News

WORLD NEWS 24-08-2021

12 months ago Editor

HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS

FG RELEASES 1.3 TRILLION NAIRA FUND FOR 2021 CAPITAL EXPENDITURE BUDGET.
ZAMFARA APPOINTS NEW HEAD OF SERVICE.
BIDEN TO DECIDES US TROOP’ STAY IN AFGHANISTAN.
KATHY BECOMES NEWYORK FIRST FEMALE GOVERNOR.

FG/BUDGET

The federal government has released 1.3 trillion naira to fund part of the 2021 capital expenditure budget of its ministries, departments and agencies, mdas.

Director general, budget office of the federation, ben akabueze, disclosed this to newsmen at the 2022 budget preparation training session in lagos, saying the amount represents 63.5 percent of capital budget of the year, adding that the government is committed to fully funding the 2021 capital budget.

Akabueze noted that the budget office would be training over 4,000 fiscal policy executives involved in budget preparation from about 900 mdas in lagos and abuja in physical sessions and virtually for other zones due to the prevailing challenges associated with the covid pandemic and security concerns in some regions.

He further revealed that the main goal of the training is to provide continuous learning to equip budget personnel with the requisite knowledge, skills and the tools they require to prepare and submit the 2022 budget in a timely manner.

ZAMFARA/APPOINTMENT

Zamfara state governor, hon. Bello mohammed matawalle has approved the appointment of alhaji kabiru muhammad gayari as the new head of service of the state.

This was contained in a statement issued to newsmen in gusau, the state capital by the director-general, press affairs to the governor, comrade yusuf idris gusau.

According to the statement, the appointment of kabiru muhammad gayari as the head of service is with immediate effect following the elevation of the former head of service, alhaji kabiru balarabe to secretary to the state government ssg.

Until his appointment, alhaji gayari was the permanent secretary of ministry of finance and the longest serving permanent secretary, budget and economic planning since the creation of zamfara state and one time chairman zamfara state board of internal revenue service.

KASTINA/LAWMAKERS

Two members of the katsina state house of assembly members could not help but shed tears on monday while deliberating on the worsening state of insecurity in the state.

During the plenary presided over by the speaker, alhaji tasi’u maigari, the deputy speaker, alhaji shehu dalhatu-tafoki, in a motion of urgent public importance, decried how despite government and security agencies’ efforts, the insecurity situation in the state seems to be increasing.

Dalhatu-taofiki, urged the government in conjunction with security agencies to adopt a new approach and also increase the number of outposts, especially in the affected areas to tame the menace of banditry in the state.

While reacting to the motion, alhaji haruna goma, member representing dandume constituency, could not hold back his tears as he narrated how the cruel bandits wasted the lives of not less than 11 persons and abducted scores in dandume recently, therefore.appealed to the government to act fast to avoid more members of the community being wasted by the heartless bandits.

TUNISIA/PARLIAMENT

Tunisian president kais saied has extended the suspension of parliament until further notice.

The presidency stated this after last month dismissing his prime minister and assuming executive authority in a move opponents branded as a coup,also extended the suspension of the immunity of members of parliament, adding that president saied will give a speech to the nation in the coming days.

The president’s moves which have raised concerns among some tunisians about the future of the democratic system that the country adopted after its 2011 revolution that triggered the arab spring.

however, prominent leaders from within his party, the largest in tunisia’s parliament, have demanded that he should quit the leadership amid divisions over its response to the crisis and his strategic choices since a 2019 election, meanwhile the president had lost support as the economy stagnated and public services declined.

BIDEN/AFGHANISTAN

Only president joe biden will decides when united states troops will leave afghanistan.

The president top national security adviser jake sullivan while speaking with newsmen said, it is the president’s decision on how this proceeds after the taliban threatened the white house with consequences if american forces remain in the country beyond august 31.

Also confirming that the us is engaging and consulting with the taliban on every aspect of what’s happening in kabul right now.

However, biden had set august 31 as the deadline for all us troops to leave the country but said us forces would stay until all american citizens are evacuated, even if it means staying beyond the end of the month.

White house spokesperson jen psaki said the president stands by his decision to withdraw us troops from the country.

it would be noted that the taliban captured kabul earlier this month amid biden’s decision to pull troops out of the country after a 20-year war.

US/CHINA

The us securities and exchange commission sec is issuing new disclosure requirements to chinese companies seeking to list in new york as part of a push to boost investor awareness of the risks involved.

According to a document reviewed by reporters and people familiar with the matter, revealing that some chinese companies have now started to receive detailed instructions from the sec about the implications for investors and the risk that chinese authorities will interfere with company operations.

Last month, sec chair gary gensler had asked for a pause in us initial public offerings ipos of chinese companies and sought more transparency about the issues.

NEWYORK/FEMALE GOV

Kathy hochul has become the first female governor of new york, taking control of a state government desperate to get back to business after months of distractions over sexual harassment allegations against andrew cuomo.

Report says the democrat from western new york was sworn in as governor in a brief, private ceremony in the new york state capitol overseen by the state’s chief judge, janet difiore.

The newly elected governor on her official page expressed being honored to be officially sworn in as new york’s 57th governor.

In his congratulatory message, the new york attorney general letitia james noted that it is a historical day for new yorkers with the swearing in of their first female governor.

AUSTRALIA/VACCINE

Australia can proceed with its reopening plans when the country reaches 70 to 80 percent vaccination levels.

The news comes as new south wales nsw premier gladys berejiklian stated to newsmen that officials are having conversations about giving vaccinated people some extra freedoms as about half of the doses needed is to vaccinate its adult population today august 24.

The prime minister scott morrison while speaking, acknowledged the concerns of some states from the sydney outbreak but said forever lockdowns will do more harm than good to the country.

Australia had in july unveiled a four-stage plan back to greater freedoms with higher vaccination rates.