Category: Just In

EU top court rules Malta’s ‘golden passport’ scheme illegal

Malta’s fast-track naturalization scheme for foreign investors violates EU law, the bloc’s top court has ruled. It said granting citizenship for investments makes naturalization “a mere commercial transaction.”

Malta’s fast-track naturalization scheme for foreign investors violates EU law, the bloc’s top court has ruled. It said granting citizenship for investments makes naturalization “a mere commercial transaction.”

European Court of Justice ruled that Malta’s “golden passport” program violates EU Law

The European Court of Justice (ECJ), the EU’s highest court in Luxembourg, on Tuesday ordered Malta to end its “golden passport” program, saying it violates European Union law.

“A Member State cannot grant its nationality — and indeed European citizenship — in exchange for predetermined payments or investments,” the court wrote in a news release.

“This essentially amounts to rendering the acquisition of nationality a mere commercial transaction,” it added.

A Maltese law that fast-tracks the naturalization of foreign investors has long been criticized by anti-corruption advocates and EU officials for facilitating white-collar crime and sanctions evasion.

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Fuel truck explosion in Noshki leaves over 40 injured
Fire brigade members and four police officers were also severely burned in the explosion. A massive explosion occurred in a fuel truck near the truck stand in Noshki district of Balochistan on Monday, following a fire that erupted at the scene. The explosion caused severe injuries to more than 40 people, many of whom were severely burned, Express News reported.

According to reports, the incident took place when efforts were underway to control the fire, which had started in an oil tanker at the truck stand. Firefighting vehicles and rescue teams were dispatched to the scene, but as they were attempting to extinguish the blaze, a fire broke out in a fire truck as well.

Rescue sources confirmed that several individuals were badly burned in the explosion and were immediately rushed to hospitals for medical attention. Hospital officials stated that after receiving initial treatment, the more critically injured individuals would be airlifted to Quetta for further care.

The district administration issued a statement confirming that more than 40 people had been injured in the blast. The statement explained that the incident occurred while efforts were underway to control the blaze that had engulfed the fuel tank of the oil tanker parked at the stand.

Authorities also reported that members of the fire brigade suffered severe burns as they were close to the explosion.

Additionally, four police officers who were present to evacuate civilians from the area were also severely burned. People who were in the vicinity of the oil tanker were reported to have suffered burns to 70 to 80 per cent of their bodies.

The district administration further stated that the most critically injured individuals would be airlifted to Quetta via helicopter for specialised medical treatment.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire and the subsequent explosion.

Emergency services have been at the Palace of Westminster for more than eight hours as a man who scaled the tower which houses Big Ben remains there.

Video on social media shows a barefoot man stood on a ledge several metres up the Elizabeth Tower holding a Palestinian flag in an apparent protest.Police said they were called to the scene at 7.24am this morning.

Following the security breach at Parliament, a fire engine later raised a cherry picker to the same height as the man’s position on the tower.Police said they were called to the scene at 7.24am this morning.

Following the security breach at Parliament, a fire engine later raised a cherry picker to the same height as the man’s position on the tower.Police said they were called to the scene at 7.24am this morning.

Following the security breach at Parliament, a fire engine later raised a cherry picker to the same height as the man’s position on the tower.Police said they were called to the scene at 7.24am this morning.

Following the security breach at Parliament, a fire engine later raised a cherry picker to the same height as the man’s position on the tower.