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Kenya police arrest teen after viral video of national flag desecration at Nyayo Stadium

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Kenya police arrest teen after viral video of national flag desecration at Nyayo Stadium

NAIROBI, Kenya (BN24)— Detectives with Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested a 17-year-old boy filmed desecrating the Kenyan national flag during a football match at Nyayo Stadium, an act that has ignited nationwide outrage and condemnation.

The viral video, which has circulated widely on social media, shows the teenager throwing the flag to the ground. In a second video, another supporter wearing a traditional Somali sarong is seen approaching a Kenya Police FC fan, seizing the flag, and tossing it aside in what appeared to be a deliberate provocation.

The incident occurred during a Sept. 20 match between Mogadishu City Club and Police FC, according to a DCI statement released Thursday. Officials described the act as both unlawful and offensive to Kenya’s national values.

“The incident took place at Nyayo Stadium where two individuals were captured on camera disrespecting the national flag—an act that is both unlawful and deeply offensive to the values we uphold as a nation,” the DCI said.

Kenya’s National Flag, Emblems and Names Act, Cap 99, makes it a criminal offense to show disrespect toward national symbols, including the flag and anthem. Offenders are liable to prosecution.

Authorities confirmed that efforts are underway to apprehend the second individual seen in the video, who is believed to still be in the country.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen condemned the actions, ordering the immediate arrest, prosecution, and deportation of the culprits. Somalia’s Ambassador to Kenya, Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle, also denounced the acts.

“Hatutakubali mtu yeyote, iwe Mkenya ama mgeni, kucheza na uhuru wetu and our symbols of national unity, including our national flag. So, bwana IG, take the necessary legal action. Let the law take its course,” Murkomen said, stressing that Kenya must protect its national symbols.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja echoed the directive, instructing the DCI to move swiftly in apprehending the suspects. “Bendera yetu lazima iheshimiwe,” he said, insisting that the Kenyan flag, a symbol won through the struggle for independence, must never be disrespected.

The DCI confirmed it is acting under direct instructions from the Inspector General to bring the remaining suspect before a court of law.

Source: citizen.digital.com

French Navy seizes nearly 10 tonnes of cocaine off West African coast

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French Navy seizes nearly 10 tonnes of cocaine off West African coast

DAKAR, Senegal (BN24) — The French navy has seized nearly 10 tonnes of cocaine off the coast of West Africa, authorities said Tuesday, in one of the region’s largest maritime drug interceptions this year.

Acting on intelligence from French and international anti-narcotics agencies, including the British National Crime Agency, two French naval vessels intercepted an unflagged fishing boat on Monday in the Gulf of Guinea. The operation, conducted as part of France’s long-running Operation Corymbe, uncovered approximately 9.6 tonnes of cocaine with an estimated street value of $610 million (€570 million).

French naval officials said the seizure highlights the increasing role of the Gulf of Guinea as a major transit corridor for South American cocaine en route to Europe. The French Atlantic Maritime Prefecture described the operation as a “remarkable seizure” made possible through “seamless cooperation by national and international actors.”

Since the beginning of the year, roughly 54 tonnes of drugs have been seized in the region, reflecting a surge in global trafficking activity and the strategic use of West African waters by international drug cartels.

The intercepted vessel was reportedly operating without a flag, a tactic frequently employed by traffickers to avoid detection. French authorities have not yet disclosed the number of arrests or the nationality of those aboard.

The seizure comes as the Gulf of Guinea remains a focal point for maritime security operations. While the area was previously known for piracy, once surpassing Somalia as the world’s most dangerous maritime zone, increased international naval presence has shifted focus to combating organized crime, particularly drug smuggling.

The record for the largest cocaine seizure in the region remains the 10.7 tonnes confiscated by French forces in March 2024. However, this latest bust underscores the persistent and growing challenge of intercepting narcotics in increasingly complex smuggling networks across West African waters.

Operation Corymbe has maintained a near-continuous French naval presence in the Gulf of Guinea since 1990. Its mission, initially aimed at deterring piracy, now plays a central role in joint international efforts to curtail maritime drug trafficking routes from Latin America to Europe.

French authorities reaffirmed their commitment to securing maritime trade routes and intensifying cooperation with regional and international partners in the fight against global narcotics trafficking.

Former French President Sarkozy sentenced to 5 years over Libya funding case

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Former French President Sarkozy sentenced to 5 years over Libya funding case

PARIS (BN24) — Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of criminal conspiracy in a long-running investigation into alleged illicit campaign financing from Libya’s late leader, Muammar Gaddafi.

A Paris criminal court ruled Thursday that Sarkozy, 70, conspired with associates to solicit millions of euros from the Gaddafi regime to fund his successful 2007 presidential campaign. The court acquitted him of passive corruption and illegal campaign financing but found sufficient evidence to convict him of criminal conspiracy, handing down a custodial sentence and a €100,000 ($117,000) fine.

Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, has consistently denied wrongdoing and denounced the charges as politically motivated. Following the verdict, he called the ruling “extremely serious for the rule of law” and confirmed plans to appeal. However, under French law, the five-year sentence remains enforceable during the appeal process, meaning Sarkozy could soon become the first former president in modern French history to serve jail time.

“If they absolutely want me to sleep in jail, I will sleep in jail, but with my head held high,” Sarkozy said outside the courthouse.

The dramatic conclusion to the high-profile trial marks a stunning reversal for the former president, once seen as a dominant figure in French and European politics. During the hearing, presiding judge Nathalie Gavarino said Sarkozy knowingly allowed key aides to establish contact with Libyan officials to secure financial backing. However, the court did not find enough evidence proving that Sarkozy directly received or benefited from the funds.

The case stems from allegations first raised in 2011 by Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the former Libyan dictator. He accused Sarkozy of accepting millions in undeclared cash to fund his presidential bid. A year later, Franco-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine, long linked to arms deals and Franco-Arab ties, claimed he had documentary evidence of €50 million in payments from Tripoli to Sarkozy’s campaign — claims that sparked a decade-long investigation.

While Sarkozy avoided conviction on the campaign finance charge, two of his former cabinet members were not spared. Claude Guéant, Sarkozy’s former interior minister and close confidant, was found guilty of corruption. Another former minister, Brice Hortefeux, was convicted of criminal conspiracy.

Sarkozy’s legal woes extend beyond the Libya case. In February 2024, he was found guilty of overspending in his 2012 re-election campaign and using a public relations firm to cover it up. He received a one-year sentence, with six months suspended. In 2021, he became the first former French president convicted of attempting to bribe a judge and was allowed to serve that sentence under house arrest with an electronic tag.

Adding to the legal drama, his wife, Italian-born singer and former model Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, was charged in 2024 with concealing evidence and associating with individuals involved in the Gaddafi case. She has denied all charges.

While Sarkozy’s lawyers prepare their appeal, the court’s ruling has already sent shockwaves through France’s political landscape, marking another chapter in the fall of a once-powerful figure now facing the reality of incarceration.

Palestinian president says ready to work with Trump for two-state peace plan

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Palestinian president says ready to work with Trump for two-state peace plan

UNITED NATIONS (BN24) — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he is prepared to cooperate with U.S. President Donald Trump and international powers to implement a two-state peace initiative announced by France, reiterating a vision for Palestinian statehood amid ongoing war in Gaza.

In a video address to the United Nations General Assembly, Abbas voiced strong support for the French-led proposal that includes a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages held by Hamas, and the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state governed by the Palestinian Authority (PA), excluding Hamas. He welcomed the initiative as a “path toward a just peace and comprehensive regional cooperation,” calling on international actors, including Saudi Arabia, France, and the UN, to help realize the plan.

Though he emphasized readiness to work with Trump, the United States has so far rejected the plan, citing concerns over Hamas’s role in the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people and triggered the war. The U.S. State Department recently revoked visas for Abbas and 80 other Palestinian officials, accusing them of undermining peace efforts and seeking “unilateral recognition of a conjectural Palestinian state.”

Abbas, 89, was thus barred from traveling to New York and appeared via video from Ramallah. Despite his limited physical presence, Abbas used the platform to press for full UN membership for Palestine and urged countries that have yet to recognize Palestinian statehood to follow the recent lead of nations including Canada, Australia, the UK, Portugal, France, Belgium, and Denmark.

While condemning Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza as “one of the most horrific humanitarian tragedies of the 20th and 21st Centuries,” Abbas also rejected Hamas’ actions, including its cross-border assault on Israel last year. Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reports more than 65,000 Palestinians have died in Israeli attacks since the conflict began, with approximately half being women and children.

The French peace framework, announced at a summit co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Arabia, proposes a phased resolution: an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, a transitional administration led by the PA, and the eventual establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Neither Israel nor the United States have endorsed the plan.

Despite that, Abbas pledged full Palestinian Authority responsibility for post-war governance in Gaza and called for the strip’s reintegration with the West Bank under a unified state. He also promised institutional reforms, vowing to hold presidential and parliamentary elections within one year of the war’s end, polls not seen since Hamas won legislative elections in 2006.

“We want a democratic, modern state committed to international law, rule of law, pluralism, peaceful transfer of power, and the empowerment of women and youth,” Abbas stated.

The remarks underscore growing diplomatic momentum behind Palestinian statehood, even as the conflict shows little sign of abating and internal Palestinian divisions continue. Hamas violently ousted Abbas’s Fatah party from Gaza in 2007, creating a deep political rift that still complicates prospects for unity and peace.

While key Western powers remain divided on the path forward, Abbas’s address signals a renewed push from Ramallah to position the Palestinian Authority—and not Hamas—as the legitimate interlocutor in any future resolution.

Amazon agrees to pay $2.5bn over claims it tricked Prime customers

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Amazon agrees to pay $2.5bn over claims it tricked Prime customers

SEATTLE (BN24) — Amazon has agreed to pay $2.5 billion to settle claims from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission that the tech giant deceived millions of customers into signing up for its Prime membership and created barriers that made canceling the service unnecessarily difficult.

The settlement, announced as a federal jury trial was already underway in Seattle, includes $1.5 billion in customer refunds and represents the largest civil penalty ever secured by the FTC. The agency alleged that Amazon used manipulative online interfaces—commonly referred to as “dark patterns” to push consumers toward unwanted Prime subscriptions during checkout, often without clearly presenting terms or offering a transparent option to decline.

FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson called the decision a significant step in holding tech firms accountable. “The evidence showed that Amazon used sophisticated subscription traps designed to manipulate consumers into enrolling in Prime, and then made it exceedingly hard for consumers to end their subscription,” Ferguson said. “Today, we are putting billions of dollars back into Americans’ pockets and making sure Amazon never does this again.”

Amazon, which did not admit wrongdoing as part of the agreement, has not yet publicly responded to the settlement. Under the terms, the company will be required to end practices that mislead users into thinking they are declining a service, such as presenting buttons labeled “No, I don’t want free shipping” when they are actually consenting to a Prime trial.

Prime, which offers benefits including free shipping and access to streaming content, currently costs $139 per year or $14.99 monthly in the U.S. and £95 annually in the U.K. According to the FTC, misleading tactics led millions to enroll in the service without informed consent. Consumers who used Prime benefits fewer than three times within a year will be automatically refunded. Those who used it fewer than ten times may still be eligible for a refund by filing a claim.

An estimated 35 million U.S. consumers affected between June 2019 and June 2025 may qualify for refunds of up to $51, based on FTC estimates.

Internal Amazon communications cited in the case revealed that company executives and staff were aware of the questionable nature of their subscription practices, with one document quoting an employee referring to “subscription driving” as “a bit of a shady world.”

The case, originally brought under the Biden administration during FTC Chair Lina Khan’s tenure, was seen as part of a broader push to regulate Big Tech. Ferguson, appointed earlier this year by President Donald Trump, has also taken a firm stance on tech industry practices.

As part of the agreement, Amazon will implement new systems to simplify the Prime cancellation process, removing misleading language and requiring clearer disclosures in its checkout design.

The settlement underscores the FTC’s increasing scrutiny of subscription-based services and highlights the legal risks facing major technology companies accused of undermining consumer rights through manipulative design.

UEFA faces pressure as calls grow to ban Israel from international soccer

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UEFA faces pressure as calls grow to ban Israel from international soccer

LONDON (BN24) — Top-level discussions are underway within European football over whether Israel should be banned from international competitions, amid intensifying pressure on governing bodies UEFA and FIFA. The talks come as global scrutiny mounts over Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which a United Nations inquiry has labeled as genocide — a claim the Israeli government strongly denies.

Sky News has learned that although no formal decision has been made, deliberations are active at UEFA regarding the future participation of Israel’s national and club teams. The debate has been fueled by a growing number of appeals from international human rights advocates, UN officials, and segments of the football community demanding sporting sanctions against Israel.

The latest push follows a report from a United Nations commission of inquiry accusing Israel of committing genocide during its military campaign in Gaza, nearly two years after the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. Alexandra Xanthaki, the UN Special Rapporteur for Cultural Rights, argued that national teams representing states accused of genocide cross a “red line” and should be subject to suspension from international competition.

UEFA and FIFA have previously resisted such demands but have yet to respond to the most recent calls, which include a plea from a group of UN advisory experts. Public sentiment is also surfacing at football grounds across Europe. During a Europa League match this week between Greek side PAOK and Maccabi Tel Aviv, fans unfurled Palestinian flags and a banner reading “Show Israel the red card.” The match ended 0-0, but protests before and during the game led to several arrests in Thessaloniki, where Israeli fans were kept behind a police barrier and Maccabi’s team bus was escorted under heavy security.

In the UK, calls for action have extended to Premier League side Aston Villa, which is due to host Maccabi Tel Aviv in November. Ayoub Khan, the independent MP for Birmingham Hall Green, urged Villa to “take the high moral ground” and boycott the fixture, citing both ethical concerns and potential security risks for local communities.

“It’s not just about football,” Khan told Sky News. “It’s about the safety of local businesses, the community, and the risk of clashes between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel activists.”

The issue has become deeply divisive. While activists and political figures press for Israel’s exclusion, legal advocates defending Israel’s participation argue that football teams should not be penalized for the actions of a state during wartime. Jonathan Turner, CEO of UK Lawyers for Israel, warned against what he called discriminatory treatment. “Unfortunately, there is destruction during a war,” he said. “But the Israeli Football Association and Maccabi Tel Aviv are not responsible for that destruction.”

Turner also drew a historical parallel, stating that many Jews perceive the push for sporting boycotts as reminiscent of Nazi-era boycotts of Jews.

The situation echoes UEFA’s decision in 2022 to ban Russia from international competition following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This precedent has intensified debate around whether football should adopt a moral stance on state actions in war.

UEFA has shown signs of acknowledging the humanitarian toll in Gaza, including a “Stop Killing Children” banner displayed at the UEFA Super Cup in August. Yet the question of whether football can or should take a definitive stand against Israel remains legally and politically fraught.

It is understood that some European clubs have privately raised concerns about playing Israeli teams, and UEFA is now weighing not just public and political pressure, but also the potential security risks and broader implications for the game.

Credit: Sky News

Messi scores twice as Inter Miami rout NYCFC 4-0 at Citi Field

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Messi scores twice as Inter Miami rout NYCFC 4-0 at Citi Field

NEW YORK (Sept. 23, 2025, BN24) — Lionel Messi put on a dazzling display in Queens on Wednesday night, scoring twice and adding an assist to lead Inter Miami to a 4-0 victory over New York City FC at Citi Field.

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) scores a goal against New York City FC goalkeeper Matt Freese (49) midfielder Aiden O’Neill during the second half of a MLS soccer game, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was at his clinical best, drawing loud roars from a crowd that had packed the stadium largely to see him. Messi orchestrated the attack from the start, setting up Baltasar Rodriguez with a perfectly timed through ball for Miami’s opening goal in the first half.

NYCFC battled to stay in the match and had opportunities of its own, but Miami’s firepower proved decisive after the break. Messi doubled the lead in the 74th minute with a delicate chip over goalkeeper Matt Freese, sparking a late scoring surge. Nine minutes later, Luis Suárez converted a penalty to make it 3-0, before Messi struck again in the 86th with a slaloming solo finish that sealed the emphatic win.

The scoreline suggested Miami had controlled the match from start to finish, but much of the contest was tightly contested until Messi’s brilliance opened the floodgates. For Inter Miami, the victory underscored what the team can achieve with Messi at full flight and Suárez back from suspension.

With just five games left in the regular season, Miami’s ambitions remain high. Messi’s latest performance bolstered his push for the league’s MVP award, while the team showed it can overwhelm even strong opponents like NYCFC when its stars are in rhythm.

The Herons will now look to carry that momentum into the final stretch of the campaign, confident that with Messi leading the way, few in Major League Soccer can keep pace.

White House orders agencies to draft mass firing plans ahead of possible shutdown – Politico

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White House orders agencies to draft mass firing plans ahead of possible shutdown – Politico

WASHINGTON (Sept. 23, 2025) — The Trump administration is directing federal agencies to prepare plans for permanent job cuts if the government shuts down next week, escalating the stakes of the funding standoff in Washington.

In a memo obtained by POLITICO and confirmed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), agencies were instructed to draft reduction-in-force (RIF) plans that would go beyond standard furloughs, targeting employees in programs that would lose discretionary funding after Oct. 1 and that President Donald Trump does not consider consistent with his policy priorities.

The memo marks a sharp departure from recent shutdowns, when furloughs were temporary and employees typically returned once Congress restored funding. This time, OMB Director Russ Vought made clear that permanent cuts are on the table if lawmakers fail to reach a deal.

“Programs that did not benefit from an infusion of mandatory appropriations will bear the brunt of a shutdown,” OMB wrote in the guidance. Agencies were ordered to identify which operations would be forced to close and to issue termination notices even to employees who might otherwise be exempt from furloughs.

Essential services such as Social Security, Medicare, veterans benefits, military operations, law enforcement, air traffic control, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection would continue to operate regardless of a shutdown, according to an OMB official.

The guidance comes as negotiations between Republicans and Democrats remain deadlocked, with the Sept. 30 deadline looming. The House passed a stopgap bill to fund the government until Nov. 21, but Senate Democrats have blocked it, insisting on bipartisan talks that could include an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies.

OMB noted that if Congress approves a clean temporary funding bill before the deadline, the mass firing plans would not be implemented.

The move appeared to validate earlier warnings from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who has argued that the administration is using the threat of a shutdown as a way to weaken federal agencies. On Wednesday, after details of the memo were reported, Schumer dismissed it as “an attempt at intimidation” and predicted the firings would either be reversed in court or rolled back by the administration.

“This is nothing new and has nothing to do with funding the government,” Schumer said. “These unnecessary firings will either be overturned in court or the administration will end up hiring the workers back, just like they did as recently as today.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, however, urged voters to take the threat seriously, warning in a post on X that the administration’s actions would punish federal workers and families already strained by tariffs and inflation.

“Their goal is to ruin your life and punish hardworking families,” Jeffries wrote, addressing residents in Virginia, where thousands of federal employees live and where state elections are approaching. “Remember in November.”

The White House has not publicly commented on the memo.

Neymar slams 2025 Ballon D’Or rankings as ‘Absolute Joke’

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Neymar slams 2025 Ballon D’Or rankings as ‘Absolute Joke’

PARIS (BN24) — Brazilian forward Neymar has criticized the 2025 Ballon d’Or results, calling Raphinha’s fifth-place finish “an absolute joke” despite the Barcelona winger’s prolific season.

The annual award ceremony, held Monday night at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, saw Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé crowned the Ballon d’Or winner. Dembélé was honored after a standout season in which he played a pivotal role in PSG’s historic run to their first-ever UEFA Champions League title.

Raphinha, 28, was instrumental in Barcelona’s domestic treble, finishing the 2024–25 season with 38 goals and 23 assists in 66 matches across all competitions. His contributions led the Catalan club to victories in La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.

Despite those numbers, Raphinha was placed fifth in the final Ballon d’Or rankings, a decision that Neymar, a former PSG and Barcelona player, did not take lightly. He voiced his frustration on social media shortly after the results were announced, writing that the ranking was “a joke.”

Neymar’s comment has reignited conversations around the transparency and fairness of Ballon d’Or voting, especially concerning Brazilian players. He himself finished ninth in 2020, while fellow Brazilian Vinícius Júnior came second in 2024 behind Manchester City midfielder Rodri, despite an acclaimed season with Real Madrid.

The debate adds to longstanding scrutiny over how performances are weighed in the selection process and whether non-European players are consistently overlooked or undervalued.

2025 Ballon d’Or Men’s Top 5

Ousmane Dembélé (PSG)

Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)

Vitinha (PSG)

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Raphinha (Barcelona)



France authorities arrests teen after knife attack on music teacher

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France authorities arrests teen after knife attack on music teacher

BENFELD, France (BN24) — A 14-year-old student was arrested Wednesday after allegedly stabbing his 66-year-old music teacher in the face in a classroom in Benfeld, a small town located near Strasbourg in eastern France. Authorities confirmed that the teacher’s injuries, while serious, were not life-threatening.

The incident, which unfolded earlier this week, has shocked the local community and reignited concerns over rising violence in French schools. Police said that when they arrived at the scene, the teenager, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, inflicted multiple self-inflicted knife wounds and was subsequently rushed by helicopter to a hospital in Strasbourg after experiencing a cardio-respiratory arrest. His condition remains critical.

The motive for the attack remains unclear, with the local gendarmerie indicating that they are still investigating. Education Minister Elisabeth Borne, responding to the incident, said she was immediately heading to the scene to assess the situation and offer support.

An education authority spokesperson told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the teenager had struggled academically, with poor school results leading the school’s staff to work closely with him in an attempt to address his difficulties. The spokesperson did not indicate any prior history of violent behavior but emphasized that the educational team had been actively involved in providing support.

Jacky Wolfarth, the mayor of Benfeld, a town of around 6,000 residents, described the incident as “isolated,” expressing disbelief over the violent outburst at the local school. Jean-Remi Girard, president of the SNALC teachers’ union, expressed concern over the mental health of students, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that lockdowns and prolonged isolation had taken a toll on students’ well-being, contributing to erratic behavior.

“We know that pupils can sometimes go crazy,” Girard said, pointing to the lasting effects of the pandemic on students’ mental health. He also dismissed the idea of implementing drastic measures like metal detectors in schools, saying there was no “miracle solution” to the problem.

This attack follows a series of violent incidents in French schools in recent months, raising questions about safety and security in classrooms. In response, some schools have implemented more stringent measures, including bag checks for students entering school grounds. Despite these efforts, the frequency of such incidents has alarmed educators and parents alike.

As the investigation continues, French authorities are reviewing the events leading up to the attack, while also looking into the broader issue of student mental health and the challenges schools face in providing adequate support for troubled students.

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