A court in thehas said a third gender should be enshrined in law in a ground-breaking ruling for people who do not identify as either male or female.

The Limburg District Court in the city of Roermond decided an unnamed applicant could be recorded on their birth register as gender undetermined.

Until now, Dutch citizens have had to be registered as either a man or woman.

The time is ripe for the recognition of a third gender, the judges said in a statement. To enable the registration of a third gender X, a legal amendment is crucial. Its now up to the lawmakers.

The case came after the applicant was registered as male at birth in 1961 but had treatment to become a woman in 2001. They later decided they felt neither like a man or woman and asked authorities to include a third, gender-neutral entry in the birth register. It was this that was agreed in court on Monday.

A similar request by a different person was turned down in 2007 by the Netherlands highest court, the High Council.

But transgender activists hailed the new ruling as a momentous step in Dutch law and for European rights.

This can be called revolutionary within Dutch family law, Brand Berghouwer of the Netherlands Transgender Network said in a statement.

A change in legislation would make the Netherlands one of a select group of countries where a third gender is officially recognised in law.,,,andare among those that already provide a third option.

Source:

Source: NAN

Former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe risked being charged with contempt by the countrys parliament after he failed to appear on Monday before parliament to clarify a statement he made in 2016 that Zimbabwe could have lost 15 billion U.S. dollars through diamond revenue leakages.

The parliamentary portfolio committee on mines and energy initially wanted Mugabe to appear before it on May 9 but postponed this to May 23.

Mugabe did not come on May 23, resulting in parliament postponing the hearing to May 28.

Committee chairperson Themba Mliswa told journalists on Monday that parliament would now write the third and final letter to Mugabe inviting him to attend, failure of which he would face contempt of parliament charges.

The committee unanimously agreed that we write to the former president inviting him to appear before us on June 11, 2018 at 2 Oclock, Mliswa said.If he fails to attend, we will have no choice but to summon him and its something that we regret. We hope we will not get to that stage of summoning him as his legacy needs to be protected.

Mliswa said Mugabe had not responded to any of their invitations so far.

The meeting, if it happens, will be Mugabes first public meeting since he was forced to resign in November last year following a military intervention.

Mugabe said in 2016 that Zimbabwe could have lost 15 billion dollars through diamond revenue leakages from mining operations in Chiadzwa diamond fields in eastern Zimbabwe.

Over the past months, the committee has been trying to get more information on the matter and has since received oral evidence from several serving and former cabinet ministers, security chiefs and mining officials.

Mliswa said they were waiting for Mugabes oral evidence so that they can conclude their report on the alleged 15 billion dollars.

*Xinhua

Source: NAN

Jigawa Governor Alhaji Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar on Tuesday in Dutse laid the foundation for a prototype six-bedroom bungalow to accommodate the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members posted to the state.

Governor Badaru is building 27 of the bungalows, which he called, Corps Members Lodge, in the 27 local councils at a cost of N9.614million each. The total cost is N259.6 million.

Badaru said the gesture was meant to provide security and comfort for corps members posted to the state.

We want to guarantee the safety of NYSC members posted to the state hence the need to construct the lodges.

We want every corps member posted to the state to feel at home and be secured.

I urged the contractors handling the projects to start and finish the work simultaneously in 27 local government areas and finish within three months.

I cautioned the contractors handling the project to be transparent and the work must to be perfectly done.

Mr. Nuhu Kwage, Director Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development NYSC National Headquarters Abuja, who represented the Director General of the NYSC, Brig-Gen Zakari Kazaure, said that the initiative by Jigawa government to build Youth Corps lodges in all local government areas was the first of its kind in the country.

Kwage lauded the idea since about 95 per cent of corps members are posted to rural areas for primary assignments.

He apologised for the absence of the NYSC DG who is an indigene of Jigawa.

Kwage urged other states to copy Jigawa and build lodges for youth corps members.(NAN)

Source: NAN

A Malian migrant, Mamoudu Gassama, who scaled a Paris apartment block to save a four-year-old child was hailed Monday as an “example” by President Emmanuel Macron, who welcomed him to the presidential palace and offered him citizenship.

Two days after his daring rescue — viewed more than 21 million times online — Gassama, nicknamed “Spiderman” by French media for his astonishing climbing ability, met Macron in the splendour of the Elysee Palace.

“You have become an example because millions of people have seen you. It is only right that the nation be grateful,” Macron told the 22-year-old, adding that his immigration status would be “put in order”.

https://youtu.be/mnV70SGVk4s

However several aid groups accused the president of “political exploitation”, “hypocrisy” and covering up a harsh policy towards migrants.

Macron, who presented him with a medal for bravery, also offered him a job with the fire service.

“I did not think twice. I went straight up,” said the sporty youth, who wore jeans and a short-sleeved shirt to the encounter, explaining his climb.

Gassama was also congratulated by Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who phoned him at the Paris embassy to congratulate him “for honouring all of Mali,” the embassy said.

His act of heroism comes as lawmakers debate a controversial bill that would speed up the deportation of economic migrants and failed asylum-seekers, thousands of whom live in squalid camps in the capital.

“There’s a general feeling of shameful political exploitation,” said Jean-Claude Mas, secretary general of La Cimade, which defends migrants.

“It raises a lot of questions when you know what this government is doing.”

“There’s a bit of hypocrisy or cynicism,” added Claire Rodier of GISTI which supports immigrants, noting “the contrast with the repressive policy of this government against migrants and those without documents.”

Gassama has been living illegally in France and working in construction since arriving in September last year following a perilous journey from his homeland to Libya then Italy.

Macron, a centrist, has taken a tough line on economic migrants fleeing poverty rather than refugees escaping war or persecution.

But Gassama’s “exceptional act of heroism” warranted an “exceptional decision”, he said Monday.

He leapt into action Saturday evening on seeing the child dangling from the fourth-storey balcony of an apartment in the 18th district.

The video shows Gassama swiftly pulling himself up from balcony to balcony to reach the boy, to the cheers of onlookers.

Firefighters arrived at the scene to find the child, whose parents were not at home, had already been rescued.

A shy figure who was accompanied to the Elysee Palace by his older brother, Gassama said he had acted instinctively.

– ‘Incredibly brave act’ –

“I saved the child and then went inside the building and I was shaking,” he told Macron.

Reacting to his awards he said later: “I’m pleased because it’s the first time I’ve received a trophy like that.”

Gassama’s story instantly drew comparisons with that of another Malian migrant who was feted as a hero and given citizenship for helping save lives during a January 2015 terror attack.
Lassana Bathily helped hide hostages in the freezer during a jihadist attack on a Jewish supermarket in Paris, in which four people were killed.

Confirming to Gassama his French citizenship, Macron said: “Even if you did not think about what you were doing it was an act of courage and strength that won the admiration of all.”

But in a warning to other African migrants he said he “can not give (papers) to all those who come from Mali or Burkina Faso” — two of the countries from where thousands set out each year for Europe on a perilous journey across the desert and Mediterranean Sea.

Across the political class Gassama received plaudits.

But a senior member of the anti-immigration National Front, Nicolas Bay, said that while he supported Gassama becoming French all other illegal migrants should be deported

Source: NAN

The British Merseyside Police says it is aware of death threats made to Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius after the Champions League final.

The German, 24, and his family were the subject of threats after his two mistakes helped Real Madrid to a 3-1 win over the Reds in Kiev on Saturday.

Karius was in tears at the final whistle and apologised to fans.

"We take social media posts of this nature extremely seriously. Offences will be investigated," police said.

"Officers are aware of a number of comments and threats made via social media.

"Merseyside Police would like to remind social media users than any offences including malicious communications and threatening behaviour will be investigated."

The German gifted Real striker Karim Benzema an easy goal for the opener in Kiev on Saturday night.

Karius later allowed a Gareth Bale shot to squirm in for Real's third as the Spanish club won their third consecutive Champions League trophy.

On Sunday, he posted on social media: "I'm infinitely sorry to my team-mates, for you fans, and for all the staff."

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has backed Karius to bounce back from his Champions League nightmare.

"If he wants to talk then of course I will be there," said the Belgian, who was on the bench for the game in Kiev. "Every goalkeeper can relate to him.

"I've been in this situation before myself and those kind of things you deal with yourself.

"The only thing I told him is that there is a reason we got to this final, and why we played in this final, so think about that.

"But of course it is very difficult to say anything to him and to let him grasp it.

"Liverpool stands for unity, Liverpool stands for 'all together'. I think that will not only be the right ideal for Liverpool, it has always been their history and will always be their future."

Liverpool's goalkeeping coach John Achterberg tried to console Karius after the match.

"Obviously it is not good what happened. It was unlucky for him it happened in this game," said the Dutchman.

"I just tried to pick his head up and show him you have to carry on with it. It is hard to take but that is life in football."

Defender Dejan Lovren said it would be counter-productive to focus blame on Karius.

"It's easy to blame someone, but we are in the same ship together and everyone gave him the best words that they can. He will come back strong," Lovren said.

"Don't make massive stories about that. Of course it's big because it's a final - but everyone makes mistakes."

Source: BBC

The diagnosis for Mohamed Salah’s injury is “instability in the shoulder joint ligaments” and the estimated duration of his treatment is two weeks, according to Egypt’s Youth and Sports Minister Khaled Abdel Aziz.

In a post on his Facebook page, Aziz wrote that the medical team at Liverpool club contacted the medical team of the Egyptian football team and sent them X-rays, establishing an agreement on his treatment method.

It was also agreed that Salah would remain in Liverpool to receive proper treatment and rehabilitation, after which he would then join the Egyptian team camp in Italy at a later time determined by the doctors, Aziz said.

Aziz added that Salah would hopefully be in the final list of Egypt’s team at the World Cup, to be officially announced on June 4.

He stated that the faith, determination, and patriotism of Salah would help him pass this difficult period quickly.

Aziz wished a speedy and full recovery for Salah, and that he would lead the Egyptian team to glory at the World Cup.

Salah sustained his injury last night on May 26 during the Champions League final, when Sergio Ramos grabbed Salah by the arm and tackled him. Salah promptly received treatment to return to the field, but was unable to continue for more than two minutes.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi officially wished a speedy recovery for the superstar football player.

“My heartfelt wishes to the Egyptian hero Mohamed Salah for his speedy recovery, and I hope he will return to the field soon and remain a shining Egyptian star,” Sisi stated on his official Twitter account.

Social media witnessed a great campaign of solidarity and goodwill wishes for Salah’s recovery, with hopes that he could return to the field again and catch up with the national team for the World Cup finals in Russia.

Source: NAN

A pair of 125-year-old jeans has sold for nearly 100,000 U.S. dollars, setting a record for vintage denim, U.S. media said Saturday.

The pants, manufactured by Levi Strauss & Co., were sold by an auction house in Maine on May 15 to a buyer in Southeast Asia.

Daniel Soules of the auction house said: “It’s somebody who loves old Levis.”

At this old age, the jeans comes with a fascinating backstory. The fabric was produced by a mill in New Hampshire on the East Coast, but the pants were manufactured in San Francisco on the West Coast.

The first owner of the pants was Solomon Warner, a store owner in Arizona who purchased them in 1893. Warner had barely worn them before his death, so the jeans stayed in good condition as they were passed down in the family throughout the years, helping preserve their value.

Levi had offered to buy back the pants for 50,000 dollars Several features of the pants were distinctively different from today’s model, such as their single back pocket, and their lack of belt loops due to the popularity of suspenders in the 19th century.

Vintage denim is a sought-after item among many collectors. A pair of 501 jeans manufactured in the 1880s sold for 60,000 dollars to a Japanese collector, Soules said, and another pair, from 1888, sold for six figures.

Analysts said that blue jeans are coveted because they have been deeply ingrained in the U.S. culture after their first appearance during the years of Western expansion.

Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has lamented how the corruption cankerworm ate deep into the agency such that it was only able to remit to the treasury N52million in about 40 years.

Oloyede however changed the narrative when he took over in 2016.

Oloyede said he generated N9 billion for the board and remitted N 7.8 billion to the Federal Government in 2017.

The JAMB registrar said this while delivering a lecture at a colloquium to mark the 61st birthday of Gov. Rauf Aregbesola on Sunday in Osogbo.

He said Nigerians should join hands with President Muhammadu Buhari in the fight against corruption to bring about a better society.

He said there is urgent need for government at all levels to improve the quality of education in the country.

The colloquium had as theme: Functional Education as a Tool For National Development and Gateway To Freedom.

Oloyede said that there was the need for government to place less emphasis on certificates and encourage abilities among the students.

Destroying a nation does not require the use of atomic bomb or the use of long range missiles.

It only requires lowering the quality of education and allowing cheating in the examination by students.

The collapse of education is the collapse of the nation, but functional education will guarantee freedom and national development, he said.

Oloyede also said that corruption was militating against functional education in the country.

Oloyede also said that quality education must be functional, multipurpose and adaptable to every situation.

Education concerns the training of individuals to acquire the right attitudes that make them socially responsible, he said.

He also called for equality in education to allow children of the less privileged to access quality higher education in the country.

Source: NAN

Malam Garba Shehu, the SSA to the President on Media and Publicity, has told Mr. Reno Omokri, ex-President Goodluck Jonathans aide to stop lying.

Reno should stop lying, if only to help the pastoral calling to retain its good name. Otherwise he should quit the ministry, Shehu advised the viperous critic of Buhari .

He said that he had known and worked with exemplary pastors who were decent and from whom he learned more of the etiquette of truth telling.

The presidential aide gave names of Pastor Emeka Izeze and his brother, Pastor Ifeanyi, or his friend, Pastor Segun Babatope and lately Femi Adesina and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as example of such trustful pastors.

I am 100 per cent loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari, Shehu said.

He dismissed allegation made against him by Omokri and affirmed that he does not belong to Any Government in Power (AGIP).

Shehu made the clarification in a write-up entitled; `The Real Price of Change the Change campaign (2) issued in Abuja on Sunday.

Presidential aide said he was invited to serve Buhari administration as one of the two spokespersons of the government, and he subsequently pledged 100 per cent loyalty to the government.

This cannot be AGIP by any standards.

He stated that Omokri lied against him and narrated the circumstances that resulted in his `resignation while serving in the media office of a PDP administration.

For those Reno tried to mislead, yes it is a fact that I worked in the media office of a PDP administration.

Not for five years as the new-day pastor published but only for six months at which point it was announced on NTA news, to my surprise, that my letter of resignation had been accepted when I hadnt written any.

I learned of course that I was fired because the head of the country at that time, who believed that every published criticism was sponsored by an insider, read the weekly magazine, The News, and didnt like what was written about him, he said

He further explained: Pastor Reno lied by calling me an AGIP The period he was referring to was one in which my boss ran into bad political weather and some of us around him were scapegoated.

I was locked in DSS detention many times, my houses in Kano and Abuja broken into and valuables, including cash, some of which were never returned, were seized.

I was going to court for two years and for the most part of which I didnt have a passport.

In the course of that trial, the judge presiding called back my lawyers, Niyi Akintola, SAN and Rickey Tarfa, SAN, after an adjournment to say that I didnt mean that he should be kept in DSS detention. I said he should be taken to Kuje Prison,, and thats where I was kept.

Under detention in the DSS I was stripped down to the pants and photographed head to toe. All that didnt make one to capitulate.

When they lost to Muhammadu Buhari in the party primaries, the candidates in that race, Gov. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Waziri Atiku Abubakar, Rochas Okorocha and Sam Nda-Isaiah surrendered their media assets to the winner who had the grace to ask me to lead the media team.

When we won, he (then President-elect Buhari) invited me to serve as one of his two spokespersons and I pledged 100 per cent loyalty to him and thats where I am. This cannot be AGIP by any standards.
(NAN)

Source: NAN

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday displayed his pastoral prowess, quoting copiously to analyse Nigerias situation to beg Nigerians to go forward.

So I say to you brethren in Christ and fellow country men and women, let us go forward, do not look back, the armies of the enemy that you see today threatening to kill and maim.

the claws of poverty and injustice you shall see again no more forever, the Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace.

We must go forward, we are a people of prophecy.

There have been times when the journey is somewhat tough, difficult, and fearful; we look behind us and see the armies of the past.

the armies of division, which led to a civil war where millions died, the armies of religious strife that refuse to leave us, the armies of corruption and graft, those who want us to remain in the captivity of ethnic and religious conflicts.

Ahead of us, we see the Red Sea, bloody conflicts, and the doomsayers saying that the future will be worse than the past!

Osinbajo, who is also a Pastor in the Redeem Christian Church of God, drew spiritual analogy to placate Nigerians who now believe things were getting worse than it was.

God has said concerning this nation, that He is building a new Nigeria; a nation where men and women of all tribes and faith, dwell in love and peace.

A nation, where our young people have ample opportunities for productive and rewarding work. The promises of God are sure and certain. 2nd Corinthians 1:20.

Osinbajo spoke centred on the topic, Let us go forward from anguish of the past in his remarks at the democracy day interdenominational church service at the National Christian Centre on Sunday.

For all the promises of God in Him are yes, and in Him amen, to the glory of God through us. This is the future and we are headed in that direction already.

Drawing form the history of the movement of children of Israel for nation building, he said: The children of Israel were on a journey of nation building; the Lord had promised to take them to a land flowing with milk and honey.

They had just left the captivity of Egypt, where they were cheated and punished by Pharaoh. God took them on the journey out of captivity, out of anguish, and promised them a place of comfort, abundance and peace.

But the journey was tougher than they expected, suddenly they saw Pharaoh and his army coming after them.

They were unarmed, and one of the most vicious armies in history was coming after them. They ran in great fear, with their wives and children. They carried the elderly, the disabled, and the babies, but in front of them was the Red Sea.

No boats to cross the sea. They were, between the proverbial devil and the deep blue sea.

So they turned to their leader, Moses, who himself was now full of fear because he didnt expect what they were now experiencing.

A lesson here, when God puts you on a journey to your destiny, whether you are a person or a nation, He doesnt tell you what the challenges will be, lest you refuse to undertake the journey.

So the Israelites turned to their leader, Moses, saying in Exodus 14.11, `because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness?

Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

He explained that so it is in the journey of nation building and development, our own nation, is no different, we are on a journey from the anguish of the past.

And then the people say, why did you take us from where we were? The same people who cried in anguish to the Lord, now say, you should have left us in Egypt.

We didnt know you were taking us out of captivity to kill us here in the wilderness. Like Moses, the leadership say to God, but what shall we do oh Lord? We didnt expect that this would be a journey to destruction.

Then God said to Moses in Exodus 15, why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. Go forward! Dont turn back! Moses inspired by God, said to the children of Israel, do not be afraid, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.

So I say to you brethren in Christ and fellow country men and women, let us
go forward, do not look back, Pastor Osinbjo said.

Source: NAN