THE NEWS: Colombians fail to approve tough anti-corruption measures

Colombians fail to approve tough anti-corruption measures
source: AFP

AFP / John VIZCAINO Senator Claudia Lopez, seen here, urged a vote for tougher anti-graft measures, saying corruption in Colombia is 'more profitable than drug trafficking'

Colombians on Sunday failed to approve rules that hardened punishment for corrupt officials, a measure sent to voters as a referendum after congress proved reluctant to implement stricter anti-graft measures.

Some 36 million voters were called to the polls amid an ongoing bribery scandal involving Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht that has engulfed the region.

With almost all ballots counted by late Sunday, the measure was 470,000 votes short of the 12.1 million votes needed for approval, election officials said.

"Ninety-nine percent of those of us who voted support the initiatives," President Ivan Duque said in an address to the nation.

"Unfortunately the number of votes did not reach the minimum needed for approval," he said.

Duque, in office only since August 7, was in favor of the measure even though it had only had lukewarm support from members of his rightwing party, the Democratic Center, which have a majority in the senate.

"We were five cents short, but change is unstoppable and here there was a shaking of the traditional political class," said Green Party Senator Angelica Lozano, who also supported the measure.

Colombians "want genuine changes to the political practices and to corruption," she told reporters.

The measure included seven proposals, from cutting high-ranking officials' salaries to imposing term limits to eliminating house arrest as a punishment.

While mostly aimed at cracking down on abuses by public officials, the initiative would have also made private contracts with the state more transparent, and ban companies convicted of corrupt practices from dealing with the public sector.

One university study found that, from 1991 to 2011, corruption cost Colombia 4 percent of its GDP.

THE NEWS: Asian markets rally after Wall St record, dollar eases

Asian markets rally after Wall St record, dollar eases
source: AFP

AFP / Daniel ROLAND Asian investors were given a strong lead from Wall Street, where there S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended at record highs

Asian markets rallied on Monday following a record lead from Wall Street, while the dollar remained under pressure after the head of the Federal Reserve suggested it would not speed up its pace of lifting interest rates.

Jerome Powell said the US economy was healthy and prices showed no sign of rising more than the bank's two percent target, adding that there appeared to be no risk of overheating.

The remarks at the annual Jackson Hole bankers' symposium in Wyoming on Friday were taken by observers as an indication the Fed will stick to its gradual increases in borrowing costs, which weighed on the dollar but provided a boost to equities.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at fresh records, while the dollar dropped across the board, with Asian traders extending that trend on Monday.

Tokyo ended the morning 0.7 percent higher, Hong Kong jumped 1.3 percent, Shanghai added 0.8 percent and Singapore put on 0.6 percent. There were also gains in Wellington, Taipei and Jakarta, while Sydney and Seoul were flat.

In forex trading the dollar retreated against its major peers as well as high-yielding currencies, with Mexico's peso boosted by news that US and Mexican officials were close to a deal on a revised free-trade pact.

The yuan also won support after the People's Bank of China said Friday it had made a policy tweak to prevent the currency from falling too sharply.

The central bank adjusted the way it fixes the unit's midpoint each day as it looks to provide more stability at a time when the dollar is broadly in the ascendance.

It also comes as leaders try to temper trade tensions with the United States, with Donald Trump accusing Beijing of keeping the yuan artificially low to boost its exports and offset the impact of tariffs.

The move "should calm both local and international investors that this move does signal the PBoC has no intention of moving into a full-scale currency war in the trade war escalations", said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trading at OANDA.

He also said the euro could face headwinds after Italy's populist government threatened to withdraw European Union funding unless it agrees to take some of the 150 people stranded on an Italian coastguard ship.

"I expect the market to start fading on this recent euro move because of Italy's risk, which matters because it's enormous and the ECB is more than content sitting on their hands," Innes said.

- Key figures around 0230 GMT -

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.7 percent at 22,759.53 (break)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 1.3 percent at 28,018.18

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.8 percent at 2,750.64

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1630 from $1.1623 at 2040 GMT Friday

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2850 from $1.2847

Dollar/yen: UP at 111.23 yen from 111.21 yen

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 10 cents at $68.62 per barrel

Oil - Brent Crude: DOWN nine cents at $75.73 per barrel

New York - Dow Jones: UP 0.5 percent at 25,790.35 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.2 percent at 7,577.49 (close)

THE NEWS: Furious voters deliver damning verdict on Australia political chaos

Furious voters deliver damning verdict on Australia political chaos
source: AFP

AFP / SAEED KHAN The political in-fighting which led to Scott Morrison being sworn in as Australia's new prime minister Friday has left voters disillusioned

Support for the Australian government has crashed after a week of backstabbing saw Malcolm Turnbull deposed as prime minister, with a poll Monday showing it is on course to be hammered at elections due next year.

Scott Morrison was sworn in as the country's 30th leader late Friday after a bitter Liberal Party revolt against moderate Turnbull driven by a hardline conservative faction.

The political blood-letting infuriated voters, with the first poll since the leadership coup to gauge the public response putting the Labor opposition ahead by 12 points, at 56 to 44 percent on a two-party basis.

It was a massive change from Labor's narrow 51-49 advantage a fortnight ago.

The survey of 1,783 voters for The Australian newspaper over the weekend also pointed to a large swing towards Labor leader Bill Shorten as preferred prime minister.

Two weeks ago, Turnbull had a 12-point lead as best leader, but this has now swung to a six-point advantage for Shorten -- the first time since February 2015 he has been in front.

The poll also showed that voters considered Julie Bishop, and not Morrison, to be right person to head the Liberal Party. The popular foreign minister has since resigned and moved to the backbench.

Bishop was one of three people who threw their hat in the ring to succeed Turnbull, but she was eliminated in the first round of party voting.

The man who instigated the coup to seize Turnbull's job, arch-conservative Peter Dutton, was backed by just six percent of those questioned.

New Treasurer and deputy Liberal leader Josh Frydenberg, a Turnbull ally, conceded the disastrous poll put the government on track for a devastating defeat at elections that must be held by mid-May.

But he said it was no surprise after the party spent a week ripping itself apart.

"The polls today are the biggest surprise since the sun coming up tomorrow," he told 3AW commercial radio.

"The last week was a very difficult week for the party and my colleagues but we do need to move on."

Morrison has already announced a new cabinet -- including some of those behind Turnbull's toppling -- and is also keen to move on quickly, visiting drought-affected areas Monday after pinpointing farmers as his number-one priority.

THE NEWS: No Bolt, no cry for Coe after Su wins Asia sprint crown

No Bolt, no cry for Coe after Su wins Asia sprint crown
source: AFP

 AFP/File / Anthony WALLACE China's Su Bingtian streaked to victory in the 100 metres in a competition record of 9.92 seconds

Su Bingtian's Asian Games gold in the 100 metres came as little surprise to many, including athletics boss Sebastian Coe, long an admirer of the pint-sized Chinese sprinter.

The 28-year-old streaked to victory in a competition record of 9.92 seconds in Jakarta at the weekend, missing the continental record by the tiniest of fractions.

Su edged out Nigeria-born Qatari Tosin Ogunode -- younger brother of Femi Ogunode, with whom the Chinese star shares the continental best of 9.91 -- on a night when six African-born athletes bagged six track and field golds at Asia's showcase sports event.

Ryota Yamagata -- part of the 4x100m Japan team that took silver behind Usain Bolt's Jamaica at the 2016 Rio Olympics, took bronze, underlining Coe's confidence in the future of Asian sprinting.

"You could argue Japan and China are two of the most improved athletics nations over the last six or seven years," the Briton said in an interview with news agencies.

"For me it's very clear -- they're making very good progress. If we'd been sitting here a decade ago, talking about potential here for a China athlete to run 9.8, you'd have probably taken quite long odds on that."

Coe, president of track and field's governing IAAF, pointed to China's willingness to embrace overseas coaches after years of fostering suspicion of state-sponsored doping.

Su is coached by American coach Randy Huntington, while swim star Sun Yang's partnership with Australian Denis Cotterell has helped turn him into a world-beater.

"If you look at the Chinese federation, they've been quite global," said Coe. "They've recognised there are gaps in their own coaching structures and said 'hey, let's bring that talent to the table'.

"It's a pragmatic approach. There's been a greater clarity around the importance of coaching."

- Life after Bolt -

Coe is aware of the massive void left by athletics mega-star Bolt after the Jamaican legend's retirement last year. But he also wants athletes to be personalities who can connect with fans.

"I'm a boxing fan," said Coe, twice an Olympic 1,500m champion.

"If we'd been sitting in the 70s, you'd probably be saying to me what on earth are we going to be doing after Muhammad Ali? But actually, Floyd Mayweather, Hagler, Hearns come along.

"Do they suddenly replace Muhammad Ali? No. Should we suddenly expect these athletes to replace him? No," he added.

"Because Usain is not simply thought about at the status that he's thought about because he's got a sack full of world records and he's got a clutch of Olympic titles.

"It's actually because he's a personality. It's performance plus personality. We've got to help the athletes tell their stories."

Su himself is a superstar in China, although he has some way to achieve the celebrity that pin-up Liu Xiang achieved after winning 110m hurdles gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

"There was more pressure here than at a world championships," said Su, swallowed by a scrum of state media after his win.

"Everybody expected me to win so I kept telling myself to stay calm. I just found a way. It's a massive victory for me."

THE NEWS: Daughter testifies in Hong Kong 'yoga ball' murder trial

Daughter testifies in Hong Kong 'yoga ball' murder trial
source: AFP

 AFP / Philip FONG Malaysian national Khaw Kim-sun, 53, leaving the High Court in Hong Kong where he is facing charges of murdering his wife and daughter

The daughter of an anaesthetist accused of gassing his wife and another daughter to death using a yoga ball filled with carbon monoxide described her dead sister as her "soulmate" in a Hong Kong court Monday.

Prosecutors have accused Khaw Kim-sun of leaving the inflatable ball in the boot of a car where the gas leaked out and killed his wife and 16-year-old daughter Lily.

Khaw, 53, was having an affair and his wife would not grant him a divorce, prosecutors said.

They accused him of hatching a deliberate plot to murder her, but said it was likely he had not intended to kill his daughter.

Khaw's eldest daughter May-ling, 19, spoke of her sister at the High Court trial Monday.

"Lily was two-and-half years younger than me. She was probably my soulmate. We were very close and we had a lot in common," she told the court.

She described her sister as brave and a "free spirit" but also said she was impulsive and quick to anger, without giving further details.

May-ling said she was aware of her father's affair with Shara Lee, who was her Chinese tutor and also taught Lily.

"At first I felt slightly betrayed but at the same time my parents hadn't been getting along well. I could understand my father would find someone and I felt bad for my mum," she told the court.

Khaw's wife Wong Siew-fung and Lily were found on a roadside in a locked yellow Mini Cooper in 2015, in a case which initially baffled police.

The pair were certified dead at the same hospital where Khaw worked and a post-mortem concluded they had died from inhaling carbon monoxide.

Police found a deflated yoga ball in the back of the car.

A professor from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where Khaw was based, told the court Monday that he had seen the anaesthetist fill two yoga balls with carbon monoxide, saying he was taking them to the chemistry department for tests.

The court heard earlier in the trial that Khaw had told colleagues he planned to use the gas on rabbits, but later told police that he had taken it to get rid of rats at home.

Asked by the defence whether there were animals in the family home in Sai Kung, a largely rural area in the north of Hong Kong, May-ling said there had been mosquitoes, cockroaches and rats.

The case continues later Wednesday.

THE NEWS: With new album, Elza Soares celebrates status as an 'incredible woman'

With new album, Elza Soares celebrates status as an 'incredible woman'
source: AFP

AFP / KENA BETANCUR Elza Soares, whose life has been marked by multiple tragedies, has vowed to sing until the end

Time seems to run at a different pace for Elza Soares. The Brazilian samba legend is 81 but on the eve of a Rio de Janeiro concert for her recent album "Deus e Mulher" ("God is a woman"), you wouldn't think so.

"Let me tell you, my age has nothing in common with the way I feel," she told AFP by telephone ahead of Tuesday's show in her native city.

In her unmistakable tone, Soares described herself as excited as ever to be going on stage, even if she now sings seated.

"I consider this a good moment, an extraordinary one in my career. I don't know if it's the best. The best was when I started. Things are always marvelous when you start," she said.

Soares's powerful voice is an integral part of Brazilian music.

She embodied samba and went on to play a major role in cutting edge modern interpretations of the sensual, rhythmic Brazilian sound, mixing in everything from bossa nova to jazz, Afrobeat and funk.

Her sheer longevity and extraordinarily dramatic personal life -- including multiple tragedies and a turbulent marriage to the much-loved footballer Garrincha -- have made her nothing less than a national figure.

The self-confidence and dedication to music making that have carried her along that epic road clearly remain intact. Asked if there were any love interests in her life now, she joked: "I'm dating Elza Soares."

"I'm in love with her, this incredible woman. I'm going to ask to marry her," she said.

- 'Hurricane of life' -

Her latest album, released in May, draws on a recent surge in debates about the role of women in Brazil, where rapes and femicide -- the intentional killing of women -- are growing.

As a black woman in a Brazil where about half the population identifies as non-white, but power and wealth is concentrated among whites, she carries even more moral authority.

"We live in a country with horrendous prejudices," she said. "It's my country, my land and I love it so much, but we almost have no rights. Poor, black, female -- what rights are there?"

One of the songs on the album, "What is Silent," is dedicated to those fighting for society's least powerful.

"God is Woman" follows success with "A mulher do fim do mundo" ("The Woman from the End of the World") in 2015, which won a Latin Grammy for Best Album of Popular Brazilian Music.

The albums have been widely praised for their inventiveness.

Her producer Guilherme Kastrup said that musically Soares hasn't lost a beat, with a "way of thinking that is very contemporary."

"She's a hurricane of life," he said.

Soares agreed.

"I was always very daring, I was never afraid of anything and I'm going forward," she said.

"I think that's my triumph. It's not possible to stay put in one place. If things are bad, then go forward. It's what I always do."

Soares said she was cheered by the rise of Brazilian feminism and LGBT activism.

"I see women becoming more open, with greater ability to express themselves, to demand more, to ask for their rights," she said.

"The enslavement of women is over. Without women, you have no world... That's why God is a woman, God is mother."

- Living legend -

The phrase "living legend" accurately describes Soares, who apart from her newest album is also the subject of a current musical called "Elza," which tells the story of her journey from a tough childhood in a Rio de Janeiro favela to the big stage.

"It was a challenge. I felt the weight of responsibility in developing the role in a way that she would be able to recognize herself," said Larissa Luz, who plays the singer.

"The hardest part was dealing with the sensitive issues, like the loss of a child. But it was magical. I felt she was with me."

A biography is due out next year.

Soares, though, looks to the moment, not to the past.

"Let me tell you, I don't make plans. If something happens, that's because it had to happen," she said.

"I always say I'm in the now. Yesterday's gone and I don't know what will be tomorrow. My name is 'now.'"

THE NEWS: America mourns John McCain, war hero and political icon

America mourns John McCain, war hero and political icon
source: AFP

AFP / Brendan Smialowski The US Capitol dome is seen as flags fly at half-mast in honor of senator John McCain who died following a yearlong battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer

America paid tribute Sunday to John McCain, the Vietnam War hero and two-time presidential candidate with a legendary temper whose personal courage and insistence on treating even his foes with respect earned him near-universal admiration.

McCain died on Saturday, four days shy of his 82nd birthday, following a yearlong battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer. He is survived by his wife Cindy and seven children, three of them from an earlier marriage.

Flags flew at half-mast over the White House and US Capitol in honor of McCain, as organizers announced he will lie in state at the US Capitol Rotunda.

That honor has been accorded to only a few notable Americans, including John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and civil rights icon Rosa Parks.

A memorial service will take place at the massive National Cathedral overlooking Washington on Saturday before McCain is laid to rest according to his wishes at the US Naval Academy in nearby Annapolis, Maryland, on September 2, his office said.

Ahead of the national ceremonies, McCain will lie in state at the Arizona State Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday and a memorial service will take place at the North Phoenix Baptist Church.


AFP / Robyn Beck Photographs, flowers and notes at a makeshift memorial to senator John McCain outside his office in Phoenix, Arizona


"This is a rare and distinct occurrence for a truly special man," said Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, adding: "John McCain is Arizona."

In Phoenix, a succession of ordinary Arizonans left flags or flowers at McCain's office or a local mortuary to honor the man who represented them in Congress for 35 years.

Former presidents George W. Bush, a Republican, and Barack Obama, a Democrat -- his successful rivals in, respectively, the 2000 and 2008 elections -- are set to speak at the national memorial service, according to The New York Times.

Media reports earlier this year said the senator had expressly asked that President Donald Trump not be invited. Instead, Vice President Mike Pence is expected to attend.

- 'Deepest sympathies' -

As tributes poured in from the US and abroad, Trump said simply that he sent his "deepest sympathies and respect" to the McCain family.


AFP/File / Robyn Beck US Air Force veteran David Carrasco pays tribute to McCain outside a mortuary in Phoenix, Arizona, the state McCain represented in Congress for 35 years

A rare Republican critic of Trump, McCain had accused the president of "naivete," "egotism" and of sympathizing with autocrats, especially after Trump's widely criticized appearance in Helsinki alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin.

McCain cast a decisive vote last year that killed Republican attempts to repeal Obama's health care reforms. The repeal was a Trump priority, and the president never forgave McCain.

The hawkish McCain was an unrelenting critic of Obama's foreign policy, saying the Democratic president was weak on Libya, Iraq and Syria.

Still, Obama said he and the senator "shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher -- the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched and sacrificed."


 AFP/File / Paul J. RICHARDS Barack Obama, who is expected to speak at McCain's funeral, said he and the Republican statesman "shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher"


Bush, whose tough campaign against McCain in 2000 left both sides bruised, praised the Arizonan as "a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order."

Ordinary Americans also paid tribute, many of them in Phoenix, McCain's hometown.

"I didn't agree with him all the time," said Michelle Hasnelle of Phoenix "(but) he was always for the people of Arizona -- he was one of us."

McCain spent more than three decades in the Senate, looming large in debates over war and peace and the moral direction of the nation.

As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, he was a powerful advocate for the nation's veterans.

- 'A great statesman' -

As a fervent Atlanticist, a persistent critic of authoritarian leaders, and a frequent congressional traveler, he earned respect around the globe.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called McCain "one of the great political figures of our time (who) fought tirelessly for a strong transatlantic alliance." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was "an inspiration to millions."

McCain "embodied the idea of service over self," according to British Prime Minister Theresa May, while French President Emmanuel Macron saluted "a true American hero."

Across the Pacific, the China Daily referred to him as a "titan of American politics."

Sarah Palin, whom McCain plucked from obscurity to become his 2008 White House running mate, described him as "a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs."


AFP / Gal ROMA Key moments in McCain's life

McCain drew criticism from the left for giving a platform to Palin's right-wing views, which contributed to the rise of the conservative Tea Party movement.

But he also earned respect from liberals for his steadfast opposition to torture and his push for immigration reform.

Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said he would seek to rename a Senate building in his honor.

Praise for McCain however was not universal: Chinese social media users called him an "enemy of China" for his hawkish foreign policy views.

And comments on the US far-right Breitbart website slammed the senator for his key vote against the Obamacare repeal.

McCain had been away from the Senate floor since December, remaining at his Arizona ranch for treatment of glioblastoma -- the same form of brain cancer that took the life of another Senate giant, Democrat Ted Kennedy, in 2009.

The son and grandson of four-star admirals, McCain will be buried in the cemetery of the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, on a peaceful hillside overlooking the Severn River.

As a student at the academy, he had a reputation as a rebel, but with a wit and charm that drew people to him.

In 2015, McCain himself revealed the simple epitaph he wanted on his tombstone, which will stand alongside those of naval heroes going back to the 1800s: "He served his country."

THE NEWS: Myanmar court postpones verdict for Reuters journalists

Myanmar court postpones verdict for Reuters journalists
source: AFP

AFP / AUNG KYAW HTET Myanmar journalist Kyaw Soe Oo is escorted out of the court

Two Reuters journalists in Myanmar accused of breaking a state secrets law while investigating a massacre of Rohingya Muslims face another week of uncertainty after the verdict in their trial was delayed on Monday.

Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, have been detained in Myanmar's infamous Insein prison since December in a case which has sparked a global outcry.

The reporters had been investigating the September 2017 killing of 10 Rohingya Muslims in conflict-scarred Rakhine state, a week after Myanmar's military launched a sweeping crackdown on members of the stateless minority.

They were invited to dinner with police in Yangon, handed some documents, and then arrested as they left the meeting and accused of possessing classified material on operations in the area.

The pair were charged with violating the state secrets act, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years.

The expected ruling at the court in northern Yangon had drawn a crowd of diplomats, well-wishers and media, some wearing t-shirts with the words "Journalism is not a crime".

But district judge Khin Maung Maung said the presiding judge was ill and the verdict would be announced on September 3.

Wa Lone told reporters as he left the courthouse that they were not afraid, whatever the decision.

"We have the truth with us and we did not do anything wrong," he said.

- Suu Kyi under fire -

The case has sparked fears of eroding press freedoms under civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose international reputation has been tarnished by the treatment of the Rohingya.

Defence lawyer Khin Maung Zaw said the delay could be linked to global developments at the United Nations on Myanmar.

"If the verdict is today and it's negative for the defence, it may be seen as a negative approach to democracy," Khin Maung Zaw said.

A UN fact-finding mission probing abuses in the country released a report on Monday calling for Myanmar's commander-in-chief to be prosecuted for genocide over the Rohingya crackdown, echoing calls from rights groups.

The UN Security Council is also set to discuss the crisis on Tuesday.

Reuters has robustly denied the charges against its reporters.



 AFP / YE AUNG THU Reuters journalist Wa Lone is followed into the court by his colleague Kyaw Soe Oo


The defence has said the supposedly secret documents had already been published, and the prosecution case hit a hurdle when a police witness said his superior had ordered his men to entrap the pair.

"Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo have already spent more than eight months in prison based on allegations of a crime they did not commit," a Reuters statement said after the court announcement.

"We look forward to receiving the verdict next week, when we very much hope that they will be acquitted and reunited with their families."

The journalists have described in detail what happened after their arrest, saying they were hooded and deprived of sleep in initial interrogations, which included questions about their work on Rakhine.

The news agency launched a worldwide advocacy campaign that included diplomats, celebrities and the legal assistance of prominent rights attorney Amal Clooney.

But it was not enough to keep the court in the Buddhist-majority country from pursuing the charges.

The United Nations and Washington have called the military campaign "ethnic cleansing", after some 700,000 Rohingya fled Rakhine to Bangladesh, bringing with them testimonies of rape, arson and killings in the northern part of the state.

Myanmar rejects the charges. But it has admitted that the killing of 10 men and boys investigated by Reuters in the village of Inn Din took place and sentenced seven soldiers for the crime.

Despite calls for investigations and accountability, so far only a handful of targeted sanctions have hit figures in Myanmar's armed forces.

burs-joe/amu

THE NEWS: Suspect in Dutch boy's 1998 murder agrees to be extradited

Suspect in Dutch boy's 1998 murder agrees to be extradited
source: AFP

ANP/AFP / - Eleven-year-old Nicky Verstappen who vanished two decades ago on August 9 at a summer camp in southern Limburg province, near the German border

A survival expert arrested near Barcelona over the brutal 1998 rape and killing of a young Dutch boy after one of the most extensive murder investigations to date in the Netherlands agreed Monday to be extradited from Spain.

Spanish police arrested Joseph Brech, 55, on Sunday afternoon in a mountainous area near the town of Castelltercol some 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Barcelona while he was going out to cut wood.

The authorities believe Brech -- an experienced mountain climber who had scaled Mount Everest -- killed eleven-year-old Nicky Verstappen who vanished two decades ago on August 9 at a summer camp in southern Limburg province, near the German border. Brech had worked at the camp at the time, according to Spanish police.

Verstappen's body was found a day after his disappearance close to the camp site, with authorities later confirming he had been sexually abused before his death.


Spanish Police/AFP / Spanish Police Spanish police arrested Joseph Brech, 55, on Sunday afternoon in a mountainous area near the town of Castelltercol some 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Barcelona


Police at the time mounted a massive search closely followed by Dutch media and the public, but the killer remained on the loose -- until advanced DNA testing earlier this year led officers to Brech.

Spanish police on Monday escorted the suspect to a tribunal in the city of Granollers where he told a judge from Madrid's High Court by video conference that he had been in Spain since March and agreed to be extradited to the Netherlands, the court said in a ruling.

Brech will be held without bail until he is extradited, the court added. He is accused of murder, sexual aggression and kidnapping, it added.

- 'Love to have answers' -

His arrest follows a public appeal on Wednesday, during which Dutch detectives shared photographs of the suspect.

A Dutchman living in Spain recognised the man in the photos and sent a tip-off to Dutch newspaper the Telegraaf, which contacted police.

Brech was living "in a tent in the woods" near an abandoned and isolated house where several homeless people live, the unidentified man told the newspaper.

"He told me he liked living in nature and that was why he was there," the man said.


ANP/AFP / Marcel van Hoorn Eleven-year-old boy Nicky Verstappen was raped and killed at a Dutch summer camp two decades ago

Brech had extensive survival gear at the time of his arrest, including fishing roads, a book on edible wild plants, batteries and dehydrated foods.

In a picture shared by Spanish police, he appears face down on a dirt road with his hands handcuffed behind his back as police stand over him.

The boy's mother, Berthie Verstappen, said the family did not expect the arrest would come so soon after last week's police appeal.

"We feared he would hide so well that he would not be found for months. We would love to have answers to the questions we have, even if we dread hearing what happened," she told Dutch public television on Sunday night.

- DNA evidence -

The case regularly returned to the public eye in the Netherlands over the past two decades.

Police said new digital techniques helped them to develop a DNA profile in 2008, from traces found on Verstappen's clothing, but there had been no match.

As time ran out to catch the suspect, police in February appealed to 21,500 men to donate DNA samples in a bid to close in on the perpetrator.


 ANP/AFP / Lex van LIESHOUT Advanced DNA testing eventually led police to Brech

Some 16,000 men living in the area where Verstappen was murdered volunteered to hand over DNA samples.

But Brech, a former scout worker who was 35 at the time of the murder, was not among the volunteers, and as he was previously interviewed as a witness, police became suspicious.

When his family reported him as missing in April, Dutch and French police searched his cabin in France's mountainous eastern Vosges region, where he owns a chalet.

They found traces of DNA on his personal belongings which matched samples taken from the slain boy's clothes.

A European-wide warrant for Brech's arrest was issued on June 12.

THE NEWS: Pope silent on claim he ignored abuse

Pope silent on claim he ignored abuse
source: AFP

WMOF2018/MAXWELL/AFP / Handout Pope Francis has refused to comment on a claim that he personally ignored sexual abuse allegations against a senior clergyman

Pope Francis has declined to comment on a growing scandal after a former Vatican official claimed the pontiff ignored sexual abuse allegations against a senior clergyman and called on him to resign.

Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, a former Vatican envoy to the United States, said he had told Francis of the claims against prominent US cardinal Theodore McCarrick in 2013.

But rather than punish McCarrick, who was forced to resign last month, Vigano said Francis had lifted sanctions imposed on him by his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI.

"Corruption has reached the very top of the Church's hierarchy," Vigano said in an eleven-page letter published on Saturday in the National Catholic Register and several conservative US Catholic publications.

But the pope refused to address the allegation on Sunday.

"I will not say a word about that. I think that the communique speaks for itself," Francis said on his plane as he flew back from Dublin to Rome.

The timing of the letter's release -- right in the middle of Francis's landmark trip to Ireland -- has raised speculation of a campaign by conservatives in the Church against the liberal pontiff.

Francis told journalists to "read the communique attentively and make your own judgement," referring to Vigano's letter.

"You have sufficient journalistic capacity to draw conclusions," he went on.

"When a little time has passed and you have the conclusions perhaps I will talk..," he added.

- 'Serial predator' -


VATICAN MEDIA/AFP / Handout Pope Francis "begged for God's forgiveness" on Sunday for multiple abuse scandals within the Irish church but faced accusations by a former Vatican official that he had personally ignored allegations against senior clergy


Bishop Vigano, 77, who was a papal nuncio in Washington between 2011 and 2016, said that Benedict XVI imposed canonical sanctions against McCarrick in the late 2000s.

McCarrick was forced to leave his seminary and live a life of penance after former Vatican ambassadors in Washington, now dead, reported him for "gravely immoral" behaviour with seminarians and priests.

Vigano claimed Francis asked him about McCarrick when he took office in June 2013, but that the pope ignored his warnings.

He said the pope "knew from at least June 23, 2013, that McCarrick was a serial predator," adding that "he knew that he was a corrupt man, he covered for him to the bitter end".

The pope accepted the resignation of McCarrick, now 88, in July, making him just the second cardinal ever to lose his status.

In Ireland on Sunday the pope "begged for God's forgiveness" for past clerical abuse scandals, which have badly damaged the image of the Church in the Catholic stronghold.

He spoke of the "open wound" of clerical abuse, demanding "firm and decisive" measures to find "truth and justice" before saying mass to tens of thousands of flag-waving worshippers.

His trip was also met with protests, with about 5,000 abuse victims and supporters attending a "Stand for Truth" rally in the capital Dublin, while another "Nope to the Pope" demonstration called for gay and transgender recognition.


AFP / Laurence SAUBADU, Jonathan STOREY The travels of Pope Francis since 2013

It was the first papal trip to Ireland since John Paul II spoke in front of 1.5 million people during a visit in 1979.

The pope went to Ireland to close the 2018 World Meeting of Families -- a global Catholic gathering that addressed issues including the treatment of gay people in the Church.

On the plane back to Rome after the two-day trip, the pope recommended parents seek psychiatric help for children who show homosexual tendencies.

"When it shows itself from childhood, there is a lot that can be done through psychiatry, to see how things are. It is something else if it shows itself after 20 years," he said.

- 'Stain' on the Church -


 AFP / Ben STANSALL The Church's role and standing has been badly dented by the abuse scandals and the Irish have shed traditional Catholic mores, voting earlier this year to legalise abortion after approving same-sex marriage in 2015


Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on Saturday urged the pope to take action against abuses and ensure justice for abuse victims worldwide.

"Holy Father, I ask that you use your office and influence to ensure that this is done here in Ireland and across the world," he said, calling the scandals a "stain" on the Church and state.

The pope met eight abuse victims on Saturday, including a woman assaulted by a priest when she was in hospital aged 13.

On the plane to Rome, Francis said he "suffered a lot" at the meeting.

The Church's standing has been badly dented by the abuse scandals and the Irish have shed traditional Catholic mores, voting earlier this year to legalise abortion after approving same-sex marriage in 2015.

Multiple probes in Ireland have found Church leaders protected hundreds of predatory priests and former Irish president Mary McAleese revealed this month that the Vatican had sought to keep Church documents inaccessible to government investigators.

The abuse scandals in Ireland are part of a worldwide crisis for the Vatican.

A devastating report earlier this month accused more than 300 priests in the US state of Pennsylvania of abusing more than 1,000 children since the 1950s.

THE NEWS: Myanmar army chief must be prosecuted for 'genocide': UN probe

Myanmar army chief must be prosecuted for 'genocide': UN probe
source: AFP

AFP/File / YE AUNG THU The UN investigators named Min Aung Hlaing and five other top military commanders in their report

UN investigators called Monday for Myanmar's army chief to resign and for him and five other top military commanders to be prosecuted in an international court for genocide against the country's Rohingya minority.

The call prompted Facebook, which has been criticised for allowing hate speech against the Rohingya to flourish, to ban the army chief and remove other pages tied to the country's military.

Some 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fled northern Rakhine state to Bangladesh after Myanmar launched a brutal crackdown in August last year on insurgents amid accounts of arson, murder and rape at the hands of soldiers and vigilante mobs in the mainly Buddhist country.

Myanmar has vehemently denied allegations of ethnic cleansing, insisting it was responding to attacks by Rohingya rebels.

But on Monday, a UN-backed fact-finding mission into violations in Myanmar said the country's "top military generals, including Commander-in-Chief Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing, must be investigated and prosecuted for genocide in the north of Rakhine State."

- 'Grossly disproportionate' -

They should also be investigated and prosecuted for "crimes against humanity and war crimes" against the Rohingya in Rakhine, as well as against other minorities in the northern Kachin and Shan States, the mission said in a report.

The army tactics have been "consistently and grossly disproportionate to actual security threats," it said.


 AFP / Fabrice COFFRINI Darusman said "the only way forward is to call for (Min Aung Hlaing's) resignation and stepping down immediately."


Speaking to journalists in Geneva, the head of the mission, Marzuki Darusman, insisted that "the only way forward is to call for (Min Aung Hlaing's) resignation and stepping down immediately."

The mission, which was created by the UN Human Rights Council in March 2017, concluded in its report that "there is sufficient information to warrant the investigation and prosecution of senior officials in the Tatmadaw (Myanmar army) chain of command."

"The crimes in Rakhine State, and the manner in which they were perpetrated, are similar in nature, gravity and scope to those that have allowed genocidal intent to be established in other contexts," it said.

The investigators named six of the country's top military commanders, adding that a longer list of names could be shared with "any competent and credible body pursuing accountability in line with international norms and standards."

- Suu Kyi also criticised -

Criticism was also directed at Myanmar's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who has been widely attacked for a perceived failure to stand up for the stateless minority.


 AFP/File / Dibyangshu SARKAR The UN report detailed a horrifying list of atrocities committed against the Rohingya

The report found that she had "not used her de facto position as head of government, nor her moral authority, to stem or prevent the unfolding events."

While acknowledging that the civilian authorities had little influence on military actions, it said they "through their acts and omissions ... have contributed to the commission of atrocity crimes."

The investigators, who were never granted access to Myanmar, said they based their findings on interviews with 875 victims and witnesses, as well as satellite imagery and authenticated documents, photographs and videos.

The report detailed a horrifying list of atrocities committed against the Rohingya, including murder, enforced disappearance, torture, as well as sexual violence "perpetrated on a massive scale."

The investigators said their information suggested that an estimate by Doctors Without Borders that up to 10,000 Rohingya had been killed in the 2017 crackdown was "conservative".

- Rape as war tactic -

They also found that soldiers had carried out "large-scale gang rape", sometimes of as many as 40 girls and women at once, in at least 10 Rakhine villages.

"The scale, brutality and systematic nature of these violations indicate that rape and sexual violence are part of a deliberate strategy to intimidate, terrorise or punish a civilian population, and are used as a tactic of war," the report said.

The investigators warned that the latest wave of violence was part of a "history of abusive military conduct going back at least half a century".

"The Rohingya are in a continuing situation of severe, systemic and institutionalised oppression from birth to death," Darusman told reporters.

Pointing to "deeply entrenched" impunity in Myanmar, the investigators said the only chance to obtain accountability was through the international justice system.

They called on the UN Security Council to refer the Myanmar situation to the International Criminal Court (ICC), or for the creation of an ad hoc international criminal tribunal.

They also recommended an arms embargo and "targeted individual sanctions against those who appear to be most responsible."

The Security Council has repeatedly urged Myanmar to halt military operations and to allow the Rohingya to safely return home, but its initiatives have been limited by council member and top Myanmar ally China, who could also thwart efforts to refer the case to the ICC.

- Spreading hate on Facebook -


AFP/File / Dibyangshu SARKAR Some 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fled northern Rakhine state to Bangladesh after Myanmar launched a brutal crackdown on insurgents in August last year


The investigators also highlighted Facebook's role, describing it as "a useful instrument for those seeking to spread hate".

The social media platform has been widely used to spread inflammatory content against the Rohingya and has scrambled in recent months to show that it is taking the issue seriously.

"Although improved in recent months, Facebook's response has been slow and ineffective," the report said, urging an independent probe of whether posts and messages on the platform had "led to real-world discrimination and violence".

Shortly after the UN report appeared, the tech giant announced it was "banning 20 Burmese individuals and organisations from Facebook — including Senior General Min Aung Hlaing."

It stressed that it wanted to prevent them from using the service to "further inflame ethnic and religious tensions".

THE NEWS: Iran urges UN court to halt 'economic strangulation' by US

Iran urges UN court to halt 'economic strangulation' by US
source: AFP

ANP/AFP / Jerry Lampen Iranian representative Mohsen Mohebi (L) addressed the court in the case pitting him against US government lawyer Jennifer Newstead at the International Court of Justice

Iran on Monday demanded the UN's top court suspend US nuclear-linked sanctions against Tehran, accusing Washington of plotting its "economic strangulation".

The Islamic Republic launched a suit at the International Court of Justice over US President Donald Trump's decision to reimpose the sanctions that had been lifted in a 2015 accord.

Iran says Trump's move breaches a 1955 treaty.

Trump says the sanctions are needed to ensure Iran never builds a nuclear bomb. But Iran's representative Mohsen Mohebi branded them "naked economic aggression".

His team of lawyers told the court in The Hague the measures were already devastating Iran's economy and threatening the welfare of its citizens.

"The United States is publicly propagating a policy intended to damage as severely as possible Iran's economy and Iranian nationals and companies," Mohebi said.

"Iran will put up the strongest resistance to the US economic strangulation, by all peaceful means."

- 'Irreparable prejudice' -

The US measures have added to Iran's economic woes, fuelling strikes and protests across the country and political spectrum.

The sanctions target financial transactions and imports of raw materials, cars and aircraft among other things.


AFP/File / ATTA KENARE US sanctions have fuelled economic trouble in Iran


A second wave of punitive measures is due to hit Iran in early November, targeting its vital energy sector including oil exports.

Iran's lawyers said the sanctions would cause it "irreparable prejudice". They urged the court to order the suspension of the sanctions pending a definitive ruling.

British lawyer Samuel Wordsworth, for Iran, told the court the sanctions were threatening Iranians' access to medicines as well as disrupting business deals.

Jean-Marc Thouvenin, law professor at University of Paris Nanterre, added: "It is urgent that the court indicate provisional measures that safeguard Iran because the purpose (of sanctions) is to strangle the Iranian economy within a few months."

- 'One-sided deal' -


 AFP / MANDEL NGAN US President Donald Trump has described the 2015 Iran agreement as a 'horrible one-sided deal'

The ICJ is expected to take a couple of months to decide whether to grant Tehran's request for a provisional ruling. A final decision could take years.

The 2015 deal was signed by Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany.

Sanctions were lifted in return for Iran committing not to pursue nuclear weapons.

Trump, who took office in 2016, called it a "horrible one-sided deal".

He said it "failed to achieve the fundamental objective of blocking all paths to a Iranian nuclear bomb."

To the horror of the other signatories, he pulled out of the accord and announced in May that he would reinstate sanctions.

- 'Neither war, nor negotiations' -

Iran's lawyers said the US sanctions threatened tens of billions of dollars' worth of business deals with foreign companies.

Iran's currency the rial has lost around half its value since April.

International companies including French oil firm Total and Germany's Siemens have suspended operations in Iran since Trump announced the US withdrawal in May.


afp/AFP / STRINGER An Iranian family walks past a closed travel agency in Tehran - Air France and British Airways announced on August 23 that they will halt flights to Tehran in September citing low profitability


Trump said the sanctions would turn up the financial pressure on Tehran to come to a "comprehensive and lasting solution" regarding its activities such as its "ballistic missile programme and its support for terrorism".

The case is the second brought by Tehran against Washington since 2016. That year it brought a suit at the ICJ against the freezing of around $2 billion of Iranian assets abroad which US courts say should go to American victims of terror attacks.

Hearings in that case are due to start on October 8.

Despite the 1955 Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations between Iran and the United States, the two countries have not had diplomatic ties since 1980.

The court adjourned after Monday's hearing, with Washington's lawyers scheduled to present their case on Tuesday. Experts expect them to challenge the ICJ's jurisdiction.

A second round of arguments follows on Wednesday and Thursday.

THE NEWS: China may scrap limit on number of children: report

China may scrap limit on number of children: report

source: AFP

AFP/File / STR China seems to be preparing to scrap its curbs on family size

China appears poised to scrap the limit on the number of children couples can have, with a state-run newspaper Monday citing a draft civil code that would end decades of controversial family planning policies.

The wide-ranging code would get rid of a policy that has been enforced through fines but was also notorious for cases of forced abortions and sterilisation in the world's most populous country.

The Procuratorate Daily said the code omits any reference to "family planning" -- the current policy which limits couples to having no more than two children.

The draft code would go to a vote at the rubber-stamp legislature, the National People's Congress, in 2020.

The Communist Party began enforcing a one-child policy in 1979 to slow population growth. The limit was raised to two children in 2016 as the nation scrambled to rejuvenate its greying population of some 1.4 billion.

Concerns are mounting that an ageing and shrinking workforce could slow down its economy, while gender imbalances could lead to social problems.

Childbirths have not increased as much as forecast since the two-child policy came into force, and there has been rising speculation the government will further ease restrictions.

The draft code was discussed at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, a powerful body of lawmakers headed by top legislator Li Zhanshu, that will run till Friday.

Other proposed changes include a one-month cooling off period before a divorce, during which either party can withdraw their application.

News of the proposed changes lit up social media.

"So they want us to have more babies and less divorces?" wrote one user on the Twitter-like Weibo platform.

Speculation about a change grew this month after a government-issued postage stamp for the Year of the Pig in 2019 showed a porcine family complete with three piglets.

Under the one-child restrictions those with multiple children were heavily fined. Some women were forced to undergo abortions while others were subjected to forced sterilisations.

Exemptions were given to ethnic minorities like Uighurs and Tibetans and those living in rural areas if their first child was a girl. Couples who themselves were only children could apply to have additional children.

But couples have been in no rush to start larger families since the policy was loosened, with 17.9 million babies born in 2016, just 1.3 million more than in the previous year and half of what was expected, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Births in 2017 even slipped to 17.23 million, well below the official forecast of over 20 million.

Two Chinese academics caused a social media storm earlier this month when they proposed that couples with one or no children should pay into a tax-like "maternity fund".

THE NEWS: US will 'vigorously defend' against Iran court challenge: Pompeo

US will 'vigorously defend' against Iran court challenge: Pompeo
source: AFP

AFP/File / SAUL LOEB US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vows a vigorous defense of US sanctions on Iran before the International Court of Justice in The Hague

The United States will "vigorously defend" itself in the International Court of Justice against Iran's challenge to the reimposition of US sanctions, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday.

Iran demanded in The Hague that the top UN court suspend the unilateral US sanctions, which were slapped back on three weeks ago following the US withdrawal from a landmark 2015 nuclear accord with Tehran.

"We will vigorously defend against Iran's meritless claims this week in The Hague," Pompeo said.

He said Iran's filing with the International Court of Justice was "an attempt to interfere with the sovereign rights of the United States to take lawful actions, including re-imposition of sanctions, which are necessary to protect our national security.

"The proceedings instituted by Iran are a misuse of the court," he contended.

In oral arguments in The Hague, Iran's representative Mohsen Mohebi accused Washington of plotting his country's "economic strangulation."

Pompeo countered: "President Trump withdrew from the JCPOA for a simple reason: it failed to guarantee the safety of the American people from the risk created by Iran’s leaders."

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is the name given to the 2015 international agreement under which sanctions on Iran were lifted in return for curbs on its nuclear program.

The reimposition of US sanctions has added to Iran's economic woes, fuelling strikes and protests across the country and political spectrum.

The sanctions target financial transactions and imports of raw materials, cars and aircraft among other things.

Job Vacancy For Manager, Technical Services at Dangote Group -

The Dangote Group is a diversified and fully integrated conglomerate with interests across a range of sectors in Nigeria and Africa. Current interests include Cement, Sugar, Flour, Salt, Pasta, Beverages, Noodles, Poly Products, Transportation and real estate with new initiatives in the Oil and Gas, Telecommunication, Fertilizer and Steel sector of the economy.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Manager, Technical Services

Location: Lagos
Business: Refinery
Function/Domain: Refinery Operations Tech Services
Slot: 3

Position Description

• We are looking for Operations Technical Services Candidates for Refinery.
• It is essential that the candidate should have relevant Refinery, experience/Petrochemical Plants experience, to build the World's largest single stream train Greenfield refinery and Petrochemical complex site based candidates for Nigeria, Lagos.

Job Responsibilities

• Assures that Refinery operations are achieving the product qualities, yields, energy efficiency and catalyst performance expected for the relevant technologies for a best-in-class operation
• Selects, develops and utilizes process models to evaluate and optimize operating performance
• Supports operations with startups, shutdowns and troubleshooting
• Manages the selection and evaluation of all catalysts and process chemicals in consultation with operations
• Develops technical plans for operating improvements as part of the overall Refinery continuous improvement plan
• Implements technical plans in collaboration with Operations
• Advises Refinery General Manager on crude selection issues
• Leads Refinery program for compliance with confidentiality agreements
• Develops and coaches the technical superintendents to assure and enhance their performance and develops his own and their successors
• Assures the integrity of the Inspection Plan and processes
• Assures the integrity of product testing and certification procedures Initial Project Activities:
• Oversees and participates in:
  • Provision of input to engineering from technical perspective on catalyst issues, advanced control strategies, optimization, start-up procedures.
  • Management of technical assistance plans from licensors and others for start-up and initial operation.
  • Oversight of establishment of Laboratory, QAQC and Inspection programs
  • Technical oversight of detailed operating manuals and procedures
  • Participation in the preparation of training program for technical staff and new engineers
  • Recruitment of Technical team
  • Participation in the establishment/training of HSE/PSM system

Desired Qualification/Preferred Competencies

• BS or MS degree in Engineering (preferably Chemical) Minimum 20 years’ experience in refinery operations, 5 years’ operations senior management experience in a major refinery.
• Demonstrated expertise with modern operations planning and control systems.
• Excellent communication and leadership qualities.
• Track record of commitment to technical excellence, safety and the development of his team.

Application Closing Date
31st August, 2018.

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

Job Vacancy For Mechanical Maintenance Officer at Dangote Group

The Dangote Group is a diversified and fully integrated conglomerate with interests across a range of sectors in Nigeria and Africa. Current interests include Cement, Sugar, Flour, Salt, Pasta, Beverages, Noodles, Poly Products, Transportation and real estate with new initiatives in the Oil and Gas, Telecommunication, Fertilizer and Steel sector of the economy.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Mechanical Maintenance Officer

Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Business: Refinery
Function/Domain: Refinery Operations Maintenance

Position Description

• We are looking for Mechanical Maintenance Candidates for Refinery. It is essential that the candidate should have relevant Refinery, experience/Petrochemical Plants experience, to build the World's largest single stream train Greenfield refinery and Petrochemical complex site based candidates for Nigeria, Lagos.

Job Responsibilities/Requirements

• Should have a minimum of 10 years of experience.
• Should have worked in a large crude oil Refineries/ Petrochemical / Fertilizer Industries/Power plants
• Should have knowledge and experience in operation & Maintenance of Mechanical equipments.
• Should be able to lead a team maintenance personnel to carry out day to day maintenance, preventive maintenance schedule, condition monitoring, trouble shooting, and repair / overhaul spare management. Turn around jobs of all process units turn arounds.
• Exposure to SAP maintenance module.
• Experience in effectively handling and managing mechanical work shop.
• Exposure to Reliability improvement measures/strategy to keep the equipment healthy and available all the time to meet the requirement of the plants.
• Exposure to schedule maintenance repair/ overhaul of super critical equipment like centrifugal compressors, reciprocating compressors, blowers, gas turbines, steam turbines, multistage pumps.
• Exposure to operation and maintenance of power plant equipment’s

Desired Qualifications/Preferred Competencies

• B.Tech / B.E / Diploma in Mechanical,
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in refinery maintenance, 5 years’ maintenance senior management experience in a major refinery.
• Demonstrated expertise with modern maintenance planning and control systems.
• Excellent communication and leadership qualities.
• Track record of commitment to safety and the development of his team.

Application Closing Date
31st August, 2018.

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

Job Vacancy For Electrical Maintenance Operation Officer at Dangote Group

The Dangote Group is a diversified and fully integrated conglomerate with interests across a range of sectors in Nigeria and Africa. Current interests include Cement, Sugar, Flour, Salt, Pasta, Beverages, Noodles, Poly Products, Transportation and real estate with new initiatives in the Oil and Gas, Telecommunication, Fertilizer and Steel sector of the economy.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Electrical Maintenance Operation Officer

Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Business: Refinery
Function/Domain: Refinery Operations Maintenance

Position Description

• We are looking for Electrical Maintenance Candidates for Refinery.
• It is essential that the candidate should have relevant Refinery, experience/Petrochemical Plants experience, to build the World's largest single stream train Greenfield refinery and Petrochemical complex site based candidates for Nigeria, Lagos.

Job Responsibilities

• Should have a minimum of 10 years of experience.
• Should have worked in a large crude oil Refineries/ Petrochemical / Fertilizer Industries/Power plants.
• Should have knowledge and experience in operations maintenance of power plant equipments, schedule maintenance of Gas Turbine Generators, Steam Turbine Generators, etc
• Capable of leading a team of Maintenance personnel to carry out day to day maintenance preventive maintenance schedule, Condition Monitoring, trouble shooting, repair/ Overhaul, spares management. Turn around job of all process units turnaround, cable laying, testing, cable repair/jointing, UPS maintenance, Battery Charging and maintenance
• Exposure to SAP maintenance module handling
• Experience in effectively handling electrical work shop.
• Exposure to Substation/Transformer, relays maintenance
• Reliability improvement measures to keep all equipment healthy and available all the time to meet the requirement of plants

Desired Qualification/Preferred Competencies

• B.Tech / B.E / Diploma in Electrical, Minimum 10 years' experience in refinery maintenance, 5 years' maintenance senior management experience in a major refinery.
• Demonstrated expertise with modern maintenance planning and control systems.
• Excellent communication and leadership qualities.
• Track record of commitment to safety and the development of his team.

Application Closing Date
31st August, 2018.

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

Job Vacancy For Field Operator - Offsite Operations at Dangote Group

The Dangote Group is a diversified and fully integrated conglomerate with interests across a range of sectors in Nigeria and Africa. Current interests include Cement, Sugar, Flour, Salt, Pasta, Beverages, Noodles, Poly Products, Transportation and real estate with new initiatives in the Oil and Gas, Telecommunication, Fertilizer and Steel sector of the economy.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Field Operator - Offsite Operations

Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Business: Refinery
Function/Domain: Refinery Operations Process ISBL and Offsites

Position Description

• We are looking for Field Operator Offsite Operations Candidates for Refinery. It is essential that the candidate should have relevant Refinery, experience/Petrochemical Plants experience, to build the World's largest single stream train Greenfield refinery and Petrochemical complex site based candidates for Nigeria, Lagos.

Job Responsibilities

• Execution of Tank Farm Operations – Tanks water Draining, Sampling and Tank Gauging
• Pre-commissioning / commissioning, start up and stabilization of Tank farm operation.
• Oil Movement, metering & pigging Operations Crude Oil storage & handling, All Petroleum Product & Intermediate Storage and handling.
• Dispatch of all the products including LPG by Road/Rail, Pipelines and Ships.
• Acts as a coach/mentor to his juniors and is heavily involved in the on-job training and development of Nigerian Nationals to take their place in the organization.
• Assistance in all maintenance jobs occurring in assigned area.
• To fill up log books.
• Report the any accident, incident happening in area.
• To follow the instructions given by Shift In-charge, Field Engineer and Panel operators.
• Ensure and Maintain Good Housekeeping in workplace.

Desired Qualification/Preferred Competencies:

• Diploma in Chemical Engineering.
• 05 years' experience
• English Language - Strong communication, verbal and written skills.

Application Closing Date
31st August, 2018.

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

Job Vacancy For Field Engineer, Offsite Operations at Dangote Group

The Dangote Group is a diversified and fully integrated conglomerate with interests across a range of sectors in Nigeria and Africa. Current interests include Cement, Sugar, Flour, Salt, Pasta, Beverages, Noodles, Poly Products, Transportation and real estate with new initiatives in the Oil and Gas, Telecommunication, Fertilizer and Steel sector of the economy.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Position Title: Field Engineer, Offsite Operations

Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Business: Refinery
Function/Domain: Refinery Operations Process ISBL and Offsites
   
Position Description

• We are looking for Field engineer Offsite Operations Candidates for Refinery.
• It is essential that the candidate should have relevant Refinery, experience/Petrochemical Plants experience, to build the World's largest single stream train Greenfield refinery and Petrochemical complex site based candidates for Nigeria, Lagos.

Job Responsibilities

• Field engineer Off-sites assists operations & maintenance activity of different section in field and follow SOP for equipment start up/shutdown and maintenance planning. • Maintain good housekeeping in field and follow safety standard in Off-sites operation and maintenance areas.
• The job holder shall help and trained subordinate staff in of start-up/shutdown and commissioning activities for proper start-up and minimum downtime.
• The job holder contributes to the uninterrupted operation of the plant and thus assists in maximizing profits/margins.
• Communicates with the shift in-charge/panel operator in areas to coordinate during unit start up/shutdown and normal operation.
• The job holder acts as a coach/mentor to his subordinates and is heavily involved in the on-job training and development of Nigerian Nationals to take their place in the organization

Desired Qualification/Preferred Competencies

• Bachelor of Technology/Bachelor of Engineering/Diploma (Chemical Engineering).
• Total 05 to 10 years of experience/10 to 15 years: - Engineering Graduates and Diploma holders Respectively in Off-sites operation & maintenance.
• Refinery Off-sites commissioning and start-up/shutdown of Off-sites.
• English Language - strong communication, verbal and written skills.

Application Closing Date
31st August, 2018.

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

Job Vacancy For Civil Maintenance Officer at Dangote Group

The Dangote Group is a diversified and fully integrated conglomerate with interests across a range of sectors in Nigeria and Africa. Current interests include Cement, Sugar, Flour, Salt, Pasta, Beverages, Noodles, Poly Products, Transportation and real estate with new initiatives in the Oil and Gas, Telecommunication, Fertilizer and Steel sector of the economy.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Civil Maintenance Officer

Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Business: Refinery
Function/Domain: Refinery Operations Process ISBL and Offsites
   
Position Description

• We are looking for Civil Maintenance Candidates for Refinery.
• It is essential that the candidate should have relevant Refinery, experience/Petrochemical Plants experience, to build the World's largest single stream train Greenfield refinery and Petrochemical complex site based candidates for Nigeria, Lagos.

Job Responsibilities

• Should have a minimum of 10 years of experience.
• Should have worked in a large crude oil Refineries/ Petrochemical Complex / Fertilizer Industries
• Should have thorough knowledge and experience in maintenance of all process Plants, Power plants, Offsite areas.
• Should have Skill and Experience in Construction activities, thorough knowledge of Engineering, Procedure, codes for civil maintenance and Construction.
• Should have thorough exposure to Contract and Material Management
• Should have thorough knowledge and experience in Refractory, insulation, painting, horticulture, scaffolding, and housekeeping.
• Should have thorough knowledge in safe work practices, Risk Assessment in Civil Construction and Maintenance activities, work permit/system/procedure
• Should have Exposure to international Maintenance Codes, ASTM, API etc and Standards, Quality Management System.
• Should be capable of leading team of Maintenance personnel to carry out day to day maintenance, preventive maintenance schedule, construction activities, providing technical inputs and co-ordination with all to complete job with safety and Quality.
• Should have Knowledge on Standard Maintenance Practice and Procedure.
• Should have skill in Manpower and resource planning
• Conversant with all types of Lab testing and site testing for ensuring quality of Construction and Maintenance.
• Exposure to SAP maintenance module
• Conversant with use of PPEs in accordance with Safety Standard and Practices.

Desired Qualification/Preferred Competencies

• B.Tech / B.E / Diploma in Civil, Minimum 10 years' experience in refinery maintenance, 5 years' maintenance senior management experience in a major refinery.
• Demonstrated expertise with modern maintenance planning and control systems.
• Excellent communication and leadership qualities.
• Track record of commitment to safety and the development of his team.

Application Closing Date
31st August, 2018.

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

Job Vacancy For Senior SAP BASIS Administrator at Dangote Group

The Dangote Group is one of Nigeria's most diversified manufacturing conglomerates. The Group continues to grow its vision of becoming the leading provider of essential needs in Food and Shelter in Sub-Saharan Africa with sustained market leadership in Cement Manufacturing, Sugar Milling, Sugar Refining, Packaging Material Production and Salt Refining.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior SAP BASIS Administrator

Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Function: Information Technology

Job Description

• As our BASIS administrator, you will be working with business and IT partners to leverage SAP platform as strategic asset within Technology. You will be working with a team to bring broad experience in the Best practices for SAP platform. You will work with other basis members to define and refine in developing the road-map for the SAP platforms.
• Position will provide 24x7 support for the SAP technical infrastructure (BASIS), including but not limited to technologies such as ECC 6.0, BW4HANA, Solution Manager 7.01, Oracle 9i/10g, etc. The candidate will work on a small basis team and with developers and business analysts to implement new SAP functionality, apply SAP program fixes, develop and maintain interfaces, maintain SAP change control, monitor and tune hardware/platform/backend, and assist in SAP software upgrades and projects.
• Work with basis team members to administer the technical infrastructure and meet SLAs, project requirements/deadlines, and any other additional business needs.
• Provide first-level SAP Basis support to the SAP Functional Team, IT staff, and the end user community, including the handling of incident tickets, 24x7x365 emergency support, transport movements, and other day-to-day operational and project tasks for the SAP systems.
• Manage software logistics according to audit/governance protocol between Development, Quality Assurance, and Production to support successful application development and releases for the entire implementation lifecycle, using transports, client copies, and other SAP proprietary change technologies.
• Create, support, manage, and document installation, roll-out, and maintenance of the SAP front-end (SAPGui) and any other front-end relevant to SAP initiatives.
• Open support channels with external SAP personnel, communicate with internal help desk support personnel, partner with other IT resources, and work directly with the end user community to investigate, diagnose, and address SAP development and system issues. Document post-mortem analysis and implement changes to prevent similar user, application, or system issues.
• Apply application software corrections such as SAP support packages, kernel patches, front-end patches, one-off patches, and patch-sets to keep application software current with vendor maintenance schedules.
• Configure and maintain SAP communication interface and scheduling technologies, including SAP PI/PO, sapcon, EDI/XML interfaces, file upload/download functions, web interfaces, print/spool, background, BDC, and other CPIC/RFC communications.
• Provide SAP Basis support and technical expertise for the installation and/or enhancement of the SAP systems to meet expanding business requirements.
• Perform SAP system, database, operating system, and transaction monitoring/tuning to proactively meet corporate SLAs and to ensure optimal response times for the SAP user communities.
• Develop, maintain, and document SAP system operating procedures for any of the above functions and/or additional responsibilities. Provide knowledge-transfer and cross-training to teammates and other corporate staff. Research new procedures, best practices, methodologies, and technologies to make recommendations and grow in technical competence.

Requirements

• Bachelors Degree with 7+ years experience Or Bachelor Degree in discipline related to functional work or role with 8-10 years of relevant work experience (List specifics) OR demonstrated ability to meet the job requirements through a comparable number of years of applicable work experience.
• 5+ years of experience with broad and deep technical knowledge of technical SAP ecosystem design, implementation, and performance management while in ongoing operations across a global footprint.
• Extensive in-depth knowledge of SAP Basis area; support, monitoring, troubleshooting, preventative maintenance.
• Extensive background in performance tuning and troubleshooting; utilizing SAP performance management tools.
• In-depth understanding of high availability (HA) and disaster recovery (DR) systems, concepts, and procedures
• Experience with Oracle, SQL and HANA databases.
• 3 years’ experience in a Lead role
• Minimum 3 full life-cycle Implementations in SAP technology.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

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

Job Vacancy For Group Head of IT at Dangote Group

The Dangote Group is one of Nigeria's most diversified manufacturing conglomerates. The Group continues to grow its vision of becoming the leading provider of essential needs in Food and Shelter in Sub-Saharan Africa with sustained market leadership in Cement Manufacturing, Sugar Milling, Sugar Refining, Packaging Material Production and Salt Refining.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Group Head of IT   

Location: Lagos, Nigeria

Description

• Oversee and coordinate Dangote Cement Group’s Information Technology environment and ensure consistent IT system availability to support the Group’s business operations
• Officer provides vision and leadership for developing and implementing information technology initiatives. This position directs the planning and implementation of enterprise IT systems in accordance with the mission, core values, and demands of the business
• Coordinate the articulation and development of the Dangote Cement Group’s overall IT strategy and ensure alignment with the Group’s strategy, business goals and objectives.
• Establish and drive the implementation of IT policies and procedures that promote and ensure the confidentiality, integrity, availability and security of corporate data and information.
• Continually review and assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the IT function’s policies, procedures and processes and identify improvement opportunities.
• Oversee the design, implementation and maintenance of the Group’s Enterprise Resource Planning (SAP ERP) system to effectively support business operations.
• Ensure optimal availability and reliability of the Group’s IT systems and support infrastructure to provide accurate and up-to-date business management information.
• Collaborate with business functions and Dangote Cement subsidiaries to identify IT requirements and acquire technology solutions in line with overall corporate and business strategy.
• Develop business case for implementing new IT business solutions aimed at improving the achievement of business objectives and present recommendations to the Group CFO/ Group CIO other relevant stakeholders and obtain necessary approvals as required.
• Provide technical advice on IT upgrades and acquisitions/ investments required for the Group’s operations in line with Group’s strategy.
• Participate in definition and implementation of IT governance frameworks for IT project management, service management, enterprise architecture, information security, quality assurance and service performance management.
• Oversee the design and implementation of a disaster recovery plan and system that ensures timely and continuous system and network availability at all times throughout the Group in conjunction with corporate centre.

Requirements

• High level of integrity and commitment.
• Bachelor's degree required in Engineering, Computer or Computer Science.
• Master’s degree in MBA, IT, CIS, computer science or similar field preferred.
• Certifications in Applications, security, project management, ITIL and related fields is desirable.
• Fifteen years of experience in broad-based IT operations.
• Minimum of three years of experience in leading IT in complex manufacturing environment required.
• Experience in managing large teams of 50+ a multinational environment is required.
• Five years of experience in manufacturing environment preferred.
• At least ten years of experience in managing complex ERP centric environments, preferably SAP.
• Ability to manage relationships and expectations in complex multi-cultural organizations.
• Good understanding of micro and macroeconomic indices and its impact on the Group’s operations.
• Good understanding of trends, challenges, opportunities, regulations and legislations relating to the cement manufacturing industry.
• Working knowledge of systems development standards, policies and procedures.
• Strong IT project planning/management and implementation skills.
• Sound awareness/ understanding of trends and recent developments in the international IT industry.
• Strong leadership, organisational and people management skills.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills.
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities.
• High sense of responsibility, accountability and dependability.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

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

Job Vacancy For SAP ABAP Solutions Specialist at Dangote Group

The Dangote Group is one of Nigeria's most diversified manufacturing conglomerates. The Group continues to grow its vision of becoming the leading provider of essential needs in Food and Shelter in Sub-Saharan Africa with sustained market leadership in Cement Manufacturing, Sugar Milling, Sugar Refining, Packaging Material Production and Salt Refining.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: SAP ABAP Solutions Specialist

Location: Lagos, Nigeria

Job Descriptions

• The SAP ABAP developer will have experiences with design, programming, documentation and testing of SAP applications based on functional requirements.
• As SAP ABAP specialist you will be responsible for design of part of the solution and/or you will take part of the team development with ability to be promoted to the team lead position.

Job Responsibilities
Your role will be:

• Responsible for the ABAP development based on the technical designs
• Performing complex ABAP programming, testing and debugging functions related to the implementation of SAP modules
• Closely communicating with functional and business teams, understanding the requirements and transforming these into technical designs
• Reporting quality of service
• Taking ownership of the application development process and driving towards timely project conclusion

Requirements
What are we looking for?

• Understanding of SAP ABAP development concepts, guidelines and SAP architecture
• 3+ years of ABAP Technical/Development experience + hands-on programming experience
• Hands-on implementation experience in SAP and the cross-function relationship between modules for forms, reports, interfaces, enhancements, BDC, LSMW, BADI, BAPI, workflow and other development work
• Understand and be fluent in the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) and Quality Assurance methodologies for SAP upgrades and enhancement pack upgrades. Must be able to perform systems analysis and design activities in accordance with development methodology and institute best practices and appropriate standards
• Strong knowledge and understanding of SAP Transport layers, IDOCs and interfaces and the different kinds of Transport Request and SAP best practices in handling transports
• A basic understanding of key business processes an advantage
• Experience with planning work and delivery to a plan
• Strong problem-solving ability with proven attention to detail
• Strong ability to translate functional designs/requirements into technical design
• Excellent communication skills, including written and fluent spoken English

Benefits

• A chance to be a part of the dynamic IT team driving digital change within Africa's premier indigenous manufacturing conglomerate.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

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

Job Vacancy For Senior SAP BASIS Administrator at Dangote Group

The Dangote Group is one of Nigeria's most diversified manufacturing conglomerates. The Group continues to grow its vision of becoming the leading provider of essential needs in Food and Shelter in Sub-Saharan Africa with sustained market leadership in Cement Manufacturing, Sugar Milling, Sugar Refining, Packaging Material Production and Salt Refining.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior SAP BASIS Administrator

Location: Lagos, Nigeria

Job Descriptions

• As our BASIS administrator, you will be working with business and IT partners to leverage SAP platform as strategic asset within Technology. You will be working with a team to bring broad experience in the Best practices for SAP platform. You will work with other basis members to define and refine in developing the road-map for the SAP platforms.
• Position will provide 24x7 support for the SAP technical infrastructure (BASIS), including but not limited to technologies such as ECC 6.0, BW4HANA, Solution Manager 7.01, Oracle 9i/10g, etc. The candidate will work on a small basis team and with developers and business analysts to implement new SAP functionality, apply SAP program fixes, develop and maintain interfaces, maintain SAP change control, monitor and tune hardware/platform/backend, and assist in SAP software upgrades and projects.
• Work with basis team members to administer the technical infrastructure and meet SLAs, project requirements/deadlines, and any other additional business needs.
• Provide first-level SAP Basis support to the SAP Functional Team, IT staff, and the end user community, including the handling of incident tickets, 24x7x365 emergency support, transport movements, and other day-to-day operational and project tasks for the SAP systems.
• Manage software logistics according to audit/governance protocol between Development, Quality Assurance, and Production to support successful application development and releases for the entire implementation lifecycle, using transports, client copies, and other SAP proprietary change technologies.
• Create, support, manage, and document installation, roll-out, and maintenance of the SAP front-end (SAPGui) and any other front-end relevant to SAP initiatives.
• Open support channels with external SAP personnel, communicate with internal help desk support personnel, partner with other IT resources, and work directly with the end user community to investigate, diagnose, and address SAP development and system issues. Document post-mortem analysis and implement changes to prevent similar user, application, or system issues.
• Apply application software corrections such as SAP support packages, kernel patches, front-end patches, one-off patches, and patch-sets to keep application software current with vendor maintenance schedules.
• Configure and maintain SAP communication interface and scheduling technologies, including SAP PI/PO, sapcon, EDI/XML interfaces, file upload/download functions, web interfaces, print/spool, background, BDC, and other CPIC/RFC communications.
• Provide SAP Basis support and technical expertise for the installation and/or enhancement of the SAP systems to meet expanding business requirements.
• Perform SAP system, database, operating system, and transaction monitoring/tuning to proactively meet corporate SLAs and to ensure optimal response times for the SAP user communities.
• Develop, maintain, and document SAP system operating procedures for any of the above functions and/or additional responsibilities.
• Provide knowledge-transfer and cross-training to teammates and other corporate staff. Research new procedures, best practices, methodologies, and technologies to make recommendations and grow in technical competence.

Requirements

• Bachelors degree with 7+ years experience OR Bachelor degree in discipline related to functional work or role with 8-10 years of relevant work experience (List specifics) OR demonstrated ability to meet the job requirements through a comparable number of years of applicable work experience.
• 5+ years of experience with broad and deep technical knowledge of technical SAP ecosystem design, implementation, and performance management while in ongoing operations across a global footprint.
• Extensive in-depth knowledge of SAP Basis area; support, monitoring, troubleshooting, preventative maintenance.
• Extensive background in performance tuning and troubleshooting; utilizing SAP performance management tools.
• In-depth understanding of high availability (HA) and disaster recovery (DR) systems, concepts, and procedures
• Experience with Oracle, SQL and HANA databases.
• 3 years’ experience in a Lead role
• Minimum 3 full life-cycle Implementations in SAP technology

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

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