The European Commission says it is set to take Malta to court over contested “golden passports’’ or citizen investment scheme, the EU executive arm announced on Thursday. Giving citizenship pre-determined payments or investments without any genuine link to an EU member state runs counter to the union’s principles, the commission said in a statement. The commission said that it had been putting pressure on Malta, Bulgaria and Cyprus to halt the practice of issuing golden passports. “These have become popular as they allow holders the full rights of EU citizenship, including free movements within the 27-country bloc. “Brussels says the…
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Musa Amadu, has dismissed reports making the rounds on his withdrawal from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) presidential race. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Amadu is one of the 11 candidates vying for the NFF Presidential election slated for Friday in Benin. A statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by Amadu, described as mischief the report that he had withdrawn from the race. The former NFF General Secretary assured his supporters not to entertain any fear, saying he was still in the race. “I, Musa Amadu will participate in the Sept. 30 election. “This notice becomes necessary…
Tourists in Paris were unable to visit the Eiffel Tower on Thursday due to national strikes against higher prices and planned pension reforms, the operating company said. Visitors who bought tickets online were informed by e-mail, the company said, apologising for the inconvenience. The company noted that the forecourt of Paris’ most famous landmark remained open and accessible free of charge. More than 20,000 people visit the Eiffel Tower on an average day. Thursday’s strikes also focused on public transport and schools, although there were few restrictions to the city’s metro system. However, disruptions were expected for buses and suburban…
Prime Minister Liz Truss has insisted the Government’s tax-cutting measures are the “right plan” in the face of rising energy bills and to get the economy growing. It should get the economy growing in spite of market turmoil sparked by the Chancellor’s mini-budget. In her first public comments since the mini-budget market chaos, Ms Truss on Thursday defended Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s measures, insisting urgent action was needed. She admitted that the Government’s decisions have been controversial. Truss told BBC radio: “We had to take urgent action to get our economy growing, get Britain moving and also deal with inflation. “Of…
Wife of Nasarawa State Governor, Hajiya Salifat Sule, has trained 300 vulnerable women in different skills across the three senatorial districts of the state. Mrs Sule, through her foundation, Salifat Abdullahi-Sule Hope Foundation, on Thursday, conducted training for the women, in partnership with National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and Industrial Training Found (ITF). She said that the gesture was part of her contributions to empowering women for them to contribute meaningfully to their respective families. Sule said, “If a woman is in business or trade, she will add value to her family, thereby helping her husband in addressing the needs of…
A Kano cleric, Abduljabar Kabara, charged with alleged blasphemy on Thursday accused his lawyer, Dalhatu Shehu-Usman, of allegedly collecting N2 million to bribe the presiding judge of an Upper Shari’a Court Kano in his ongoing trial. NAN reports that the defendant is charged with four counts bordering on blasphemous comments against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on Aug.10, Oct.25 and Dec.20, 2019. At the resumed sitting, the defence counsel, Shehu-Usman, represented by Mr Muhammad Lawan, in his prayer urged the court to allow the defendant adopt his final written addresses himself. The defendant, in adopting his final written addresses dated and filed…
Edo Government has taken over land measuring 1,229 hectares on the Irhirhi-Obazagbon-Ogheghe Road, Benin for the development of a new town. Mr Crusoe Osagie, Special Adviser on Media Projects to Gov. Godwin Obaseki, said this in a statement on Thursday in Benin. Osagie said the state government acquired the land in 2017 for the new town project but it was encroached upon by land speculators. He explained that the area repossessed used to be a forest reserve at the time of government’s acquisition. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government declared a 24-hour curfew in the area…
The African Development Bank (AfDB), Afreximbank and six other partners, have affirmed their commitments for better leverage guarantee and insurance products. The aim according to the partners is to ensure more trade and investment across Africa. In a statement issued on its website, AfDB, said the six partners were collaborating under the Africa Co-Guarantee Platform (CGP). It listed the partners to include; African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI), African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), and GuarantCo (part of the Private Infrastructure Development Group). The other partners are the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit Insurance (ICIEC).…
The European Commission has presented its ideas for a gas price cap amid pressure from many member states but warned of the possible consequences. The commission said the key objective for the EU is to ensure lower prices for EU consumers this winter. Fifteen EU countries had sent a letter to the commission earlier this week, calling for a price cap for all gas imports and transactions within the bloc. In its paper, the commission only partly addresses these calls and suggests setting a maximum price for Russian gas. Another option laid out in the proposal would be to cap…
U.S. Vice-President, Kamala Harris met with South Korean women leaders from various walks of life in Seoul on Thursday. The meeting was to discuss gender equality, a key focus of the Joe Biden administration’s domestic and foreign policies. Hours after flying here from Japan, Harris held a “groundbreaking women roundtable’’ at the residence of the U.S. Ambassador in Central Seoul. At the residence, she displayed her excitement at the stories of Korean women having achieved parity with male rivals in their respective fields. The participants, included figure skating champion Kim Yuna, Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon, Oscar-winning actress Youn Yuh-jung and…