Author: Chronicle Editor

t Donald Trump has decried as a “political witch hunt” US media reports that Russian intelligence agencies have obtained personally compromising material related to him. Unsubstantiated allegations say Russia has embarrassing information about him. Without referring to the stories, the president-elect tweeted: “FAKE NEWS – A TOTAL POLITICAL WITCH HUNT!” FAKE NEWS – A TOTAL POLITICAL WITCH HUNT!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2017 Mr Trump is due to hold a news conference on Wednesday, nine days before he takes office. The US intelligence agencies have presented that information to the president-elect and his predecessor at the White House,…

Nigeria’s former president Goodluck Jonathan said he did not receive bribe from a $1.3 billion deal involving oil giants ENI and Shell. He also flatly denied sharing with any one $466 million kickback arising from the deal. Jonathan posted the denial Tuesday in a statement by his spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze. “At no time did the former president hold private meetings with representatives of ENI to discuss pecuniary issues,” said his spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze. “All the meetings and discussions former president Jonathan had with ENI, other IOCs and some indigenous operators were conducted officially, and in the presence of relevant Nigerian…

Manchester United beat Hull City 2-0 to take a slender advantage into the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final but Wayne Rooney’s wait to become his club’s outright all-time top scorer goes on. United probed without reward in the first half, as they were thwarted by a diligent and well-organised Hull, playing for the second time under Jose Mourinho’s compatriot Marco Silva. Juan Mata went closest during the opening period for the hosts and, as he did in the fourth round against Manchester City, the Spain playmaker brought Old Trafford to its feet with the opening goal after half-time.…

Uganda’s leader Yoweri Museveni has promoted his eldest son to become a special presidential adviser in a reshuffle of army commanders. Maj Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has risen rapidly within the military, fuelling speculation that he is being groomed to become president one day. Analysts say his new role, working more closely with state house, will broaden his remit and experience. Mr Museveni, 72, is one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. He came to power in 1986 after winning a five-year guerrilla war – and last year won his fifth term in office with more than 60% of the vote. Gen Kainerugaba,…

Nigeria’s money-changers will introduce an exchange rate for the naira to help the central bank combat unregulated trading. Licensed dealers, known as bureaux de change, or BDCs, will post an exchange rate each Monday on their website from Jan. 16 to “highlight positive rate development in the market” and counter domains such as abokifx.com, which publishes unofficial prices daily, Aminu Gwadabe, the head of the local BDC association, told reporters in Lagos. Trading in the black market boomed since 2014 after the central bank strengthened capital controls and began to manipulate the interbank exchange rate as oil, the country’s top…

President Muhammadu Buhari has released $55.5 million to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for women healthcare project. Each of the states and FCT would get $1.5 million, Buhari said. The women quality healthcare initiative is on the platform of government’s “Saving One Million Lives Initiative’’. The initiative is co-sponsored development partners especially, the United States Government, the World Bank, the European Union and Department for International Development. President Buhari announced the release of the money when he inaugurated the Primary Health Care Centre for Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria at Kuchigoro. Buhari said in Abuja that…

President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated the Primary Health Care Centre for Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria at Kuchigoro with a promise to ensure access to quality basic healthcare. Buhari said at the inauguration on Tuesday in Abuja that the provision of quality health care service would reverse the poor health indices in the country. He said the administration would fulfill the promises made to the people. “I am hopeful that our women will no more be dying needlessly during childbirth; our children will no more be dying needlessly as a result of vaccine preventable diseases or common ailment; access to…

Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and midfielder Paul Pogba are set to return to Manchester United’s side against Hull in the semi-final of the EFL Cup. Ander Herrera and Antonio Valencia are also poised to start the first leg at Old Trafford after missing the FA Cup win over Reading. Hull City captain Michael Dawson (shoulder) is a doubt, as is Harry Maguire (hip). Abel Hernandez could start after coming off the bench to score on Saturday. Wayne Rooney – one away from becoming United’s all-time leading scorer – may have to wait for his historic goal as Mourinho contemplates changes. United…

The World Cup will be expanded to host 48 teams, up from 32, Fifa has decided. An initial stage of 16 groups of three teams will precede a knockout stage for the remaining 32 when the change is made for the 2026 tournament. The sport’s world governing body voted unanimously in favour of the change at a meeting in Zurich on Tuesday. The number of tournament matches will rise to 80, from 64, but the eventual winners will still play only seven games. The tournament will be completed within 32 days – a measure to appease powerful European clubs, who…

President Yahya Jammeh now has to find another gambit to stay in power beyond next week, as his court case against Adama Barrow’s election has run into a ditch. Gambia’s Supreme Court said today that it cannot rule for several months on Jammeh’s challenge against his electoral defeat on 1 December due to a lack of judges. “We can only hear this matter when we have a full bench of the Supreme Court,” Emmanuel Fagbenle, the court’s chief justice said Tuesday. The Nigerian judge said the extra judges needed to hear the case were not available. The Gambia relies on…