Author: Chronicle Editor

Iranians have emphatically re-elected President Hassan Rouhani, throwing down a challenge to the conservative clergy that still holds ultimate sway. State television congratulated Rouhani on his victory. The architect of Iran’s still-fragile detente with the West, led with 58.6 percent of the vote, compared with 39.8 percent for his main challenger, hardline judge Ebrahim Raisi, according to near-complete results broadcast on Saturday. Although the powers of the elected president are limited by those of unelected Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who outranks him, the scale of Rouhani’s victory gives the pro-reform camp a strong mandate. Rouhani’s opponent Raisi was a…

The All Progressives Congress has warned that Nigerians will defend their democracy and resist any coup against the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. “It is clear to everyone that Nigerians will defend their own democracy”, National Publicity Secretary of the ruling party, APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, stated this on Friday while reacting to the alarm by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai that some individuals were approaching some Army officers and soldiers for undisclosed political reasons. According to the ruling party, “We have hesitated to react so far because we think that the house belongs to us,…

Dr. Ayodeji Adewakun and her nurse husband, Abimbola Adewakun who trafficked a ‘slave nanny’ into the UK from Nigeria and threatened to beat her when she asked to be paid faced prospect of being jailed on 16 June. The doctor, 44, and her nurse husband, aged 48, lured the woman to the UK from Nigeria with promises of a salary of £500 per month. The couple confiscated her passport as soon as she arrived in February 2007 and subjected her to ‘constant demands and verbal abuse’. She managed to escape two years later after finally receiving just £350 – the…

President Donald Trump did not just leak intelligence secret about Islamic State to the Russians, he also discussed with glee the firing of James Comey, the former FBI chief. A new report by New York Times said Trump told Russian officials his firing of FBI Director James Comey relieved “great pressure” on him, calling the former FBI chief a “nut job.” “I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job,” Trump said, according to a report based on a summary of the meeting obtained by the Times. Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and Foreign Minister…

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and a subsidiary of United States-based ExxonMobil Corporation, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, have reached an agreement to end a dispute over the sacking of some employees, The Punch reports. This is coming a week after Mobil Producing Nigeria Branch of PENGASSAN rejected a directive from the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, that its industrial action should be suspended. The dispute had taken a turn for the worse on Monday as the union extended its industrial action to other international oil companies operating in the country. It…

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, has directed the resumption of 24-hour operations at the Apapa port and outrightly banned touting by officials or unofficial persons at any port; be it air, land and sea ports in Nigeria. Mr. Osinbajo had on Thursday signed three Executive Orders dealing with the business environment, local content in public procurement and timely budget submission. The Orders take effect immediately. The acting president said in the Order that, “the Apapa Port shall resume 24-hour operations within 30 days of the issuance of this Order and there shall be no touting whatsoever by official or unofficial persons…

Bibiana Steinhaus will become the first female to referee in the Bundesliga. The 38-year-old police officer has been named as one of four new referees in Germany’s top flight for 2017-18. Steinhaus has refereed second-tier games for six years. “For us all, it’s a dream come true. I’m very much looking forward to the task that awaits me,” said Steinhaus, who will referee the Women’s Champions League final between Lyon and Paris St-Germain in Cardiff on 1 June. “For every referee, whether a man or a woman, it is always a big goal to be able to whistle in the…

Think the season is over? Think again. We’ve worked out what your club could earn in prize money on the final day of the campaign. A cool £1.9m is awarded by the Premier League for each place from 20th upwards, and with the help of transfermarkt.co.uk, we’ve worked out how much prize money your club could lose or gain in the final week of the campaign. The biggest potential earners are around the bottom half of the Premier League, with a potential £11.4m swing for several clubs. Read below to see what your club could take home come Sunday evening……

Uzbek-born Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov has made a £1bn bid to wrest control of Arsenal from majority shareholder Stan Kroenke. But with Kroenke showing no interest, the bid has in effect been rejected, though Usmanov is yet to receive written confirmation. The Financial Times reported Usmanov made the offer last month, and that Kroenke has yet to formally respond. Metal magnate Usmanov owns 30% of Arsenal’s shares. He is, though, not part of the board or decision-making at the club. Usmanov said in April that Kroenke must “bear huge responsibility” for the club’s failures on the pitch. Arsenal need other…

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has received the details of the 2017 appropriation bill recently passed by the National Assembly. The National Assembly passed a N7.441 trillion budget last week. The document was handed over to Mr. Osinbajo by the presidential aide in charge of Senate, Ita Enang. The handover was done behind closed doors. Mr. Osinbajo had said on Wednesday that he would sign the budget when is satisfied with its contents. Speaking after submitting the budget, Mr. Enang said: “The budget as passed by the National Assembly has just been transmitted to the Acting President. I just delivered it.…