Latest Jobs in Nigeria

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• Project Controller III - Nigeria Job at FMC Technologies Inc
• Installation Supervisor - Nigeria Job at FMC Technologies Inc
• Production Planner I - Nigeria Job at FMC Technologies Inc
• Production Planner I, SS - Nigeria Job at FMC Technologies Inc
• Project Manager V - Nigeria Job at FMC Technologies Inc

Project Controller III - Nigeria Job at FMC Technologies Inc Posted: 07 May 2014 12:02 PM PDT Job Title: Project Controller III Job ID: #50848441 Location: Ikoyi, Nigeria Profession: Finance and Accounting Employment Level: 4 Professional (3+ years of relevant experience) Department: Finance and Accounting Employer: FMC Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:FTI) Responsibilities: Works with broad discretion on assignments of varying levels of difficulty. Relies on experience and judgment to accomplish goals. Responsible for supervising and developing employees. Assist in overseeing the cost control systems,interprets cost trends and develops analysis to identify trends/issues. Main Tasks: • Monitors compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley requirements. Monitors internal controls and update SOX process narratives as key controls change and/or business changes. • Identifies management information needs, presents findings and makes recommendations regarding appropriate actions. • Reviews month end financial statements prior to submittal to controller. • Monitors and reports where necessary multiple FMC Technologies Nigeria entities; Surface, Subsea, Headquarters,etc., financial reports. • Reviews month end closing journal vouchers, schedules, FRS (internal financial statements), cost center reports, and other financial statements to look for abnormal trends/entries. • Develop and implement accounting systems, methods, procedures and internal controls. • Ensure accounting staff are carrying out GL reconciliation timely and issues >90 days are documented properly. • Reviews complex monthly, quarterly, and annual internal and external reports published to various groups. • Participates in the compilation and analysis of the annual budget. • Ensure department remains compliant with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and corporate financial policies and procedures. • Search for opportunities to reduce operating costs and improve financial performance; such as working capital, controllable expenses. • Assist operational management and other departments of the Company with financial statement analysis and other inquiries. Provide formal financial training to other groups in the organization. • Proactively review established accounting practices and procedures. Implement changes where applicable in order to enhance the department’s efficiencies and effectiveness. • Participates in project quote reviews for potential new business opportunities. • Liaison for internal and external audits. Requirements: • Minimum MBA or M.Sc (Finance or Business), ACA or ACCA, B. SC in Accounting, Finance and Business Administration or Economics • Experience at a senior level in a major Accounting firm is a plus. A professional certification (e.g. ACA, ACCA)is preferred. • Modern experience in business process creation/standardization to drive efficiencies throughout the organization. • Minimum seven (8) years of related experience is required to have knowledge of finance, performance measurement and Accounting. • A very high level of analytical ability is required due to the complexity of the job requirements. • A high level of communication skills is required to interact with all levels of management, to lead teams and to direct the work of others. • A substantial level of innovation is required to develop management tools, models, systems and processes Apply to this job This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Installation Supervisor - Nigeria Job at FMC Technologies Inc Posted: 07 May 2014 11:59 AM PDT Job Title: Installation Supervisor Job ID: #50812150 Location: Onne, Nigeria Profession: Customer Support Employment Level: 4 Professional (3+ years of relevant experience) Department: Customer Support Employer: FMC Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:FTI) Responsibilities: • Applies expert product knowledge and seasoned experience to broader scope and more complex problems and projects during FMC’s offshore operations. • Works independently to establish design requirements, conceptualize, plan and execute designs. • Regularly takes a lead role in assigned projects as assigned by the Technical Manager. • Trains, monitors and coaches team members to improve skill level, to ensure adherence to principles, policies and standards and to improve safety,quality and process reliability in a cost effective manner. Main Tasks: • Support installation and commissioning of instrumentation systems • Interfaces with technical professionals inside and outside the local organization • Solicits understanding and support of line managers for major projects • Solicits dimension measurements. • Assists with training of less experienced process technicians. • understanding and support of line managers for major projects • Uses creativity and independent judgment to formulate results based on principles, experience and constructive thinking • Makes field trips with sales and service personnel with new products and technical applications. • Develops unique solutions for complex technical problems including the design of new systems or the development of solutions having few or no precedents • Anticipates potential problems, and proactively solves complex problems through creative thinking using internal and external resources. • Ensures that assignments meet standards and performance requirements within area of expertise • Provides “Process Support” as required,for all new projects which includes: attending design review for equipment and tools, reviewing installation procedures, assisting with project Factory Acceptance Tests and reviewing project training requirements for service personnel. • Maintains communication with Company Representative on issues including job procedures, spare parts requirements, function fit and critical dimension measurements. • Provides sales support through quality customer interface and keeps customer fully informed of all aspects of the job. Handles customer complaints in a professional manner. • Completes Field Non-Conformance Reports (FNCR) forms as product problems are encountered. Assures all equipment and procedural defects are communicated back to FMC Management. • Provides “Process Support” as required, for all new projects which includes: attending design review for equipment and tools, reviewing installation procedures, assisting with projectFactory Acceptance Tests and reviewing project training requirements for service personnel. • Maintains communication with Company Representative on issues including job procedures, spare parts requirements, function fit and critical Requirements: • BS Degree in Engineering with six to eight years relevant experience, MS degree plus four to six years experience, or ten to twelve years experience in the service, maintenance, and design of sophisticated Topside and subsea control systems. • Engineering Degree (Mechanics/Electrical) or relevant experience in the service, maintenance and design of sophisticated topside and Subsea Control Systems Apply to this job This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Production Planner I - Nigeria Job at FMC Technologies Inc Posted: 07 May 2014 11:56 AM PDT Job Title: Production Planner I Job ID: #50698685 Location: Onne, Nigeria Profession: Production (Assembly, Operators, Planners) Employment Level: 2 Entry Level (0-3 years of experience) Department: EPC Workshop Employer: FMC Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:FTI) Responsibilities: • Supports the Nigeria Operations Team by monitoring and scheduling the flow of materials, components, assemblies or inventory through assigned projects. • Plans the manufacturing or purchasing of assigned parts, components or materials to meetproject related schedules. Main Tasks: • Create and maintains service orders for each project as required. Add operations; update S/O dates as needed, keeps up with deliverables, change SAP status of S/O as required. Determines the sources of the components (to make or to buy) andenters into the system to notify manufacturing and purchasing of project demands. • Update the shortage report for assigned projects to ensure that parts are produced or purchased as needed and in the proper sequence. • Avoid creation ofexcess inventory and makes recommendations for substitutions, where possible, to use and to reduce existing inventory. • Attend weekly team meetings being prepared to advise status of critical items, run SAP shortage reports to monitor partsdeliverables, and assist project team on prioritizing work. Identifies potential problems with meeting requested deadlines and troubleshoots shop and purchase order problems and facilitates resolution. • Request Engineering to download partnumbers in IMAN & SAP as needed. Source parts currently not in system and request to add to SAP plant. • Provide cost, lead time, and stock status for parts that are needed for existing / upcoming projects. • Release planned orders for“make parts”. • Assist as required, to track down missing parts or to make part substitutions. Requirements: • OND/HND in a technical or project management field required. • BA or BS in Business Administration, Procurement, Operations, Engineering or related field or equivalent work experience preferred. • APICS certification or specialty training in materials / production control area desired. • Must possess a thorough knowledge of typical procurement and manufacturing processes • Must be able to read / understand manufacturing routings. • At least two years experience in materials planning, scheduling and/or purchasing systems. • Must demonstrate strong communication and negotiation skills in order to interact with suppliers and co-workers in team based environment. • Must demonstrate attention to detail and accuracy. • Must demonstrate strong organization and planning skills. • Must understand BOM structures and supply/demand information related to orders. • Must be able to be an independent self-starter to accomplish daily tasks and goals. • PC skills including proficiency in spreadsheet and word processing applications required. • SAP or similar mainframe / MRP system experience or experience in a similar position preferred. • Must have an understanding of machining, manufacturing and procurement processes. Technical or engineering experience preferred. A candidate that is mechanically inclined is desired. Apply to this job This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Production Planner I, SS - Nigeria Job at FMC Technologies Inc Posted: 07 May 2014 11:53 AM PDT Job Title: Production Planner I (SS) Job ID: #50844941 Location: Onne, Nigeria Profession: Production (Assembly, Operators, Planners) Employment Level: 4 Professional (3+ years of relevant experience) Department: Production Employer: FMC Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:FTI) Responsibilities: • Supports the Nigeria Operations Team by monitoring and scheduling the flow of materials, components, assemblies or inventory through assigned projects. • Plans the manufacturing or purchasing of assigned parts, components or materials to meet project related schedules. Main Tasks: • Create and maintains service orders for each project as required. Add operations; update S/O dates as needed, keeps up with deliverables, change SAP status of S/O as required. Determines the sources of the components (to make or to buy) and enters into the system to notify manufacturing and purchasing of project demands. • Update the shortage report for assigned projects to ensure that parts are produced or purchased as needed and in the proper sequence. • Avoid creation of excess inventory and makes recommendations for substitutions, where possible, to use and to reduce existing inventory. • Attend weekly team meetings being prepared to advise status of critical items, run SAP shortage reports to monitor parts deliverables, and assist project team on prioritizing work. Identifies potential problems with meeting requested deadlines and troubleshoots shop and purchase order problems and facilitates resolution. • Request Engineering to download part numbers in IMAN & SAP as needed. Source parts currently not in system and request to add to SAP plant. • Provide cost, lead time, and stock status for parts that are needed for existing / upcoming projects. • Release planned orders for“make parts”. • Assist as required, to track down missing parts or to make part substitutions. Requirements: • BA or BS in Business Administration, Procurement, Operations, Engineering or related field or equivalent work experience preferred. • APICS certification or specialty training in materials / production control area desired. • Must possess athorough knowledge of typical procurement and manufacturing processes • Must be able to read / understand manufacturing routings. • At least two years experience in materials planning, scheduling and/or purchasing systems. • Must demonstrate strong communication and negotiation skills in order to interact with suppliers and co-workers in team based environment. • Must demonstrate attention to detail and accuracy. • Must demonstrate strong organization and planning skills. • Must understand BOM structures and supply/demand information related to orders. • Must be able to be an independent self-starter to accomplish daily tasks and goals. • PC skills including proficiency in spreadsheet and word processing applications required. • SAP or similar mainframe / MRP system experience or experience in a similar position preferred. • Must have an understanding of machining, manufacturing and procurement processes. Technical or engineering experience preferred. A candidate that is mechanically inclined is desired. Apply to this job This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Project Manager V - Nigeria Job at FMC Technologies Inc Posted: 07 May 2014 11:47 AM PDT Job Title: Project Manager V Job ID: #50842122 Location: Ikoyi, Nigeria Profession: Project Management Employment Level: 5 Management Level (Exp. professional, broad responsibility, direct reports) Department: Project Management Employer: FMC Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:FTI) Responsibilities: Plans, manages and coordinates assigned projects typically consisting of Enterprise large Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Installation contracts. Typically manages projects involving multi-sites and/or remote installation locations. Manages the detailed commercial terms, schedule, risks and financial performance of the project in order to deliver a quality product, on time and at the lowest achievable cost. Main Tasks: – Serves as the single point of contact for the customer after the sale as assigned. Builds and maintains relationship with customer and other suppliers associated with the Project – Participates in the quotation process and provides project management related information such as schedules and budgets. – Provides the technical overview and implements the technical system interface within their scope of the project. -Coordinates with Senior Manager to establish a realistic project schedule and monitors compliance with the defined project objectives and project management processes to ensure the timely completion of project milestones and final delivery. Develop Project Milestone Schedule with schedule compression strategy – Serves as the single point of contact with management for the Project and coordinates communication between the various functional areas and other FMCTI product areas involved in the project. Ensures that the project status and progress is effectively communicated to the FMCTI Project Team and to the customer. – Develops and communicates the project budget. Approves all project related expenditures as authorized and manages costs to meet budget commitments. Ensures that adequate resources are applied to the project. – Leads Stage Gate Process and ensure processes are implemented in all phases of project execution. – Identifies and manages strategic risks, interfacing with the Gate Readiness Review Committee (GRRC) and the Decision Review Board (DRB). – Develops integrated project team charter and lead team building, alignment, and communication processes. – Crafts Project Team Staffing Plan and writes Organizational Interface Plan. Define team member responsibilities and tracks and monitors individual performance, quality of output and the impact of output on project delivery and profitability. – Identifies additional business opportunities and works with the proposal team to communicate customer requirements and to drive customer specifications toward standardized product solutions Requirements: • BS Degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Procurement, Operations or related field. MBA or equivalent business experience. Must have Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification or comparable experience. • Must demonstrate expert understanding of Project Management fundamentals, techniques and standards as defined by Project Management Institute (PMI). • Expert product knowledge of all product lines. • Expert understanding of engineering,procurement, manufacturing and testing processes. • Advanced Expert understanding of installation and commissioning processes. • Demonstrates effective leadership ability within a matrix team environment and contributes significantly to team performance. • Understands division’s businesses, and competing products and technologies and profit impact of decisions. • 20+ years’ experience as a Project Manager or comparable experience. • Expert understanding of commercial terms and conditions and the risks/opportunities of each as applicable to contract management and business execution. • Demonstrates exceptional negotiation, planning, interpersonal and communication skills. • Demonstrates effectiveness in project negotiations, multi-site/cultural interfaces and commercial management of contracts, supplier quality systems and development and implementation of project management strategies. • PC skills with proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet, project scheduling, project financial systems MRP system and presentation software. • Proven ability to affectively increase profitability and delivery of large scale projects by both commercial management,advocating value engineering, strategic procurement, risk mitigation and cash management skills. • Demonstrates expert ability in the area of stakeholder management. • Demonstrates expert understanding of Stage Gate Process and Subsea Project Management Local Work Instructions Apply to this job This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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Warning about Food critics

Millions of Britons are eating halal food without realising, warns the Daily Mail, before explaining that many supermarkets and restaurants switched to slaughtering animals in line with Islamic ritual because the meat can be eaten by Muslims and non-Muslims alike.



The Mail's Guy Adams explains that halal abattoirs account for roughly a quarter of the UK's 352 slaughterhouses but - while most stun their animals with an electric shock - he visits one which uses "old-fashioned, scripturally correct" methods which ensure the animal is still conscious as its throat is slit. And while it might save the chains money because they don't have to offer alternatives from different sources, he hears from consumers who object to the "Islamification of food".



For the Sun, it's "fowl play" that vendors don't tell customers when they're being served halal meat. Its poll suggested 73% of Britons believe restaurants should be made to say when that is the case.



Brendan O'Neill, writing in the Telegraph, doesn't mind. "All meat is a slaughtered beast, so it seems pointless to worry about how the creature in question was done in," he says. What he finds hard to swallow, however, is that "the food-related sensitivities of 4.8% of the British population should apparently trump the right of the other 95%".



The Daily Star accepts the "jury is out" as to whether halal meat production is any less humane than factory farming methods but says: "It is appalling we're still not being told what is in our food. Lessons should have been learned after the horsemeat scandal."



However, the Guardian's Hugh Muir writes: "Better in this changing Britain to make your products acceptable to those who might buy them, especially if others without specific requirement raise no significant objection. If they do, the [company's] policy will change. In the meantime, better to keep costs down by using one method of production rather than several."

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Warning about Food critics

Millions of Britons are eating halal food without realising, warns the Daily Mail, before explaining that many supermarkets and restaurants switched to slaughtering animals in line with Islamic ritual because the meat can be eaten by Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

The Mail's Guy Adams explains that halal abattoirs account for roughly a quarter of the UK's 352 slaughterhouses but - while most stun their animals with an electric shock - he visits one which uses "old-fashioned, scripturally correct" methods which ensure the animal is still conscious as its throat is slit. And while it might save the chains money because they don't have to offer alternatives from different sources, he hears from consumers who object to the "Islamification of food".

For the Sun, it's "fowl play" that vendors don't tell customers when they're being served halal meat. Its poll suggested 73% of Britons believe restaurants should be made to say when that is the case.

Brendan O'Neill, writing in the Telegraph, doesn't mind. "All meat is a slaughtered beast, so it seems pointless to worry about how the creature in question was done in," he says. What he finds hard to swallow, however, is that "the food-related sensitivities of 4.8% of the British population should apparently trump the right of the other 95%".

The Daily Star accepts the "jury is out" as to whether halal meat production is any less humane than factory farming methods but says: "It is appalling we're still not being told what is in our food. Lessons should have been learned after the horsemeat scandal."

However, the Guardian's Hugh Muir writes: "Better in this changing Britain to make your products acceptable to those who might buy them, especially if others without specific requirement raise no significant objection. If they do, the [company's] policy will change. In the meantime, better to keep costs down by using one method of production rather than several."
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Miley Cyrus: Hard twerk?

For the Financial Times, Miley Cyrus's latest show is both "celebration of the twerk ethic" and "carnival of bad taste". It dispatched reviewer Ludovic Hunter-Tilney to London's 02 Arena where, in between various "alarmingly tiny body suits" and a "giant flying hot dog", he saw a problem.



"Cyrus didn't come across as a good singer. In fact, when massacring the soulful tear-jerker My Darlin', she sounded like a very bad one. She can belt 'em out - a cover of her godmother Dolly Parton's Jolene proved that - but the wild oscillations of the other songs, from dance-pop to rap to rock, lay well beyond her range."



It wasn't her voice that worried the Mirror's Alison Phillips, rather the show's "sex, drugs and the vilest swear words" served up to an audience who "still need help crossing the road".



She adds: "There is nothing ground-breaking or edgy about what she is doing. She has simply joined the world's oldest profession - selling sex to make money. And I'm not buying it."



Annabel Cole, who - through "a mixture of naivety and ignorance" - took her 15-year-old daughter along, writes in the Mail: "Only 20 minutes into the show, I was wincing so much I wished we hadn't come at all."



For her it was the "deeply cynical conflating of extremes - childish playfulness and suggestive cavorting" that made her most uneasy.



So has Cyrus "gone Mileys too far"? Yes, according to the Sun's Jen O'Brien, who argues that the "her need to shock seems to be taking over from the music". However, colleague Lia Nicholls argues otherwise: "I haven't been so entertained at a gig for a long, long time. Remove the gimmicks and you've still got a star with an amazing presence and incredible voice."



And the Times's Lisa Verrico - who rated the show as four-of-of-five - believed the "two-hour pop-art extravaganza felt fresh, fun and oddly innocent", adding: "Metaphorically speaking, that famous tongue was firmly in its cheek."

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#BringBackOurGirls Hashtag battle

As the campaign to trace more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by Nigerian Islamists gathers pace, the Guardian uses a montage of photographs of women wearing red at demonstrations or posted on social media with the message "#BringBackOurGirls".



It says the hashtag has "mobilised the world", helping an online petition to attract 400,000 signatures and gaining support from politicians and celebrities such as Sean Penn, Hillary Clinton, Chris Brown and Justin Timberlake.



The Times, which reports that SAS troops based in the Nigerian capital Abuja have switched focus to "evaluate the UK's capacity to help the rescue", focuses on the support for the cause of Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl and girls' education campaigner who survived being shot by the Taliban.



The Daily Mirror reports the latest activities of the Boko Haram militants who, it says, "slaughtered" around 300 civilians during a 12-hour killing spree in the country's north-east.



"These sadistic monsters must be stopped," argues Max Hastings in the Daily Mail but he suggests that while Britain can provide military advice, things will only improve when the "kleptocrats" who rule "offer some portion of social justice" to the poorest. "Africa can be saved from itself only by Africans, not by heroes from Hereford," he adds.

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Ukraine crisis: Separatists to debate Putin referendum call

Three million ballot papers - enough for the whole Donetsk region - have been printed, reports Richard Galpin
Pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukraine are due to consider a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin to delay referendums on autonomy.

Separatist leaders in Donetsk and Luhansk say they will put the matter before "people's councils".

The referendums are due to take place on Sunday and millions of ballot papers have been prepared.

Mr Putin has said putting off the vote could help create the conditions necessary for dialogue.

In what appeared to be a shift in Russian policy, Mr Putin also said this month's presidential elections in Ukraine were a move "in the right direction".

His remarks came days after his spokesman said holding such an election would be absurd.

Moscow has vowed to protect the rights of the largely Russian-speaking people in the south and east against what it calls an undemocratic government in Kiev.

Ukraine's interim authorities have rejected pro-Russian activists' demands for greater autonomy and sent in troops to seize back official buildings occupied by rebels.

President Putin has vowed to protect the rights of Russian speakers in Ukraine
"We respect Putin's stance," said Denis Pushilin, a pro-Russian leader in the eastern city of Donetsk.

"He is a balanced politician. Therefore we will submit his proposal to the people's council."

In Luhansk, a statement from pro-Russian groups quoted by Russian news agency Ria Novosti said: "We are putting this forward for discussion by all the people because Putin has appealed to supporters of federalisation, therefore a decision will be for all the people of Luhansk."

The White House said the "illegitimate, illegal" vote should be cancelled rather than postponed.

And Ukrainian interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk dismissed Mr Putin's calls as "hot air".

BBC's Sarah Rainsford: "People are saying that tear gas was used to evacuate a government building"
The US and the European Union have imposed sanctions against several Russian individuals and small businesses and threatened to impose wider measures if Moscow takes further steps to interfere in Ukraine.

Sunday's planned referendum was seen as a potential trigger for that.

Confrontations

On Wednesday, President Putin also announced he was ordering Russian troops back from the Ukrainian border.

However, Nato and the Pentagon said they had seen no signs of a Russian pull-back.

On Ukraine's forthcoming presidential elections, Mr Putin said: "I would like to stress that... while they are a move in the right direction, [they] will not decide anything if all the citizens of Ukraine fail to understand how their rights are protected after the elections are held."

Unrest in the south and east of Ukraine has worsened since Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula in March.

That followed the ousting of Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in February by pro-Western protesters.

On Wednesday, pro-Russian separatists took back the city hall in the southern port of Mariupol after it was briefly taken over by Ukrainian government forces.

In that time, 16 activists were arrested and taken to the city's police station where a violent confrontation erupted between the detainees' supporters and security forces who fired shots into the air.

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UK 'second best education in Europe' after the leader South Korea

South Korea is in top place in this global education league table
The UK is in second place among European countries and sixth overall in a global education league table.

South Korea is top, with three other Asian countries and Finland making up the top five, in rankings from education and publishing firm, Pearson.

The rankings include higher education as well as international school tests - which boosted the UK's position.

Pearson chief executive John Fallon highlighted the economic importance of improving education and skills.

These latest international comparisons, compiled for Pearson by the Economist Intelligence Unit, emphasise the success of Asian education systems, with South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong in China rated as the highest performing.

But it shows a strong performance from the UK, which is ranked sixth, behind only Finland in Europe and ahead of countries such as Germany, France and the United States.

Finns no longer flying

Finland, which was previously in first place, has slumped to fifth, reflecting a downward trend for a number of Scandinavian countries.

It also records the rise of Poland, which has been hailed for reforming its post-Communist education system, and sits in the top 10.

These rankings are based upon an amalgamation of international tests and education data - including the OECD's Pisa tests, and two major US-based studies, Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (Timss) and Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (Pirls).

They also include higher-education graduation rates, which helped the UK to a much higher position than in Pisa tests, which saw the UK failing to make the top 20.

A Learning Curve report accompanying the ranking says that the success of top-performing Asian countries reflects a culture in which teachers and schools are highly respected and "teachers, students and parents all take responsibility for education".

Students in South Korea, with the strongest test results, will have had to memorise 60 to 100 pages of facts, says the report, raising questions about the long-term value of such rote learning.

But the report also notes that highly-prized skills such as being creative and problem solving are much harder to measure and put into such rankings.

The lowest-ranked European country is Greece, with a group of emerging economies at the bottom of the table, including Indonesia, Mexico and Brazil.

Global lessons

John Fallon, chief executive of Pearson, says the report shows a strong link between improving levels of education and training and economic growth.

And the international comparisons, such as with the top Asian education systems, show the potential for what could be achieved in other countries.

Healthcare has benefited from a globalised approach, he says, such as developing and testing medicines.

And education systems around the world could learn more from each other, he argues, when many face the same challenge of raising standards while facing financial constraints.

The UK's ranking has been boosted by higher levels of university entry
"How do we do more or better with the same or less resources?"

More than $5 trillion (£2.95 trillion) is spent on education globally each year, he says, but there is pressure to target this more effectively and see what really worked.

Digital technology could play a part in sharing good ideas, but this will mean reinforcing rather than displacing the role of the teacher.

Mr Fallon says it would be a "huge mistake" to think of the role of teacher being lessened by an increasing use of technology.

Pearson has also created an open-access information hub, with a databank of education information for 50 countries.

Innovation

So far, the education community is only at the stage of "dipping its toe" in applying the lessons of international data and research, says Mr Fallon.

John Fallon visited a college last week in Sao Paulo in Brazil
"There is a huge amount of innovation in schools and colleges around the world. And the biggest challenge isn't finding brilliant teachers or high-performing schools - it's how to share that, and how you replicate that at scale."

Where Pisa test results are very high, he says, "our job is how to replicate this".

But he says globalisation will have limits and that education systems will always have a strong national and local identity - shaped by "community, culture and language".

Sir Michael Barber, a former Downing Street adviser, who is now Pearson's education adviser, says the rankings and report provide "an ever-deeper knowledge base about precisely how education systems improve themselves".

"The rise of Pacific Asian countries, which combine effective education systems with a culture that prizes effort above inherited "smartness", is a phenomenon that other countries can no longer ignore."

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#BringBackOurGirls Hashtag battle

As the campaign to trace more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by Nigerian Islamists gathers pace, the Guardian uses a montage of photographs of women wearing red at demonstrations or posted on social media with the message "#BringBackOurGirls".

It says the hashtag has "mobilised the world", helping an online petition to attract 400,000 signatures and gaining support from politicians and celebrities such as Sean Penn, Hillary Clinton, Chris Brown and Justin Timberlake.

The Times, which reports that SAS troops based in the Nigerian capital Abuja have switched focus to "evaluate the UK's capacity to help the rescue", focuses on the support for the cause of Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl and girls' education campaigner who survived being shot by the Taliban.

The Daily Mirror reports the latest activities of the Boko Haram militants who, it says, "slaughtered" around 300 civilians during a 12-hour killing spree in the country's north-east.

"These sadistic monsters must be stopped," argues Max Hastings in the Daily Mail but he suggests that while Britain can provide military advice, things will only improve when the "kleptocrats" who rule "offer some portion of social justice" to the poorest. "Africa can be saved from itself only by Africans, not by heroes from Hereford," he adds.
From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com

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UK 'second best education in Europe' after the leader South Korea

South Korea is in top place in this global education league table
The UK is in second place among European countries and sixth overall in a global education league table.

South Korea is top, with three other Asian countries and Finland making up the top five, in rankings from education and publishing firm, Pearson.

The rankings include higher education as well as international school tests - which boosted the UK's position.

Pearson chief executive John Fallon highlighted the economic importance of improving education and skills.

These latest international comparisons, compiled for Pearson by the Economist Intelligence Unit, emphasise the success of Asian education systems, with South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong in China rated as the highest performing.

But it shows a strong performance from the UK, which is ranked sixth, behind only Finland in Europe and ahead of countries such as Germany, France and the United States.

Finns no longer flying

Finland, which was previously in first place, has slumped to fifth, reflecting a downward trend for a number of Scandinavian countries.

It also records the rise of Poland, which has been hailed for reforming its post-Communist education system, and sits in the top 10.

These rankings are based upon an amalgamation of international tests and education data - including the OECD's Pisa tests, and two major US-based studies, Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (Timss) and Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (Pirls).

They also include higher-education graduation rates, which helped the UK to a much higher position than in Pisa tests, which saw the UK failing to make the top 20.

A Learning Curve report accompanying the ranking says that the success of top-performing Asian countries reflects a culture in which teachers and schools are highly respected and "teachers, students and parents all take responsibility for education".

Students in South Korea, with the strongest test results, will have had to memorise 60 to 100 pages of facts, says the report, raising questions about the long-term value of such rote learning.

But the report also notes that highly-prized skills such as being creative and problem solving are much harder to measure and put into such rankings.

The lowest-ranked European country is Greece, with a group of emerging economies at the bottom of the table, including Indonesia, Mexico and Brazil.

Global lessons

John Fallon, chief executive of Pearson, says the report shows a strong link between improving levels of education and training and economic growth.

And the international comparisons, such as with the top Asian education systems, show the potential for what could be achieved in other countries.

Healthcare has benefited from a globalised approach, he says, such as developing and testing medicines.

And education systems around the world could learn more from each other, he argues, when many face the same challenge of raising standards while facing financial constraints.

The UK's ranking has been boosted by higher levels of university entry
"How do we do more or better with the same or less resources?"

More than $5 trillion (£2.95 trillion) is spent on education globally each year, he says, but there is pressure to target this more effectively and see what really worked.

Digital technology could play a part in sharing good ideas, but this will mean reinforcing rather than displacing the role of the teacher.

Mr Fallon says it would be a "huge mistake" to think of the role of teacher being lessened by an increasing use of technology.

Pearson has also created an open-access information hub, with a databank of education information for 50 countries.

Innovation

So far, the education community is only at the stage of "dipping its toe" in applying the lessons of international data and research, says Mr Fallon.

John Fallon visited a college last week in Sao Paulo in Brazil
"There is a huge amount of innovation in schools and colleges around the world. And the biggest challenge isn't finding brilliant teachers or high-performing schools - it's how to share that, and how you replicate that at scale."

Where Pisa test results are very high, he says, "our job is how to replicate this".

But he says globalisation will have limits and that education systems will always have a strong national and local identity - shaped by "community, culture and language".

Sir Michael Barber, a former Downing Street adviser, who is now Pearson's education adviser, says the rankings and report provide "an ever-deeper knowledge base about precisely how education systems improve themselves".

"The rise of Pacific Asian countries, which combine effective education systems with a culture that prizes effort above inherited "smartness", is a phenomenon that other countries can no longer ignore."
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Ukraine crisis: Separatists to debate Putin referendum call

Three million ballot papers - enough for the whole Donetsk region - have been printed, reports Richard Galpin
Pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukraine are due to consider a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin to delay referendums on autonomy.

Separatist leaders in Donetsk and Luhansk say they will put the matter before "people's councils".

The referendums are due to take place on Sunday and millions of ballot papers have been prepared.

Mr Putin has said putting off the vote could help create the conditions necessary for dialogue.

In what appeared to be a shift in Russian policy, Mr Putin also said this month's presidential elections in Ukraine were a move "in the right direction".

His remarks came days after his spokesman said holding such an election would be absurd.

Moscow has vowed to protect the rights of the largely Russian-speaking people in the south and east against what it calls an undemocratic government in Kiev.

Ukraine's interim authorities have rejected pro-Russian activists' demands for greater autonomy and sent in troops to seize back official buildings occupied by rebels.

President Putin has vowed to protect the rights of Russian speakers in Ukraine
"We respect Putin's stance," said Denis Pushilin, a pro-Russian leader in the eastern city of Donetsk.

"He is a balanced politician. Therefore we will submit his proposal to the people's council."

In Luhansk, a statement from pro-Russian groups quoted by Russian news agency Ria Novosti said: "We are putting this forward for discussion by all the people because Putin has appealed to supporters of federalisation, therefore a decision will be for all the people of Luhansk."

The White House said the "illegitimate, illegal" vote should be cancelled rather than postponed.

And Ukrainian interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk dismissed Mr Putin's calls as "hot air".

BBC's Sarah Rainsford: "People are saying that tear gas was used to evacuate a government building"
The US and the European Union have imposed sanctions against several Russian individuals and small businesses and threatened to impose wider measures if Moscow takes further steps to interfere in Ukraine.

Sunday's planned referendum was seen as a potential trigger for that.

Confrontations

On Wednesday, President Putin also announced he was ordering Russian troops back from the Ukrainian border.

However, Nato and the Pentagon said they had seen no signs of a Russian pull-back.

On Ukraine's forthcoming presidential elections, Mr Putin said: "I would like to stress that... while they are a move in the right direction, [they] will not decide anything if all the citizens of Ukraine fail to understand how their rights are protected after the elections are held."

Unrest in the south and east of Ukraine has worsened since Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula in March.

That followed the ousting of Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in February by pro-Western protesters.

On Wednesday, pro-Russian separatists took back the city hall in the southern port of Mariupol after it was briefly taken over by Ukrainian government forces.

In that time, 16 activists were arrested and taken to the city's police station where a violent confrontation erupted between the detainees' supporters and security forces who fired shots into the air.
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Miley Cyrus: Hard twerk?

For the Financial Times, Miley Cyrus's latest show is both "celebration of the twerk ethic" and "carnival of bad taste". It dispatched reviewer Ludovic Hunter-Tilney to London's 02 Arena where, in between various "alarmingly tiny body suits" and a "giant flying hot dog", he saw a problem.

"Cyrus didn't come across as a good singer. In fact, when massacring the soulful tear-jerker My Darlin', she sounded like a very bad one. She can belt 'em out - a cover of her godmother Dolly Parton's Jolene proved that - but the wild oscillations of the other songs, from dance-pop to rap to rock, lay well beyond her range."

It wasn't her voice that worried the Mirror's Alison Phillips, rather the show's "sex, drugs and the vilest swear words" served up to an audience who "still need help crossing the road".

She adds: "There is nothing ground-breaking or edgy about what she is doing. She has simply joined the world's oldest profession - selling sex to make money. And I'm not buying it."

Annabel Cole, who - through "a mixture of naivety and ignorance" - took her 15-year-old daughter along, writes in the Mail: "Only 20 minutes into the show, I was wincing so much I wished we hadn't come at all."

For her it was the "deeply cynical conflating of extremes - childish playfulness and suggestive cavorting" that made her most uneasy.

So has Cyrus "gone Mileys too far"? Yes, according to the Sun's Jen O'Brien, who argues that the "her need to shock seems to be taking over from the music". However, colleague Lia Nicholls argues otherwise: "I haven't been so entertained at a gig for a long, long time. Remove the gimmicks and you've still got a star with an amazing presence and incredible voice."

And the Times's Lisa Verrico - who rated the show as four-of-of-five - believed the "two-hour pop-art extravaganza felt fresh, fun and oddly innocent", adding: "Metaphorically speaking, that famous tongue was firmly in its cheek."
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Barclays set to cut jobs as investment bank shrinks

Barclays is expected to announce up to 15,000 job cuts as part of its new strategy due to be announced later, according to BBC business editor Kamal Ahmed.



That is significantly above the 10,000 to 12,000 the bank has already announced it wants to cut this year.



A large proportion will be in the UK - as high as 70%, our correspondent said.



Although the job losses will be mostly in the investment bank, Barclays' retail operation will not be immune.



Barclays' chief executive, Antony Jenkins, would like to see the global workforce of the bank fall over the next six years from 140,000 to 100,000, according to our correspondent.



On top of cutting staff, Barclays is expected to announce that it will be hiving parts of the business that have not been performing well into what is known as a "bad bank".



Branches pruned



A cut in the number of branches is also likely. At the moment Barclays has 1,600 branches, but that could fall by 400 over the next few months. However, an announcement on that is not thought to be imminent.



Instead, the investment bank is likely to be the focus of attention later.



It has been hit by a slowdown in the demand for government and company debt - or bonds.



Investment bank income was down 28% in the last quarter, in large part down to a 41% fall in the trading of bonds.



Overall Barclays' first quarter pre-tax profits were down 5%.



The bank's shareholders have been unhappy about bonus payments at the bank, given falling profits.



Do you work for Barclays? Are you affected by the job cuts? You can send an email to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Barclays' in the subject line.

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Galaxy S5 Mini rumors and news: Possible Mini sighting on Samsung Website

Last month, SamMobile reported that the Galaxy S5 Mini would launch shortly after the Galaxy S5. This continues a pattern that started with the Galaxy S4, which was announced with a similar mini, small version.



So far, there has been no official word regarding a release date. However, a leak from Samsung's own website hints that the device may be coming soon. A screenshot photo posted by @evleaks shows a device called the Galaxy S5 DX on Samsung's official UK page. It's not confirmed that it's the S5 Mini, but it looks very similar. It even has the same plastic back cover as the Galaxy S5. The only thing that's missing is the heart rate sensor, which was pre-loaded in the Galaxy S5. 



The leaked photo shows that the Galaxy S5 DX, or Mini, however you want to call it, comes in more color variants than its premium predecessor. The color options are black, blue, yellow, white, and gold. The photo also hints that it will be compatible with the Gear 2.



What we know so far are the specs for the upcoming device. The Galaxy S5 DX will run on Android 4.4 out of the box, have a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED 720p screen, a Snapdragon processor (possibly a Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor), two cameras (8-megapixel rear, 2-megapixel front), 16 gigabytes of storage, and 1.5 gigabytes of RAM.    



So when is the Galaxy S5 Mini, DX, or whatever it will be called, coming? We don't know yet, but we'll keep you posted.

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US First Lady Michelle Obama tweets a picture of herself highlighting the #BringBackOurGirls campaign and Nigeria abducted schoolgirls: Malala Yousafzai urges action

Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai: "If we remain silent then this will spread"

Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl who survived a shooting by Taliban insurgents, has said the world must not stay silent over the abduction of more than 200 girls in Nigeria.

She told the BBC that "if we remain silent then this will spread, this will happen more and more and more".

The girls were kidnapped more than three weeks ago by Islamist Boko Haram militants in north-east Borno state.

Malala was shot in the head in 2012 for campaigning for girls' education.

The 16-year-old survived after months of surgery and rehabilitation in the UK, and is now a vocal campaigner for girls' access to education worldwide.

Former UN chief Kofi Annan, also appealed for action. He criticised both the Nigerian government and other African nations for not reacting faster to the kidnapping, and called on them to use whatever was at their disposal to help free the girls.

The abduction of the girls has overshadowed the World Economic Forum which opened in the Nigerian city of Abuja on Wednesday evening.

The US, UK and France have despatched teams of experts to Nigeria to help recover the girls.

Boko Haram has been accused of carrying out another attack in Borno state on Monday, in which some 300 people are reported to have died.

Residents said that gunmen went on the rampage in Gamboru Ngala after spreading a rumour that the abducted girls had been spotted elsewhere, prompting security forces to leave the town.

This still is from footage taken as relatives of the schoolgirls visited the burnt-out remains of the school from where they were taken on 14 April

For the past week there have been daily protests countrywide calling for more to be done to find the girls
Describing the Nigerian girls as her "sisters" who are "in a prison", Malala said that the only way to stop similar abductions happening in future was to speak out.

She described Boko Haram as a group of extremists who did not understand that Islam said believers had a duty to educate themselves, and be tolerant and kind towards others.

Boko Haram's leader admitted earlier this week that his fighters had abducted the girls - who are mostly aged between 16 and 18 and were taking their final year exams - from their school in the town of Chibok on 14 April.

Abubakar Shekau threatened to "sell" the students, saying they should not have been in school in the first place, but rather should get married.

Another 11 girls were kidnapped on Sunday night after two villages were attacked near the militants' forest hideout.

The abductions have prompted widespread criticism of the Nigerian government and demonstrations countrywide.

US First Lady Michelle Obama tweets a picture of herself highlighting the #BringBackOurGirls campaign

Boko Haram's leader has threatened to "sell" the students
US President Barack Obama has condemned the abductions as "outrageous" and "heartbreaking" and First Lady Michelle Obama joined a social media campaign, tweeting a picture of herself holding a piece of paper with the message #BringBackOurGirls.

Former UN chief Kofi Annan says security forces should be used free the kidnapped girls
Nigeria's police on Wednesday offered a $300,000 (£180,000) reward to anyone who can help locate and rescue the schoolgirls, but some are asking why it has taken this long for such a move to be taken.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, in Nigeria for the World Economic Forum, offered to provide help from his country's satellite and intelligence services.

Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is forbidden" in the local Hausa language, began its insurgency in 2009.

An estimated 1,000 people have died in the violence and security crackdown this year alone.

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Van Gaal says "I want Man Utd job"

Louis van Gaal has told BBC Sport he wants to become the new manager of Manchester United.

The 62-year-old Netherlands boss has been the overwhelming favourite for the role since the dismissal of David Moyes on 22 April.

"I would love the job," said Van Gaal. "I hope that I shall be the one. It's the biggest club in the world and it's a fantastic challenge."

It is anticipated United will confirm the appointment early next week.
Van Gaal was speaking at the start of a three-day World Cup training camp.

With Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola and his Borussia Dortmund counterpart Jurgen Klopp ruled out of the running in the very early stages, interim boss Ryan Giggs deemed too inexperienced and Carlo Ancelotti's position at Real Madrid made more secure by the Spanish giants reaching the Champions League final, Van Gaal has become the front-runner.

But despite the huge speculation surrounding him, the Dutchman is refusing to accept the job is his.

"You (the media) are thinking I'm the man but the most important thing is whether Manchester United are thinking that," he said.

"You have to wait and see what the club decides. It's always the same - it's always a process and you have to wait for the process, the press are always too fast."

Van Gaal will not be free to join United until after the World Cup.

And it is clear he is not willing to allow discussion over his future to interfere with his plans for Brazil, having failed to qualify for the 2002 tournament in his first spell with the Netherlands.

"I have to focus on my job," he said. "I am coach of the Dutch national team. I have waited a long time to be in a World Cup so that's very important.

"This doesn't affect me. I have always had offers. I know what the football world is and what it means."

United had already ruled out any formal announcement this week.

That timescale may have something to do with a planned meeting on Friday between Giggs and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward for discussions about the Welshman's future.

The 40-year-old has yet to accept any coaching position with the Old Trafford outfit and, after introducing himself as a second-half substitute against Hull, he revealed it was still to be decided whether he would extend his playing career by another year.

Giggs has already ruled out the possibility of playing for another club, meaning his 963rd appearance for his United could turn out to be his last.

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Barclays to cut 14,000 jobs as investment bank shrinks

Barclays is to cut up to 14,000 jobs this year as part of a new strategy, the company has announced.



The number is higher than the 10,000 to 12,000 jobs that the bank said earlier this year that it wanted to cut.



The investment bank, which has been hit by a slowdown in the demand for government and company debt, will lose about 7,000 jobs by 2016.



Barclays will also set up a "bad bank" which will eventually sell or run down non-core operations.

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Galaxy S5 Mini rumors and news: Possible Mini sighting on Samsung Website

Last month, SamMobile reported that the Galaxy S5 Mini would launch shortly after the Galaxy S5. This continues a pattern that started with the Galaxy S4, which was announced with a similar mini, small version.

So far, there has been no official word regarding a release date. However, a leak from Samsung's own website hints that the device may be coming soon. A screenshot photo posted by @evleaks shows a device called the Galaxy S5 DX on Samsung's official UK page. It's not confirmed that it's the S5 Mini, but it looks very similar. It even has the same plastic back cover as the Galaxy S5. The only thing that's missing is the heart rate sensor, which was pre-loaded in the Galaxy S5. 

The leaked photo shows that the Galaxy S5 DX, or Mini, however you want to call it, comes in more color variants than its premium predecessor. The color options are black, blue, yellow, white, and gold. The photo also hints that it will be compatible with the Gear 2.

What we know so far are the specs for the upcoming device. The Galaxy S5 DX will run on Android 4.4 out of the box, have a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED 720p screen, a Snapdragon processor (possibly a Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor), two cameras (8-megapixel rear, 2-megapixel front), 16 gigabytes of storage, and 1.5 gigabytes of RAM.    

So when is the Galaxy S5 Mini, DX, or whatever it will be called, coming? We don't know yet, but we'll keep you posted.
From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com

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US First Lady Michelle Obama tweets a picture of herself highlighting the #BringBackOurGirls campaign and Nigeria abducted schoolgirls: Malala Yousafzai urges action

Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai: "If we remain silent then this will spread"

Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl who survived a shooting by Taliban insurgents, has said the world must not stay silent over the abduction of more than 200 girls in Nigeria.

She told the BBC that "if we remain silent then this will spread, this will happen more and more and more".

The girls were kidnapped more than three weeks ago by Islamist Boko Haram militants in north-east Borno state.

Malala was shot in the head in 2012 for campaigning for girls' education.

The 16-year-old survived after months of surgery and rehabilitation in the UK, and is now a vocal campaigner for girls' access to education worldwide.

Former UN chief Kofi Annan, also appealed for action. He criticised both the Nigerian government and other African nations for not reacting faster to the kidnapping, and called on them to use whatever was at their disposal to help free the girls.

The abduction of the girls has overshadowed the World Economic Forum which opened in the Nigerian city of Abuja on Wednesday evening.

The US, UK and France have despatched teams of experts to Nigeria to help recover the girls.

Boko Haram has been accused of carrying out another attack in Borno state on Monday, in which some 300 people are reported to have died.

Residents said that gunmen went on the rampage in Gamboru Ngala after spreading a rumour that the abducted girls had been spotted elsewhere, prompting security forces to leave the town.

This still is from footage taken as relatives of the schoolgirls visited the burnt-out remains of the school from where they were taken on 14 April

For the past week there have been daily protests countrywide calling for more to be done to find the girls
Describing the Nigerian girls as her "sisters" who are "in a prison", Malala said that the only way to stop similar abductions happening in future was to speak out.

She described Boko Haram as a group of extremists who did not understand that Islam said believers had a duty to educate themselves, and be tolerant and kind towards others.

Boko Haram's leader admitted earlier this week that his fighters had abducted the girls - who are mostly aged between 16 and 18 and were taking their final year exams - from their school in the town of Chibok on 14 April.

Abubakar Shekau threatened to "sell" the students, saying they should not have been in school in the first place, but rather should get married.

Another 11 girls were kidnapped on Sunday night after two villages were attacked near the militants' forest hideout.

The abductions have prompted widespread criticism of the Nigerian government and demonstrations countrywide.

US First Lady Michelle Obama tweets a picture of herself highlighting the #BringBackOurGirls campaign

Boko Haram's leader has threatened to "sell" the students
US President Barack Obama has condemned the abductions as "outrageous" and "heartbreaking" and First Lady Michelle Obama joined a social media campaign, tweeting a picture of herself holding a piece of paper with the message #BringBackOurGirls.

Former UN chief Kofi Annan says security forces should be used free the kidnapped girls
Nigeria's police on Wednesday offered a $300,000 (£180,000) reward to anyone who can help locate and rescue the schoolgirls, but some are asking why it has taken this long for such a move to be taken.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, in Nigeria for the World Economic Forum, offered to provide help from his country's satellite and intelligence services.

Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is forbidden" in the local Hausa language, began its insurgency in 2009.

An estimated 1,000 people have died in the violence and security crackdown this year alone.
From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com

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Read More

Van Gaal says "I want Man Utd job"

Louis van Gaal has told BBC Sport he wants to become the new manager of Manchester United.

The 62-year-old Netherlands boss has been the overwhelming favourite for the role since the dismissal of David Moyes on 22 April.

"I would love the job," said Van Gaal. "I hope that I shall be the one. It's the biggest club in the world and it's a fantastic challenge."

It is anticipated United will confirm the appointment early next week.
Van Gaal was speaking at the start of a three-day World Cup training camp.

With Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola and his Borussia Dortmund counterpart Jurgen Klopp ruled out of the running in the very early stages, interim boss Ryan Giggs deemed too inexperienced and Carlo Ancelotti's position at Real Madrid made more secure by the Spanish giants reaching the Champions League final, Van Gaal has become the front-runner.

But despite the huge speculation surrounding him, the Dutchman is refusing to accept the job is his.

"You (the media) are thinking I'm the man but the most important thing is whether Manchester United are thinking that," he said.

"You have to wait and see what the club decides. It's always the same - it's always a process and you have to wait for the process, the press are always too fast."

Van Gaal will not be free to join United until after the World Cup.

And it is clear he is not willing to allow discussion over his future to interfere with his plans for Brazil, having failed to qualify for the 2002 tournament in his first spell with the Netherlands.

"I have to focus on my job," he said. "I am coach of the Dutch national team. I have waited a long time to be in a World Cup so that's very important.

"This doesn't affect me. I have always had offers. I know what the football world is and what it means."

United had already ruled out any formal announcement this week.

That timescale may have something to do with a planned meeting on Friday between Giggs and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward for discussions about the Welshman's future.

The 40-year-old has yet to accept any coaching position with the Old Trafford outfit and, after introducing himself as a second-half substitute against Hull, he revealed it was still to be decided whether he would extend his playing career by another year.

Giggs has already ruled out the possibility of playing for another club, meaning his 963rd appearance for his United could turn out to be his last.
From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com

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Read More

Barclays set to cut jobs as investment bank shrinks

Barclays is expected to announce up to 15,000 job cuts as part of its new strategy due to be announced later, according to BBC business editor Kamal Ahmed.

That is significantly above the 10,000 to 12,000 the bank has already announced it wants to cut this year.

A large proportion will be in the UK - as high as 70%, our correspondent said.

Although the job losses will be mostly in the investment bank, Barclays' retail operation will not be immune.

Barclays' chief executive, Antony Jenkins, would like to see the global workforce of the bank fall over the next six years from 140,000 to 100,000, according to our correspondent.

On top of cutting staff, Barclays is expected to announce that it will be hiving parts of the business that have not been performing well into what is known as a "bad bank".

Branches pruned

A cut in the number of branches is also likely. At the moment Barclays has 1,600 branches, but that could fall by 400 over the next few months. However, an announcement on that is not thought to be imminent.

Instead, the investment bank is likely to be the focus of attention later.

It has been hit by a slowdown in the demand for government and company debt - or bonds.

Investment bank income was down 28% in the last quarter, in large part down to a 41% fall in the trading of bonds.

Overall Barclays' first quarter pre-tax profits were down 5%.

The bank's shareholders have been unhappy about bonus payments at the bank, given falling profits.

Do you work for Barclays? Are you affected by the job cuts? You can send an email to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Barclays' in the subject line.
From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com

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Read More

Barclays to cut 14,000 jobs as investment bank shrinks

Barclays is to cut up to 14,000 jobs this year as part of a new strategy, the company has announced.

The number is higher than the 10,000 to 12,000 jobs that the bank said earlier this year that it wanted to cut.

The investment bank, which has been hit by a slowdown in the demand for government and company debt, will lose about 7,000 jobs by 2016.

Barclays will also set up a "bad bank" which will eventually sell or run down non-core operations.
From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com

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The 17 skills tips to help you get ahead of curve with the LG G Flex

The reception for LG's curvy phablet has been mixed. There's no doubting the benefits of flexible technology, but it remains to be seen whether curvy screens are a form factor that's here to stay. We like it, as you'll see in our LG G Flex review, and if you're here, it's a safe bet that you like it, too. If you're looking for some ideas on how get more from it we have you covered. Here are our top tips and tricks for the LG G Flex.

How to use KnockOn

The ability to double-tap the center of the screen to turn it on is a handy time-saver. You can also double-tap on any empty space to turn the screen off. To turn KnockOn on or off tap Menu > System settings > General > Gestures and check the box next to Screen on/off.

How to edit Quick Settings

If you pull down the notification shade you'll see the Quick Settings icons along the top. You can swipe from right to left, and at the end you'll find the option to re-order the list or add more functions.

How to improve the display

Probably the biggest complaint leveled at the G Flex concerns the quality of the display. Flagships are generally hitting 1080p now and the G Flex is just 720p. If you're coming from an older phone you might not notice, but for anyone used to 1080p it could look grainy and pixelated. There's a simple way to combat this: turn the brightness up to 80 percent or above. You can find it via Menu > System settings > Display > Brightness. Luckily the LG G Flex has great battery life, so this shouldn't be a major problem.

How to hide or split the keyboard

If you want to get the keyboard to slide away, then just swipe your finger down on it. You can also split the keyboard in landscape view by dragging your thumbs or fingers apart from the center.

How to Slide Aside

This is a standard LG feature and it allows you to switch quickly between up to three apps. All you have to do is swipe three fingers left across the screen and you'll save an app, freezing it in place. To see your three most recently saved apps as separate tabs, swipe three fingers to the right.

How to bend it

You might want to show off the bendability of the LG G Flex as a party trick and you can do so without fear. It's not a problem to bend the phone flat to 180 degrees for short periods, just resist bending it the other way or twisting it.

How to heal the back

The special coating on the back can heal small scratches. The hotter it is, the faster this self-healing works, but don't stick your phone in the oven. It's also a fairly limited feature and you can scrape through the coating, from which it won't heal, so exercise a little caution.

How to use lock screen shortcuts

You can swipe in any direction from the center of the screen to unlock your LG G Flex. You can also add shortcuts to the lock screen via Settings > Display > Lock screen > Shortcuts. The icon for anything you add will appear at the bottom of the lock screen and you can swipe it any direction to unlock the phone and automatically launch that app.

How to launch Quick Theater

This quirky feature allows you to hold the G Flex in landscape view and swipe your fingers or thumbs apart from the center of the lock screen out to the edges in order to launch the Photo, Video, or YouTube apps. You will have to use the Swipe screen lock mode for it to work.

How to change the keyboard

If you want to change your default keyboard then tap Menu > System settings > General > Language & input > Default and select the one you want. You can also change it on the fly by dragging down the notification shade when the keyboard pops up and tapping Choose input method.

How to use Dual Window

When you've got a 6-inch display you really want to be able to take advantage, which is why Dual Windows is such a great feature. It lets you to have two apps on screen at the same time. Turn it on in Menu > System settings > General > Multitasking and you'll find a Dual Window checkbox. To use it, tap and hold the Back button and then drag the app icon you want to wherever you want it. There's an option to switch the screens and you can drag the blue arrow to resize them.

How to use Voice Mate

LG's voice control assistant can be accessed quickly by dragging your finger up from the Home button at the bottom of the screen and over the left. You can ask it to call contacts, send messages, check and set appointments or alarms, open apps, turn features on and off, and search the Internet. When Voice Mate is open, simply swipe from right to left to see a list of potential commands. You can also tap Menu > Settings in Voice Mate to tweak your preferences. It works pretty well, but you might prefer Google Now, which you can access by swiping straight up from the Home button.

How to use Plug & Pop

You can ensure that your LG G Flex automatically launches a specific app, or gives you a specific choice of apps, every time you plug in a peripheral, thanks to the Plug & Pop feature. Tap Menu > System settings > General > Accessory and choose USB Storage or Earphone. You can also edit directly via the option on the panel that pops up whenever you insert an accessory.

How to use QSlide

Your browser has a special button to the left of the address bar that lets you enter QSlide mode. It basically just reduces the browser to a small window, so you can keep it open and get on with something else at the same time. There's a slider to change its transparency and it works with a handful of other apps, too. You can find the list in the notification shade in the QSlide apps section that sits under Quick settings.

How to use your LG G Flex as a remote

The LG G Flex does have an IR blaster and you can set it up as a remote control for any of your home entertainment devices using the Quick Remote app. It's simple to set up and you can create different profiles for different rooms in the home. You can also quick launch Quick Remote from the lock screen by tapping the Home button and you'll find the controls stay in your notification shade. If you want to pop up automatically at home then open Quick Remote and tap Menu > Settings then choose Auto display at home and confirm your home Wi-Fi network.

How to take a photo with your voice

It's handy to be able to take a voice activated group shot, especially if you want to be in it. When you're in the Camera app tap the little gear icon for advanced options and you'll find Voice shutter listed. You can say Cheese, Smile, or a few other words to activate a snap.

How to translate text

LG included an app called Quick Translator on the LG G Flex. You'll find it in the app drawer and it can use your camera to read and translate text. When you launch it, you have to specify a Word, Line, or Block and it can take a wee while to do the translation. If you find that it doesn't work for you then try Google Translate.

That's all the LG G Flex tips we have right now, but check back because we'll add more later. We'd also love to hear any suggestions you might want to share. 

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