Hello and welcome! In today’s trending news stories;
1. President Bola Tinubu and his aides have returned to Nigeria from Europe today. Tinubu initially traveled to meet with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte over two weeks ago, followed by attendance at a special World Economic Forum in Saudi Arabia. After the summit, he extended his trip to Europe. Speculations arose when he didn’t return as expected after the Saudi Arabia forum. Reports suggested he made stops in London and France for private visits.
2. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced a 0.5% cybersecurity levy on all banking transactions, which will be deducted and remitted by financial institutions at the point of electronic transfer origination. This levy has triggered widespread discontent among Nigerians, who view it as an additional financial burden on already costly banking transactions. Various individuals and organizations, including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), have called for the withdrawal of the directive, citing concerns about its legality and its impact on citizens, particularly workers and vulnerable groups. They argue that while cybersecurity is important, imposing such a levy without considering its implications on citizens is unjustifiable and further exacerbates financial pressures on the populace.
5. Mats Hummels scored his first Champions League goal for Borussia Dortmund in over a decade, securing a 1-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain and a 2-0 aggregate victory. Despite PSG hitting the woodwork six times, Dortmund’s defensive discipline and counter-attacking threat led them to victory. Hummels’ towering header proved decisive, and Dortmund, under Edin Terzić’s guidance, now eyes a historic cup run. PSG’s Kylian Mbappé sees his Champions League dream with his hometown club dim as Dortmund awaits the winner between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the final.
6. Israel has continued bombing Rafah and other parts of the Gaza Strip, with Palestinians trapped following the seizure of the Rafah crossing on the Egypt border. The UN Secretary-General warns against a full-scale invasion of Rafah, citing it as a strategic mistake, political calamity, and humanitarian nightmare. Human Rights Watch expresses concern over Israeli authorities blocking life-saving aid, risking more Palestinian lives. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects a ceasefire proposal by Hamas, though talks continue in Cairo. Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7 have resulted in at least 34,789 deaths and 78,204 injuries, while Hamas attacks in Israel caused 1,139 deaths with several captives still held.
7. Femi Adebayo has won a ₦25 million lawsuit against a media company after a three-year legal battle over piracy. Adebayo took action against a notable media company that exploited his film, “Survival of Jelili,” by superimposing images from it onto another YouTube video to deceive viewers. With the help of his legal team, Adebayo presented undeniable evidence and won the case, being awarded the sum. He emphasized that piracy remains a significant hindrance to the Nigerian film industry’s full potential, deterring investors and causing filmmakers distress.
