President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe says the country will hold its first presidential and parliamentary elections in July after the long ruler of former president Robert Mugabe.

He made the announcement after meeting with the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday night.

.The polls will be the first major test of the new leader, who took power in November after a de facto military coup forced the 94-year-old Mugabe to resign.

They will also be the first without Mugabes name on the ballot since independence from Britain in 1980.

As a nation, party and government, we are looking forward to very peaceful, transparent and harmonised elections in July this year, Mnangagwa sid

Mnangagwa, 75, said the elections would be free of the violence that gripped previous polls and which was one of the reasons for strained relations between Zimbabwe and the West.

I have already invited all political parties in Zimbabwe to a roundtable where we all commit ourselves to non-violence, he added.

Mnanaggwa will have to announce a date in an official notice. He has said he would invite Western observers, who had been banned under Mugabes rule.

The state-owned weekly Sunday Mail said a European Union pre-election team was expected in Harare on Monday.

The EU head of mission in Zimbabwe, Phillipe Van Damme, told the paper it would meet the president, political party leaders, and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

Mugabe, in his first comments since he stepped down, said last week that Mnangagwas rule was illegitimate and a disgrace.

source/uk.reuters.com/article/uk-zimbabwe-politics/president-says-zimbabwe-to-hold-elections-in-july-idUKKBN1GU0GM?rpc=401

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun, on Monday declared that the forthcoming July 14, 2018 Ekiti governorship election is a litmus test for the party, ahead of the general election in 2019.

He said the party must therefore work very hard to win the state.

Oyegun made the remark in Ado-Ekiti during the kick-off of fresh membership registration drive of the APC in Ekiti.

According to him, the party will deploy every available resources to win the election and promised all the 33 APC governorship aspirants that the party would conduct a free, fair and credible primary in the state.

He debunked the possibility of delegates list padding and other fraudulent practices that could vitiate the outcome of the May 5 primary.

He also assured that the national secretariat of the party did not have any favourite among the aspirants as being insinuated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the State Chairman of APC, Chief Jide Awe, reportedly in hiding over an alleged murder case, made a surprise appearance at the event.

NAN reports that the Ekiti State Government had been after Awe, over his alleged complicity in the murder of Juliana Adewunmi and Ayo Jeje, who were killed in Erinjiyan Ekiti on May 30, 2014 during the administration of Dr Kayode Fayemi.

Oyegun hinted that the delegates list to conduct the primary had been compiled and would be made available to aspirants with good financial standing for verification.

We will work hard to ensure that Ekiti returns to the progressives fold after the July 14 election.

Though, we are in power at the centre, that doesnt mean we should not work hard.

President Muhammadu Buhari, as you know, will not rig or compromise or subvert the will of the electorate, so we must work hard to deserve the victory that will come to us, he said.

NAN reports that Oyegun had earlier on arrival made a stop-over at the party secretariat where he flagged-off the new membership registration exercise.

Oyegun was received by party chieftains, including the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Segun Oni and members of the State Working Committee.

Other aspirants at the event included Sen. Gbenga Aluko, Sen. Ayo Arise, Wole Oluyede, Wole Oluleye, Capt. Sunday Adebomi, Bimbo Daramola, Dr Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, Victor Kolade, Mr Kola Alabi, Mr Diran Adesua, Dr Bayo Oriire and Femi Bamisile.

Others like Mr Opeyemi Bamidele, Sen. Babafemi Ojudu and Mr.Bamidele Faparusi sent representatives.

We have got your demands and we are giving you assurances that there will be no imposition and that the primary shall be free, fair and credible

To all the aspirants, you must not campaign as if there wont be tomorrow. Dont campaign in a way that breeds enmity. I learnt that you are above 30, but the large number shouldnt be a source of problem.

Let me say this clearly, anybody who wants to fly the flag of our party must maintain decorum. We shall be fair to you as much as possible because there cant be peace when justice is denied

We must not also have bad losers, you must work with whomever the electors pick as their candidate during the primary.

All aspirants must ensure that there is no division before and after the primary. We are also barring members of SWC from joining the bandwagon of campaign for any of the aspirants, because this can cause further division, he stated.

Oyegun said the choice of Ekiti to flag off the programme was strategic, saying this conveyed a vivid and strong message of love for the people of the state, especially with regards to the July poll.

I am happy with APC in Ekiti with the level of mobilisation from our aspirants. You have shown that you are desirous to join the progressives fold. We didnt choose Ekiti for the flag off of this programme by accident

We have decided that this election is one that we will particularly work hard and leave no stone unturned, because to us it is a must-win election, he said

Source: NAN

The Nigeria Police has reacted to report that President Muhammadu Buhari queried the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris for allegedly not obeying his order.

The police said claims by Presidency officials that Buhari had queried Idris as a result of the matter was false.

The Police boss met with President Buhari last week.

Recall that on his visit to Benue State early last week, President Buhari was told that the IGP flouted his order to relocate to the crisis-rocked state.

He was said to have spent one day in the state and jetted out to Nasarawa.

Speaking to ThisDay on the matter, Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, said,“The IGP was not queried.

“Anybody that said the IGP was queried by the president should bring the copy of the query, let us display it.

“There is very clear issue on that, that he was not queried by the President.”

Source: Dailypost.NG

President Muhammadu Buhari has threatened to sack over 45 chief executives of federal parastatals and agencies.

This follows the outcome of the President’s meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly on Thursday.

The lawmakers had complained to President Buhari that the chief executives were refusing to appear before the National Assembly to defend their budgets.

According to Punch, Buhari made his position to dismiss the chief executives known during a meeting he had with the leadership of the National Assembly at the Presidential Villa.

A source who was at the meeting told the newspaper that Buhari took the decision after the federal lawmakers succeeded in convincing him that they should not be blamed for the delay in passing the appropriation bill so far.

According to the report, the lawmakers told the President that out of about 60 government parastatals and agencies, only about 10 chief executives had appeared before them to defend their budgets.

NEWSBudget: Buhari set to sack heads of agencies, parastatalsPublished on March 17, 2018 By John Owen Nwachukwu

President Muhammadu Buhari has threatened to sack over 45 chief executives of federal parastatals and agencies.

This follows the outcome of the President’s meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly on Thursday.

The lawmakers had complained to President Buhari that the chief executives were refusing to appear before the National Assembly to defend their budgets.

According to Punch, Buhari made his position to dismiss the chief executives known during a meeting he had with the leadership of the National Assembly at the Presidential Villa.

A source who was at the meeting told the newspaper that Buhari took the decision after the federal lawmakers succeeded in convincing him that they should not be blamed for the delay in passing the appropriation bill so far.

According to the report, the lawmakers told the President that out of about 60 government parastatals and agencies, only about 10 chief executives had appeared before them to defend their budgets.

The federal lawmakers were also said to have reported some ministers who they claimed had not been cooperating with them to the President.

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; and the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, are some of the ministers whose cases came up at the meeting.

Recall that at the end of the meeting on Thursday night, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, had told reporters that Buhari had directed all ministers and parastatals to appear before the National Assembly to defend their budgets.

Source: Dailypost.NG

Hillary Clinton has fractured her hand during a tour of India, reportedly slipping in a bathtub at a luxury hotel in a former palace.

A doctor at the private Goyal Hospital told AFP Friday that Clinton had undergone screening after suffering pain in her right hand following a fall.

The 70-year-old former presidential candidate was staying at Umaid Bhawan, the palace of the former royal family of Jodhpur in western Rajasthan state, now a spectacular heritage hotel.

“We did a CT scan and X-ray and found a hairline fracture around the wrist area. She was advised to take rest for few days and use a crepe bandage for support,” said the doctor on condition of anonymity.

Local and international media quoted unnamed sources as saying Clinton had slipped in the bath in an accident that comes just five months after she broke her toe in London.

She is in India to promote her book, “What Happened”, which tells the story of her losing the 2016 presidential elections to Donald Trump.

A few days earlier, video footage emerged showing Clinton stumbling on the uneven stairway of a 13th century Indian monument while holding the arm of an aide for support.

Source: Guardian.NG

A 24-year-old mother of 3 has given birth to a set of twins in Zaria, with one of them having four hands and three legs. According to report, Malama Hawwa’u Jamilu delivered the twins on Sunday, 25th February 2018. .

Strangely, Hawwa’u was not perturbed about the physique of her baby. She told Daily Trust that she regarded it as part of the might of Allah. “Both of them are female. Of course, one would have loved to deliver the babies without any deformity.

But since Allah in His infinite mercy had decided to create the twins like this, what can I do?

This is why you see me relaxed, and I love them both.

Source: Guardian.NG

Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members yesterday allegedly kidnapped eight passengers along the Igboho-Igbeti road in Oyo State.

The Guardian leant that the gunmen laid ambush at the Old Oyo National Park and blocked commercial buses plying the road.

The reportedly whisked away the passengers in the affected buses to an unknown destination.

Before forcing them into the waiting bus, the armed bandits allegedly held them hostage in the bush for some minutes.

The source added that the occupants of the bus were indigenes of Igboho and Ogbooro communities in the state.

Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Adekunle Ajisebutu, who confirmed the incident, however, said the number of people kidnapped were not up to eight.

He said the State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude had deployed his men in the area to search for the kidnapped victims.

Ajisebutu, who spoke in a telephone interview said: “We are aware of the incident, but it was only two victims who were involved. We have dispatched our men to the area to fish out the kidnappers and also ensure that they rescue the victims. We are making frantic efforts to rescue them.”

The situation is said to have thrown road users into fear, while the communities have pleaded with the security agencies to check the influx of strangers in the area.

Vehicles plying the road have allegedly diverted to alternative routes to avoid the bandits.

Source: Guardina.ng

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with principal officers of the National Assembly (NASS) to resolve deepening rift..

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting which was at the instance of the leadership of NASS, came barely 48 hours after the President’s rejection of the Amended Electoral Act Bill sent for his signature by the Assembly.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the non-passage of the 2018 appropriation bill by the National Assembly was also said to be one of the top items on the agenda of the meeting which commenced at about 9.10p.m.

President Buhari had on Nov. 7, 2017 laid the 2018 budget proposals before the NASS with the hope that the appropriation bill might be passed on or before the end of 2017.

However, the lawmakers accused some cabinet ministers of failing to appear before them to defend their ministries’ budgets.

Those attending the meeting include the Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, Senate leader Ahmad Lawan and other principal officers.

Others attending the meeting are Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha and Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari.

The two Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Mr Ita Enang and Kawu Sumaila were also in attendance.

Source: NAN

Mr. Mmusi Maimane, leader of South Africa’s main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), has warned ex- President Jacob Zuma to repay the $1.3 million of public money to avoid going to jail.

Mr Maimane says the figure was confirmed by the State Attorney.

It has since emerged that under Zuma, the Presidency paid out millions of rand on legal costs relating to the National Prosecuting Authority’s decision to drop charges of fraud, corruption and racketeering against him.

The figure was revealed in a letter sent to DA on Tuesday by the State Attorney.

The State Attorney said the office was instructed by new President Cyril Ramaphosa to provide the details after having considered the court approach.

“We are instructed to inform you that since May 1, 2009 an amount of R15,300,250 was incurred by the Presidency on legal costs pertaining to the National Prosecuting Authority’s decision to decline to prosecute Mr Zuma on charges of fraud, corruption and racketeering.”

Mr Maimane added that Mr Zuma must personally repay the public funds as he went to court in his personal capacity, for crimes allegedly committed before he became president.

“He (Zuma) was not a respondent in that case in his capacity as president of the Republic of South Africa. As such, this amounts to R15.3m of irregular spending by the government to keep Jacob Zuma out of jail. Therefore, Jacob Zuma must personally pay back this money.

The DA has consulted our legal team and begun the legal process of retrieving every cent of this R15.3m from Jacob Zuma,” Mr Maimane said.

DA has already began a legal process to ensure that “every cent” paid out so far is retrieved from Mr Zuma and he has invited President Ramaphosa to join the legal action.

Mr Zuma faces 783 counts of fraud, corruption, money-laundering and racketeering.

Source: NAN

A team of four boys on Thursday defeated a female team of 11 girls in a cooking competition organised by the Holy Family School in Lagos.

The boys’ team was adjudged the winner against the girls’ team after the judges had tasted the dishes prepared by the teams.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the teams prepared fried rice, fried fish and locally prepared ‘Eve’ drink.

However, the girls’ team emerged the winner in the preparation of cassava flake (a.k.a. Eba) and Ogbonno soup, Jollof rice alongside the local drink, Zobo.

The leader of the boys’ team, Edward Akugbe told NAN that the current economic situation had compelled most boys to acquire the cooking skills and other domestic chores.

“My mum told me that it is cheaper that I cook for myself than employing a house assistant or eating foods outside when I become independent,” he said.

According to him, my mother made it compulsory that we sat by her and understudied her whenever she was in the kitchen or doing the house chores.

Also, Favour Noris,16, won the award for being the best dressed and organised cook.

He told NAN that despite being the last born of his parents, his mother included him in the family cooking roaster.

“My mum prepared a cooking roaster that included the boys; and that forced me to learn so much about kitchen management which I applied to my team,” he said.

However, Tope Oladunjoye, 12, and leader of the female team, told NAN that her team lost because they prepared local dishes.

She said that preparing local dishes required more ingredients, techniques and activities.

“We had to grate okra fruits, pumpkin leaves and also blended our tomatoes and pepper with the grinding stone.

“We want to promote our cultural meal, teach ourselves how to prepare it and that made us to miss the first position,” she told NAN.

Meanwhile, the youngest female participant, Esther Orji,9, told NAN that she learnt different cooking methods from her mother.

“Before now, I only knew my mum’s cooking methods and the ones my teacher taught us in school.

“But, the competition has even taught me how to add `Hot dog’ in fried rice preparation,” she said.

The teacher-in-charge of the competition, Mrs Peace Umeorah said the competition had made more positive impacts on the children.

She said that the children came forward willingly to participate because it was a competition where winners would emerge.

“We shall be improving on our employable youths if this exercise is extended to more schools because we shall be producing more chefs,” she said.

The school’s chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association, (PTA), Mrs Ethel Orji, said the exercise had economic gains for the country.

“This type of competition has both economic and social advantage for our children as it will bring about more domestic independence among our youths in future,” she told NAN.

NAN reports that each member of the winning team went away with various gift items while the girls got kitchen utensils.

Source: NAN

A Lagos High Court in Igbosere has sentenced a self-proclaimed site engineer and housing agent, Babatunde Habeeb, to 1,230 years imprisonment for a N28 million scam.

Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye convicted Habeeb, also known as Babatunde Salaudeen, of defrauding 101 accommodation seekers under the pretext of renting them 13 apartments in a building at Alapere-Ketu, Lagos.

She found him guilty of 82 counts of conspiring with his elder brother, Alhaji Ishola Salaudeen and obtaining the N28m under false pretense.

According to the prosecutor, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Alhaji Salaudeen, who owns the property, is at large.

The court said the EFCC proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

According to the commission, the convict committed the offenses in 2013.

Source: Sahara Reporters

Persons suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have unleashed terror on three communities in Kogi State, leaving 25 people dead.

Oganienugwu and Ikende communities in Dekina Local Government Area were affected; as well as Abejukolo in Omala LGA, all in the Eastern Senatorial district of the state.

As at the time of filing this report, villagers were reportedly moving out of Obakume, Idirisu, and Oji Apata to escape possible attacks.

Punch correspondent gathered that 25 people were killed in the sustained attack which started on Tuesday and continued till Thursday.

A detachment of police and soldiers have been drafted to quell the violence.

Eye witness account told our correspondent that the mode of killing employed by the hoodlums was to slaughter the victims after tying them up; while those who attempted to escape alleged received machete cuts.

Sources said villagers were woken up by gunshots by the hoodlums dressed in army uniform.

The Punch correspondent also gathered that gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles had visited mayhem on the villagers in their farms before returning in the night around 1am while villagers slept.

Several houses were razed and others demolished in the violent attacks which left no fewer than 25 dead.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Monday Bala, who confirmed the incident, said the command was yet to ascertain the actual casualty figure.

He said the command has drafted men of the command alongside men of the armed forces to deal with the situation, adding that his men are in total control of the situation.

Source: Punchng.com

The convoy of Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki was yesterday involved in an accident along the Benin-Lagos Express Road.

The accident occurred in front of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) but no live was lost except for three persons who sustained injuries.

When The Guardian visited the scene of the accident, some private vehicles were seen damaged alongside the governor’s press crew bus marked (EDGH 278) which was badly destroyed and was being towed away at the time of filing in this report.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said: “A number of people in the bus and three other vehicles that were involved in the accident, including a medical doctor and a mother and child, sustained varied degrees of injuries, and are currently receiving treatment at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

“An official of the state government has been sent to the hospital to ascertain the degree of injuries sustained by the victims and we are also in touch with the doctors managing the victims.

“We have undertaken to pay the medical bills of all the victims. No life was lost.”

Source: Guardian.ng

Lagos State Government has announced a reduction in the rates to be paid through Land Use Charge.

Announcing this at a press briefing in Alausa, the Commissioner for Finance, Akinyemi Ashade, said that rate for commercial charges had been reduced by 50 per cent while owner-occupier, industries and manufacturial charges had been reduced by 25 percent.

The Commissioner also disclosed that there is a waiver of all penalty announced before and it is across board.

Ashade said all those who have paid would enjoy tax credit, with the excess paid transfered to next year.

He also revealed that the state now allow installmental payment across board.

Source: Guardian.ng

A candidate of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, being conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has reportedly committed suicide.

The university admission-seeker simply identified as Loveth took her life in Ekiugbo, Ughelli North local government area of Delta State.

Loveth, who was said to be displeased with the 163 mark she garnered in the exam, was found dead at her home on Wednesday morning.

The Nation reports that the deceased picked Medicine as her choice of study.

She was said to have taken three bottles of Sniper and these were found by her side on Wednesday morning.

According to sources, Loveth had gone to check her UTME result on Tuesday and discovered to her amazement that she had scored far lower than she had expected and would not secure admission to the university to study her “dream course.”

Source: Dailypost.ng

Personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), FCT Sector Command, on Wednesday brutalised a Defence Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Johnson Eyiangho, at the command`s office in Zone 7, Abuja.

The officers beat up Eyiangho at about 11: 15 a.m. when he was assigned to cover the fracas between the FRSC personnel and officials of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) who had gone there to seal the corps’ premises for noncompliance with environmental laws.

An argument ensued between personnel of the corps and the AEPB officials which suddenly degenerated to a free for all.

Eyiangho said that as he alighted from the NAN official vehicle that conveyed him and the agency`s photographer to the scene of the incident, some FRSC personnel descended on him and beat him thoroughly.

READ: NYSC blacklists Osun school over attack on corps members

“The FRSC operatives also tore my shirt, inflicted bruises and deep cuts on my left leg, and summarily seized and destroyed my cell phone and voice recorder,” he said.

He also said that the personnel of the corps did not spare any journalist who came to cover the incident.

“I have never received such a beating in my life; every personnel of the corps at the scene of the incident was raining punches on me and `shouting take him away’.

“I was detained for several hours under inhuman condition in one of the corps’ offices after the thorough beating.

“One of the personnel, believed to be the Provost, supervised the beating and ordered that no one should allow me to go.

“He personally seized my identification card, a voice recorder and a cell phone,” he said.

The Public Education Officer of the corps, Mr Bisi Kazeem, instructed that Mr Eyiangho be taken to the FRSC hospital in Gwarinpa for treatment.

Kazeem also promised that the matter would be investigated for appropriate action.

Source: PM News

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the National Assembly to stopfurther action or proceeding on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill which President Muhammadu Buhari rejected.

The restraining order was issued on Wednesday, by Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the High Court.

The ruling is a sequel to an oral application made in a suit filed by the Accord Party against the National Assembly, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In the ruling, the court ordered the parties to maintain status quo ante bellum.

All the parties are ordered to stay every proceeding pending the determination of the motion on notice filed by the Accord party.

The Accord party had approached the court with a motion seeking an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the National Assembly from taking any further action or actions on the Bill titled Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018, particularly, to convene to pass the said Bill into Law, by two-thirds majority of its two chambers, pending the final determination of the substantive originating summon.

Counsel to the National Assembly, Mr. Chinelo Ogbozor, had resisted attempts made by Counsel to the Accord Party, Mr. Wole Olanipekun to move his motion on notice seeking a restraining order against the National Assembly on the grounds that the application was not ripe, and pending the service of hearing notice on the AGF.

Ogbozor said they were served barely 48 hours and insisted that the matter cannot proceed.

In view of Ogbozors opposition, Olanipekun urged the court for Ogbozor to make an undertaking that the National Assembly would not take any action on the subject matter but she refused.

Though the court noted that the motion on notice was not ripe for hearing, it, however, took notice of the oral application made by Olanipekun brought in line with Section 58(5) of Constitution.

Justice Mohammed stated that the court is not granting the prayer contained on the motion paper but is making the preservative order to safeguard the integrity and sanctity of court.

Consequently, the court directed parties to maintain status quo ante bellum at least to the next adjournment.

The matter has been adjourned to March 20 for the hearing of the motion on notice filed by the plaintiff.

The Accord party is seeking among other reliefs A declaration that the legislative powers vested in the National Assembly by the Constitution do not empower or imbue it with the right, liberty or authority to pass or purport to pass any Bill into Law which attempts to interfere with or undermine the independence of the 3rd defendant, as guaranteed by the content, spirit and tenor of the Constitution.

Source: NAN

Mr. Olisa Metuh, on a wheelchair, stormed the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, asking to be granted permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.

Previous attempts to get the permission of the court to travel abroad for treatment was rebuffed.

At the resumed trial on Wednesday, the embattled former National Publicity Secretary of the People Democratic Party (PDP), informed the court through his counsel, Mr. Emeka Etiaba, that his health was fast failing.

He said his health was failing due to spinal cord compression which requires a corrective surgery at a hospital in London.

The Prosecutor, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, opposed the application on the ground that Metuh had filed similar applications in the past which was not granted.

He added that the present application seeking permission to travel abroad did not provide sufficient materials before the court to enable the court grant his request.

The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, after listening to both counsels adjourned the case to March 15, 2018. for the continuation of trial.

Metuh is standing trial for alleged money laundering being part of the funds linked with former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited, on a seven-count charge bordering on fraud and money laundering.

The alleged offences involved the sums of N400 million which the defendants allegedly received from the Office of the National Security Adviser in 2014.

Source: NAN

Mossack Fonseca, the law firm at the heart of the Panama Papers global tax evasion scandal that brought down two world leaders announced Wednesday it would shut down operations, citing negative press and what it called unwarranted action by authorities.

Reputational deterioration, the media campaign, the financial consequences and irregular actions by some Panamanian authorities have caused irreparable damage, resulting in the total ceasing of public operations at the end of this month, Mossack Fonseca said in a statement.

But it added a smaller group would continue working to address requests from authorities and other public and private groups.

Last August, co-founder Jurgen Mossack acknowledged the firm had closed most of its offices abroad after its damaged credibility caused business to flounder.

April 3, 2016 marked the beginning of the Panama Papers scandal a leak of 11.5 million files from Mossack Fonsecas digital archive that revealed how wealthy and influential figures across the world had created offshore businesses to safeguard assets.

The information was obtained by German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung, who shared it with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. It was released as a searchable database, with revelations continuing to be unearthed to this day.

Icelandic prime minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson was forced to resign after it was revealed his family had offshore accounts while former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif was disqualified for life from office after being implicated in the documents.

Other figures implicated included former British premier David Cameron, football star Lionel Messi, Argentinas President Mauricio Macri, Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar, to name but a few.

At least 150 investigations were opened in 79 countries to examine possible tax evasion and money laundering, according to the US-based Center for Public Integrity.

Source: NAN

US Students walked out of classrooms on Wednesday to stage the largest grassroots protest against gun violence seen in years, demanding action one month to the day after a deadly shooting rampage at a Florida high school.

The protest was staged from east to west, fromWashington to Los Angeles.

Hundreds of teenagers from Washington area schools gathered outside the White House, holding up signs reading Books Not Bullets and Protect People Not Guns before marching on the US Capitol.

We want to show Congress and politicians we are not standing by, we are not silent anymore, said 17-year-old Brenna Levitan, who was at the protest with her mother.

Parkland is going to be the last school shooting.

Students in dozens of other cities in all 50 states staged similar demonstrations and observed a moment of silence to honour the 14 students and three adult staff killed a month ago at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

In Washington, several hours after the protests broke up, US lawmakers took their first significant step to address school gun violence since the Parkland shooting.

The House of Representatives voted 407-10 to fund violence prevention measures at schools including boosting security, mental health screening and creating anonymous reporting systems so students can report threats.

But Congress has yet to tackle the more controversial aspects of gun control demanded in the wake of the Parkland shooting.

These include expanded background checks for gun sales, a ban on assault weapons and raising the minimum age for some firearms purchases.

Dressed in the schools maroon colors, students at Stoneman Douglas visited memorials to their slain classmates and hugged and cried.

At a high school in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, students marched to the football field and assembled in a heart formation to pay tribute to the victims.

In Los Angeles and other cities, teenagers spelled out the protest slogan #ENOUGH by lying down on the ground on sports fields.

In Washington, students were joined by Democratic members of Congress at the Capitol.

Speakers denounced the National Rifle Association (NRA), the powerful US gun lobby, and demanded that Congress enact tougher laws on gun ownership.

You, the young people of this country, are leading the nation, Senator Bernie Sanders told the crowd.

People are sick and tired of gun violence and the time is now for all of us, together, to stand up to the NRA.

In New York, students many of whom wore orange, the color of gun control walked out from more than 50 schools.

We want change, and Am I next? they chanted.

Press secretary for New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, Eric Phillips, said just over 100,000 students took part from the citys schools.

The National School Walkout was intended to last for 17 minutes, one for each victim.

But tens of thousands of students around the country decided to skip school entirely and protest instead.

At the White House, 17-year-old Farah Parmah, who goes to Thomas Wootton High School in Rockville, Maryland, said President Donald Trumps controversial proposal to arm and train teachers is just a bad, bad idea.

Gun violence has taken way too many lives this year, said Parmah, who is 17.

There should be no guns in schools.

White House spokesman Raj Shah said Trump shares the students concerns about school safety.

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton praised the students Wednesday evening, calling them an inspiration to millions of Americans who know commonsense gun reform is long overdue.

The nationwide protest was held one month to the day after Nikolas Cruz, a troubled 19-year-old former student at Stoneman Douglas, unleashed a hail of gunfire on his one-time classmates.

Cruz, dressed in a red prison jumpsuit, appeared in court in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday and a judge entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

His lawyers had said he would plead guilty in exchange for guarantees that he would not face execution, but prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty.

The United States sees more than 30,000 gun-related deaths annually and Stoneman Douglas students have spearheaded a national gun control campaign, helping to force through a new law on age limits for gun purchasers in Florida.

The US public supports tougher gun laws, according to polls, but there is little backing for meaningful reforms in the Republican-controlled Congress.

Source: NAN