Author: Chronicle Editor

Juventus footballer Cristiano Ronaldo is being investigated by Italian police over a trip he allegedly took to celebrate his girlfriend’s birthday. He is accused of breaking Covid-19 rules by travelling between the regions of Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta. Now-deleted footage posted on social media showed the couple on a snowmobile in a mountain resort, the same day Georgina Rodriguez turned 27. Italy is seeing hundreds of deaths and thousands of infections daily. The country was hit badly in the early stages of the pandemic last year and is now in a political crisis after struggling to bring down cases in…

By Oluwafemi Popoola The year 2021 has been remarkable as regards military operations in the fight against insurgency. The past few weeks have seen the Nigerian Armed Forces record successes in the operations against various insurgent groups in the country especially the North East region. The small territories that were captured by Boko Haram have been recaptured while the displaced locals are gradually returning to their settlements. What is evident is that this New Year has witnessed a turn around in the fight against insurgency as the Nigerian army reconsiders and reorganizes its approach towards counter-terror operations. Despite multiple declarations…

The United Kingdom is preparing to welcome potentially tens of thousands of migrants from Hong Kong, with the opening of a new visa for residents of the former British colony this Sunday. Last year, China imposed a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong that critics say has stripped the city of its autonomy and precious civil and social freedoms, while cementing Beijing’s authoritarian rule over the territory. Since then, many prominent activists and politicians have fled, while others have begun quietly arranging to move overseas. The law criminalizes secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces, and carries with it a…

China has warned that attempts by Taiwan to seek independence “means war”. The warning comes days after China stepped up its military activities and flew warplanes near the island. It also comes as new US president Joe Biden reaffirmed his commitment to Taiwan, and set out his stance in Asia. Responding on Thursday, the US called China’s statements “unfortunate” adding that “tensions over Taiwan did not need to lead to confrontation”. China sees democratic Taiwan as a breakaway province, but Taiwan sees itself as a sovereign state. “We are seriously telling those Taiwan independence forces: those who play with fire…

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has thrown its weight behind the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023. According to its Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, Asiwaju Tinubu has all it takes rule the country. Akintola, in a statement praising the stakeholders for resolving the crisis between the Hausa/Fulani community of Igangan in Ibarapa, Oyo State, and their Yoruba hosts, said the Yoruba must unite to gain power in 2023. He urged the Yoruba nation to jettison separatist tendencies and ethnic hostilities at this crucial time for the quest to…

Covid-19 may damage sperm quality and reduce fertility in men, according to a new study based on experimental evidence. The viral disease which has swept the globe, claiming nearly 2.2 million lives can cause increased sperm cell death, inflammation and so-called oxidative stress, researchers reported Friday in the journal Reproduction. “These findings provide the first direct experimental evidence that the male reproductive system could be targeted and damaged by Covid-19,” the authors concluded. Experts commenting on the research, however, said the capacity of the virus to compromise fertility in men remains unproven. Covid-19 causes respiratory illness, especially in older people…

The apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Thursday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to consider the Southeast when appointing Service Chiefs. The group praised the President on the new appointments but expressed disappointment that “southeast is still not represented” President Buhari on Tuesday announced the appointment of Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor as Chief of Defence Staff; Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Awwal Gambo as Chief of Naval Staff and Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao as Chief of Air Staff. Ohanaeze President-General, Prof. George Obiozor, in a statement said the Service chiefs’ appointments would go a long…

Novavax, the new coronavirus vaccine has been shown to be 89.3% effective in large-scale United Kingdom trials, reports have shown. The Novavax jab is the first to show it is effective against the new variant of the virus discovered in the UK, the BBC’s medical editor Fergus Walsh said. The PM welcomed the “good news” and said the UK’s medicines regulator would now assess the vaccine. The UK has secured 60 million doses of the jab, which will be made in Stockton-on-Tees. The doses are expected to be delivered in the second half of this year, if approved for use…

Liverpool returned to form in impressive fashion as the Premier League champions secured a convincing victory at Tottenham Hotspur. After a run of five league games without a win – four of those without a goal – Liverpool moved back into the top four as they discovered their cutting edge in style at the expense of an uninspiring Spurs. Spurs, who lost captain Harry Kane to an ankle injury at half-time, had an early Son Heung-min strike ruled out for offside before Liverpool’s threat was rewarded with their first league goal in 482 minutes in first-half stoppage time when Roberto…

7 things you need to know about FG’s N5,000cash transfer to the poor Much dance and song is being made about the Federal Government’s ongoing disbursement of N5,000 to the poor and indigent around the country. The decibel level has increased since the launch on Tuesday January 19, 2021 by the Vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo of the Rapid Response Register for the Covid-19 Cash Transfer to urban and rural poor. Many commentators have asked where the money is coming from, how the poor were identified and plans for sustainability. These are valid questions and deserve answers. First, let us…