Transcript

Hello, everyone! This is Erika from ‘Just a Moment News’, and today’s date is May 31st, 2024. We have some intriguing stories to discuss today, so let’s dive right in.

First up, a significant development in the United States as former President Donald Trump has been convicted on all thirty-four counts in his hush-money trial. This verdict marks him as the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a felony. The charges were related to falsifying business records to hide damaging information during the 2016 presidential election. Trump has pleaded not guilty and plans to appeal. The jury, consisting of twelve members, reached a unanimous verdict after two days of deliberation. Sentencing is scheduled for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention. It’s uncertain what impact this will have on his potential run in the upcoming election.

Moving to South Africa, the 2024 general election projections indicate a major shift in the political landscape. The African National Congress (ANC) may lose its outright majority for the first time since 1994, with early projections showing a drop to 42.3% of the vote. This significant decline, especially in key provinces like Gauteng, has sparked discussions about potential coalition negotiations. With about 42.5% of votes counted so far, the outcome could reshape South Africa’s political dynamics in the coming days.

In technology news, Magic Leap, once a highly-hyped augmented reality startup, has announced a strategic partnership with Google. This collaboration aims to develop innovative AR and extended reality solutions. Magic Leap, which shifted its focus to enterprise applications after initial poor sales, is now targeting sectors like healthcare and military training. This partnership with Google could enhance competition in the AR and XR market.

On the sports front, Mohamed Salah’s financial success continues to grow. His UK-based company, Salah UK Commercial Limited, reported a balance increase, underlining his substantial commercial appeal. Besides his impressive on-field performance, Salah’s endorsements and image rights contribute significantly to his earnings, making him a prominent figure in global marketing.

In entertainment, Netflix’s miniseries Eric, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch, attempts to blend two different narratives. The series, which addresses social injustices, has received mixed reviews due to its pacing and integration of storylines. Despite its noble intentions, the series struggles with cohesion and depth, impacting its overall effectiveness.

In a fascinating piece of music history, John Lennon’s long-lost Framus Hootenanny 12-string acoustic guitar, which featured in The Beatles’ 1965 film “Help!”, has been sold for over two million eight hundred thousand dollars. This guitar, missing for fifty years, was recently discovered in an attic and has become one of the most expensive guitars ever sold.

Lastly, if you’ve ever fancied owning a dinosaur, here’s your chance. Sotheby’s is auctioning ‘Apex’, the largest Stegosaurus fossil ever discovered, with an estimated price between four million and six million dollars. This auction, set for July 17 in New York, also includes considerations for insurance and shipping costs.

That’s all for today’s roundup on ‘Just a Moment News’. I’m Erika, and I hope these discussions have provided you with a broad perspective on today’s significant news events. Thanks for tuning in, and we’ll catch up again soon!

Keywords - moment, daily, news