Netanyahu gives a press conference in Jerusalem on August 13, 2020.
– Israel and the UAE agreed to normalise relations in a landmark
US-brokered deal, only the third such accord the Jewish state has
struck with an Arab nation. The agreement, first announced by US
President Donald Trump on Twitter, will see Israel halt its plan to
annex large parts of the occupied West Bank, according to the UAE.
(Photo by Abir SULTAN / POOL / AFP)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday
that Israel views with “great gravity” the latest flare-up on the
Lebanese border and pledged a tough response in the event of
further incidents.
“We shall react forcefully to any attack against us,” Netanyahu
said in a statement. “I advise Hezbollah not to test Israel’s
strength. Hezbollah is once again endangering Lebanon due to its
aggression.”
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Israel and Hezbollah fought a devastating month-long war in
2006.
Israel said earlier it had launched air strikes against
Hezbollah observation posts in Lebanon after shots were fired from
across the border towards its troops the previous evening.
The border flare-up came hours after Lebanon rejected an Israeli
call to reform the UN peacekeeping force which patrols the border
ahead of a UN Security Council vote to renew its mandate.
The Israeli army had said earlier that a “security incident” was
unfolding near Manara, a kibbutz near the UN-demarcated border
between the two countries, and urged residents to take shelter.
It reported no Israeli casualties.
Manara was quiet on Wednesday morning, an AFP journalist
reported. The army told residents they could come into the open and
resume work in the fields.
AFP
Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2020/08/26/netanyahu-vows-forceful-response-if-more-attacks-from-lebanon/
Agenda 2050: Minister
Seeks Bottom-Up Approach for Implementation
The Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem
Ikanade Agba, has stated that the Technical Working
Groups (TWGs) Anchors and Heads of Secretariat are critical to the
development of the Medium and Long-Term National Development Plans,
especially in liaising with other stakeholders such as coordinators
and deputy coordinators drawn from state and non state actors.
The Minister stated this in Abuja, while declaring open a
3-day Capacity Building workshop organized for TWGs Anchors and
Heads of Secretariat constituted for the development of the
Medium Term National Development Plans (2021 – 2025 & 2026 – 2030)
and Long-Term National Development Plans (Agenda 2050).
He noted that the history of development planning in Nigeria showed
a general lack of coordination and harmonization of
programmes/policies, which he stated had also not benefited from a
bottom-up approach, which negatively affected implementation.
“As a responsible government desirous of changing the fortune of
Nigerians and the future of generations yet unborn, the
administration of President Muhammadu Buhari desires that we
periodically draw comprehensive plans through which the welfare of
citizens can be enhanced economically, socially and politically
among others,” he added.
Agba said that the new plans being articulated were expected to
address development challenges in all aspects of the country’s
national life within the agreed timeframe.
According to him, “the planning process is also inclusive and
participatory with the full involvement of the Sub-National
governments (States and Local Governments), the Organized Private
Sector, the major political parties, the National Assembly, youth
and women organizations, the physically challenged, and other
relevant stakeholders.”
“This way, we would have a truly Nigerian National Development Plan
and not a federal government plan,” he explained.
Agba further expressed satisfaction with the various topics
selected for the workshop, which included the history and
trajectory of development planning in Nigeria; development planning
process, Institutional Arrangements for Effective Plan
Implementation, Understanding the Macroeconomic Framework for the
MTNDP 2021-2025, MTNDP 2026-2030 and National Agenda 2050,
Institutional Arrangements for Effective Plan
Implementation.
The Minister commended Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) of Germany,
co-organizers, its Nigerian Country Representative, Dr. Vladimir
Kreck for their continuous support to the Ministry and especially
in organizing and funding the programme.
He recalled that just recently, KAS partnered the Ministry in
organizing a similar capacity building programme for Special
Advisers of the Ministers, stressing that the training was timely
and impact-full as attested to by the participants.
Earlier, KAS Country Representative said the organization decided
to support Nigeria in organizing the workshop given “the manifold
social and economic problems COVID-19 had entailed.”
“This seminar will empower the participants to contribute
efficiently and successfully to the process of creating a
substantial Medium-Term National Development Plan for Nigeria”, he
added.
Imaobong Udoh
for: Director(Information)BNP
26th August, 2020.