Author: Chronicle Editor

Moroccans who secretly converted to Christianity are demanding the right to practise their faith openly in a country where Islam is the state religion and “apostasy” is condemned. At an apartment in a working-class part of the southern town of Agadir, Mustapha listened to hymns emanating from a hi-fi under a silver crucifix hung on the wall. The 46-year-old civil servant, son of an expert on Islamic law from nearby Taroudant, was once an active member of the banned but tolerated Islamist Charity and Justice movement. He said he converted in 1994 to “fill a spiritual void”. “I was tired…

Tottenham kept up their pursuit of Premier League leaders Chelsea as Dele Alli and Harry Kane struck twice in three second-half minutes to see off north London rivals Arsenal. Spurs are four points behind Chelsea with four games remaining following the Blues’ win at Everton earlier in the day. And victory in the derby ensures Tottenham will finish above Arsenal in the league for the first time since the 1994-95 season. The home side could easily have been ahead before the break, with Christian Eriksen and Alli both missing close-range chances. The breakthrough felt inevitable, and duly arrived as Alli’s…

The President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, has called for urgent action to end rural poverty in Africa. He spoke at a conference on the future of the rural world in Berlin, Germany, where in 1884, Africa was partitioned by European colonialists. “We must pay particular attention to three factors: extreme rural poverty, high rates of unemployment among the youths and climate and environmental degradation – what I refer to as the ‘disaster triangle’,” Adesina told participants during a keynote speech at the ‘One World, No Hunger: Future of the Rural World’ conference hosted by the…

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, has congratulated Managing Director of the New Telegraph Newspaper, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, on her re-election as President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media & Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, in Abuja, Dogara urged her to continue from where she stopped in uniting the guild to tackle the many challenges confronting journalism in the country. The Speaker, who expressed confidence that Egbemode’s re-election will sustain the tempo of her first term and usher in a new era in the NGE. “She will no…

British acting star Damian Lewis on Sunday revealed that former US President Barack Obama had offered him advice in playing a charismatic hedge fund manager in hit television series “Billions”. When asked by the BBC’s Andrew Marr if his character Bobby “Axe” Axelrod glamorised Wall Street bosses, Damian Lewis replied: “I’m going to drop a name here and I’m going to enjoy it enormously. “The (then) president of the United States Barack Obama did say to me a few months ago, ‘I’m loving Billions, I’m loving your character in it, I’m loving Bobby, the only problem is hedge fund managers…

Rafael Nadal romped to his 10th Barcelona Open title on Sunday as he swept aside Austria’s Dominic Thiem 6-4, 6-1 for a 51st clay-court crown. The Spaniard has made the perfect start to the clay-court season and will aim for a 10th French Open next month after also claiming his 10th title at the Monte Carlo Masters last week. Nadal won in Barcelona between 2005-2009, 2011-13 and now in the last two years. The 14-time Grand Slam champion looks like the man to beat in Paris as on the court newly baptised in his name he failed to drop a…

Gabriel Jesus scored a late equaliser as Manchester City twice came from behind to rescue a point in the race for a top-four finish and dent Middlesbrough’s Premier League survival hopes. Boro thought they had secured a valuable win when Calum Chambers poked in from close range on 77 minutes, only for Jesus to rise and convert Sergio Aguero’s cross with five minutes remaining. It was a cruel blow for the tenacious hosts, who led at the break through Alvaro Negredo’s curling strike against his former club, before Aguero levelled with a penalty on 69 minutes after Marten de Roon…

Premier League leaders Chelsea took a big step towards clinching the title as three second-half goals overcame Everton at Goodison Park. Pedro’s 25-yard stunner, Gary Cahill’s close-range finish and Willian’s tap-in moved Antonio Conte’s side seven points clear of second-placed Tottenham, who face Arsenal later on Sunday. It means the Blues could drop three points in their remaining four games and still claim a second title in three years, even if Spurs win all of their remaining fixtures. Chelsea had to be patient, with Pedro’s left-footed, long-range strike not coming until the 66th minute. Cahill sealed the win when Maarten…

The police in Kano on Sunday arrested the immediate past governor of Jigawa, Alhaji Sule Lamido. A reliable source told NAN in Kano that Lamido was arrested for allegedly inciting his supporters to stop the conduct of state’s upcoming local council polls. NAN reports that the arrest of Lamido may be connected with a programme aired on one of the Kano local radio stations. Lamido was alleged to have directed his supporters, during the programme, to ensure that they win the local governments elections by all means. The former governor was said to have been arrested at his Sharada Kano…

US President Donald Trump has called Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte and expressed Washington’s commitment to their treaty alliance and his interest in developing “a warm, working relationship,” a Filipino official said Sunday. Presidential spokesman Ernie Abella said Trump mentioned he was looking forward to visiting the Philippines in November to attend an East Asia summit that Duterte will host with several world leaders and that Trump invited him to visit the White House. “The discussion that transpired between the presidents was warm, with President Trump expressing his understanding and appreciation of the challenges facing the Philippine president, especially on the…