NEWS

France Bans Politicians From Employing Their Spouses

Published

7 years ago

July 28, 2017

France on Thursday banned politicians from employing their spouses or children as parliamentary assistants under rules adopted in response to a scandal involving former Prime Minister, Francois Fillon and his wife.

The law, one of the first to be approved since President Emmanuel Macron’s election in May, will apply to ministers and members of parliament, bringing France into line with countries like Germany.

The law will also ending what is a widespread family business.

The essential clauses of the legislation were voted through by members of the National Assembly in votes Wednesday night and on Thursday.

Macron, a 39-year-old centrist, won the presidential contest promising he would end practices blamed for widespread voter distrust of politicians.

One of his hottest competitors in the presidential race was Fillon, a conservative ex-prime minister whose campaign was destroyed by a scandal involving payments to his British spouse Penelope.

The affair was exposed by media in late January, prompting a judicial inquiry, still underway, into allegations that Fillon paid wife Penelope hundreds of thousands of euros over years for little, if any, work as an assistant.

He also paid two of the couple’s children for similar work.

Although he denounced what he called a dirty tricks campaign and denied having done anything illegal, he admitted an error of judgment.

The scandal sank his bid for election and thrust the spotlight on the family hires of dozens of other politicians.

Roughly one in six members of parliament has a family member drawing a salary as an assistant.

Macron’s government, whose debut as a clean-hands operation has been tainted by a separate inquiry that prompted a justice minister to resign, is also planning a crackdown on how freely MPs use the substantial budgets allotted to them.

Currently, members of the 577-member National Assembly get a budget of 130,000 euros (152,000 dollars)a year, on top of their own pay and secretarial funds – which the new government says is too loosely controlled in the way it is used.

“Members of parliament are there to adopt laws and not to be hand out subsidies,” Nicole Belloubet, who replaced predecessor Francois Bayrou in June as justice minister, told Europe 1 radio.

The bill on family hires was criticised by some politicians, during a pre-vote debate where one of them, Julien Aubert of the opposition The Republicans party, said it was excessive.

“It’s like a pig flu: one pig is ill and the whole herd gets put down,” he said.

MOVIES

“Queen Lateefah” Continues Run In Nigerian Box Office With ₦350 Million

Published

51 mins ago

November 25, 2024

Reporter

Queen Lateefah continues run in Nigerian Box Office | fab.ng

Cinemax Nigeria, the distributor of ‘Queen Lateefah,’ announced on Instagram that Wumi Toriola’s debut cinema production had grossed ₦350 million since its release two months ago. This significant achievement marks a new milestone for the Nollywood actress and her film.

The film’s distributor, Cinemax Nigeria, took to Instagram to update its audience on the latest feat the film has attained.

“Queen Lateefah still waxing strong and shining bright! Grossing 350M and 7th Highest Grossing Nollywood Title of All Time! Big thank you to everyone who has seen this masterpiece. You guys are the best,” the post said.

READ ALSO: Everybody Loves Jenifa” Can Beat ₦5 Billion – Funke Akindele

Queen Lateefah, Wumi Toriola’s debut cinema production, has become the 7th highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time.

This milestone comes after a strong opening weekend, where the film raked in ₦57.7 million. This impressive figure made it the highest-grossing Nollywood movie for a non-holiday weekend in 2024. It also set the record for the highest-grossing Nollywood weekend by an independent distributor.

A joint venture between Wumi Toriola Productions and Captain of the Sea Productions, Queen Lateefah delves into the life of Lateefah Adeleke, a 30-year-old businesswoman striving for societal recognition.

Her carefully constructed façade starts to unravel when she encounters Jide Rhodes, a businessman who exposes her true self. The film explores poignant themes of ambition, self-discovery, and the repercussions of living a fabricated existence.

The star-studded cast, featuring Kunle Remi, Femi Adebayo, Nancy Isime, Broda Shaggi, Femi Adebayo, Bimbo Manuel, Elvina Ibru, Enioluwa, and Gbugbemi Ejeye, brings these themes to life on screen.

Check out more updates here.

MUSIC

Wizkid’s “Dance” Reappears On Apple Music Nigeria Top 100

Published

4 days ago

November 21, 2024

Reporter

Kese (Dance) Reappears on Apple Music Nigeria Top 100 | fab.ng

Wizkid’s ‘Kese (Dance)’ Reclaims Top Spot on Apple Music Nigeria

Wizkid’s latest single, ‘Kese (Dance)‘ dramatically returned to the Apple Music Nigeria Top 100 chart. The song temporarily disappeared on November 18, 2024, sparking widespread speculation among fans and music enthusiasts.

Fab.ng first reported the unexpected chart removal. Despite vanishing from the Nigerian chart, ‘Dance’ maintained its position on global Top 100 lists. Remarkably, it remained the sole Nigerian and African track on international charts.

Apple Music’s chart management protocols suggest potential reasons for the temporary removal. The platform commonly investigates potential streaming manipulation. When suspicious activity emerges, they remove and then reinstate tracks after verifying stream authenticity.

Fans and industry watchers developed multiple theories. Some believed the removal resulted from technical complications. Others suspected a deeper investigation into streaming patterns. The exact mechanism remained unclear.

Within hours, ‘Kese (Dance)’ returned to its top chart position. The song demonstrated sufficient streaming strength to reclaim its previous standing. Wizkid’s continued musical dominance remained unquestionable.

The incident generated additional excitement around Wizkid’s upcoming album ‘Morayo.’ Scheduled for release on November 22, 2024, the album generates significant anticipation. Wizkid strategically shared the official tracklist, further fueling fan enthusiasm.

Music industry observers noted the incident’s potential marketing impact. The temporary chart removal inadvertently increased visibility for both the single and the upcoming album. Wizkid’s strategic music release continues to capture the audience’s attention.

The event underscores the complex dynamics of digital music platforms. Streaming charts represent more than simple popularity metrics. They reflect intricate algorithmic and investigative processes.

Wizkid continues to demonstrate his significant influence in Nigerian and global music scenes. ‘Kese (Dance)’ represents another milestone in his remarkable musical journey.

Fans remain eager to experience the full ‘Morayo’ album, anticipating another potential chart-topping release from the superstar artist.

Check out more updates here.

MUSIC

Davido’s “Na Money” Wins Best Costume/Styling At Berlin Fashion Film Festival

Published

4 days ago

November 21, 2024

Reporter

Na Money wins best costume at Berlin fashion film festival | fab.ng

Davido’s “Na Money” music video, featuring Angélique Kidjo and The Cavemen, has earned the prestigious Best Costume/Styling (Craft) award at the 12th Berlin Fashion Film Festival.

The vibrant video is directed by Dammy Twitch and produced by Blessing Uzzi. The video captivated audiences with its colourful costumes, cultural depth, and breathtaking visuals. This celebrates African heritage with impeccable creativity and style.

The win underscores the team’s exceptional attention to detail in showcasing the beauty of African fashion and culture. From the elaborate traditional attire to the contemporary designs, the video seamlessly blends visual artistry with the powerful Afrobeat sound of the track.

This recognition cements “Na Money” as a benchmark for combining music and fashion in innovative storytelling.

The Berlin Fashion Film Festival celebrates fashion and film annually.

It has recognized outstanding talent since its establishment. The festival is part of the larger Berlinale, a global cinema event dating back to 1951.

It focuses on creativity and craftsmanship in filmmaking. The festival highlights emerging talent across various artistic disciplines. It awards prestigious honours like the Golden Bears.

The event attracts filmmakers, designers, and film enthusiasts from around the world. The festival provides a platform for innovative storytelling through visual media.

Recognizing creative excellence supports artistic development. The award represents a significant achievement for artists and creators. For Davido and his team, this recognition underscores their contribution to global cultural representation.

The festival continues to be an important stage for showcasing innovative artistic expressions.

The video’s dynamic visuals and cultural richness not only earned industry accolades but also resonated with fans worldwide.

To experience the award-winning brilliance firsthand, watch Davido’s “Na Money,” featuring Angélique Kidjo and The Cavemen, now.

Let the stunning visuals and captivating storytelling take you on a journey through Africa’s vibrant cultural tapestry.

Explore the full list of winners on the festival’s official site and join in celebrating this milestone for African music and fashion.

Watch the video below.