Security in Niamey: Niger tightened protection around the Presidential Palace after reports of unrest inside the armed forces, with the Presidential Guard reinforced by armoured vehicles and movement restricted near the area. Jihadist threat across the Sahel: Reuters reports al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM claimed attacks on Mali army positions, while Niger has also faced similar strikes, including an attack on Niamey’s airport complex earlier this year. Mali fighting widens: Coordinated rebel assaults hit multiple towns from the north to south, with Mali’s army saying it repelled attacks and killed dozens of “terrorists,” though claims of seized positions remain unverified. Insecurity in Niger State: Three Nigerian soldiers were reportedly killed and others injured after a patrol vehicle hit a suspected IED near Babanna in Borgu LGA. Politics in Niger State: A Minna court adjourned a suit challenging APC candidate Prof. Yakubu Mohammed Auna’s primary to July 9. Humanitarian pressure: UNHCR warns Lake Chad Basin displacement is nearing a dangerous tipping point, with millions displaced and violence escalating. Youth & education: In Nigeria, InterswitchSPAK named 81 top students from 21,700 entries for televised STEM stages and scholarships.