Volkswagen Names Porsche Exec as New Man Behind the Wheel

WOLFSBURG, Germany -- Volkswagen on Friday appointed Matthias Mueller, the head of its Porsche unit, as its new chief executive, asking him to lead a recovery from an emissions cheating scandal that its chairman described as a "moral and political disaster."

The 62-year-old Mueller, speaking at a news conference at company headquarters in Wolfsburg on Friday, said his first priority would be to win back trust following a plunge in VW stock and the resignation of long-time CEO Martin Winterkorn earlier this week.

"Under my leadership, Volkswagen will do all it can to develop and implement the strictest compliance and governance standards in the whole industry," Mueller said.

Acting Chairman Berthold Huber made an apology to "our customers, the public, authorities and investors" and asked them to give Volkswagen a chance to make good on the damage from the emissions scandal.

"I want to be very clear, the manipulation of tests for diesel engines is a moral and political disaster," Huber said. "The illegal behavior of developers and technicians in the development of engines has shocked Volkswagen as much as it has the public."

Volkswagen's supervisory board appointed Mueller, a longtime company insider, at a daylong meeting on Friday. His predecessor, Winterkorn, resigned on Wednesday, taking responsibility for the car emissions scandal in the U.S. but saying he wasn't aware of any wrongdoing on his part.

Huber said a number of employees had been put on leave until the details of the emissions cheating were cleared up. The company later announced that it would shrink its management board and get rid of the position of production chief.

The company had been expected to sack several senior officials, but at least one of those reported as being on his way out will stay with Volkswagen. While the automaker said it will reorganize its North America business under Winfried Vahland, until now chairman of the board of directors at Skoda, it said Michael Horn will remain as president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America.

It was not immediately clear whether other executives expected to be fired at Friday's meeing, inluding the research and development chiefs at VW and Audi, would keep their jobs as well.

An EPA complaint last week accused Volkswagen of surreptitiously equipping diesel vehicles with software designed to detect when they were undergoing emissions testing. During that time, the device turned on full emissions control systems. After the test was over, the controls were turned off, allowing the cars to pollute up to 40 times the allowable levels, according to the complaint, which was accompanied by an order to recall nearly 500,000 diesel vehicles sold in the U.S.

Volkswagen has said some 11 million cars worldwide have the software. The company now faces a mountain of difficulties, from class action lawsuits to fixing the software itself.

VW Emissions Test Cheating More Widespread in Germany: Official

Since then, numerous jurisdictions in the U.S. and abroad have said they are investigating the automaker. Among them is the U.S. Justice Department, which on Friday publicly confirmed what NBC News and other news organizations have been reporting: That it is investigating VW to determine whether criminal charges are warranted for what the EPA complaint decribed as a willful violation of the U.S. Clean Air Act standards.

"The Department of Justice is working closely with the EPA in the investigation into these allegations. We take these allegations, and their potential implications for public health and air pollution in the United States, very seriously," said Wyn Hornbuckle, a spokesman for the department's Environment and Natural Resources Division.

German 'Murder' Victim Petra Pazsitka Turns Up Alive 30 Years After Disappearance

A German "murder" victim has been found alive and well in Dusseldorf more than 30 years after her disappearance.

Petra Pazsitka's 1984 disappearance triggered a massive police search when the then-24-year-old student in Braunschweig was reported missing after failing to show up at her brother's birthday.

Investigators sought help from a popular crime show in 1985 — "Aktenzeichen XY" — and police said they were acting "on the assumption of a murder crime," according to a recent statement. A suspect in the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl from the same area confessed to Pazsitka's murder but a body was never found, according to Joachim Grande, a spokesman for the police in Braunschweig.

German crime watch show “Aktenzeichen XY,” covered the the search for Petra Pazsitka in their broadcast of January 11, 1985. ZDF

The cold case was officially closed in 1989 — but heated up again two weeks ago when police in the western German city of Düsseldorf were called to reports of a burglary.

The woman who reported the burglary initially identified herself as "Mrs. Schneider" but when asked for identification confessed that she was Pazsitka, according to Düsseldorf police spokesman Andre Hartwich.

Pazsitka, now 55, told police she had been living without any official documents under a false name in several German cities for the past three decades, Grande said.

"She did not even have a bank account and paid all her bills cash," Grande said, adding that Pazsitka appeared to have been making a small income through illicit work.

According to Grande, Pazsitka would not elaborate on why she was living under a false name or why she disappeared in the first place, saying only that the woman had said family issues were not behind her disappearance.

"Her father passed away a few years ago, but her brother and mother were in shock and tears when they heard the news," the police spokesman said.

However, Grande said Pazsitka has stated she does not want contact with her family or the public. Pazsitka's family has asked police to deliver a letter to her in hopes of one day reuniting, he added.

Nigerian Army accuses Borno leaders of plotting to prolong Boko Haram insurgency

The Nigerian Army on Friday raised alarm over plans by “some highly-placed individuals” in the North East, particularly Borno State, to sabotage military operations in the region.

A statement by the army spokesman, Sani Usman, said the elite were bent on having the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists prolonged for their selfish interests.

Mr. Usman, a colonel, did not however state in clear terms the means through which the notable individuals were undermining the war against terrorism or how they would benefit from the insurgency when prolonged.

“The Nigerian Army wishes to inform the public and send a very strong and serious final warning to some prominent individuals and political groups who hailed from Borno State in particular and North East generally, that there is information of plans by some highly placed individuals and political groups to undermine and scuttle the fight against terrorism and insurgency in this country.

“The unscrupulous individuals and their cohorts were determined to reverse the gains made and scuttle our efforts of achieving the Presidential directive to defeat Boko Haram terrorists within 3 months. They are enlisting the services of some Non-Governmental Organizations in this grand design.

“It has come to our knowledge that they were employing every means to see that the operation does not succeed in order for them to continue to enjoy certain benefits.

“It has been revealed that they are employing the services of marabouts and other unethical means in order to frustrate our efforts and the operations in addition to campaign of calumny.

“We are aware of their clandestine meetings and other diabolical efforts to achieve their nefarious aims. This would not be tolerated.

“Therefore, such individuals and groups should be warned in unmistakable terms that anyone found would be dealt with accordingly.

“People should place the interest of the nation above any personal gain or ambition. The continued lost of lives and property in this country through terrorists activities does not one any good,” the army spokesman said.

Saraki denies attack at prayer ground but video evidence, witnesses’ accounts show otherwise

The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has denied being pelted or booed at the Kwara eid ground on Thursday.

The denial was despite video evidence and several witnesses’ accounts which proved that the attack indeed occurred.

PREMIUM TIMES had on Thursday broken the story of the pandemonium at the eid praying ground in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, when aggrieved Muslim faithful went on the rampage throwing missiles in the direction of Mr. Saraki, and other dignitaries.

Witnesses said the protesters were angered by the inability of the state government to pay salaries of some workers before the Sallah celebrations, rendering some civil servants unable to buy rams for the Eid-el Kabir festival.

“Shortly after the senate president and other dignitaries arrived, some people started throwing stones and sachet waters in the direction of the Senate President and other important people,” one witness had told PREMIUM TIMES.

But in reaction to the widely-circulated report , the senate president’s spokesperson, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said Mr. Saraki arrived and left the praying ground safely without any fracas.

“The Senate President arrived at the venue this morning without any incident, prayed with other Muslim faithful, including the Emir of Ilorin, His Royal Highness (HRH), Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Ali Ahmad and a former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Alfa Belgore, among others,” Mr. Olaniyonu said.

“Before the Senate President left the prayer ground, he spoke to reporters who had asked him about his message for Nigerians to mark the Eid-el-Kabir.

“We want to say that nothing can be further from the truth as the Senate President was never attacked nor was there any attempt made on his life to warrant him being ‘whisked away’ as reported by a section of the media,” said the statement.

But the senate president, however, tacitly admitted that there was a demonstration at the prayer ground.

“We however observe that there was a protest allegedly staged by local government employees over purported non-payment of salaries which hoodlums attempted to hijacked but this development was immediately curtailed by security agents.

“Therefore, to say that the Senate President was attacked at the venue of the prayers is totally false and a figment of the imagination of those behind the story because the protest was never targeted at him, neither was any missile hurled at him,” the statement said.

But video evidence however showed security agents firing shots and teargas canisters to disperse the rampaging protesters who jeered and booed the dignitaries, led by the senate president.

The footage, obtained by news website, SaharaReporters, also showed the irate congregants shouting “ole, ole, ole…(thief, thief, thief…)” and surging towards where Mr. Saraki and other dignitaries sat.

They could be heard making uncomplimentary remarks about Mr. Saraki and wondering whether the senate president had escaped their wrath by sneaking out  of the praying ground.

Nigeria's Senate President Bukola Saraki Stoned At Eid Praying ground in...

The President of
the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has denied being pelted or booed at the Kwara eid
ground on Thursday.

The denial was
despite video evidence and several witnesses’ accounts which proved that the
attack indeed occurred.

PREMIUM TIMES had
on Thursday broken the story of the pandemonium at the eid praying ground in
Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, when aggrieved Muslim faithful went on the
rampage throwing missiles in the direction of Mr. Saraki, and other
dignitaries.

Witnesses said the
protesters were angered by the inability of the state government to pay
salaries of some workers before the Sallah celebrations, rendering some civil
servants unable to buy rams for the Eid-el Kabir festival.

“Shortly after the
senate president and other dignitaries arrived, some people started throwing
stones and sachet waters in the direction of the Senate President and other
important people,” one witness had told PREMIUM TIMES.

But in reaction to
the widely-circulated report , the senate president’s spokesperson, Yusuph
Olaniyonu, said Mr. Saraki arrived and left the praying ground safely without
any fracas.

“The Senate
President arrived at the venue this morning without any incident, prayed with
other Muslim faithful, including the Emir of Ilorin, His Royal Highness (HRH),
Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt.
Hon Ali Ahmad and a former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Alfa
Belgore, among others,” Mr. Olaniyonu said.

“Before the Senate
President left the prayer ground, he spoke to reporters who had asked him about
his message for Nigerians to mark the Eid-el-Kabir.

“We want to say
that nothing can be further from the truth as the Senate President was never
attacked nor was there any attempt made on his life to warrant him being
‘whisked away’ as reported by a section of the media,” said the statement.

But the senate president,
however, tacitly admitted that there was a demonstration at the prayer ground.

“We however observe
that there was a protest allegedly staged by local government employees over
purported non-payment of salaries which hoodlums attempted to hijacked but this
development was immediately curtailed by security agents.

“Therefore, to say
that the Senate President was attacked at the venue of the prayers is totally
false and a figment of the imagination of those behind the story because the
protest was never targeted at him, neither was any missile hurled at him,” the
statement said.

But video evidence
however showed security agents firing shots and teargas canisters to disperse
the rampaging protesters who jeered and booed the dignitaries, led by the senate
president.

The footage,
obtained by news website, SaharaReporters, also showed the irate congregants
shouting “ole, ole, ole…(thief, thief, thief…)” and surging towards where Mr.
Saraki and other dignitaries sat.

They could be heard
making uncomplimentary remarks about Mr. Saraki and wondering whether the
senate president had escaped their wrath by sneaking out  of the praying
ground.

Nigeria, Iran pressure Saudi Arabia to take responsibility for Hajj deaths

Pressure has mounted on Saudi authorities to take responsibility for Thursday’s death of over 700 pilgrims in the country in a disaster many believe could have been avoided.

At least 717 people died during a stampede as nearly 3 million Muslims from around the world rounded off this year’s hajj with an important ceremony in Mina, about four kilometres from Mecca.

The tragedy came about two weeks after a crane collapse killed over 100 pilgrims, among them six Nigerians.

Preliminary details say three Nigerians died in the latest disaster, alongside three Kenyans and eight Egyptians.

Iran has 131 deaths, India: 14, Pakistan: 6, Turkey: 4, Indonesia: 3, Netherlands: 1. Over 800 people were injured.

Despite the large number of fatalities, Saudi authorities blamed pilgrims of “African nationalities” for the disaster.

Comments by Saudi health minister, Khaled al-Falih, that the incident were mostly caused by Africans who failed to follow instructions angered several affected countries.

The leader of Nigeria’s delegation to hajj, and the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, urged the Saudi government to refrain from pointing accusing fingers at pilgrims for the deaths.

Emir Sanusi said the incident should not have happened in the first place.

“It happened on the designated ways for incoming and outgoing pilgrims to the site, [where they were] crossing each other,” he told the BBC.

“We are therefore urging the Saudi authorities not to apportion blame to the pilgrims for not obeying instructions.”

Iran’s Security Council, which country has the highest number of casualties so far, accused the Saudi government of incompetence.

The council demanded that the Saudi government takes responsibility for the death of 717 people as well as the treatment of over 860 people in the stampede.

“The unavoidable fact is that the Saudi government has been incompetent in this regard and with regard to the management of the Hajj pilgrimage, and Riyadh must accept responsibility for this,” a spokesperson for the council, Keyvan Khosravi, was reported to have said.

Blatter’s FIFA continues to unravel and the 7 things we saw last week

The only FIFA official that is left to be caught or named in any scandal is the president of the football body, Sepp Blatter. And that in itself is amazing as another of his henchmen, Jerome Valcke, was suspended for misdemeanor last week.

Valcke suspended from FIFA

The only person that is left to be caught with his hand in the till is FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, with Secretary General Jerome Valcke now on forced leave and released from his FIFA duties until further notice.

A statement said FIFA had “been made aware of a series of allegations involving the secretary general”.

Valcke was named in a scheme to sell World Cup tickets for above the face value. It is the second time that FIFA have had to suspend the Frenchman. In 2006, he was sacked after a New York court said he lied in a sponsorship row between Mastercard and Visa but Blatter re-hired him in 2007 as secretary general.

Ronaldo up to 80 goals in the Champions League

On Tuesday, September 15, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score 80 UEFA Champions League goals with his hat-trick against Shakhtar Donetsk in a 4-0 Real Madrid win. This feat has put him three ahead of arch-rival, Lionel Messi. He can sleep a bit easier as he has at least one stat over the little Argentine wizard.

Japan shock South Africa in Rugby World Cup

Japan produced the biggest shock in the history of the sport to beat two-time World Cup winners, South Africa, 34-32 in Brighton.

The Japanese were without a win in18 World Cup matches coming up against the more acclaimed Springboks, who had won all of their tournament openers since 1995 but Karne Hesketh shocked the world as he scored in the corner in the last seconds of the game to cap a quite memorable victory and give Japan their first victory in the World Cup since 1991.

Day replaces McIlroy as golf’s No.1

Jason Day completed his remarkable rise to top of the golf rankings on Sunday by winning his fourth event in six when he claimed the BMW Championship. And with that win, he climbed above Rory McIlroy to become golf’s numero uno.

The 27-year old Australian won his first Major at the US PGA Championship in August. And in his last eight tournaments, he has finished ninth, fourth, first, 12th, first, first, 12th and first.

Totti notches 300th Roma goal

Legendary AS Roma forward, Francesco Totti, scored his 300th goal for AS Roma on Sunday in a 2-2 result at home to Sassuolo.

Totti, who will celebrate his 39th birthday on Sunday has played for Roma for 24 consecutive seasons. The 2006 FIFA World Cup winner has now scored 244 goals in Serie A, 31 goals behind Silvio Piola’s record of 275. Totti scored his first Serie A goal against Foggia in September 1994.

Britain make Davis Cup final for first time since 1978

Andy Murray helped Great Britain qualify for the Davis Cup final for the first time since 1978 on Sunday when he beat Australia’s Bernard Tomic 7-5 6-3 6-2 to give Britain an unassailable 3-1.

Belgium will be their opponents in the November final as Britain seek to win a first title since 1936, when the legendary Fred Perry led them to victory. Murray has become Great Britain’s tennis hope and has gone a long way to follow in Perry’s footsteps by becoming the first Briton after Perry to win the Wimbledon title – which he did in 2013. He will now hope to add the Davis Cup to his string of laurels.

Finally, Amokachi quits FC Ifeanyi Ubah after five matches

Former Super Eagles forward and coach, Daniel Amokachi has thrown in the towel after just five matches in charge of Nigeria Professional Football League side, FC Ifeanyi Ubah.

His exit is said to have been due to some irreconcilable differences with the owner has led to his exit and even though

He told the BBC, “I’m disappointed at leaving after only a short spell but football goes on.”

Definitely, Da Bull, the show must continue.