Help Russia, Ukraine resume dialogue, Chinese President tells world leaders
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On Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, that world powers should help Russia and Ukraine re-start direct negotiations during a visit to Beijing branded a “peace mission” by the European leader.
Orban’s trip to China comes a day before NATO is due to hold a summit to mark its 75th anniversary, with setbacks in Ukraine set to dominate discussions. It follows surprise visits by the Hungarian premier to Russia and Ukraine in the past week.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV quoted Xi as saying the “international community should create conditions and provide assistance for the two sides to resume direct dialogue and negotiations”.
“Only when all major powers exert positive energy rather than negative energy can the dawn of a ceasefire in this conflict appear as soon as possible,” Xi told Orban, according to CCTV.
“Xi Jinping stressed that it is in the interests of all parties to cease fire and seek a political solution as soon as possible,” CCTV said in a readout.
“The current focus is to abide by the three principles of ‘no spillover of the battlefield, no escalation of the war, and no fueling of the flames by all parties’ to cool down the situation as soon as possible,” it added.
Budget: FG releases N1.2tn for capital projects
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The Federal Government released a total sum of N1.23tn to 17 ministries for the implementation of capital projects aimed at advancing development and infrastructure initiatives as of September 30, 2023, findings by The PUNCH have shown.
An analysis of the Budget Implementation Report for the third quarter of 2023 released by the Budget Office revealed this on Sunday.
Capital projects, in the context of budgeting, typically refer to major investments in physical infrastructure or assets that are expected to provide long-term benefits. These projects usually involve the construction, acquisition, or renovation of tangible assets such as buildings, roads, bridges, dams, schools, hospitals, and other facilities.
The findings revealed that the amount disbursed was 75.4 per cent lower than the N5tn allocated for capital expenditure in the 2023 budget, resulting in a deficit of N3.8tn.
The report also showed that the ministries only utilised N962.87bn out of the cash backing of N1.23tn.
The report partly read, “The release of funds to MDAs for capital expenditure as at the third quarter of 2023 was done in tranches based on availability of resources and government priorities. Data from the OAGF on 2023 capital performance for MDAs as of 30th September 2023 showed that a total of N1.23tn was released to MDAs and cash-backed for 2023 capital projects and programmes.
“The sum of N351bn was released as the first Tranche, N331.92bn was the second Tranche and N208bn was the third Tranche. A total of N75.35bn was released as AlEs MDAs Budget and N261bn as AlEs Service Wide.”
EFCC asks Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria to watch-list Yahaya Bello
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked INTERPOL in three North African countries of Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria to watch-list former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, it was learnt at the weekend
It was further learnt that the decision by the EFCC was based on credible intelligence.
Other countries where the ex-governor is put on the watch-list are Egypt, Libya and Sudan.
Sources in the anti-graft agency said many option are on the table in dealing with the Bello situation, which include but not limited to storming the Kogi State Government House in Lokoja, where the ex-governor is believed to be hiding.
The watch-list was activated ahead of the July 17th expected appearance of the former governor before a Federal High Court in Abuja
Bello is facing a 19-count charge for alleged money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds of about N80.2billion.
Although the ex-governor has denied the allegation, he has consistently failed to appear before the trial Judge, Justice Emeka Nwite on June 13th and June 27th.
At the last hearing, he filed an application for the transfer of his trial to the Federal High Court, Lokoja.
Speaking in the situation, the EFCC source said: “Ahead of the next hearing of the case, EFCC has activated many options, including taking a concrete action to watch-list Bello in North Africa.
UK PM Starmer meets Northern Ireland’s leaders
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United Kingdom Prime Minister, Keir Starmer made his first visit to Northern Ireland on Monday, with hopes high on both sides of the political divide that relations will improve after years of Brexit turmoil.
Starmer, whose centre-left Labour party won last week’s UK general election, briefly met the leaders of Northern Ireland’s power-sharing executive at the Stormont parliament buildings early on Monday.
He held talks with First Minister Michelle O’Neill, of the pro-Irish unity Sinn Fein party, and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, of the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), as he continues a whistlestop tour of the UK.
The Labour leader was due in Cardiff later on Monday, where he will meet party allies who head the devolved administration there.
In Northern Ireland, both main parties expect Starmer to bring greater stability and closer engagement, as well as patch up relations with Dublin.
“There’s cautious optimism about the new government across the board, but for different reasons,” James Pow, a politics lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast, told AFP.
At last Thursday’s election, Sinn Fein held on to its seven seats to become the largest Northern Ireland party in the UK parliament in London.
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