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Israel’s response to Hamas attack ‘collective punishment’ on Gaza – Egyptian President, Al-Sissi

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Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi expressed his view on Sunday, characterizing Israel’s response to Hamas’ recent attack as a form of “collective punishment” against the densely populated Gaza Strip.

Following the surprise attack on October 7th, Israel has initiated a series of airstrikes on Gaza, raising the likelihood of an imminent Israeli ground incursion into the region.

“I believe the ongoing actions have surpassed Israel’s right to self-defense and have evolved into a form of collective punishment against the 2.3 million Palestinians residing in the Gaza Strip,” he stated during televised remarks while meeting with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Cairo.

Blinken’s visit to Egypt is part of a broader regional tour aimed at preventing the conflict between Israel and Hamas from escalating into a larger regional conflict. He has already visited Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Al-Sissi called for facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to the blockaded Gaza Strip to alleviate the suffering of its people.

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“It is of utmost importance to de-escalate tensions and ensure the smooth passage of aid into the Gaza Strip,” he emphasized.

Israel has imposed restrictions on the entry of essential supplies such as food, fuel, and medicines into Gaza, leading to severe concerns about the well-being of the impoverished territory’s inhabitants.

Al-Sissi stated that Egypt is actively working to mitigate the situation and prevent other external actors from becoming involved in the conflict.

Earlier on Sunday, Al-Sissi presided over a meeting of Egypt’s National Security Council to address the escalating violence in Gaza.

A presidential statement issued after the meeting outlined Egypt’s commitment to intensify efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance to the neighboring Gaza Strip, particularly in light of the growing fears of mass displacement.

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The Rafah border crossing, the sole passage from Gaza to Egypt, is presently closed due to Israeli retaliation attacks on the strip.

Unidentified Egyptian sources were quoted in the media on Saturday as suggesting that Cairo links the passage of foreign nationals from Gaza through the crossing to the facilitation of aid deliveries to the strip.

The Israeli military had instructed civilians in northern Gaza to head south in anticipation of an impending incursion, which was reportedly delayed due to adverse weather conditions.

As the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, Egypt is concerned about a potential mass exodus of Gazans into its territory. In response, Egypt emphasized its rejection and denouncement of any displacement policy or attempts to undermine the Palestinian cause at the expense of neighboring nations.

The presidential statement further outlined Egypt’s plans to host a regional and international conference on the “developments and future of the Palestinian cause.”

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Cybersecurity levy, others: ‘This is basis of life, Nigerians need to adjust’ – Bwala

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Former lawmaker, Senator Daniel Bwala, says Nigerians need to adjust to the current economic realities in the country.

He stated this on Wednesday while fielding questions on Channels Television programme.

Bwala disagreed with the claim that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.

According to him, Nigerians will not be in hardship situation forever, adding that they will need to adjust.

He said: “It depends on who is assessing, what is the motive behind the assessment. Just like we would have water in the bottle, someone says it is half full another says it half empty. But what we should be generally looking at are the numbers. Also looking at the context and perspective from which we look at things.

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“Nobody, I think, is in doubt about the fact that when the President took that hard decision, which is a necessary decision, it is not a convenient decision, that there must be a temporary hardship; there must be a period like period of childbirth; there must be a period of inconveniences; there must be a period of personal sacrifices. When you are confronted with a period like that, what is required of you is adjustment, because they say trouble doesn’t always last. You will not be in that situation forever. But you will need to adjust. This is the basis of life.”

“I don’t think the President is denying the fact that this is a period in the lives of Nigerian people where things are hard. He has said it over and over again.”

CREDIT: DAILY POST

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CBN releases list of licensed Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria

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The Central Bank of Nigeria has released a list containing 44 licensed deposit money banks in the country. This disclosure was made through a list published on the CBN’s official website on Tuesday.

As of April 26, 2024, seven banks, namely Zenith Bank, Access Bank, First Bank, First City Monument Bank, United Bank of Africa, Fidelity, and Guaranty Trust Bank, hold Commercial Banking licenses with international authorization.

Additionally, fifteen banks possess commercial banking licenses with National Authorization, while four banks have commercial banking licenses with regional authorization. Furthermore, there are four non-interest banks with national authorization.

The CBN also revealed that the country has six merchant banks operating with national authorization. Moreover, the number of financial holding companies has increased to seven.

In addition to these, there is a representative office of a Mauritius commercial bank in the country.

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This list follows the CBN’s decision to raise the minimum capital requirement for all banks in Nigeria, aimed at bolstering the resilience of the country’s financial sector.

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State Police now imperative – Senator Nwebonyi

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Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi, Deputy Chief Whip of the 10th Nigerian Senate and representative of Ebonyi North Senatorial District, has voiced his support for the proposed implementation of State Police. Nwebonyi, also a member of the Senate Constitution Review Committee, shared his views during an interview with AIT’s program “Inside Parliament” shortly after the plenary session on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.

The seasoned lawmaker and senior lawyer emphasized the necessity of establishing state police forces to address the pervasive security challenges across the nation, which have overwhelmed the federal police.

In addition to endorsing the proposed State Police, Senator Nwebonyi reiterated his opposition to the anticipated increase in electricity tariffs. He maintained that considering the current dire economic situation faced by Nigerians, any discussion of tariff hikes reflects a lack of sensitivity.

As the Nigerian representative at the ECOWAS parliament, Senator Nwebonyi urged Nigerians to maintain confidence in the administration of President Bola Tinubu, asserting that the bold economic policies implemented by the administration will soon yield positive results for all citizens.

Furthermore, Senator Nwebonyi expressed optimism about the ongoing constitutional amendment, affirming that it will address governance loopholes. He highlighted the significance of the amendment, particularly in light of the fact that the current constitution was crafted during military rule.

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Regarding the 2024 budget, Senator Nwebonyi assured Nigerians that its abundant provisions will soon translate into tangible benefits for the populace. He affirmed that the forthcoming benefits align with the overarching goals of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.

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