Trending Today: Media Highlights!

Season greetings! In today’s trending news stories;

1. The political crisis in Rivers State appears to have come to a still after a truce was reached in talks at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja. The meeting involved key figures, including President Bola Tinubu, Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and others. The resolution includes withdrawing lawsuits, dropping impeachment proceedings, recognizing the leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly, reinstating benefits, allowing the Assembly to choose its location, and addressing other issues related to the political crisis. The crisis had escalated to the demolition of the state House of Assembly complex.

2. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has increased the registration fees for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for 2024. The new fees are N7,700 for UTME registration with a mock examination, N6,200 for UTME registration without a mock examination, and $30 for the sale of application documents for foreign candidates. The announcement also provides details on the start of profile creation, commencement of the sale of application documents on January 15, 2024, and important dates for the 2024 UTME, including the examination date from April 19 to April 29, 2024.

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3. TotalEnergies has pledged to invest $6 billion in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. The French company reaffirmed its commitment during a meeting between its head, Patrick Pouyanne, and Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu in Abuja. TotalEnergies signed a cooperation agreement with Nigeria’s NNPC Ltd for methane detection using advanced drone technology. The investment will focus on offshore oil projects and gas production. Tinubu, aiming to attract capital, had similar discussions with Shell and Exxon Mobil. Tinubu also pledged to address obstacles and provide incentives to boost gas output in the oil and gas industry.

5. Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, as outlined in a new Vatican document released on Monday. The document emphasizes that people seeking God’s love and mercy shouldn’t face an exhaustive moral analysis to receive a blessing. While this marks a significant shift in Vatican policy, it does not alter the church’s position on marriage, which is defined as a lifelong sacrament between a man and a woman. The document clarifies that blessings for same-sex couples should not be performed simultaneously with a civil union or resemble a wedding ceremony. The Vatican underscores the importance of not denying requests for such blessings, stating that they offer a means for individuals to increase their trust in God. The document acknowledges people in “irregular” unions, both gay and straight, as being in a state of sin but emphasizes that this should not deprive them of God’s love or mercy. The move is seen as a departure from the Vatican’s 2021 statement that God cannot bless same-sex unions, sparking a reversal initiated by Pope Francis. Advocates, such as the Rev. James Martin, view the new document as a “huge step forward” and a “dramatic shift” from the previous policy.

6. Girona, a lowly Catalan side, secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Alaves, with Ukraine forward Artem Dovbyk scoring twice. This win propelled Girona to the top of the LaLiga standings with 44 points, surpassing Real Madrid by two points and leading Barcelona by nine points. Girona’s impressive season includes a recent 4-2 victory over Barcelona, marking their first league win against their Catalan rivals. The team’s success is attributed to their focused and hungry approach, as they clinched their 14th win in 17 games, making them the top-performing team in Europe’s major leagues at this stage. The remarkable run has sparked confidence that Girona could contend for their first title, just two seasons after gaining promotion to the top flight.

7. US actor Jonathan Majors has been found guilty of assaulting his then-girlfriend, British choreographer Grace Jabbari, during an altercation in March. The jury convicted Majors, known for playing Kang in Marvel films, of two domestic violence charges: assault by recklessly causing physical injury and harassment. The incident occurred in a car in New York when Jabbari saw a text message on Majors’ phone, leading to a confrontation. Majors faces up to a year in jail, and Marvel announced it will not proceed with him on future projects. The sentencing is scheduled for February.

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