(Reuters/NAN) Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co (7201.T) said on Thursday it had signed U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka as its next brand ambassador.

Nissan wants to tap the tennis stars youth, drive and Japanese roots to appeal to younger customers.

Osaka, 20, shot to international fame on Saturday when she defeated 36-year-old American Serena Williams at Flushing Meadows to become the first Japanese player to claim a Grand Slam singles crown.

Growing up, my dad drove a Nissan, so being able to be a brand ambassador now, it feels like Ive come full circle, Osaka said at a contract signing event at Nissans headquarters in Yokohama.

Nissan said the passionate video-game player and Beyonce fan would appear in global promotions and advertising as part of its three-year contract.

That contract will be something of a branding departure for a company whose popular GT-R sports car appeals mainly to men aged 40 and older.

Born in Japan to a Japanese mother and Haitian-born father and raised mainly in the United States, Osaka has won hearts on and off the tennis court.

She has done so much for her ferocious serve as her down-to-earth humility.
Asked how she felt being a high-profile, bi-racial athlete in a largely ethnically homogenous country, Osaka said the question really throws me off.

Its just who I am I dont think Im a mix of three whatever, I just think I am me, she said.

Nissan joins a growing number of companies which have enlisted Osaka for endorsement.

They include Adidas AG (ADSGn.DE), Yonex Co (7906.T), Nissin Foods Co (1475.HK), Wowow Inc (4839.T) and Citizen Watch Co (7762.T).

Osaka is the latest sports figure to lend her star power to Nissan, after Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt served as the automakers global director of excitement to promote the GT-R from 2012 to 2016.

Last year, it signed Australian actress Margot Robbie, who has been promoting its electric vehicles.

Having Osaka as a face of the company, Nissan can appeal to younger drivers as it aims to expand sales of its Leaf all-battery electric car, and promote its automated and connected-driving technologies.

But Osaka said her tastes veered towards Nissans sports cars. For me, its the GT-R Because its fast, she said.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved with effect from 14 September, the appointment of Yusuf Magaji Bichi, as new Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS).

The appointee is a core secret service operative, according to a statement by Garba Shehu, senior special assistant on media, to President Buhari.

Bichi will take over from Lawal Daura, who was sacked on 7 August after he sent hooded operatives to mount a blockade of the National Assembly, without authorisation. The action triggered both local and international condemnation. Mr. Mathew Sieyefa from Bayelsa had been holding forte since then.

Bichi attended Danbatta Secondary School, the Kano State College of Advanced Studies and the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he graduated with a degree in Political Science.

The new Director-General began his career in the security division of the Cabinet Office in Kano, from where he joined the defunct Nigerian Security Organization (NSO), the precursor of the present DSS.

Mr. Bichi has undergone training in intelligence processing analysis, agent handling recruitment and intelligence processing in the UK, as well as strategic training at the National Defence College.

The new DSS boss comes to the job with skills in intelligence gathering, research analysis, conflict management, general investigation, risk and vulnerability operations, counter intelligence and protective operation and human resources management.

In the course of his career, Mr. Bichi has worked as the State Director of Security in Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto and Abia States.

He was at various times the Director, National Assembly Liaison, (National War College), Director at National Headquarters in the Directorate of Security Enforcement, Directorate of Operations, Directorate of Intelligence, Directorate of Inspection and Directorate of Administration and Finance.

He also served as Director at State Service Academy.

Mr Bichi is married and has children

Source: NAN

By Ikechukwu Iweajunwa

The Commissioner of Police in Imo, Mr Dasuki Galadanchi, said on Thursday in Owerri that the command had arrested two suspects involved in the killing of a Rev. Fr, Jude Egbom.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that until his death, Egbom was the parish priest of St Patrick Catholic Church, Amucha in Njaba Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

It will be recalled that the hoodlums barged into a salon in Nkwere Local Government Council where the priest was barbing his hair and killed him on Sept. 10.

The commissioner, who paraded the suspects on Thursday, gave their names as Chigozie Uzoukwu and Peter Boniface.

Also, Galadanchi paraded two other suspects who stole a corpse from O-Jesus Mortuary, Akabo and demanded for N5 million ransom.

He explained that the criminals were arrested in a forest in Mbaitoli LGA on Sept. 12, after keeping the corpse for many days.

The names of the suspects were given as Chukwudi Chukwu and Bethel Ibe.

In their separate reactions, Bethel Ibe, a commercial bus driver, said he was lured into kidnapping by his friends.

He said they decided to steal the corpse to raise money for what he called a mega business.

His co-suspect, Chukwudi Chukwu, said he was an ex-mortuary attendant and was sacked by management of O-Jesus mortuary.

He said that based on his experience in mortuary business, he was able to steal the corpse.

Source: NAN

By Femi Ogunshola

Nigerian workers have thrown their weight behind the 14-day ultimatum issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), to the Federal Government over delay regarding new minimum wage.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Labour leaders had on Wednesday cautioned the Federal Government against foot-dragging on the new minimum wage and allow the tripartite committee to conclude its job to avoid action.

The labour leaders, who are members of the Minimum Wage Committee at a joint news conference addressed in Lagos, gave the Federal Government 14 days to ensure that the committee conclude its work or be ready to face action.

The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ayuba Wabba, had said that the committee was not pleased with the comments allegedly made by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige.

Ngige had last week said that the committee should adjourn indefinitely to give room for further consultations with the government.

We view his supposed pronouncement with great concern, suspicion and outrage.

This new antic certainly is not acceptable to Nigerian workers, who had expected a New National Minimum Wage since 2016, Wabba said.

However, some of the workers, who spoke with NAN on Thursday in Abuja expressed disappointment over the way and manner government was handling the issue.

Mr Salisu Umar, a civil servant, berated the Federal Government for obvious lack of concern to the plight of workers.

He said it would be outright lack of feelings for Nigerian workers not to heed the call for increased wage in the face of harsh economy.

Umar called on the NLC not to rest on its oars in the pursuit of a new minimum wage, adding that whatever action the union resolved to take to press home their demand would receive the support of workers.

Another worker, Mrs Dorcas Abulu, called on the NLC to put the Federal Government on its toes until the national new minimum wage was approved.

She noted that prices of goods and services had skyrocketed, adding that workers could hardly afford the basic needs of life because of inflation.

Abulu said the NLC should not succumb to intimidation or be compromised on the negotiation processes, adding that nothing must be done against the interest of Nigerian workers to get a new wage.

Mrs Aderinola Kemi, also a civil servant, urged NLC to ensure that they were not deceived with promises of implementation after the 2019 general elections.

She said that election time was the best period to force the Federal Government to implement the new wage, adding that no political party would want to jettison its workers demand during electioneering.

Another worker, Mr Issa Kamar, said the NLC should make good its threat by taking prompt action at the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum, adding that the workers were fully behind it.

Others, who spoke with NAN, were unanimous in their support for any action taken by the NLC that would favour the workers and force the Federal Government to return to the negotiating table.

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, had on May Day while addressing Nigerian workers at the Eagle Square said the implementation of the new minimum wage would begin in September.

Also, the NLC president had on Sept. 10 said both the government and labour agreed that the September timeline must be respected.

According to him, the NLC is committed to respecting the timeline and that is why we left everything we are doing to do the needful to be able to do a good job.

Source: NAN

By Hamza Suleiman/Maiduguri

Many Boko Haram fighters were killed by Nigerian troops in Damasak on Thursday, spokesman Brig. Texas Chukwu said.

Chukwu, who said the terrorists came to attack the military formation at 6pm were outmatched by the superior firepower of Nigerian soldiers.

The troops engaged and subdued the terrorists following a superior fire power of troops in DAMASAK.

The troops aggressive posture, tactics and marksmanship resulted in neutralising many Boko Haram terrorists, he said.

The statement discredited an online report alleging the capturing of Damasak by Boko Haram terrorists.

Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, the Director of army public relations said:

Nigerian Army wishes to state categorically that the claim is not only untrue but capable of misleading members of the general public and the world at large.

In the said story, the report stated inter alia, that Damasak is the location of 134 Battalion. The Nigerian Army wishes to state that there was no such battalion in Damasak.

The Nigerian Army earlier released a statement that troops of 145 Battalion in Damasak, Borno State, are engaging Boko Haram terrorists who came to attack their location at about 6 p.m on 12 September, 2018.

The statement also stated that fierce battle is ongoing right now and the troops are dealing with the terrorists.

Consequently, the Nigerian Army wishes to state that the fight against Boko Haram terrorists in the North Eastern parts of the the country is yielding positive result.

The Nigerian Army, therefore, advised members of the public, particularly residents of the affected areas, to go about their legitimate businesses and disregard the said report.

The Nigerian Army will continue to protect lives and property of citizens at all times.

The Nigerian Army also call on the media to always exercise caution, verify facts as well as balance their reports before rushing to the press to avoid misinforming the public on sensitive issues, Chukwu advised.

Source: NAN

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has called on the international community to engage in the sponsorship of training programmes for Nigerian youths in the area of skill acquisition.

Governor Okowa made this call on Thursday while receiving the Ambassador of the United States of America to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Symington who paid him a courtesy visit in Asaba.

The Governor while welcoming the ambassador, noted that it is very important to trains youths, stressing that when trained, youths will be off the streets to engage in an economic activity, thereby making the country more developed.

It is important that the international community engage in the training of our youths in skill acquisition as it will go a long way to equip them to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.

We thank you Mr Ambassador for contributing your quota in the training of some of our youths in agro-business; the state will partner with you to train more youths in this business and we are looking for more partners, he said.

Gov. Okowa used the opportunity to express his gratitude to the World Bank for contributing to the training of the youths through the SEEFOR, but stated that a lot more needed to be done in youths training.

So far, as a state government, we have carried out three cycles of our job creation training; we monitor and mentor our trainees and we are glad to say that we have over 62 per cent success rates in our wealth creation programmes, the governor disclosed.

He commended the Ambassador for visiting the state to find out the progress made in the training of beneficiaries of Presidential Amnesty programmes, expressing delight that the facilities used for the training would be useful in training more youths in the wealth creation programmes by his administration.

Responding, the Ambasador Mr Symington said they were in the state to visit the agricultural training programme going on through the Presidential Amnesty programme in partnership with some American investors.

While commending Governor Okowas administration for providing a conducive environment for the training to take place, he observed that agricultural business would boost the economy of Nigeria.

He noted that for Nigeria to remain the economic hub of Africa, youth development through skill acquisition must be fully harnessed, so the youths can change their lives and make the country great.

Source: NAN

President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya defied parliament by rejecting a financebill that sought to postpone a widely unpopular tax on fuel that has triggered strikes and public anger.

Parliament will hold a special sitting on the bill on Tuesday to reconsider the finance bill togetherwith the reservations of the president, said the gazette notice signed by Justin Muturi,the speaker of the national assembly.

It did not say why the president rejected the bill as passed by parliament in late August.

Kenyattas acting spokesperson Kanze Dena told Reuters the president would address the country on the matter on Friday.

His government faced a strike by some fuel dealers, anger among commuters and a lawsuit after it triggereda hike in transport and fuel prices by imposing the 16 per cent value added tax on all petroleumproducts on Sept. 1.

The finance bill that was returned to parliament had also retained a cap on commercial lending rates, afterlawmakers amended a move by the finance minister to repeal it.

Source: NAN

As the Catholic Church battle to redeem its battered image amid a wave of scandals enveloping leaders within its circle, Pope Francis ordered an investigation of an American bishop Michael Bransfield, accused of sexually harassing adults.

Bransfield, the West Virginia bishop resigned Thursday and Pope Francis didnt waste time to accept his resignation and directed another bishop to investigate the allegation against him.

News of the investigation came as a meeting was underway between Francis and U.S. cardinals and bishops to discuss the allegations involving Bransfield.

According to the Associated Press, Bransfield had been implicated in 2012 in a Philadelphia priestly sex abuse case, but he denied ever abusing anyone and claimed vindication years ago.

He continued with his ministry until he offered to retire, as required, when he turned 75 last week.

The Vatican announced Francis accepted his resignation at the exact moment the U.S. delegation was arriving at the Apostolic Palace for the meeting with the pope.

Francis appointed Baltimore Bishop William Lori to take over Bransfields Wheeling-Charleston diocese temporarily.

Lori said in a statement that Francis had also instructed him to conduct an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment of adults against Bishop Bransfield.

My primary concern is for the care and support of the priests and people of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston at this difficult time.

I further pledge to conduct a thorough investigation in search of the truth into the troubling allegations against Bishop Bransfield and to work closely with the clergy, religious and lay leaders of the diocese until the appointment of a new bishop, Lori said in a statement.

In past court cases involving Bransfield, church officials and witnesses accused him of molesting teenage boys a claim that Bransfield has denied, according to the Washington Post.

Lori also set up a hotline for potential victims to call.

The Bransfield revelation comes in the wake of the June 20 announcement that one of the most prestigious U.S. cardinals, Theodore McCarrick, had been accused of groping a teenage altar boy in the 1970s.

Francis removed McCarrick as a cardinal in July after a U.S. church investigation found the allegation credible. After news broke of the investigation, several former seminarians and priests came forward to report that they too had been abused or harassed by McCarrick as adults.

The head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Houston Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, had requested the papal audience last month following revelations that McCarrick had risen through church ranks even though the allegations of sexual misconduct were known in U.S. and Vatican circles.

DiNardo requested a full-fledged Vatican investigation into the McCarrick affair, and said he also wanted answers to allegations that a string of Vatican officials, including Pope Francis, knew of McCarricks misdeeds but turned a blind eye.

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Source: NAN

The minimum wage for garment workers in Bangladesh will rise by 51 percent from December, the countrys Junior Minister for Labour and Employment, Mujibul Haque, has said.

Haque told reporters after months of negotiations with factory owners and workers that the new minimum wage has been increased from 5,300 to 8,000 taka ($95) a month.

Bangladesh, the worlds second largest clothing exporter, last increased wages for garment workers late in 2013 following international pressure after a string of fatal factory accidents that thrust poor working conditions and pay into the spotlight.

Low wages and trade deals with Western countries have made the sector a $30 billion industry accounting for four-fifths of its exports, with retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc, JC Penney Company Inc and H

Typhoon Mangkhut retained its ferocious strength and slightly shifted toward more densely populated coastal provinces on Friday as it barreled closer to the northeastern Philippines, where a massive evacuation was underway.

More than 4 million people are at risk from the storm, which the Hawaii-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center categorizes as a super typhoon with powerful winds and gusts equivalent to a category 5 Atlantic hurricane.

It was initially expected to hit the northern tip of Cagayan province early Saturday, but its now likely to make landfall farther south and closer to Isabela province then cut across the northern breadbasket, Philippine state forecaster Chris Perez told The Associated Press.

The change wont make much difference because of the typhoons massive size, he said.

A huge raincloud band 900 kilometers (560 miles) wide, combined with seasonal monsoon rains, means the typhoon will bring heavy to intense rains that could set off landslides and flash floods.

Warnings have been raised in 25 provinces across the main northern island of Luzon, restricting sea and air travel.

The typhoon is approaching at the start of the rice and corn harvesting season in Cagayan, a major agricultural producer, and farmers were scrambling to save what they could of their crops, Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba said.

The threat to agriculture comes as the Philippines tries to cope with rice shortages.

Mangkhut was tracked on Friday about 400 kilometers (250 miles) away in the Pacific with sustained winds of 205 kilometers (127 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 255 kph (158 mph), Philippine forecasters said.

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Source: NAN