Author: Chronicle Editor

The Russian Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev said “RIP” to the outgoing US administration of Barack Obama on Twitter on Friday, after the White House decided to expel 35 Russian diplomats. “It is regrettable that the Obama administration, which started out by restoring our ties, is ending its term in an anti-Russia agony. RIP,” Medvedev said on Twitter in English. It is regrettable that the Obama administration, which started out by restoring our ties, is ending its term in an anti-Russia agony. RIP— Dmitry Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE) December 30, 2016 Obama announced on Thursday that he had passed executive actions to impose…

A Syrian cease-fire backed by Russia and Turkey took effect at midnight Thursday, a move that could prompt a political settlement of a nearly 6-year-old civil war and a dramatic shift in U.S. policy under a Donald Trump presidency. The national cease-fire agreement, announced earlier by Syria’s military, does not cover the Islamic State and the al-Qaeda affiliate operating in Syria. A member of one of Syria’s main rebel groups said the truce includes a halt to airstrikes and shelling. Ahmad Ramadan of the Syrian National Coalition told the Associated Press that rebel factions would abide by the truce but…

The Kano State Government has directed the Pilgrims Welfare Board to commence preparations for the 2017 Hajj operation. The Acting Governor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, gave the directive in a statement issued by Alhaji Balarabe Abdullahi, the Public Relations Officer of the Deputy Governor’s Office, in Kano on Friday. Abubakar, who is also the Chairman of the committee on Hajj, made this known when he received the report on the 2016 Hajj activities. He said the administration of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje was committed toward giving all the necessary support and cooperation to the board to ensure better results of the subsequent…

On Thursday, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State in Ibadan presented N207.67 billion as the 2017 Appropriation bill to the state House of Assembly. The 2017 Appropriation bill, tagged “Budget of Self-Reliance”, is 19 per cent higher than the 2016 budget, which was N173.43 billion. Ajimobi said that its structure reflected the priority government accorded the various sectors in terms of their anticipated developmental effects. “Government will raise N59 billion (28.41 per cent) from Federation Account and N7.49 billion(3.60 per cent) from Transfers from Local Government JAAC, among others.” He said that the 2017 appropriation bill had a capital expenditure…

The Department of State Service, DSS, Mr Lawal Daura and Director-General of Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, Col Hameed Ali (retd), who are also close allies of President Muhammadu Buhari have been at loggerheads over allegations and counter allegations of unprofessionalism and illegality, according to an online medium, Premium Times. Contacted last night, officials of the Presidency declined comment despite repeated enquiries. The disagreement by the two officials appear to confirm insinuations of division among some leading lights of the Buhari administration. The turf war stems from a letter written by Daura, to Mr. Buhari on September 8. In the letter,…

West Ham are targeting former striker Jermain Defoe, 34, as Sunderland manager David Moyes fights to keep his leading scorer. (Daily Mirror) But Hammers manager Slaven Bilic says there is no truth in reports suggesting he will make a loan move for Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford, 19, in the January transfer window. (Daily Mail) Tottenham could move for Real Madrid attacking midfielder Isco as the 24-year-old Spain international considers his future after failing to play regularly this season. (Daily Mirror) Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri says Kasper Schmeichel will not be sold next month following reports linking the 30-year-old…

Real Madrid were offered about £250m by an unnamed Chinese club for Cristiano Ronaldo, says his agent Jorge Mendes. He said the 31-year-old Portugal captain had no interest in the deal, which included an £85m annual salary. Ronaldo said he could play for another 10 years in November after signing a new deal with Madrid until June 2021. “The Chinese market is a new market. They can buy a lot of players, but it is impossible to go for Ronaldo,” said Mendes. “Cristiano is the best player in the world and best ever. It is normal to have some offers,”…

Nigerian-owned telecommunication company, Globacom, has emerged the only network that recorded an increase in its Internet subscription in October, 2016. This was revealed in the latest review published by telecom industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for the month. The new publication validates Globacom’s leadership in Nigeria’s data sector, underscoring the network’s sobriquet as data grand masters. The network grew its internet customer base to 27,185,552 million in October from 26,887,929 in September. This indicates an increase of 297,623 during the month. The Commission stated on its website that the total number of internet users on the networks of…

The Nigerian community in South Africa has commended the Federal Government for flushing out Boko Haram insurgents from the Sambisa forest. Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, the President of the Nigerian Union, South Africa, told the News Agency of Nigeria on phone from Pretoria on Thursday that the routing of the sect members was a welcome development. “ This feat has restored the pride of the Nigerian armed forces and we plead that this victory be sustained so that these terrorists would have no space on Nigerian territory to regroup,” he said. The latest victory, he said, would send a strong signal…

Tennis great Serena Williams will soon be heading to the altar as she announced her long awaited engagement to a man of her dream. She is getting hooked to Reddit co-owner Alexis Ohanian. The 35 year old tennis star broke the news fittingly on Reddit as she travelled to New Zealand. Serena Williams announced their engagement while she was in the air between Los Angeles and Auckland, where she was due to play the ASB Classic next week. Williams made the announcement in a poem. “I came home. A little late. Someone had a bag packed for me. And a…