Job Vacancy For Farm Manager at the Federal University Dutsin-Ma University Farm

Federal University Dutsin-Ma University Farm, invites applications from suitably qualified candidates to fill the position below:

Job Title: Farm Manager

Location: Katsina
Department: University Farm

Position Description

• The University requires the services of a Farm Manager who would manage research facilities and equipment as well as human and material resources
• He/She will manage plant and animal species being kept for research
• The Manager would be answerable to the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology.

Qualifications and Experience

• The candidate should have a Master's Degree with a minimum of 3 years relevant administrative experience.

Condition of Service

• The Farm Manager is a career position on CONTISS 09 and would be subjected to career progression as stipulated in the scheme of service.

Application Closing Date
28th August, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should submits 20 hardcopies of their Applications with all the relevant details to:
The Registrar,
Federal University Dutsin-Ma,
P.M.B. 5001,
Katsina State.

Note

• Candidates should ensure that three (3) Referees have submitted reports on them to the under signed by the date of closure of receipt of applications.
• Excellent computer skills innovation and team spirit are desirable for the position.
• Also, candidates must attach evidence of possession of national identification number, in line with the requirements of the national identification number regulations 2017.

Job Vacancy For General Manager at FUDMA Consultancy Services Limited 2018

FUDMA Consultancy Services Limited, is currently seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates to fill the position below:

Job Title: General Manager

Location: Katsina

Role and Responsibilities
The company requires the services of a competent and experienced General Manager who would serve as the chief executive. Other specific functions are:

• Managing, Planning and directing material resources as well as products and services of the company on a day-to-day basis;
• Serving as the accounting officer of the company answerable to the Board;
• Ensuring efficiency and effectiveness of business operations and fiscal health of the company;
• Achieving goals and targets set or approved by the Board and the company’s vision and missions;
• Expanding the business horizon in keeping with the article of association of the company
• Ensuring effective corporate leadership and good and transparent management practice; and,
• Liaising with regulatory authorities.

Application Closing Date
28th August, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should submits 20 hardcopies of their Applications with all the relevant details to:
The Registrar,
Federal University Dutsin-Ma,
P.M.B. 5001,
Katsina State.

Note

• Candidates should ensure that three (3) Referees have submitted reports on them to the under signed by the date of closure of receipt of applications.
• Note that excellent computer skills innovation and team spirit are desirable for the position.
• Also, candidates must attach evidence of possession of national identification number, in line with the requirements of the national identification number regulations 2017.

Head, Human Resources and Facility Management at the Federal University Dutsin-Ma Microfinance Bank

Federal University Dutsin-Ma Microfinance Bank has been duly registered under the Central Bank of Nigeria’s regulations having met the minimum conditions. The Bank is set to employ competent, visionary and motivated Professionals to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head, Human Resources and Facility Management

Location: Katsina

Role and Responsibilities
The Head of Human Resources shall report and be directly answerable to the Managing Director and in addition shall have the following functions, among others:

• Handling of all routine administrative procedures, including payment of bills, etc;
• Handling of personnel functions, including employee selection, placement, orientation, promotion, discipline, welfare, etc;
• Advising the authorities on the prudent management of company fixed assets, inventory and other resources;
• Handling purchase and supply of office equipment; and,
• Any other duty assigned by the managing Director.

Qualifications and experience

• The qualification for the office shall be a minimum of a degree in Business Administration or related disciplines with a minimum of six (6) years cognate post qualification experience.

Application Closing Date
28th August, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should submits 20 hardcopies of their Applications with all the relevant details to:
The Registrar,
Federal University Dutsin-Ma,
P.M.B. 5001,
Katsina State.

Note

• Candidates should ensure that three (3) Referees have submitted reports on them to the under signed by the date of closure of receipt of applications.
• Excellent computer skills innovation and team spirit are desirable for the position.
• Also, candidates must attach evidence of possession of national identification number, in line with the requirements of the national identification number regulations 2017.

Job Vacancy For Managing Director/CEO at the Federal University Dutsin-Ma Microfinance Bank

Federal University Dutsin-Ma Microfinance Bank has been duly registered under the Central Bank of Nigeria’s regulations having met the minimum conditions. The Bank is set to employ competent, visionary and motivated Professionals to fill the position for the takeoff:

Job Title: Managing Director/CEO

Location: Katsina

Role and Responsibilities

• The person who shall report and be answerable to the board, would be responsible for the day to day running of the bank. In addition, he shall among others, be responsible for the following specific objective:
  • Ensuring proper Management of staff, facilities, departments, products and services with clear, efficient and standard performance to achieve the corporate objectives;
  • Initiating, delivering and managing new microfinonce Banking products and services efficiently and effectively to enhance the Bank’s competitive position;
  • Serving as the Chief marketing Officer of the Bank by effectively liaising with other stakeholders to create business linkages for the Bank;
  • Ensuring the prudent management of the financial and other resources of the Bank;
  • Overseeing the management of the investment portfolio of the Bank;
  • Ensuring effective corporate leadership and good and transparent management practice; and,
  • Liaising with regulatory authorities.

Qualification and Experience

• A good University degree or its equivalent in Business Administration and finance related disciplines with a minimum of post qualification experience, of which at least eight (8) must have been at Senior management Level in either a Commercial or Microfinance Bank.
• Possession of relevant Master's and or professional qualifications will be an added advantage.
• Interested applicant must not be above 50 years as at the time of applying for this position.
  

Application Closing Date
28th August, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should submits 20 hardcopies of their Applications with all the relevant details to:
The Registrar,
Federal University Dutsin-Ma,
P.M.B. 5001,
Katsina State.

Note

• Candidates should ensure that three (3) Referees have submitted reports on them to the under signed by the date of closure of receipt of applications.
• Note that excellent computer skills innovation and team spirit are desirable for the position.
• Also, candidates must attach evidence of possession of national identification number, in line with the requirements of the national identification number regulations 2017.

Job Vacancy For Head, Business Development and Marketing at the Federal University Dutsin-Ma Microfinance Bank

Federal University Dutsin-Ma Microfinance Bank has been duly registered under the Central Bank of Nigeria’s regulations having met the minimum conditions. The Bank is set to employ competent, visionary and motivated Professionals to fill the position for the takeoff:

Job Title: Head, Business Development and Marketing

Location: Katsina

Role and Responsibilities
The person shall report and be directly answerable to the Managing Director and also shoulder the following responsibilities among other things:

• Marketing and Promoting the Bank in the business community;
• Exploring business development options and advising accordingly;
• Mobilizing Deposits especially from the individual small savers;
• Designing specific micro-finance related products to meet the market demands; and,
• Any other duties assigned by the Managing Director.

Qualifications and Experience

• The qualification required for this office is a minimum of first degree in Economics, Business Administration or related disciplines plus six (6) years cognate experience in similar functions.

Application Closing Date
28th August, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should submits 20 hardcopies of their Applications with all the relevant details to:
The Registrar,
Federal University Dutsin-Ma,
P.M.B. 5001,
Katsina State.

Note

• Candidates should ensure that three (3) Referees have submitted reports on them to the under signed by the date of closure of receipt of applications.
• Note that excellent computer skills innovation and team spirit are desirable for the position.
• Also, candidates must attach evidence of possession of national identification number, in line with the requirements of the national identification number regulations 2017.

Job Vacancy For Head, Finance Control and Accounts at the Federal University Dutsin-Ma Microfinance Bank

Federal University Dutsin-Ma Microfinance Bank has been duly registered under the Central Bank of Nigeria’s regulations having met the minimum conditions. The Bank is set to employ competent, visionary and motivated Professionals to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head, Finance Control and Accounts

Location: Katsina

Role and Responsibilities
The Head, Finance Control and Accounts report and is directly answerable to the Managing Director. The officer shall supervise the accounting functions, in addition to the following specific duties:

• Ensuring that loan and Investment procedures comply with regulatory requirements, including accounting standards and prudential requirements for other financial institutions (OFls);
• Serving as the investment officer of the Bank;
• Setting up the books and accounting procedures of the micro-finance Bank, working in liaison with the Head of Operations;
• Tracking ever financial transaction of the Bank and liaising with the Bank’s correspondent Bankers and ensuring that all accounts are properly and regularly reconciled;
• Preparing annual budget estimates in collaboration with other heads of units; and,
• Any other duties assigned by the Managing Director.

Qualifications and Experience

• The qualification required for this office is a minimum of first degree in Accounting or related disciplines plus six (6) years cognate experience in similar functions.

Application Closing Date
28th August, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should submits 20 hardcopies of their Applications with all the relevant details to:
The Registrar,
Federal University Dutsin-Ma,
P.M.B. 5001,
Katsina State.

Note

• Candidates should ensure that three (3) Referees have submitted reports on them to the under signed by the date of closure of receipt of applications.
• Excellent computer skills innovation and team spirit are desirable for the position.
• Also, candidates must attach evidence of possession of national identification number, in line with the requirements of the national identification number regulations 2017.

Head, Audit and Internal Control at the Federal University Dutsin-Ma Microfinance Bank

Federal University Dutsin-Ma Microfinance Bank has been duly registered under the Central Bank of Nigeria’s regulations having met the minimum conditions. The Bank is set to employ competent, visionary and motivated Professionals to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head, Audit and Internal Control

Location: Katsina

Role and Responsibilities
He shall lead the Inspection/Internal control Division of the Bank, and in addition, his responsibilities shall include the following:

• Review of operations to ensure compliance with policies of the Board as well as regulatory requirements;
• Investigation of deviations and irregularities;
• Review of Internal control measures and reporting the Managing Director and the Board;
• Issuing of routine audit queries and ensures compliance and cooperation of all units;
• Advising on best practices/procedures; and,
• Any other duty assigned by the Managing Director or the Board.

Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of first degree in Accounting or equivalent plus audit practice background.
• A minimum post qualification experience of six (6) years is required.

Application Closing Date
28th August, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should submits 20 hardcopies of their Applications with all the relevant details to:
The Registrar,
Federal University Dutsin-Ma,
P.M.B. 5001,
Katsina State.

Note

• Candidates should ensure that three (3) Referees have submitted reports on them to the under signed by the date of closure of receipt of applications.
• Excellent computer skills innovation and team spirit are desirable for the position.
• Also, candidates must attach evidence of possession of national identification number, in line with the requirements of the national identification number regulations 2017.

Graduate Trainee Recruitment at Federal University Dutsin-Ma Microfinance Bank 2018

Federal University Dutsin-Ma Microfinance Bank has been duly registered under the Central Bank of Nigeria’s regulations having met the minimum conditions. The Bank is set to employ competent, visionary and motivated Professionals to fill the position below:

Job Title: Officer/Graduate Trainee

Location: Katsina

Qualifications and Experience
Candidates must have a minimum:

• A minimum of B.Sc/HND in Accounting, Business Administration, Economics or equivalent with a second class lower or equivalent.
• NYSC Discharge Certificate.
• Interested applicant for Officer/Graduate Trainee cadre must not be above 26 years at the time of applying for these positions.

Application Closing Date
28th August, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should submits 20 hardcopies of their Applications with all the relevant details to:
The Registrar,
Federal University Dutsin-Ma,
P.M.B. 5001,
Katsina State.

Note

• Candidates should ensure that three (3) Referees have submitted reports on them to the under signed by the date of closure of receipt of applications.
• Excellent computer skills innovation and team spirit are desirable for the position.
• Also, candidates must attach evidence of possession of national identification number, in line with the requirements of the national identification number regulations 2017.

Job Vacancy For Customer Care Representative at Merad Industries Limited 2018

Merad Industries Limited - Since inception,the organisation has experienced phenomenal growth on account of quality of its goods and services, its focus on cost leadership and efficiency of its human capital. Today, Merad Industries is a multi-billion Naira company poised to reach new heights, in every endeavour competing with itself to better the past.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Customer Care Representative

Location: Lagos

Job Description

• Resolve customer complaints via phone, email, mail, or social media.
• Use telephones to reach out to customers and verify account information.
• Greet customers warmly and ascertain problem or reason for calling.
• Cancel or upgrade accounts.
• Assist with placement of orders, refunds, or exchanges.
• Advise on company information.
• Take payment information and other pertinent information such as addresses and phone numbers.
• Place or cancel orders.
• Answer questions about warranties or terms of sale.
• Act as the company gatekeeper.
• Suggest solutions when a product malfunctions.
• Handle product recalls.
• Attempt to persuade customer to reconsider cancellation.
• Inform customer of deals and promotions.
• Sell products and services.
• Utilize computer technology to handle high call volumes.
• Work with customer service manager to ensure proper customer service is being delivered.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services.
• Opens customer accounts by recording account information.
• Maintains customer records by updating account information.
• Resolves product or service problems by clarifying the customer’s complaint; determining the cause of the problem; selecting and explaining the best solution to solve the problem; expediting correction or adjustment; following up to ensure resolution.
• Maintains financial accounts by processing customer adjustments.
• Recommends potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs.
• Prepares product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

Skills/ Qualifications

• Minimum of HND with atleast a LOWER CREDIT in any Discipline
• Must possess 3-5 years working experience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent time management skills; able to prioritize
• Motivation to take on additional projects and solve problems
• Comfortable in a fast-paced environment with multiple tasks and projects at hand.
• Minimum of second class lower degree in any management related courses and customer service agent courses, NYSC discharge certificate.Customer Service, Product Knowledge, Quality Focus, Problem Solving, Market Knowledge, Documentation Skills, Listening, Phone Skills, Resolving Conflict, Analyzing Information , Multi-tasking.

Application Closing Date
27th August, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Applications and CV's to: info@meradindustries.com

Job Vacancy For Administrative Officer (Delta) at Merad Industries Limited

The Merad Industries is one of the most diversified business conglomerates in Asia,Africa and Middle east with its operational headquarters in the bustling metropolis of Asia with a hard-earned reputation for excellent business practices and products' quality.The Organisation established its new branch in Lagos, Nigeria in West Africa.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Administrative Officer

Location: Lagos

Job Description

• Provides office services by implementing administrative systems, procedures, and policies, and monitoring administrative projects.

Job Duties

• Maintains workflow by studying methods; implementing cost reductions; and developing reporting procedures.
• Creates and revises systems and procedures by analyzing operating practices, recordkeeping systems, forms control, office layout, and budgetary and personnel requirements; implementing changes.
• Develops administrative staff by providing information, educational opportunities, and experiential growth opportunities.
• Resolves administrative problems by coordinating preparation of reports, analyzing data, and identifying solutions.
• Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; calling for repairs; maintaining equipment inventories; evaluating new equipment and techniques.
• Provides information by answering questions and requests.
• Maintains supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level; anticipating needed supplies; placing and expediting orders for supplies; verifying receipt of supplies.
• Completes operational requirements by scheduling and assigning administrative projects; expediting work results.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

Application Closing Date
27th August, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Resume to: info@meradindustries.com

Massive Frontline Internship Programme at Access Bank Plc 2018 (Ghana)

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:

Title: 2 Year Frontline Internship Programme 2018

Location: Ghana

Description

• This is an exciting opportunity for fresh graduates who are passionate about people and are interested in exploring various career options or require work experience as a pre-requisite for an MBA program with a leading international university.
• The frontline internship program offers on-the-job experience and classroom trainings that will significantly enhance the applicant’s customer service and people management skills.
• On a quarterly basis, the applicant will be exposed to a minimum of 8 hours classroom training which is in addition to the on-the-job experience.

Requirements
This program is for you if you:

• Have a Minimum of 2nd class lower degree from an accredited university
• Are below the age of 24 as at date of application
• Have the legal right to work in Ghana
• Are willing to learn

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

Access Bank Plc Frontline Internship Programme 2018 (Nigeria)

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:

Title: 2 Year Frontline Internship Programme 2018

Location: Nigeria

Description

• This is an exciting opportunity for fresh graduates who are passionate about people and are interested in exploring various career options or require work experience as a pre-requisite for an MBA program with a leading international university.
• The frontline internship program offers on-the-job experience and classroom trainings that will significantly enhance the applicant’s customer service and people management skills.
• On a quarterly basis, the applicant will be exposed to a minimum of 8 hours classroom training which is in addition to the on-the-job experience.

Requirements
This program is for you if you:

• Have a Minimum of 2nd class lower degree from an accredited university
• Are below the age of 24 as at date of application
• Have the legal right to work in Nigeria
• Are willing to learn
• Are uncertain about the future

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 Frontline Internship Programme At Access Bank Plc 2018 (Nigeria)

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:

Title: 2 Year Frontline Internship Programme 2018

Location: Nigeria

Description

• This is an exciting opportunity for fresh graduates who are passionate about people and are interested in exploring various career options or require work experience as a pre-requisite for an MBA program with a leading international university.
• The frontline internship program offers on-the-job experience and classroom trainings that will significantly enhance the applicant’s customer service and people management skills.
• On a quarterly basis, the applicant will be exposed to a minimum of 8 hours classroom training which is in addition to the on-the-job experience.

Requirements
This program is for you if you:

• Have a Minimum of 2nd class lower degree from an accredited university
• Are below the age of 24 as at date of application
• Have the legal right to work in Nigeria
• Are willing to learn
• Are uncertain about the future

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 Entry-level Graduate Trainee Recruitment Access Bank Plc 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:

Title: Access Bank Entry-level Training Programme 2018

Location: Nigeria

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

THE NEWS: Fire destroys late Greek director Angelopoulos' archives: widow

Fire destroys late Greek director Angelopoulos' archives: widow
source: AFP

 AFP/File / - Angelopoulos often spent summers with his family in the house that burned down in Mati, east of Athens

The house and private archives of Greek cinema godfather Theo Angelopoulos, who died in 2012, were destroyed in this week's deadly wildfires near Athens, his widow said Thursday.

The filmmaker, who won the prestigious Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1998 for "Eternity and a Day", often spent summers with his family at the house in Mati, east of the capital.

"My husband's books, his letters from celebrities, all the texts that authors had dedicated to him" were destroyed in the fire, Phoebe Angelopoulou told local television.

She said the collection had also included texts and poems written by her late husband.

Angelopoulou managed to flee the flames, which struck on Monday evening, with her granddaughter, but the house was severely damaged.


AFP/File / Christophe SIMON Angelopoulos won the prestigious Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1998 for "Eternity and a Day"


Angelopoulos pioneered Greece's "new wave" cinema following the fall of the country's military dictatorship in 1974.

His works include "Landscape in the Mist" and "The Dust of Time".

He was killed in a freak accident in January 2012 while filming "The Other Sea", a project to document the effects of Greece's debt crisis.

More than 80 people have died in Greece this week in the deadliest wildfire outbreak in Europe this century.

THE NEWS: Facebook shares sink on perfect storm of bad news

Facebook shares sink on perfect storm of bad news
source: AFP

AFP/File / BERTRAND GUAY Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said investments in safety and security will hurt short-term profits

It has turned into a brutal reality check for Facebook.

The social network star -- which has weathered storms over privacy and data protection -- is now looking at cooler growth following a years-long breakneck pace.

Shares in Facebook plummeted 19 percent to close at $176.26 Thursday, wiping out some $100 billion -- believed to be the worst single-day evaporation of market value for any company.

The plunge came one day after the firm missed revenue forecasts for the second quarter and warned that growth would be far weaker than previously estimated.

Chief financial officer David Wehner warned Wednesday in an earnings call with analysts that revenue growth had already "decelerated" in the second quarter and would drop "by high single digit percentages" in coming quarters.

At one point during the call, Facebook shares were trading down as much as 24 percent, an unprecedented drop for a large firm.

On the call, Jefferies & Co. analyst Brent Thill said that "many investors are having a hard time reconciling that deceleration... It just seems like the magnitude is beyond anything we've seen."

Facebook said the slowdown will come in part from a new approach to privacy and security, but also appeared to acknowledge the limits of growth in advertising, which accounts for virtually all its revenue.

Brian Sheehan, a Syracuse University professor of communication and advertising, said the weak forecast "made investors nervous about more basic long-term issues" with the huge social network, notably its diminished appeal to younger users.

"With or without privacy issues, investors are scared that Facebook's interactions, particularly with those under 25, are falling," Sheehan said.

- More humans needed -


AFP / Gal ROMA Quarterly results for Facebook, with sales, advertising revenue, daily users and share price


For the second quarter, profit was up 31 percent at $5.1 billion; revenues rose 42 percent to $13.2 billion, only slightly below most forecasts.

Facebook reported its user base was still growing but not as fast as some expected. Monthly active users rose 11 percent to 2.23 billion -- below most estimates of 2.25 billion.

Richard Windsor, a technology analyst who writes the Radio Free Mobile blog, said the new outlook should not be surprising.

"This is a direct result of scale as it becomes increasingly difficult to grow at such high rates when a company hits this size," Windsor wrote.

Windsor added that Facebook is forced to hire more people to handle tasks such as filtering inappropriate content after discovering the limits of artificial intelligence.

"Weaknesses in AI are forcing (Facebook) to keep hiring humans to do the jobs that the machines are incapable of," he said.

Brian Wieser at Pivotal Research Group said the company appears to have hit a "wall" on growth in advertising.

In a research note, he said Facebook's outlook "suggests that while the company is still growing at a fast clip, the days of 30 percent-plus growth are numbered."

Until Wednesday, Facebook shares had been at record highs as investors seemed to shrug off fears about data protection and probes into the hijacking of private information by the political consultancy Cambridge Analytica.

Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said Facebook has invested heavily in "safety, security and privacy" after being rocked by concerns of manipulation of the platform to spread misinformation, warning of an "impact" on profitability.

- Not so fast-


AFP/File / JOEL SAGET Facebook sharply reduced its growth outlook, but some analysts say the company is being overly conservative

Some analysts however said it was too soon to write off Facebook or its growth prospects, and that the company may have simply been warning of the worst-case scenario.

"The company has a track record of resetting revenue growth and expense expectations only to turn around and exceed those expectations the following quarter," said Gene Munster of Loup Ventures.

"We suspect Facebook is sticking with its historical playbook and will, in fact, beat these lower numbers."

Richard Greenfield of BTIG Research said he remained upbeat on Facebook despite the abrupt forecast shift.

"Facebook is actively choosing to make less money, deprioritizing near-term monetization to drive engagement to even higher levels," Greenfield said in a note to clients.

Greenfield said he could "sense the fear/panic in investors' voices" after the Facebook analyst call but that he has maintained his outlook.

"Mobile is eating the world and Facebook is a core holding to benefit from that shift," he said.

RBC Capital Markets analyst Mark Mahaney said the drop creates a rare buying opportunity for Facebook shares.

"Facebook stills owns two of the largest media assets in the world (Facebook and Instagram) and the two largest messaging assets in the world (Messenger and WhatsApp)," Mahaney said in a note to clients, adding that he sees "no material change in marketer views of the attractiveness" of Facebook platforms.

THE NEWS: Aircraft carrying remains of US Korean War dead arrives in S. Korea

Aircraft carrying remains of US Korean War dead arrives in S. Korea
source: AFP

AFP/File / SAUL LOEB The repatriation of US Korean War dead was part of the Singapore agreement between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un

A US military aircraft carrying the remains of US Korean War dead collected in North Korea arrived in the South on Friday, the 65th anniversary of the armistice that ended the fighting.

The return of the remains marks the partial fulfilment of an agreement reached between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at their historic summit in Singapore last month.

After leaving the North Korean port city of Wonsan, the C-17 cargo plane landed at the Osan US Air Base in South Korea at around 0200 GMT, where live TV images showed American soldiers lined up for a ceremony.

More than 35,000 Americans were killed on the Korean Peninsula during the war, out of which around 7,700 are still considered missing, including 5,300 in North Korea alone, according to the Pentagon.

"Today's actions represent a significant first step to recommence the repatriation of remains from North Korea and to resume field operations in North Korea to search for the estimated 5,300 Americans who have not yet returned home," the White House said in a statement.

"We are encouraged by North Korea's actions and the momentum for positive change," the statement said, adding that a formal repatriation ceremony would be held at the Osan Air Base next week.

Between 1990 and 2005, 229 sets of remains from the North were repatriated, but those operations were suspended when ties deteriorated over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme.

The remains flown to Osan on Friday are expected to be sent to Hawaii for forensic identification.

THE NEWS: China dodges blame for Qualcomm-NXP merger demise

China dodges blame for Qualcomm-NXP merger demise
source: AFP

 GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File / JUSTIN SULLIVAN Qualcomm called off its planned merger with rival NXP after failing to get Chinese regulatory approval

China on Friday sought to deflect blame after US chipmaker Qualcomm dropped a merger with Dutch rival NXP over its failure to receive Chinese regulatory blessing, with Beijing saying it was still open to discussions.

The unexpected statement came a day after the American tech giant called off the planned $43-billion merger, which had failed to receive approval from Chinese antitrust authorities -- an apparent casualty of ongoing trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.

The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said it "knows that Qualcomm and NXP have decided to abandon the transaction, and finds that regrettable".

"The results of our evaluation show that Qualcomm's latest plan cannot resolve competition issues... we hope to continue communicating with Qualcomm to find a solution within the review period."

It was not immediately clear whether the regulator's statement meant the deal could potentially be revived.

"Companies including Qualcomm, NXP are welcome to do business in China as long as they bring benefits to the Chinese people and help create a business environment that is international, lawful and convenient," SAMR added.

The tie-up was aimed at creating a diversified chipmaker combining Qualcomm's dominant position in smartphones and NXP's foothold in the market for chips that power "internet of things" connected devices.

Chinese regulators said the deal would have created a virtual monopoly with "deep and far-reaching" consequences.

Qualcomm said it would pay NXP a $2-billion break-up fee and begin a $30-billion stock repurchase plan.

China has voiced long-term plans to boost innovation and growth in its own high-tech sector, a strategy aimed at challenging US dominance and reducing Chinese reliance on foreign chips and other technology.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin expressed disappointment that the deal fell through but sidestepped questions on whether it was related to the standoff with China.

Officials in Beijing have also denied any link between the merger's collapse and China-US trade frictions.

The US slapped 25 percent tariffs on $34 billion in Chinese goods and steep tariffs on steel and aluminium, and US President Donald Trump has said he is ready to impose tariffs on all $500 billion of Chinese imports.

This has prompted a tit-for-tat response, with Beijing hitting back with import duties on US goods.

On Thursday, Chinese regulators greenlit a proposed merger between French lens-maker Essilor and Luxottica, the Italian eyewear company that produces Ray-Ban and Oakley sunglasses.

The deal had already been approved in four other key markets -- the US, Europe, Canada and Brazil.

But China's consent came attached with a list of conditions restricting the combined company's operations in China, including not selling eyewear below cost without justifiable reason.

THE NEWS: US plane heads to N. Korea for war remains: report

US plane heads to N. Korea for war remains: report
source: AFP

AFP/File / SAUL LOEB Repatriation of the US soldiers' remains was one of the steps agreed by Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in Singapore

A US aircraft flew to North Korea Friday to collect the remains of American troops killed in the Korean War, the South's Yonhap news agency reported, the latest step in ongoing diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang.

Repatriation of American remains from the 1950-53 conflict was part of the agreement signed between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at their landmark summit in Singapore last month.

The US military transport plane took off from the Osan Air Base in South Korea at 5:55 am local time (2055 GMT Thursday), Yonhap said, citing a Seoul government source.

The aircraft's destination was the Kalma airport in North Korea's eastern city of Wonsan, the agency added.

"It is believed to have landed there an hour later," the official was quoted as saying. "It will return (to South Korea) today."

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last week that the repatriations will begin soon, but did not confirm media reports about the first transfer of some 50 sets of remains.

The South Korean official cited by Yonhap said it was unclear how many sets of remains will be returned on Thursday.

US defence officials are expected to examine the remains in South Korea before sending them on for forensic identification in Hawaii, the agency added.

More than 35,000 Americans were killed on the Korean Peninsula during the war, out of which around 7,700 are still considered missing, including 5,300 in North Korea alone, according to the Pentagon.

Between 1990 and 2005, 229 sets of remains from the North were repatriated, but those operations were suspended when ties deteriorated over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme.

THE NEWS: 'So much love': Ozil thanks Arsenal fans after Germany racism row

'So much love': Ozil thanks Arsenal fans after Germany racism row
source: AFP

 AFP / Roslan RAHMAN

Mesut Ozil thanked Arsenal fans for their "love" at a pre-season friendly after a torrid week following his racism allegations against Germany's football body.

Ozil watched Arsenal's penalties defeat to Atletico Madrid on Thursday from the bench but he received one of the biggest cheers of the night when his image was flashed up on the big screen.

"Thanks to the Gunners in Singapore for showing so much love tonight," the 29-year-old German midfielder tweeted, with a picture of him waving to the crowd.

Arsenal fans dominated the audience of 23,000 who watched the London team go down 3-1 on penalties to Atletico in the International Champions Cup, after normal time ended at 1-1.

Ozil, benched after his late return to training following the World Cup, sent shockwaves through German football when he quit the national team, complaining of "racism and disrespect".

German football chief Reinhard Grindel rejected the racism charge but admitted he should have defended Ozil after the playmaker was abused for having a photograph taken with Turkey's strongman president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ozil, who was born in Germany to Turkish-origin parents and lifted the World Cup in 2014, also felt he was unfairly singled out for their shock group-stage exit at this year's tournament.

Arsenal's new head coach, Unai Emery, and players have rallied round Ozil on their pre-season tour, while the hashtags #StandWithOzil and #SayNoToRacism have been popular on social media.

"Of course everybody supports Mesut. We're with him, we're trying to help him," Arsenal midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan told AFP this week.

"Everyone knows that Arsenal is a team with a lot of foreign players and foreign employees. It doesn't matter which country you represent, it's like family and we support each other."

THE NEWS: Iraq street satirists peddle culture change

Iraq street satirists peddle culture change
source: AFP

AFP / AHMAD AL-RUBAYE An Iraqi man performs a theatrical skit on a street in the southern Iraqi city of Kut

On a strip of pavement in the southern Iraqi city of Kut, a gaggle of amateur comedians pulls in the crowds every Friday -- drawing chuckles, smiles and knowing nods.

With a rich repertoire of skits, Khaled al-Atbi and his peers poke fun at politicians more interested in lining their pockets than rebuilding a country devastated by decades of war.

"Theatre is a message," said the 42-year-old al-Atbi, director and actor in the seven-strong troupe.

"With our satire, we condemn... corruption, lack of public services and tribal activities," he said, citing those factors as central to discontent in Iraq.

Since the US-led ouster of dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003, Iraq has been plagued by graft and sectarian fighting, culminating in the Islamic State group seizing around a third of its territory in 2014.

As Iraq seeks to move beyond the brutal war that last year finally defeated the jihadists, al-Atbi is determined to embarrass officials who pocket bribes and hand out plum civil service jobs to relatives.

The father-of-two hopes his little troupe can help trigger a culture change, even as he juggles his satirical ventures with a full-time job as a policeman.

- Rubbish piles vanish -

In one sketch, al-Atbi plays a diligent official obliged to work with incompetent but politically connected colleagues.


 AFP / AHMAD AL-RUBAYE An Iraqi man performs a skit on the Corniche Street in the southern Iraqi city of Kut


The scene did not require much in terms of props -- just a table and a few chairs, which were quickly encircled by rapt onlookers.

"Our audience is very receptive because they know what we are enacting exists in reality," said al-Atbi.

Less than two years after they began working the streets, the group's efforts have already brought about change, according to Kut residents.

"We can challenge leaders and solve social problems," said 48-year-old teacher Abu Ali, who never misses a Friday skit.

Where rubbish was once piled high, roads are now clean and refuse is collected regularly, Abu Ali added -- thanks at least in part to pressure created by street plays.

But not everyone is a fan.

The group has attracted online trolls, and while street audiences are generally very supportive, hecklers make their presence felt.

"'You exaggerate!' 'Stop insulting the parties and leaders!'" are common refrains, al-Atbi shrugged.

- 'Breath of air' -

But the performers are not discouraged.


AFP / AHMAD AL-RUBAYE Iraqis look at books on the Corniche Street in the southern Iraqi city of Kut

Once a week, they set up on "Tigris Culture Street", among stalls of second-hand books lining the banks of the river running through the agricultural region.

The plays are the only "breath of air... for people of culture" in the area, said hairdresser Karim al-Bahadli.

"They express the feelings that are inside," said al-Bahadli -- a must, he believes, for a turbulent country that is ranked by Transparency International as the world's 12th most corrupt.

Southern Iraq was the epicentre of protests in July against corruption and poor public services.

Iraq's state human rights commission said Monday at least 14 people were killed in the demonstrations, which spread from Basra to Baghdad, before waning under pressure from the security services.

For fans of al-Atbi and his troupe, laughter is something of a social safety valve.

They scored their "greatest success" with a series of skits in the lead-up to May 12 elections, said troupe member Jalal al-Chati, who works as a reporter.

No shade of political sentiment escapes the group's ridicule.

In one scene, the actors play two politicians -- one a devout man offering voters access to the afterlife, the other promising to fend off government efforts to shut down shops selling alcohol.

To avoid sailing too close to the political wind, they use no names. But appreciative murmurs and giggles among the audience indicate they know exactly who is being mimicked.

THE NEWS: Trump pledge EU to become big importer of US gas met with skepticism

Trump pledge EU to become big importer of US gas met with skepticism
source: AFP

AFP/File / DENIS CHARLET Reservoirs of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal are seen in Dunkerque, northern France

President Donald Trump said the European Union would soon become a "massive" importer of US natural gas, but some energy analysts expressed skepticism at such an outcome.

Trump, joined by European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, said Wednesday that the two key economies reached agreement to boost trade of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and soybeans as they defused an escalating trade dispute.

But exporting LNG is an expensive business and likely will not be a big part of European energy anytime soon, experts said Thursday.

"What counts for the European consumer is the price," said Thierry Bros, a researcher at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, who noted the lofty costs of US LNG.

After Europe liberalized its energy markets, "the price is set between buyers and sellers at the exchange in Holland," he added.


AFP / SAUL LOEB US President Donald Trump meets with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington, DC, on July 25, 2018


Unlike oil, which already is in liquid form, natural gas must first be liquefied at a factory in the United States before it is shipped and then re-gasified in Europe at another plant. By contrast, conventional natural gas can just be sent to the EU via pipeline.

"I don't see how the US can force European clients to buy US liquefied natural gas that is more expensive," said Matt Smith, analyst at ClipperData.

A senior EU official agreed with that assessment.

"We are not going to turn into a Soviet style economy" that can order up more imports, the official said.

"The EU wants to increase imports... the text does not say that the EU is committing to increase imports. It is not a declaration of intent."

- US shale boom -

The spotlight on US natural gas exports comes as supply of the commodity remains robust amid an American shale boom that has elevated US standing in the world of oil and gas.

LNG exports from the US quadrupled in 2017 and the country became a net exporter of natural gas for the first time in 60 years.

Boosting exports further would lower the US trade deficit, a focal point for Trump.

"The European Union wants to import more liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States to diversify its energy supply," the joint agreement said.

Juncker said the EU was prepared to invest to build additional infrastructure for LNG.

But analyst Bros notes that is not really the issue: current LNG import facilities are only running at about 26 percent of full capacity.

European gas imports have been on the rise for a while, increasing 4.3 percent in 2017 to 467 billion cubic meter as production fell 5.3 percent to 118 billion cubic meters.

The trading bloc has sought to diversify supply away from Russia, which currently accounts for about one-third of the region's gas.

Europe has embraced gas from Azerbaijan as part of this strategy. But LNG also is a promising source of additional supply, whether from Qatar, Mozambique, Australia or the United States.

Trump has repeatedly touted US gas as a solution to Europe's conundrum, while castigating the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project that could double gas shipments from Russia to Germany.

US exporters until now have sent most gas to Asia and Latin America. In 2017, more than 50 percent of US LNG exports went to three countries -- Mexico, South Korea and China.

But "the ramp up in US LNG exports has only just begun," said S&P Global Platts, which projected that LNG exports from the US would more than quadruple by 2020 following construction of new liquefaction plans, according to S&P Global Platts.

US natural gas producers have become more efficient in extracting natural gas, another factor that "would likely raise the competitiveness of US LNG," said S&P Global Platts.

THE NEWS: China 'waterfall' skyscraper hit by torrent of ridicule

China 'waterfall' skyscraper hit by torrent of ridicule
source: AFP

AFP / - China's rapid economic growth has been accompanied by a construction boom often including outlandish buildings

A skyscraper in southwest China that boasts what its owner calls the world's largest man-made waterfall has become the latest example of over-the-top architecture to draw national ridicule.

The tower in the city of Guiyang was built with a spectacular 108-metre (350-feet) cascade tumbling down its face -- but cash flow could prove a problem for the ostentatious design.

Although the Liebian International Building is not yet finished, the water feature was completed two years ago.

However it has only been turned on six times, with the owners blaming the high cost -- 800 yuan ($120) per hour -- of pumping water to the top of the 121-metre-high structure.


AFP / - Although the Liebian International Building is not yet finished, the water feature was completed two years ago


Constructed by the Ludi Industry Group, the building will house a shopping mall, offices and a luxury hotel.

Its signature artificial waterfall uses runoff, rainwater and groundwater collected in giant underground tanks.

The company says the feature pays homage to the local region's rugged nature, but Chinese netizens have mocked the project as a waste of money.

"If they could just turn it on once every few months, the company would save on cleaning windows," one user wrote on China's Twitter-like social network Weibo.

China's rapid economic growth has been accompanied by a construction boom, often including outlandish buildings that are criticised as a waste of public or shareholder funds.


AFP / - Constructed by the Ludi Industry Group, the building will house a shopping mall, offices and a luxury hotel

The Beijing headquarters of state broadcaster China Central Television features a futuristic design now nicknamed "The Big Underpants" due to its resemblance to a giant pelvis.

Web users also noted the offices of the People's Daily newspaper in the capital looked like a penis during construction, and last year a building on the campus of a water-resources university gained notoriety for resembling a toilet.

The issue prompted President Xi Jinping in 2014 to call for an end to what he called "weird architecture".

THE NEWS: Hundreds of Macau greyhounds await their forever homes

Hundreds of Macau greyhounds await their forever homes
source: AFP

 AFP / Philip FONG Some 533 greyhounds still live at the shabby Canidrome Club in Macau, which was Asia's only legal dog-racing track

On a sweltering afternoon in Macau, panting greyhounds lie in tiny concrete kennels at the gambling enclave's notorious dog-racing track, as a new plan to save them emerged following the venue's closure.

The dogs are currently walked each day by an army of dedicated volunteers from all over Macau, who have been helping out at the deserted Canidrome Club since it shut down on July 21.

Some 533 greyhounds still live at the shabby venue, which was Asia's only legal dog-racing track.

Many of those remaining have patches of fur missing, a result of sleeping on wet concrete according to activists, who say injured dogs went untreated when the Canidrome was still operating.

They believe up to 300 greyhounds were killed each year as they reached their racing shelf-life.


AFP / Philip FONG First opened in 1931, the track's closure was a victory for those who had spent years criticising its treatment of the animals. But there is still a long way to go before the greyhounds can start a new life outside its walls


First opened in 1931, the track's closure was a victory for those who had spent years criticising its treatment of the animals.

But the firm which operated the track, Yat Yuen, failed to rehome the animals ahead of the shutdown, despite being given two years' notice by authorities.

Macau's angry government stepped in to guarantee the dogs' safety, slamming Yat Yuen as irresponsible and threatening heavy fines for abandoning the greyhounds.

It was a direct challenge to Angela Leong, fourth wife of Macau casino pioneer Stanley Ho and a legislator in the city, who runs the company.

AFP / Philip FONG Many of the greyhounds remaining at the Canidrome Club in Macau have patches of fur missing, a result of sleeping on wet concrete according to activists, who say injured dogs went untreated when the Canidrome was still operating

Yat Yuen finally seemed to cave to public and political pressure Friday, announcing a joint proposal with Macau animal protection NGO Anima which would see the dogs looked after at the Canidrome for another two months at the firm's expense then moved to a newly renovated shelter, where any who are not adopted would be cared for until the end of their lives.

Anima would run the shelter in the Taipa area of Macau, to be called the International Centre for the Rehoming of Greyhounds, and would also be in charge of the adoption process.

Leong would make a "financial commitment" to running the centre, the statement said, without giving a figure.

The plan has been submitted to the Macau government.

"We hope we can assist in rehoming all the greyhounds -- we hope they will have a safe family forever," Anima board member Zoe Tang told AFP ahead of the announcement.

The adoption process for the dogs could still take as long as a year, Tang said, given the medical treatments and paperwork required.

- Happy ending -

Yat Yuen organised adoption days in the weeks before the closure.


 AFP / Philip FONG Macau pet shop owner Fei Chan, one of the volunteers at the Canidrome, adopted two of the dogs in the last few weeks

But Tang says eight of the more than 100 dogs found homes through the firm's adoption drive are already back in Anima's care. One dog adopted out has died, she said, adding that adoption procedures must be properly supervised in future.

But some of the greyhounds at least have started a happier chapter.

Macau pet shop owner Fei Chan, one of the volunteers at the Canidrome, adopted two of the dogs in the last few weeks.


AFP / Philip FONG The firm which operated the track, Yat Yuen, failed to rehome the animals ahead of the shutdown, despite being given two years' notice by authorities


When she took in female greyhounds BoBo, 9, and Choi Choi, 8, they had skin conditions and some of their teeth had to be removed because they were rotten, she says.

They are now recovering and roam gently around her store.

"I thought: 'Why not let them live in our pet shop, and educate our customers about the good things we discovered in our greyhounds?'" Chan told AFP.

"In the end, I see no difference between greyhounds and other dogs. The ferocity of greyhounds only came from the training humans gave them. Why can't we teach them the other way around and tame them?"


AFP / Philip FONG "In the end, I see no difference between greyhounds and other dogs. The ferocity of greyhounds only came from the training humans gave them. Why can't we teach them the other way around and tame them?" said pet shop owner Fei Chan who adopted Bobo

Another Canidrome volunteer, Georgina Lao, who is considering adopting a greyhound, dropped into the shop to spend time with the pair of dogs.

She is still undecided on whether to take in a greyhound of her own because she is looking after a baby at home.

But Lao says her volunteer work has opened her eyes to a gentler side of the dogs.

"I found them very polite -- like well-trained soldiers," Lao told AFP.

"Even when they want to dash out, as soon as you tell them to they will follow you back. They are very affectionate and very kind."

THE NEWS: It's a small world: In Japan, moss wins hearts

It's a small world: In Japan, moss wins hearts
source: AFP

AFP / Behrouz MEHRI In recent years, moss enthusiasts have multiplied in Japan, with hikes catering to those eager to spot different varieties and shops selling the plants in terrariums well suited to small Japanese homes

Kaori Shibo bent her head down and peered through a magnifying glass in a forest in central Japan, emitting a delighted gasp. The object of her adoration? Moss.

"Oh, this baby's sporophyte is breaking out! I've never seen this before," an enchanted Shibo, 41, shouted, her head nearly close enough to kiss a fallen tree log in the forest in Yatsugatake.

She was out on a stroll with around 20 other people who are part of a growing community in Japan obsessed with plants known as bryophytes, including moss, liverworts and hornworts.

"When you stare at a tiny, tiny piece of green, you find a vast world expanding from there," explained fellow moss enthusiast Masami Miyazaki.

"It's like a micro universe," the 42-year-old said.

The group was out exploring just days into Japan's rainy season, perfect weather for an expedition to spot some of the many mosses, liverworts, hornworts and lichens thickly coating the forest's trees and rocks.


 AFP / Behrouz MEHRI The forest, which surrounds Shirakomanoike lake and spreads across the northern Yatsugatake mountain range, is a popular spot for micro-plant enthusiasts


The forest, which surrounds Shirakomanoike lake and spreads across the northern Yatsugatake mountain range, is a popular spot for micro-plant enthusiasts.

More than 500 varieties can be observed in the Yatsugatake mountain range alone, according Masanobu Higuchi, Japan's leading bryology expert and the hike's leader.

"I am infatuated by moss not just because of their pretty shapes and colours," Shibo said.

"I am transported by the fact that you can find them anywhere around you but never realise how magnificent they are."

- A staple of Japanese gardens -

In recent years, moss enthusiasts have multiplied in Japan, with hikes catering to those eager to spot different varieties and shops selling the plants in terrariums well suited to small Japanese homes.


AFP / Behrouz MEHRI The Northern Yatsugatake Moss Association began organising moss viewing hikes in 2011, which attracted around 40 people over the year. But this year demand far outstripped the number of spots available

The Northern Yatsugatake Moss Association began organising moss viewing hikes in 2011, which attracted around 40 people over the year.

But this year, 140 people scored tickets to the association's hikes, which are held each month until October, with demand outstripping the number of spots available.

Moss has been popular with traditional Japanese gardeners for centuries, and the plants grow well in the country's humid climate.

"A beautiful natural landscape that is taken and compacted, that is the essence of Japanese gardens," said Chisao Shigemori, a prominent Japanese garden designer.


 AFP / Behrouz MEHRI In recent years, moss enthusiasts have multiplied in Japan, with hikes catering to those eager to spot different varieties and shops selling the plants in terrariums well suited to small Japanese homes.


Speaking to AFP at the carefully groomed Japanese garden at Kyoto's Tofukuji temple, he said moss is considered the best ground-covering plant for such traditional settings because it helps replicate natural landscapes in miniature.

"The landscape of mountains and contrasting densities of green can be all expressed by moss," he said.

At the temple, much of the garden is covered with juniper haircap, known as "sugi-goke" or cedar moss in Japanese.

The spiky stems resemble miniature cedar trees and the moss is very popular with Japanese garden designers.

- The 'Moss King' -

While moss is a purely aesthetic pleasure for some Japanese, for others it is also big business.

Nicknamed the 'Moss King', 64-year-old Oichi Kiyomura spends most days digging through wild bushes, across slopes and even up cliffs, looking for moss he can scoop into trays and sell to enthusiasts.


 AFP / Behrouz MEHRI More than 500 varieties of moss can be observed in the Yatsugatake mountain range alone, according Masanobu Higuchi, Japan's leading bryology expert

It's a far cry from his former career, running nightclubs, but Kiyomura, who is based in the mountains of Nikko north of Tokyo, says his moss business is lucrative.

He says he makes at least 30 million yen ($270,000) a year, hinting that is a modest estimate.

His moss conversion came one day when he was out mushroom picking with a friend.

"It was something I had never expected, but I found a really beautiful community of moss, clustered in the shape of small domes. It was my first encounter with moss," he said.

It was a type known locally as "arahashiraga-goke", popular among bonsai farmers for its silk-like fine leaves.

"I thought there was no way that people would ignore something so beautiful if I started selling it."


 AFP / Behrouz MEHRI Nicknamed the 'Moss King', 64-year-old Oichi Kiyomura spends most days digging through wild bushes, across slopes and even up cliffs, looking for moss he can scoop into trays and sell to enthusiasts


He purchased vast lots of land, including some alongside a shuttered golf course left behind when Japan's economic bubble burst, and started gathering the micro-plants.

He now sells to temples, traditional garden designers, bonsai farmers and terrarium hobbyists.

He has even developed a greening system that allows moss to be grown on building roofs in cities to help bring down temperatures.

Kiyomura acknowledges some detractors find moss rather pedestrian and uninteresting, but he defends his obsession with the plants.

"I love moss, even more than women," he joked. "I would live with it even if no one cared about it anymore."

THE NEWS: North Korea returns remains of US war dead

North Korea returns remains of US war dead
source: AFP

 POOL/AFP / Ahn Young-joon The White House said it was 'encouraged' by the return of the remains and the 'momentum for positive change'

A US military aircraft flew the remains of more than 50 American servicemen out of North Korea on Friday, prompting a personal "thank you" from Donald Trump to Kim Jong Un.

The return of the remains -- on the 65th anniversary of the end of the Korean War -- marks the partial fulfilment of an agreement reached between the US president and North Korea's leader at their historic summit in Singapore last month.

"After so many years, this will be a great moment for so many families. Thank you to Kim Jong Un," Trump said in a tweet.

The White House said it was "encouraged" by the return of the remains and the "momentum for positive change".


 POOL/AFP / KIM HONG-JI A soldier carries a casket containing the remains of a US soldier killed during the Korean War, after they were returned by North Korea


"Today's actions represent a significant first step to recommence the repatriation of remains from North Korea and to resume field operations in North Korea to search for the estimated 5,300 Americans who have not yet returned home," it said.

After leaving the North Korean port city of Wonsan, the C-17 cargo plane landed at the Osan US Air Base in South Korea, where American soldiers stood in ceremonial ranks.

The plane -- which had 55 sets of remains on board, according to the United Nations Command (UNC) in South Korea -- came to a halt next to a group of 10 honour guards carrying the flags of the UN, the US and South Korea.


POOL/AFP / KIM HONG-JI US soldiers salute vehicles transporting the remains of 55 US soldiers killed during the Korean War, after they arrived in South Korea from the North

After the rear door was opened, other uniformed guards went aboard and re-emerged each carrying in their arms a box draped in a white-and-blue UN flag.

They then slowly walked to awaiting vans, put the boxes in the vehicles and saluted, before the vans left the scene.

"It was a successful mission following extensive coordination," General Vincent Brooks, commander of the UNC and United States Forces Korea, said in a statement.

"Now, we will prepare to honour our fallen before they continue on their journey home."


AFP / AFP More than 35,000 Americans were killed on the Korean Peninsula during the war


More than 35,000 Americans were killed on the Korean Peninsula during the war, out of which around 7,700 are still considered missing, including 5,300 in North Korea alone, according to the Pentagon.

Between 1990 and 2005, 229 sets of remains from the North were repatriated, but those operations were suspended when ties deteriorated over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme.

The remains flown to Osan on Friday are expected to be sent to Hawaii for forensic identification, following a formal repatriation ceremony next Wednesday.

- 'They'll milk this' -

Trump has hailed his summit agreement with Kim as effectively ending the North Korean nuclear threat, although it contained only an ill-defined commitment on Pyongyang's part to the "denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula" -- a long way from the complete, verifiable and irreversible disarmament demanded by Washington.


POOL/AFP / Ahn Young-joon The plane had 55 sets of remains on board, according to the United Nations Command (UNC) in South Korea

The issue of repatriating remains of American war dead was seen as a far less contentious one, and the summit agreement specified the immediate return of those remains "already identified."

According to US officials, North Korea is estimated to have as many as 200 sets of remains ready for delivery.

Former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, who has worked on repatriation issues and visited North Korea several times, warned that Pyongyang might hold up further repatriations in order to squeeze some cash out of the United States.

"They'll give a certain amount of remains for free right away," Richardson told the Washington Post. "But then they'll say, 'The next ones, we need to find them, locate them, restore them.' And then they'll start charging, and they'll milk this."


AFP/File / SAUL LOEB The repatriation of US Korean War dead was part of the Singapore agreement between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un


The initial repatriation provides the White House with a tangible result from the Singapore summit, which has otherwise failed to deliver on the denuclearisation expectations raised by the US president.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was despatched to Pyongyang in early July to nail down the North's summit commitments -- including returning the remains of US servicemen.

Pompeo described the talks as "constructive" but the North Korean foreign ministry condemned his "gangster-like" demands for rapid nuclear disarmament.

THE NEWS: Blame game blows up over deadly Greek wildfires

Blame game blows up over deadly Greek wildfires
source: AFP

AFP/File / Angelos Tzortzinis A burnt house in the village of Neos Voutzas, near Athens

Grief and shock over Greece's deadliest wildfires were clouded Friday by a bitter debate over who was to blame, as the opposition rejected the government's suggestion that the blazes were started deliberately.

Deputy Citizen Protection Minister Nikos Toskas on Thursday suggested there were "serious" signs that the worst of the fires, which killed scores this week east of Athens, was the result of arson.

Forensics experts pressed ahead Friday with the difficult task of identifying the bodies of the 82 people known to have perished in the catastrophe.

An official in the identification effort told Greek radio that most of the bodies were completely carbonised, meaning the task will likely take several more days to complete.

Amid public anger over the government's handling of the aftermath, Toskas told reporters on Thursday that "a serious piece of information has led to us opening an investigation" into possible "criminal acts".

Officials citing information from satellite maps have said that 13 fires broke out at the same time across the region of Attica -- which includes Athens -- on Monday.

But the government has come in for strong criticism over its response to the disaster despite a 40-million-euro relief fund for those affected.

Defence Minister Panos Kammenos was heckled on Thursday as he visited the coastal region of Mati, where most of the fatalities occurred.

"You left us to God's mercy, there's nothing left," shouted one resident.

But Kammenos went on the counter-attack, telling the BBC that illegal construction in the past was also to blame for the disaster.

The "majority" of houses on the coast had been built without the proper licences, he said.

"After this tragedy I think it is the moment to understand that it's dangerous for them and for their families to not follow the rules and the laws," the minister said.

Experts have said that a mix of poor urban planning, including a lack of proper access routes and the construction of too many buildings next to combustible forest areas, contributed to what were Europe's worst wildfires this century.

- 'Deplorable spectacle' -

The opposition New Democracy party reacted stingingly to Toskas' claim that the fires were the result of criminal acts.

"This deplorable spectacle of rejecting any responsibility can only provoke anger," it said in a statement.


AFP/File / ANGELOS TZORTZINIS Burnt cars outside a football stadium


The fires struck coastal villages popular with holidaymakers and burned with such ferocity that most people fled to the safety of the sea with just the clothes on their backs.

Survivors spoke of harrowing scenes including entire families burned alive in their homes.

"We were alone, there was nobody to help us. Everybody did what they thought they had to do to survive on their own," resident Evi Kavoura told AFP.


 AFP / The most deadly fires in Europe

The disaster unleashed a wave of solidarity and many survivors were being looked after by voluntary organisations, who were providing them with accommodation, clothing and food.

Amid mountains of food and baby nappies in a gymnasium in Rafina, near Mati, one of the volunteers, Joanna Kefalidou, an English teacher on holiday, said: "We're Greeks and Greeks tend to come together in times of need and help each other as much as they can."

THE NEWS: Ex-lawyer says Trump knew of 2016 meeting with Russians: report

Ex-lawyer says Trump knew of 2016 meeting with Russians: report
source: AFP

AFP/File / EDUARDO MUNOZ ALVAREZ Michael Cohen has claimed, according to US media, that Donald Trump knew in advance of a 2016 meeting with Russians to get dirt on Hillary Clinton

Donald Trump's longtime personal attorney says the US president knew in advance of a June 2016 meeting in which Russians promised to share dirt on then-election rival Hillary Clinton, US media reported Thursday.

Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, son Donald Jr., and top campaign official Paul Manafort met at New York's Trump Tower on June 9, 2016 with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya, who had said she was offering information from the Russian government aimed at helping Trump win the presidency.

Trump, his son, his lawyers and other administration officials have repeatedly said Trump did not know about the now infamous meeting until news of it broke in July 2017.

"No, I didn't know anything about the meeting," Trump told The New York Times that month.

But according to CNN and NBC, Trump's former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, who is under investigation and has fallen out with the president, claims he was present when Donald Jr. told his father about the Russians' offer to meet, and that Trump approved of it.

- 'I love it' -

Cohen's assertion is very important: if he can back it up, it would be a key step toward proving there was collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia aimed at helping Trump win the presidency -- an essential focus of the probe by special counsel Robert Mueller.

The Trump Tower meeting was arranged by a music promoter, Rob Goldstone, who reached out to Trump Jr saying he had "official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia and would be very useful to your father."

Trump Jr responded "I love it" when first offered the political "dirt" on Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee. But he has said since that no "meaningful information" was offered and the meeting focused mostly on the issue of adoptions of Russian children.

CNN quoted sources as saying Cohen lacks evidence such as an audio recording to corroborate his account.

But both CNN and NBC reported -- citing anonymous sources -- that Cohen is willing to make his claim to Mueller.

Mueller has already indicted 31 people -- including 12 Russian intelligence agents -- for hacking computer networks of the Democratic Party.

Cohen's reported claim comes days after the bombshell release of a taped conversation between him and Trump by CNN Tuesday -- with reports suggesting there may be more tapes.

On that recording, released by Cohen's attorney Lanny Davis, Trump can be heard discussing with Cohen arrangements for payment of hush money to Playboy model Karen McDougal, who says she had an affair with Trump in 2006.

McDougal had sold the rights to her story to the parent company of the National Enquirer for $150,000. The Trump-Cohen discussion was essentially about reimbursing that company, run by David Pecker, a friend of Trump, to acquire the rights.

During Trump's presidential campaign, his team denied any knowledge of the deal between McDougal and American Media, the parent company.

- 'First loyalty' -

But in the taped conversation, which came two months before the election, Trump did not express any surprise about the deal.

Cohen, who once declared fierce loyalty to the president, is under federal investigation in New York for his business dealings and reportedly whether hush payments violated campaign finance laws.

The leak fanned speculation about how much damage Cohen can inflict on the president and whether he is now mulling a cooperation deal with federal prosecutors.

In an ABC News interview released on July 2, Cohen said his family and the country commanded his "first loyalty," the first fuel to that speculation.

On Wednesday, Davis compared the Cohen tape to the Watergate tapes that ultimately forced Republican president Richard Nixon to resign in 1974 as impeachment loomed.

"Listen to the tape in the way that (former White House counsel) John Dean had a tape that did in Richard Nixon," he told ABC television. "Ultimately Donald Trump is going to be done in by the truth."

Davis, who worked for the Bill Clinton White House, told ABC that Cohen had more tapes. He told CNN that his client had "turned a corner in his life" and was "now dedicated to telling the truth."

THE NEWS: Pakistan awaits vote results despite Imran Khan victory claim

Pakistan awaits vote results despite Imran Khan victory claim
source: AFP

 PTI/AFP / HANDOUT Pakistan's Imran Khan cut a conciliatory tone in a wide-ranging address to the nation following a controversial campaign

Pakistan on Friday awaited the delayed results of pivotal elections that have already seen a jubilant Imran Khan claim victory, despite allegations of massive vote-rigging in favour of the cricket hero-turned-politician.

Election officials are under fire for the lack of a result two days after ballots closed, an unprecedented delay that observers say has undermined the legitimacy of the exercise.

The vote is a rare democratic transition in the nuclear-armed Muslim country, which has been ruled by the powerful army for roughly half its history, but has already been marred by violence and allegations of military interference.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has dismissed allegations of manipulation -- blaming the delay on glitches in new, untested counting software -- and said there would be a result by Friday.

International observers, including a European Union delegation, are due to give their preliminary assessments of the vote Friday, after rival parties, including the outgoing Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), alleged "blatant" rigging.


 AFP / Laurence CHU


The Election Commission says that with more than 80 percent of the vote counted, Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party enjoys a strong lead with 109 seats so far.

However, it is not certain it will achieve the 137 seats needed in the National Assembly to form a majority government, and may be forced into a coalition.

That did not stop the 65-year-old former cricket star from claiming victory in a wide-ranging address to the nation Thursday.

"We were successful and we were given a mandate," he said from his home in the capital Islamabad, adding in a conciliatory note that there would be "no political victimisation" of his opponents in the future.

The former all-rounder's statement came after his supporters took to the streets to celebrate winning an election that opponents have said the military fixed for him.

Late Wednesday, the once-mighty PML-N, which had been in power since 2013, rejected the results and vowed it would mount a legal challenge.


AFP / RIZWAN TABASSUM Supporters of Pakistan's cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan celebrate despite the lack of official results

Other major parties -- including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which could prove kingmaker in a coalition government -- have also alleged the count is being manipulated.

The delay in the results, an unofficial version of which had been expected late Wednesday, has forced election authorities to hold multiple press conferences to defend themselves.

"The election was conducted in a fair and free manner," said secretary Babar Yaqoob on Thursday.

The military has not yet commented on the situation, but the armed forces and Khan have previously denied allegations of intervention.

The controversy follows a campaign already considered by some observers to be one of the "dirtiest" in Pakistan's history because of the allegations against the military, and marked by the increased visibility of extremist religious parties.

A PTI win would represent an end to decades of rotating leadership between the PPP and PML-N that was punctuated by periods of military rule.

Khan, who captained Pakistan to their cricket World Cup victory in 1992, campaigned on promises to end widespread graft while building an "Islamic welfare state".

But he was dogged by the accusations he was benefiting from a "silent coup" by the generals, which the PML-N has said it was the target of.

THE NEWS: Life on Mars: Japan astronaut dreams after lake discovery

Life on Mars: Japan astronaut dreams after lake discovery
source: AFP

AFP / Kazuhiro NOGI Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai spent 168 days on the International Space Station

Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai came back to earth last month but is still dreaming of space, especially after the discovery of an underground lake brought mankind one step closer to unravelling the mystery of life on Mars.

"I was so excited about the news," the 41-year-old doctor told AFP in an interview on Friday, calling it "a major discovery that inspires dreams".

International astronomers announced Wednesday they had detected the largest body of liquid water ever found on the Red Planet, a breakthrough that may hold clues to whether life has ever formed on Mars -- or even exists today.

Kanai, who spent 168 days on the International Space Station, is firmly convinced that we're not alone in the universe and there is life out there.


 NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/AFP/File / HO International astronomers announced Wednesday they had detected the largest body of liquid water ever found on the Red Planet


"I believe there is," he said. "In the vast universe, anything could be possible."

"I have high hopes that finding extraterrestrial life forms could open a new page in learning."

The soft-spoken spaceman, nicknamed "Nemo" for his background as a diving medical officer in Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force, blasted into space for the first time in December.

- Growing pains -

Following in the footsteps of other media-savvy astronauts, Kanai tweeted about his stay at the space station in Japanese.

AFP/File / STR Kanai blasted into space for the first time in December

But his social media foray came with some growing pains: he was forced to apologise and issue a correction after mistakenly claiming he had grown by nine centimetres just weeks after he arrived.

When a colleague suggested the growth was unlikely, despite the fact that astronauts' spines do extend in the zero-gravity environment of space, Norishige had himself remeasured.

It turned out a mix-up over centimetres and inches was to blame, and he said Friday that he had in fact grown by just two to three centimetres during his stay.

AFP / Kazuhiro NOGI Kanai was forced to apologise and issue a correction after mistakenly claiming he had grown by nine centimetres just weeks into his stay


He has been shrinking since he arrived back on Earth on June 3, but is still one centimetre taller, he said.

"It's interesting to see how long it will take to get back to my original height."

Kanai, whose Twitter profile depicts him in cartoon form with a broad grin, concedes he wasn't always the likeliest candidate to join Japan's space agency JAXA, though he is now the agency's youngest astronaut.

He was a "reserved, cautious" boy, rather than adventurous.

"I was a granny's boy," he said. "When she was sewing, we did it together. I had a rather 'girlie' childhood."


 AFP / STR

But one of the skills he picked up as a child turned out to have a surprising application during the strict JAXA screening process.

In the final selection stage, 10 candidates spend a week in a capsule performing various tasks including folding paper cranes, which the agency says tests patience and steadiness under stress.

Luckily Kanai was a dab hand at origami from his childhood.

- Space for all -

"I don't know if it gave me an advantage... but I knew how to do it. I'm dexterous and like to do repetitive small tasks. That task was easy for me," he said.


AFP / STR While Kanai (background) now belongs to an elite group of astronaut alumni, he is eager to see space become more accessible


Even as he spoke, he deftly folded a piece of origami paper into a crane, without so much as leaning on a table for support.

He so enjoyed making small cranes that he folded more than 100 of them in the test capsule.

While Kanai now belongs to an elite group of astronaut alumni, he is eager to see space become more accessible.

"I think space is not only for astronauts and space-related corporations but is for everyone," he said.

"I welcome the idea of 'enjoyable' space or interesting ideas of private companies to use space."


POOL/AFP / Dmitry LOVETSKY The soft-spoken spaceman says he had mixed emotions as he headed back to Earth last month

He doesn't yet know if he'll be chosen for new missions, and admits that he had mixed emotions as he headed back to Earth last month.

"I felt sorry that it was ending. But I was also happy that I was finally going back to Japan, because six months is a long time.

"I had complex, half-happy, half-sad feelings."