaster.

In one part of Kumano, the nose of a white car was just visible underneath the top floor of a home that had been torn from the rest of the building and swept down a hillside.

AFP / Martin BUREAU Rescuers clear debris scattered on a street in a flood hit area in Kumano, Hiroshima prefecture

Water was still flowing from the surrounding hillsides around the feet of shellshocked residents, some of whom wept as they saw their damaged district.

In neighbouring Okayama prefecture, rescue workers flew in helicopters over areas that are still submerged and otherwise unreachable, looking for signs of life.

"As far as we could see from the helicopter, no-one is now waving for help," a rescue worker from Kurashiki city told AFP.

Local government officials said pumping trucks were being deployed to help restore access to some of the worst-hit areas.

"Rescuers had to go by boat yesterday due to flooding but the water is gradually receding today," a spokeswoman at the area's disaster control office said.

"If the water level drops low enough, they may be able to access hard-hit areas by road or on foot."

- Landslide risk -

Even as the rains let up, authorities warned the downpours had loosened earth on hillsides and mountain slopes creating new risks.

"We urge residents to remain cautious about possible landslides," a weather agency official told AFP.

And with many people stuck in modestly equipped shelters with few possessions, or living in damaged homes with no running water or electricity, the rising temperatures posed a new problem, authorities said.

At one point around five million people were told to evacuate, but the orders are not mandatory and many people remained at home, becoming trapped by rapidly rising water or sudden landslides.

In the town of Mihara, roads were transformed into muddy rivers, with dirt piled up on either side as flood water gushed around the wheels of stranded cars.

"The area became an ocean," 82-year-old resident Nobue Kakumoto told AFP Sunday, surveying the scene.

In the town of Saka, Eiichi Tsuiki opted to stay in his home, and survived only by moving to the top floor as flood waters rose, washing away cars outside.

"I've lived here for 40 years... I've never seen this before," the 69-year-old oyster farmer told AFP.

THE NEWS: China chilli fest gets off to scorching start

China chilli fest gets off to scorching start
source: AFP

AFP / -

An annual chilli pepper festival kicked off Monday in central China's spice-loving Hunan province with a chilli-eating contest in which the winner set a blistering pace by downing a gut-busting 50 peppers in just over a minute.

Local boy Tang Shuaihui took home a 3-gramme 24-karat gold coin for winning the competition, which is put on by a local theme park in the county of Ningxiang and is now in its second year.

With doctors on hand just in case, ten contestants each held plates heaped with 50 Tabasco chilli peppers, racing to be the first to finish off the red-hot fruits.

Tang cleared his plate in just 68 seconds in a contest held in nearly sweltering temperatures and as competitors sat in a shallow pool filled with water and three tonnes of floating chillies.

"He finished them at an amazing speed, barely after the emcee had finished speaking," said Sun Minying, an employee at the theme park, called the Tanhe Ancient City.

The Tabasco pepper has a rank of 30,000-50,000 on the Scoville Heat Scale that measures the piquancy of chillies, which puts it somewhere between a jalapeno and a habanero.

The peppers bobbing in the pool, however, were of a far weaker variety, partly to avoid irritating the contestants' skin.

Smiling contestants wearing shorts and T-shirts -- some armed with small bottles of water -- waded into a vast pool of bright red peppers before attempting to clear their plates of chillies.

One man floated on his back in the pool of chillies, chomping happily on the fiery fruits.

Hunan cuisine is marked by its spicy peppers and richly coloured dishes and is considered among China's eight great food traditions along with Sichuan, Cantonese and other cuisines.

The festival lasts until the end of August, with a fresh chilli-eating contest held daily.

THE NEWS: N. Korea talks sidelining human rights: UN rapporteur

N. Korea talks sidelining human rights: UN rapporteur
source: AFP

AFP / Ed JONES UN rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana says Pyongyang's diplomatic thaw with Washington and Seoul has pushed the issue of human rights in North Korea off the agenda

The North Korean talks process with the US and the South is sidelining the human rights of Pyongyang's oppressed citizens, the UN's top official on the issue said Monday.

In a whirlwind of diplomacy, the leader of the isolated, nuclear-armed North Kim Jong Un held an unprecedented summit with US President Donald Trump in Singapore last month, after two earlier meetings with the South's Moon Jae-in.

It was a marked contrast to the mutual threats and mounting fears of last year, instead raising hopes of reaching a deal over North Korea's arsenal, which include nuclear bombs and missiles capable of reaching the US mainland.

But Pyongyang remains accused by many -- including the UN -- of a litany of rights abuses against its population.

Neither the joint statement issued by Trump and Kim in Singapore, nor the earlier Panmunjom Declaration signed by Kim and Moon, mentioned the issue of human rights.

"It seems that those who are negotiating are losing sight of this important thing, which is would this process benefit at the end the people living in North Korea," said Tomas Ojea Quintana, the United Nations' Special Rapporteur on human rights in the North.

Instead Washington and Seoul were prioritising their own concerns, he said.

"In principle the interests that the president of the United States has shown is that they want to denuclearise North Korea so their territory is not in danger, and that of course is something that has to do with their own interests," Ojea Quintana told AFP in Seoul.

"I'm still trying to understand to what extent human rights was raised" by Trump in Singapore, the Argentinian lawyer added.

"It seems that it was not comprehensively addressed."

He was particularly concerned, he said, by Trump's remarks that the focus should be on the future rather than the past.

"Those are not the kind of statements that we those who advocate for human rights would like to hear," he said, "especially from someone who is negotiating with the leadership" of North Korea.

In the Singapore statement, Kim signed up to a vague commitment to work towards "complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula", but Pyongyang has long seen that as a lengthy process of undefined multilateral disarmament, rather than a unilateral dismantling of its own weapons.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was in Pyongyang at the weekend to try to flesh out the process, only for the North to warn that it was being jeopardised by overbearing "gangster-like" US demands.

Pompeo shrugged off the accusations, insisting the talks were being conducted in "good faith" and making progress, and adding sanctions would only be lifted with "final" denuclearisation.

- 'Socialist system' -

Sanctions targeting the broader North Korean economy were incompatible with human rights and should be lifted, said Ojea Quintana.

He is currently visiting the South -- he has been unable so far to travel to the North -- and said Seoul officials had told him that while they were still committed to the issue of human rights in the North, "for the time being it is not a priority for them".

The Moon talks have been followed by a flurry of meetings on cross-border projects in spheres from railways to forestry, yet Ojea Quintana said there was no indication so far that the inter-Korean rapprochement would benefit the people of North Korea.

But rights were interconnected with denuclearisation and peace, he added.

A UN commission of inquiry found in unequivocal terms in 2014 that "crimes against humanity had been and were being committed" in the North.

The situation had not improved, said the UN special rapporteur.

"The whole socialist system collapsed some time ago," he said. "What has collapsed is the services part of the socialist system, it's not providing any more services. But what is still in place is this system of control and surveillance and detention of the population.

"Serious human rights abuses are being committed and those responsible are the government and the leadership."

The North's demand for security guarantees as part of the negotiations process should not lead to impunity for the guilty, he added -- but acknowledged that it was a difficult issue to raise at present.

"You should not avoid reviewing the past, you should not avoid holding those responsible to account."

THE NEWS: France eye World Cup final but Belgium have Henry factor

France eye World Cup final but Belgium have Henry factor
source: AFP

AFP / FRANCK FIFE Belgium assistant coach Thierry Henry is plotting the downfall of France in the World Cup semi-finals

World Cup favourites France are targeting the final in Russia two decades after their 1998 triumph with one of their greatest players, Thierry Henry, plotting their downfall from the dugout of opponents Belgium.

The European neighbours meet in Tuesday's first semi-final in Saint Petersburg for the right to play England or Croatia in Sunday's showpiece in Moscow.

Former Arsenal and Barcelona forward Henry, who was part of the squad that won the World Cup on home soil 20 years ago, is now alongside Belgium coach Roberto Martinez and eyeing the chinks in France's armour.

"It will be bizarre to have him up against us," said France striker Olivier Giroud. "He is a living legend of French football.

"He has given so much to the France team and we have got a lot of respect for what he has done. But we're not thinking about it too much, we're going to be focused on the pitch and our game."

A slick Belgium side boasting the talents of Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku are the only team to have won all their matches in Russia and are the top scorers, with 14 goals.

AFP / FRANCK FIFE Eden Hazard (centre) trains with his Belgium teammates ahead of the World Cup semi-final against France

Confidence is sky-high after they ousted Neymar's Brazil in the quarter-finals but they will come up against formidable opponents in France as they try to reach a first ever World Cup final.

Didier Deschamps' side, with Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe up front, struggled for goals in their group matches but have now hit their stride, dominating Uruguay after beating Argentina.

France will start the semi-final in Saint Petersburg as favourites, with an impressive mix of youth and experience allied to tournament nous after they reached the Euro 2016 final.

With Hugo Lloris impressing in goal and a solid midfield of Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante, the one potential weakness for France could be their inexperienced defence.

Belgium's Thomas Meunier will miss the game after picking up a second yellow card but France will be buoyed by the return of defensive midfielder Blaise Matuidi, after sitting out a suspension of his own.

- Southgate tells stars: you can be heroes -

For the fifth time in World Cup history, the semi-finals will be an all-European affair. On each of those occasions the tournament has been hosted in Europe.

In the other last-four clash on Wednesday, England take on Croatia in Moscow.

England boss Gareth Southgate has told his players they can be bigger heroes even than the generation of 1966, which featured Bobby Moore and Bobby Charlton.

AFP / Yuri CORTEZ England forward Harry Kane has scored six World Cup goals in Russia

"I've met quite a few of those players and we know exactly how they're held and perhaps, in the modern era, that would be even crazier," Southgate told British newspapers.

"(With) social media and everything else, the global thing is so much bigger."

England is gripped by World Cup fever. Nearly 20 million viewers tuned in for the win over Sweden and social media is awash with videos of excited fans watching on big screens in bars and parks, fanatically celebrating every England goal.

Captain Harry Kane is the man leading England's charge in Russia with six goals so far, putting him top in the race for the Golden Boot. Lukaku is on four goals and France's Griezmann and Mbappe have three each.

Despite Kane's impressive tally, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has identified Raheem Sterling as England's danger man in their semi-final.

Sterling was a key part of the Manchester City side that won the Premier League last season but he has been less effective in England's charge to the last four for the first time since 1990.

"I think Raheem Sterling is an important player because he is fast and dangerous alongside Harry Kane," Dalic said.

Croatia, who boast Real Madrid's Luka Modric and Barcelona's Ivan Rakitic in a strong midfield, emerged through extra-time and spot-kicks against Denmark before going through the same ordeal again against Russia in Saturday's quarter-final.

"Our last three games were different because we played teams with a defensive approach," he said.

"But we are looking forward to a different style of game against England because they like to play attacking football."

THE NEWS: UK police rush to solve Novichok nerve agent death

UK police rush to solve Novichok nerve agent death
source: AFP

AFP / NIKLAS HALLE'N Dawn Sturgess and a man named locally as Charlie Rowley fell ill last weekend in Amesbury, near the town of Salisbury

British police rushed to solve a murder mystery on Monday after a woman died following exposure to the nerve agent Novichok, four months after the same toxin nearly killed a former Russian spy in an attack that Britain blamed on Moscow.

Prime Minister Theresa May said she was "appalled and shocked" by the death of Dawn Sturgess, a 44-year-old mother of three who had been living in a homeless hostel in Salisbury in southwest England.

Sturgess and Charlie Rowley, 45, fell ill last weekend in the town of Amesbury, near Salisbury, the city where former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were attacked with Novichok in March. They have since recovered.

The British government has called a meeting of its COBRA emergencies committee for 1:00pm (1200 GMT).

The Kremlin said it would be "absurd" to suggest Russia was involved in the death of Sturgess.

"We don't know that Russia has been mentioned or associated with this," President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"We consider that in any case it would be quite absurd."

Russia is "deeply concerned by the continuing appearance of these poisonous substances on British territory," which "present a danger not just for the British but for all Europeans," Peskov added.

Britain and its allies accused Russia of trying to kill the Skripals, prompting angry denials and sparking an international diplomatic crisis.

- 'No guarantees' -

AFP/File / Geoff CADDICK Salisbury District Hospital, where Sturgess and Rowley were being treated and where the Skripals were hospitalised

Police said they could not yet say whether the nerve agent in the Amesbury case was linked to the Salisbury attack -- but it was their main line of inquiry.

The head of Britain's counter-terror police also said he could not rule out further contaminations.

"I simply cannot offer any guarantees," said Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, who is leading the investigation.

He said people in Salisbury should not pick up strange items such as needles, syringes or unusual containers.

Whilst 21 other people have come forward with health concerns, they have been screened and "all been given the all-clear", he said.

Police and public health officials insist the risk to the wider public remains low.

Police said that given the deadly dose, the British couple were believed to have become exposed to Novichok by handling a "contaminated item", with speculation that it could have been the container used to administer the nerve agent to the Skripals.

Christine Blanshard, medical director at Salisbury District Hospital, where Sturgess and Rowley were being treated and where the Skripals were hospitalised, told The Daily Telegraph newspaper that staff had "worked tirelessly to save Dawn".

AFP/File / John SAEKI Police and public health officials insist the risk to the wider public remains low

"This latest, horrendous turn of events has only served to strengthen the resolve of our investigation team as we work to identify those responsible for this outrageous, reckless and barbaric act," said Basu.

He said Rowley remained critically ill in hospital.

- 'Praying for Charlie' -

Residents of the homeless hostel in Salisbury where Sturgess lived, which was evacuated after the couple fell ill, expressed their devastation at the news of her death.

"It could easily have happened to anyone, to me or my partner," 27-year-old Ben Jordan told AFP. "We are really, really sad. I am praying for Charlie."

Around 100 counter-terrorism officers are helping in the investigation, which police said Friday could take "weeks and months".

So far, there is no evidence that the couple visited any of the sites involved in the Skripal case.

"Detectives will continue with their painstaking and meticulous work to gather all the available evidence so that we can understand how two citizens came to be exposed with such a deadly substance that tragically cost Dawn her life," Basu said.

Sturgess collapsed on the morning of June 30 and was taken to hospital. That afternoon, Rowley fell ill at the same address in Amesbury and was also hospitalised.

On Wednesday, the government's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down confirmed their exposure to Novichok.

Police said Sunday they were not yet able to say whether the nerve agent was from the same batch that the Skripals were exposed to.

The Skripals have been released from hospital but the investigation into the attack on them continues. No arrests have been made.

THE NEWS: Global stocks rally continues apace

Global stocks rally continues apace
source: AFP

AFP / - A good day for stock markets

A global stocks rally took root Monday fuelled by strong US jobs data, as signs that Britain may be headed towards a softer Brexit boosted the pound.

Asian and European equities were spurred higher, extending pre-weekend gains, as Friday's solid jobs report reinforced confidence in the US economy and helped soothe trade war nerves.

"European stock markets are higher after a strong finish in Asia," noted CMC Markets UK analyst David Madden.

Wall Street then took up the baton, also posting gains at the New York opening bell.

Analysts at Charles Schwab credited the US jobs report with fanning "global economic optimism" allowing investors to take a welcome breather from festering trade war concerns which have dogged markets for months.

On Friday, Washington rolled out tariffs on $34 billion of Chinese goods, sparking retaliatory measures from Beijing.

The British pound meanwhile rose Monday after shock news that Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit minister David Davis has resigned.

Analysts said the news persuaded many investors that Britain could be heading towards a so-called "soft" Brexit.

Sterling rose above $1.33 to near its highest level in nearly one month.

- Softer Brexit? -

"Sterling has begun the new week in an upbeat mood with the recent steps towards a more 'soft' Brexit buoying the pound which has reached its highest level in almost a month against the US dollar," said analyst David Cheetham at brokerage XTB.

Davis stepped down over the government's agreed plan to retain strong economic ties with the European Union after leaving the bloc.

Cheetham added: "A soft Brexit refers to a less hardline approach to the UK-EU separation which would ultimately see the future relationship between the two parties more closely resemble the current arrangement.

"From a market perspective this is deemed favourable for the pound as it would see less disruption and uncertainty as far as the outlook for the UK economy is concerned."

Davis' resignation -- along with one of his deputies -- comes two days after the cabinet approved the plan in a bid to unblock negotiations with Brussels.

"The resignation of David Davis has helped encourage markets that we will see a softer approach to Brexit going forward," agreed IG analyst Joshua Mahony.

Global markets had bounced higher on Friday after data showed the US economy created more than 200,000 jobs in June, beating expectations.

That was compounded by the fact that average hourly earnings growth remained sluggish, while the unemployment rate edged up, easing pressure on the Federal Reserve to lift interest rates.

- Key figures around 1330 GMT -

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.3 percent at 7,637.89 points

Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 0.2 percent at 12,515.80

Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.3 percent at 5,390.13

EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.2 percent at 3,456.09

New York - Dow: UP 0.3 percent at 24,528.30

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.2 percent at 22,052.18 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 1.3 percent at 28,688.50 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 2.5 percent at 2,815.11 (close)

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1775 from $1.1744 at 2030 GMT Thursday

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3346 from $1.3281

Dollar/yen: UP at 110.56 yen from 110.43 yen

Oil - Brent Crude: UP 73 cents at $77.84 per barrel

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: UP 21 cents at $74.01

burs-jh/bmm

THE NEWS: Former Barca boss Enrique named Spain coach

Former Barca boss Enrique named Spain coach
source: AFP

AFP/File / Josep LAGO Enrique was Barcelona coach for three years from May 2014, leading the Catalan giants to the treble in his first campaign in charge

Former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique was appointed Spain's new coach on Monday after previous incumbent Julen Lopetegui was sacked on the eve of the World Cup.

"Luis Enrique's appointment as coach for the next two years was approved unanimously," Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish football federation, told reporters.

His press briefing came just hours after Jose Francisco Molina, 47, a former goalkeeper at Atletico Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna who played nine times for Spain, was named as sporting director.

Enrique, 48, will replace Lopetegui, who was fired by Rubiales when the coach announced he had signed to take over at Real Madrid.

The national team's then sporting director Fernando Hierro stepped in to replace him and led Spain to the last 16 where they lost to hosts Russia on penalties, before stepping down after the tournament.

Enrique was Barcelona coach for three years from May 2014, leading the Catalan giants to the treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League titles in his first campaign at the helm.

THE NEWS: Ethiopia, Eritrea declare war 'has come to an end'

Ethiopia, Eritrea declare war 'has come to an end'
source: AFP

AFP/File / YONAS TADESSE Ethiopia and Eritrea agreed to end their war after intensive talks driven by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (front left) seen here with Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh Mohammed

Ethiopia and Eritrea are no longer at war, the neighbours said in a joint statement Monday after a series of historic meetings in Asmara to end decades of acrimony and conflict.

Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel said on Twitter that Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, 41, and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, 71, had inked a "Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship" on the second day of the state visit.

The statement declared that the "state of war that existed between the two countries has come to an end. A new era of peace and friendship has been ushered (in)."

"Both countries will work to promote close cooperation in political, economic, social, cultural and security areas," Yemane added.

Images of the ceremony showed the two men sharing a wooden desk, backed by their nations' flags, as they simultaneously signed the document.

The declaration echoed comments made by Abiy at a dinner hosted by Isaias late Sunday, where he said diplomatic, trade, transport and communications ties would be re-established and borders re-opened.

"We agreed that the airlines will start operating, the ports will be accessible, people can move between the two countries and the embassies will be opened," Abiy said.

"We will demolish the wall and, with love, build a bridge between the two countries," he said.

Ethiopia's state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate reported that Ethiopian Airlines would begin passenger flights between the two capitals as early as next week, while direct telephone communications have already been restored for the first time in two decades.

Abiy left Asmara after signing the joint agreement on Monday.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres hailed the dizzying peace process as "a very important symbol of hope not only for the two countries, not only for Africa but for the whole world."

"It is obvious that it's now for the two parties to decide how they want to conduct the solution of their problems, but the UN will be entirely at their disposal to do whatever is necessary to faciliate the success of what needs to be done and mainly related to questions related to the borders," he said during a press conference in Addis Ababa.

Recent weeks of rapid rapprochement are aimed at ending decades of animosity, periods of outright conflict and many years of cold war between the two countries.

- Whirlwind reforms -

The thaw began last month when Abiy said Ethiopia would abide by a 2002 UN-backed ruling, made after a two-year frontier war, and hand back disputed border territory, including the flashpoint town of Badme, to Eritrea.

The re-establishment of diplomatic and trade ties after years of bitter separation could mean big benefits for both nations, and the wider Horn of Africa region, plagued by conflict and poverty.

Once a province of Ethiopia that comprised its entire coastline on the Red Sea, Eritrea voted to leave in 1993 after a decades-long, bloody independence struggle.

The break rendered Ethiopia landlocked, and the deterioration of relations due to the continuing cold war forced Ethiopia to rely on Djibouti for its sea trade.

AFP / John SAEKI Ethiopia and Eritrea

Ethiopian access to Eritrea's ports will be an economic boon for both, as well as posing a challenge to the increasing dominance of Djibouti which had benefited from importing and exporting the vast majority of goods to Africa's second-most populous country.

Free movement across the border will also unite, once again, two peoples closely linked by history, language and ethnicity.

Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu told journalists Monday that joint commissions on economics, politics and military cooperation would be set up to "work out the exact time and place of the implementation plan.

Regional leaders welcomed the peace efforts with Rwanda's President Paul Kagame telling Abiy and Isaias, "We congratulate you and are with you," in a Twitter statement.

Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta also congratulated the two leaders for, "choosing the path of talking to each other and beginning the journey of friendship."

Since taking office in April, Abiy has driven whirlwind reforms reversing some of the touchstone policies of the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF).

He has released prominent dissidents from jail, announced the partial liberalisation of the economy, admitted the security forces use torture and pursued peace with Eritrea.

Eritrea, nation of about 5.1 million people is one of the most isolated countries in the world and has been led with an iron fist by Afwerki since 1991. No election has been held since independence and the UN has accused his government of crimes against humanity.

The UN has said 5,000 Eritreans flee their country every month, notably to avoid forced indefinite military conscription.

THE NEWS: Turkey's Erdogan begins new term with expanded powers

Turkey's Erdogan begins new term with expanded powers
source: AFP

AFP/File / ADEM ALTAN The president will sit at the top of a vertical power structure marked by a slimmed-down government with 16 ministries instead of 26 and multiple bodies reporting to him

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was sworn in for his second term as head of state on Monday, taking on greater powers than any Turkish leader for decades under a new system condemned by opponents as a one-man regime.

Erdogan, who has transformed Turkey in 15 years of rule by allowing Islam a greater role in public life and boosting its international stature, took his oath in parliament for a five-year term after his June election victory.

"I swear upon my honour before the great Turkish nation that I will work impartially to fulfil the duty I have taken on," Erdogan said in his oath.

The inauguration was to be followed by a lavish ceremony at his palace on Monday evening attended by dozens of world leaders marking the transition to the new executive presidency system.

Erdogan will face immediate challenges posed by an imbalanced if fast-growing economy and foreign policy tensions between the West and Turkey, a NATO member.

He has also pledged to end the state of emergency that has been in place since the failed July 2016 coup and which has seen the biggest purge in the history of modern Turkey.

In what appeared to be the final emergency decree issued just one day before the inauguration, 18,632 public sector employees were ordered dismissed including thousands of soldiers and police officers.

Erdogan will this week immediately turn to foreign policy, visiting northern Cyprus and Azerbaijan followed by more challenging encounters at a NATO summit in Brussels where he will meet his US counterpart Donald Trump and other leaders.

- 'One-man regime' -

TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP/File / MURAT CETIN MUHURDAR The president now sits at the top of a vertical power structure marked by a slimmed-down government with 16 ministries instead of 26 and multiple bodies reporting to him

The new system, which dispenses with the office of prime minister, was agreed in a bitterly fought 2017 referendum narrowly won by the "Yes" camp. The issue is still polarising in Turkey.

"A partisan one-man regime starts officially today," said the opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper.

Its commentator Asli Aydintasbas wrote: "I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that we entered a 'second republic' era," after the republic set up by Turkey's secular founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

But the pro-government daily Yeni Safak wrote under the headline "historic day": "One page is closing in Turkish history and a new page is opening."

The president now sits at the top of a vertical power structure marked by a slimmed-down government with 16 ministries instead of 26 and multiple bodies reporting to him.

In one of the most significant changes, the EU affairs ministry, set up in 2011 to oversee Turkey's faltering bid to join the bloc, is being subsumed into the foreign ministry.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim now goes down in history as the 27th and final holder of the post in Turkey. He is expected to become speaker of the new parliament.

- 'Leader of multi-polar world' -

AFP/File / ADEM ALTAN Prime Minister Binali Yildirim will go down in history as the 27th and final holder of a post that has existed since Mustafa Kemal Ataturk founded modern Turkey, and whose origins date back to the Ottoman Empire

The transition ceremony later Monday, to be attended by some 10,000 guests and marked by dozens of gun salutes, has been overshadowed by a deadly train derailment in northwest Turkey on Sunday that left 24 dead.

Those attending will include Ankara's top allies from Africa, the Middle East and the former Soviet Union but relatively few European figures.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will attend, in a new sign of the warm ties between Ankara and Moscow, as will Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, regarded with disdain by Washington but an ally of Erdogan.

Tweeting a video apparently showing himself driving to the airport, Maduro hailed Erdogan as a "friend of Venezuela and leader of the new multi-polar world."

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir is on the guest list as is Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar, Turkey's closest ally in the Middle East. The only EU leaders are set to be Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and Hungary's strongman Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

- 'Surprise cabinet' -

POOL/AFP/File / Greg Baker Reports have said current Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu may lose his job to his spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, or even spy chief Hakan Fidan

The new cabinet, due to be announced at 1830 GMT, is expected to have a different look, with pro-government Hurriyet daily columnist Abdulkadir Selvi saying that it was set to "surprise" with figures from outside the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Current Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu could in theory continue in his job but reports have said Erdogan may choose his spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, or even spy chief Hakan Fidan to succeed him.

The markets will keep a close eye on economic appointments, keen to see a steady hand at the helm in a fast-growing economy dogged by double-digit inflation and a widening current account deficit.

Erdogan, who first came to power as premier in 2003, won an outright victory in June 24 polls, defeating his closest rival, Muharrem Ince of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) which is now locked in internal battles over its future direction.

The AKP failed to win a majority in legislative elections and will need support from its allies in the right-wing Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) who could push it into more hardline policies.

THE NEWS: May on the rocks as foreign, Brexit ministers quit

May on the rocks as foreign, Brexit ministers quit
source: AFP

AFP/File / OLI SCARFF British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson became the second government minister to resign in 24 hours

British Prime Minister Theresa May's government imploded on Monday as Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson followed Brexit minister David Davis in resigning over her masterplan for Britain's future outside the EU.

Davis and his deputy dramatically quit overnight over May's plan to retain strong economic ties with the European Union even after Britain leaves in March next year.

Brexit cheerleader Johnson then delivered a stunning second blow when he also marched out, triggering speculation that May could face an imminent leadership contest.

May's Brexit plan -- agreed by the cabinet on Friday in the hope of unblocking negotiations with Brussels due to resume on Monday -- has now cost her two of her top four ministers, throwing her administration and authority into turmoil.

"This afternoon, the prime minister accepted the resignation of Boris Johnson as foreign secretary," her Downing Street office said in a three-sentence statement.

"His replacement will be announced shortly. The prime minister thanks Boris for his work."

Johnson criticised the Brexit blueprint in private but has so far refrained from public comment.

PRU/AFP / HO Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May has been dealt a blow with the resignation of two ministers

Downing Street swiftly appointed eurosceptic housing minister Dominic Raab to Davis's job, and said May was looking forward to working with him to deliver Britain's departure from the EU in March.

The resignation of Davis, with a stinging warning that Britain was "giving too much away too easily" in Brexit talks, was a blow to May just days after she declared a truce among her warring ministers.

- Next move -

All eyes are now on the next move by Brexit hardliners in her centre-right Conservative Party.

But the appointment of Raab, a leading Brexit supporter, suggests Tory Brexiteers are divided.

AFP / Tolga AKMEN Britain's former Brexit minister David Davis said it would be "wrong" if his departure led to a full-fledged government rebellion

Davis himself said it would be "wrong" if his departure led to a full-fledged rebellion, insisting that "of course" May would survive.

May will address parliament later to explain her proposal for Britain to adopt EU rules on goods after Brexit, and is also expected to speak to Conservative MPs.

The plan was agreed by cabinet ministers during marathon talks on Friday, where even those wanting a clean break from the EU fell into line.

The deal meant that for the first time since the vote for Brexit in June 2016, Britain has a detailed proposal to take to Brussels, and still hopes to agree a deal by October.

May's spokesman told reporters: "There was an agreement reached on Friday and we look forward to taking that agreement forward in negotiations."

AFP / Gillian HANDYSIDE Timeline of the Brexit talks

He added: "We believe it will deliver a positive Brexit, that's what we're focused on."

European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said the change of ministers was not a problem and that the EU was ready to negotiate "24/7".

The EU "will continue to negotiate in goodwill, bona fide, with Prime Minister May and the UK negotiators in order to reach a deal", he said.

May spoke to Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, EU president Donald Tusk and the leaders of Ireland, Sweden and Malta over the weekend to discuss her plans, and is meeting Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in London later Monday.

- 'Reluctant conscript' -

In his resignation letter to May late Sunday, Davis warned that on Brexit, "the general direction of policy will leave us in at best a weak negotiating position, and possibly an inescapable one".

Her plan would "make the supposed control by parliament illusory rather than real", and proposals for a "common rulebook" on goods "hands control of large swathes of our economy to the EU".

AFP / Tolga AKMEN Dominic Raab will replace David Davis as Brexit minister

Davis said his job required "an enthusiastic believer in your approach, and not merely a reluctant conscript".

Speaking to BBC radio on Monday, he said he hoped Britain would "resist very strongly any attempt to get any further concessions".

May replied in a letter rejecting "your characterisation of the policy we agreed", which she said would see powers currently held by the EU returned to Britain.

Davis was appointed after the referendum to head up the newly created Department for Exiting the EU and became the public face of Brexit, leading the British delegation in talks with Brussels.

His role had been increasingly overshadowed in recent months as May and her aides took a bigger role, and had reportedly threatened to quit several times as they moved towards closer ties with the EU post-Brexit.

Brexit hardliners have welcomed Davis's move, with Conservative MP Peter Bone saying: "The PM's proposals for a Brexit in name only are not acceptable."

The main opposition Labour Party said the government was in "absolute chaos".

"It is now clearer than ever that Theresa May does not have the authority to negotiate for Britain or deliver a Brexit deal that protects jobs and the economy," spokesman Keir Starmer said.

THE LATEST OGS HPC-TRES Scholarships for Masters in Italy, 2018

OGS HPC-TRES Scholarships for Masters in Italy, 2018

Applications are invited for scholarships for the Master in High Performance Computing sponsored by HPC-TRES at National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics in Italy.
Course Level: Scholarships are available to pursue Master degree programme.
Eligible Countries: This scholarship is available for Italian as well as foreign students.
Eligibility Criteria: The requirements for the admission to the public selection are:

Age 30 or less;
Degree obtained in accordance with the current legislation before Ministerial Decree no. 509/99 in scientific disciplines or Master’s Degree as per Ministerial Decree no. 270/04 in all assimilated classes pursuant Interministerial Decree dated July 9 2009 and according to the table annexed to the same Decree obtained by Italian Universities or degrees issued by Universities abroad;
Good knowledge of the English language;
Knowledge of the Italian language (only for foreign applicants).

In the case of qualifications awarded abroad that have not already been legally recognised in Italy in accordance with the applicable law (as per art. 38 Legislative Decree no. 38 dated March 30 2001, no. 165, which forms is available on the website of the Public Services Department), degree and PhD only for the admission to the selection of the grant may be recognised by the Selection Board. To this end, the candidate shall provide detailed records concerning his/her education to allow the Selection Board to approve the equivalence of his/her foreign qualification.
The admission requirements must be fulfilled at the date of this notice of recruitment.
Method of Application: Application form should be sent via post.

Application Form

Scholarship Link

Scholarship Application Deadline: July 26, 2018

THE LATEST 100% Tuition Fees Scholarships at Loughborough University in UK, 2018

100% Tuition Fees Scholarships at Loughborough University in UK, 2018

Loughborough University is offering 100% tuition fee scholarship for postgraduate research students who are not in receipt of any other award. UK/EU students are eligible to apply for this scholarship.
Course Level: Scholarships are available to pursue PhD programme.
Eligible Countries: UK/EU students are eligible to apply.
Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Applicants must be applying for a PhD in one of the following schools/departments: Arts, English and Drama; Design School; Loughborough University London; Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering; School of Social Sciences; or Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences.
The scheme will be available for new PhD students starting on or after October 2018.
Applicants must be entirely self-funded (without external funding, e.g. scholarships or sponsorships).
Applicants must be full-time students and eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK/EU rate.
The bursary cannot be combined with any other University discounts or awards.

Method of Application: Completed degree applications need to be made by 1 August 2018 using the reference UKEUPGRFEE2018. A separate scholarship application is not needed.
You are strongly advised to contact potential supervisors directly to discuss your proposal before applying.
Our online prospectus will guide you through the application process, from finding a supervisor to writing a research proposal.

Scholarship Link

Scholarship Applications Deadline: August 1, 2018

THE LATEST MBA Fellowships at Stanford University in USA, 2018 2019

MBA Fellowships at Stanford University in USA, 2018 2019

In 2018-2019, Stanford Graduate School of Business will award up to three Stanford USA MBA Fellowships. The fellowships are open to US students who wish to obtain an MBA at Stanford GSB.
Course Level: Fellowships are available for pursuing MBA programme.
Eligible Nationalities: Scholarships are open to US students.
Eligibility Criteria: You must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident. If you are a dual citizen, you are eligible as long as you hold U.S. citizenship.
Demonstrated financial need is preferred, as assessed through the Stanford GSB financial aid process after admission.
You must demonstrate strong ties to, and a commitment to the economic development of, at least one of the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Method of Application: To be considered for the Stanford USA MBA Fellowship, you must apply in either Round 1 (by 18 September 2018) or Round 2 (by 10 January 2019) of the MBA application process. We cannot consider you for the fellowship in Round 3. If you have already been admitted to the GSB and have deferred enrollment, you must apply to the USA MBA Fellowship the year prior to your enrollment.
In the MBA application, you will indicate that you are applying for the Stanford USA MBA Fellowship; doing so will trigger a prompt for an additional essay (listed below). You must submit the Stanford USA MBA Fellowship essay with your completed MBA Program application by the appropriate application deadline. Suggested essay length is 400 words.

In the MBA application, you will indicate that you are applying for the Stanford USA MBA Fellowship; doing so will trigger a prompt for an additional essay (listed below). You must submit the Stanford USA MBA Fellowship essay with your completed MBA Program application by the appropriate application deadline. Suggested essay length is 400 words. Follow the formatting requirements as outlined in the Essay Instructions.

Scholarship Link

Scholarship Application Deadline: September 18, 2018

Google Search For Latest News, Jobs, Business Tips

Search For Jobs, News, & Business Tips

Monday, July 9, 2018

Popular Posts

Contact Form

Privacy Policy

About Me

CONTACT INFORMATION