Author: Chronicle Editor

Soft drink bottler Coca-Cola HBC reported higher-than-expected first-half sales on Thursday, helped by price increases in Nigeria and Russia, sending its shares up more than eight percent to all-time highs. The company, which was the top gainer on London’s FTSE 100 index, said operating profit jumped by nearly 21 percent to 266.4 million euros ($312.5 million) in the first half of the year on sales revenue up 5.6 percent to 3.21 billion euros. Excluding currency fluctuations, sales rose 5.7 percent, beating expectations for growth of 5 percent, according to several analysts. The company, which bottles and sells Coca-Cola drinks in…

Nigeria’s acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has approved the appointment of 21 new Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service. Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, announced this in a statement by Mr Haruna Imrana, Director, Communications in the office on Thursday in Abuja. The permanent secretaries are Ehuria Ekeoma (Abia State); Akpan Sunday (Akwa Ibom); Anagbogu Nkiruka (Anambra); Walson-Jack Esther (Bayelsa); Gekpe Isu (Cross River); Aliboh Lawrence (Delta) and Uwaifo Clement ( Edo). Others are Folayan Olaniyi (Ekiti state); Osuji Marcellinus (Imo); Mu’azu Abdulkadir (Kaduna); Sulaiman Lawal (Kano); Abdullahi Mashi (Katsina State); Adebiyi Adekunle,…

Five transgender military personnel in the US military have launched a legal bid to block a ban announced by President Trump on Twitter last month. The anonymous plaintiffs from the army, air force and coast guard are suing Mr Trump and several officials. They say thousands of transgender troops have declared themselves since the military said they could serve openly and now face uncertain futures. Mr Trump said transgender people would “disrupt” the military. However it is not yet clear whether formal steps to enforce the ban have yet been taken or how it will affect serving personnel. READ: Taming…

Neymar and co. are deemed the top team in the world, ending Germany’s shortlived return to first place, while Poland moved into the top five Brazil have returned to the top of the FIFA rankings, ending Germany’s one-month reign at the summit. The reigning World Cup champions, who had moved into first place in July after winning the Confederations Cup, dropped into second for the August rankings, despite the fact that neither they nor Brazil played no games since the last update. Argentina, meanwhile, remain third in the August rankings update, but there was movement beneath them as Switzerland rose…

Brighton are set to break their transfer record for the third time this summer after agreeing a deal to sign Colombian international Jose Izquierdo from Club Brugge. The 25-year-old winger, who will join in a reported £13.5m deal, will complete the move after a medical. Izquierdo scored 15 goals in the Belgian Pro League last term. Seagulls boss Chris Hughton described him as “one of the standout players” in Belgium over the past three years. READ: PSG agree £163m for Mbappe, Chelsea offer £35m for Chamberlin Brighton say the winger’s transfer fee would set a new club record. Hughton’s side…

Manchester United boss Mourinho is intent on making at least one more signing before the transfer window closes – with Tottenham left-back Danny Rose, 27, and Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic, 28, potential targets. (Manchester Evening News) Rose says he is not planning to leave Spurs, but he would consider a concrete offer from another club, and believes he should be paid more than he is. (Sun) The England international has also urged Tottenham to spend money, but not on ‘players you have to Google and say, ‘Who’s that?’. (Sun) Paris St-Germain are close to signing France and Monaco forward…

By Iyoha John Darlington The duo of President Donald Trump of the US and Kim Jong-un of North Korea have been urged to save the world the dangers of another impending Holocaust. This was contained in an article titled, “Taming the two death Merchants” by Iyoha John Darlington, a Niger Delta born social activist, a columnist with the US-based Nigerian Voice and a public commentator on national and global issues. He maintained in his piece that the rogue regime of North Korea’s threat should not be overlooked as it has enough weapons to cause damage not only to its avowed…

Liverpool have rejected a bid of 100 million euros (£90m) from Barcelona for Brazil playmaker Philippe Coutinho. Barca’s second bid for the 25-year-old, which was rejected immediately, comprised an initial 85m euros (£76.8m) plus 15m euros (£13.5m) in add-ons. Liverpool have reiterated that Coutinho – who joined them from Inter Milan for £8.5m in 2013 – is not for sale. Barcelona sold Brazil forward Neymar to Paris St-Germain for a world record transfer of £200m last week. Coutinho who scored 14 goals last term and spent six weeks out with an ankle injury, signed a new five-year deal in January,…

Manchester United’s American owners are set to earn about $72.89m (£56.04m) by selling more of their shares in the club on the New York Stock Exchange. The sale, which equates to around two per cent of the club’s shares, is expected to conclude next Tuesday. It will take the ratio of shares, which have limited voting rights, floated on the US Stock Market to just above 20%. Manchester United will not receive any proceeds from the sale. The value is based on Wednesday’s share price of $17.15 (£13.19). READ: Klopp rejects Coutinho move, Chelsea turns to Van Dijk The Glazer…

The Secretary to Kwara State Government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold, on Wednesday said Senate President, Bukola Saraki has returned all monies paid to him as pension back to the coffers of the state government. The SSG made this known on Wednesday in Ilorin in a press statement issued to clarify the issue of Saraki’s pension being paid by the state government. According to him, Saraki, who was a two-term governor of the state, has stopped receiving pension from the state since August 2015. The SSG did not state how much was returned to government coffers, but said a letter dated…