Florida lawmakers have voted to enact new gun control measures, weeks after one of the worst school shootings in US history took place in the state.

The Senate narrowly passed a bill that would raise the age to buy a firearm from 18 to 21 and require a three-day waiting period for most weapons.

Senators voted 20-18 in favour, after an amendment removed a provision to arm classroom teachers.

The law now requires approval from the House of Representatives and

Seventeen people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the Florida city of Parkland on 14 February by former student Nikolas Cruz.

Many of the

The national minimum age to buy a handgun is already 21, with a three-day waiting period. However, a person can be as young as 18 to buy a rifle in Florida, with no waiting period.

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Source: NAN

Saudi Arabia has donated of $10 million to aid the fight against the insurgency as Nigeria.

Saudi Arabias donation is part of the King Salmans Humanitarian Aid and Relief Programme.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabias Defence Minister, Mr. Nasir Mutbak, said in Abuja on Tuesday that the donation is for the provision of food and basic amenities in camps of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East.

We are here to implement King Salman issued to help our brothers in IDPs and refugees in North-East, we are here to reach out, and provide assistance for our brothers in that region. And of course, the donation will be $10 million.

Nigerias Defence Minister, Retired Brigadier General Mansur Dan while receiving the team from Saudi Arabia said the fund will go a long way in helping to fight terrorism in the country.

Source: NAN

France plans to fix the legal age of sexual consent as 15, so that an adult who has sex with someone younger than that will be charged with rape.

Equality Minister Marlne Schiappa welcomed the move with advice from doctors and legal experts.

Currently, prosecutors must prove sex with someone under-15 was forced in order to bring rape charges.

The change came amid uproar over two recent cases of men accused of having sex with 11-year-old girls.

The government is to approve the new age limit as part of a package of other laws against sexual violence and harassment in the coming weeks.

It had been discussing whether to set the age as 13 or 15, which is what groups fighting violence against children had campaigned for.

Under the existing legislation, if there is no violence or coercion proved,.

This has a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 (66,000; $87,000).

, but rape convictions carry much harsher punishments.

Ms Schiappa told AFP news agency that she was very glad that the higher age was chosen. The limit is also supported by President Emmanuel Macron.

Minister of Solidarity and Health Agns Buzyn saidand that everyone would see what was legal and illegal, Le Figaro newspaper reports

Read more at :http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43300313

Source: NAN

Less than 48 hours after some top members of opposition PDP defected to the moribund Social Democratic Party (SDP), reports emerged that some retired military officers were also among those reviving the party.

The ex-military officers are among the brokers leading talks to put the SDP on a good stead ahead the 2019.

The reported that at least two frontline members of the groups that have coalesced into the party.

The report reveals that there was an imminent exodus of members of the National Assembly elected on the tickets of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to SDP in March.

Professors Jerry Gana and Tunde Adeniran, as well as a former deputy Senate president, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, who are PDP stalwarts have joined SDP after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the SDP leadership.

Many influential personalities were seriously engaging other power brokers for collaboration towards making the SDP the party to beat in the next round of elections.

He said some influential individuals were talking to former President Olusegun Obasanjo to collaborate with the party.

According to , a coordinator of the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) was fully discussing with others on the need to strengthen the SDP.

A lot of the members of both the PDP and the APC have not only been working underground for us but have indeed joined the fray unofficially.

So, one or two things will soon happen, one of which is the imminent exodus from the two parties to the PDP, in fact before the end of March 2018.

Source: NAN

Germany is collaborating with the European Union to increase power generation in Nigeria by 500 megawatts (MW) through renewable energy to serve 100,000 people.

Iner Hommers, The Programme Head, Nigerian Energy Support Programmme (NESP), said in Abuja at a presentation of a compendium of the achievements of the Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ).

Hommers said that 33 million Euros had been earmarked to execute the project which is the second phase of NESP to enhance further developments in Nigerias power sector, especially renewable energy.

She said the EU would provide 20 million Euros in the programme while the German government through, its federal ministry of economic cooperation and development, would give 13 million Euros to support it.

The programme will ensure as part of its schedule that up to 500 MW of solar photovoltaic electricity would be procured and generated to serve about 100,000 people.

It will also provide support to renewable energy operators to scale up their electricity provision, she said.

She added that it was also to support Nigerias provision of stable data for electrification planning, sustainable on-grid and off-grid electricity, as well as creating an enabling environment for renewable energy and energy efficiency investments.

Hommers explained that the new financial package would be used in the second phase of the NESP which would last from December 2017 to November 2020.

She stated that the first phase of the NESP was successful and contributed in providing electricity to about 10,000 people in Sokoto, Niger, Ogun, Cross River and Plateau.

The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Ketil Karlsen, stated at the event that studies had shown that Nigeria could generate up to 53,950MW of electricity from solar and hydro sources.

He said there was a need for to ensure that right investments were made in this regards.

Karlsen explained that the success of the first phase of the NESP inspired the EU to continue with its support for the second phase.

He called for a replication of the same expertise that was used in implementing the first phase. (NAN)

Source: NAN

BBNaija Double Wahala housemates Angel and Ahneeka (Gelah) have been evicted from the show.

The paired housemates who were evicted on Sunday are the third set of housemates to be evicted from the BBNaija house and the fourth pair to depart the house.

Bitto and Princess (Pritto), Deeone and Vandora (Vandee) were evicted from the show alongside Khloe and K-Brule (Ksquared) who were disqualified.

Gelah fighting to stay for at least another week in the BBNaija house saw their chances of winning the grand prize of 25 million Naira and an SUV cut short during the last nomination process on Monday.

The pair emerged with one of the highest numbers of nominations along with Cee c and Lolu (Ceelo) and Leo and Ifu (Lifu)

Longstanding BBNaija host Ebuka Uchendu announced Gelah had received the lowest per cent of votes from fans across the world compared to fellow housemates Ceelo and Lifu.

After a week of intense arguments between strategic partners Cee c and Lolu, the two housemates put their differences aside to produce a spectacular performance during the Art and Culture week task.

Surviving the latest eviction is a huge boost to the pair.

Big Brother (Biggie) revealed Lifu came out on top during the Roc Da Mat challenge. The pair won a prize of 5 million Naira, one year supply of Pepsi and Pepsi chillers and VVIP trip for One Africa Festival in London, England.

A good week for Lifu turned better when the pair narrowly escaped eviction form the BBNaija house with 28.37 per cent compared to Geallas 26.97.

Outgoing housemate Ahneeka revealed her plans for life after the BBNaija show.

She said on stage during the Live eviction that she aimed to get back into the real world and explore the entertainment industry.

She claimed she resisted fellow housemate Rico Swarveys advances because she did not want to lead him on knowing his feelings were temporary.

An excited Angel attempted to clear up his future plans with Ahneeka. He said on the live show I will love to be more than friends with Ahnneka.

Angel who rated his chances highly after successfully coming out of several evictions told Ebuka Uchendu that he planned to get his music career on track with some music videos as well as a movie shoot already planned for May.

Eleven housemates left in the game continue to vie for the grand prize as reality continues to set in as more housemates leave the BBNaija Double Wahala show. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Oil giants Eni and Shell go on trial in Milan on Monday, charged with bribery and corruption in the purchase of an offshore oilfield in Nigeria, at the centre of which is Malabu oil company owned by former oil minister Dan Etete.

Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi, his predecessor Paolo Scaroni and several officials from Eni and Shell are among those facing the judge.

Ex-Nigerian oil minister Dan Etete is also on trial.

Eni also charged with corruption in Algeria in a separate trial and Shell stand accused of handing out bribes during the 2011 purchase of OPL245, an offshore oil block estimated to hold 9 billion barrels of crude, for $1.3 billion.

Both companies deny the charges against them.

Eni expresses its full confidence in the judicial process and that the trial will ascertain and confirm the correctness and integrity of its conduct, the Italian firm said in a statement.

The agreement allegedly saw Nigerias former president Goodluck Jonathan and former oil minister Etete pocket bribes, according to corruption watchdog Global Witness.

Eni and Shell closed the deal with the government without the involvement of an intermediary. The money was deposited into an account owned by the Nigerian government, said Eni, which has regularly reaffirmed its trust in Descalzi.

Descalzi made it clear last year that Shell and Eni had not been involved in the governments decision on how to use the money.

Shell also said it believed the judges would conclude there was no case against them, adding there is no place for bribery or corruption in our company.

The 2011 deal with the Nigerian government aimed to end years of litigation over the OPL245 block between Shell and Dan Etetes Oil and Gas Malabu company.

A former oil minister under the dictator Sani Abacha, Etete appropriated the block in 1998, selling it to Malabu, a company he secretly owned.

The licence was subsequently revoked by the government and then transferred to Shell and then again to Malabu, resulting in major litigation.

After taking office in 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan resumed negotiations on the highly coveted block.

According to Global Witness, the deal resulted in $1.1 billion being paid into an account in London opened by government officials and going directly to Etete and $210 million to the government.

Email exchanges between Shell management cited by Global Witness, and seen by AFP, suggest that Shell was aware the money was likely to be funnelled to individuals, including Etete and Jonathan.

Etete can smell the money, a Shell official wrote in 2010, while another said, the President (Jonathan) is motivated to see 245 closed quickly - driven by expectations about the proceeds that Malabu will receive and political contributions that will flow as a consequence.

Nigerias anti-graft agency, the EFCC, filed corruption charges against Shell and Eni in March 2017, accusing 11 defendants, including Etete, of official corruption in connection with the deal.

Current president, Muhammadu Buhari, has pledged to fight relentlessly against the cancer of corruption that plagues Africas largest oil producer.

But in a letter leaked in February from Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami, to Buhari dating from September, the minister asked the president to interrupt the EFCC investigation.

In the letter Malami expressed concern that the case did not contain enough evidence to bring the main defendants to justice and that a trial would be an embarrassment for the country and could put off potential investors.

Global Witness called for justice, saying that $1.1 billion can help a lot of people in a country like Nigeria where 80 percent of citizens live on less than two dollars a day.

Source: NAN

Timothy Weah, the son of current Liberian president, George Weah made his professional debut in Paris Saint Germaines 2-0 win over Troyes on Saturday.

Timothys father had also played for Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan.

The US youth international, who only turned 18 last week, replaced Giovani Lo Celso for the final quarter hour after being named to the first-team squad for the first time.

My name pushes me a little bit more because my father did very good things here. I want to do the same thing, said Weah, who nearly scored a debut goal in stoppage time.

Everything is going to be fine, soon I will start to score goals!

Born in New York City, the teenager signed a professional deal with PSG last summer but has spent much of his time with the clubs reserve team in the fourth division.

Hes a very young player but he works very hard. He played 15 minutes and had a good chance to score. He deserves it. Its the first time, he needs to keep on working, PSG coach Unai Emery said.

George Weah spent three successful and prolific seasons at PSG between 1992 and 1995, and remains the only African footballer to win the Ballon dOr award. He won it in 1995.

AFP

Source: NAN

American heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder tempted Britains Anthony Joshua with a fight after knocking out Cubas Luis Ortiz in the 10th round on Saturday.

Wilder has been trying unsuccessfully to get a unification fight with two-belt titleholder Joshua.

With no date set he had to fight the dangerous counter-punching Ortiz (28-1). Together they are all part of a crop of new fighters who are trying to bring the heavyweight division back into the boxing spotlight.

On Saturday Wilder floored Cubas Luis Ortiz in the 10th round to retain his World Boxing Council heavyweight title and keep his record intact of knocking out every opponent he has faced.

He knocked down Ortiz three times in the fight, finishing off the previously unbeaten challenger with a right uppercut as the referee stopped the fight with 55 seconds left in the 10th round.

The 32-year-old Wilder improved to 40-0 with 39 knockouts as he made the seventh defence of his heavyweight title.

Wilder knocked Ortiz down in the fifth and twice in the final round but Ortiz made him work for the victory. Wilder barely survived the seventh round after Ortiz surprised him with a right hook and left hand combination and followed it up with a barrage of his own.

This was the first career title fight for the stout Ortiz who weighed in at 241 pounds, almost 30 pounds heavier than the taller and leaner 6-foot-7 Wilder.

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Source: NAN

Argentine Juan Martin del Potro clinched his 21st career title with a 6-4 6-4 win over Kevin Anderson in the Mexican Open final in Acapulco on Sunday.

The week after losing to Frances Tiafoe in the second round at Delray Beach Open in Florida, the former U.S. Open champion dropped only one set in four matches on the Acapulco outdoor hardcourt on his way to the title.

One break in each set was enough to give del Potro his first title of the year and the world number nine did not face a single break point as he improved his perfect career record against the big-serving South African to 7-0.

Anderson, ranked a spot above Del Potro in the world rankings coming into the tournament, was seeking his second consecutive title after winning the New York Open two weeks ago.

When Anderson gets it right with his booming serve he can be difficult to break down but 29-year-old Del Potro was able to feed on the South Africans weaker second serve to get the crucial breaks.

In the womens event, Ukraines Lesia Tsurenko battled back from the brink of defeat to successfully defend her title with a 5-7 7-6(2) 6-2 victory over Stefanie Voegele in the final.

Swiss Voegele was only three points from clinching the match in two sets but Tsurenko forced a tiebreak and it was nearly all one-way traffic from there as the Ukrainian took command in a nearly three-hour battle of attrition.

After dominating the tiebreak to even up the contest, the 28-year-old world number 40 walzed through the final set to secure the fourth title of her career.

Its such a special tournament for me, winning here for the second time, Tsurenko said.This is just an unbelievable feeling for me to be here.

Source: NAN