Author: Chronicle Editor

United Nations staff in Geneva have called a strike for Friday after winning support from 90 per cent of more than 1,000 employees who cast ballots, the staff council said. “The rare move will shut down the Human Rights Council and other meetings held at the UN European headquarters in the Swiss city,” it said on Thursday. Angry UN staff in Geneva began protesting in May against a 7.5 per cent cut to their salaries, the equivalent of almost a month’s pay, which has now taken effect for professional level staff. The salary cut was proposed by the International Civil…

The political atmosphere is charged in Kwara State as no fewer than 800 members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mr Iyiola Oyedepo, the Chairman of the PDP in the state, received the defectors in Ilorin on Friday during the visit of executive members of the party in the North Central Zone. Dr Hanafi Alabere, who led the defectors from Alanamu Ward in Ilorin West Local Government Area, said they were fed up with the APC. Oyedepo, in his remarks, told the visiting zonal executives that no notable member of…

Arsenal have been drawn against Russian side CSKA Moscow in the Europa League quarter-finals. The Gunners will host the first leg at Emirates Stadium on 5 April with the return leg in Moscow a week later. Spanish side Atletico Madrid, who are second in La Liga, face Sporting Lisbon of Portugal. In the other ties Germany’s RB Leipzig play Marseille from France, while Italian club Lazio face Salzburg of Austria. READ: #UCLDraw: Liverpool face Man City and Juventus entertain Madrid Arsenal beat AC Milan 3-1 on Thursday, for a 5-1 aggregate win, to reach their first European quarter-final since 2010.…

Manchester City will face Liverpool in an all-Premier League Champions League quarter-final. Runaway leaders City suffered their only defeat in the league this season at Liverpool on 14 January, while Pep Guardiola’s side beat the Reds 5-0 at Etihad Stadium last September. The first leg will take place at Anfield on 3-4 April, with the return the following week on 10-11 April. Holders Real Madrid will face Italian champions Juventus. READ: We would certainly want to avoid Atletico Madrid – Wenger La Liga leaders Barcelona, who are looking to win the Champions League for the first time since 2015, face…

An air hostess is understood to be seriously injured after falling from an Emirates aircraft’s emergency exit in Uganda. The woman was rushed to hospital from Entebbe International Airport, near the capital Kampala, after falling from the doorway on Wednesday. The Boeing 777 had landed shortly before, and was preparing to welcome passengers on board before departing for Dubai. The circumstances surrounding the fall are being investigated, with conflicting reports emerging about the incident. However, the Dubai-based airline has confirmed the fall, telling the Khaleej Times. READ: Nigeria Police foil Boko Haram plan to bomb Maiduguri “We can confirm that…

The Police in Borno on Thursday said they have uncovered plans by Boko Haram insurgents to carry out bomb attacks in Maiduguri metropolis. The command advised residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious persons or objects to security agencies. Mr Ahmed Bello, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration, said that the insurgents’ plan to attack soft targets and crowded areas. Bello said that the insurgents’ planned to coordinate Improvised Explosive Device, IEDs, borne vehicles to hit their targets. “The Borno State Police Command in collaboration with Operation Lafiya Dole’s high command wish to draw the attention…

At least four people have been killed and 10 others hurt after a footbridge collapsed near Florida International University in Miami, officials say. Rescuers are spending the night searching for victims trapped beneath the buckled structure. The 862-tonne, 174ft (53m) bridge fell over an eight-lane motorway on Thursday afternoon, crushing at least eight vehicles, police said. The bridge was erected on Saturday in just six hours. It was built using a method called “accelerated bridge construction” to avoid traffic disruption. A major section of the bridge was assembled on the side of the road and then raised into place. READ:…

The wife of Donald Trump Jr, the eldest son of US President Donald Trump, has filed for divorce, US media report. They say Vanessa Trump is seeking an uncontested divorce in a New York court. The couple, both 40, have been married since 2005. They have five children. “After 12 years of marriage, we have decided to go our separate ways,” the couple were quoted as saying by news site Page Six. “We ask for your privacy during this time.” READ: Oil Spill: Amnesty International accuse Shell, Eni of serious negligence The couple provided no further details. An uncontested divorce…

Amnesty International on Friday accused international oil majors Shell and Eni of negligence when addressing spills in Nigeria. Describing their actions as “serious negligence”, Amnesty said the companies were “taking weeks to respond to reports of spills and publishing misleading information about the cause and severity of spills, which may result in communities not receiving compensation”. A Shell spokesman said Amnesty’s allegations “are false, without merit and fail to recognise the complex environment in which the company operates”. Eni declined immediate comment. Shell and Eni have for decades been two of the most active oil majors operating in the Niger…

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said he would prefer to avoid a Europa League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid after beating AC Milan in the last 16. England striker Danny Welbeck scored twice – either side of a long-range strike from Granit Xhaka – as the Gunners won the second leg 3-1. Hakan Calhanoglu had opened the scoring for Milan, but the Italian side fell to a 5-1 aggregate defeat. “We would certainly want to avoid Atletico Madrid,” said Wenger. The draw for the quarter-finals – which features teams from eight countries – will take place on Friday at 12:00 GMT. This…