Hello and welcome! In today’s trending news stories;
1. The Federal Government, represented by Ministers Mohammed Idris and Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, criticized the Daily Trust Newspaper for alleged falsehoods in its reporting on the Samoa Agreement signed with the EU. The government accused Daily Trust of sensationalism, particularly for falsely claiming the agreement included provisions promoting LGBTQ rights in exchange for a $150 billion loan. The ministers stated there were no such clauses in the agreement and vowed to pursue legal action against the newspaper for its misleading reports, which they argued could incite social unrest. Daily Trust acknowledged discrepancies in its reporting and pledged to review its processes and issue corrections if necessary.
2. President Bola Tinubu has been re-elected as chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), one year after his initial election. During the 65th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS in Abuja, Tinubu pledged to consolidate democratic values and address regional security challenges. He appointed Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé as special envoys to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Tinubu emphasized the need for member states to commit financial resources to combat terrorism and stabilize the region. ECOWAS has faced instability due to recent coups in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, leading to sanctions and the countries forming the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which criticizes ECOWAS’s effectiveness against jihadist threats.
3. Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled in favor of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), ordering former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadia Umar-Farouk, to disclose details regarding the payment of N729 billion to 24.3 million poor Nigerians over six months. The court issued a mandamus compelling the minister to provide SERAP with the list of beneficiaries, the selection criteria, and the distribution mechanisms used. Additionally, Justice Dipeolu demanded an explanation for allocating N5,000 to each beneficiary, amounting to five percent of Nigeria’s 2021 budget. The judge dismissed objections from the minister’s counsel, affirming SERAP’s right to the information under the Freedom of Information Act.
4. The left-wing alliance led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon won the most seats in the French parliamentary elections, pushing Emmanuel Macron’s centrists into second place and the far-right National Rally (RN) into third. However, no group achieved an outright majority in the 577-seat parliament, resulting in a hung parliament. Mélenchon celebrated the victory and called on Macron to recognize his coalition’s win. Despite the RN’s disappointment, Marine Le Pen pointed out their significant gains, increasing their seats from 88 to over 140. The RN faced challenges from tactical voting alliances aimed at blocking their candidates. Turnout was high at 66.63%, the best for a parliamentary second round since 1997. Macron’s government, now facing political instability, must navigate this new landscape as the National Assembly convenes in 10 days.
5. Boeing will plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and may pay up to $487 million in fines. This deal, which includes three years of oversight by an independent monitor, is opposed by crash victims’ families who sought $24.8 billion. Critics argue the agreement fails to address the deaths caused by Boeing’s actions. Boeing admitted to defrauding the FAA during the 737 Max certification, leading to a 20-month grounding due to a hidden design flaw. Previous settlements in 2021 were revisited due to new incidents. The new plea doubles the prior $243.6 million fine and increases safety spending. Boeing faces financial woes, including significant debt and operating losses, but avoids prosecution of executives and retains federal contracts. Despite its troubles, Boeing remains vital to the US economy, supporting numerous jobs and being heavily relied upon by the government
6. Sir Lewis Hamilton won his ninth British Grand Prix, his first victory since December 2021, ahead of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. The race at Silverstone saw Hamilton overtake pole-sitter George Russell, who later retired due to a water system issue. Hamilton’s strategic pit stop and Norris’s slow one allowed Hamilton to take the lead. Hamilton expressed gratitude to his team and fans, as this was his last race with Mercedes before moving to Ferrari. The race marked Hamilton’s 104th career win and his 13th consecutive podium at Silverstone. Other notable finishes included Oscar Piastri in fourth and Nico Hulkenberg in sixth.
7. The Super Falcons of Nigeria began their preparations for the 2024 Olympic Games with their first training session in Sevilla, Spain. The team arrived for a two-week training camp on Friday, with all 18 invited players expected to join soon. They will play a friendly match against Olympic champions Canada on July 17 before heading to Paris. Defender Ashleigh Plumptre expressed her disappointment at missing the Olympics due to an injury sustained in March, despite undergoing surgery and working hard on her recovery. She shared her pride and excitement for her teammates and will be supporting them from afar. The Super Falcons, nine-time African champions, are in Group C and will face Spain, Japan, and Brazil in the Olympics.
