casi casi cast From Tony Osauzo, Benin Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has signed the 2025 Appropriation Bill of N675 billion, tagged the “Budget of Renewed Hope for a Rising Edo”, into law after it was passed by the Edo State House of Assembly. Assenting to the bill at the Government House, Benin City, Governor Okpebholo said the budget would revive the economy of Edo State and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state. “I have just signed into law a budget of N675,220,058,858.52, tagged a Renewed Hope Budget for a Rising Edo. It is hoped that the 2025 approved budget will revive the economy of Edo State and deliver the dividends of democracy to the good people of the state.” He explained that, in preparing the budget, special care was taken to ensure that a larger percentage was appropriated for capital expenditure, stressing the administration’s commitment to embarking on massive capital projects in the new fiscal year. The governor further commended the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, and other members of the Assembly for the speedy consideration of the budget. Speaking earlier while presenting the bill to the governor, Rt. Hon. Agbebaku said the budget was significantly increased from the initial sum of N605 billion to ensure more funds were allotted to the agricultural sector. Meanwhile, as the world celebrates Christmas, the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Governor Okpebholo, on behalf of the government and people of Edo State, congratulated all Christians for witnessing yet another yuletide season. In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the governor urged Christian faithful to use the festive period for sober reflection and total spiritual renewal and devotion towards living in peace and harmony with adherents of other religions. “We must continue to extend the hands of love and fellowship to our neighbours and live as one big family, irrespective of our social, political, and religious leanings, and continue to trust God for a better tomorrow, a more prosperous Edo State, and a greater country, Nigeria. “Whether in business, politics, religion, or ethnic considerations, we must show love to one another as humans, as no religion encourages violence or preaches evil against humanity. “We must realise that we are first Nigerians before our religious beliefs, political leanings, and cultural affiliations, and as such, we must show respect for one another by living in peace. “If Christians love one another as Christ taught, the issues of communal and religious clashes, armed robbery, kidnapping, militancy, armed banditry, terrorism, and other vices will not arise. “As Christians, I urge our people to rekindle their love for Christ by renewing the virtues of peace, love, and sacrifice, which Jesus Christ epitomised in his earthly teachings. “As a government, we are working hard to make life easier for Edo people and put smiles on the faces of residents of our dear state. We will not disappoint you. We will continue to work hard to make Edo State a happy home for all,” Governor Okpebholo added.

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MONTREAL — Second Cup Canada is cutting ties with a franchisee operating at Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital who was allegedly filmed making hateful and antisemitic comments during a protest in the city last week. Second Cup Canada announced Saturday it was cutting ties with a franchisee for “making hateful remarks and gestures,” and adding in a statement the actions breach the franchise agreement as well as inclusion and community values ​​held by the chain. Peter Mammas, CEO of Montreal-based Foodtastic, which owns Second Cup Canada, said in an interview on Sunday that he was at the movies when his phone started pinging non-stop. He saw the videos and the company’s operations staff spoke to employees that knew the woman, and they confirmed it was indeed the franchisee. Video shot during a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside of Concordia University’s downtown Montreal campus Thursday shows a woman walking around, masked, saying the “final solution is coming your way” — wording used to describe a Nazi plan to eliminate Jews in Europe during the Second World War. Another video also shows what appears to be the same woman, unmasked, making a Nazi salute while walking away. “We’re all for free speech and respectful conversations, but this wasn’t that,” Mammas said. “This was hate speech, and it was something that we thought could incite violence and we’re completely against that, so we sat down with our team and decided to revoke the franchise agreement.” Attempts to reach the franchisee were unsuccessful on Sunday. “Second Cup has zero tolerance for hate speech,” the coffee chain said in a statement on X. “In co-ordination with the hospital, we’ve shut down the franchisee’s café and are terminating their franchise agreement.” Mammas said lawyers for the franchisee and Second Cup were expected to meet on Monday. The regional health agency serving West-Central Montreal, which includes the Jewish General Hospital, said it was made aware of the video “containing antisemitic and hateful messaging.” The video is related to a franchisee of Second Cup, one of the private tenants operating within the (Jewish General), Carl Thériault, a spokesman, said in a statement on Sunday. “We fully support Second Cup’s decision to take swift and decisive action in this matter by shutting down the franchisee’s cafés and terminating their lease agreement.” The hospital has two locations operated by the same franchisee and both were shuttered on Saturday by the owners of the chain. The health agency “is committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and stands firmly against antisemitism and any other form of discrimination or hate speech,” Thériault said. “We have franchisees who are Muslim, we have franchisees who are Jewish, we have franchisees that are Greek, French, we have employees from all different nations,” Mammas said. “So we definitely have no issue with that and we don’t take any political side, but ... hate speech ... you know we can’t accept that.”

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