ISTANBUL (BN24) — Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen has etched his name into history, becoming the country’s all-time top scorer in the UEFA Champions League after scoring for Galatasaray in their 1-0 win over Liverpool on Tuesday.
The Super Eagles striker converted a 16th-minute penalty, taking his tally in the competition to 10 goals, surpassing the previous record of nine set by Nigerian legend Obafemi Martins, who starred for Inter Milan and Newcastle United.
Osimhen’s Champions League journey began in 2019 with French side Lille, where he netted his first goal against Chelsea. His move to Napoli saw his continental tally grow, and now with Galatasaray, he has reached double figures, solidifying his place as one of Africa’s most lethal forwards in Europe’s premier club competition.
The 24-year-old’s rise in European football has been meteoric. In addition to his Champions League exploits, Osimhen has been a standout performer in domestic leagues. He became the first African to win the Serie A Golden Boot, scoring 26 goals for Napoli during the 2022/23 season. In the same year, Osimhen was named the CAF African Footballer of the Year, making history as the first Nigerian to win the prestigious award since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.
Osimhen’s landmark goal against Liverpool is just the latest chapter in his extraordinary career. As he continues to break records and win accolades, his legacy in Nigerian football is only growing stronger.
Washington (BN24) – The U.S. government officially shut down at midnight after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to reach an agreement on extending federal funding, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal workers facing furloughs or working without pay. The closure marks the first government shutdown since Trump’s first term in 2018, when the impasse lasted a record 34 days into early 2019.
The standoff has paralyzed Washington, with Democrats and Republicans locked in a bitter dispute over health care funding and budget priorities. Democrats are demanding renewed federal subsidies for health insurance and assurances that Trump will not continue withholding congressionally approved spending. Republicans, meanwhile, insist on a “clean” temporary funding bill with no additional provisions, accusing Democrats of holding the government “hostage.”
Despite Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress, Senate rules requiring 60 votes for passage meant bipartisan support was necessary. On Tuesday, both a GOP-backed measure and a Democratic proposal failed in the Senate just hours before the deadline. Three Senate Democrats—John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Angus King of Maine, and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada—broke ranks to support the Republican plan, but it fell short of the necessary votes.
As the shutdown takes effect, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that about 750,000 federal employees will be furloughed each day, while essential workers such as TSA agents, air traffic controllers, law enforcement officers, and military personnel will continue to work without pay. Although employees are legally entitled to back pay when the government reopens, the CBO projected that compensation for furloughed workers alone will cost taxpayers about $400 million.
National parks will remain partially open, though services will be limited. Social Security and Medicare benefits will continue unaffected, but new applications could face delays. Airports, hospitals, and federal agencies are bracing for disruptions as the shutdown drags on.
The White House has shown little sign of compromise. Administration officials argue Democrats will ultimately face public backlash for refusing to approve temporary funding. “It’ll be hard for Democrats to explain why they are blocking a clean bill to keep the government open,” one White House official said. Trump himself suggested Tuesday that the shutdown could be an opportunity to dismiss “many” federal employees permanently.
Democratic leaders, however, insist Republicans are to blame for rejecting bipartisan negotiations. “Republicans are plunging America into a shutdown — rejecting bipartisan talks, pushing a partisan bill and risking Americans’ health care worst of all,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
The war of words has intensified, with the political battle extending beyond Capitol Hill. A White House meeting Monday between Trump, Schumer, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries yielded no progress, instead devolving into new hostilities. Hours later, Trump shared an artificial intelligence–generated video mocking the two Democrats, prompting Jeffries to call the president a coward.
Polling suggests both sides risk public backlash. A New York Times survey found that 26% of Americans would primarily blame Trump and Republicans for a shutdown, 19% would blame Democrats, while 33% said both sides equally. A Marist poll showed similar results, with 38% blaming Republicans, 27% Democrats, and 31% both parties.
Republican leaders have hinted that the political dynamics could shift once the economic pain of a shutdown sets in. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota said he expects cracks to appear among Democrats as pressure builds. “The cracks in the Democrats are already showing,” he told reporters.
Still, Democrats show no signs of backing down, with party leaders under pressure from their base to confront Trump aggressively in his second term. “The next time you have something to say about me, don’t cop out through a racist and fake AI video,” Jeffries said on the Capitol steps Tuesday. “When I’m back in the Oval Office, say it to my face.”
White House budget director Russell Vought instructed federal agencies hours before the deadline to “execute their plans for an orderly shutdown,” underscoring the administration’s expectation that the stalemate could last.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., predicted the impasse could extend at least into next week. “I don’t think anything’s going to happen until the House gets back,” he said. “Then people can sit down and find a way to get it done.”
With no negotiations scheduled, it remains unclear when the government will reopen, as both sides brace for a protracted battle over funding, health care, and Trump’s policies.
Manila (BN24) – At least 69 people have been confirmed dead after a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines, toppling buildings, cutting power, and trapping dozens under rubble in the coastal city of Bogo and surrounding towns in Cebu province. Authorities warned Wednesday that the toll could rise further as rescue efforts continued into the night.
The quake, one of the strongest to hit the region in more than a decade, struck late Tuesday at a shallow depth of just 5 kilometers (3 miles) off the coast of Cebu. Officials said the violent shaking caused widespread damage, collapsed homes, triggered landslides and left hospitals overwhelmed with patients.
Jane Abapo, of the regional Civil Defense office, said 69 deaths had been recorded by Wednesday morning, citing provincial disaster data still subject to validation. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council earlier said at least 150 people were injured, with dozens more still missing.
Rescuers used backhoes, cranes, and sniffer dogs to comb through collapsed buildings, while sporadic rain and damaged roads slowed operations. “We’re still in the golden hour of our search and rescue,” deputy civil defense administrator Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV told reporters, adding that reports continued to come in of people trapped under debris.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured survivors that the government was mobilizing resources for relief and recovery. “We are assessing the damage, we are assessing the needs,” he said while distributing aid on Masbate island, still recovering from a typhoon last week. The Philippine Coast Guard deployed a ship carrying dozens of doctors and nurses to Bogo City, near the epicenter, where hospitals were overrun with victims.
Local officials said children were among the dead. Mariano Martinez, mayor of nearby San Remigio, reported 11 casualties in his town, including a 12-year-old boy. In another incident, three coast guard personnel, a firefighter, and a child died when walls collapsed as they tried to escape a sports complex where residents had gathered.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) briefly issued a tsunami warning, advising people to move away from coastal areas of Cebu, Leyte, and Biliran. No waves were recorded, and the warning was lifted after three hours, but thousands of residents refused to return to their homes, instead sleeping in fields and parks under intermittent rain.
Officials reported more than 600 aftershocks, including one as strong as magnitude 6, and warned that more tremors were likely in the coming days. Phivolcs chief Teresito Bacolcol noted that rain-soaked mountainsides were particularly vulnerable to landslides after recent storms.
“This was really traumatic to people. They’ve been lashed by a storm, then jolted by an earthquake,” Bacolcol said.
Vice Mayor Alfie Reynes of San Remigio appealed for food, clean water, and heavy equipment to speed up rescue operations. “It is raining heavily and there is no electricity, so we really need help,” she said.
The quake damaged homes, schools, government buildings, and churches, including a century-old structure that collapsed in Cebu. While the Mactan-Cebu International Airport remained operational, power outages affected large swathes of the island.
Cebu province, home to 3.4 million people and one of the country’s top tourist destinations, is now bracing for aftershocks while authorities assess whether to request international assistance.
The Philippines, located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is among the world’s most disaster-prone nations. It endures frequent typhoons, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes, including two earlier this year that caused no casualties. In 2023, a 6.7-magnitude offshore quake killed eight people.
MANCHESTER, England (BN24) — A 14-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder as police continue to investigate the fatal stabbing of 15-year-old Mohanad Abdullaahi Goobe in the Moss Side area of Manchester earlier this month.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed on Tuesday that the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, remains in custody following his arrest. He is the third teenager detained in connection with the September 15 incident, which took place near Moss Lane East and Monton Street.
One teenage boy has already been charged with murder, while a second suspect was previously arrested and released on bail. The third suspect, aged 14, was taken into custody as detectives continue their inquiries into the attack that shocked the local community.
As the murder investigation progresses, detectives are urging witnesses or anyone with relevant footage to come forward. Investigators believe a separate incident occurred shortly before the fatal stabbing and may be linked. According to police, officers had responded to an earlier call at Whitworth Park just before 4 p.m.—roughly 30 minutes before Mohanad was attacked.
Due to the potential connection and the timeline of events, Greater Manchester Police has referred its handling of the initial incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), as required under mandatory referral procedures.
Detective Inspector Alex Wilkinson of GMP’s Major Incident Team said the force continues to support Mohanad’s family during what he described as a “tragic and heartbreaking” time.
“As an investigation team, our thoughts remain with the friends and family of Mohanad as we continue to support them while investigating his tragic death,” Wilkinson said. “One teenage boy has now been charged with murder. A second was previously arrested and released on bail, while a third remains in custody. However, our investigation is ongoing, and we are still appealing for any potential witnesses to come forward and help our enquiries.”
He added that any piece of information — no matter how small — could prove vital to the case. Detectives are particularly interested in dashcam or mobile phone footage from the area around the time of the attack.
Police are continuing to appeal for the public’s help as they work to piece together the full circumstances of the incident that led to Mohanad’s death.
LONDON (BN24) — Jose Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge ended in disappointment on Tuesday as his Benfica side suffered a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League. The loss came after a costly first-half own goal by Richard Rios.
Mourinho, whose two stints at Chelsea turned the club into a European powerhouse, had hoped to pull off a victory over his former team. However, an error from Ríos in the 18th minute proved decisive. Alejandro Garnacho’s cross from the left forced Ríos into a panicked clearance that looped into his own net, putting Chelsea ahead.
The match marked Mourinho’s first return to Stamford Bridge since leaving Chelsea for a second time in 2015. His tenure at Chelsea saw him win three Premier League titles and seven major trophies. However, since his departure, his visits to Stamford Bridge with other clubs have been less successful. His only victory in West London came in 2010, when he guided Inter Milan to a 1-0 win in the Champions League.
On Tuesday, Mourinho’s side started brightly. Vangelis Pavlidis and Dodi Lukebakio both tested Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez early in the match, but their efforts were either saved or denied by the post. Despite controlling much of the play in the opening minutes, Benfica was punished by Ríos’s unfortunate mistake.
After the goal, Mourinho’s side struggled to find a way back into the game. While Chelsea failed to extend their lead, Tyrique George missed a good chance just before halftime, Benfica’s attacking play lacked the sharpness required to break down Chelsea’s defense in the second half.
Mourinho, known for his fiery demeanor, did attempt to quell tensions when Benfica fans threw objects at Chelsea captain Enzo Fernandez. The Portuguese manager walked along the touchline, urging supporters to stop the barrage, which appeared to defuse the situation.
Despite the late drama, which included a red card for Chelsea’s Joao Pedro for a high boot on Leandro Barreiro, the scoreline remained unchanged. Mourinho, visibly frustrated by his team’s inability to capitalize on their opportunities, could do little to prevent his first loss as Benfica manager.
Chelsea, meanwhile, bounced back from recent setbacks. After losing three of their last four games, the 1-0 victory will provide a boost to manager Enzo Maresca, whose team had struggled for consistency early this season.
The win lifts Chelsea’s confidence as they look to regain momentum in both the Premier League and Europe. For Mourinho, it was a painful reminder of the challenges ahead as he looks to turn Benfica’s fortunes around.
MILAN (BN24) — The historic San Siro stadium is set to be demolished after Milan city council approved its €197 million ($231 million) sale to Inter and AC Milan in a contentious overnight vote, ending years of uncertainty over the future of one of football’s most iconic venues.
After more than 11 hours of debate that stretched into the early hours of Tuesday, the measure passed with 24 votes in favor and 20 against. The approval allows the two Serie A clubs, both owned by American investment funds, to purchase the stadium and over 28 hectares (70 acres) of surrounding land in the city’s western outskirts.
The deal clears the path for the construction of a new 71,500-seat stadium just west of the current San Siro, on land now used for matchday parking and a local park. Foster and Partners will design the new arena in collaboration with MANICA. Once completed, San Siro, nicknamed “football’s La Scala,” will be almost entirely demolished, replaced by new parkland, office spaces, and entertainment venues.
The clubs plan to continue playing at San Siro until 2031, when they expect to move into the new stadium. The timeline is critical: the sale must be finalized before November 10, when a public building protection order would prevent demolition of the existing structure.
The vote follows years of delays and a failed attempt in 2023 to redevelop the site while keeping it under public ownership. In March, the clubs proposed a full purchase of the land, prompting city officials to reconsider their stance under pressure from the teams, which had previously explored relocating to suburban sites.
Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala, who backed the proposal, secured a majority with help from the abstention of councillors from Forza Italia, the center-right party founded by the late Silvio Berlusconi, a former Italian prime minister and ex-AC Milan owner.
However, the resolution sparked sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. Opponents, including members of the hard-right League and Brothers of Italy, as well as dissenters within Sala’s own left-leaning majority, accused city leadership of bypassing public scrutiny and failing to provide development details. Others argued the sale price was too low for such valuable real estate.
Despite the backlash, the decision is likely to be welcomed by the Italian football federation (FIGC), as Milan is among the potential host cities for Euro 2032, which Italy will co-host with Turkey. The FIGC must submit its final list of five stadiums to UEFA by October 2026, and construction must begin by March 2027. Currently, only Juventus’ Allianz Stadium in Turin meets UEFA’s infrastructure criteria.
The San Siro has long been a symbol of Italian football and European nights, serving as home to both Inter and AC Milan since 1947. While its demolition marks the end of an era, club officials say the new venue will be vital to modernizing their operations and securing their future in an increasingly competitive football landscape.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (BN24) — The Royal Spanish Football Federation has officially announced the semi-final matchups for the 2025 Spanish Super Cup, with defending champions Barcelona set to play Athletic Club and arch-rivals Real Madrid facing Atletico Madrid in an all-Madrid derby.
The tournament will take place once again in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from January 7 to 11, with all matches scheduled at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. This venue has become a familiar setting for the competition since its international expansion.
Barcelona, under the guidance of head coach Hansi Flick, returns as title holders following a dominant 5-2 victory over Real Madrid in last season’s final. That result not only secured the Super Cup but also completed a historic Treble for the Catalan club, who also claimed the LaLiga title and Copa del Rey in the same campaign. It marked a significant achievement in Flick’s debut season, further strengthening Barcelona’s pedigree in the restructured competition.
Athletic Club, Barcelona’s semi-final opponents, will be aiming to upset the holders and add to their storied history in Spanish football. Athletic were Copa del Rey finalists, earning them a place in this year’s Super Cup lineup under the revised format.
On the other side of the draw, the Madrid derby between Real and Atletico adds extra spice to the tournament. Real Madrid, runners-up in last season’s final and LaLiga campaign, will look to bounce back after falling short in 2024. Atletico, meanwhile, enter with renewed ambition to lift silverware early in the new year, seeking to repeat their 2020 triumph when the Super Cup was last held in Saudi Arabia.
The Spanish Super Cup adopted its current four-team format in 2019, expanding from a traditional two-club contest between the league and cup winners to include both finalists from the Copa del Rey and the top two finishers in LaLiga. The move was intended to increase competitiveness and commercial value, including taking the event abroad to reach a wider international audience.
Saudi Arabia has hosted the tournament several times since the revamp, part of a broader partnership between the Spanish football federation and the Saudi government to promote the game in the Gulf region. Despite criticism from some quarters, the arrangement has persisted, bringing some of Spain’s biggest footballing names to a growing Middle Eastern fanbase.
With historic rivalries on full display and major titles on the line, the 2025 edition of the Spanish Super Cup promises to be another high-stakes chapter in the evolving saga of Spanish football. The final will be played on January 11, following the two semi-final fixtures earlier that week.
As the countdown begins, attention will shift to Riyadh, where four of Spain’s elite clubs will battle for the first trophy of the calendar year.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan (BN24) — Kylian Mbappé scored a sensational hat-trick as Real Madrid cruised to a 5-0 victory over Kazakhstan’s Kairat in their second UEFA Champions League group stage match on Tuesday at the Kassym-Jomart Stadium.
The French forward opened the scoring in the 26th minute, calmly converting from the penalty spot after Madrid began to assert control in the early stages. Despite dominating possession, the Spanish giants struggled to double their advantage in the first half as Kairat goalkeeper Sherkhan Kalmurza produced a string of fine saves to keep the home side in contention.
Kalmurza denied Rodrygo twice in quick succession and parried away a long-range strike from Jude Bellingham in first-half stoppage time, keeping the scoreline respectable heading into the break.
However, the second half saw Madrid’s attacking firepower come alive. Mbappé netted his second in the 56th minute with a deft lob over the advancing Kalmurza, showcasing his clinical finishing and sharp movement inside the box. The 26-year-old completed his hat-trick in the 75th minute, latching onto a through ball before slotting home to seal a dominant personal performance.
Brahim Díaz added a fifth in the third minute of injury time, smashing in from close range after an assist by Gonzalo García to round off a ruthless display from the visitors. Madrid’s offensive depth was evident throughout, with multiple efforts striking the frame of the goal and the team creating scoring chances almost at will.
With the victory, Real Madrid moved to the top of their group with six points from two matches. The 14-time European champions now lead the table ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt, who sit on three points but have a game in hand.
The win reinforced Madrid’s credentials as serious contenders in this season’s Champions League, with new signing Mbappé continuing to impress as the focal point of the club’s new-look attack.
Javi Alonsoa’s side will now turn their attention to the upcoming domestic fixtures before facing stiffer European tests in the weeks ahead.
CHERNECHCHYNA, Ukraine (BN24) — A Russian drone strike overnight killed an entire Ukrainian family in the northeastern Sumy region, according to local officials, as Moscow intensifies its aerial attacks across the country.
Oleh Hryhorov, the regional governor of Sumy, said a residential building in the village of Chernechchyna was directly hit during a wave of drone assaults. Emergency responders later recovered the bodies of two young boys, ages four and six, alongside their mother and father, from the ruins.
“This is a tragedy that we will never forget or forgive,” Hryhorov wrote Tuesday morning on Telegram, accusing Russian forces of deliberately targeting the civilian home.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported that two residential buildings were partially destroyed in the strike. Photos shared by the agency showed firefighters battling flames in the aftermath of the attack.
The Ukrainian Air Force said it intercepted 46 of the 65 drones launched overnight, but acknowledged that 19 drones struck six different regions directly. Russia’s Defense Ministry, while not commenting on the Sumy incident, claimed it had destroyed 81 Ukrainian drones over five of its own regions in the same period. No casualties were reported in those cases.
The deadly attack comes amid a sharp escalation in Russia’s use of drones and missiles in recent weeks. Ukrainian officials have pleaded for increased Western support, particularly in the form of advanced air defense systems capable of repelling near-daily attacks.
Kyiv has also intensified its calls for long-range weapons, arguing that the ability to strike deep into Russian territory could cripple Moscow’s military-industrial infrastructure and force President Vladimir Putin into serious negotiations.
Last week, U.S. Vice President JD Vance confirmed that Washington is considering Ukraine’s request for Tomahawk cruise missiles, which would place major Russian cities, including Moscow, within range.
In Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Tuesday that the EU and Ukraine had agreed to allocate €2 billion ($2.1 billion) toward drone technology. “This allows Ukraine to scale up and to use its full capacity. And of course, it will also allow the European Union to benefit from this technology,” she said.
The war in Ukraine, now well into its third year following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, shows little sign of resolution. Western leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and top European officials, have repeatedly pushed for a ceasefire, but Putin continues to reject those calls. Kyiv and its allies accuse Moscow of using peace overtures as cover for continued military gains.
As Russian forces press slowly forward on the battlefield, often incurring high casualties, the toll on civilians continues to mount — with the loss of an entire family in Sumy now standing as another grim chapter in the war’s unfolding tragedy.
Washington (BN24) – President Donald Trump announced the upcoming launch of a new federal website called TrumpRx, a direct-to-consumer platform that will allow Americans to purchase prescription drugs at discounted rates. The announcement came Tuesday, September 30, as part of a broader agreement reached between the White House and Pfizer, the first pharmaceutical company to commit to lowering drug prices under Trump’s push for most-favored-nation pricing.
Trump said the new initiative will make prescription medications more affordable by allowing patients, particularly those in Medicaid, to buy medicines directly online from the government without relying on foreign alternatives. “It increases transparency; in many instances, prices are 80% lower than they are today,” said Chris Klomp, Medicare Director and Deputy Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
According to the White House, “virtually all drugs” will be available on TrumpRx, including Pfizer treatments such as Eucrisa, Duavee, Zavzpret and Xeljanz. Pfizer pledged to cut the prices of most of its primary care drugs by an average of 50% and up to 85% in some cases. For example, Duavee, a menopause drug that typically costs more than $200 for 30 tablets, will be priced around $30.
TrumpRx is expected to launch in early 2026 and will be operated by the federal government. Trump said the site will not only reduce costs for low-income Americans covered by Medicaid but will also serve the uninsured. He emphasized that future agreements with other drugmakers will expand access and create a competitive market for prescription drugs in the U.S.
Still, health policy experts have raised doubts about the program’s reach. Stacie Dusetzina, a professor at Vanderbilt University, said the site is “not going to help the average person,” particularly those who obtain their medications through employer-based insurance or Medicare. “This is good PR for drug companies, but it won’t address the broader issue of tariffs, which could drive prices up for consumers,” she said.
Drew Altman, president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, echoed that concern, noting that the Trump-Pfizer deal is limited to a single company and does not address the broader industry. He added that the rollout comes as the Trump administration continues to push for 100% tariffs on pharmaceuticals made overseas, which could reshape the market.
The deal also secured Pfizer a three-year grace period on those tariffs, provided it increases domestic manufacturing and invests in U.S.-based production. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla confirmed the company will commit billions in investment over the next three years to meet the administration’s conditions.
Despite the skepticism, Trump hailed the initiative as a major step in reshaping the pharmaceutical industry. “The United States is done subsidizing healthcare for the rest of the world,” he said, pledging more agreements with other companies in the coming months.
