Author: Chronicle Editor

The World Food Prize Foundation has explained why Dr Akinwumi Adesina won the 250,000 dollars 2017 World Food Prize Laureate prize on Monday. President of the Foundation, Ambassador Kenneth Quinn said Adesina won the prize “for driving change in African agriculture for over 25 years and improving food security for millions across the continent”. Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), was announced on Monday as the 2017 World Food Prize Laureate at a ceremony at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. Quinn explained that the selection of Nigeria’s former Minister of Agriculture for the prize also…

Google has been fined 2.42bn euros ($2.7bn; £2.1bn) by the European Commission after it ruled the company had abused its power by promoting its own shopping comparison service at the top of search results. The amount is the regulator’s largest penalty to date against a company accused of distorting the market. The ruling also orders Google to end its anti-competitive practices within 90 days or face a further penalty. The US firm said it may appeal. However, if it fails to change the way it operates the Shopping service within the three-month deadline, it could be forced to make payments…

Over 22 million Americans could lose their health insurance over the next decade under a Senate bill to replace Obamacare, a congressional report says. However, the bill would reduce the budget deficit, the non-partisan Congressional Budgetary Office said. Similar legislation passed by the House was also said to leave millions uninsured. Some Republicans have voiced reservations about the plan. But the White House disputed the CBO’s figures. Responding to Monday’s report, it said: “The CBO has consistently proven it cannot accurately predict how healthcare legislation will impact insurance coverage.” The report is a review of draft legislation unveiled by the…

Claims of alleged corruption in Qatar’s successful 2022 World Cup bid have been published in the German media. Bild newspaper says it has obtained the “suppressed” 2014 report authored by former FIFA independent ethics investigator Michael Garcia. Bild’s report includes details of a $2m (£1.6m) sum allegedly paid to the 10-year-old daughter of a FIFA official. Garcia quit in December 2014 in protest at the handling of his report into the bidding process. The American lawyer cited a “lack of leadership” as he left football’s world governing body, whose executives unanimously agreed to publish a “legally appropriate version” of his…

Jose Mourinho has paid tribute to his late father, Jose Mourinho Felix, with a photograph of the two shared on Instagram. Jose Mourinho’s father, Felix passed away on Monday aged 79. Manchester United shared the news of the death on their website today as they offered condolences for their manager who became their coach last summer. “Everyone at Manchester United is extending sincere condolences to Jose Mourinho and his family, following confirmation that the manager’s father, Felix, has passed away. Jose shared this special moment with his father on Instagram A post shared by Jose Mourinho (@josemourinho) on Jun 25,…

As the controversy over the 2017 budget of the ministry of power, works and housing continues, Mr Babatunde Fashola, the minister, insists that the legislature slashed allocations for key infrastructure to little projects. Fashola insisted on the allegation he made and expressed concern over the reaction of the National Assembly to his observations on the 2017 Budget as passed by the legislature. The minister had in a recent interview, complained that the legislators had in approving the budget, reduced funds for some key projects of his ministry and allocated the money to some frivolous ones. He had disagreed with the…

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday hosted a delegation of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ministers and called on Nigerians to pray and work for the nation’s unity. The immediate past president said that no nation’s economy could grow where there was no peace. He said that periods such as Eid-el-fitr should always be used to know that the unity of the country is paramount. “We cannot develop as a nation, no matter how people demonstrate, and no president can do magic, if there is tension in the land. “This is because, immediately there is sense of insecurity in any…

US President Donald Trump has broken a nearly 20-year-old tradition by failing to host a dinner marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The White House event had been held every year since President Clinton’s tenure. The Eid al-Fitr feast ends Ramadan, a period when Muslims fast and focus on charitable giving. But US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reportedly rejected a request to hold a reception. In May, Reuters said Mr Tillerson had refused a recommendation from the State Department’s office of religion and global affairs to organise a celebration. Mr Trump has previously been criticised…

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers said the dissolution of the State Executive Council was to ensure better performance of the machinery of government. The governor stated this on Sunday at a Thanksgiving service over the victory of Mr Evans Bipi, the Majority Whip of the State House of Assembly, in the rerun election for Ogu/Bolu state constituency in the House of Assembly. Wike noted that the dissolution was carried out at the right time after due consultation with the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. “The dissolution was done to enable the machinery of government to…

Fire broke out on Sunday at the House on the Rock Church in Abuja. The church is located close to the National stadium Abuja and close to the City Gate. Our correspondent who passed by the airport road on Sunday reports that the building was visibly ablaze while firefighters were struggling to put out the flames. Coincidentally, there was a heavy downpour at the time our correspondent passed by. The cause of the fire is yet unknown. House on the Rock Church, Abuja on fire ?. 7 fire trucks ? at the scene.Caution needed if you are driving towards Airport,…