Author: Chronicle Editor

A top Florida public health official has been put on administrative leave as officials investigate whether he violated a state ban by emailing employees about their low vaccination rate against COVID-19 and urging them to get shots. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican widely believed to be planning a run for the US presidency, in November signed a law banning schools, businesses and government entities from requiring vaccination against COVID-19, drawing condemnation from health experts and Democratic leaders. The official placed on leave, Dr. Raul Pino, the Florida Department of Health’s director in Orlando, sent his staff an email on…

We will give priority to taxation of digital economy The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) says it will achieve 100% automation of tax administration processes with the aim of blocking revenue leakages thereby revolutionizing revenue generation in Nigeria. Calling for the cooperation of Nigerians to achieve this, the executive chairman of the FIRS, Muhammad Nami while speaking as special guest at the Pedabo 2022 Annual Public Private Sector Engagement on Tuesday highlighted that by virtue of the amendment to Section 25 of the FIRS (Establishment) Act in the 2021 Finance Act, any person who fails to grant the Service access…

The first foreign aid plane has arrived in Tonga, carrying much-needed water and supplies for the Pacific nation. New Zealand said its military plane landed at Tonga’s main airport after workers cleared ash from the runway. Other planes and ships sent by New Zealand and Australia are on the way. Saturday’s eruption of an undersea volcano and tsunami wave saw volcanic ash blanketing the islands, posing a serious health risk. The ash and sea water have contaminated water supplies. At least three people have died and communications have been crippled, and Tonga has only just begun to re-establish global contact…

Bayern Munich could decide to sell Poland striker Robert Lewandowski in the summer if he does not sign a contract renewal, with the 33-year-old’s current deal ending in June 2023. (Bild, via Marca) Cristiano Ronaldo’s representatives have told Manchester United that the 36-year-old Portugal forward will look to leave Old Trafford in the summer if the club fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League. (Sun) Atletico Madrid will not allow 34-year-old Uruguay striker Luis Suarez, who has been linked with Aston Villa, to leave in January. (Goal) Barcelona are in advanced talks with Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen, 25, with…

Tory MP Christian Wakeford has defected to the Labour Party and called on Boris Johnson to quit as prime minister. Mr Wakeford took the Bury South seat from Labour at the 2019 general election by just 402 votes. But he will now sit as a Labour MP, with his new party leader, Sir Keir Starmer, offering him a “warm welcome”. The ex-Tory was believed to have written a letter of no confidence in the prime minister after revelations about lockdown parties in No 10. Appearing alongside Sir Keir, he said it had “been a bit of a whirlwind” since he…

The Lagos State Government and transportation stakeholders on Tuesday introduced and signed a consolidated levy of N800 for the informal transport sector. Speaking at the signing ceremony and ticket unveiling at Ikeja, the Commissioner for Finance, Dr Rabiu Olowo, said that there was need for the harmonised levy. Olowo said the harmonisation was necessary in order not to over-burden transporters with exorbitant levies. He said that the state government carried out a survey six months ago, hence, realised that an average transporter paid N3,000 daily as levies. According to him, most of the monies the transporters pay is lost to…

Manchester United recovered after being rescued by the heroics of goalkeeper David de Gea to run out comfortable winners at Brentford. Ralf Rangnick’s side survived a torrid opening 45 minutes, when their performance was laced heavily with mediocrity – as De Gea made key saves from Mathias Jensen and the home side missed other big chances. It was a different story after the break as United, no doubt fired up by a few well-chosen words from Rangnick, turned up the intensity and the quality to punish Brentford for their profligacy. Teenager Anthony Elanga headed his first goal of the season…

The University of Michigan has agreed to pay $490m (£360m) in damages to more than 1,000 mostly male former students who say they were sexually abused by sports doctor Robert Anderson. Lawyers announced the settlement after 15 months of negotiations over accusations dating back to the 1960s. One said he thought the settlement would bring “justice and healing”. Anderson, who died in 2008, is said to have abused victims during routine medical examinations. A police investigation launched in 2018 said no charges could be filed because Anderson was dead and none of his alleged crimes fell within the state’s six-year…

Lagos State Government has acquired two 10-car Talgo 330kmph speed trains for its Red Line rail project. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had on Tuesday completed acquisition deal of the trains at an event inside the Milwaukee facilities of Spanish train manufacturer, Talgo Incorporated, in the US. The trains will be heading for Lagos for the state’s Red Line – a 37km track rail project. On completion, the Red Line will have 11 stations and move passengers from Agbado to Oyingbo. Sanwo-Olu said the state government was excited to complete the purchase of the two brand new trains. He said that acquisition…

Steven Bergwijn scored two injury-time goals as Tottenham fought back from 2-1 down to snatch an incredible victory at Leicester in a thrilling finish at the King Power Stadium. Leicester were moments away from inflicting a first Premier League defeat on Spurs since Antonio Conte took charge, before Bergwijn grabbed a 95th-minute equaliser from Matt Doherty’s pass. But there was more drama to come. The Dutchman, who had only been introduced as 79th-minute substitute, then took the ball around goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel in the seventh minute of stoppage time and scored the winner with the ball going in off the…