Author: Chronicle Editor

Chelsea and Manchester City are being investigated by football’s governing body Fifa over their recruitment of youth players. This is the third time football’s world governing body has looked at Chelsea, and in 2009 they were banned from making signings for two years. In May, the Premier League fined City £300,000 and banned them from signing academy players for two years. FIFA has stringent rules in place for signing players under the age of 18 to prevent exploitation and trafficking. When asked by BBC Sport about Chelsea and Manchester City, it confirmed an investigation was “ongoing”. City have no knowledge…

Chelsea have agreed terms with Atletico Madrid for the transfer of striker Diego Costa back to the Spanish club. The move, which will be completed in January, is subject to the agreement of personal terms and a medical. Atletico said the 28-year-old, who left the club to join Chelsea in 2014, would have a medical in the next few days. Spain international Costa has not played for the Blues this season, and spent much of August in his native Brazil. READ: Michy Batshuayi bag hat-trick as Chelsea thrash Forest 5-1 He cannot be registered as a player for the La…

The National Assembly on Thursday endorsed verification civil service pensioners being conducted by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) in Lagos. According to a statement signed by the spokesman for PTAD, Mr Ema Okondo, on Thursday in Lagos, the Senate Committee on Establishment and Pension and the House of Representatives Committee on Pensions are satisfied with the exercise taking place in five centres. It said that the senate committee led by its chairman, Senator Emmanuel Paulker, was on a visit to verification centres in Alausa, Ketu and Yaba. READ: Saudi Arabia lifts Skype, WhatsApp ban, censor calls It said that…

The Saudi government is lifting a ban on calls made through online apps like Skype, WhatsApp on Thursday, however, it will monitor and censor them, a government spokesman said. All online voice and video call services like Microsoft’s Skype, Facebook’s WhatsApp and Messenger, and Rakuten’s Viber which satisfy regulatory requirements were set to become accessible overnight. However, on Thursday, Messenger and Viber appeared to remain blocked inside the kingdom. Adel Hameed, spokesman for telecoms regulator CITC, said on Arabiya TV that new regulations were aimed mainly at protecting users’ personal information and blocking content that violated the kingdom’s laws. “Under…

…To Clamp Down On Okada Plying Restricted Routes The Lagos State Government has set up a Joint Tactic Squad comprising of officers of all the security agencies to heighten security within and around Model Colleges and all schools in the outskirts, riverine and other vulnerable areas of the State. Briefing Government House Correspondents after the monthly Security Council Meeting chaired by the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and attended by commanders of security formations operating in the State, the State’s Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal said the State Government has also resolved to vigorously enforce the State Traffic Law prohibiting…

Hurricane Maria has knocked out power across the island of Puerto Rico, home to 3.5m people, officials have said. Abner Gómez, head of the disaster management agency, said none of the customers of Puerto Rico’s Electric Power Authority had any electricity. The US National Hurricane Center said “catastrophic” flooding was sweeping parts of the island. Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello said one fatality had been reported so far, a man struck by flying debris. Maria, weakened to a category two storm, is moving away from the US territory and heading towards the Dominican Republic. “When we are able to go…

Keystone Bank Limited has introduced a new SMART number, for customer support in a bid to provide top-notch service to its customers. Launched earlier this month, the SMART number – 0700 2000 3000 Contact Centre eliminates the need for customers to remember multiple numbers while removing the uncertainty as to which of the lines are actively engaged. READ: Mango leaf good for kidney treatment – Doctor Speaking on the launch of SMART number, Group Managing Director/CEO, Obeahon Ohiwerei said: “The launch of our 0700 2000 3000 Contact Centre easily memorable number opens up the communication channel with the Bank. “It’s…

An Abuja based herbal doctor, Dr Bamidele Joshua said the consumption of mango leaves helps in the treatment of kidney and gall stones among others. He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja that consumption of mango leaves also helps in the treatment of many health conditions. According to him, Mango leaves contain vitamins C, A and B as well as vital minerals such as Copper, Potassium and Magnesium. He explained that the leaves could be boiled to be taken as water or dried into powder form to be used in any food or drink. Joshua…

Michy Batshuayi grabbed a hat-trick and Eden Hazard marked his first Chelsea start of the season with two assists as the Premier League champions crushed Nottingham Forest to move into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. Blues boss Antonio Conte made nine changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Arsenal on Sunday but a strong and vastly experienced line-up proved way too strong for their Championship opponents. Elsewhere, it was a night devoid of shocks as Manchester United overpowered Burton Albion, Everton eased past Sunderland and Arsenal beat Doncaster Rovers 1-0. The closest to a shock came at…

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state has urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), to embark on oil and gas exploration in the Sokoto Inland Sedimentary Basin. He said the exploration should be done with a view to establishing the volume and value of hydrocarbon deposits there. Governor Tambuwal who led a high powered Sokoto State delegation to the NNPC Towers in Abuja today, said that based on existing exploration records, it is likely that renewed search for oil in the basin would yield some positive results in the nearest future. While commending the current administration for re-invigorating the quest…