Author: Chronicle Editor

No fewer than 100 countries have condoled Nigeria over the passing away of the late Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin. Osotimehin died on Sunday night in New York at the age of 68. Nigeria’s Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the condolences had come in from the majority of the 193 UN Member States. According to him, he has been receiving condolences from Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of Missions since the sad demise of Osotimehin. The Nigerian envoy commended the outpouring of the messages, saying…

The US says it is considering withdrawing from the UN body on human rights, highlighting what it calls a “biased” stance on Israel. UN ambassador Nikki Haley said the US was “looking carefully” at its role on the Human Rights Council. She said it was “hard to accept” the fact that five resolutions had been passed against Israel, a US ally, but none had been considered on Venezuela. READ: Moroccan-Italian named as third London bridge attacker Mrs Haley is expected to address the council later on Tuesday. In an opinion article for the Washington Post last Friday, Mrs Haley said…

The third London Bridge attacker has been named as Youssef Zaghba, a Moroccan-Italian man. Pakistan-born Khuram Butt, 27, and Rachid Radouane, 30, both from Barking were the other two attackers. Meanwhile, another victim has been named as Australian Kirsty Boden, who her family said ran towards London Bridge in an effort to help people. Seven people were killed and 48 injured in the attack which began at 21:58 BST on Saturday night. NHS England said 36 people remained in hospital, with 18 in a critical condition. Ms Boden’s family described her in a statement as an “outgoing, kind and generous…

Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari says her husband’s health is improving after he has spent nearly one month in a London hospital for an unspecified illness. President Muhammadu Buhari’s ill health has prompted fears as this is the second time this year he has been abroad for extended medical treatment. READ: Osinbajo wants Nigerian banks punished for illicit funds Aisha Buhari who left for the British capital last week to “spend some time” with her 74-year-old husband, who left Nigeria on May 7 and has not been heard from or seen since. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has been acting as President…

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said it would on Wednesday disclose its decision on political associations seeking to be registered as political parties. The Chairman of the commission, Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this in an interview with journalists at an ongoing workshop to review INEC’s Communication Policy, on Monday in Abuja. Mr. Yakubu said the decision would be made public after the commission’s meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) scheduled for Wednesday in Kaduna. “Let me assure Nigerians that under the Electoral Act, the commission is required to register new political parties and the guidelines are very clear for registration.…

Bayern Munich have joined Manchester United and Chelsea in the race to sign Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, 24. (Manchester Evening News) Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, 24, is Manchester United’s top transfer target as Belgium international Lukaku and Torino striker Andrea Belotti, 23, are too expensive. (Daily Telegraph) Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen, 25, has spoken about rumours linking him with Barcelona, saying a move would be tempting. (Ekstra Blade, via Independent) Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been spotted in Nice with chief executive Ivan Gazidis as speculation mounts that the Gunners could make a move for 18-year-old Monaco striker…

Arsene Wenger has been spotted in Nice with chief executive Ivan Gazidis as speculation mounts that Arsenal could be poised to make a move for Monaco star Kylian Mbappe. The Arsenal boss has been pictured in the south of France along the French Riviera and looked deep in conversation with Gazidis as they plan a busy summer of transfer acitivity. Cote d’Azur Airport in Nice is the nearest location to Monaco and the presence of both Wenger and Gazidis has only heightened speculation that a deal for Mbappe could be moving a step closer to being completed. Wenger finally pledged…

The acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and an anti-corruption Chief, Mr Akere Muna, on Monday said banks and other financial institutions warehousing illicit funds should be made to face the consequences of the criminal conduct. Both said this in separate addresses at the “Conference on Promoting International Co-operation in Combating Illicit Financial Flows and Enhancing Asset Recovery to Foster Sustainable Development” in Abuja. According to Osinbajo, the transfer of illicit funds cannot happen without a “handshake’’ between the countries where the funds are transferred from and financial institutions and countries to which the assets are transferred. “There is no way…

A US government contractor has been arrested on suspicion of leaking top-secret information to a news outlet. Reality Leigh Winner, 25, allegedly removed classified material from a government facility in the US state of Georgia. The charges were announced shortly after the Intercept published a National Security Agency briefing about alleged Russian political meddling. The Trump administration has been railing against leaks to the media. Ms Winner was arrested on 3 June, the justice department said. She is a contractor with Pluribus International Corporation and had been employed at an NSA facility in Georgia since February, reports NBC News. Qatar…

Dammy Krane‘s profile on Wikipedia has been updated with information and details of his arrest in Miami – the update according to his Wikipedia page reads, ‘On Friday 2nd June 2017, the Nigerian news circuit was set ablaze with surprising news that Dammy Krane had been arrested in the US for Grand Theft, Credit Card & Identity Fraud. In the days that followed more details revealed that the talented Nigerian musician had used a stolen credit card to book a private jet from a company – Tap Jets – while on holiday in Miami. The company had detected the artiste’s…