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Asylum seeker in UK convicted of sex assault on teen, case ignited protests over immigration

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Asylum seeker in UK convicted of sex assault on teen, case ignited protests over immigration

LONDON (BN24) — An Ethiopian asylum seeker whose arrest triggered angry protests outside a migrant hotel near London has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and another woman, in a case that fueled nationwide tensions over immigration.

Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, who had been living at the Bell Hotel in Epping, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) north of London, was convicted Thursday at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on multiple counts, including sexually assaulting the girl and the woman, attempting to sexually assault the teenager, inciting her to engage in sexual activity, and harassment.

The assaults in July sparked protests that at times turned violent outside the hotel, which was being used to house asylum seekers. Demonstrations soon spread to other parts of the country as immigration debates intensified. The case has since become emblematic of the wider political battle over Britain’s record number of asylum claims and rising arrivals of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats.

Prosecutors said Kebatu first approached the 14-year-old on July 7 after she offered him pizza because he appeared hungry. He then tried to kiss her, placed his hand on her thigh, and told her he wanted to have a baby with her and her friend before inviting them back to the hotel. The following day, he again tried to kiss the girl while she was wearing her school uniform.

“This was an incident which became a cause of deep concern for the local community,” prosecutor Rebecca Mundy told the court.

District Judge Christopher Williams said the teenager had remained consistent throughout her testimony and dismissed Kebatu’s claims that the girl and other witnesses fabricated their accounts.

Kebatu denied the allegations, insisting he was “not a wild animal.” He told the court he had previously worked as a teacher in Ethiopia and claimed the woman involved had given him her phone number and invited him to her home.

His arrest immediately drew crowds of demonstrators outside the Bell Hotel. Local officials sought a temporary injunction to prevent asylum seekers from being housed there, but the order was overturned last week following a government appeal.

Opposition politicians accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government of prioritizing the rights of migrants over community concerns. The protests added fuel to a heated national debate in which immigration has overtaken economic concerns as the country’s dominant political issue.

More than 32,000 asylum seekers are currently housed in hotels across Britain, according to government figures through the end of June. The government has pledged to end the practice by the next general election, which must be held no later than 2029.

North Korea erases traces of Kim Jong Un after Beijing meeting with Putin

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North Korea erases traces of Kim Jong Un after Beijing meeting with Putin

BEIJING (BN24) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s staff were seen meticulously wiping down and removing every item he touched after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing, a practice analysts say underscores Pyongyang’s extreme security measures to prevent foreign intelligence agencies from gathering clues about Kim’s health.

Footage shared on Telegram by Kremlin reporter Alexander Yunashev showed two North Korean aides carefully scrubbing the backrest and armrests of Kim’s chair, along with a coffee table beside him, immediately after the two leaders concluded more than two hours of talks. Kim’s drinking glass was also discreetly taken away.

“After the negotiations were over, the staff accompanying the head of the DPRK carefully destroyed all traces of Kim’s presence,” Yunashev wrote.

Despite the display of camaraderie between Kim and Putin, the images highlighted Pyongyang’s long-standing policy of shielding its leader from even the smallest possibility of foreign intelligence collection. Kim has consistently traveled abroad with his own toilet facilities — transported aboard his signature green armored train — to avoid leaving behind biological samples, according to South Korean and Japanese intelligence cited by Japan’s Nikkei newspaper.

Michael Madden, a North Korea leadership expert at the U.S.-based Stimson Center, said such precautions have been routine since the rule of Kim’s father, Kim Jong Il. “The special toilet and the requisite garbage bags of detritus, waste and cigarette butts are so that a foreign intelligence agency, even a friendly one, does not acquire a sample and test it,” Madden explained. “It would provide insight into any medical conditions affecting Kim Jong Un. This can include hair and skin tags.”

Kim’s protective measures have been documented before. After his 2019 Hanoi summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, Kim’s guards were seen sealing off the floor of his hotel and thoroughly cleaning the room for hours, even removing the mattress from his bed. In 2018, when he met South Korean President Moon Jae-in, his security detail sprayed down chairs and a desk with sanitizer before Kim sat.

More recently, before a 2023 summit with Putin, Kim’s guards wiped down his chair with disinfectant and checked it with a metal detector to ensure no surveillance or harmful device had been placed.

After their private meeting in Beijing, Kim and Putin were seen sharing tea before bidding each other a warm farewell, a rare moment of public camaraderie between two leaders whose cooperation has deepened amid rising tensions with the West.

2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Lesotho threatens protest over South Africa’s use of ineligible player

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2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Lesotho threatens protest over South Africa’s use of ineligible player

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (BN24) — Tensions are escalating in Group C of the African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as Lesotho has issued a stern warning to South Africa ahead of their upcoming clash on Friday, September 5. The dispute centers around the continued involvement of midfielder Teboho Mokoena, whose eligibility has become a point of serious contention.

The Lesotho Football Association (LFA), through its Secretary-General Mokhosi Mohapi, has publicly stated that it will protest if Mokoena is fielded by Bafana Bafana during the match scheduled at the Free State Stadium. Mokoena, who plays domestically for Mamelodi Sundowns, was controversially included in South Africa’s lineup during their 2-0 win over Lesotho earlier this year—despite reportedly accumulating two yellow cards that should have ruled him out of that fixture.

According to FIFA regulations, a player who receives two yellow cards in separate matches is automatically suspended for the following game. South Africa could have faced a three-point deduction had Lesotho lodged a formal protest within the required 24-hour window after the match in question. However, no official action was taken at the time.

Mohapi maintains that the issue is not closed. Speaking to Soccer Beat, he made it clear that Lesotho is prepared to act if the player appears again, hinting at an in-match protest that would take place shortly after kickoff.

“If South Africa dare play Teboho Mokoena, we will lodge a protest and will tell you why,” Mohapi said. “We will lodge a protest which goes back to the other match, because he has never served the suspension that he was meant to have served. Against Bafana, we are going to wait three minutes into the match and then protest.”

This brewing controversy casts a long shadow over what is already a high-stakes encounter in the African World Cup qualifying campaign. Both Lesotho and South Africa are locked in a fierce battle for top positions in Group C, with qualification to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada hanging in the balance.

The possibility of disciplinary action or a points deduction could dramatically alter the standings, making this fixture—and the protest threat—a pivotal moment in the group. As kickoff approaches, all eyes will be on the team sheets and on-field developments in Bloemfontein, where football and regulatory scrutiny are set to collide.

Over 13,000 Ghanaians flee to Côte d’Ivoire amid deadly Gbiniyiri land dispute, Interior Minister confirms

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Over 13,000 Ghanaians flee to Côte d’Ivoire amid deadly Gbiniyiri land dispute, Interior Minister confirms

ACCRA, Ghana (BN24) — Ghana’s Interior Minister, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, has confirmed that 13,253 Ghanaians have fled into Côte d’Ivoire in the wake of deadly land-related clashes in Gbiniyiri, a community in the country’s Savannah Region.

Speaking on Accra-based Joy FM on Thursday morning, September 4, 2025, the minister said the figure had been officially verified by both Ghanaian and Ivorian authorities, following days of intense violence in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District.

“The exact number confirmed by the authorities in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire is 13,253 have been displaced and they are there,” Mr. Muntaka stated, painting a grim picture of the escalating humanitarian crisis that has spilled across international borders.

The conflict, which erupted on Sunday, August 24, has so far claimed 31 lives and forced thousands to abandon their homes across at least 12 communities. The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) earlier estimated that over 48,000 people, predominantly women and children, have been affected. Of that number, approximately 14,000 are believed to have sought refuge in Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire, with Côte d’Ivoire receiving the highest influx.

Mr. Muntaka emphasized the government’s commitment to restoring calm and finding a sustainable resolution. He revealed that dialogue efforts involving traditional leaders, including the Gonjaland delegation, the National Peace Council, and the Yagbonwura, were already underway.

“This morning, the delegation of the Gonjaland leadership with the Peace Council is meeting the Yagbonwura. I’m very optimistic with the way we are working. Hopefully, by tomorrow or at least by Monday, we are setting up a committee to investigate all this and then come out with a report on how best we can avoid this from recurring,” he said.

The minister also raised concerns over food insecurity, warning that prolonged displacement and the abandonment of farmland could deepen economic hardship in the region.

“Many of them left their farms to the areas where they find themselves now. Their animals, their food, their farms—all those are left unattended. And if we don’t resolve this quickly, we are going to lead to a lot of food insecurity in that area,” he warned.

On security measures, Mr. Muntaka disclosed that over 700 military and police personnel had been deployed to the conflict zone, equipped and tasked with maintaining peace and preventing further escalation.

“Our men in uniform are there with their weapons. We have over 700 men, both military and police in that area, and we are helping to maintain peace and order,” he noted.

While tensions remain, the minister gave assurances that the situation had largely stabilised. “I assure you that it’s calm now, it’s almost normal. In the past, we’ve not had even a shooting incident… Yes, we have no casualty there. We are looking at the possibility of reducing all that as normal,” he added.

As Ghana works to de-escalate the crisis and resettle displaced families, both national and regional observers continue to monitor the unfolding situation, with growing calls for long-term land reform and conflict resolution strategies in the affected areas.

Brazilian Billionaire allegedly leaves entire £846 million fortune to soccer star Neymar despite never meeting him

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Brazilian Billionaire allegedly leaves entire £846 million fortune to soccer star Neymar despite never meeting him

SAO PAULO, Brazil (BN24) — Brazilian football star Neymar is at the center of a surprising inheritance claim after reports surfaced that a billionaire businessman, who had never met the player, allegedly named him sole heir to his estimated £846 million fortune.

According to Brazilian news outlet RIC, the man, whose identity remains undisclosed, formalized the will in an office in Porto Alegre. The document was reportedly authenticated on June 12 with the presence of two witnesses, and is now pending judicial review by Brazilian courts before any official transfer can be made. The court’s approval is essential before Neymar can be legally recognized as the billionaire’s heir.

The unusual decision has drawn national attention, particularly because the deceased businessman is believed to have had no children or immediate family. Local media suggest he chose Neymar out of a deep personal admiration for the 33-year-old forward, particularly citing the athlete’s strong family ties and his close relationship with his father, Neymar Sr.

“He identified with Neymar on a personal level,” a source told local media. “The way Neymar cherishes his father reminded him of the bond he had with his own late father.”

Despite the staggering sum attached to the inheritance, Neymar has not issued a public statement regarding the claim. Legal experts suggest the case could face several complications, as large inheritances without familial links often attract legal scrutiny and potential challenges from distant relatives or interested parties.

The forward, who made headlines earlier this year for his return to boyhood club Santos, remains a beloved figure in Brazil despite recent struggles on and off the pitch. After a brief and underwhelming stint with Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, Neymar rejoined Santos in January 2025, scoring three goals in 14 appearances during the second half of the season. It marked a homecoming for the player who originally burst onto the global stage with 136 goals in 225 matches for Santos between 2009 and 2013.

While the billionaire’s gift to Neymar may yet require extensive legal clearance, the story has already sparked widespread discussion across Brazil, adding yet another surprising chapter to the career of one of the nation’s most iconic athletes.

Giorgio Armani, legendary Italian fashion icon, dies at 91

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Giorgio Armani, legendary Italian fashion icon, dies at 91

MILAN, Italy (BN24) — Giorgio Armani, the legendary Italian fashion designer who redefined global style with his minimalist elegance and impeccable tailoring, has died at the age of 91, his company confirmed on Thursday.

In an official statement, the Armani Group expressed “infinite sorrow” over the passing of its founder and creative force. “With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder, and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani,” the company said.

Armani, affectionately known in Italy as “Re Giorgio” (King Giorgio), leaves behind a fashion empire valued at more than €2.3 billion. His revolutionary approach to fashion—marked by sleek, unstructured suits and a refined, understated aesthetic—cemented his status as the face of modern Italian elegance.

The designer had been unwell in recent months and notably missed Milan’s Men’s Fashion Week in June, the first time in his storied career he had ever skipped a show. His absence sparked concern in the fashion world, where his presence had been a constant for nearly five decades.

Armani’s influence extended far beyond the runway. Known for his perfectionism and hands-on involvement in every aspect of his brand, he personally shaped everything from design to advertising, maintaining a consistent vision that resonated worldwide. His suits became synonymous with power and sophistication, famously worn by Hollywood stars, world leaders, and fashion enthusiasts alike.

Born in Piacenza in 1934, Armani began his career in fashion after working as a window dresser and later as a designer for Nino Cerruti. He launched his own label in 1975, quickly gaining international acclaim. His clean lines and neutral palettes stood in stark contrast to the flamboyance of the era, offering a new kind of quiet luxury that changed the way people dressed—both in business and leisure.

A funeral chamber will be open in Milan this weekend, giving the public an opportunity to pay their respects to one of the most influential figures in fashion history. A private funeral will be held at a later date. As the world mourns the loss of a style icon, Giorgio Armani’s legacy will continue through the timeless elegance of his designs and the enduring power of the empire he built.

US designates two Ecuadorian gangs as foreign terrorist organizations

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US designates two Ecuadorian gangs as foreign terrorist organizations

QUITO, Ecuador (BN24) — The United States has officially designated two of Ecuador’s most powerful gangs, Los Choneros and Los Lobos, as foreign terrorist organizations, in what officials call the Trump administration’s latest escalation against criminal cartels in Latin America.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the move Thursday during a visit to Quito, saying the designation gives Washington “all sorts of options” to dismantle the groups, which have been blamed for fueling Ecuador’s surge in violence since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“These organizations have been waging war on us for 30 years and no one has responded,” Rubio said. “President Donald Trump has made clear that this time we’re going to wage war on them.”

The designation allows the U.S. to pursue members of the gangs militarily, freeze their assets and banking accounts, and expand intelligence sharing with Ecuadorian authorities. Both groups have been linked to drug trafficking, contract killings, extortion and prison violence that has left hundreds dead since 2021.

Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa welcomed the announcement, thanking Rubio for U.S. support in combating what he described as a terrorist threat undermining his country’s security.

The decision comes just days after a U.S. military strike in the southern Caribbean targeted Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, also listed as a terrorist organization. The strike, which killed 11 people, drew mixed reactions across Latin America, where concerns remain over expanded U.S. military operations in the region. Rubio defended the action, saying the vessel posed an “immediate threat” to the U.S.

Ecuador has increasingly become a focal point in the global cocaine trade as Colombian cartels shift operations closer to its border. The country’s dollarized economy, strategic ports and established gang networks have attracted Mexican, Colombian and Balkan cartels seeking to smuggle cocaine through shipping containers — often concealed in bananas, Ecuador’s top export.

Los Choneros and Los Lobos are at the center of this trade and have waged bloody battles for control of routes and territory. Ecuador extradited Los Choneros’ leader, José Adolfo Macías Villamar, to the U.S. in July, weeks after he was recaptured following a high-profile prison escape. He faces charges in New York for trafficking thousands of pounds of cocaine into the United States.

Rubio emphasized that Washington views Ecuador as a key partner in its broader effort to counter drug trafficking, illegal migration and transnational crime. “The United States and Ecuador are aligned in this fight,” he said.

US Senator Cory Booker Announces Engagement To Girlfriend Alexis Lewis Amid Speculation About 2028 Presidential Run (Photos)

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US Senator Cory Booker Announces Engagement To Girlfriend Alexis Lewis Amid Speculation About 2028 Presidential Run (Photos)

WASHINGTON(BN24) — U.S. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey has announced his engagement to Alexis Lewis, his longtime girlfriend, following a romantic surprise proposal during a trip to Hawaii. The engagement comes as Booker, 56, faces renewed speculation over a possible 2028 presidential run.

Booker, who previously sought the Democratic nomination in 2020, shared the details of the proposal this week, describing how he surprised Lewis during a musical performance on the island. “She was dancing and singing with the performers, and then she runs over to them and says, ‘Oh my god, this is the song I wanted at my wedding,’” Booker recalled. “Then I told her, ‘Honey, this is actually the song being performed at your engagement.’”

According to Booker, Lewis was so overwhelmed she “blacked out” from the moment, only fully realizing what had happened after he showed her a photo of himself down on one knee.

Lewis is the vice president of investments at Brasa Capital Management, a real estate investment firm. She previously worked in public service as an economic development aide for the mayor’s office in Los Angeles. This is the first marriage for Booker, who has often been the subject of media scrutiny over his personal life throughout his political career.

During his initial 2013 Senate campaign, questions about his private life prompted Booker to push back forcefully. “The question really should not be whether I’m gay or straight,” he said at the time. “The question should be why the heck are you asking the question in the first place? It doesn’t make a whit of difference to what kind of senator I’m going to be.”

Booker’s past relationship with actress Rosario Dawson made headlines during his 2020 presidential bid. Dawson offered her congratulations to the couple on social media, commenting on Instagram: “Love Love! Congratulations you two!”

The engagement adds a personal milestone to a period of heightened political activity for Booker, who reignited talk of a 2028 presidential campaign earlier this year after delivering a record-breaking 25-hour Senate speech warning that the “country is in crisis.” The extended address, in which he passionately criticized the state of national politics, sparked fresh interest in his future on the national stage.

Booker is once again positioning himself as a leading progressive voice in Congress, particularly as lawmakers brace for a potential budget showdown. He vowed this week to resist Republican-led proposals tied to former President Donald Trump’s agenda. “I’m not giving my vote away to Donald Trump on a budget that’s going to hurt people,” Booker said. “I am standing and fighting against any kind of budget proposal that’s going to hurt Americans or hurt people in New Jersey.”

Framing the current political climate as a turning point, Booker added: “This is a crossroads. I believe there comes a time when everyone should stand up and fight for what’s right — and that’s what I intend to do.”

As Booker steps back into the spotlight, both politically and personally, the engagement has drawn national attention, blending the private joy of a major life event with the public momentum of a potential return to the presidential arena.

World’s biggest illegal streaming network shut down

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World’s biggest illegal streaming network shut down

CAIRO (BN24)— Authorities have dismantled what officials describe as the world’s largest illegal sports streaming network, Streameast, in a major international anti-piracy operation. The service, which generated an estimated 1.6 billion visits in the past year across 80 domains, illegally broadcasted premium live sports content to millions of users worldwide.

The takedown, led by Egyptian authorities in collaboration with the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), targeted Streameast’s extensive digital infrastructure, which had become a hub for pirated access to live sports. The platform was particularly popular in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Germany, and the Philippines, offering unauthorized live streams of some of the most-watched sporting events globally.

Streameast had illegally distributed matches from Europe’s top domestic football leagues — including the English Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, Italy’s Serie A, Germany’s Bundesliga, France’s Ligue 1, and Portugal’s Primeira Liga. It also streamed UEFA club competitions such as the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League, along with international fixtures including FIFA World Cup qualifiers, UEFA Euro qualifiers, Nations League matches, and South America’s CONMEBOL Copa America.

The platform also made available unauthorized streams of top-tier American sports leagues, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB, in addition to pay-per-view boxing events, Formula One races, and MotoGP competitions — drawing widespread condemnation from rights holders and broadcasters.

“This is a resounding victory in the global fight against digital piracy,” said Charles Rivkin, Chairman of the Motion Picture Association and head of ACE. “We will continue our efforts to shut down illegal streaming networks that undermine legitimate content creators and broadcasters.”

Ed McCarthy, chief operating officer of DAZN Group, one of the major sports broadcasters affected, hailed the enforcement action as a pivotal moment for the sports ecosystem. “This operation was a major victory for everyone who invests in and relies on live sports. Piracy strips value from every level of the industry and exposes fans to dangerous content,” McCarthy said.

The shutdown comes amid a broader crackdown on illegal sports streaming services, which industry officials estimate cost the global sports and entertainment sector hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Earlier this year, Sky Group COO Nick Herm issued a warning over the growing use of jailbroken streaming devices like modified Amazon Fire Sticks, which provide easy access to pirated services.

Law enforcement agencies across multiple jurisdictions have stepped up efforts in recent years, with several high-profile arrests and convictions. In July, a UK man, Stephen Woodward, 36, was sentenced to more than three years in prison for running three illegal sports streaming sites. Authorities said Woodward used proceeds from his piracy operations to finance a luxury lifestyle that included designer clothing, overseas vacations, and a £91,000 Jaguar F-Type V8.

Streameast’s takedown marks one of the most significant victories to date in the ongoing global effort to combat online sports piracy. Rights holders, broadcasters, and anti-piracy groups say they remain committed to pursuing the operators of illegal streaming services and safeguarding the integrity of live sports broadcasting.

U.S. approves $32.5 million in aid to Nigeria to tackle growing hunger crisis-AP

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U.S. approves $32.5 million in aid to Nigeria to tackle growing hunger crisis-AP

ABUJA, Nigeria (BN24) — The United States has approved $32.5 million in humanitarian assistance to Nigeria as the country battles a worsening hunger crisis fueled by insecurity and global aid cuts.

Holding their pots Somali children from southern Somalia, lineup to receive cooked food in Mogadishu, Somalia, Monday, Aug. 15, 2011. The World Food Program said Saturday that it is expanding its food distribution efforts in famine-struck Somalia, where the U.N. estimates that only 20 percent of people needing aid are getting it.(AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

The U.S. mission to Nigeria said Wednesday the funding will provide food assistance and nutritional support to vulnerable communities, including those displaced by conflict in the northeast. The aid marks a notable policy shift after President Donald Trump suspended most foreign assistance through the U.S. Agency for International Development during his first term.

According to the mission, the package will benefit more than 764,000 people across northern Nigeria, including 41,569 pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls and 43,235 children who will receive additional nutritional support through electronic food vouchers.

The World Food Program (WFP) has repeatedly warned that Nigeria is at the epicenter of an “unprecedented hunger crisis.” In July, WFP regional director for West Africa Margot van der Velden said more than 1.3 million people in Borno state alone could be left without food and that 150 nutrition clinics risked closure due to aid shortages. The WFP later suspended food assistance across several West and Central African countries as funding cuts from the U.S. and other donors forced its operations to a halt.

Northern Nigeria has long struggled with overlapping crises. In the northeast, a 14-year insurgency by extremist groups has left around 35,000 civilians dead and displaced more than 2 million, according to United Nations figures. Elsewhere, rising violence in the northwest and north-central regions — often tied to clashes between farmers and herders over scarce land and water — has further deepened food insecurity. In June, at least 150 people were killed in one such attack in north-central Nigeria.

The U.S. mission said the newly approved assistance aims to help stabilize access to food for families facing severe shortages, but international agencies caution that without sustained aid, millions in Nigeria and across the wider region remain at risk of starvation.

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