Author: Chronicle Editor

The former WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has fallen to the fifth position in the latest World Boxing Association rankings. Joshua lost his titles to Oleksandr Usyk in September of this year, but a rematch with the Ukrainian southpaw is scheduled for 2022. Usyk’s dominance in the bout may have influenced the WBA’s decision to remove Joshua from its list of the top ten heavyweight boxers. If the 32-year-old reclaims his championship, he will have the opportunity to face WBC champion Tyson Fury, in an undisputed bout. Anthony Joshua triggers rematch with Usyk after stunning defeat Deontay Wilder is placed…

South Africa’s health ministry on Friday attacked a global rush to impose travel bans to slow the spread of a new Covid variant as “draconian,” unscientific and contrary to WHO advice. The new strain, named Omicron, has been blamed for a surge in cases in South Africa but has already cropped up in Hong Kong, Belgium, Israel and Botswana. “We believe that some of the reactions have been unjustified,” Health Minister Joe Phaahla told a news conference, accusing some leaders whom he did not name of seeking a “scapegoat.” Britain was the first to slap a flight ban from countries…

The Federal Government of Nigeria has overturned the suspension imposed on Emirates Airlines. Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation, disclosed this during a press conference on Friday. He said that the decision was taken after discussions with Emirates Airlines’ home country, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He also stated that the UAE had lifted all travel restrictions on Nigerians. The FG had previously barred Emirates from flying into Nigeria due to the UAE’s discriminatory actions toward Nigerians about COVID-19 regulations. He did, however, reveal that the prohibition was lifted unconditionally. “Today we received communication from UAE removing some of the…

Brazil will shut its borders to travellers arriving from six southern African countries, the chief of staff to President Jair Bolsonaro said on Friday, the latest in a slew of major nations to announce restrictions meant to combat the newly identified Omicron variant of the coronavirus. “Brazil will close its aerial border to six countries in Africa due to the new coronavirus variant,” Chief of Staff Ciro Nogueira wrote in a Twitter post. “We’re going to protect Brazilians in this new phase of the pandemic in this country. The official notice will be published tomorrow and will be going into…

Sudan’s former minister of cabinet affairs Khalid Omer Yousif was released from detention along with others less than a day after beginning a hunger strike, the country’s information ministry said in a statement early on Saturday. An army takeover on Oct. 25 halted a power sharing deal between the military and civilians from the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) alliance, and a number of ministers and top civilian officials were detained. Also released on Saturday were former Khartoum State governor Ayman Nimir and anti-corruption taskforce member Maher Abouljokh. Several high profile politicians remain in custody. Yousif and others had…

Sixty-one people who arrived in Amsterdam on two flights from South Africa have tested positive for Covid-19, Dutch officials say. They have been placed in isolation at a hotel near Schiphol airport. They were among some 600 passengers held for several hours after arrival while they were tested for the virus. The Dutch authorities are carrying out further testing to see if there are any cases of Omicron, named on Friday as a variant of concern by the WHO. The variant was first reported to the World Health Organization in South Africa on 24 November. In the last few hours…

There seems to be a silent war between Fuji singer, Wasiu Ayinde, (KWAM 1) and his best friend, Bolaji Basia, following his marriage to Emmanuella Ropo. Basia was the first to fire the shot in his congratulatory message to KWAM 1, saying that in as much as he would love to wish KWAM 1’s new wife to be his last, he knew it might not be possible. He added that, “But please try not to dump one for another since you are so blessed to have as many as you want.” In a recent performance, the singer said he would…

Controversial Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, says the declaration of bandits and terrorists by a high court in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital is political. Gumi said the decision was for mere political expediency, and one that will change nothing. A Federal High Court in Abuja had declared bandits anywhere in the country as terrorists. Justice Taiwo Taiwo, ruling on an ex parte motion filed by the Federal Government, said groups, such as Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda are nothing other than terrorists. But in a statement by his media consultant, Malam Tukur Mamu, said “I think the Federal Government has succumbed…

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami (SAN), said the Federal Government is now ready to crush bandits after a court declared them as terrorists. In a statement issued by his media aide, Dr. Umar Gwandu, Malami said the court order has strengthened government’s hands to come down heavily on terrorists in conformity with international standards on the rules of engagement with such elements. But Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, dismissed the development as political. The court decision, he said yesterday, would change nothing, the same way government’s previous declaration of the Indigenous People of…

The Enugu State Police Command announced on Friday that Inspector Edem Ebong had been dismissed after he was found guilty of shooting and killing five people and injuring four others for no reason. The former Inspector was also charged with murder, which was approved by the police. The shooting is believed to have occurred on June 20 at Golf Estate in Enugu. At the time, Ebong was assigned to Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 9 Umuahia. The Enugu state police command revealed this in a statement by police spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe. “The Enugu State Police Command wishes to inform…