Kwale (BN24) – A small plane carrying 12 people, including foreign tourists, crashed early Tuesday morning in Kenya’s coastal Kwale County shortly after taking off from Diani Airstrip, with all on board feared dead, officials confirmed.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said the Cessna Caravan aircraft, registered as 5Y-CCA, departed from Diani for Kichwa Tembo near the Maasai Mara National Reserve but went down minutes later in Tsimba, a hilly and densely forested area about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the airstrip.
“The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority wishes to confirm that an aircraft registration number 5Y-CCA, on its way from Diani to Kichwa Tembo, crashed at 0530Z,” the agency stated. “Government agencies are already on site to establish the cause of the accident and its impact.”
Officials said the plane burst into flames after impact, leaving a charred wreckage scattered across the crash site. Footage shared by local media showed the aircraft engulfed in flames as first responders arrived to conduct rescue operations. Witnesses described hearing a loud explosion before discovering debris and human remains at the scene.
Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde told the Associated Press that all those on board were believed to be foreign tourists, although their nationalities have not yet been confirmed. The number of crew members was also not immediately disclosed.
Kwale police commander Abdillahi Alio said the crash occurred just moments after takeoff in an area known for its thick forest and rough terrain. He confirmed that local police and rescue teams were working alongside aviation officials to secure the area and gather evidence.
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the crash, but preliminary reports suggest poor visibility and unfavorable weather conditions may have played a role. The Kenya Meteorological Department had issued warnings days earlier, urging coastal residents to brace for heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and strong winds linked to tropical storm Chenge.
According to the weather agency, the storm was located about 500 kilometers north of Madagascar on Sunday and was moving westward toward the coasts of Kenya and Tanzania, bringing the risk of high waves and extreme weather. On the morning of the crash, Diani experienced rain, high winds, and thunder, prompting speculation about whether conditions were safe for flight.
The aircraft was operated by Mombasa Air Safari, a charter company known for connecting coastal towns to major safari destinations. The airline said it was cooperating fully with investigators and would release additional information through the civil aviation authority.
Maasai Mara National Reserve, the plane’s destination, is one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife sanctuaries, drawing thousands of international tourists each year to witness the great wildebeest migration from Tanzania’s Serengeti.
The Kwale crash marks one of the deadliest aviation incidents in Kenya in recent years and has reignited concerns about flight safety during extreme weather conditions.
Lionel Messi is hopeful he will be playing for Argentina to help defend its World Cup title when soccer’s biggest event comes to North America next summer, though the Inter Miami captain acknowledged his age will be a significant factor in the decision.
Speaking with NBC News’ Tom Llamas, Messi said he will see how his body feels next year before choosing whether to play. “It’s something extraordinary to be able to be in a World Cup, and I would love to,” Messi said, though he admitted his age, he will be thirty-nine next June, is a factor.
“I would like to be there, to be well and be an important part of helping my national team, if I am there,” Messi added. “And I’m going to assess that on a day-to-day basis when I start preseason next year with Inter [Miami] and see if I can really be 100%, if I can be useful to the group, to the national team, and then make a decision. Obviously, I’m really eager because it’s a World Cup. We’re coming off winning the last World Cup, and being able to defend it on the field again is spectacular because it’s always a dream to play with the national team, especially in official competitions.”
Messi has been playing professionally since 2004. He debuted in La Liga with Barcelona in October of that year at only seventeen years old, becoming at the time the youngest player to play for the Spanish club.
In 2021, Messi left Barcelona in the wake of the club’s financial issues, moving to France to play for Paris Saint-Germain. After two years with PSG, Messi brought his talents to the United States in July 2023, signing with MLS’ Inter Miami.
“The truth is that I like everything about living here,” Messi told Llamas in an interview that aired on “Nightly News” about his life in Miami. “I spent a lot of time in Barcelona, which for me is an extraordinary city, where I grew up and had many spectacular moments, and which we miss a lot. But Miami is a city that allows us to live very well, that allows us to enjoy life, that allows us to be calm, that allows the kids to be themselves and live day to day.”
While he enjoyed a decorated individual and club career, international success eluded Messi until the 2022 World Cup, when Argentina defeated France 4-2 on penalties to win the final. Messi won his second Golden Ball and was voted the tournament’s best player.
The World Cup victory was Argentina’s first since 1986. Messi has appeared in one hundred ninety-five matches for his country since 2005, scoring one hundred fourteen goals.
“It was the dream of my life,” Messi said of the win in 2022. “It was also true that it was the only thing missing at a professional level because I had been lucky enough to have achieved everything at an individual level, at a team level with Barcelona, and I think that’s every player’s dream.”
The 2026 World Cup will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, marking the first time the tournament will be held across three nations. The expanded format will feature forty-eight teams, up from thirty-two in previous editions.
Messi’s potential participation would make the 2026 tournament his sixth World Cup appearance, having previously played in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022. He has scored thirteen goals across those tournaments, establishing himself as one of the competition’s all-time great performers.
The question of whether Messi will play at thirty-nine reflects both his enduring quality and the physical demands of elite soccer. Few players have maintained world-class performance into their late thirties, though Messi’s exceptional career suggests he could remain competitive if his body cooperates.
His performance in MLS has demonstrated continued excellence. Messi recently won the 2025 Golden Boot after recording twenty-nine goals in just twenty-eight games for Inter Miami. He also won the 2024 MLS MVP award and is nominated for the 2025 edition, potentially becoming the first player to win the honor in consecutive seasons.
Inter Miami announced Thursday that Messi has signed a contract extension through the end of the 2028 MLS season, securing his services for three additional years. The extension includes plans for him to inaugurate the team’s new Miami Freedom Park stadium in 2026.
Argentina enters the 2026 World Cup as defending champion, having captured the title in Qatar. The team’s core remains largely intact, though several key players will also be in their late thirties by the tournament.
Messi’s decision will likely influence Argentina’s preparations and expectations. As captain and the team’s most decorated player, his presence would provide leadership and attacking threat even if his role becomes more limited than in previous tournaments.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has revolutionized soccer during his two-decade career. His move to MLS has elevated the league’s profile internationally and driven record attendance and merchandise sales.
His life in Miami has provided stability for his family while allowing him to continue competing at a high level. The combination of professional success and personal satisfaction makes his current situation ideal as he contemplates one final World Cup appearance.
The preseason assessment he mentioned will be crucial. Messi’s approach reflects mature understanding of his body’s capabilities and limitations. Rather than committing prematurely, he plans to evaluate his fitness and determine whether he can contribute meaningfully to Argentina’s title defense.
If Messi does participate in 2026, it would cap a remarkable international career that includes Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024 in addition to the 2022 World Cup triumph. His legacy as one of soccer’s greatest players is already secure, but defending the World Cup on North American soil would provide a fitting conclusion to his international career.
Kenya’s Foreign Ministry has warned that citizens are being deceived by fraudulent agents into traveling to Russia under the guise of legitimate job offers, only to find themselves conscripted into Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Kenyans preparing to leave for Russia to fight as hired soldiers
In a statement released Monday, Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi said that Kenyan nationals “have been lured by corrupt and ruthless agents to travel to Russia and unknowingly find themselves in the Russian military operation.” The ministry said many of those deceived are now detained in Russian military camps, though it did not specify how many Kenyans are affected.
Mudavadi confirmed that Kenyan and Russian officials held a “crucial meeting” last month in an effort to secure the release and repatriation of those detained. “The system has been made complicated by agents masquerading as working with the Russian government,” the ministry said, accusing the traffickers of using “unscrupulous methods, including falsified information, to lure innocent Kenyans into the battlefield.”
The warning comes amid growing concerns that Russia has been recruiting citizens from impoverished nations by exploiting economic hardship. Many are allegedly tricked into signing contracts written in Russian, which they cannot read or understand.
Kenya, where unemployment remains high, has become one of several African countries targeted by foreign recruitment schemes. Local media, including The Nation newspaper, have reported that Russian-linked recruiters are offering fake job opportunities to young men, often from low-income backgrounds. One former Kenyan soldier interviewed by The Nation admitted to voluntarily joining a Russian mercenary group but said others were coerced or misled.
The situation took a darker turn this week when Kenyan police uncovered a human trafficking network allegedly sending recruits to fight in Ukraine. Following an intelligence-led raid on an apartment complex in Athi River, just outside Nairobi, authorities rescued 22 Kenyans who were “awaiting processing to Russia.” Officers seized fake job offer letters, travel documents, and recruitment materials during the operation.
Kenyan citizenship fighting for Russia, captured by Ukraine
One suspect accused of coordinating the group’s travel to Russia was arrested and remains in custody for 10 days as investigations continue. Police said the victims had been promised jobs in Moscow but were instead destined for Russian-controlled combat zones. Some had paid deposits of up to $1,500 toward supposed travel and accommodation fees, with total commitments reaching $18,000 per person.
Authorities said several Kenyans who had been sent to Russia returned home injured or traumatized, while others remain unaccounted for. Two survivors recently made it back to Kenya—one of whom is currently hospitalized in Nairobi.
A senior official at Kenya’s Foreign Ministry said the government is actively investigating reports of citizens being held as prisoners of war in Ukraine. “We are pursuing diplomatic channels to ensure their safety and possible repatriation,” the official said.
Ukraine’s spokesman on prisoner-of-war issues, Petro Yatsenko, told the BBC that nationals from several other countries—including Somalia, Sierra Leone, Togo, Cuba, and Sri Lanka—are also among those captured in Ukraine. He added that “most African states show little interest in the return of such citizens and do not wish to take them back.”
Despite the ongoing crisis, Kenya reaffirmed its commitment to signing a formal labor agreement with Russia to provide what it called “genuine job opportunities” for Kenyan workers. However, officials warned citizens to remain vigilant and avoid illegal recruitment schemes that could lead them into war zones.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (BN24) — The Federal Bureau of Prisons has officially listed May 8, 2028, as the expected release date for rapper and music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, following his 50-month prison sentence handed down earlier this month.
Diddy, 54, has been incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his September 2024 arrest. He was sentenced on October 3 after being found guilty of prostitution-related offenses during a high-profile federal trial that drew nationwide attention. The case followed a cascade of allegations, beginning with a 2023 sexual assault and abuse lawsuit filed by his former partner, Cassie Ventura.
The Bureau of Prisons clarified that the projected May 2028 release date could change, depending on factors such as earned good behavior credit or early release programs. Reports also suggest the timeline does not account for a potential presidential pardon, despite speculation involving President Donald Trump.
TMZ and The Blast reported that rumors of Trump considering a pardon for Diddy were dismissed by the White House. “The president, not anonymous sources, is the final decider on pardons and commutations,” a spokesperson said, calling the claims “false and baseless.”
Meanwhile, Diddy’s legal team has filed an appeal challenging his conviction and sentence. His attorney, Alexandra A.E. Shapiro, is leading the effort, following statements by defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo, who previously argued that Judge Arun Subramanian’s handling of the case was biased. “We believe there is a strong basis to appeal,” Agnifilo said after sentencing, accusing the judge of acting like a “13th juror.”
Concerns have also surfaced over Diddy’s safety while incarcerated. His longtime friend Charlucci Finney alleged that the rapper recently faced a violent threat inside the detention center when another inmate reportedly held a makeshift knife to his neck. “I don’t know whether he fought him off or the guards came,” Finney said, claiming the incident reflected broader dangers faced by inmates convicted of sex-related crimes.
Diddy’s attorneys have requested a transfer to the Federal Correctional Institution in Fort Dix, New Jersey, citing safety concerns and proximity to family. The presiding judge reportedly supported the request.
Despite his appeal and transfer motion, Diddy remains in federal custody, awaiting the next stage of his legal battle. If his appeal is denied and no pardon is granted, the music mogul is expected to complete his sentence and regain his freedom in May 2028.
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (BN24) — Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara was reelected to a fourth term in an election marked by low turnout and empty streets in the economic capital of Abidjan, provisional results showed Monday.
Ouattara, first elected president in the West African nation in 2011, won eighty-nine point seven percent of the vote, Electoral Commission head Ibrahime Kuibiert Coulibaly said Monday. Jean-Louis Billon, a former commerce minister from one of Ivory Coast’s richest families, came in a distant second with three percent of the vote. Simone Gbagbo, a former first lady, came in third with two point four percent under the provisional results.
Final results are expected by November 3, though they could be announced sooner. Some eight point five million people were registered to vote. Voter turnout was around fifty percent.
Nearly nine million Ivorians were eligible to vote on Saturday in a race that excluded Ouattara’s top rivals. Former President Laurent Gbagbo was barred over a criminal conviction, and former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam was disqualified for acquiring French citizenship.
The remaining four candidates were not seen as viable contenders, as they lacked backing from a major political party and significant financial resources.
Billon on Sunday congratulated Ouattara after early partial results showed the latter with a strong lead nationwide, winning upwards of ninety percent of the vote with turnout close to one hundred percent in northern strongholds.
The political veteran was also ahead in traditionally pro-opposition areas in the south and parts of the economic hub Abidjan where turnout was low. In the southern city of Gagnoa, he won ninety-two percent of the vote but with a turnout rate of only twenty percent.
Many abstained amid widespread anger over Ouattara’s decision to run for a fourth consecutive term. Under the constitution, presidents may only serve a maximum of two terms, but the president argued his limit was “reset” by a 2016 constitutional overhaul.
In the weeks leading up to the election, sporadic protests broke out in response to the ban on key contenders from the polls, prompting the government to ban demonstrations and arrest over two hundred people from campaign group the Common Front political movement.
Electoral commission president Ibrahime Coulibaly-Kuibiert earlier put turnout at around fifty percent, a similar level to 2020 when Ouattara won ninety-four percent of the vote in an election boycotted by the main opponents.
The low turnout and overwhelming victory margin reflect the contentious nature of Ouattara’s bid for a fourth term. Critics have accused the president of undermining democratic norms by circumventing constitutional term limits through his interpretation of the 2016 constitutional changes.
Ouattara’s supporters argue the constitutional overhaul legitimately reset presidential term counts, making him eligible for what they characterize as a second two-term cycle. Opposition voices and many constitutional scholars reject this interpretation as contrary to the spirit of term limit protections.
The exclusion of Gbagbo and Thiam removed Ouattara’s most formidable potential challengers from the ballot. Gbagbo, who served as president from 2000 to 2011, was ousted following a disputed election and subsequent civil conflict. His barring based on criminal conviction has been criticized as politically motivated, particularly after his acquittal by the International Criminal Court on related charges.
Thiam’s disqualification for holding dual citizenship prevented a potentially competitive race. The prominent banker and former corporate executive had been viewed as a strong opposition candidate before his exclusion under Ivory Coast’s electoral laws prohibiting dual nationals from seeking the presidency.
The stark contrast between turnout rates in different regions underscores political divisions in Ivory Coast. While Ouattara’s northern strongholds saw near-universal participation and overwhelming support, southern opposition areas showed both lower turnout and reduced enthusiasm, though the president still won majorities even there.
The arrest of more than two hundred opposition activists in the weeks before the election drew criticism from international observers and human rights organizations. The government defended the crackdown as necessary to prevent violence and maintain public order during a tense political period.
Ivory Coast, once considered among West Africa’s more stable democracies, has experienced recurring political crises tied to presidential succession. The country endured a brief civil war following disputed 2010 election results that left thousands dead and deeply scarred the national psyche.
Ouattara has presided over significant economic growth during his tenure, with Ivory Coast becoming one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies. The country is the world’s leading cocoa producer and has seen substantial infrastructure development and improved public services under his leadership.
However, critics argue that economic progress has not been accompanied by corresponding political liberalization. The exclusion of major opposition figures, suppression of protests and controversial constitutional interpretation raise concerns about democratic backsliding in one of the region’s largest economies.
The election results, while giving Ouattara an overwhelming victory, occur against a backdrop of questions about the health of Ivorian democracy. The fifty percent turnout represents significant portions of the electorate choosing not to participate, suggesting widespread disillusionment with a political process many view as predetermined.
Regional context for the election includes broader concerns about democratic governance across West Africa. Several countries in the region have experienced military coups or controversial constitutional changes extending presidential tenure in recent years, making Ivory Coast’s situation part of a troubling pattern.
International reaction to the election has been measured, with Western nations and regional bodies offering cautious statements calling for political dialogue and respect for constitutional processes without directly challenging the legitimacy of Ouattara’s victory.
The next five years will test whether Ouattara can address the political divisions his extended tenure has exacerbated while maintaining the economic progress that has characterized his time in office. The combination of low turnout, excluded opposition and widespread protests leaves questions about the mandate he carries into this fourth term.
SYDNEY (BN24)— Indian cricket star Shreyas Iyer, 30, was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after sustaining a serious internal injury during India’s nine-wicket victory over Australia in Sydney, officials said. Doctors described the injury as “potentially fatal” had it not been treated promptly.
The incident occurred during the third One-Day International (ODI) when Iyer, India’s vice-captain, was fielding. In a moment of brilliance, he made a backward-running catch to dismiss Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey. However, as he landed awkwardly on his left rib cage, Iyer immediately clutched his side in visible pain, signaling that the injury was more than a typical strain.
Teammates rushed to his aid while medical staff quickly attended to him on the field. Recognizing the severity of the injury, they helped Iyer off the pitch and transported him directly to a Sydney hospital for urgent evaluation.
Scans revealed internal bleeding and a laceration to the spleen, necessitating emergency intensive care. A hospital insider described the condition as “potentially fatal” if not addressed immediately.
In an official statement, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said:
“Shreyas Iyer sustained an impact injury to his left lower rib cage while fielding during the third ODI against Australia in Sydney. He was taken to the hospital for further evaluation. Scans have revealed a laceration injury to the spleen. He is under treatment, medically stable, and recovering well. The BCCI medical team, in consultation with specialists in Sydney and India, is closely monitoring his injury status. The Indian team doctor will remain in Sydney with Shreyas to evaluate his day-to-day progress.”
A source from the Press Trust of India added details about Iyer’s condition:
“Shreyas has been in the ICU for the past couple of days. Internal bleeding was detected, and he had to be admitted immediately. He will remain under observation for anywhere between two to seven days, depending on recovery, to prevent complications from the bleeding. He’s stable now, but it could have been fatal. He’s a tough lad and should recover soon.”
Medical teams expect Iyer to stay under close supervision for at least a week. Following this, he will require an estimated three or more weeks of recovery before returning to competitive cricket. Doctors remain cautiously optimistic about his progress, emphasizing that full recovery will depend on how quickly his spleen heals and whether any complications from internal bleeding arise.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the cricketing community, with fans and teammates expressing support for the player. His dedication and resilience are widely praised, and the BCCI confirmed that he will receive continuous medical monitoring to ensure a safe return to the field.
BAMAKO, Mali (BN24)—Mali has ordered the suspension of all school and university classes for two weeks, starting Monday, as the country grapples with a severe fuel shortage, officials said late Sunday. The disruption follows a blockade imposed by an al-Qaeda-linked insurgent group, which has targeted fuel supplies since September, worsening the economic and social strain on the West African nation.
The government’s Education Minister, Amadou Sy Savane, stated that the closures, effective until November 9, are necessary because the fuel shortage is hindering the ability of school staff and teachers to commute to their workplaces. “Authorities are doing everything possible to restore normal fuel supplies so that schools can reopen on November 10,” Savane said.
The Interministerial Committee for Crisis and Disaster Management announced that fuel rationing will continue until further notice. Officials said supplies at designated fuel stations will be prioritized for emergency services, public transportation, and humanitarian aid vehicles, reflecting the crisis’s broad impact on daily life.
The fuel shortage is the result of a blockade enforced by Jama’at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), an armed group affiliated with al-Qaeda. The group has targeted fuel tankers arriving primarily from Senegal and the Ivory Coast, through which most of Mali’s imported goods transit. JNIM framed the blockade as a response to government restrictions on selling fuel outside official stations in rural areas, measures intended to disrupt the group’s supply chain.
Since the blockade began, Mali’s fragile economy has been squeezed. Commodity prices have surged, and transportation costs have risen sharply. In the capital, Bamako, long lines of vehicles have formed at gas stations, leaving residents facing hours-long waits for limited fuel supplies.
Mali’s security challenges have been compounded by years of insurgency in the Sahel region. Alongside Burkina Faso and Niger, Mali has battled groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS, as well as local rebel factions, for more than a decade. Following military coups in the three countries, the ruling authorities expelled French forces and turned to Russian mercenary units for security assistance, though analysts suggest that this has done little to curb attacks or insurgent activity.
The fuel blockade represents a major setback for Mali’s military government, which justified its 2020 coup as a necessary step to address long-standing security crises. Analysts warn that continued disruptions to fuel supplies could further destabilize the economy and public services, particularly education and transportation, which are heavily reliant on fuel imports.
In a bid to address the crisis, Mali has signed an agreement with Russia to secure petroleum products. Officials have said the deal aims to stabilize fuel supplies nationwide, ensuring that schools, businesses, and essential services can resume normal operations. The government’s move also signals an effort to reduce dependency on neighboring countries for fuel imports, though experts caution that logistical challenges may delay immediate relief.
The fuel shortage underscores the wider challenges facing Mali, including economic fragility, insurgent activity, and strained public services. As the school closures take effect, families and educators face uncertainty, while the government works to balance security measures with basic economic and social needs.
YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon (BN24) — Four people were killed in violent clashes between security forces and opposition supporters in Cameroon on Sunday, as tensions escalated ahead of the final election results. The unrest erupted following opposition leader Issa Tchiroma’s refusal to accept the preliminary election results and his call for protests.
Tchiroma, who contested President Paul Biya’s 43-year rule in the October 12 election, has claimed victory, alleging that he won 54.8% of the vote, compared to the 31.3% reported for Biya. However, many analysts expect Biya to be declared the winner in what critics argue is a flawed electoral process. The 92-year-old president has been in power since 1982.
Ahead of the final announcement of the results by the Constitutional Council on Monday, Tchiroma’s supporters took to the streets in cities across Cameroon to voice their opposition to the election outcome.
In Douala, the country’s largest city, security forces clashed with demonstrators after opposition supporters defied a nationwide ban on public gatherings. The regional governor reported that protesters attacked police stations and a gendarmerie brigade in two districts. In the aftermath, four people were confirmed dead, with several members of the security forces also injured.
At the scene, witnesses contradicted the official narrative, claiming that the violence began when security forces fired live ammunition after dispersing the crowd with tear gas. “The shooting started with live bullets,” one demonstrator said. “Three bodies fell in front of us.” These accounts of violence have raised questions about the government’s handling of the protests.
Earlier in the day, police in Garoua, Tchiroma’s northern stronghold, used tear gas to disperse hundreds of demonstrators. Despite the government’s ban on protests, supporters gathered with national flags and banners reading “Tchiroma 2025,” chanting slogans like “Goodbye Paul Biya, Tchiroma is coming.” The protests were part of a broader effort to pressure the government over what many believe was a rigged election.
Tchiroma, who has claimed to be the true winner of the election, has spent several days in Douala surrounded by his supporters. On Sunday, he released a video claiming that military personnel had attempted to force him out of his residence. The opposition leader also said that two figures from the coalition backing him were arrested in Douala on Friday.
In the capital, Yaoundé, police maintained a heavy presence, but the protest call did not appear to gain significant traction. Some reports suggested that the protests in the capital were smaller and more limited in scope, possibly due to increased security measures.
The government has repeatedly warned that the protests are contributing to what it calls an “insurrectionist project,” and could further destabilize the country. On Saturday, the Minister of Territorial Administration described the protests as a security threat, saying they risked plunging Cameroon into a crisis.
Amid the unrest, several regions of the country have experienced internet disruptions, which analysts believe are aimed at curbing the spread of information. Monitors have suggested that these disruptions could limit the ability of both local and international outlets to report on the events as they unfold.
The Constitutional Council is set to announce the final election results on Monday. While many expect Biya to retain the presidency, the ongoing protests highlight the deep political divisions and growing unrest in Cameroon. The violence and accusations of electoral fraud have raised international concerns about the legitimacy of the electoral process and the state of democracy in the country.
Norfolk (BN24) – A 24-year-old Honduran man was struck and killed by a passing vehicle while attempting to flee U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during an operation in Norfolk, Virginia, authorities said.
The victim, identified as Josué Castro Rivera, was on his way to work at a gardening job Thursday when ICE agents stopped his vehicle and attempted to detain him and three other passengers, according to his brother, Henry Castro. Rivera ran from the scene on foot and tried to cross Interstate 264, where he was hit by a 2002 Ford pickup truck around 11 a.m., the Virginia State Police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE officers were conducting a “targeted, intelligence-based operation” at the time of the incident. The agency said the other passengers were detained for allegedly living in the United States without legal authorization.
“Castro Rivera resisted heavily and fled,” DHS said in a statement, adding that he died after being struck by a passing motorist.
Family members said Castro Rivera had been living in the U.S. for about four years and regularly sent money home to support his relatives in Honduras. His brother described him as hardworking and devoted to his family, calling his death an “injustice.” The family now plans to raise funds to return his body to Honduras for burial.
“He didn’t deserve everything that happened to him,” Henry Castro said.
The DHS statement described the young man’s death as “a direct result of every politician, activist, and reporter who continues to spread propaganda and misinformation about ICE’s mission and ways to avoid detention.”
Castro Rivera’s death is the latest in a string of fatal incidents involving immigration enforcement operations across the United States. In recent months, several encounters between ICE officers and undocumented immigrants have ended in tragedy.
In August, a man fleeing ICE agents in California was fatally struck by a vehicle on a freeway. The previous month, a farmworker died after falling from a 30-foot-high roof during an immigration raid at a marijuana farm in the same state. And in September, ICE officers fatally shot a Mexican national during a traffic stop in a Chicago suburb—a case that has prompted public outrage and calls for greater accountability after body camera footage contradicted early federal claims of a “serious injury” to an officer.
The Virginia State Police are leading the investigation into Castro Rivera’s death, while federal authorities continue to review the actions of the ICE agents involved.
JERUSALEM (BN24) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday Israel would determine which foreign forces it would allow as part of a planned international force in Gaza to help secure a fragile ceasefire under U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan, explicitly ruling out Turkish armed forces.
It remains unclear whether Arab and other states will be ready to commit troops, in part given the refusal of Palestinian Hamas militants to disarm as called for by the plan, while Israel has voiced concerns about the makeup of the force.
While the Trump administration has ruled out sending U.S. soldiers into the Gaza Strip, it has been speaking to Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and Azerbaijan to contribute to the multinational force.
“We are in control of our security, and we have also made it clear regarding international forces that Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us, and this is how we operate and will continue to operate,” Netanyahu said. “This is, of course, acceptable to the United States as well, as its most senior representatives have expressed in recent days,” he told a session of his cabinet.
Israel, which besieged Gaza for two years to back up its air and ground war in the enclave against Hamas after the Palestinian militant group’s cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, continues to control all access to the territory.
Last week Netanyahu hinted that he would be opposed to any role for Turkish security forces in Gaza. Once-warm Turkish-Israeli relations soured drastically during the Gaza war, with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan lambasting Israel’s devastating air and ground campaign in the small Palestinian enclave.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Monday that Israel will not accept the presence of Turkish armed forces in Gaza under the U.S. plan to end war in the Palestinian territory. “Countries that want or are ready to send armed forces should be at least fair to Israel,” Saar said at a news conference in Budapest.
“Turkey, led by Erdogan, led a hostile approach against Israel,” Saar said, speaking alongside his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto. “So it is not reasonable for us to let their armed forces enter the Gaza Strip and we will not agree to that and we said it to our American friends.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on a visit to Israel aimed at shoring up the truce, said Friday the international force would have to be made up of “countries that Israel’s comfortable with.” He made no comment on Turkish involvement.
Rubio added that Gaza’s future governance still needed to be worked out among Israel and partner nations but could not include Hamas. Rubio later said U.S. officials were receiving input on a possible U.N. resolution or international agreement to authorize the multinational force in Gaza and would discuss the issue in Qatar, a key Gulf mediator on Gaza, on Sunday.
A major challenge to Trump’s plan is that Hamas has balked at disarming. Since the ceasefire took hold two weeks ago as the first stage of Trump’s twenty-point plan, Hamas has waged a violent crackdown on clans that have tested its grip on power.
At the same time, the remains of thirteen deceased hostages remain in Gaza with Hamas citing obstacles to locating them in the pervasive rubble left by the fighting.
An Israeli government spokesperson said Sunday Hamas, which released the remaining twenty living hostages it took in its October 2023 assault, knew where the bodies were. “Israel is aware that Hamas knows where our deceased hostages are, in fact, located. If Hamas made more of an effort, they would be able to retrieve the remains of our hostages,” the spokesperson said.
Israel had, however, allowed the entry of an Egyptian technical team to work with the Red Cross to locate the bodies. The spokesperson said the team would use excavator machines and trucks for the search beyond the so-called yellow line in Gaza behind which Israeli troops have initially pulled back under Trump’s plan.
Netanyahu began the cabinet session by stressing Israel was an independent country, rejecting the notion that “the American administration controls me and dictates Israel’s security policy.” Israel and the United States, he said, are a “partnership.”
Diplomats and analysts say Trump managed to push Netanyahu, who had long rejected global pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza, to accept his framework for a broader peace deal and also forced Netanyahu to call Qatar’s leader to apologize after a failed bombing raid targeting Hamas negotiators in that country.
Trump also persuaded Arab states to convince Hamas to return all the Israeli hostages, its key leverage in the war.
The formation of an international peacekeeping force for Gaza represents one of the most complex aspects of Trump’s ceasefire plan. The force would need to satisfy Israeli security concerns while also being acceptable to Palestinian factions and regional Arab states.
Turkey’s exclusion from consideration reflects the dramatic deterioration in Turkish-Israeli relations during the Gaza conflict. Erdogan has been one of Israel’s harshest critics, repeatedly condemning Israeli military operations and comparing Israeli actions to historical atrocities.
The international force concept aims to provide security in Gaza while allowing humanitarian reconstruction to proceed. However, fundamental questions remain about the force’s mandate, rules of engagement and relationship to both Israeli security forces and Palestinian authority structures.
Hamas’ refusal to disarm represents a fundamental obstacle to implementation of the peacekeeping plan. The militant group has maintained its grip on Gaza despite two years of Israeli military operations and shows no indication of surrendering weapons or control.
The ceasefire that began two weeks ago represents the first sustained pause in fighting since the war began following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack that killed around twelve hundred people in Israel and saw two hundred fifty-one taken hostage.
More than sixty-seven thousand Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s subsequent assault on Gaza, according to Gaza health officials. The territory has been devastated, with vast areas reduced to rubble and most of the population displaced.
The recovery of deceased hostage remains has become a contentious issue. Israel insists Hamas knows the locations of bodies and could retrieve them with sufficient effort, while Hamas claims the extensive destruction makes location and recovery extremely difficult.
The deployment of an Egyptian technical team with heavy equipment to search for remains represents a practical step forward, though progress has been slow. The team’s work beyond Israeli-controlled zones demonstrates the complex logistics of implementing even basic aspects of the ceasefire agreement.
Netanyahu’s assertion of Israeli independence in decision-making reflects tensions with the Trump administration over implementation details. While Trump successfully pressured Netanyahu to accept the ceasefire framework, Israel retains effective veto power over force composition given its control of Gaza access.
