Flowerbud News

Month: October 2023

  • France’s candidate due to face tough grilling for EU commissioner post

    France’s EU commissioner candidate, Thierry Breton, is due to be grilled by EU lawmakers on Thursday about his fitness for the role after they rejected the first nominee proposed by Paris.

    Breton, was a former tech industry executive.

    To be confirmed, Breton will need a two-thirds majority from the EU lawmakers attending Thursday’s hearing, a hurdle that could be hard to clear.

    European Commission president-elect, Ursula von der Leyen, has had a tough time assembling her top team, which should include one official from each of the European Union’s member states.

    The setbacks forced her to delay her planned Nov. 1, start date.

    Lawmakers from several political groups have raised questions about possible conflicts between Breton’s former role as head of technology giant Atos and the responsibility he would have to oversee the sector, as future EU internal market commissioner.

    The veteran German politician now hopes to secure the European Parliament’s approval for her full commission line-up in time for her to take office on Dec 1.

    Besides France, Hungary and Romania had to propose new commissioners after the parliament rejected their initial nominees due to conflicts of interest.

    Breton, along with Hungary’s Oliver Varhelyi and Adina Valean of Romania passed the first hurdle on Tuesday, when the parliament’s legal affairs committee narrowly cleared all three of any financial conflicts of interest.

    French President Emmanuel Macron nominated Breton after his first choice, former EU lawmaker Sylvie Goulard, was rejected by the parliament.

    She came under fire for an EU anti-fraud inquiry and lucrative consulting work during her time in office. (dpa/NAN)

  • Putin, Xi meet on sidelines of Brasilia summit

    Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Brazil.

    During the meeting, Putin praised the strength and potential of bilateral ties between Russia and China.

    The 11th meeting of leaders of the BRICS emerging economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – kicked off earlier on Wednesday.

  • Bayelsa/Kogi: It’s either card reader or no voting — INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says no voter will be allowed to vote without voter card recognised by the Smart Card Reader in the Nov. 16 elections in Bayelsa and Kogi.

    Prof. James Apam, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), told NAN on the sideline of a one-day Training on Election Duties, organised by Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for its Staff at Kogi Sector Command Headquarters in Lokoja.

    Speaking on behalf of Apam, Mr Olugbenga Ajayi, a staff officer of the commission, warned that no person would be allowed to vote without being accredited using the card reader.

    “We keep learning everyday; and we want to obey what we have said as electoral umpire; if card reader cannot identify you, you cannot vote.

    “It is either card reader or no voting in Kogi and Bayelsa elections; anything apart from the use of card reader for accreditation and voting will be disqualified.

    “No manual accreditation would be allowed; it is either card reader or no voting,” he reiterated.

    He enjoined all the personnel participating in the elections to conduct themselves very well and not to compromise but respect their dignity and protect the sanctity of the elections.

    He further urged other security personnel to adequately secure electoral staff and election materials, saying all eyes are on Kogi and Bayelsa elections.

    He also called for timely arrival of security personnel at INEC Local Government Secretariat, who would be escorting their staff and election materials to INEC Registration Area Centre (RAC) for timely dispatched.

    “We urged the security personnel to live by the oath they swore to and not chasing after politicians for money,” he said.
    (NAN)

  • India celebrates 130th birthday of first PM Nehru

    India on Thursday celebrated the 130th birthday of its first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

    Born on Nov. 14, 1889, Nehru remained as Indian prime minister for nearly 17 years from August 1947, until his death in May 1964.

    His birthday is celebrated as Children’s Day every year, as he had a special bonding with the children.

    Remembering Nehru on the occasion, current Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Tributes to our former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his birth anniversary’’.

    Nehru belonged to the INC, the longest serving political party in India. (Xinhua/NAN)

  •  Bring your children for vaccination, Unicef urges parents in Bauchi

    A Consultant with Unicef Field Office in Bauchi, Al Amin Barrow, has appealed to parents in Bauchi State to bring out their children for measles and meningitis A vaccination, saying this is the best way to prevent children from dying with the disease. (more…)

  • Minister urges Nigerian entrepreneurs to explore Science,Technology

    MINISTER of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has called for the evolution of new entrepreneurs that would key into the vast opportunities in the new world of Science and Technology. (more…)

  • Coca-Cola CEO Quincey visits Nigeria, S’Africa, meets Dangote, Elumelu, others

    The Global CEO and Chairman of The Coca-Cola Company, James Quincey visited Nigeria and South Africa last week and met with business and political leaders, describing the region as the company’s future growth driver. (more…)

  • Ikosi-Isheri traders storm Lagos Assembly over market demolition

    Scores of traders from Ikosi-Isheri on Tuesday stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly, protesting against the demolition of their market in the State. (more…)

  • Nigerian Army decorates 23 new generals

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS) The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Tuesday, decorated the newly promoted Major Generals and Brigadier Generals with their new ranks.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the decorated generals comprising one major general and 22 brigadier generals are among the recently promoted officers by the army authorities.

    About 34 brigadier generals and 47 colonels were recently promoted to the next rank of major general and brigadier general respectively.

    While congratulating the newly decorated generals, Buratai urged them to remain responsive in the discharge of the constitutional duties.

    He said that the new ranks had placed the officers in position to take higher responsibilities, adding that they must be responsive to their troops as well as the training needs of their units.

    Buratai also urged them to remain steadfast for the tasks ahead of them, advising them to see their promotion as call to more service.

    “You must remain responsive to your duties, responsive to your troops, responsive to the training needs of your units,” he said.

    The Chief of Defence Intelligence, AVM Mohammed Usman, told the newly promoted generals to see their new ranks as gift from God.

    Usman urged them to continue to uphold the constitution in the discharge of their duties, adding that new ranks comes with additional responsibilities.

    “I want you to know that God gives promotion and it comes with additional responsibilities. To whom much is given; much is expected,” he said.

    Also, the Army Chief of Policy and Plans, Lt.-Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, enjoined the new generals to be prepared to face more tasking challenges.

    “You are now a problem solver not just identifying problems and making suggestions but you must be ready to solve problems. As generals you must be dedicated to service,” he said. (NAN)