Job Vacancy For Procter & Gamble Ordinary National Diploma Internship Program 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: Procter & Gamble Ordinary National Diploma (OND) Internship

Location: Lagos
Job Type: Full-time

Description

• The Internship drive is for recent OND graduates looking to have their 1 year industrial attachment in Procter & Gamble.
• This opening is not limited to any specific field of study. The job openings cover departments like Sales, Supply Network Operations, Brand/Marketing, Consumer Market Knowledge, Human Resources e.t.c.
• Successful candidates will be considered for openings across Procter & Gamble departments in Lagos. Note that no specific field of study is required for any specific department.

Qualifications

• This opening is not limited to any specific field of study, but for fresh OND graduates looking to have their 1 year industrial attachment in Procter & Gamble.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

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

Note

• Candidates successful with this online application will be invited for a test.
• We wish you all the best with your application!

Massive Graduate Sales Account Manager at Procter & Gamble Nigeria 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.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: Graduate Sales Account Manager

Req No: SLS00002647
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Job Type: Full-time

Description

• Did you know that at P&G Sales department you can lead in-market strategies across multiple product lines while developing deep expertise in P&G brands and categories? Winning feels good.
• That’s why our Sales team makes sure everyone wins at P&G - our customers, our people, and our company.

Your Mission

• You will be offered a position in the Sales Team, but you will work also with colleagues in other functions around the brands that we sell in Nigeria: Ariel, Pampers, Gillette, OralB and Always
• Procter and Gamble is the largest FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) company in the world with strong brands like Pampers, Ariel, Always, Gillette, Oral B just to name a few. We have been in existence since 1837 globally and since 1992 in Nigeria.

What You Get To Do

• Manage a geographical region consisting of International Customers, Wholesalers and Smaller stores, build a strong partnership by clearly understand customer’s needs, goals, strategies, systems and specifics in different categories
• Overall responsibility for delivering volume and leadership in-store presence
• Store visits with Customers regularly
• Articulate and execute appropriate go-to-market for new geographies/ categories into which the distributor is expanding business.
• Collect market information through different channels (market Insight) and share with decision influencers.
• Collaborate with Multi-functional colleagues to assist in delivering excellent end-to-end customer service delivery and respond to market needs and trends.
• Drive the identification/ exploration of potential business opportunities that extend beyond the immediate business operations.
• Monitor, track and report Sales activity and ensure appropriate action is taken to meet/exceed Sales targets. Report monthly results and relevant market information, including information on competitive activities.
• Manage day-to-day performance of all Sales team members – engaging, enabling & energizing the Team.

Qualifications
What we are looking for:

• Bachelor's degree / Master's degree graduate from any discipline
• Very good speaking and written command of the English language
• Evidence of passion, leadership and achievements in academic and/or non-academic activities
• Problem solving via innovation & creativity
• Strong organizing and analytical thinking;
• Ability to collaborate effectively within a multicultural environment.

What We Will Offer You?

• Recognized groundbreaking management skills - we offer you an environment to showcase your knowledge and management abilities
• Continuous trainings and mentoring - you will work with passionate people and you will receive both formal training as well as day-to-day mentoring from your manager and other senior managers
• Dynamic, diverse and respectful work environment
• Competitive salary package and benefits.
• We are an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

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

Job Vacancy For Part-Time Financial Systems and Management Consultant at Accountability Lab Nigeria 2018

The Accountability Lab Nigeria catalyzes a new generation of active citizens and responsible leaders. We train, mentor, and resource citizens to strengthen systems of accountability to unleash positive social and economic change. The Lab also strives to reinvent the way that development organizations operate through radical transparency, context-appropriate reporting, and creative awareness campaigns. The Accountability Lab is a non-profit organization based in Washington DC with a locally registered office in Nigeria.

Accountability Lab provides a dynamic, creative, and collaborative work environment, and we committed to supporting the professional development of our team. We are always looking for talented people who share our values and are committed to positive change.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Part-Time Financial Systems and Management Consultant

Location: Abuja
Reports to: Accountability Lab’s Country Director
Duration: Three-month trial period as part of a one-year part-time contract (2 days a week) with the possibility for renewal

Position Description

• This position is for 2 days a week at the outset, but the time commitment could grow (and would be compensated accordingly) as the organization grows. Responsibilities will include the following:
• Set up a financial management system for Accountability Lab Nigeria in Quickbooks, including monthly payroll, expenditure reimbursement, bank statement reconciliation, and budget forecasting;
• Compose comprehensive yet concise template for monthly financial reports to senior management in the US;
• Assess financial reporting, risk and compliance requirements for international grants, and develop systems to keep the associated records;
• Set up or further develop policies, guidelines and controls—to work in tandem with the Lab’s overall financial guidelines;
• Develop a clear and detailed plan for how to organize past financial records and conduct an internal audit;
• Set up and maintain a filing system for hard copy receipts, and an inventory of all the Lab’s assets;
• Develop and manage project budgets including budget formulation, analysis of burn rates across budget lines and the development of financial reports for donors.

Success Factors:

• Above all, this position requires a superb understanding of financial management, budgeting, financial software, financial systems, accounting and internal audit. It requires excellent management skills, attention to detail, inter-personal and organizational skills.
• Accountability Lab Nigeria has the potential to grow very quickly and the successful candidate will need to have the energy, vision and knowledge of finances to ensure that the Lab meets is financial obligations to donors and to partners.
• The successful candidate will also need to be able to work within a dynamic and culturally diverse team, embodying the organization’s commitment to accountability, transparency and equity.
• We seek a demonstrated record of assuming significant professional responsibility and delivering on financial management goals with integrity and humility. Women, those from minority groups and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• A Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field. CPA highly desirable. BA degree is acceptable if paired with at least 5-10 years’ experience in a similar role;
• Experience designing and implementing financial systems for a non-profit organization in compliance with international standards;
• High-level proficiency in Quickbooks and Microsoft Excel;
• Adaptable, resourceful, self-motivated and able to prioritize and multi-task in a fast-moving environment;
• Highly organized and meticulous attention to detail; and an ability to problem-solve both big picture and day-to-day issues;
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, and the ability to communicate with clarity and empathy to all relevant stakeholders. A strong manager and team player;
• Commitment to the Accountability Lab’s values of integrity, innovation, humility, practicality, and collaboration.

Compensation
We are a small organization with a limited budget, but we are committed to paying a competitive rate commensurate with skills and experience.

Application Closing Date
16th August, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send a Resume, Cover Letter, and contact information for 3 references to: apply@accountabilitylab.org Please specify the title of the position you are applying to in the subject line of the email.

Click here for more information

Application Instructions
If interested, please follow these steps:

• Read about Integrity Idol HERE and nominate 2 honest government officials in Nigeria by filling in the nomination form twice HERE. Integrity Idol is one of the projects you will be working on with the Lab.
• Indicate your preferred salary on the cover letter.

Note: The interview process will include several rounds of interviews and a written test. The position will begin September 10th 2018.

Job Vacancy For Program Officer at Accountability Lab Nigeria

The Accountability Lab Nigeria catalyzes a new generation of active citizens and responsible leaders. We train, mentor, and resource citizens to strengthen systems of accountability to unleash positive social and economic change. The Lab also strives to reinvent the way that development organizations operate through radical transparency, context-appropriate reporting, and creative awareness campaigns. The Accountability Lab is a non-profit organization based in Washington DC with a locally registered office in Nigeria.

Accountability Lab provides a dynamic, creative, and collaborative work environment, and we committed to supporting the professional development of our team. We are always looking for talented people who share our values and are committed to positive change.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Program Officer

Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Duration: Three-month trial period as part of a one-year contract with the possibility for renewal
Reports to: Accountability Lab’s Country Director

Position Description

• The Project Officer will be a key member of the Accountability Lab Nigeria team, working to ensure that the Lab’s growing portfolio of projects are managed effectively, efficiently and transparently
• The Project Officer will first and foremost lead the Lab’s efforts to deliver on projects against agreed deliverables and timelines, and support design, planning and reporting against grants
• The Project Officer will also liaise with other key team members to ensure harmonization across the various grant and project-related elements of the Lab’s work including finances, monitoring, evaluation and learning and strategy
• The Lab is a learning organization and it is also expected that the Project Officer will understand and appreciate how to support the Lab to include learning and adaptation into everything it does
• The Project Officer will be a key point of contact for the Lab with donors and partners on issues related to project delivery and will report to the Lab’s Country Director in Abuja who has overall responsibility for internal systems and project implementation
• The Lab’s ongoing projects include Integrity Idol, an Accountability Incubator to support young people with creative ideas and a rap campaign to develop socially conscious music.

Responsibilities
Project Management:

• Support the design, implementation and oversight of Accountability Lab’s projects related to accountability, transparency, youth engagement and citizen participation;
• Build relationships with key partners and stakeholders in the projects including donors, communities, the media and other civil society organizations;
• Support the M&E team on data collection, synthesis and analysis to ensure projects are meeting goals and are adaptive based on the context;
• Work with the Lab’s Finance Officer and Country Director and other staff to ensure project outputs are delivered on time and within budget;
• Coordinate project activities to ensure effective implementation including events, trainings and outreach.

Reporting:

• Manage and monitor the Lab’s internal project reporting calendars and processes to ensure accurate and timely submission of proposals, reports and other outputs;
• Produce internal progress reports and report to the larger team on a weekly basis on progress;
• Act as the key interlocutor with donors on key grants and submit reports, feedback and other information in time and of the highest quality;

Learning:

• Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer to develop log-frames and impact measurement tools for all projects and ensure data is collected against agreed upon goals on an ongoing basis;
• Integrate a learning mindset and approach into all projects, ensuring that feedback and data is used to improve activities over time;
• Lead trainings where relevant related to project implementation, outreach, community-building and reporting;
• Follow-up on monitoring and evaluation findings to ensure that corrective actions are taken and/or adjustments are made to program and project responses;
• Support the Lab’s internal learning and evaluation processes including annual impact and learning reporting and ongoing iterative data collection processes.

Success Factors

• Above all, this position requires a superb understanding of program design, management, implementation and reporting. It requires excellent management skills, attention to detail, inter-personal and organizational skills
• Accountability Lab Nigeria has the potential to grow very quickly and the successful candidate will need to have the energy, vision and knowledge of the program implementation field to help us deliver on commitments and to improve what we do
• The successful candidate will also need to be able to work within a dynamic and culturally diverse team, embodying the organization’s commitment to accountability, transparency and equity
• We seek a demonstrated record of assuming significant professional responsibility and delivering on programmatic goals with integrity and humility.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience implementing programs for international donors in Nigeria, including project design, management and reporting;
• Experience conducting program trainings and mentoring professionals;
• Demonstrated competency using Microsoft Office and other relevant computer programs;
• A pro-active leader, communicator and team player;
• Adaptable, resourceful, self-motivated and able to prioritize in a fast-moving environment;
• Highly organized and meticulous attention to detail;
• Ability to problem-solve both big picture and day-to-day issues;
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, and the ability to communicate with clarity and professionalism to all relevant stakeholders (staff, board, donors);
• Commitment to the Accountability Lab’s values of integrity, innovation, humility, practicality, and collaboration.

Compensation

• We are a small organization with a limited budget, but we are committed to paying a competitive rate commensurate with skills and experience
• Additional benefits include: health insurance and travel and communications stipend.

Application Closing Date
16th August, 2018

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Resume, Cover Letter, and contact information for 3 references to: apply@accountabilitylab.org Please specify the title of the position you are applying to in the subject line of the email.

Click here for more information

Application Instruction
If interested, please follow these steps:

• Read about Integrity Idol HERE and nominate 2 honest government officials in Nigeria by filling in the nomination form twice HERE. Integrity Idol is one of the projects you will be working on with the Lab.
• Indicate preferred salary expectations on your cover letter.

Note

• The interview process will include several rounds of interviews and a written test. The position will begin September 10th, 2018.
• Women, those from minority groups and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Job Vacancy For Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer (MEL Officer) at Accountability Lab Nigeria

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The Accountability Lab Nigeria catalyzes a new generation of active citizens and responsible leaders. We train, mentor, and resource citizens to strengthen systems of accountability to unleash positive social and economic change. The Lab also strives to reinvent the way that development organizations operate through radical transparency, context-appropriate reporting, and creative awareness campaigns. The Accountability Lab is a non-profit organization based in Washington DC with a locally registered office in Nigeria.

Accountability Lab provides a dynamic, creative, and collaborative work environment, and we committed to supporting the professional development of our team. We are always looking for talented people who share our values and are committed to positive change.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer (MEL Officer)

Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Duration:  Three-month trial period as part of a one-year contract with the possibility for renewal
Reports to: Accountability Lab’s Country Director

Position Description

• The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer (MEL Officer) will be a key, senior member of the Accountability Lab Nigeria team, ensuring that the Lab collects and uses all of the data and information it needs to grow and improve.
• S/he will first and foremost lead the Lab’s efforts to collect data and ensure rigorous adherence to agreed project impacts and outcomes to ensure robust reporting.
• The MEL Officer will also design feedback mechanisms for relevant stakeholders, work to adapt the Lab’s approaches based on the information collected and support the Lab as a learning organization.
• The MEL Officer will be the key point of contact for the Lab with donor and partners on issues of impact reporting, data and learning; and will report to the Lab’s Country Director in Abuja who is the office’s most senior manager and externally-focused representative, responsible for business development, outreach, and relationship management. Women, those from minority groups and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities
Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Design, implement and oversee operational arrangements for data collection, analysis, and reporting on the Lab’s work;
• Identify metrics and goals for success and work with the team to design or modify monitoring and evaluation instruments that are both quantitative and qualitative to asses these metrics of success;
• Work in close collaboration with internal counterparts and external partners to strengthen the data quality, accuracy and consistency to build credible performance evidence.
• Explore opportunities for use of technology in M&E (e.g. mobile data collection or feedback systems) in the Labs M&E efforts;
• Support to project and communication teams to enable effective use of findings in the formulation of policy, training or communication materials.
• Encourage evidence-based decision-making within the Lab and among its partners.
• Review and give technical feedback on monitoring and evaluation plans for new programmes and budget revisions to ensure that plans are risk-based and focus on measuring results (e.g. checking monitoring and evaluation budgets are allocated and appropriate log-frame indicators and outcome targets are documented).

Learning:

• Follow-up on monitoring and evaluation findings to ensure that corrective actions are taken and/or adjustments are made to program responses;
• Support the Lab’s internal learning and evaluation processes including annual impact and learning reporting and ongoing iterative data collection processes;
• Explore and pilot alternative MEL approaches, tools and techniques such as social network analysis and complexity aware monitoring approaches;
• Support the development of a learning community in Nigeria through organizing and hosting events, workshops and other network-building efforts.

Reporting:

• Develop log frames and impact measurement tools for all projects and ensure data is collected against agreed upon goals on an ongoing basis;
• Produce monitoring and evaluation progress reports with status of results and implementation of improvements
• Direct timely MEL compliance reporting for all grants, ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and high quality of all data;
• Liaise directly with the Accountability Lab Nigeria’s Country Director and Nigerian Board of Directors on all matters relevant to MEL.

Qualifications

• BA degree in Public Administration, Management, Business, or related social science field and 5+ years of experience in relevant roles. An advanced degree in MEL or other relevant graduate degree is highly desirable, as is work experience elsewhere in the world.
• Experience managing programs and teams for non-profit organization in Sub-Saharan Africa in compliance with international standards;
• Experience working with/within donor organizations including close familiarity with monitoring and evaluation systems, frameworks, matrices and data collection tools;
• Experience conducting MEL trainings and mentoring professionals;
• Demonstrated competency using Microsoft Office and other relevant computer programs;
• A pro-active leader, communicator and team player;
• Adaptable, resourceful, self-motivated and able to prioritize in a fast-moving environment;
• Highly organized and meticulous attention to detail;
• Ability to problem-solve both big picture and day-to-day issues;
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, and the ability to communicate with clarity and professionalism to all relevant stakeholders (staff, board, donors);
• Commitment to the Accountability Lab’s values of integrity, innovation, humility, practicality, and collaboration.

Success Factors

• Above all, this position requires a superb understanding of adaptive monitoring, evaluation and learning techniques. It requires excellent management skills, attention to detail, inter-personal and organizational skills.
• Accountability Lab Nigeria has the potential to grow very quickly and the successful candidate will need to have the energy, vision and knowledge of the MEL field to help us collect the information and data we need and to use this to improve what we do.
• The successful candidate will also need to be able to work within a dynamic and culturally diverse team, embodying the organization’s commitment to accountability, transparency and equity. We seek a demonstrated record of assuming significant professional responsibility and delivering on MEL goals with integrity and humility.

Compensation
We are a small organization with a limited budget, but we are committed to paying a competitive rate commensurate with skills and experience. Additional benefits include: health insurance and a travel and communications stipend.

Application Closing Date
16th August, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send a Resume, Cover Letter, and contact information for 3 references to: apply@accountabilitylab.org Please specify the title of the position you are applying to in the subject line of the email.

Click here for more information

Application Instructions
If interested, please follow these steps:

• Read about Integrity Idol HERE and nominate 2 honest government officials in Nigeria by filling in the nomination form twice HERE. Integrity Idol is one of the projects you will be working on with the Lab.
• Indicate your preferred salary on the cover letter.

Note: The interview process will include several rounds of interviews and a written test. The position will begin September 10th 2018.

THE LATEST Top Achiever Scholarships at University of Auckland in New Zealand, 2018

Top Achiever Scholarships at University of Auckland in New Zealand, 2018

The University of Auckland is currently accepting applications to commence undergraduate study in New Zealand. This scholarship is available to the final year of New Zealand secondary school students only.
Course Level: Scholarship is available for undergraduate students.
Eligible Countries: The scholarship is available to New Zealand students only.
Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must meet the following criteria:
Assessment criteria include:

1. The number of Excellence credits you attained at NCEA Level 2 or 3 last year, or your CIE average from last year, or your predicted score for IB for this year.
2. Whether you competed in the finals of academic, sporting or art competitions.
3. Whether you held senior leadership positions at the school.
4. If you have been awarded a community-based honour.
5. If you have been selected by an outside agency or trust to attend leadership training or personal development programme
6. If you have provided academic mentoring to other students

Personal factors
The University of Auckland is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and equitable study environment for all students who have the potential to succeed in a university of high international standing.
The Top Achiever Scholarship acknowledges that some talented students may face barriers to entry and takes into account if you:

1. Are the first in your family to attend university;
2. Are from a refugee background; or
3. Have a disability

The University also has a rigorous process for reviewing all applications and ensuring scholarship recipients are drawn from secondary schools across New Zealand.
Method of Application: 

• Ready to apply? Download a copy of the regulations and check that you are eligible before you start your application.
• When you are ready, click on the blue “Apply here” button on the University of Auckland Top Achiever Scholarship application page and complete the online application form.
• Remember, applications close at 5 pm on 22 August.

Online Applications

Scholarship Link

Scholarship Application Deadline: August 22, 2018

THE LATEST PhD Position at University of Amsterdam in Netherlands, 2019

PhD Position at University of Amsterdam in Netherlands, 2019

The University of Amsterdam, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), invite applications for a PhD candidate in Marine Microbial Ecology in the Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology. PhD candidate will work in the Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology (FAME), headed by Prof. Jef Huisman.
Course Level: Position is available for a PhD researcher.
Eligible Nationalities: International applicants are eligible to apply for the position
Eligibility Criteria:

1. MSc in Microbial Ecology, Aquatic Ecology, Marine Biology, Biological Oceanography or a related field;
2. experience with cultivation of micro-organisms;
3. experience with molecular techniques, preferably genomics/transcriptomics;
4. experience with fieldwork;
5. experience with bioinformatics analyses is desired;
6. ability to work in a multi-disciplinary research team;
7. excellent communication skills in English.

Method of Application: Applications may only be submitted by using the link below.

1. The UvA is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We value a spirit of enquiry and endurance, provide the space to keep asking questions and cherish a diverse atmosphere of curiosity and creativity.
2. You may send your application ultimately at 15 September 2018 using the link below. Please quote vacancy number 18-464 in the subject field.
3. Your application should include:

• a letter of motivation (max 1 page);
• a detailed CV, including a list of publications and
• the names and contact addresses of two references, from whom information about the candidate can be obtained.

4. Please combine all these items into a single PDF file of manageable size. Interviews, possibly via Skype, will be scheduled for 15 October 2018. #LI-DNP

Online Application

Scholarship Link

Scholarship Application Deadline: 15 September 2018

THE LATEST PhD Fellowship at University of Cape Town in South Africa, 2018

PhD Fellowship at University of Cape Town in South Africa, 2018

Applications are invited for the postdoctoral research fellowship at the Marine Research Institute (Ma-Re) University of Cape Town, South Africa. Fellowship is available for international students.
The candidate must have experience with the implementation of regional or global ocean numerical models, data analysis and visualization.
Course Level: Fellowship is available to the postdoctoral research programme.
Eligible Nationalities: Fellowship is available for international students.
Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must meet the following criteria:
Conditions of Award

• Postdoctoral research fellowships are available only to individuals who have achieved the doctoral degree within the past 5 years;
• Applicants may not previously have held full-time permanent professional or academic posts;
• No benefits or allowances are included in the value of the fellowship;
• The successful incumbent will be required to comply with the University’s approved policies, procedures and practices for the postdoctoral sector;
• The successful candidate may, as part of their professional development, be requested to participate in departmental activities such as limited teaching and cosupervision and incidental duties;
• PDRFs are permitted to undertake part-time employment for no more than 12 hours per week. Such remunerated employment is taxable.

Method of Application: To apply, send an email application to ma-re-at-uct.ac.za and attach the following: a cover letter describing research experience, interests, and collaborative experience; a curriculum vitae and list of publications; certified transcripts of academic qualifications at tertiary level; and contact information for two (2) scientific referees.

Scholarship Link

Scholarship Application Deadline: Applications will stay open until the position is filled. However, it is anticipated that the fellowship will commence in September 2018

THE LATEST Medical Science Scholarships at University of Alberta in Canada, 2019

Medical Science Scholarships at University of Alberta in Canada, 2019

Approximately 10-15 Medical Sciences Graduate Program Scholarships valued at $6,500 each are available as a contribution to the stipend of students registered full time in a thesis based MSc or PhD in Medical Sciences Graduate Program (MSGP) in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry.
That is, doctoral students must submit a PhD proposal package within 24 months of the start of their graduate program and must pass the candidacy exam within 6 months of the MSGPC’s approval of their proposal.
Course Level: Studentships are available for graduate students.
Scholarship Benefits: Scholarships valued at $6,500 each.
Eligible Nationalities: National students are eligible to apply for this scholarship
Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• The student must be currently registered or accepted to start as of January 2019 as a full-time thesis-based graduate student in the Medical Sciences Graduate Program (MSc or PhD) in one of the following departments in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry:
  Note: Applications from Laboratory Medicine & Pathology are limited to those whose degree will be “Medical Sciences – Laboratory Medicine & Pathology”. Students admitted to the independent LMP program (September 2013 onward) are ineligible’s
• The student may not concurrently hold any major awards ($13,000 or greater), or any other stipend award from the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry (e.g. 75th Anniversary Award, FoMD/AHS Student Recruitment Studentships, Motel Graduate Studentship).
• The student may be eligible to hold this award more than once.
• Award will be withdrawn if the student completes his/her program or ceases to maintain full-time registration

Method of Application: The application should include:

• A completed current application form with original signatures. Please do not use previous applications as forms are updated on a regular basis.
• The student’s up-to-date transcripts in letter size unofficial and copies of original are acceptable as long as they are copied to letter size 8 1/2 x 11).
• All non-Urfaa transcripts must include a Weighted Average Calculator Form to be completed by the department you are admitted in.
• Must include current Urfa transcript even if there are no grades yet.
• Two confidential letters of reference which should be received in a signed and sealed envelope
• Curriculum vitae, reprints, a ranking of applicants, or other documentation are not required and must not be attached to the application.

Online Application

Scholarship Link

Scholarship Application Deadline: 28 September 2018

THE NEWS: Want to be a dad? Wear boxers, not skin-tight briefs

Want to be a dad? Wear boxers, not skin-tight briefs
source: AFP

AFP/File / ROBERTO SCHMIDT Men trying to become a father the old-fashioned way are better off wearing loose underwear, according to a new study

Men trying to become a father the old-fashioned way are better off wearing loose underwear, according to a study published Thursday.

Compared to men who favour snug-fitting briefs, devotees of boxer shorts had a significantly higher count and concentration of sperm, researchers reported in the journal Human Reproduction.

The sperm were also more lively, and levels of a reproductive hormone were more favourable to generating offspring.

Researchers led by Lidia Minguez-Alarcon of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston examined 656 men of normal weight, aged 18 to 56, whose partners were seeking infertility treatment at a clinic.

Earlier research had come to the same conclusion, but with a smaller sample size. Corroborating data on the hormone, known as FSH, was also new.

Successful sperm production requires an environment three to four degrees Celsius (5.6 to 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit) below body temperature.

This explains the design of the free-hanging male scrotum, which is, in effect, a cooling system that places the sperm-making testes outside the main body cavity.

Anything that prevents this cooling is likely to impair both sperm output and quality.

- If in doubt... -

While the age-old locker-room debate among men -- boxers vs. briefs -- is more aesthetic than medical, the question has long been raised: do tight-fitting shorts overheat the family jewels?

The answer, it seems, is "a little bit, but it may not matter".

"The study provides reasonably strong supporting evidence that wearing tighter underwear might cause mild, but significant, impaired sperm production in men," noted Richard Sharpe, an honorary professor from the University of Edinburgh's MRC Centre for Reproductive Health who was not involved in the research.

Ashely Grossman, professor of endocrinology at Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, agreed, saying the results were robust enough to merit a small lifestyle change when in doubt.

"It is a simple measure to wear boxer shorts when there is uncertainty regarding fertility," he commented.

At the same time, experts noted a number of gaps in the new study that left room for uncertainty, and highlighted the need for follow up research.

While each participant provided a sperm and blood sample, sartorial habits were self-reported.

The study was also not a clinical trial -- the gold standard in health research -- but a search for statistically significant correlations, which can only point to possible causes.

Also, the study did not measure actual pregnancy outcomes, so it was unclear whether the differences in sperm count and quality uncovered actually made a bottom-line difference in the desired outcome.

THE NEWS: 'Time has come' for US Space Force, sixth military branch: Pence

'Time has come' for US Space Force, sixth military branch: Pence
source: AFP

AFP / SAUL LOEB US Vice President Mike Pence speaks about the creation of the Space Force at the Pentagon

Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday unveiled details of plans to build a US Space Force that would become the sixth branch of America's massive military, saying the time has come to prepare for "the next battlefield."

President Donald Trump ordered the creation of Space Force in June, arguing the Pentagon needs it to tackle vulnerabilities in space and assert US dominance in orbit.

Its creation however is not a done deal, as it needs to be approved by Congress, and the concept has met with some skepticism from lawmakers and defense officials wary of the cost and added bureaucracy.

But Pence was unequivocal in presenting the administration's wish for it to become a reality -- preferably by 2020, the end of Trump's term in office.

"The time has come to write the next great chapter in the history of our armed forces, to prepare for the next battlefield where America's best and bravest will be called to deter and defeat a new generation of threats to our people, to our nation," Pence told an audience at the Pentagon.

"The time has come to establish the United States Space Force," he said, repeating Trump's call for Congress to invest an additional $8 billion in US space security systems over the next five years.

Shortly after Pence's speech, Trump tweeted: "Space Force all the way!"

- Countering Russia and China -

The creation of a US Space Force reflects the drastically changed reality of space's role in national security.

When president John F. Kennedy explained in 1962 why America was sending men to the Moon, he famously said, "There is no strife, no prejudice, no national conflict in outer space as yet."


ESA/AFP/File / A computer-generated artist's impression showing some of the thousands of objects in orbit around the Earth


But 56 years later, space plays a vital role in just about every aspect of modern warfare, with many military technologies reliant on a network of orbiting sensors and satellites.

Pence said an independent Space Force was essential to counter Russia and China, which are "aggressively" working toward anti-satellite capabilities.

"China and Russia have been conducting highly sophisticated on-orbit activities that could enable them to maneuver their satellites into close proximity of ours, posing unprecedented new dangers to our space systems," he said.

Currently, the Air Force oversees most space capabilities and there is some push back from officials who worry the Space Force's mission would be duplicative and create turf wars.

The US military presently consists of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

Given the stakes surrounding building a new military branch, the issue is likely to be a political football.

Some Republican lawmakers expressed support for the project, but many Democrats derided the idea as a money pit that would jeopardize other priorities.

"Maybe, just maybe, we should make sure our people are not dying because they lack health insurance before we start spending billions to militarize outer space," Senator Bernie Sanders tweeted.

Democratic Senator Brian Schatz said Space Force "won't happen."

No Republican is willing to tell Trump it's a "dumb idea," added the lawmaker from Hawaii. "It's dangerous to have a leader who cannot be talked out of crazy ideas."

- US Space Command -

Pence outlined a series of steps the Pentagon will undertake before Space Force comes online.

Key among these is the creation of US Space Command, a new organizational body that would draw in members of existing military branches.

America's vast military divides the globe into various commands, such as Central Command in the Middle East or Indo-Pacific Command in Asia, and a new Space Command would be on equal footing with these.

It would require a new headquarters and major organizational changes.

The Pentagon sent a report to Congress Tuesday detailing steps towards meeting Trump's order.

The document outlines how America's military is at risk in space due to adversaries pursuing "counter-space" capabilities to neutralize America's satellites during a conflict, such as by jamming or hacking them.

"It is imperative that the United States adapts its policies, doctrine, and capabilities to protect our interests," the document states.


 AFP / SAUL LOEB US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis (with Mike Pence in the background) last year voiced skepticism on the need to create a separate Space Force

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said this week that Pence is Trump's "point man" for Space Force, and Pentagon officials are working closely with his office.

But just last year, Mattis voiced skepticism concerning the need to create a separate Space Force.

In a letter to a congressman, he said he did "not wish to add a separate service that would likely present a narrower and even parochial approach to space operations," adding it would create extra bureaucracy and cost.

On Tuesday, however, Mattis expressed full support for creating a new US Space Command.

"We need to address space as a developing, war-fighting domain and a combatant command is certainly one thing that we can establish," he said.

The president's re-election team trumpeted the proposal, asking supporters to help select Space Force's new official logo -- to go on merchandise sold by his campaign.

THE NEWS: China's new online cosmetics stars: men

China's new online cosmetics stars: men
source: AFP

 AFP / WANG ZHAO Jiang Cheng preparing for a male beauty video at his home in Beijing

When Jiang Cheng first tried a bit of concealer during his first year of university in China it gave him self-confidence and he was instantly hooked.

Now he is among hundreds of Chinese men sharing beauty tips online and cashing in on the booming male cosmetics industry.

"I found that putting on make-up is actually quite easy," the 24-year-old said as he gently brushed his face with some foundation.

"Women may not fully grasp the concept of male make-up. If a girl puts on my make-up, they may not be able to achieve the effect that I really want," Jiang said.

Every weekend, Jiang spends a couple of hours in front of his iPhone at his cozy makeshift studio in Beijing trying on the latest balms and blush for hundreds of live viewers, who can simultaneously buy the products he reviews.

"This colour is not that outrageous that men can't wear it safely even in a conservative environment," he explains to his fans.


AFP / WANG ZHAO Lan Haoyi shares beauty tips online as part of China's booming beauty industry for men


Online beauty stars form an enormous industry in China, with internet celebrities known as "wang hong", or online stars, blurring the line between entertainment and e-commerce.

Companies like Alibaba and JD.com have launched live-streaming platforms that allow viewers to purchase on the go while watching videos. And cosmetics brands pay big money for online celebrities, almost always female, to review their new products.

But now the market and gender norms are changing, with cosmetics no longer seen as exclusively for women and male celebrities showing that it is okay for men to dab on a bit of blush.

Jiang says a firm that manages bloggers pays him around 5,000 yuan ($730) per month to feature products from cosmetics companies.

The male beauty market is expected to grow 15.2 percent in the next five years in China compared to an 11 percent global increase over the same period, according to research firm Euromonitor.

- 'Little Fresh Meat' -

Increasingly, foreign firms like La Mer and Aesop work with video bloggers such as Lan Haoyi, known as Lan Pu Lan online, to promote their products to his nearly 1.4 million followers.


AFP / WANG ZHAO Jiang Cheng recording video at his home in Beijing as part of China's booming male cosmetics industry

The 27-year-old spends up to 10,000 yuan ($1,460) a month on beauty products and says China's "Little Fresh Meat" -- a term referring to young good-looking men -- is spearheading this trend.

"We're seeing more men in the media wearing make-up. This will naturally become the norm," Lan said.

Despite what appears to be social progress in many of the country's cosmopolitan cities, the video blogger says he still receives hate messages and criticism for appearing in smoky red eyeshadow.

"'Why would a man look like that? Why does a man need to wear make-up?' These are some of messages I get," Lan says, adding he has been called a "sissy" and other slurs.

For Jiang, the fear of being ridiculed by his own parents stops him from picking up the make-up brush in front of them.

"I don't want to have conflict with my parents. We don't see eye to eye, our values and concepts of life are different.

"I'm not saying that they don't think me putting on make-up is bad or what, but they are just unable to accept the daily make-up routine for a man," he says.

- Internet strategy -

But Mo Fei, the executive director for Chetti Rouge, a Chinese cosmetics company targeting men exclusively, says that will change over time.


AFP / WANG ZHAO Lan Haoyi doing make up before recording video at his home in Beijing

"There will be more and more men who take more care in how they look and the demands will increase. Men in the East are more accepting," Mo says.

He opened Chetti Rouge in 2005 with few products. Now the beauty company sells a wide variety of cosmetics ranging from foundation to lipstick solely for men and has moved the entire business online.

"We saw potential in the market very early on," Mo told AFP, adding that the company expanded to Thailand three years ago.

"It might be that men have accepted make-up. For men to browse products in shopping malls, may be for some men a little intimidating, hence the best way for them to buy is online, which is why our sales strategy is mainly on the internet."

THE NEWS: Drive to curb salt intake should focus on China: study

Drive to curb salt intake should focus on China: study
source: AFP

 AFP/File / ILMARS ZNOTINS Individuals with a daily salt intake of at least 12/5 grammes (about two-and-a-half teaspoons) have been associated with increased blood pressure and a greater risk of stroke

Salt consumption exceeds national and World Health Organization guidelines in most countries, but only the highest-sodium diets, such as in China, are linked to clear health risks, researchers said Friday.

Only individuals with a daily salt intake of at least 12.5 grammes -- about two-and-a-half teaspoons -- were associated with increased blood pressure and a greater risk of stroke, they reported in The Lancet, a medical journal.

WHO recommends capping salt consumption at five grammes per day, but this target is not known to have been achieved at a national level anywhere in the world, the survey of more than 90,000 people spread across 300 distinct communities in 18 countries found.

"We should be far more concerned about targeting communities and countries with high average sodium intake -- above five grammes (equivalent to 12.5 grammes of salt), such as China -- and bringing them down to the moderate range" of 7.5 to 12.5 grammes of salt, said lead author Andre Mente, a professor in the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster University in Canada.

One gramme of sodium equals 2.5 grammes of salt.

Four-fifths of the groups examined in China had average daily salt intake of 12.5 grammes, whereas in other countries 84 percent ingested between 7.5 and 12.5 grammes.

"Our study adds to growing evidence that, at moderate intake, sodium may have a beneficial role in cardiovascular heath, but a potentially more harmful role when intake is very high or very low," he said in a statement.

The Human body needs essential nutrients such as sodium and many vitamins, but the ideal amount remains subject to debate.

The study, which stopped short of calling for WHO recommendations to be relaxed, examined urine and blood samples, along with health records, for 95,767 women and men monitored over an eight-year period.

Nearly 3,700 of the participants died during that time and 3,543 had "major cardiovascular events".

Experts not involved in the study were sharply critical of its methodology, and said its findings should be taken with more than a few grains of salt.

The technique for collecting urine samples in notoriously unreliable, they noted. And the fact that it was an observational study -- as opposed to clinical trials -- means that no firm conclusions can be drawn as to cause-and-effect.

Most controversial was the suggestion that low sodium intake may, in fact, provoke heart disease.

"There are no known mechanisms that could explain this observation," commented Tom Sanders, professor emeritus of nutrition and dietetics at King's College London.

"Sodium is an essential nutrient but the requirement is very low at about 0.5 grammes (1.25 grammes of salt) per day."

Ageing populations, he added, should still be advised to restrict the addition of salt to food.

THE NEWS: Woodland shoots 64 to seize PGA lead, Tiger, McIlroy grind to par

Woodland shoots 64 to seize PGA lead, Tiger, McIlroy grind to par
source: AFP

GETTY/AFP / STUART FRANKLIN Gary Woodland of the US plays a shot during the first round of the 2018 PGA Championship, at Bellerive Country Club in St Louis, Missouri, on August 9

Gary Woodland, who has never cracked the top-10 in 27 major starts, fired a six-under par 64 on Thursday to grab a one-stroke lead over fellow American Rickie Fowler after the opening round of the 100th PGA Championship.

On a day when Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy grinded out level par, unlikely Woodland -- who snapped a five-year PGA victory drought by winning in February at Phoenix -- unleashed the best putting round of his career at Bellerive Country Club.

"When I see putts go in, that just gets me going," Woodland said. "It's really starting to click. I thought I was putting well. It was nice to see them go in."

World number 44 Woodland, whose best major finishes have been shares of 12th at the 2011 PGA and 2016 British Open, sank seven birdie putts in 10 holes to pass Fowler, who matched the best major round of his career with a 65.

Ninth-ranked Fowler, twice a top-five finisher in every major, is without a win to show for it, having finished second at the Masters in April.


 GETTY/AFP / SAM GREENWOOD Rickie Fowler of the US plays his shot from the second tee during the first round of the 2018 PGA Championship, at Bellerive Country Club in St Louis, Missouri, on August 9


"I always have hope. It's not something I necessarily worry about," Fowler said. "Keep putting ourselves in position, get in contention. We'll just keep beating down that door."

Woodland, 34, opened with a bogey but closed the front nine with back-to-back birdies then sank a 44-foot birdie putt at the par-4 11th and added 23-foot birdie putts at 12 and the par-3 16th.

"You work so hard and you want to see results to back up the work you've done," Woodland said. "Today was just a step in the right direction."

At the par-5 17th, Woodland dropped his approach three feet from the cup and tapped in for a birdie to seize the lead, then closed with a par.

"It was nice to get the jitters over early," Woodland said. "I really settled in. I played great all day."

Woods, a 14-time major champion making a comeback after spinal fusion surgery, battled back all day to overcome a bogey-double bogey start.


GETTY/AFP / STUART FRANKLIN Tiger Woods of the US walks on the fifth hole during the first round of the 2018 PGA Championship, at Bellerive Country Club in St Louis, Missouri, on August 9

"It kept me in the golf tournament," Woods said. "I could have easily gone the other way, but I hung in there and turned it around."

The 42-year-old American battled back with birdie putts from four feet at 18, nine feet at the first and eight feet at the par-5 eighth.

"Just hung in there. I was trying to chip away at it, pick away at it," Woods said. "I was able to grind out a score today."

Woods briefly led in the final round of last month's British Open, but he hasn't won a major since the 2008 US Open or any title since 2013.

Four-time major champion McIlroy found a bunker at 10 and made bogey, then sank birdie putts at 11 13, but made bogey at 18 and parred in from there.

"It wasn't that easy out there," said McIlroy. "I gave myself a few chances. I finished off with nine pars. It could have been a little better."

Fowler, a back-nine starter, found 11 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens in regulation. He birdied 14 but landed in a bunker at the par-3 16th and made bogey, then bounced back with a 12-foot birdie putt at the par-5 17th, a 14-footer at the first and six-footer at the third.

Fowler followed with a 31-foot birdie putt at the par-4 seventh hole and blasted from a bunker to eight feet to birdie the par-5 eighth.

"I'm definitely happy about the start and we'll see if we can keep that rolling," Fowler said. "I kept it very stress free. Just played within myself."

- Stone, Johnson in third -


 GETTY/AFP / ANDY LYONS Brandon Stone of South Africa plays his shot from the second tee during the first round of the 2018 PGA Championship, at Bellerive Country Club in St Louis, Missouri, on August 9


South African Brandon Stone, who won July's Scottish Open, shot 66 to share third with US two-time major winner Zach Johnson.

"The game felt really good," Stone said. "Just tried to stay calm and I made a few great putts."

Johnson saved par at 17 from a bunker and dropped his 155-yard approach two feet from the cup to set up a closing birdie.

"That was big at 17 and then I had the right distance at 18," Johnson said.

- Thomas finds positives -

Woods and McIlroy played in a feature group alongside second-ranked defending champion Justin Thomas, who shot 69.

Thomas, who won last week's WGC event, could join Woods as the only men since 1937 to win consecutive PGAs.

"Definitely a lot more positives to take the negatives," Thomas said. "I'm in a good position for Thursday."

THE NEWS: Nationwide probe after Tokyo med school excludes women

Nationwide probe after Tokyo med school excludes women
sources:AFP

AFP/File / Kazuhiro NOGI The scandal at the Tokyo Medical University has shocked Japan

Japan Friday launched an unprecedented probe into gender discrimination at all the nation's medical universities after a Tokyo medical school admitted altering the entrance test results of female applicants to exclude them.

The education ministry has asked all 81 private and public medical schools to check their admission procedures for possible discrimination against female applicants.

Authorities said they would also check the gender ratio of successful applicants for the past six months, confirming it was the first ever such nationwide investigation.

"If their answers are judged as not reasonable, we will ask additional questions or visit them directly," a ministry official said, adding that the results of the probe would be published as early as next month.

The probe came after a Tokyo medical school admitted it routinely altered entrance test scores for female applicants to keep women out, in a scandal that has sparked outrage in Japan.

The alterations reportedly stretched back as far as 2006 and apparently aimed to keep the ratio of women in the school at 30 percent or lower.

"The case was extremely regrettable," Education Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters, urging medical schools to co-operate with the probe.

The scandal was uncovered by investigators looking into claims the university padded the scores of an education ministry bureaucrat's son to help him gain admission.

According to local media, other instances had been discovered where individual entrance test scores were revised upwards, suggesting potential favouritism.

The scores for female applicants, however, were lowered across the board.

Sources told local media the discrimination was the result of a view that women would not be reliable doctors after graduation as they often quit to marry and start a family.

"No matter what the situation is, women should never be discriminated against unfairly," Jiji Press cited Justice Minister Yoko Kamikawa as saying.

Japan's notoriously long work hours and a male-dominated business culture force many women out of the workplace when they start families.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made "womenomics" -- or boosting women's participation in the workplace and promoting women to senior positions -- a priority, but the pace of progress has been slow.

THE NEWS: US launches airstrikes as Taliban attack Afghan city

US launches airstrikes as Taliban attack Afghan city
source: AFP

 AFP / AFPTV Smoke rises into the air after Taliban militants launched an attack on the Afghan provincial capital Ghazni, on August 10, 2018

US forces launched airstrikes Friday to counter a major Taliban assault on an Afghan provincial capital, where terrified residents cowered in their homes amid explosions and gunfire as security forces fought to beat the insurgents back.

Officials said Afghan special forces were also being deployed to the southeastern city of Ghazni after the latest attempt by the Taliban to capture an urban centre, with the assault coming as pressure builds on the insurgents to enter peace talks.

Ghazni -- less than two hours by road from Kabul -- has been under threat from massing Taliban fighters for months, with residents saying the complex nature of the attacks was unprecedented in its scale.

A spokesman for US Forces in Afghanistan said the fighting had "ceased" as of Friday morning, hours after the insurgents began the assault late Thursday from several positions around the city.

Sporadic gunfire continued to echo amid intermittent clashes, with officials telling residents to stay in their homes as Taliban fighters roamed the streets. Power has been cut to the area since fighting erupted.

Earlier, residents described heavy gunfire ringing out and a government building set on fire.

"We are scared for our life. The Taliban are roaming everywhere in and around the city," shopkeeper Mohammad Haleem said.

Another resident, Yasan, said the Taliban were using loudspeakers at the mosque to warn residents to stay in their homes.

"Heavy explosions and gunfire can be heard. We are terrified," Yasan wrote in a Facebook post.

- Bodies in the street -

Civilian houses and army checkpoints came under mortar attack and the bodies of dozens of Taliban fighters were in the streets, provincial governor spokesman Arif Noori said.

The US said that the city remained under government control.

"U.S. Forces responded with close-air support this morning in #Ghazni," the official account for US Forces in Afghanistan tweeted Friday.


 AFP / AFP Afghanistan


"Afghan forces held their ground and maintain control of all govt. centers. Another failed attempt by Taliban to seize terrain, while creating strategically inconsequential headlines," it continued.

"Initial reports indicate minimal Afghan security force casualties," the US spokesman later told AFP, adding that American forces deployed attack helicopters and conducted a drone strike in the response.

Baz Mohammad Himmat, head of the civilian hospital in Ghazni, said at least 16 people had been killed in the melee, including 14 soldiers and two residents.

A spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani said the Taliban had suffered heavy casualties in the onslaught and confirmed the airstrikes.

Police special forces have also been deployed to help block the Taliban advance, an Afghan security official said.

The Taliban issued a statement claiming to have captured "most of the government buildings inside the city", and claiming to have killed and wounded 140 security forces.

The insurgents frequently exaggerate their battlefield gains and downplay losses incurred during fighting.

- Growing pressure -

Afghan forces have been struggling to hold back the resurgent militant group since the withdrawal of NATO combat troops at the end of 2014.

In May the Taliban attacked the western city of Farah. After a day of intense fighting, Afghan commandos and US air strikes drove the group to the outskirts of the city.

The insurgents have also so far ignored an offer by Ghani in February of unconditional peace negotiations.

However there are tentative signs that diplomatic efforts to bring the insurgents to the table for peace talks may be starting to bear fruit.

The Taliban has long insisted on direct talks with the United States. Washington has repeatedly refused, saying negotiations must be Afghan-led.

But Washington indicated a change in its longstanding policy in June when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was prepared to "support, facilitate and participate" in talks.

Pompeo also said the role of foreign forces in Afghanistan would be on the table.

Last month Taliban representatives met US officials for talks in Qatar.

Kabul-based analyst Haroun Mir said Friday's attack may have been aimed at securing maximum leverage before engaging in formal peace talks.

"They want to enter the talks from the position of strength, and they want to capture big cities before potential peace negotiations," said Mir.

Anticipation has also been mounting about the possibility of a government ceasefire announcement for the Islamic holiday of Eid-al Adha later this month.

An unprecedented truce in June brought fighting between security forces and the Taliban to a temporary halt, giving war-weary Afghans some welcome relief from violence.

str-us-mam-ds/ceb

THE NEWS: Melania Trump's parents get US citizenship under program slammed by Trump

Melania Trump's parents get US citizenship under program slammed by Trump
source: AFP

AFP/File / MANDEL NGAN Donald Trump's in-laws, Viktor and Amalija Knavs, took the oath of citizenship, their immigration lawyer Michael Wildes confirmed to AFP

The Slovenian-born parents of Melania Trump became US citizens at a naturalization ceremony in New York on Thursday, reportedly taking advantage of a family reunification program President Donald Trump has vehemently denounced.

Trump's in-laws Viktor and Amalija Knavs took the oath of citizenship, their immigration lawyer Michael Wildes confirmed to AFP.

Asked by the New York Times if they had obtained citizenship under a program derisively branded "chain migration" by the president, Wildes replied: "I suppose."

He said chain migration, which allows naturalized US citizens to sponsor close relatives for permanent residency, was a "dirtier" way of characterizing what he called "a bedrock of our immigration process when it comes to family reunification."

Trump has taken a hardline on immigration policy, criticizing so-called chain migration.

The Republican president has said such a system steals jobs from Americans and threatens national security, calling for a merit-based system that gives preference to more educated, English-speaking professionals.

- 'NOT ACCEPTABLE!' -

Writing on Twitter in November, Trump made his views on the system clear.

"CHAIN MIGRATION must end now! Some people come in, and they bring their whole family with them, who can be truly evil. NOT ACCEPTABLE!"

He frequently cites the example of Sayfullo Saipov, a naturalized immigrant from Uzbekistan who drove a rented truck down a busy bike path in New York in October, killing eight people and injuring 12, to illustrate why the family reunification program must be ended.

Highlighting the administration's approach to immigration, the naturalization took place as a Washington federal judge threatened to hold Attorney General Jeff Sessions in contempt of court after the government moved to deport a mother and daughter, despite an order halting such a move.

The woman, referred to as "Carmen," and her daughter were part of a group of immigrants who had fled "extreme sexual and gang violence" in Central America, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

It is not clear when the Knavs couple obtained their green cards, though their status as permanent residents was first revealed by Wildes in February.

Melania Trump, the 48-year-old first lady, was their sponsor, Wildes told the Times.

Under US law they must have been permanent residents for five years before applying to become citizens, and the time to process an application can take several months thereafter.

Viktor Knavs, a car salesman in Slovenia, and Amalija, who worked in a textile factory, are over 70 years old, retired and pass much of the year in the United States, where they regularly spend time with their daughter and grandson Barron.

THE NEWS: Presidential debate showcases divided Brazil

Presidential debate showcases divided Brazil
source: AFP

AFP/File / Miguel SCHINCARIOL Supporters of Brazil's former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have repeatedly demonstrated, like this protest in July, to demand his release from prison after his corruption conviction

Brazil's top presidential candidates -- minus imprisoned frontrunner Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva -- have clashed in the first debate of the campaign, showcasing sharp divides in Latin America's biggest nation.

The debate in Sao Paulo, broadcast on TV Bandeirantes on Thursday, featured eight of the 13 candidates competing ahead of the October 7 first round of voting.

Lula, who has a stunning lead in the polls despite serving a 12-year prison sentence for corruption, was absent.

But four major players were on stage: right-winger Jair Bolsonaro, who is polling in second place after Lula, and his next hottest rivals -- center-right former Sao Paulo governor Geraldo Alckmin and environmentalist Marina Silva, followed by leftist Ciro Gomes.

The combative tone among the seven men and one woman quickly illustrated the battle lines after two years of severe recession, a tidal wave of violent crime, and one of the world's biggest corruption scandals.

With deeply unpopular President Michel Temer not seeking a new term, it is the least predictable election in decades.

Alckmin, who wants to be seen as the calm, authoritative, pro-business candidate, stressed the need for market reforms so that the economy can "grow and grow strongly."

But Silva scored a point likely to have gone down well with voters angry at the ruling establishment, including Alckmin's center-right PSDB party, when she said:

"Those who created the problems won't solve the problems."

Bolsonaro is the candidate getting the most attention other than Lula.

However, the former army officer appeared less confident in the live televised debate than he does when he meets his fervent crowds of supporters and spreads his message to a huge social media following.

Asked about the rapidly rising rate of rape and violence against women in Brazil, Bolsonaro repeated his controversial call for "voluntary chemical castration" of criminals.

Guilherme Boulos, of the leftwing Socialism and Liberty Party, used his national TV airtime to tell Bolsonaro: "Brazil knows you are racist, macho and homophobic," before going on to accuse him of corruption.

- Lula's shadow -

The elephant in the room was Lula.

A court earlier Thursday turned down lawyers' request for Lula to be allowed to participate by video link in the event, arguing it was "essential" to the campaign.

His leftist Workers' Party also failed to get TV Bandeirantes to mark his absence with an empty chair or to allow his vice presidential pick, former Sao Paulo mayor Fernando Haddad, to take his place.

Instead, party leaders organized what they called an alternative debate in Sao Paulo, which was broadcast on social media, featuring Haddad and other allies.

However surreal it might seem for a jailed ex-president to seek a third term, Lula, who ruled from 2003-2010, means business.


AFP/File / NELSON ALMEIDA Lula's Workers' Party (PT) -- which is led by Gleisi Hoffmann, shown here -- wants debate organizers to either mark his absence with an empty chair, or let his VP pick Fernando Haddad take his place


His legal team hopes to persuade the Supreme Electoral Tribunal to allow him to participate, despite the country's clean slate law that would ban anyone having lost an appeal to a criminal conviction -- as is Lula's case.

As one of the world's most prominent politicians during his presidency and still a household name in Brazil, Lula boasts the kind of following most other politicians would crave.

That translates into remarkable support, partly based on memories of Lula's trailblazing policies to promote racial and social equality and his stewardship of a commodities-fueled economic boom.

Opinion polls give him around 30 percent in a crowded first round, then winning easily in a second-round runoff.

- Unpredictable -

Lula's fate is only one part of the uncertain electoral picture.

The October polls will also see elections of 27 governors, all 513 congressional lower house deputies and two thirds of the 81 senators.

And so far voters appear hardly enticed by the prospect.

A poll published this month by the National Confederation of Industries showed 45 percent of Brazilians "pessimistic or very pessimistic" about the elections. While voting is obligatory, a third plan to cast spoiled ballots, the poll found.

Other polls point to between 33 and 41 percent of the electorate defying the law to skip voting.

"Brazil's political system continues to generate a lot of frustration," political analyst Matias Spektor told AFP.

THE NEWS: Calm returns to Gaza-Israel border - for now

Calm returns to Gaza-Israel border - for now
source: AFP

 AFP / MAHMUD HAMS Smoke billows from an Israeli air strike on Gaza City Thursday

Calm returned to Gaza and neighbouring areas of Israel Friday after a deadly flare-up between Palestinian militants and the Israeli military, but fresh protests could test the embryonic truce.

Palestinian political sources said agreement had been reached to end all rocket fire into Israel and air strikes on Gaza from around midnight (2100 GMT) on Thursday.

There was no Israeli confirmation but there were no fresh strikes overnight.

Thursday had seen extensive Israeli raids in retaliation for the launching of more than 180 rockets and mortar rounds by Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas and its allies on Wednesday night.

Three Palestinians were killed in the Israeli strikes, including a mother and her year-old daughter, while seven Israelis were wounded by Palestinian rocket fire as hundreds took refuge in bomb shelters.

It was one of the most serious flareups since the 2014 Gaza war and followed months of escalating tensions.


 AFP / MAHMUD HAMS People inspect the rubble of a building after an Israeli air strike on Gaza City, which Palestinians say housed a cultural centre while the Israeli army says it was used by the Islamist Hamas group


Late on Thursday, an Israeli air raid flattened a five-storey building which hosted a cultural centre in Gaza City but which the army said was used by Hamas security forces.

The Israeli security cabinet and the Hamas leadership convened separately late on Thursday, with the truce offer brokered by Egypt and the United Nations on the table.

Neither Israel nor Hamas officially confirmed any truce had gone into effect, although that has also been the case with previous informal arrangements.

It would be the third such truce in a month.

Reserve general Doron Almog, former head of Israel's southern command which deals with Gaza, told army radio on Friday morning that the next 24 hours would be crucial.

"We are closer to an arrangement than we have been in the past because Hamas's interest in a deal is greater than its wish for escalation," he said.

- Lone call for war -

For Israel, the response to the Hamas rockets is politically problematic for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.


 AFP / MAHMUD HAMS An explosion rocks Gaza following an Israeli air strike on August 8, 2018

A Friday opinion poll published by Hebrew-language newspaper Maariv found that 64 percent of respondents, both Jews and Arabs, were dissatisfied with Netanyahu's policy towards Hamas, with only 29 percent supportive.

The survey polled 512 people and had a margin of error of 4.3 percentage points.

Maariv commentator Ben Caspit wrote that during the security cabinet meeting on Thursday Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman was a lone voice in support of a new war in Gaza.

"He was the only one who demanded to launch a large-scale operation in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu was opposed. The (Israeli army) also didn't recommend it," he said.

Hamas and Israel have fought three wars since 2008.

Palestinian protesters were expected to gather along the Israeli border on Friday evening, as they have every week since late March.

"Despite the aggression on the Gaza Strip, our Palestinian people will continue our march of return and breaking the blockade until it achieves its goals," said Hamas spokesman Hassem Qassem.

The protests are calling for an end to the decade-long Israeli blockade of Gaza and the return of Palestinian refugees to their ancestral homes inside Israel, which they fled or were expelled from during the war surrounding Israel's creation in 1948.


AFP / SAID KHATIB Palestinian mourners carry the coffin of 18-month-old Bayan who was killed with her mother in an Israeli air strike on Gaza


Israel says its blockade is necessary to isolate Hamas although critics say it amounts to collective punishment of two million people.

It says any significant return of refugees would mean the end of it as a Jewish state.

At least 165 Palestinians have been killed since protests began on March 30.

Most were killed by Israeli fire during the protests but others died in air strikes.

One Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper.

THE NEWS: Further US sanctions would be 'declaration of economic war': Medvedev

Further US sanctions would be 'declaration of economic war': Medvedev
source: AFP

AFP / Yuri KADOBNOV The ruble is in trouble

Russia warned Friday that if the US followed through with threats to impose further harsh economic sanctions it would be seen as a "declaration of economic war".

The warning by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev came after Washington unveiled a raft of new sanctions against Russia over its alleged use of the Novichok nerve agent against a former double agent which Britain has blamed on Moscow.

The incident, which took place in Salisbury in southern England in March, triggered a major diplomatic crisis despite Russia's denial of any role.

Announced late on Wednesday, the first set of sanctions, which will take effect in just under two weeks, impose a ban on the export to Russia of "national security sensitive" US technologies.

Until now such exports had been previously allowed on a case-by-case basis, with a senior State Department official saying the move could cut off hundreds of millions of dollars worth of exports to Russia.

"While I don't want to comment on the talk about future sanctions, I can say that if we end up with something like a ban on banking activities or the use of certain currencies, we can clearly call this a declaration of economic war," Medvedev was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

"And we must absolutely respond to this war. By economic means, by political means and if necessary by other means," he added.

"Our American friends must understand this."

The announcement of the sanctions on Thursday prompted Russian stocks and the ruble to tumble.

The ruble fell further Friday morning, reaching its lowest level since August 2016, before rebounding slightly.

The central bank in a statement said it was following the situation and had the necessary instruments to react.

It said the situation was a "natural reaction of the financial market to news about new potential sanctions".

Previously, similar periods of volatility were "temporary in nature," it said.

- Further sanctions loom? -

A second round of sanctions that could go into effect 90 days later would cut far deeper, including blocking all American bank loans to Russian entities, an outright ban on US exports to Russia, and suspension of diplomatic relations.

The State Department said the sanctions were aimed at punishing Moscow for having "used chemical or biological weapons in violation of international law", mandated under the Chemical and Biological Weapons and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991.

However the sanctions announcement could bolster US President Donald Trump's claim that his administration is taking a tough stance on Moscow, even as he continues to denounce as a "witch hunt" an independent probe whether his election campaign colluded with Russia.

According to the 1991 Act, the president is to tighten the penalties within 90 days -- unless the party in question provides "reliable assurances" that it no longer engages in such activities, and allows on-site inspections by United Nations observers.

Russia had on Thursday responded furiously to the sanctions, denouncing them as "categorically unacceptable" as the markets tumbled and the ruble fell to its lowest level in almost two years.

On Wednesday, Russia's Kommersant daily published excerpts from another piece of draft US legislation which proposes a ban on US citizens purchasing Russian sovereign debt as well as steps against the country's biggest banks as well as its oil and gas sector, a key driver of the economy.

The sanctions follow the US Treasury's imposition of sanctions in March against 19 Russian citizens and five entities for interfering in the 2016 US election -- the toughest steps against Moscow since Trump took office.

Also in March, Washington ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats, and the closure of Russia's consulate general in Seattle over the Novichok incident.

The Russian economy has only recently started to recover from international sanctions imposed on Moscow in 2014 over its actions in Ukraine, and a crash in oil prices the same year.

THE NEWS: Yemen in shock after Saudi-led strike on bus kills 29 children

Yemen in shock after Saudi-led strike on bus kills 29 children
source: AFP

AFP / STRINGER A Yemeni child stands on August 10, 2018 next to a destroyed bus, the target of a Saudi-led coalition air strike in Yemen's rebel-held Saada province

The remains of victims and children's clothing were strewn across a market in northern Yemen on Friday, as the US and UN called for an investigation into an air strike the previous day by a Saudi-led coalition that killed 29 children on a bus.

Thursday's strike on a bus filled with children at the Dahyan market in the Huthi rebel stronghold of Saada injured at least 48 others, including 30 children, according to the International Committee for the Red Cross.

An AFP photographer at the scene said the bus carrying the children had been turned into a mass of twisted metal, and that the remains of victims and their personal items were scattered across the ground.

"There are remains everywhere, we are still trying to confirm identies," Yahya Shayem, a health official in Saada, told AFP.

He could not confirm when funerals for the victims would take place.

The coalition that has been fighting Yemen's rebels since 2015 acknowledged responsibility for the strike, but claimed the bus was carrying "Huthi combatants".

It said the coalition had carried out a "legitimate military action", targeting a bus in response to a deadly missile attack on Saudi Arabia on Wednesday by Huthi rebels.

Thursday's heavy toll sparked calls from both United Nations chief and the US State Department for the strike to be investigated.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an "independent and prompt" probe, while State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Washington was "calling the Saudi led coalition to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident".

"We call on the parties to take appropriate measures to protect civilians," Nauert said.

- 'Massacre of children' -

A spokesman for the Red Cross in Sanaa told AFP the toll was not final as casualties from the attack were taken to several hospitals.


AFP / AFP Map of Yemen locating Saada province, where a bus carrying children was attacked, killing several


"We need blood," said Jameel al-Fareh, an emergency room doctor at Saada's Al-Jumhuri hospital, calling on local people to donate blood to treat the wounded.

Ahmed al-Mansouri, the hospital's director, condemned what he called the "massacre of children".

The coalition, which also includes the United Arab Emirates, intervened in 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognised government after the rebels drove it out of the capital Sanaa.

Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki told AFP that claims by aid organisations that children were inside the bus were "misleading", and that "the elements inside the bus were Huthi combatants".

He said the rebels have "ballistic missiles threatening our national security, Saudi cities and villages on the border. The attack today was a follow-up process to neutralise that threat."


AFP / STRINGER A Yemeni child awaits treatment at a hospital after he was wounded in a reported air strike on the rebel stronghold of Saada on August 9, 2018

Earlier, Maliki accused the Huthis of "recruiting child soldiers, throwing them in battlefields and using them as tools".

Saudi Arabia shot down a missile fired by the Huthis on Wednesday, with debris killing a Yemeni man and wounding 11 others, the coalition said.

The missile was fired from the rebel-held Yemeni province of Amran towards the Saudi city of Jizan, the coalition said.

- Huthis ramp up missile attacks -

The Huthis have in recent months ramped up missile attacks against Saudi Arabia, which Riyadh usually says it intercepts.

Wednesday's attack brings the tally to 167 rebel missiles launched since 2015, according to the coalition.

On August 2, attacks on a hospital and a fish market in the strategic rebel-held port city of Hodeida killed at least 55 civilians and wounded 170, according to the ICRC.

The coalition denied responsibility for those attacks.


AFP / STRINGER A man transports a child to a hospital after he was wounded in a reported air strike in Saada on August 9, 2018


Aid agency CARE International noted that Thursday's strike came a week after the Hodeida bombardment.

"This latest air strike, only a week after the attacks on Hodeida city, demonstrates a continued disregard for human life and suffering," said Johan Mooij, the agency's country director in Yemen.

"It is beyond cruel; innocent children's lives have been lost."

The war in impoverished Yemen has left nearly 10,000 people dead and unleashed what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The United Nations envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, last week told the Security Council "a political solution" to Yemen's war was "available" and that the warring sides would be invited to talks on September 6 in Geneva.

UN-brokered negotiations on Yemen broke down in 2016 amid demands for a rebel withdrawal from key cities and power-sharing with the Saudi-backed government.