Author: Chronicle Editor

The latest round of Premier League coronavirus testing found 18 people had the virus – the highest figure recorded in the league’s testing programme. That figure surpassed the previous highest figure recorded – 16 for 9-15 November – though the percentage of positive cases was lower. The 18 positives come from 1,479 tests on players and staff between 21 and 27 December, a rate of 1.22%. The round that produced 16 positives was from 1,207 tests at 1.33%. On Monday, Everton v Manchester City was postponed four hours before kick-off because of a coronavirus outbreak at City. Chelsea 1-1 Aston…

Spain striker Diego Costa has agreed an early end to his Atletico Madrid contract, paving the way for a possible Premier League return. The 32-year-old, whose deal was due to expire next summer, fell out of favour at the Spanish club. He has made only three appearances, all as a substitute, since mid-October. “The striker asked to leave the club for personal reasons a few days ago and on Tuesday signed the termination of his contract,” said Atletico. “The club thanks Diego Costa for his dedication during these years and wishes him well in the next stage of his professional…

FG Covid-19 Stimulus package impacts about a million already VP also meets automotive manufacturers on new tariffs Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says with the kind of impact and interest already generated among Nigerians by the ongoing implementation of the Survival Fund under the Economic Sustainability Plan, there is now a need to expand the scope and reach of the benefits to an even larger number of the populace. This hint was dropped at a virtual meeting held just before the Christmas holidays between Prof. Osinbajo and the Steering Committee of the MSMEs Survival Fund. The meeting was attended by Minister…

The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Justice has banned the marriage of persons under 18 years. It also set 18 years as the minimum age for marriage. The Minister of Justice and Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, Sheikh Walid Al-Samaani, issued the new directive in a circular sent to all the courts in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Child marriages are commonplace in Saudi Arabia with one in seven girls marrying before the age of 18. Catholic Bishops Back Kukah According to the Justice Ministry ruling, any teenager below the age of 18 will from now on be referred to…

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced 397 confirmed new coronavirus cases in the country on Monday. The 397 cases announced by the Centre for Disease Control takes the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 84,811. The NCDC also announced the discharge of 323 patients from isolation centers across the country with 10 new deaths reported. Lagos state, the epicentre of the virus in Nigeria reported 144 new confirmed cases taking the total number of confirmed cases in Lagos alone to 28,885. Nigeria announces 838 new coronavirus cases Plateau state recorded 83 new cases, Kaduna state reported 48,…

“Nigeria should  conduct  its own clinical trials of  COVID-19 vaccines before administering them on patients”, Nigerian doctors have advised. The doctors,   under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) , argued that  “our  biology, environment and  genetic composition” make such trials necessary. Although they stated they were not doubting the efficacy of the vaccines, the doctors pointed out their concern has to do with the short period the drugs were produced. They however explained that  the trials would equip health personnel with necessary information when asked questions by patients or their relations. NMA President Innocent Ujah, recalled  during a…

China will overtake the US to become the world’s largest economy by 2028, five years earlier than previously forecast, a report says. The UK-based Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) said China’s “skillful” management of Covid-19 would boost its relative growth compared to the US and Europe in coming years. Meanwhile India is tipped to become the third largest economy by 2030. The CEBR releases its economic league table every year on 26 December. Although China was the first country hit by Covid-19, it controlled the disease through swift and extremely strict action, meaning it did not need to repeat…

The leadership of the Catholic Church yesterday gave its backing to Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Dr Hassan Kukah, for his comments. The National Directorate of Social Communications of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria in Abuja, in a statement, urged lovers of truth and justice to rise in defence of Bishop Kukah. It faulted attacks on him and what it called an attempt to discredit the obvious truth in his message. The church said: “We are quite aware of the 2020 Christmas Message by our revered Bishop Hassan Kukah and the enormous space it has enjoyed on social media and in…

Everton said they would request “full disclosure” of the information City provided to the Premier League that led to the postponement. City reported new positive coronavirus tests on Monday, in addition to those they had confirmed on Christmas Day. The Premier League then agreed at a board meeting to postpone the match. Following the confirmation of Monday’s positive tests, City said their training ground would be closed for an “indeterminate period”. City cited “a risk the virus could spread” among the squad with the “security of the bubble compromised”. On Christmas Day, City reported that Gabriel Jesus, Kyle Walker and…

Three days after a Christmas Day explosion rocked downtown Nashville, investigators are still searching for a motive. Anthony Quinn Warner, 63, was identified as the bomber. Warner, a 63-year-old described by one neighbor as a loner, died when his recreational vehicle exploded on 2nd Avenue North in the city’s downtown. The blast injured at least eight people and damaged more than 40 buildings, including an AT&T transmission facility that provides wireless service to much of the region. Rick Laude, Warner’s neighbor since 2010, told CNN Monday he spoke with Warner four days before the bombing. “I said, ‘Hey, Anthony, is…