Author: Chronicle Editor

A new Catalonia regional government has been sworn-in and it will be led by Quim Torra, a close aide to former Catalonia leader Carles Puigdemont. Nationalists regained control of Catalonia’s regional government on Saturday as the new cabinet was sworn in, automatically ending just over seven months of direct rule from Madrid by Spain’s central government. Torra takes over on same day Socialist Pedro Sanchez, who has said he wants talks on Catalonia but opposes any independence referendum, was officially sworn in as new Spanish prime minister. Sanchez’ predecessor, the conservative Mariano Rajoy, imposed direct rule over Catalonia at the…

Payments firm Visa Inc said its systems are operating at “close to normal levels” and the earlier issue affecting users in Europe was “result of a hardware failure”. “We have no reason to believe this was associated with any unauthorized access or malicious event,” Visa said in a statement. The payment company said it has resolved a technical issue which occurred on 1 June in Europe which prevented some consumers from using Visa for payments. “The issue was the result of a hardware failure within one of our European systems and is not associated with any unauthorised access or cyberattack,”…

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt has been sworn-in for a second four-year term in office during a special parliament session broadcast live on state television. Sisi took the oath in a packed house and in front of members of his government, after winning 97 percent of valid votes in the March presidential election. A 63-year-old former intelligence chief and defence minister, Sisi overthrew Islamist Mohamed Mursi – Egypt’s first freely-elected president – after protests against Mursi’s rule in 2013. READ: Ghana dismisses Goodluck Jonathan’s ‘disparaging remarks’ comments The election featured only one other candidate, himself an ardent Sisi supporter,…

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan thought he could have a go at the present Nigerian government by citing instances of ‘disparaging remarks’ made by Ghana President Nana Akuffo-Addo but that has not gone done well. Jonathan had at the commissioning of a flyover in Ado Ekiti said that Nigeria had deteriorated so much that it had lost its respect in Africa. Jonathan in his speech at the inauguration on 25 May said: “A President of a neighbouring country, Ghana, recently made two negative remarks about Nigeria. “First, the current Ghanaian President was addressing Ghanaians about the movement of cattle within…

The death of three Nigerians in a rented accommodation in Uttam Nagar area of New Delhi have been reported by India’s The Hindu newspaper. The Nigerians were found dead on Friday, with the police recovering bottles of alcohol and soft drinks from the spot. The Times of India said all the three men were found frothing in the mouth. Dwarka Deputy Commissioner of Police Shibesh Singh said the deceased have been identified as David Christopher, Greece Ben, and David (I), all in their 30s. While Greece used to live on the third floor of the rented accommodation, David used to…

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino says he would “have to listen” if Real Madrid ask him to succeed Zinedine Zidane as boss at the Bernabeu. (Mirror) Argentine Pochettino has warned Spanish giants Real that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, who is renowned for his tough negotiating skills, “bites”. (Marca) Levy will refuse any offer from Real Madrid for Pochettino this summer, says Spanish journalist and author of Pochettino’s new book Guillem Balague. (BBC Radio 5 live) Germany head coach Joachim Low has ruled out the prospect of taking over at Real Madrid. (ESPN) Sporting Lisbon are actively seeking a transfer for William…

National chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Odigie-Oyegun says he will not re-contest as national chairman in the forthcoming National Convention slated for June 23, in the party´s interest. He stated this on Friday night in Abuja while speaking with newsmen, adding that, his decision was taken after wide consultation with close political associates and family members and not because of intimidation. However, he said that the tenure extension that was hitherto agreed by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) suffered a set-back following President Muhammadu Buhari’s opposition. According to him, the tenure extension would have helped…

Samuel Umtiti, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele scored as France continued their impressive build up to the World Cup with a comfortable victory over Italy in Nice. Umtiti set the hosts on their way after Kylian Mbappe’s effort was parried by the Italian goalkeeper, Salvatore Sirigu. The French doubled their lead when Griezmann converted a penalty after Lucas Hernandez had been fouled. Leonardo Bonucci reduced the arrears for Italy but Dembele’s chip rounded off a fine French display. France beat the Republic of Ireland 2-0 on Monday. Useful exercise for Deschamps France have now won five and drawn one of…

Former Ekiti governorship aspirant Opeyemi Bamidele has been shot at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat where party members waited to receive governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. Fayemi, his wife, Bisi Ondo state Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, deputy governorship candidate, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi escaped being shot. A yet-to-be identified mobile policeman (MOPOL) fired shots which hit a former House of Representatives member, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele and two others. One of those who was hit by the bullet was feared dead, but the trigger-happy cop was disarmed by angry party members and beaten up. The shooting was believed to have occurred around…

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, has assured Nigerians that the security of oil pipelines remains a priority to the armed forces in the country. He gave the assurance on Friday in Abuja during a peaceful protest by members of the Niger Delta Environmental Protection Group and Coalition of Niger Delta Civil Society Activists to his office. Olonisakin also said the Nigerian Army, Air Force and Navy were doing everything possible to ensure the security of Nigerians. He was represented by Maj.-Gen. Nuhu Angbazo, the Head of Civil-Military Affairs. Olonisakin said that the constitutional responsibility of the…