Author: Chronicle Editor

North Korea hit one of its own cities during a botched ballistic missile test last year, according to a report. A Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile was launched from North Korea’s Pukchang Airfield on 28 April. It flew around 24 miles to the northeast before failing and coming down on the city of Tokchon, according to news website The Diplomat. The missile struck a complex of industrial or agricultural facilities in the city, which is about two hours from the North Korean capital. Read Also Trump says Michael Wolff book ‘full of lies’ Citing satellite imagery, The Diplomat said there were…

Chelsea want Diego Simeone to replace Antonio Conte as head coach at the end of the season, according to a report by The Times. The club have no plans to sack Conte but, with issues over Chelsea’s transfer policy and management structure, there is a widespread expectation at Stamford Bridge that both parties will come to a mutual agreement on his exit in the summer. The Italian signed a new contract at Chelsea last summer but did not extend its length and will only have one year remaining after this campaign. Chelsea have therefore begun the process of looking at…

Arsene Wenger faces further Football Association disciplinary action after describing disputed refereeing decisions as “concerning coincidences”. Before Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea, the Arsenal boss criticised decisions and after the match said the awarding of a penalty was “farcical”. He claimed “when it’s repeated it’s not coincidence”. Wenger has already been charged with misconduct after criticising a late West Brom penalty in Sunday’s draw. The Frenchman has until 18:00 GMT on Friday to respond to that charge following his conduct in the referee’s changing room at the Hawthorns after Calum Chambers was penalised for handball by referee Mike Dean. READ:…

Liverpool are likely to allow Philippe Coutinho, 25, to head to Barcelona in the January transfer window in exchange for a fee of more £140m. (Times – requires subscription) Chelsea want Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone to replace Antonio Conte as head coach at the end of the season. (Times – requires subscription) Chelsea have stepped up their bid to sign Everton and England midfielder Ross Barkley, 24, and have also enquired about England and West Ham striker Andy Carroll, 28. (Mail) Celtic and Scotland international Kieran Tierney, 20, has been included on a shortlist of left-backs Manchester United are…

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Kano State Chapter has called on the State Government to place road signs few meters before the two old tollgates along Zaria Road. The NSE chairman in the state, Alhaji Rabi’u Haruna made the call on Thursday after he visited the abandoned tollgate where 11 women lost their lives in an accident at one of the tollgates at Naibawa. He said there urgent need for the government to place all the necessary signs few metres before the old tollgates in order to notify motorists coming toward the abandoned tollgates. If such road signs are…

President Donald Trump has gone on Twitter to say a book containing damaging allegations about his administration is “full of lies”. Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House by Michael Wolff was due out on Tuesday but publication was advanced to Friday and it is now on sale. Mr Trump’s lawyers had tried to block its publication. The book cites former top aide Steve Bannon as describing a meeting with a group of Russians at which Mr Trump’s son was present as “treasonous”. It also portrays Mr Trump as being surprised at winning the presidency. I authorized Zero access…

Defending champion Serena Williams pulled out of the Australian Open on Friday, saying she was “super close” but still not at the level she needs to be after giving birth to her first child. The American 23-time Grand Slam winner made a tentative return at an Abu Dhabi exhibition late last month, losing to French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko. Prior to that her last competitive match was at the Australian Open final almost a year ago, which she won despite being two months pregnant, memorably beating sister Venus in the decider. Since then, she has given birth to her first…

Nigeria’s Ministry of Petroleum has dismissed reports that it intends to increase the price of petrol pump price following the recent fuel crisis in the country. In a statement signed by Idang Alibi, Director, Press, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Ministry noted that the speech of Dr Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State For Petroleum Resources was taken out of context. “The attention of the office of the Honorable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources has been drawn to some certain publications making the rounds on both traditional and social media alleging that the Honorable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources Dr. Emmanuel…

Egyptian playmaker Mohamed Salah etched his name into football history after being crowned African Player of the Year 2017. The 25-year old, who plays for English side Liverpool picked the topmost prize at the Aiteo CAF Awards Gala 2017, held on Thursday, 4 January 2018, at the International Conference Centre in Accra, Ghana. Salah fended off opposition from club-mate Sadio Mane of Senegal and Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, winner in 2015, to become the first Egyptian to win the most prestigious individual honour in African football. He polled 625 points, against 507 from Mane whilst Aubameyang finished a distant third with…

Dr Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State For Petroleum Resources, on Thursday said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC has incurred a cumulative loss of N85.5 billion in importing petrol and selling at the current retail price of N145 per litre. Kachikwu said the price was fixed in the first quarter of 2016, when crude oil was selling for $49 and pointed out that with crude price rising to $67 a barrel, the pump price, may no longer be sustainable. Kachickwu made the explanation to the National Assembly joint committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream). According to Kachikwu, the landing cost of…