KILIFI, Kenya (BN24) — Authorities in Kenya have suspended exhumations at a cult-linked site where hundreds of shallow graves have been discovered, saying DNA sampling must be completed before further digging resumes.
The latest operation, carried out over the past two weeks at Chakama Ranch in Kilifi County, uncovered 34 bodies and more than 100 body parts. Police said the pause is necessary to allow for DNA analysis, which will help identify victims as investigators continue unraveling the case.
The area, already notorious as the site of mass graves linked to Pastor Paul Mackenzie’s Good News International Church in nearby Shakahola, has once again drawn scrutiny amid what police describe as the regrouping of former cult members.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja said Wednesday that a multi-agency team remains on the ground to establish the full circumstances of the deaths. “We have our best team working here, and very soon we will complete the investigation,” Kanja told reporters.
Government pathologist Richard Njoroge said postmortem examinations would begin once X-rays are complete.
Authorities confirmed that 11 suspects were arrested last month following a complaint from a woman who said her children had died under the group’s watch. Court filings show investigators are examining money transfers made to the suspects’ phones, which police believe were used to fund the cult’s operations.
The group reportedly rented homes in Malindi town before relocating to Chakama Ranch, where mud huts were built near the graves now being unearthed. Police say the isolated, forested area made detection difficult and law enforcement presence weak.
“This is a very expansive and forested area, and for that reason, it needs all of us to come together so that we can overcome these challenges,” Kanja said, adding that many of those missing and presumed dead are not local residents.
The new exhumations are taking place roughly two kilometers from Shakahola, where more than 400 bodies were recovered in 2023. Pastor Mackenzie, accused of convincing followers to starve to death in anticipation of salvation, remains in custody on murder charges.
The Chakama Ranch case underscores the ongoing challenge of policing remote areas of Kenya, where law enforcement has struggled to contain cult activity and prevent further mass deaths.
BEIJING (BN24) — Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were overheard privately discussing the possibility of living to 150 years old through advanced medical technology, according to a hot-mic moment captured during China’s Victory Day parade in Beijing.
The two leaders, both 72, were caught on CCTV cameras musing about biotechnology, organ transplants and the potential for human immortality. “Earlier, people rarely lived to 70, but these days at 70 you are still a child,” Xi reportedly told Putin through an interpreter. Putin replied, “With the development of biotechnology, human organs can be continuously transplanted and people can live younger and younger, and even achieve immortality.” Xi then added, “Predictions are, this century, there is also a chance of living to 150.”
The exchange took place on Wednesday as Xi hosted 26 world leaders, including Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, at a massive military parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II and China’s victory over occupying forces. It was the first public appearance featuring all three leaders together.
China’s medical system has long faced scrutiny over organ harvesting practices, which officially ended in 2015 but, according to human rights groups, continue in secret. International watchdogs allege that Uyghurs and other targeted minorities in western China remain vulnerable to forced organ donation. Beijing denies the claims.
The Kremlin, meanwhile, has been openly investing in longevity research. Last year, The Times of London reported that Putin had directed Russian scientists to accelerate anti-aging programs focusing on cellular degeneration, cognitive decline, and immune system resilience.
Though the hot-mic remarks were lighthearted, analysts noted they reflect both leaders’ long-standing fascination with medical advances and the political symbolism of appearing to embrace ideas of near-immortality. For Putin and Xi, the conversation also underscores how biotechnology and organ transplantation have become part of global competition — and speculation about whether authoritarian governments could harness life-extending science for their own elites.
WASHINGTON (BN24) — Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse stood on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, demanding the release of more government files and revealing plans to compile a confidential list of the financier’s associates whom they accuse of being complicit in his crimes.
Lisa Phillips, one of nine women who spoke during the two-hour news conference, said the list would be created privately by survivors. “We will confidentially compile the names we all know were regularly in the Epstein world,” she said. “It will be done by survivors, and for survivors.” Phillips urged the Justice Department to release its full trove of documents, saying many victims feared retaliation if they identified associates themselves.
The press event, organized by lawmakers seeking further disclosure from the Epstein investigation, drew emotional testimony. Marina Lacerda, speaking publicly for the first time, said she was 14 when she began working for Epstein. “I was one of dozens of girls I personally know who were forced into Jeffrey’s mansion in New York City when we were just kids,” she said. Her voice broke as she recalled being paid $300 for what was described as a massage but quickly became sexual abuse.
Other survivors said the secrecy surrounding Epstein’s powerful network perpetuated their trauma. Annie Farmer, who said she was taken to New Mexico at age 16 to spend a weekend with Epstein, questioned why her report of abuse was ignored. “We still do not know why that report wasn’t properly investigated, or why Epstein and his associates were allowed to harm hundreds, if not thousands, of other girls and young women,” she said.
Liz Stein, who has sued Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, told reporters she attended the rally to “humanize survivors,” adding, “This is a crime of sex trafficking. This isn’t a political issue, but it’s being politicized because of the people involved.”
Some survivors addressed Epstein’s ties to high-profile figures. Chauntae Davies said Epstein often bragged about his friendship with President Donald Trump, keeping a framed picture of the two of them on his desk. Trump told reporters Wednesday that the ongoing focus on Epstein files was “a Democrat hoax that never ends” and insisted that “enough” documents had already been released. He said the controversy was meant to distract from his record in office.
A day earlier, the House Oversight Committee released 33,000 pages of files and several videos, most of which were already public. Democrats on the panel said 97% of the documents offered nothing new. “There is no mention of any client list or anything that improves transparency or justice for victims,” said Rep. Robert Garcia, the committee’s top Democrat.
Lawmakers from both parties have pressed for full disclosure. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., are gathering signatures to force a vote that would compel the Justice Department to release all documents related to Epstein. “It’s shameful this has been called a hoax,” Massie said. “There are real victims to this criminal enterprise, and the perpetrators are being protected because they are rich and powerful.”
The White House and Republican congressional leaders oppose the move, arguing a full release could unfairly expose innocent individuals. But survivors insist continued secrecy allows those tied to Epstein’s abuse to evade accountability.
NEW DELHI (BN24) —An Indian man has been sentenced to death for murdering his wife by setting her on fire, a brutal crime driven by prejudice against her dark skin tone, in a case that has reignited national conversations around colourism and gender-based violence.
The sentencing was delivered over the weekend by a court in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, nearly eight years after the horrific attack on the woman, Lakshmi, took place on June 24, 2017. According to court documents reviewed by the BBC, Lakshmi’s husband, identified as Kishandas, doused her with a corrosive liquid and set her ablaze using an incense stick, after years of verbal abuse related to her complexion.
Lakshmi, who had married Kishandas in 2016, reportedly endured ongoing humiliation and body-shaming for being dark-skinned. She told investigators before succumbing to her injuries that her husband regularly called her “kali,” a derogatory term referring to her skin color, and made repeated derogatory comments about her appearance.
On the night of the attack, Kishandas arrived home with a plastic bottle containing a brown liquid, which he claimed was a skin-lightening treatment. After applying it to her skin, Lakshmi reportedly complained about the sharp, acidic odor—at which point he ignited her body. As she burned, Kishandas poured the rest of the substance over her and fled the scene. Her family rushed her to the hospital, but she died from her injuries soon afterward.
In a sharply worded judgment, Additional Sessions Judge Rahul Choudhary described the act as not merely murder, but “a crime against humanity.” He characterized Kishandas’s actions as displaying “excessive cruelty,” stating that the case qualified as the “rarest of the rare,” a legal standard in India that justifies capital punishment.
“It will not be an exaggeration to say that this heart-rending brutal crime was not just against Lakshmi, but against humanity,” Judge Choudhary said in court. “It shocks the conscience of humanity, which cannot even be imagined in a healthy and civilised society.”
The prosecution hailed the verdict as a landmark moment in the fight against domestic violence and gender-based discrimination. “A young woman in her early 20s was brutally murdered,” the public prosecutor told reporters. “She was someone’s daughter, someone’s sister. If we don’t protect our daughters, who will?”
The case has drawn renewed attention to the deeply ingrained issue of colourism in Indian society, where lighter skin is often unfairly associated with beauty and social status. Despite decades of activism and growing public awareness, dark-skinned women in India continue to face discrimination in marriage, media portrayals, and everyday life.
Activists argue that until societal attitudes shift and accountability is consistently enforced, such acts of violence will continue to occur.
Lakshmi’s death is now being seen as both a tragedy and a rallying point for those pushing to end violence against women and dismantle toxic beauty standards in India. As the country grapples with this deeply rooted prejudice, the court’s ruling is being viewed not just as a punishment for a horrific crime, but as a statement against the normalization of colourism.
BEIJING (BN24) —In a striking display of military strength and political alignment, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appeared together in public for the first time on Wednesday at a massive military parade in Beijing, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Asia.
The highly choreographed event in Tiananmen Square featured tens of thousands of troops, cutting-edge weaponry, and an unmistakable message of unity among three of the world’s most sanctioned nations.
President Xi, standing alongside Putin and Kim, used the occasion to deliver a veiled critique of Western power structures, declaring that the world faces a choice between “peace and war.” His five-minute speech avoided direct reference to the United States but emphasized international cooperation over confrontation, warning that humanity must “never return to the law of the jungle.”
Xi toasted to “common prosperity for all humankind” during a luncheon at the Great Hall of the People, where global dignitaries were served traditional Chinese wine after the spectacle concluded with a release of doves and balloons.
The parade served as both a domestic show of patriotism and an international signal of China’s rising military and political confidence. Xi inspected the troops from atop a vehicle along Changan Avenue, observing elite divisions from all branches of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), as well as a dramatic unveiling of China’s most advanced weapons systems.
On display were nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), stealth attack drones nicknamed “loyal wingmen,” laser-directed energy weapons, robotic battlefield units, and underwater nuclear drones—a lineup seen as China’s declaration of its intent to rival Western military dominance.
The appearance of Putin and Kim alongside Xi captured global attention, overshadowing even the military technology. Before the parade began, Xi welcomed Kim with a long handshake, followed by a greeting to Putin. The three leaders then walked together to the viewing platform in what observers see as a coordinated message of defiance to Western-led international systems.
The gathering marked a rare in-person trilateral engagement, as Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un later held a two-and-a-half-hour bilateral meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, reportedly discussing military cooperation and North Korea’s role in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
According to sources cited by Russian media, North Korea has deployed an estimated 15,000 troops to fight alongside Russian forces and has provided ammunition in exchange for financial aid and weapons development assistance. Putin praised Pyongyang’s contributions and reaffirmed strategic alignment between the two nations.
In addition to the three leaders, the Beijing event drew 24 international dignitaries, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Vietnamese military chief Luong Cuong, and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Two European leaders—Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić—were also present and were seen posing for photos with Putin after the parade.
However, several key leaders declined invitations, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, despite having met Xi earlier in the week, and South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung. The absence of former Chinese President Hu Jintao was also noted, fueling speculation about internal political dynamics.
Most Western nations abstained from attending altogether, reflecting ongoing diplomatic tensions between China and the U.S.-led bloc over trade, technology, and military posture in the Indo-Pacific.
Following the event, U.S. President Donald Trump—who did not attend—responded on his Truth Social platform, accusing Xi, Putin, and Kim of “conspiring against the United States.” The Kremlin dismissed the claim as “ironic,” with spokesperson Yuri Ushakov stating that the leaders “are not even thinking about a conspiracy” and instead are focused on adapting to the current international landscape.
While officials in Beijing have not explicitly named the United States, Chinese diplomats have previously criticized U.S. policies—particularly sanctions and tariffs—as manifestations of global bullying.
Wednesday’s parade was more than a historical commemoration—it was a performance of power, unity, and intent. With an advanced arsenal on full display and three leaders bound by mutual interests standing shoulder to shoulder, the event sends a clear message to the world: China, Russia, and North Korea are not only aligned politically, but increasingly militarily.
As geopolitical tensions rise, the rare joint appearance by Xi, Putin, and Kim is likely to be scrutinized by analysts and governments alike—not for what was said, but for what was clearly signaled.
SEOUL, South Korea (BN24) —Three people were killed in a rare stabbing incident at a pizza restaurant in Seoul’s Gwanak district on Wednesday, marking a shocking act of violence in one of Asia’s safest capitals.
Authorities said the attacker, identified as the owner of the restaurant, fatally stabbed three individuals — two men and one woman — during a dispute with contractors. The altercation reportedly escalated into violence at around 11:00 a.m. local time (0200 GMT).
Seoul police confirmed in a statement that they had received an emergency call from one of the victims saying, “Help me, I’ve been stabbed.”
Emergency responders transported the victims to a nearby hospital, but all three were pronounced dead shortly after arrival, authorities said.
The suspect, a man in his 40s, attempted to take his own life following the attack but was prevented from doing so at the scene by responding officers. He is currently receiving medical treatment and is expected to be taken into custody once his condition stabilizes, police said.
Violent crimes such as this are highly unusual in South Korea, a country with a relatively low homicide rate of 1.3 per 100,000 people in 2021, according to official statistics. That rate is well below the global average of approximately six per 100,000.
The motive behind the confrontation is still under investigation, though preliminary reports indicate it stemmed from a business dispute.
The incident has sparked public concern, with local media noting the rarity of such violence in Seoul, a city widely regarded for its low crime rate and public safety.
Police say they will conduct a full investigation, including interviews with witnesses and review of surveillance footage from the scene.
LISBON, Portugal (BN24) — At least 15 people were killed and 18 others injured after Lisbon’s historic Gloria funicular derailed and crashed near the city’s central Avenida da Liberdade on Wednesday evening, according to emergency services.
The accident, which occurred around 6:05 p.m. local time, left the iconic yellow cable railway overturned and nearly destroyed. Dramatic footage circulating on social media showed the wreckage strewn across the tracks as smoke filled the air and bystanders fled the scene. Emergency responders confirmed that all passengers who had initially been trapped were later freed.
Portugal’s National Institute for Medical Emergency (INEM) reported that five of the injured are in serious condition, while the remaining 13—among them a child—suffered minor injuries. Officials also confirmed that foreign nationals are among the deceased, but their identities and nationalities have yet to be verified.
Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas called the crash a “tragic moment” for the city, writing on social media, “Lisbon is in mourning.” President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed “deep sympathy and solidarity with the families affected by this tragedy,” while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen extended her condolences to the victims’ families.
The cause of the derailment remains under investigation. However, local newspaper Observador reported that a loose cable may have caused the funicular to lose control and collide with a nearby building. Transport operator Carris, which runs the Gloria funicular, stated that it has launched a full inquiry into the incident, emphasizing that all standard maintenance procedures had been followed.
The Gloria funicular, a symbol of Lisbon’s historic transit system, has been in operation since 1885, ferrying passengers between the Restauradores Square and the Bairro Alto district. The steep incline and vintage appearance of the tram have made it a popular attraction for tourists and a fixture in daily city life.
As authorities continue to investigate, the derailment has prompted widespread shock and mourning across Portugal, raising fresh concerns over the safety of historic transport infrastructure in urban settings.
WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that a U.S. military strike in the southern Caribbean destroyed a vessel operated by Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, killing 11 people in what marks one of the most significant American operations in the region in recent years.
Trump announced the strike in a social media post, calling it a direct action against narcotics trafficking networks attempting to move drugs from Venezuela toward the United States. He shared a short video showing a speedboat erupting in flames, describing the incident as a warning to cartels and criminal groups across Latin America.
“The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in international waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America.”
The video, grainy and filmed largely in black and white, showed what appeared to be a long, multi-engine speedboat before a bright flash engulfed the vessel. While Trump said 11 people were killed, the footage offered no clear evidence of those aboard nor visible confirmation of drug cargo.
Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal organization that originated in the notorious Tocorón prison more than a decade ago, has expanded its reach as millions of Venezuelans fled the country’s economic collapse. The gang has been blamed by U.S. officials for fueling violence and drug trafficking across Latin America and into American cities. Trump repeated his assertion — disputed by U.S. intelligence agencies — that the group operates under the protection of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Maduro, appearing with first lady Cilia Flores on Venezuelan state television after Trump’s announcement, avoided addressing the strike directly but denounced U.S. actions as part of an effort to seize Venezuela’s natural resources. “In the face of imperialist threats, God is with us,” he told supporters in Caracas. Communications Minister Freddy Ñáñez went further, alleging the video Trump posted may have been fabricated using artificial intelligence, calling it “an almost cartoonish animation.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, traveling to Mexico and Ecuador for talks on drug cartels and regional security, stood alongside Trump in announcing the strike earlier Tuesday. Rubio declined to provide details, saying questions should be directed to the Pentagon, but argued the vessel’s drugs were likely bound for the Caribbean. He reiterated his long-standing view that the U.S. should confront cartels “wherever they are operating against the interests of the United States.”
The strike followed last month’s announcement that the U.S. would expand its maritime presence in the Caribbean with additional destroyers to counter Latin American drug cartels. In response, Maduro deployed troops to Venezuela’s coastal and border regions while urging civilians to join local militias. He has accused Washington of fabricating a narrative of Venezuelan complicity in drug smuggling to justify intervention.
The United Nations World Drug Report shows most cocaine shipments flow through Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, while Venezuela plays a comparatively smaller role. Still, U.S. officials have insisted Venezuelan waters serve as a corridor for traffickers connected to transnational criminal networks.
Maduro warned Monday that if U.S. forces attempted direct action against Venezuela itself, he would “constitutionally declare a republic in arms” to defend the nation.
The strike highlights an escalating clash between Washington and Caracas as Trump intensifies efforts to choke off narcotics routes and put new pressure on Maduro’s government.
BOSTON (BN24) — A federal judge on Wednesday overturned the Trump administration’s decision to strip Harvard University of more than $2.6 billion in federal research funding, ruling that the cuts were an act of unlawful retaliation against the Ivy League school.
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs sided with Harvard, finding that the administration’s move violated federal law after the university refused to comply with sweeping White House demands to alter its governance, admissions, and academic policies.
The ruling marks a major victory for Harvard, which had accused the Trump administration of targeting the school in response to its rejection of an April 11 letter from a federal antisemitism task force. That letter had demanded significant changes related to protests, academics, and admissions amid allegations that the university tolerated anti-Jewish harassment and fostered a culture of liberal bias.
Harvard argued the demands amounted to political interference in higher education. President Alan Garber said the university remains committed to combating antisemitism but warned that no government “should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.”
The decision reverses funding freezes and subsequent cuts that had severely disrupted Harvard’s research enterprise, jeopardizing hundreds of projects across medicine, science, and technology. If upheld, the ruling could restore Harvard’s access to federal funds and revive programs that had been stalled for months.
The administration had also threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status and restrict its ability to host international students. President Donald Trump insisted Harvard should pay at least $500 million as part of a potential settlement, though no agreement has been reached. While Columbia and Brown universities have struck separate deals with the administration, talks with Harvard remain unresolved.
The court’s ruling underscores a broader clash between the Trump administration and elite universities, with Harvard emerging as a central battleground in disputes over academic independence, free speech, and federal oversight.
QUETTA, Pakistan (BN24) — A suicide bomber detonated explosives outside a political rally in southwestern Pakistan late Tuesday, killing at least 13 people and wounding more than 30 others, authorities said Wednesday, marking one of the deadliest attacks in the insurgency-plagued region in recent months.
Police chief Majeed Qaisrani said the explosion struck near a graveyard on the outskirts of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, as supporters of the Balochistan National Party (BNP) were leaving a stadium following a rally. He confirmed that body parts of the attacker were recovered at the blast site.
Hospital spokesman Waseem Baig said at least 13 bodies were brought to Quetta Civil Hospital, while dozens of the wounded remained in critical condition.
The rally was organized to commemorate the anniversary of veteran nationalist leader Sardar Ataullah Mengal, a former provincial chief minister. BNP leader Akhtar Mengal, a frequent critic of the federal government, was not harmed in the attack, though police confirmed some of his supporters were among the casualties.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing. Baloch separatist groups and the Pakistani Taliban have previously carried out attacks in the region, often targeting government officials, security forces, or gatherings linked to political leaders.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack as a “cowardly act of the enemies of humanity,” vowing a high-level probe and directing authorities to provide the best possible medical care for the injured.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, speaking in Islamabad, also denounced the bombing, alleging without evidence that “India-backed terrorists and their facilitators” were responsible for attempting to destabilize Pakistan by targeting civilians. Pakistan’s government has often accused New Delhi of supporting separatist and militant groups in the country, charges India has consistently denied.
Balochistan, rich in natural resources, has long witnessed a simmering separatist insurgency led by groups such as the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army, which demand independence from the central government. While authorities claim the insurgency has been largely contained, sporadic violence continues to strike the province.
The attack comes amid a broader surge in militant violence across Pakistan. On Wednesday, gunmen killed five Sunni Muslims when they opened fire on a vehicle in Kurram, a district in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, before fleeing into nearby mountains. A day earlier, militants attempted to storm the paramilitary Federal Constabulary headquarters in Bannu, triggering a firefight that left six soldiers and five attackers dead, according to local police and the military.
The string of attacks underscores Pakistan’s ongoing struggle with insurgency and sectarian violence ahead of political rallies and events in volatile regions.
