Author: Chronicle Editor

The Federal Government has said it will support and create enabling environment for telecommunications industry to thrive. The Minister of Communications Adebayo Shittu stated this Wednesday in his Office when Tier Two (Broadband) Telecom Operators paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja. Tier two operators in Nigeria are Smile Communications, Spectranet, ntel and Swift Networks. Shittu, who identified with the challenges the operators are facing, said relevant steps would be taken to look into it. He added that ICT is critical to the government and data is a way of life to all citizens irrespective of either…

Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro stunned Roger Federer in four sets to reach the US Open semi-finals, dashing hopes of a Rafael Nadal versus Federer semis. The 24th seed won 7-5 3-6 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 to reach the last four, thrilling his large contingent of supporters in New York. He goes on to face top seed Rafael Nadal, who earlier beat Russian teenager Andrey Rublev. Del Potro’s victory means Federer and Nadal will end another year having never played each other at the US Open. READ: 14 Seconds: FIFA rejects Leicester’s application for Adrien Silva Top seed Nadal is now…

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday resumed official duties at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after Sallah break at his country home, Daura in Katsina State. While in Daura, the President performed the Eid prayers along with thousands of Muslims at the Eid ground on Friday as they celebrated Sallah. The President on Monday received associations of farmers, businessmen, youths, elders and politicians from Katsina State, where he assured them of his continuous commitment to serve the nation. He attributed his recent convalescence to divine act of almighty God. READ: Russia funded divisive political campaign on Facebook Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina…

Facebook says it has discovered a Russian-funded campaign to promote divisive social and political messages on its network. The company said $100,000 (£77,000) was spent on about 3,000 ads over a two-year period, ending in May 2017. The ads did not back any political figures specifically, but instead posted on topics including immigration, race and equal rights. Facebook said it was co-operating with a US investigation into the matter. It is handing over its evidence to special prosecutor Robert Mueller, who is overseeing an inquiry into alleged Russian interference in last year’s US presidential election. The advertisements directed users towards…

Puerto Rico is bracing for Hurricane Irma after the powerful storm caused at least seven deaths and left widespread destruction in the Caribbean. The small island of Barbuda is said to be “barely habitable” while there were warnings of a “cruel” impact on French territories St Martin and St Barts. Emergency efforts are being hampered by difficult access and communication with the hardest-hit areas. Meanwhile, two other storms have strengthened to become hurricanes. Irma, a category five hurricane, the highest possible level, is currently moving from the northern Virgin Islands, the US National Hurricane Center said. The most powerful storm…

*Says resources meant to address specific challenges must be properly managed Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has visited Benue State following heavily flooding in the state that has left over 100,000 people homeless. Osinbajo who called for proper management of resources voted to address the issue, noted that, the problem of flooding in Benue ‘cannot be solved overnight’. “We must ensure that funds that are meant to address issues like this are properly managed but we have to be consistent and cooperate with the state government and other authorities because the problem cannot be solved overnight,” a statement issued…

A prominent Indian journalist and activist has been shot dead in the southern state of Karnataka. The body of Gauri Lankesh, 55, was found lying in a pool of blood on the porch at her home in Bangalore on Tuesday night. A staunch critic of Hindu nationalist politics, last year Lankesh was convicted of defamation and sentenced to six months in prison for a story on a local leader of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. At the time of her death, Lankesh was on bail appealing the verdict. Bangalore Police Commissioner T. Suneel Kumar told reporters that four empty cartridges…

Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger has signed into law a bill establishing the new Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) for employees in the state civil service. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports in Minna on Wednesday that the bill was passed by the state House of Assembly in 2015, after it was presented to the state legislative arm. Bello after signing the bill, said that the bill would provide a better welfare package for civil servants in the state civil service after retirement. He said the present administration was committed to ensuring that the welfare of its workforce was given…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested seven National Diploma (ND) students of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, Ogun State for alleged conspiracy, obtaining money by trick (OBT) and possession of forged documents. The suspects are Adesina Olalekan, Makinde Noheem, Toheeb Ogunowo, Somotun Olusola, Somotun Sodiq, Tajudeen Hafeez Bolaji and Kareem Olaseni.They were arrested along with Iyun Ifeoluwa, Odusanwo Ibrahim, Obanijesu Opeyemi Soneye, Azeez Olayinka, Babatunde Ajala, Ojejimi Ademola, Aderowunmi Ayomide and Oluokun Oluwaseun by EFCC operatives within Abeokuta and its environs on August 17, 2016. Read Also Suspected Bomb lab found near Paris, two arrested Their…

A suspected bomb-making laboratory was discovered Wednesday in an unoccupied apartment in a Paris suburb, leading to two arrests, sources close to the probe said. Gas canisters, electric wiring and chemicals that could be used to make explosives were among items found in the flat near Villejuif, south of the French capital, the sources said. One of the arrested pair, aged 36 and 47, is the owner of the flat, they said. Paris police said a man who works at the apartment block had alerted police to “suspect items” in the flat. Police found ingredients that can be used to…