Author: Chronicle Editor

The Arsenal midfielder Mesut Özil has claimed in his autobiography that during their time working together at Real Madrid, José Mourinho called him ‘a coward’. The pair both joined Real in the summer of 2010 and left in the summer of 2013, winning La Liga and the Copa del Rey together. The book, Die Magie des Spiels (The Magic of the Game), is being serialised in German newspaper Bild, and recalls a tense encounter after one unspecified game, when Mourinho tore into the player for a perceived lack of effort. Özil writes that the Portuguese said: “You think two beautiful…

Democrats say they remain unconvinced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ latest comments regarding his contacts with the Russian ambassador in 2016. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi is leading calls for America’s top prosecutor to step down. President Donald Trump said he was “an honest man” and described Democrats’ pressure as “a total witch hunt”. Jeff Sessions is an honest man. He did not say anything wrong. He could have stated his response more accurately, but it was clearly not….— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 3, 2017 …intentional. This whole narrative is a way of saving face for Democrats losing an…

Zimbabwe’s High Court has outlawed corporal punishment for children both at school and in the home. The ruling comes after a parent complained that her child in grade one, a class for six-year-olds, had deep bruises after a beating by a teacher. Linah Pfungwa said her daughter had been punished for failing to have her reading book signed by guardians as proof she had done her homework. The constitutional court will have to confirm the judgement. The BBC’s Shingai Nyoka in the capital, Harare, says if upheld, it would transform the way parents have disciplined their children for centuries in…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revealed that the recent appreciation of the Naira against other currencies was the result of its market monitoring and intervention. The acting Director, Corporate Communications of the CBN, Mr Isaac Okorafor on Thursday in Sokoto refuted the claim that the allegations by Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi on the illegal sales of foreign currencies at ridiculous rates was responsible for the change in forex policy. Babatunde Gbadamosi, a Lagos businessman and former governorship candidate, made allegations of racketeering against the CBN and favouritism in allocation of foreign exchange to cronies of the present administration. He…

Atletico Madrid say striker Fernando Torres is “stable, conscious and lucid” in hospital after suffering a head injury in the 1-1 draw with Deportivo. The ex-Liverpool and Chelsea striker fell heavily after an 85th-minute aerial challenge with Alex Bergantinos. He will remain under observation but Atletico confirmed scans showed he has “no traumatic alterations or injuries”. The Spain international, 32, released a statement saying: “It was just a scare. I hope to come back very soon.” Speaking at his post-match news conference, Atletico coach Diego Simeone said he was “worried and nervous” when the incident happened. “We heard the blow…

Estranged sister of Spurs star Dele Alli begs star midfielder to heal family rift THE estranged big sister of England and Tottenham star Dele Alli has begged the footballer to heal the family rift, saying: “We’re not after your money.” Barbara Johnson wrote the impassioned plea to the Tottenham Hotspur player, who is understood to not have spoken to his family for years, saying they didn’t want his fame but simply wanted to see him again. The 26-year-old’s mum heartbroken message comes after Dele’s parents Denise and Kehinde opened up about their despair at being cut out of their firstborn…

On Thursday,the senate mandated its Committee on Customs, Tariff and Excise to investigate alleged unlawful raid of rice shops at Kayero Market, Sango Ota, Ogun state by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that officials of the service were said to have raided the market on Feb. 22 and allegedly carted away goods and other commodities described as contraband. The senate’s resolution followed a motion by Sen. Gbolahan Dada (Ogun-APC), who alleged that the Customs officers broke into shops and made away with goods worth billions of Naira. Dada argued that by the provisions of the…

Imo state Governor Rochas Okorocha on Thursday in Abuja expressed concerns over the effects of western culture on the society. Okorocha who was the guest speaker at the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) Quarterly Public Lecture entitled: “Promoting Culture, Developing the Economy’’ said relegating our culture and embracing that culture,`is a problem.’ “People that go outside their culture have automatically lost their identity. The removal of our culture is a colossal damage done to us by our colonial masters. “Culture is a way of life of people. Their food, language, dressing all contributes to give them an identity. “We…

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has decried the attitude of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the suit filed by Sen. Buruji Kashamu against the Inspector-General of Police and others. When the case came up for hearing on Thursday, the DSS counsel neither sent a representative nor gave reason for his absence. Dimgba, however, ordered that a letter be written and hearing notice be forwarded to the DSS to formally intimate it of the next hearing date fixed for March 21. The suit was filed against the Inspector- General of Police and the Director- General…

Snap, owner of messaging app Snapchat, has priced its shares at $17 ahead of Thursday’s listing on the US stock market. The flotation values the business at $24bn, although Snap has never made a profit. It will turn the company’s founders Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy into multi-billionaires. Snapchat, which is especially popular with teenagers, allows users to send images and messages which then vanish. The shares, which were more than ten times oversubscribed, will list on the New York Stock Exchange. Investors at the flotation will not have voting rights. The company’s losses widened last year, and user growth…