Politics

Trump welcomes US Supreme Court ruling upholding transgender sports bans

United States President Donald Trump has welcomed a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States that upholds state laws banning transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s school sports. Reacting on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday, Trump described the decision as a “big win,” writing: “The United States Supreme Court just ruled against men playing in women’s sports. Wow! That takes that ridiculous situation off the table!!!” According to AFP, the court ruled 6-3 that the US Constitution does not prevent states from enforcing laws requiring student athletes to compete based on their sex assigned at birth rather than their gender identity. Writing for the majority, Brett Kavanaugh said legislatures and schools were better positioned to determine policies on the issue, citing the complex medical and scientific considerations involved. The decision allows states including Idaho and West Virginia, along with more than two dozen other states with similar laws, to continue enforcing the restrictions. However, the justices did not fully resolve whether the state bans violate Title IX, leaving that legal question open for future litigation. The cases were brought by transgender students who argued the laws breached the Constitution’s equal protection guarantee and Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in education. Supporters of the bans say the measures are necessary to ensure fairness and protect opportunities for girls and women in competitive sports. Opponents argue the laws unfairly target a small group of transgender students and exclude them from school athletics. The ruling follows the court’s decision last year to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors, another major decision in the ongoing legal debate over transgender rights. Trump has consistently backed restrictions on transgender participation in women’s sports. Earlier, he signed an executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports”, directing federal agencies to support policies limiting transgender athletes’ participation in female sporting events. Source: AFP, as published by Punch. Focus keyword: Trump transgender sports ruling Tags: Trump transgender sports ruling, Donald Trump, US Supreme Court, transgender athletes, US transgender sports ban, Title IX Alternative headlines: 1. US Supreme Court upholds transgender sports bans as Trump celebrates ruling 2. Trump applauds top court decision allowing states to restrict transgender athletes ALT TEXT: US President Donald Trump reacts after the US Supreme Court upheld state bans on transgender athletes competing in girls’ and women’s school sports.

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu speaking at the inauguration of the Tinubu Torchbearers in Abuja, where she announced vehicle donations to APC women leaders in opposition-controlled states.

Remi Tinubu defends akara remarks, says FG also supports tomato traders

Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu has defended her recent comments about supporting women running akara and roasted corn businesses, saying the Federal Government’s empowerment programme extends to many other small-scale traders. Speaking on Monday during the inauguration of the Abubakar Maje Haruna Hall at the Emir of Hadejia’s Palace in Jigawa State, Tinubu said beneficiaries of the initiative also include traders selling tomatoes, pepper, vegetables and roasted plantain, popularly known as bole. Her comments came after she faced criticism on social media over earlier remarks highlighting akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli businesses as viable sources of income for women amid Nigeria’s economic hardship. “It’s not only akara. We also have tomato sellers. We have bole, and those selling pepper and vegetables in the market. We’ll continue to empower them and add to their resources so that their trade can really be sustainable,” she said. According to the First Lady, the Federal Government has provided ₦100 million to the Jigawa State government to support 2,000 petty traders, with each beneficiary receiving ₦50,000 to recapitalise their businesses. Tinubu said the government would not be discouraged by criticism of the programme. “I know all those people who are affected, they do appreciate it. And we are not intimidated by all those wrong reports. But we are forging ahead and making sure that our people are well cared for,” she said. She also encouraged young Nigerians to embrace agriculture, saying the country has enormous untapped opportunities beyond the oil sector. She cited an orange orchard she recently visited in Benue State as an example of the sector’s potential.

FG completes first section of Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway, approves N3.9tn road projects

The Federal Government says it has completed the first section of the 118-kilometre Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Highway project, valued at ₦257 billion, while the remaining 164 kilometres are expected to be completed by November 2026. The announcement was made by Minister of Works, David Umahi, after the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, according to Channels Television. Umahi also disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved 27 road projects worth more than ₦3.9 trillion across 15 states as part of the Federal Government’s infrastructure development programme. The approved projects cover Adamawa, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba, and Yobe states. Among the largest approvals is the re-award of the 409-kilometre dual carriageway in Niger State under the tax credit scheme to Aliko Dangote at a cost of ₦1.8 trillion. Other major projects approved include: ₦276 billion for the dualisation of the Ilorin-Ogbomoso Road. ₦265 billion for the reconstruction of the Iseyin-Eruwa-Agbesi Road, linking Oyo and Kwara states. ₦217 billion for the dualisation of the old alignment from Ijaye through the Federal Government College to Ilorin Road with a spur to Akinmorin. ₦116 billion for the Abakaliki-Afikpo Road in Ebonyi State. The council also approved projects including the Ogbomoso-Oko-Illupu Road, rehabilitation of the Ilorin-Omorin-Ebe-Kabba-Obajana Road, construction of the Idi-Araba-Ayede-Olodo Road, rehabilitation of the Baban-Lamba-Sharan Phase Two Road, reconstruction of the Enugu-Abakaliki Road, and several other highway and bridge projects across the country. In addition, the minister said the council approved the full business case for the operation and maintenance concession of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and directed that failed sections along the Ibadan axis be reconstructed using concrete pavement.

Omoyele Sowore appears at the Federal High Court in Abuja after being granted ₦200 million bail in his alleged cybercrime case.

Federal High Court grants Sowore ₦200m bail with strict conditions in alleged cybercrime case

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted ₦200 million bail to African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, who is facing alleged cybercrime charges. In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, Justice Mohammed Umar ordered Sowore to produce two sureties. One must be a traditional ruler from his community, while the other must own landed property in Abuja. The court also directed the prosecution to verify both sureties. As part of the bail conditions, Sowore was ordered to surrender his international passport to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court pending the conclusion of the trial. The judge released the defendant to his lawyers and adjourned proceedings until Monday, July 6, when the court is expected to begin hearing Sowore’s defence. The ruling comes after the court earlier ordered Sowore’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre while considering his application for a stay of the order revoking his bail and the bench warrant issued against him. Justice Umar had also dismissed Sowore’s application seeking his recusal from the case over allegations of bias. The Department of State Services is prosecuting Sowore over allegations that he made false claims about Bola Tinubu by referring to him as “a criminal” in posts published on his X and Facebook accounts. The case will resume on July 6 for the opening of the defence.