DDM’s Top 10 stories of 2024

As 2024 is coming to a close, Diaspora Digital Media takes a look at some of the major news stories that made headlines throughout the year.

From the dramatic US presidential election to the shocking sex scandal involving a high-ranking government official, here are 10 stories that have found their way into our list.

*US Election/Trump Assassination Attempt

Donald Trump became the first US president with a criminal conviction to win the presidential election.

At 78, Trump won the election as the president-elect, making him the oldest person to ever hold the office.

His vice president, 40-year-old JD Vance, will be the first millennial to take on the role.

Trump

Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, securing more than 270 electoral votes and also won the popular votes, receiving 72,448,303 votes.

In his victory speech, Trump pledged to “heal” the country and bring a “golden age” to the US.

He also emphasized the need to strengthen the US border and expressed his desire to allow people to enter the country legally.

However, the election was marred by two assassination attempts on Trump’s life.

The first attempt occurred in July 2024, when a 20-year-old man named Thomas Matthew Crooks tried to kill Trump.

The second attempt occurred in September 2024, when a man named Ryan Wesley Routh was identified as the suspect.

*TB Joshua and BBC
In January 2024, a BBC investigation controversially alleged how that late Nigerian megachurch leader TB Joshua had hidden dead bodies and intimidated families to cover up his role in the collapse of a building that killed at least 116 people in 2014.

Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, aka TB Joshua, preaching.

The investigation, which included alleged “testimony” from insiders, shed light on the controversial methods used by TB Joshua and raised questions about his true nature.

DDM cannot verify the authenticity of BBC’s claims but we have to admit that the report was one of the top stories of 2024.

*Hamas, Hezbollah decimated
In September 2024, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they had killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an overnight strike in Beirut.

The IDF also targeted Hezbollah’s central headquarters in the city.

Later, in October 2024, the IDF announced that they had killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in an operation in Gaza.

The IDF has also annihilated Hamas and Hezbollah fighters in Syria, Gaza, Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East.

*Chidimma Adetshina: Miss Universe Africa and Oceania

In July 2024, 23-year-old Chidimma Adetshina made headlines during the Miss South Africa pageant when her eligibility to compete was questioned.

Adetshina: from sorrow to glory

Despite being a finalist, Adetshina withdrew from the competition after the South African Home Office announced an investigation into her citizenship.

However, Adetshina’s luck changed when she was invited to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant.

She went on to win the title and represent Nigeria at the global Miss Universe competition in Mexico City.

Adetshina emerged as the first runner-up in the competition and was also crowned Miss Universe Africa and Oceania.

*Iran President’s Death
In May 2024, a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, his foreign minister, and others crashed, resulting in their deaths.

Ebrahim Raisi

The incident occurred amidst a backdrop of economic problems and tensions with Israel.

*Nigeria, Kenya Protests

Nigeria witnessed widespread demonstrations, particularly during the “#EndBadGovernance” protests in August and the “#FearlessOctober” protests on October 1.

These protests were sparked by growing public anger over soaring inflation, worsening insecurity, ineffective governance, and rising fuel prices.

The protests were marked by clashes between demonstrators and security forces, resulting in arrests, injuries, and even fatalities.

Amnesty International reported that the Nigerian authorities used excessive force to disperse protesters, and many were detained without access to lawyers or family.

The protests also highlighted the country’s economic struggles, with inflation hitting 33% and many families struggling to afford basic necessities like food and healthcare.

The removal of fuel subsidies in May 2023 further exacerbated the economic crisis, driving many people into poverty.

In Kenya, in response to unpopular tax proposals, a new generation of young Kenyan protesters took to the streets, forcing the government to reconsider the finance bill.

The protests, which were organized on TikTok, brought the city’s central business district to a standstill.

Security agents fired live bullets at protesters resulting in the deaths of hundreds of citizens.

*Lebanon Attack
In 2024, Israel launched a series of attacks on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of at least 492 people and injuring over 1,645.

The attack was the deadliest day of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah since 2006.

The aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel was marked by widespread condemnation, mourning, and a significant escalation of tensions in the region.

In Israel, the government declared a state of emergency and mobilized reserve troops to bolster its defenses.

The Israeli military continued to carry out airstrikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, aiming to degrade the militant group’s capabilities and deter future attacks.

The international community, including the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations, condemned the Hamas attack and expressed support for Israel’s right to self-defense.

In the Gaza Strip, the situation is dire, with reports of significant deaths and damage to infrastructure, homes, and civilian facilities.

The Palestinian Authority and other humanitarian organizations have appealed for international aid to help alleviate the suffering of civilians affected by the conflict.

The attack also has significant repercussions for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, which had already been stalled for several years.

Baltasar Engonga Sex Scandal

Baltasar Engonga, the Director General of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency, was sacked after a sex video featuring him went viral on social media.

The video allegedly showed Engonga having sex with multiple women, some of whom were reportedly partners of high-ranking officials.

*P Diddy Case
Sean “Diddy” Combs was accused of kidnapping, drugging, and forcing women into sexual activities.

The allegations led to a police raid on his Los Angeles mansion, where officers seized supplies intended for use in sex activities, including drugs and over 1,000 bottles of baby oil.

*Ballon d’Or 2024 Drama
Manchester City midfielder Rodri won the Ballon d’Or award ahead of Vinicius Jr., amidst controversy surrounding the nomination process.

Rodri shrugged off competition from Vinicius to win the coveted award

The development was a surprise upset in many quarters as many had expected Vinicius Jr. of Real Madrid to take home the coveted prize.

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