Nigerian chef Hilda Baci breaks Guinness World Record for largest jollof rice dish

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September 17, 2025

LONDON (BN24) — A thrilling night of UEFA Champions League group-stage football unfolded on Tuesday as Tottenham Hotspur marked their return with a narrow home win, Real Madrid staged a comeback to defeat Olympique de Marseille, and Juventus shared eight goals with Borussia Dortmund in one of the competition’s most explosive draws. Meanwhile, debutants Union Saint-Gilloise stunned PSV Eindhoven to announce their arrival on the European stage.

At the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Thomas Frank celebrated a victorious start to his Champions League tenure as Spurs edged Villarreal 1-0. The breakthrough came early, in just the fourth minute, when Lucas Bergvall’s cross was mishandled by Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior and spilled into his own net. Despite growing second-half pressure from Nicolas Pepe and Juan Foyth, the Premier League side held on to secure three points on their return to Europe’s top competition after a two-year absence.

In Spain, Kylian Mbappé scored twice from the penalty spot to lead Real Madrid to a 2-1 victory over Marseille. The French visitors had taken a surprise lead through Timothy Weah, who finished from close range following an assist from Mason Greenwood in the 22nd minute. But a foul on Rodrygo by Geoffrey Kondogbia allowed Mbappé to equalize before halftime.

The match turned tense when Dani Carvajal was sent off for headbutting Marseille goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli, leaving Madrid a man down. Yet the drama intensified in the final minutes, as substitute Facundo Medina conceded a penalty for a handball. Mbappé converted again to maintain Real Madrid’s perfect record against Marseille.

Turin saw the night’s most dramatic clash, as Juventus and Borussia Dortmund shared a breathless 4-4 draw. After a goalless first half, the match erupted in the second. Karim Adeyemi and Felix Nmecha put Dortmund ahead before Juventus responded through Kenan Yıldız and Dušan Vlahović.

Ramy Bensebaini appeared to seal the win for Dortmund from the spot, but Juventus mounted a furious stoppage-time comeback. Vlahović struck again to make it 4-3, before Lloyd Kelly headed home a 96th-minute equalizer to complete an extraordinary finish.

The biggest shock came in the Netherlands, where Belgian newcomers Union Saint-Gilloise pulled off a 3-1 win over Dutch champions PSV in their group-stage debut. Promise David gave the visitors an early lead from the penalty spot, Anouar Ait El Hadj added a second before halftime, and Kevin Mac Allister sealed the result with a late third. Ruben van Bommel’s goal offered scant consolation for a PSV side overwhelmed by Union SG’s intensity.

The night’s results leave Tottenham and Real Madrid at the top of their respective groups, Juventus and Dortmund level with a point each, and Union SG making headlines with a landmark win on their first appearance at this stage of the tournament.

Charlie Kirk shooting suspect Tyler Robinson charged with murder; prosecutors to seek death penalty

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September 16, 2025

Utah (BN24) – Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10, was formally charged Friday with multiple felony counts, including aggravated murder, as Utah prosecutors announced they would pursue the death penalty.

Robinson appeared via video link in a Utah County courtroom for his first hearing, sitting motionless as Judge Tony Graf Jr. read the charges. He spoke only to confirm his name and nodded as the judge ordered him held without bail. Robinson has not yet been assigned an attorney. His next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 29.

Prosecutors charged Robinson with felony aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of felony obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering, and committing a violent offense in the presence of a child.

Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray, announcing the charges at a news conference, described Kirk’s killing as an attack not only on an individual but also on democratic freedoms. “The murder of Charlie Kirk is an American tragedy,” Gray said. “Charlie Kirk was murdered while engaging in one of our most sacred and cherished American rights, the free exchange of ideas and a search for truth, understanding and a more perfect union.”

Gray confirmed he would file notice of intent to seek the death penalty, calling the crime an “offense against the state and to the peace and enjoyment of the people of Utah and of all those who visit here.”

Investigators believe Robinson concealed a rifle in his pants while walking across campus shortly before the shooting. Gray said surveillance footage showed the suspect moving with “an unusual gait,” with little bend in his right leg, consistent with hiding a firearm.

Charging documents also revealed that Robinson had expressed anger over gay and transgender rights in conversations with friends and in text messages to his roommate. According to prosecutors, Robinson told investigators he believed Kirk embodied “too much evil,” and he allegedly wrote to his roommate that he “had enough of his hatred” and would kill Kirk if given the chance.

Law enforcement also uncovered ammunition engraved with cryptic internet memes, ranging from jokes about the furry community to references from the video game “Helldivers 2,” which satirizes fascism. One bullet was inscribed with the Italian anti-fascist song lyric, “Oh bella ciao, bella ciao,” while another read, “If you read this, you are gay LMAO.” Prosecutors said the engravings appeared to be more an act of trolling than an ideological statement, but their political implications have fueled public debate.

Robinson is accused of plotting the attack in advance. Prosecutors cited a text message to his roommate in which he wrote: “If I am able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence.”

As the case proceeds, prosecutors say they will press for the harshest penalty available under Utah law.

FBI director Kash Patel clashes with Senate Democrats over Charlie Kirk and Jeffrey Epstein

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September 16, 2025

Washington (BN24) – FBI Director Kash Patel erupted in a heated exchange with Democratic senators during his first oversight hearing Tuesday, shouting back at lawmakers as he defended his leadership of the bureau and its handling of politically charged investigations.

Appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Patel faced pointed questions over the FBI’s response to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, its handling of matters related to Jeffrey Epstein, and the abrupt firing of senior agents.

Democratic Sen. Cory Booker opened his questioning by accusing Patel of lying about dismissing agents out of retribution for their involvement in political investigations. Booker charged that Patel “pushed out senior FBI agents with decades of knowledge and experience” and shifted the bureau’s priorities toward President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda.

“I believe you have made our country weaker and less safe,” Booker said.

Patel fired back, saying, “You don’t get to say that America is not safer under this leadership. Your rant of false information does not bring this country together.” The clash quickly escalated into shouting, forcing committee chair Sen. Chuck Grassley, a Republican, to pound his gavel to restore order. Booker stormed out of the hearing, accusing Grassley of failing to hold Patel accountable for repeatedly interrupting Democratic senators.

The hearing also saw Patel sparring with Sen. Adam Schiff, who pressed the director on the Trump administration’s handling of issues linked to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Patel lashed out, calling Schiff “the biggest fraud to ever sit in the United States Senate” and dismissing him as a “political buffoon, at best.”

Patel acknowledged criticism over his social media post regarding the Kirk investigation, in which he initially said “the subject” had been arrested before the individual was later released. “Could I have been more careful in my verbiage and included ‘a’ subject instead of ‘the’ subject? Sure,” he said.

The hearing highlighted the sharp political divisions surrounding Patel, who was nominated as FBI director by Trump last year and confirmed by the Senate in February by the narrowest of margins, 51-49. Two Republicans broke ranks to oppose his appointment amid concerns over his history of promoting conspiracy theories.

The Associated Press has reported that five FBI agents and senior executives were abruptly dismissed last month. Patel has denied the removals were politically motivated.

The confrontational session underscored the growing tensions over the FBI’s role during Trump’s presidency, with Patel’s critics accusing him of politicizing the bureau while his allies insist he is restoring accountability.

Data shows that Amazon forest in Brazil loses area the size of Spain in four decades

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September 16, 2025

SAO PAULO (BN24) Brazil’s Amazon rainforest has lost more than 49 million hectares, an area roughly the size of Spain over the past four decades, satellite data released Friday shows, fueling growing concerns that the world’s largest tropical forest is nearing an ecological tipping point.

The findings come from MapBiomas, a Brazilian-based initiative that uses satellite imagery to monitor changes in land use. The data shows that between 1985 and 2024, deforestation in the Amazon has accelerated, with alarming impacts on the region’s ability to regenerate and sustain its unique ecosystem.

Bruno Ferreira, a researcher affiliated with the study, said the rainforest is dangerously close to what scientists call a “point of no return,” where between 20% to 25% of its vegetation would be either degraded or entirely lost. At that stage, the forest would no longer be able to maintain its self-sustaining rain cycle.

“When too much vegetation is lost, the rain cycle is disrupted, and large areas tend to transform into drier savannas,” Ferreira said.

The Amazon stretches across nine countries, with about 60% of its total area lying within Brazilian territory. Brazil is also set to host the COP30 climate summit in November in the Amazonian city of Belem, where leaders are expected to address global climate priorities, including forest conservation.

MapBiomas reported that deforestation has surged hand-in-hand with livestock farming, which has expanded fivefold during the same period. The conversion of forested land into pasture has played a central role in the ecosystem’s ongoing degradation.

While deforestation rates fell after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office in 2023, Brazil faced an extreme drought between August 2024 and July 2025. The dry conditions triggered widespread wildfires across the Amazon, further accelerating tree loss and threatening efforts to reverse the damage.

The MapBiomas report paints a stark picture of what lies ahead if the forest’s current trajectory continues, reinforcing warnings from climate scientists that without urgent action, the Amazon may soon lose its capacity to function as the “lungs of the planet.”

Japanese political party to install AI leader after election defeats

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September 16, 2025

TOKYO (BN24) — A minor political party in Japan announced plans to appoint an artificial intelligence system as its new leader after failing to win seats in the country’s most recent elections and following the resignation of its founder, Shinji Ishimaru.

The Path to Rebirth Party, launched in January 2024 by Ishimaru, a former mayor of a small city in western Japan, rose to national attention when he placed second in the 2024 Tokyo gubernatorial race. The campaign, mainly powered by online engagement, positioned Ishimaru as a rising figure in Japanese politics.

But the party has struggled since. After failing to secure any seats in the July 2025 upper house elections, Ishimaru stepped down from leadership, triggering a bold and unconventional shift in party strategy.

“The new leader will be AI,” said Koki Okumura, a 25-year-old AI researcher and doctoral student at Kyoto University, who was selected through an internal contest to succeed Ishimaru. Okumura will act as the AI’s human assistant and serve as the public-facing representative of the party.

Details about the artificial intelligence system—such as its development, launch timeline, and operational structure have not been finalized. However, Okumura stated that the AI will not dictate policy stances for party members. Instead, it will help manage internal party affairs, including decision-making on resource allocation and organizational logistics.

The Path to Rebirth Party is known for its decentralised model, where members are encouraged to establish their own platforms without adhering to a unified party policy. Despite the media buzz surrounding its AI experiment, the party has seen little success at the ballot box.

In the June 2025 Tokyo assembly elections, none of its 42 candidates were elected. A similar result followed in the July upper house elections, where all 10 candidates failed to win seats.

While some see the move to AI leadership as a publicity stunt, party officials insist it reflects their broader belief in technology, transparency, and decentralised governance ideas they hope will eventually resonate with voters disillusioned by traditional political institutions.

13 people hurt in two mass shootings at Minneapolis homeless encampments on same day

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September 16, 2025

MINNEAPOLIS (BN24) — Thirteen people were injured, including five critically, in two mass shootings that erupted hours apart Monday at homeless encampments in Minneapolis, prompting city officials to raise alarms over growing public safety concerns.

The violence marked the fourth and fifth mass shootings in the city within three weeks, following a high-profile school shooting on Aug. 27 that left two children dead and 21 others wounded.

“This is tragic. It isn’t very good. It’s unacceptable, and, sadly, it’s not surprising,” Mayor Jacob Frey said during a news conference early Tuesday, adding he wouldn’t be surprised if the two incidents were connected.

The most recent shooting unfolded around 10 p.m. Monday at a well-known encampment located near South 28th Avenue and East Lake Street in southeast Minneapolis. Police Chief Brian O’Hara said a Minneapolis officer working security at a nearby Target store was alerted by several people running in panic and reporting gunfire at the encampment.

The officer reportedly heard the shots as he left the store and rushed toward the scene. Responding officers found five victims at the site, including a man and a woman inside tents who had both been shot in the head, O’Hara said. Three additional victims later arrived at area hospitals on their own.

O’Hara confirmed that at least four of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries. Investigators recovered multiple shell casings and believe an exchange of gunfire may have occurred between someone inside the encampment and an unidentified shooter.

While police were still on scene, a fire broke out in one of the tents, requiring fire crews to respond and extinguish the blaze. No arrests have been made, and investigators have not identified any suspects publicly.

Earlier that same day, just after 11 a.m., gunfire erupted at another homeless encampment less than a mile away, near East Lake Street and Stevens Avenue. Five people were injured in that incident, including one person who remained in critical condition.

“While the investigation is still very, very preliminary, that is certainly something that we can’t rule out, and, of course, it’s something that we are considering,” O’Hara said when asked if the two shootings could be connected.

Mayor Frey echoed the concern, pointing out that the site of the second shooting, at South 28th Avenue, had long been a source of tension. He said city officials had made repeated efforts to clear the encampment, which sits on private property, but were met with resistance from the landowner.

“These homeless encampments are not safe either for the people that are in them, nor are they safe for the surrounding neighborhood,” Frey said. “We’ve been saying this for months.”

The twin shootings come as the city continues to reel from a string of violent events. Just days earlier, on Aug. 26, six people were shot—one fatally—at the corner of East 29th Street and Clinton Avenue South when a gunman opened fire with a high-powered rifle. Police said more than 30 rounds were fired, but no arrests have been made in that case either.

In the Annunciation Catholic School shooting on Aug. 27, the 23-year-old suspect, Robin Westman, died by suicide after killing two children and injuring 21 others. Authorities are still investigating the motives behind that attack.

Chief O’Hara said the city continues to face a troubling surge in gun violence and called the recent string of mass shootings “not normal.”

“We are again standing in the aftermath of another mass shooting,” he said. “This cannot become accepted as part of life in Minneapolis.”

Russia’s FSB Arrests Woman Over Alleged Bombing of Trans-Siberian Railway-MT

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September 16, 2025

Pennsylvania (BN24) – Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced Tuesday that it has arrested a woman accused of detonating a bomb on the Trans-Siberian Railway in what it claims was a Ukrainian intelligence-directed act of sabotage.

The suspect, described only as a Russian woman born in 1974, allegedly carried out the attack in August in the Zabaikalsky region of eastern Siberia, the FSB said. According to the agency, she manufactured a homemade explosive device from readily available materials, placed it on the railway tracks, and triggered it.

“She recorded the moment of the explosion on her mobile phone and sent the footage to her handler in order to receive a reward,” the FSB said in a statement, which accused Ukrainian operatives of directing the sabotage effort.

The agency did not release the woman’s name but stressed that she was acting under instruction from Ukrainian intelligence services. It also warned Russians that it was monitoring platforms such as Telegram and WhatsApp for signs of recruitment by Ukrainian networks seeking to enlist citizens in sabotage campaigns.

The FSB also disclosed a separate case in which a man from the Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine, was sentenced to 18 years and six months in prison for transporting explosives. Authorities allege he was recruited via Telegram by a banned “terrorist organization” sympathetic to Ukraine. Investigators said he retrieved explosives from a hidden cache and was awaiting further orders when he was detained. He was later convicted by a military tribunal.

The alleged sabotage on the Trans-Siberian Railway underscores heightened security concerns in Russia as the war in Ukraine nears its third year. While Moscow has frequently accused Kyiv of orchestrating attacks inside Russian territory, Ukrainian officials rarely comment on such claims.

Bulgaria arrests Russian shipowner linked to 2020 Beirut port blast

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September 16, 2025

SOFIA, Bulgaria (BN24) — Authorities in Bulgaria have arrested the Russian owner of a cargo ship tied to the ammonium nitrate stockpile that triggered the catastrophic 2020 Beirut port explosion, Lebanese judicial officials said Monday.

The arrest of Igor Grechushkin, who also holds Cypriot nationality, comes nearly five years after Lebanese investigators issued Interpol arrest warrants for him and the ship’s captain, Boris Prokoshev, also a Russian citizen. Both men were linked to the vessel that carried the chemicals into Beirut’s port before they were stored improperly for years, ultimately sparking one of the deadliest non-nuclear explosions in history.

According to Lebanese officials, Grechushkin was taken into custody last week at Sofia’s Vasil Levski Airport after arriving on a flight from Cyprus. They said Lebanese authorities are preparing extradition papers requesting that Grechushkin be handed over for questioning in Beirut. If extradition is denied, investigators may travel to Bulgaria to question him directly.

The Beirut blast on Aug. 4, 2020, killed at least 218 people, wounded more than 6,000 and flattened entire neighborhoods in the Lebanese capital, leaving billions of dollars in damage. Despite the devastation, no senior Lebanese official has been convicted in connection with the tragedy, fueling public anger and deep mistrust in the state.

Earlier this year, Lebanon swore in President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who promised to revive the stalled probe and pursue accountability as part of a reformist agenda. In July, investigative judge Tarek Bitar summoned senior political, judicial and security officials as part of a renewed push to uncover responsibility for the disaster.

Lebanese officials say Grechushkin’s arrest represents a significant development in the yearslong investigation. Authorities in Bulgaria have not yet publicly commented on the detention.

Trump files $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times

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September 16, 2025