• Workers on a crane look at the Notre-Dame cathedral site on November 24, 2020 in Paris. AFP
    Workers on a crane look at the Notre-Dame cathedral site on November 24, 2020 in Paris. AFP
  • A photograph taken on November 24, 2020 shows the melted scaffolding on the roof of Notre-Dame cathedral during reconstruction works. AFP
    A photograph taken on November 24, 2020 shows the melted scaffolding on the roof of Notre-Dame cathedral during reconstruction works. AFP
  • A photograph taken on November 24, 2020 in Paris shows the pulpit of Notre-Dame cathedral during reconstruction. AFP
    A photograph taken on November 24, 2020 in Paris shows the pulpit of Notre-Dame cathedral during reconstruction. AFP
  • A photograph taken on November 24, 2020 in Paris shows a view of Notre-Dame cathedral, which was devastated by a blaze last year. AFP
    A photograph taken on November 24, 2020 in Paris shows a view of Notre-Dame cathedral, which was devastated by a blaze last year. AFP
  • Paris Cathedral's rector Patrick Chauvet visits Notre-Dame on November 24, 2020 during reconstruction works. AFP
    Paris Cathedral's rector Patrick Chauvet visits Notre-Dame on November 24, 2020 during reconstruction works. AFP
  • A photograph taken on November 24, 2020 in Paris shows an inside view of Notre-Dame cathedral. AFP
    A photograph taken on November 24, 2020 in Paris shows an inside view of Notre-Dame cathedral. AFP
  • Paris Cathedral's rector Patrick Chauvet visits Notre-Dame on November 24, 2020. AFP
    Paris Cathedral's rector Patrick Chauvet visits Notre-Dame on November 24, 2020. AFP
  • Last week, the restoration reached a milestone with the removal of the last portions of metal scaffolding on the roof. AP
    Last week, the restoration reached a milestone with the removal of the last portions of metal scaffolding on the roof. AP
  • The roof of Notre-Dame cathedral with Paris city hall and the Beaubourg museum in the background. AFP
    The roof of Notre-Dame cathedral with Paris city hall and the Beaubourg museum in the background. AFP

Music

Notre-Dame to hold first choir concert on Christmas Eve since devastating blaze

The concert – only the third event to take place in the Paris landmark since April 2019's fire – will be broadcast on radio

AFP

December 01, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris will echo with song on Christmas Eve as it holds its first choir concert since the massive fire that nearly destroyed the gothic masterpiece last year.

An organ will be rented for the occasion, since Notre-Dame's majestic pipe organ is being carefully dismantled for cleaning and restoration after the devastating blaze that struck on April 15, 2019.

Since then, only two events have been held in the 13th-century landmark – a small mass celebrated in June 2019, and a prayer ceremony last April to mark Holy Friday.

The church remains closed to the public during renovations.

Michel Aupetit, the archbishop of Paris, said on Monday that two soloists would lead the choir and that the concert would be broadcast on radio.

Last week, the restoration reached a milestone with the removal of the last portions of metal scaffolding on the roof that melted into a tangled mess in the fire and threatened to crash to the floor.

That will allow crucial stabilisation and protective work to proceed ahead of rebuilding the destroyed roof and spire.

Officials are racing to meet President Emmanuel Macron's goal of having the cathedral restored within five years.

Citizenship-by-investment programmes

United Kingdom

The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).

All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.

The Caribbean

Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport. 

Portugal

The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.

“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.

Greece

The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.

Spain

The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.

Cyprus

Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.

Malta

The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.

The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.

Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.

Egypt 

A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.

Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties