Japan rescuers still scrambling as typhoon toll tops 70

Japan rescuers still scrambling as typhoon toll tops 70



AFP / Kazuhiro NOGI Clean-up and rescue efforts continued in Japan three days after Typhoon Hagibis slammed into the country

Rescuers in Japan were working around the clock Tuesday in an increasingly desperate search for survivors of a powerful weekend typhoon that killed more than 70 people and caused widespread destruction.

Hagibis slammed into Japan on Saturday, unleashing fierce winds and unprecedented rain that triggered landslides and caused dozens of rivers to burst their banks.

By Tuesday night, public broadcaster NHK put the toll at 72, with around a dozen people missing. The government's tally was lower, but it said it was still updating information.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said there was no plan to slow rescue operations, with around 110,000 police, coast guard, firefighters and military troops involved.

"Rescue work and searches for the missing are continuing around the clock," Abe told parliament.

"Where rivers flooded, work is ongoing to fix spots where banks broke, and water is being pumped out where floods occurred," he added.

His office said more than 3,000 people were rescued in the wake of the disaster, which affected 36 of the country's 47 prefectures.


AFP / Kazuhiro NOGI Typhoon Hagibis brought heavy rains that triggered landslides and destructive flooding


The defence ministry has called up several hundred reserve troops -- in addition to active duty soldiers -- for the first time since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako were "deeply grieving for so many people affected", an Imperial Household Agency official said.

The royal couple "expressed their sincere condolences for those who lost their lives... and heartily hope that those who are unaccounted for will be found as soon as possible," the official said.

Despite the scale of the disaster, the government has no plan to delay a palace ceremony and parade to celebrate Naruhito's enthronement on October 22.

- Rain prompts new warnings -

Government officials warned that more rain was expected throughout the Tuesday in several parts of the country affected by the typhoon.

"We ask people not to drop their guard and to remain fully alert," chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters.

Hagibis crashed into land packing gusts up to 216 kilometres (134 miles) per hour, but it was the storm's heavy rain that caused the most damage.


JIJI PRESS/AFP / - Hagibis was one of the strongest typhoons to hit the area in recent decades

Deaths were reported across many prefectures and included a man whose apartment was flooded, a municipal worker whose car was caught in rising waters and at least seven crew aboard a cargo ship that sank in Tokyo bay on Saturday night.

By Tuesday evening, some 24,000 households were still without power, and 128,000 homes had no water.

Tens of thousands of people spent Monday night in government shelters, with many unsure when they would be able to return home.

"My frightened daughter can't stop shaking. We want to go home quickly," Rie Nishioka, 39, told Kyodo News agency in Miyagi prefecture.

- Government pledges aid -

The government pledged financial support to affected regions without specifying how much aid it would set aside.

"Support for the victims of the disaster is an urgent task," Abe said.

"There are concerns that the impact on daily life and economic activities may be long-lasting."


AFP / Kazuhiro NOGI Tens of thousands of people have been forced to sleep in shelters after Typhoon Hagibis pounded Japan


Another area affected by the storm was Fukushima, where several bags containing soil and plants collected during nuclear decontamination efforts were washed away.

"Ten bags out of 2,667 were swept into a river during the typhoon, but six of them were recovered yesterday," environment ministry official Keisuke Takagi told AFP, adding that the remaining four bags had been found and would be collected soon.

"Residents must be worried about the environment, but there are no reports that the bags were broken, so there will be nothing to worry about once they have been recovered safely," he said.

By Tuesday, transport was largely back to normal, though some flights were cancelled and train services partially disrupted where tracks or train stock were damaged by the storm.

The typhoon also caused disruption to sporting events, delaying Japanese Grand Prix qualifiers and forcing Rugby World Cup organisers to cancel three matches.

A crunch fixture pitting the hosts against Scotland went ahead on Sunday night, with Japan winning its first-ever quarter final spot.

News Syria Kurds defend key town as Turkey ignores US

News
Syria Kurds defend key town as Turkey ignores US



AFP / Aref TAMMAWI Turkish forces advance north of the Syrian city of Manbij as part of a sweeping offensive against the Kurds

Kurdish fighters put up fierce resistance Tuesday to Turkish forces battling to seize a key town in northeastern Syria, as the violence forced international aid organisations to halt their activities.

The United States slapped sanctions on its NATO ally in a bid to stop an assault that its own troop withdrawal triggered, but Ankara showed no sign of relenting.

Syria's regime dispatched more troops to the northeast to contain Ankara's advance -- their most significant deployment in the Kurdish-controlled region since they started withdrawing from the area in 2012.

It follows a deal clinched Sunday between Damascus and the Kurds that saw government troops raise the Syrian flag in the flashpoint northern city of Manbij on Tuesday, after US forces pulled out.

Regime troops had entered the city near the border on Monday night, as pro-Turkey fighters massed to the west ahead of a planned assault.


AFP / Turkish offensive in NE Syria


Kurdish combatants from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are battling Turkish forces and their Syrian proxies -- mostly former rebels paid and equipped by Ankara -- in various parts of the northeast.

East of Manbij, the Kurds are mounting a desperate defence in the border town of Ras al-Ain, using a dense network of tunnels, berms and trenches.

They launched "a large counterattack against Turkish forces and their Syrian proxies near Ras al-Ain," the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

An AFP correspondent in the area said clashes around the town continued on Tuesday, despite repeated claims by Ankara in recent days that it had captured the area.

- Manbij -

Since launching their assault on October 9, Turkish-backed forces have secured more than 100 kilometres (60 miles) of border, but Ras al-Ain, which the Kurds call Siri Kani, has held out.

President Donald Trump announced a pullback of US forces from the border last week, a move which was widely interpreted as green-lighting a long-planned Turkish invasion.


AFP / Ozan KOSE The ethnically divided Kurdish-held border town of Ras al-Ain is one of the key targets of Turkey's nearly week-old invasion and has ome under heavy bombardment

Politically embattled at home, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to create a 30 kilometre (20 mile) deep buffer zone on the Syrian side of the long border.

He wants to keep the SDF at bay -- Ankara considers them a terrorist group because of their links with the main Kurdish insurgency in Turkey -- and create a resettlement area for some of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees on Turkish soil.

The offensive has left dozens of civilians dead, mostly on the Kurdish side, and displaced at least 160,000 people.

Aid groups, which have warned of a new humanitarian disaster in Syria's eight-year-old war, have been forced to pull out of the conflict zone, Kurdish authorities said.

Trump, who is campaigning for re-election but faces impeachment, is keen to deliver on a promise of pulling US troops out of the Syria quagmire.


AFP / Nazeer Al-khatib Syrian former rebels, who have been Turkey's main ground partners in its cross-border offensive, have made advances elsewhere along a 120 kilometre (75 mile) front but have met fierce Kurdish resistance in Ras al-Ain


More than 1,000 troops are now being withdrawn from northern Syria and the United States will keep only a residual contingent of around 150 in the south at the Al-Tanf base near the borders with Jordan and Iraq.

On Tuesday, the Russian defence ministry said US troops have left bases near Manbij and the Syrian army "has full control" over the former Islamic State group stronghold.

The US-led coalition confirmed the withdrawal, saying: "We are out of Manbij."

US troops had been based in the city since they helped Kurdish fighters seize it from IS in 2016.

Russian military police continue to patrol a zone separating regime troops and Turkish forces in cooperation with Ankara, Moscow said.

- Transfers to Iraq? -

In a bid to force Turkey's hand, Washington slapped sanctions on its defence, interior and energy ministers, freezing their US assets and making US transactions with them a crime.

"I am fully prepared to swiftly destroy Turkey's economy if Turkish leaders continue down this dangerous and destructive path," said Trump, who until recently had touted his friendship with Erdogan.


AFP / Delil SOULEIMAN Tens of thousands of Syrian civilians have fled the fighting

Abandoned by the US, their chief ally in years of battles against IS that cost the lives of 11,000 of their fighters, the Kurds turned to Damascus.

European governments in particular are worried that the chaos in the area could lead to mass breakouts by thousands of IS fighters detained by Kurdish forces.

They have warned this would lead to a resurgence of the jihadist organisation and increase the risk that some of them might return to Europe to plan and conduct terror attacks.

The SDF have warned that their fighters were mobilised to defend against the Turkish advance and not available to fully guard IS prisoners.


 AFP/File / DELIL SOULEIMAN Syria's Kurds have warned repeatedly that their fighters have been mobilised to defend against the Turkish invasion and are not available to guard the tens of thousands of IS prisoners and family members in their custody


That has already resulted in the escape of hundreds of foreign fighters' relatives, although Trump suggested the SDF may have deliberately let them go to gain leverage.

Human Rights Watch warned European countries against attempts to have their detained nationals transferred en masse to Iraq for prosecution.

The watchdog warned it would be illegal for these countries to send nationals to stand trial in a country where they risk execution and where due process is consistently violated.

A European diplomatic source said France was discussing a transfer with Iraqi officials on Tuesday.
source: https://www.afp.com/en/news/3954/syria-kurds-defend-key-town-turkey-ignores-us-doc-1lf5419

News IMF warns global outlook 'precarious,' no room for policy mistakes

News
IMF warns global outlook 'precarious,' no room for policy mistakes



 AFP / NICHOLAS KAMM IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva delivers her curtain raiser speech previewing the key issues to be addressed in the Annual Meetings in Washington, DC

The world economy is slowing to its weakest pace since the global financial crisis, as the US-China trade war undercuts business confidence and investment, the IMF said Tuesday.

It warned that the outlook is beset by risks, and urged policymakers to work to find resolutions to trade disputes, since there are limited tools to respond to a new crisis.

"With a synchronized slowdown and uncertain recovery, the global outlook remains precarious," International Monetary Fund chief economist Gita Gopinath said in her introduction to the latest forecasts.

The IMF for the past year has every three months cut projected growth for 2019 as trade conflicts worsened.

In its latest World Economic Outlook it trimmed the estimate by another two-tenths, to 3.0 percent. The report also lowered the 2020 forecast by a tenth to 3.4 percent.

"At three percent growth, there is no room for policy mistakes and an urgent need for policymakers to cooperatively deescalate trade and geopolitical tensions," Gopinath said.

In addition, the trade conflicts and a slowdown in auto sales worldwide means trade growth has slowed sharply, falling in the first half of the year to its weakest since 2012, with an estimated increase of just 1.1 percent this year after a 3.6 percent jump in 2018.

- Running low on ammo -


AFP / IMF growth forecasts


While the US economy also has been hit by uncertainty -- largely created by President Donald Trump's trade offensive -- the world's largest economy remains a bright spot on the global stage, the report said.

After upgrading its US outlook in July, the latest WEO reversed course, and cutting the US forecast this year to 2.4 percent -- still above trend, but two-tenths below the July forecast.

In 2020, the IMF projects US GDP to expand by 2.1 percent, unchanged from the prior report.

"For the United States, trade related uncertainty has had negative effects on investment, but employment and consumption continue to be robust, buoyed also by policy stimulus," Gopinath said.

Major central banks have taken steps to soften the blow to growth by lowering interest rates, without which the downturn would have been worse, she said.

However, she cautioned that monetary policy "cannot be the only game in town" and governments, notably in countries like Germany, should take advantage of low rates to make investments to support growth.

"With central banks having to spend limited ammunition to offset policy mistakes, they may have little left when the economy is in a tougher spot," Gopinath warned.

The US-China trade war alone is estimated to shrink the world economy by 0.8 percent in 2020, the IMF said.

The fund warned that risks to the outlook predominate, and the uncertainty around trade policy -- which causes businesses to hold off on investments and undermines confidence -- will take a larger chunk out of growth than the tariffs themselves

- Slowing auto sales -

"To forestall such an outcome, policies should decisively aim at defusing trade tensions, reinvigorating multilateral cooperation, and providing timely support to economic activity where needed," the report said.

But trade is not the only reason for the global slowdown: the report notes that in China's economy, for example, growth is moderating as intended amid slowing domestic demand.

Other major economies like Brazil, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa are slowing this year due to "idiosyncratic reasons" but are expected to recover in 2020.

"A notable feature of the sluggish growth in 2019 is the sharp and geographically broad-based slowdown in manufacturing and global trade," the IMF said, which in addition to the higher tariffs and trade uncertainty is the result of the contracting auto industry.

That slowdown has had an impact in Germany, China and India, the report said.

source: https://www.afp.com/en/news/3954/imf-warns-global-outlook-precarious-no-room-policy-mistakes-doc-1lf20w2

Alarmed W.House security chief called Ukraine push a 'drug deal'

News
Alarmed W.House security chief called Ukraine push a 'drug deal'



AFP/File / Sergei GAPON Former US national security advisor John Bolton regarded US President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani as a "hand grenade," US media reported

The White House's former national security advisor John Bolton was so alarmed by efforts to pressure Ukraine that he called it a "drug deal," his former aide told lawmakers, according to US media.

Bolton warned that President Donald Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, who is reportedly under federal investigation over his dealings with Ukraine on the president's behalf, is "a hand grenade who's going to blow everyone up," Fiona Hill testified, according to The New York Times.

"I am not part of whatever drug deal Rudy and Mulvaney are cooking up," Hill reported Bolton as saying, according to the Times, which cited two sources familiar with her closed-door deposition.

Mick Mulvaney is the acting White House chief of staff.

Democrats are seeking information related to Trump pressing his Ukrainian counterpart to uncover dirt on 2020 US presidential contender Joe Biden, while allegedly conditioning almost $400 million in US military aid on that favor.

They have demanded documents tied to Trump's withholding of that aid, which was desperately needed by Kiev in its ongoing conflict with Moscow. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and supports separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Hill, Trump's former top Russia advisor, made the remarks during a 10-hour deposition before US lawmakers probing whether to impeach the president. AFP has not independently verified the report.

Bolton instructed Hill to notify a National Security Council lawyer, according to the Times, after a "sharp exchange" with US ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, who was working with Giuliani on the alleged pressure campaign.

Giuliani, a former federal prosecutor and ex-mayor of New York City, has acknowledged that he and two associates worked with Ukrainian prosecutors to collect information on Biden, his son Hunter and the US ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, who was recalled in May.

Hill's testimony came after Trump pushed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate the Bidens in a July 25 phone call, which sparked the impeachment inquiry by the House of Representatives.


 AFP/File / Don EMMERT The Times reported earlier that Rudy Giuliani was himself under federal investigation for his dealings with Kiev on President Trump's behalf


A rough transcript of the call shows the two leaders discussed Zelensky's desire to receive the military aid. Trump then responded that "I would like you to do us a favor though," and later brought up Biden.

"I don't know Fiona and can't figure out what she is talking about," Giuliani said in reaction to Hill's testimony, according to The Washington Post.

He said the State Department had arranged all his contacts with Ukraine, the Post reported.

Trump fired Bolton -- known as a foreign policy hawk -- in September. Hill left the administration shortly before the July call with Zelensky.
source: https://www.afp.com/en/news/3954/alarmed-whouse-security-chief-called-ukraine-push-drug-deal-doc-1lf41g4

S.Africa's Zuma delays corruption trial with appeal

News
S.Africa's Zuma delays corruption trial with appeal



POOL/AFP / MICHELE SPATARI Zuma dismissed the corruption charges as a conspiracy

The corruption trial of South Africa's embattled former president Jacob Zuma has been delayed again after his lawyer announced Tuesday he would appeal.

The last-minute move pushes back a long-awaited trial over bribery allegations dating back to a 1990s arms deal. Zuma dismissed the charges as a conspiracy.

If it goes ahead, the trial would be the first time Zuma faces a court on graft charges, despite a string of accusations over his long political career.

The High Court in the southeastern city of Pietermaritzburg last week rejected his request to have 16 charges of fraud, graft and racketeering dismissed, clearing the way for the trial to start on Tuesday.

But Zuma's lawyer Thabani Masuku told the court at the start of the trial that the ex-president would appeal, dragging on a case that has seen numerous legal twists over 15 years.


POOL/AFP / MICHELE SPATARI Zuma, pictured in court on Tuesday, filed a last-minute appeal against corruption charges


After the hearing, Zuma told a small group of supporters gathered outside court that "there have been many conspirators against me".

"There is no justice that will be served by continuing with this case," he told the crowd in Zulu.

Zuma was forced to resign as president last year by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party after a nine-year reign marred by corruption allegations and dwindling popularity.

He is accused of taking bribes worth four million rand ($270,000, 240,000 euros) when he was deputy president from a 51-billion-rand ($3.4-billion) 1999 arms purchase by five European firms, including French defence company Thales.

Both Zuma and Thales, which is accused of paying the bribes and was also to stand trial, deny the charges.

- 'Another cunning move' -

The appeal, which must be filed by November 1, will be heard on November 22. If denied, proceedings are scheduled to resume on the provisional date of February 4.

State lawyer Billy Downer told the court that the prosecution believed the appeal would fail and requested the trial start as soon as possible.


AFP / Key dates for South Africa's former president Jacob Zuma

Legal analysts have said a delay would have been likely even without the appeal, given the size of the case.

For its part, Zuma's defence team maintained that the ex-president had been ready for trial for 14 years.

Legal expert Pierre de Vos of the University of Cape Town said that "if all the courts refuse to hear the appeal, there will be a short delay."

"If they hear the appeal there will be another year or two before they can begin a trial," he told AFP, adding that he could face 15 years in jail if found guilty.

Analysts have warned that if Zuma goes on trial, he will drag down with him many leaders of Nelson Mandela's ANC, which has governed the country since the end of apartheid in 1994.

The opposition Democratic Alliance party in a statement slammed "yet another cunning move by Zuma to avoid jail" and called for the government to ensure the ex-president pay his legal fees.

After a court ruled last year that he should pay his own way, Zuma claimed he was so broke that he had to sell his socks.

- 'Teflon president' -


AFP/File / RODGER BOSCH Anger over corruption sparked protests against Zuma in 2017


Critics have dubbed Zuma the "Teflon president" for his reputed ability to evade judicial reckoning.

He has also been accused of organising the systematic plunder of government coffers in a scandal known as "state capture".

He appeared at an inquiry into the scandal in July, putting on a defiant performance and denying all wrongdoing.

Zuma's successor President Cyril Ramaphosa told a conference hosted by the Financial Times in London this week that corruption during Zuma's administration is estimated to have cost the country more than 500 billion rand ($34 billion).

Ramaphosa has vowed to tackle deep-seated corruption but faces opposition from powerful senior ANC members, many of whom remain Zuma allies.

"Zuma was in charge for nearly two terms but did very little for us ordinary people," Sakhile Dube, a 30-year-old clothes seller, told AFP outside the Pietermaritzburg court.

"We are still waiting to see if Ramaphosa can assist us and remedy the situation," he added.

EU, Britain scramble to reach Brexit deal before summit

News
EU, Britain scramble to reach Brexit deal before summit



 AFP/File / DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS After weeks of gloom, the last few days have given a glimmer of hope that a Brexit deal can be reached

British and EU negotiators on Tuesday scrambled to put together a draft text for a Brexit deal with just two days to go before a key European summit.

Both sides voiced cautious optimism that an outline agreement could be reached this week and the upbeat mood saw the pound rally on currency markets.

And European leaders warned that, while they are keen for a deal, time is tight and they will not let Britain use Northern Ireland as a back door to the single market.

EU negotiator Michel Barnier said a text must be on the table by Wednesday morning if it is to be put before leaders at the EU summit starting Thursday -- in time for a special sitting of the British parliament on Saturday.

If this deadline is missed, talks could always resume next week and a special summit be held just in time for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to fulfil his pledge to lead Britain out on October 31.

But European diplomats said London must go further quickly if a deal is to be done this month, despite Johnson having given ground on customs rules for Northern Ireland.

As he arrived in Luxembourg to brief ministers from the other 27 EU states, Barnier struck a cautiously upbeat note.

"This work has been intense all along the weekend and yesterday because even if the agreement will be difficult -- more and more difficult to be frank -- it's still possible this week," he told reporters.


POOL/AFP / Stefan Rousseau Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (R) has promised to take the country out of the EU by October 31


"Let me add also that it is high time to turn good intentions into legal text."

Emmanuel Macron apparently shares Barnier's guarded optimism. An aide to the French president told reporters there was "positive momentum" behind the talks.

Downing Street said Johnson had called Macron and had a "constructive" and "good discussion".

"We want to make progress towards securing a deal as soon as possible and we want to make progress ahead of the EU council on Thursday," a spokesman said.

But German Chancellor Angela Merkel outlined why EU officials are driving a hard bargain and hoping Britain will commit to a "level playing field" in post-Brexit trade and commerce.

"One thing is clear, Britain will develop into another competitor on the doorstep of Europe," she told industrialists. "And therefore the EU will be challenged to become more competitive and to assume geopolitical responsibility."

A European diplomat told AFP the "goal" was to get a draft text of a deal ready later in the evening Tuesday, but warned: "Time is running out."

Officials stressed that EU and UK negotiators would race to agree a draft text by Wednesday morning, but EU sources insisted there was no "hard deadline" and talks could go on next week.

- Glimmer of hope -

"The last moment is always a bit later than you think," one German government official told AFP, suggesting that Brexit day would have to be postponed beyond the end of the month if talks are to succeed.

"I am sceptical that we will have a full agreement tomorrow on a legal text ... the question is whether the work can be done in the next few days or whether it will take another two months."

British Brexit Minister Stephen Barclay joined Barnier in Luxembourg in what was seen as a positive sign for the talks, and said "a deal is still very possible."

Barclay later tweeted a pictures of himself with Irish, Polish, Greek, Swedish and Portuguese counterparts, saying they shared his desire to "get Brexit done."


 AFP / PAUL FAITH Talks remain stuck on how to avoid customs checks on the border between British-ruled Northern Ireland and EU-member Ireland

More than three years after Britain's 2016 referendum vote to leave, talks remain stuck on how to avoid customs checks on the border between British-ruled Northern Ireland and EU-member Ireland.

The EU has reservations about London's proposed customs arrangements and the role for Northern Ireland's Stormont assembly in giving consent to the plans.

"Johnson has modified his original proposals to the effect that he has clearly stated that there will be no customs border on the Irish border," a European diplomat told AFP.

If no deal is reached by Saturday, Johnson will fall foul of a British law demanding he ask the EU to postpone Brexit for a third time rather than risk a potentially disastrous "no deal" departure.

burs-pdw/dc/dt
source: https://www.afp.com/en/news/3954/eu-britain-scramble-reach-brexit-deal-summit-doc-1lf57u5

2019/2020 NITDA Scholarship Scheme For Nigerian Students

2019/2020 NITDA Scholarship Scheme For Nigerian Students



The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has as its mandate to develop and regulate Information Technology (IT) in Nigeria. Developing and regulating IT will support in transforming Nigeria into a knowledge-based and IT driven economy for global competitiveness.

As part of the Agency’s Scholarship Scheme for Masters and Doctoral degree programmes in relevant areas of Computer and Information Technology (IT) and IT Law, obtainable in Universities, applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for the 2019/2020 academic session.


Minimum Requirements:

PhD: Lecturers in Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education with MSc in any Computer and Information Technology related field are eligible to apply for sponsorship.

MSc: Holders of First Class or Second Class (Upper) Honors Bachelor’s degree, (BSc) in Computer and Information Technology related field and Law are eligible to apply for sponsorship.

Selection Criteria:

The Scholarship award is strictly based on merit and is equally distributed among the six Geopolitical zones for PhD and LLM slots and the 36 States and the FCT for MSc slots.

Duration:

The Masters programme will run for 12 – 18 months while the PhD programme will run for a maximum of 36 months.

Application Process:

All eligible candidates that are interested should log on to the scholarship portal https://scholarship.nitda.gov.ng to register and submit all relevant documents. Please note that the registration period is six (6) weeks from the date of this publication. A comprehensive computer based Aptitude test will be conducted to determine successful candidates for the award. Only candidates found eligible will be invited. Furthermore, there will be interview (which includes supplementary test, verification of credentials & character evaluation) for best performing candidates.

Application Deadline: Deadline is 6 weeks from the date of this publication

Signed:

ISA ALI IBRAHIM PANTAMI, PhD, FBCS, FIIM
Director General/CEO

Karen McKellin International Awards At University of British Columbia 2020

The University of British Columbia is offering the Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Awards to high achieving students who are interested in pursuing a degree program at the institution.

• The university provides the financial need for their students which is determined by totaling tuition, fees, and living costs, and subtracting the financial contribution you and your family can make each year.
• A standard needs assessment is based on the financial information provided by you and your family.

Eligible Countries:  International

To be taken at (country): Columbia
Type: Undergraduate
Value Of Scholarship: Tuition-Fees
Number of Awards: Varies
Eligibility:

• Applicants must be applying for your first undergraduate degree.
• Applicants must demonstrate a level of financial need that would otherwise prevent you from pursuing a UBC degree.
• Applicants must be an international student who will be studying in Canada on a Canadian study permit.
• Applicants must be entering UBC from a recognized secondary school, college, or other universities.
• Applicants from outside the home country will often need to meet specific English language/other language requirements in order to be able to study there.

Application Process: Interested applicants are requested to get admission at UBC. After that, you must submit their award application and complete the online application for admission to UBC. Although you can specify two-degree choices in your application, only your first-choice degree will be considered for the purposes of this award.
Visit The Official Website For More Information
Application Deadline: December 1, 2019

2019 NNPC/SNEPCo National University Scholarship Scheme

The Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company (SNEPCo) in collaboration with NNPC announces its National University Scholarship Program for Nigerians who are willing to study in Nigeria. This scholarship is provided to promote academic excellence and improve the skills of young Nigerians.
This scholarship program is open to FULL TIME students studying any of the under listed courses in Universities within Nigeria.

• Agricultural Science
• Chemical / Process Engineering
• Chemistry
• Civil Engineering
• Economics
• Electrical Engineering
• Finance
• Geophysics
• Geoscience / Geology
• Instrumentation Engineering
• Marine Engineering
• Materials / Corrosion Engineering
• Mathematics / Applied Mathematics
• Mechanical / Aerospace Engineering
• Medicine
• Metallurgical Engineering
• Mining Engineering
• Petroleum Engineering
• Pharmacy
• Physics / Applied Physics
• Process Control Engineering

Eligible Countries: Nigeria
Type: Undergraduate
Eligibility

• Applicant must not be a beneficiary of any other scholarship (National or International).
• Applicants must currently be in their second year of full-time study in a Nigerian University accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC)
• Applicants must be citizens of Nigeria.
• Applicants must have a minimum CGPA of 3.0 in a 5-grade system(attach transcripts or official records).

Application Process:
1. Every applicant should have a valid personal email account and phone number.
2. Applications by eligible candidates should be submitted online at https://scholastica.ng/schemes/SNEPCo
3. Candidates should include personal and educational details in the application.
4. Applicants should upload scanned copies of the following as part of the application:

• A recent passport-sized photograph of the applicant in JPEG format, and not more than 200 kilobytes; 
• University or JAMB Admission Letter; 
• Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) Result; 
• O’ Level Result(s); and ‘A’ Level /OND /NCE Result(s) as applicable; 
• Letter of Identification from State of origin indicating applicant’s local government of origin;
• Academic results for 100 level

To apply, follow the steps below:

1. 1.    Click on “Apply Now” tab.
   2.    Click on “Register Now” to create an account.
   3.    Proceed to your email box to activate your account
   4.    Click on https://scholastica.ng/schemes/SNEPCo to return to Scholarship site
   5.    Enter your registered email and password to upload your information.
   6.    Enter your personal information, National Identification Number (if available), educational information, other information and upload required scanned documents.
   7.    Ensure the name used in applications matches the names on all documentation in same order. Upload a sworn affidavit or certificate if otherwise.
   8.    Ensure you view all documents after uploading, to eliminate errors during uploading.
   9.    When asked to upload photo, upload a pass-port photograph with a white background.
   10.  Recheck application information to avoid errors
   11.  Click “Apply Now” to submit information
   12.  You will receive an email and a sms that confirms your application was successful.
   13.  Return to https://scholastica.ng/, enter your Email and Password to download your profile and proceed to have your Head of Department sign the document.
   14.  Upload a scanned copy of the signed profile, this would be used for verification.
   15.  If National Identification Number (NIN) number was not available in step 6, to obtain your National Identification Number (NIN)

• • Visit http://ninenrol.gov.ng to register and learn more about the National Identity Number
  • Click “Create Account” and fill in the required  fields
  • Login with Email and Password to complete the form
  • After completion, schedule a date for photo and finger print capture
  • Visit any of the 37 capture centres www.nimc.gov.ng/pages/general/enrolmentcentres.htm  to complete the registration process and obtain your National Identity Number
  • You can also do your total registration at the NIMC office

1. 16. Return to https://scholastica.ng/schemes/SNEPCo and update application with National Identification Number (NIN) to ensure completion

Application Deadline: 23rd October, 2019
Note: Multiple applications attract a disqualification penalty from the Scholarship board

• The examination date will be communicated to shortlisted candidates only.

Note:

• Each document submitted online must not exceed 200KB and the image format must be in JPEG.
• Beware of fraudulent websites when applying for the NNPC/SNEPCo scholarship online. Such websites may ask you to make some payments in the course of the application. These are completely faux sites which should be avoided. NNPC/SNEPCo scholarship application is FREE.
• SNEPCo will not accept email applications. It is important to visit the official website for detailed information and to access the online application portal.
• SNEPCo is committed to providing scholarship opportunities that are not associated with application fees.
• SNEPCo DOES NOT ASSIGN Representatives/Agents to assist applicants.
• Any candidate found to have presented false documents will be disqualified or withdrawn at any level of the scholarship.
• Only short-listed candidates will be invited for a computer-based test’

IIRP Impact Scholarships for International Graduates in the USA 2019

IIRP Impact Scholarships for International Graduates in the USA

As the world’s first graduate school in the US, IIRP Graduate School is seeking individuals who need financial support to pursue their education.
The program is aimed to support national and international students, who are going to enrol in the IIRP Master of Science program. Also, students committed to making a lasting positive impact in their local community.

University: International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP) Graduate School
Course Level: Master of Science
Award: Full-tuition
Access Mode: Online
Number of Awards:
Nationality: US Citizen and International

• The award can be taken in the United States
• Eligible Countries: Applications are for the US as well as other nationalities available
• Acceptable Course or Subjects: The grant will be awarded for master degree in science subject offered by the university
• Admissible Criteria: Applicants must have an undergraduate degree with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or better form a college or university outside the USA

Method of Application: To be considered for this award, applicants are bonded to apply for admission at the MRP Master of Science program by creating a Student Portal. Applicants must submit their documents within 60 days from when you start your application.

• Supporting Documents: Candidates are required to email all application materials (except transcripts) – A 1-2 page letter or essay, Three letters of reference, A résumé or curriculum vitae, qualifying test scores or recent GRE, and the TOEFL or IELTS scores to studentservices@iirp.edu.
• Note: Official transcripts must be sent by institutions directly to the IIRP by Mail to IIRP, 531 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018-5837 USA or Email to transcripts@iirp.edu.
• Admission Requirements: Applicants should have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, from accredited undergraduate degree-awarding colleges or universities, or the equivalent for students with a bachelor degree get outside the USA.
• Language Requirement: Overseas students are needed to demonstrate fluency in English unless they have earned a degree from an institution in the following countries: British Caribbean and British West Indies, England, Guyana, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Liberia, Australia, Belize, New Zealand, Scotland, Canada (except Quebec), the United States and Wales.

Benefits: The IIRP Graduate School will provide a full-tuition award for a master degree.

Apply Now

Customer Relationship Officer Job at Eureka Global 2019

Customer Relationship Officer Job at Eureka Global

Eureka Global is recruiting suitably qualified candidates to fill the position below:

Job Position: Customer Relationship Officer
Job Location: Abuja

Job Description

• The customer relationship officer is the first point of contact with customers and will ensure that all customer needs and complaints are addressed in a way that will leave them satisfied.

Responsibilities

• Create plans to address clients’ business needs
• Advise clients on creating profitable processes based on his knowledge of the company products and services
• Communicate regularly with customers to ensure they are satisfied
• Address customer concerns and complaints
• Ensure both the company and clients adhere to contract terms
• Study competition to find new ways to retain customers
• Handle communication within and outside the office
• Keep the company’s website updated
• Manage the company’s social media pages
• Answer all calls to the company.

Requirements

• Have excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Meet and exceed set targets
• Background in customer service; industry knowledge is a plus
• Experience tracking relevant KPIs (e.g. customer satisfaction)
• A customer-oriented attitude
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Problem-solving aptitude
• Proficient in MS Office and WordPress
• Ability to work well with a team
• A minimum of OND in any related field.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and Cover Letter to: info@eurekaglobalng.com using the Job Title as the subject of the mail.

EXECUTIVE SHOP OPERATOR ( CUSTOMER CARE EXECUTIVE) 2019

EXECUTIVE SHOP OPERATOR ( CUSTOMER CARE EXECUTIVE)

VACANCY
EXECUTIVE SHOP OPERATOR (CUSTOMER CARE EXECUTIVE)

Our client, an IT and Telecommunications company have an opening for *Customer Care Executive*

*Responsibilities*
• Create content and engaging ideas for online campaigns
• Improve customer service experience, create engaged customers and facilitate organic growth.
• Take ownership of customer’s issues and follow problems through to resolution.
• Set a clear goal and deploy strategies focused towards that mission
• Keep accurate records and document customer service actions and discussions
• Analyse statistics and compile accurate reports
• Recruit, mentor and develop customer service agents and nurture an environment where they can excel through encouragement and empowerment
• Keep ahead of industry’s developments and apply best practices to areas of improvement
• Control resources and utilize assets to achieve qualitative and quantitative targets
• Maintain an orderly workflow according to priorities.
Requirements
• Proven working experience as a customer service manager
• Flair for Digital communication
• Excellent knowledge of Social Media
• Proficiency in English
• Working knowledge of customer service software, databases and tools
• Awareness of industry’s latest technology trends and applications
• Ability to think strategically and to lead
• Strong client-facing and communication skills
• Advanced troubleshooting and multi-tasking skills
• Customer service orientation
• BS degree in related field.
Candidate must be residents of Lagos ISLAND
Qualified candidates should forward their CVs to lorachevacancy@gmail.com, using the position as the subject of the mail.

Reconciliation Junior Officer at Transsnet Financial 2019

Reconciliation Junior Officer at Transsnet Financial

• Transsnet Financial is launching game-changing fintech apps in the Nigerian market to help people transact, save and borrow money. Transsnet is a joint venture between Transsion, the manufacturers of smartphone brands used by over 30% of Africans, including Tecno, Infinix and Itel, and NetEase, one of China’s biggest internet companies.
  Reconciliation Junior Officer
  • Job TypeFull Time
  • QualificationBA/BSc/HND  
  • LocationLagos
  • Job Field Finance / Accounting / Audit  
   
  Job Description
  
  • Reconciling payments to ensure the accounting system reflects the correct transactions
  • General ledger reconciliations
  • Account reconciliations such as bank, inventory control, clearing, billings etc.
  • Performing daily financial transactions such as verifying, calculating and posting accounts receivable data
  • Supporting the month end process
  • Generating month end reports
  Requirements
  
  • Male
  • Age Range: 20- 27years
  • Accounting Background
  Required Skills:
  
  • Experience reconciling accounting figures and financial records
  • Ability to identify errors
  • Appropriate handling of sensitive information
  • Ability to work to deadlines
  • High level of attention to detail
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Intermediate to advanced computer software skills, including Excel and Accounting packages
  Method of Application
  
  Interested and qualified candidates should send their Application and CV to: ojo.oluwadamilare@transsnet.com with the "Job title" as the subject of the email.