LAGOS, Nigeria (BN24) — Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Burna Boy has addressed a surprising myth surrounding his personal grooming habits, saying some Nigerians believe his strength lies in his armpit hair—similar to the biblical figure Samson.
In a new interview with an American host on Apple Music, the Afro-fusion star was asked to clarify a common misconception about himself.
“What would you say is a common misconception about Burna Boy? What is something that people assume about you but they’re wrong?” the host asked.
Burna Boy replied with a smile, “One is that I don’t like to shave my armpit. People think that is some… you know how Samson in the Bible is, right?”
“With the hair?” the host responded.
“With the hair,” Burna Boy confirmed, adding that some Nigerians have spread a rumor that his power, like Samson’s, resides in his body hair—specifically under his arms.
When asked whether this belief was rooted in Yoruba tradition, the Port Harcourt-born singer clarified that the misconception isn’t limited to any ethnic group.
“No, it’s just Nigerians,” Burna said, laughing off the myth.
The lighthearted exchange quickly gained attention online, with fans reacting to Burna Boy’s humorous take on public perception and superstition in Nigerian pop culture. Burna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ogulu, has become known not just for his music, but also for his candid personality in interviews. The artist continues to challenge stereotypes and public narratives, both in Nigeria and on the global stage.
WASHINGTON (BN24) — U.S. President Donald Trump announced Friday that the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place in Washington, D.C. on December 5, calling it “the biggest event in sport.”
The tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the largest in the competition’s history, expanding to 48 teams and 104 matches. The draw ceremony will be held at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where Trump currently serves as chairman.
The event had been widely expected to be staged in Las Vegas, echoing the draw location from the last U.S.-hosted World Cup in 1994. However, the decision to move it to Washington aligns with Trump’s close ties to the venue and the symbolic importance of the nation’s capital.
“This is probably the biggest event in sports,” Trump said during a joint appearance at the White House with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who brought the World Cup trophy to the Oval Office to mark the announcement.
Infantino praised the scale of the upcoming tournament, noting the global impact and visibility of the draw. “The draw will be broadcast live all over the world and will be watched by one billion viewers,” he said. “It will feature 48 participating teams. There will be 104 matches — 104 Super Bowls!”
During the joint appearance, Infantino handed Trump the iconic trophy. “Can I keep it?” the president asked, holding the prize aloft with a smile.
The draw will divide the 48 qualified nations into 12 groups of four teams. From there, the top two teams in each group, along with the eight best third-place finishers, will advance to the expanded knockout stages — a first for the World Cup.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup marks the first time the tournament will be hosted by three countries and the first edition under the new 48-team format. Matches will be played in major cities across North America, including New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Mexico City. With global anticipation building and logistics for the expanded format underway, the December draw will be a crucial milestone in the build-up to what FIFA and U.S. officials are calling the most ambitious tournament in football history
MUNICH (BN24) — Harry Kane opened his Bundesliga season in emphatic fashion, netting a hat-trick as reigning champions Bayern Munich dismantled RB Leipzig 6-0 on Saturday in a dominant display that underscored their title credentials.
In Vincent Kompany’s first league match in charge, Bayern wasted no time asserting control at the Allianz Arena. Michael Olise broke the deadlock in the 27th minute with a thunderous strike into the far corner, capitalizing on a loose ball that fell kindly into his path.
Serge Gnabry played a pivotal role in Bayern’s fluid attack throughout the match. Five minutes after the opener, his incisive play helped set up Luis Díaz, who marked his Bundesliga debut with a powerful shot off the underside of the bar, opening his account since joining from Liverpool in the summer.
The third came just before halftime. Gnabry again pulled the strings, feinting a shot that wrong-footed the Leipzig defence before laying it off to Olise, who blasted home his second of the night.
After the break, Kane added his name to the scoresheet with clinical precision. In the 64th minute, the England captain finished off a rapid counterattack, cutting inside and sliding the ball past Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.
RB Leipzig briefly thought they had reduced the deficit, but substitute Antonio Nusa’s goal was ruled out after a VAR check confirmed the ball had been rolling during the free-kick in the buildup.
Kane responded minutes later with his second of the match, curling a precise effort inside the far post from the edge of the area. He completed his hat-trick in the 77th minute, ghosting into space to tap in after Leipzig’s exhausted defense failed to track his movement.
Bayern were relentless from start to finish, showing cohesion and energy in all phases. Olise and full-back Konrad Laimer formed a dangerous tandem on the right wing, repeatedly combining to stretch Leipzig’s shape and open space in the final third.
Kane, operating in a deeper role than usual, was a constant menace, linking play while maintaining his trademark poise in front of goal. Gnabry and Joshua Kimmich dictated the tempo through midfield, exploiting gaps left by a disorganized Leipzig side that struggled to maintain composure under pressure.
Newly appointed Leipzig manager Ole Werner faced a harsh reality check. His team looked disjointed, with defensive lapses, misplaced passes, and a general lack of awareness that Bayern exploited ruthlessly. Even with reinforcements, the visitors looked overwhelmed and unable to cope with the pace and precision of their opponents.
The result sends an early warning to the rest of the Bundesliga. Bayern Munich, chasing a 13th consecutive league title, appear every bit the powerhouse they’ve been, now with added firepower and tactical fluidity under Kompany.
Bayern next face Wehen Wiesbaden in the DFB Pokal first round on Wednesday, before a Bundesliga trip to Augsburg on August 30. RB Leipzig will aim to rebound at home against Heidenheim on the same day.
ROME (BN24) — An Italian humanitarian organization has rescued ten migrants off the Libyan coast, claiming they were thrown into the sea by armed militiamen. The Mediterranea Saving Humans group reported the incident, which occurred around 30 nautical miles north of Tripoli overnight Thursday into Friday.
According to the NGO, the attackers, described as armed men aboard a “military-type” boat, approached their rescue vessel and forcibly pushed the migrants into the rough Mediterranean waters. The group released footage showing the boat, which appeared to be military-like, as it neared the NGO’s vessel. The rescue crew swiftly pulled the migrants from the water, with reports indicating the attackers punched and kicked the individuals before forcing them into the sea.
In recent days, Mediterranea Saving Humans has faced repeated harassment from the Libyan Coast Guard and masked men aboard unmarked speedboats, despite operating in international waters. The group has called attention to the increasingly dangerous environment for humanitarian missions in the region.
Libya remains a primary departure point for migrants seeking to cross the Mediterranean to Europe, often under perilous conditions. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has recorded nearly 24,500 deaths or disappearances along the migration route over the past decade, making it one of the deadliest corridors for migrants globally.
The attack on these migrants is the latest example of growing hostility towards humanitarian efforts in the Mediterranean, as both state and non-state actors continue to target vessels attempting to provide aid in the re
HALIFAX (BN24) — The investigation into the disappearance of two young children from their home in rural Lansdowne Station, Nova Scotia, Canada, continues to unfold more than three months after they were reported missing. Lilly Sullivan, 6, and Jack Sullivan, 4, were last seen on May 1, when their mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, reported them missing the following day. The children lived at a property with their mother, stepfather Daniel Martell, and infant sister, about 140 kilometers northeast of Halifax.
The investigation has seen numerous developments, including searches of the surrounding woods, polygraph tests, and forensic analysis, with authorities releasing key details from court applications and documents filed by investigators. These records include unverified statements by police to support their ongoing investigation.
The timeline of the events leading up to the disappearance and the ensuing search is being pieced together through police records, official updates, and court documents. On April 28 and 29, the children attended school, but by April 30, they stayed home due to a pedagogical day. On May 1, the day their disappearance began to unfold, Lilly and Jack’s school was notified early in the morning that they would remain home due to a cough. By 2:25 p.m., investigators confirmed that the children were last seen independently outside the home, captured on surveillance video at a Dollarama store. This marked the final public sighting of the siblings.
Later that evening, around 9 p.m., the children were reportedly put to bed in the clothes they had worn earlier in the day. Lilly was wearing a pink sweater and pyjamas with white shapes, and Jack was dressed in black sweatpants and a T-shirt. At 6:15 a.m. on May 2, Brooks-Murray reported the children as sick to the school, but by mid-morning, she noticed that the house was eerily silent after the children had briefly woken up their infant sister.
By 10:01 a.m. on May 2, Brooks-Murray contacted police and reported Lilly and Jack missing, telling authorities that they might have wandered away from the house. She noted that the children, who were possibly autistic, were known to roam. Authorities immediately launched a search, and by 10:27 a.m., Pictou County RCMP officers arrived at the family home.
As the search for the missing children continued, a significant lead emerged at 4:00 p.m. that same day. Three family members discovered a pink blanket in the woods near Lansdowne Station Road, about one kilometre from the family home. The blanket was identified as Lilly’s, and police seized it for analysis. However, despite efforts, a subsequent dog search did not find any trace of the children.
By May 3, investigators had questioned the children’s biological father, Cody Sullivan, who confirmed that he had not seen Lilly and Jack in nearly three years. At this point, authorities considered all possible leads, including checking whether the children had been with their father in New Brunswick, but found no evidence to support this.
On May 4, another piece of Lilly’s blanket was found in a trash bag near the family house, further deepening the mystery of their disappearance. RCMP continued their investigation, which included an extensive ground search by Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) teams on May 2 and May 7, but by May 7, the search was scaled back as authorities expressed doubt that the children could have survived alone in the woods for such an extended period.
In the following days, police conducted underwater searches of nearby bodies of water, including three ponds on May 8 and Lansdowne Lake on May 9. But no evidence was found. Investigators also turned to polygraph tests as part of their efforts to rule out potential suspects. On May 12, both Brooks-Murray and Martell underwent polygraph exams at Bible Hill RCMP detachment. Both were deemed truthful, with Brooks-Murray voluntarily agreeing to the test to clear herself as a suspect.
As the investigation stretched into June and July, authorities continued to follow leads. On June 19, the Nova Scotia government announced a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to the whereabouts of the missing children. Meanwhile, polygraph tests were administered to several other individuals, including the children’s step-grandmother, Janie MacKenzie, and their maternal grandmother, Cindy Murray, both of whom were found truthful.
By July 16, RCMP confirmed that forensic testing on the pink blanket and other evidence was ongoing, with investigators still processing over 5,000 video files submitted by the public. The case remains open as authorities sift through every possible lead.
On August 22, RCMP confirmed that they are still considering all possible scenarios regarding the children’s disappearance. They continue to review tips and forensic analysis, with over 760 tips and 8,000 video files reviewed so far.
The case of the missing children continues to raise questions, and with each passing month, investigators press forward in their search for answers, determined to solve the mystery of Lilly and Jack’s disappearance.
NEW YORK (BN24) — Jay-Z has officially become the world’s richest musician, according to Forbes, with a net worth of $2.5 billion. The American rapper and entrepreneur, whose real name is Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, continues to dominate the music and business worlds through a combination of savvy investments and diverse ventures.
Jay-Z’s fortune extends far beyond his music career, rooted in strategic ownership stakes and investments across multiple high-value industries. Among his key assets are Roc Nation, the entertainment company he founded, which spans music, sports, and media. He also has major holdings in Armand de Brignac (Ace of Spades), a luxury champagne brand, and D’Ussé, a premium cognac label.
Additionally, Jay-Z has reaped significant profits from the sale of his Tidal streaming service, as well as his earlier success with the Rocawear fashion line, which helped establish him as a business mogul. The rap icon’s diversified portfolio also includes real estate, technology startups, and hospitality investments, further cementing his status as one of the wealthiest and most influential figures in entertainment.
While Jay-Z has climbed to the top of the wealth ranks in the music industry, Taylor Swift remains the richest female musician, with a net worth of $1.6 billion. According to Forbes, Swift’s wealth is primarily derived from her music and tours, marking a striking contrast to Jay-Z’s broader business approach.
As artists increasingly diversify into sectors beyond music, Jay-Z’s rise highlights the growing potential for musicians to generate substantial wealth through strategic investments and brand-building beyond the recording studio.
LONDON (BN24) — Chelsea bounced back from a goal down to demolish West Ham United 5-1 on Friday, further intensifying the pressure on Hammers manager Graham Potter following a series of heavy defeats in the Premier League.
West Ham got off to a dream start, with Lucas Paqueta firing a stunning shot past Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez in the sixth minute. But Chelsea responded quickly, leveling the score in the 15th minute through a header from Joao Pedro. The floodgates then opened as the visitors surged ahead.
Chelsea took the lead in the 23rd minute when Pedro Neto volleyed home a well-timed ball into the box. Enzo Fernandez made it 3-1 just before halftime, capitalizing on a pass from Brazilian teenager Estevao Willian.
In the second half, Moises Caicedo added a fourth for Chelsea in the 54th minute, following a mishandled corner from West Ham goalkeeper Mads Hermansen. Four minutes later, Trevoh Chalobah completed the rout with a fifth, sealing an emphatic win for the Blues.
Pedro’s header, flicked on by Marc Cucurella off a corner, marked his first Premier League goal for Chelsea since his recent move from Brighton & Hove Albion.
The dominant victory came despite a pre-match setback for Chelsea, with midfielder Cole Palmer being ruled out due to discomfort during the warmup. Estevao replaced him, and Chelsea’s attacking fluidity continued uninterrupted.
Chelsea were also without striker Nicolas Jackson, who was omitted from the squad as the club deals with transfer uncertainty. The win came as a much-needed relief for Chelsea, who had opened the season with a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, the defeat only deepened the growing sense of unease at West Ham, who are already under threat of relegation after a 3-0 loss to Sunderland in their season opener. The mounting pressure on Potter, who had a long-standing relationship with Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca from their playing days at West Bromwich Albion, was evident even before the match. As the rout continued, many West Ham supporters left the stadium early, greeted by boos at halftime and more exodus during the second half.
Washington (BN24) – Ghislaine Maxwell, serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking crimes linked to Jeffrey Epstein, said she does not believe Epstein died by suicide, according to newly released transcripts from a Justice Department interview.
In the transcript of her 2020 interview with then–Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Maxwell rejected the medical examiner’s ruling that Epstein hanged himself inside a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
“I do not believe he died by suicide,” Maxwell said during the exchange, insisting she remains skeptical of the official account of his death.
Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 of grooming and trafficking teenage girls for Epstein, also addressed her relationship with President Donald Trump. She said she first met him around 1990 through her father, British media tycoon Robert Maxwell, who “was friendly” with Trump and “liked him very much.”
“President Trump was always very cordial and very kind to me,” she said. “I admire his extraordinary achievement in becoming president, and I’ve always liked him. That is the sum and substance of my entire relationship with him.”
She added that while Epstein and Trump were “friendly,” she did not believe they were “close friends.”
The transcript also included questions about a Wall Street Journal report alleging that Trump submitted a message to a birthday album prepared for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003. Maxwell said she remembered seeing the book but denied any recollection of a note or letter from Trump. “There was nothing from President Trump,” she stated.
Maxwell further claimed she never knew Epstein to act as an FBI source or to communicate with intelligence agencies. “If he was for real, he would’ve bragged about it,” she said, dismissing speculation about Epstein’s alleged intelligence ties as “bull—-.”
Despite her claims in the transcript, prosecutors and Judge Alison Nathan have previously condemned Maxwell for refusing to accept responsibility for her crimes. At her sentencing, the judge noted that while Maxwell acknowledged the victims’ pain, she stopped short of admitting guilt. Maxwell is appealing her conviction.
Washington (BN24) – The U.S. Justice Department on Friday released the full transcript and audio of a confidential interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, revealing her disbelief in the official finding that Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide and her insistence that she never saw President Donald Trump behave inappropriately.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the release, stating that it was made “in the interest of transparency.” The document sheds light on Maxwell’s conversations with federal officials before her 2021 conviction on sex trafficking charges tied to her longtime association with Epstein.
In the interview, Maxwell bluntly rejected the New York medical examiner’s ruling that Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019. “I do not believe he died by suicide,” she told Blanche, according to the transcript.
Maxwell also sought to distance Trump from any accusations of misconduct. “I never witnessed the president in any inappropriate setting in any way,” she said. “The president was never inappropriate with anybody.”
Her defense attorney, David Markus, argued in a lengthy statement that Maxwell had been wrongfully prosecuted, claiming she was scapegoated following Epstein’s death. “She never committed or participated in sexual abuse against minors, or anyone else for that matter,” Markus said. “The government admitted it did not even consider her a conspirator during the Florida investigation into Epstein. The only reason she was charged is because Epstein died in prison.”
Markus further thanked both Blanche and the Trump administration for making the transcript public. “We are grateful to the Department of Justice and to Todd Blanche for allowing the public to judge for themselves,” he said. “And we are thankful to the President for his continued commitment to the truth in this matter and for refusing to cave to the mob.”
During the interview, Maxwell denied that Epstein engaged in blackmail schemes involving photos or videos. Asked directly by Blanche if she had ever heard Epstein accused of extortion or coercion, Maxwell replied: “No.”
However, prosecutors and the judge who oversaw her 2021 trial sharply criticized Maxwell’s credibility. Prosecutors said she had “brazenly lied under oath” to avoid accountability, while Judge Alison Nathan, who sentenced her to 20 years in prison, noted that although Maxwell acknowledged the pain of victims, she stopped short of accepting responsibility for her own crimes.
Maxwell was convicted of recruiting, grooming, and trafficking teenage girls for Epstein, crimes that spanned years. She was also accused of perjury for false statements in a 2016 deposition, though those charges were later dropped after her trafficking conviction. Maxwell continues to appeal her conviction from prison.
The release of her interview is the latest chapter in a case that continues to stir controversy and conspiracy theories, particularly surrounding Epstein’s death and the powerful figures linked to his social circle.
JERUSALEM (BN24) — Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Gaza City could be destroyed if Hamas does not accept Israel’s conditions for ending the war in a post on X on Friday.
The warning came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will give final approval for the occupation of Gaza City while also starting negotiations with Hamas, aimed at returning the hostages and ending the nearly two-year war, but only “on terms acceptable to Israel.”
Earlier this week, Hamas had agreed to a ceasefire proposal drawn up by mediators from Egypt and Qatar. Egypt and Hamas officials said the proposal is almost identical to the one Israel accepted before talks stalled last month.
The proposal would include the release of some hostages in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, a withdrawal of Israeli forces and negotiations over a more permanent ceasefire.
However, speaking at a meeting at the Gaza military division in southern Israel, Netanyahu told military officials on Thursday that Israel would only end the war on its own terms.
In the meantime, Israel has not indicated it intends to slow down the expansion of its offensive. The Israeli military started calling medical officials and international organizations in the north of the strip, ordering them to evacuate to the south.
The military also mobilized 60,000 additional reservists and extended the service of 20,000 currently serving.
Israeli troops are already operating in the Zeitoun and Jabaliya neighborhoods of Gaza City to prepare the groundwork for the expanded operation. The military has previously said they will be stationed where the Israel Defense Forces has not yet operated and where it believes Hamas is still active.
On Wednesday, Israel also gave approval to a settlement project in the occupied West Bank that would effectively cut the territory in two, a significant blow to the prospects of Palestinian statehood.
Settlement development in E1, an open tract of land east of Jerusalem, has been under consideration for more than two decades, but was frozen due to U.S. pressure during previous administrations.
The Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories is considered illegal under international law.
Last year, the International Court of Justice declared in a landmark ruling that Israel should end settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and end its occupation of those areas as soon as possible.
On Thursday, protesters gathered in Tel Aviv demanding the return of the hostages, holding signs that read “The people will bring back the hostages” and “How much blood will be spilled?”
Demonstrators expressed concern over Netanyahu’s plan to expand the offensive, as they believe it would further endanger the lives of the remaining hostages. Of the 50 still being held in Gaza, Israel believes about 20 are still alive.
Hundreds also gathered in Gaza for a rare protest against the war and Israel’s plan for mass relocation of Palestinians to other countries.
“We want the war on Gaza to stop. We don’t want to migrate. Twenty-two months…it’s enough. Enough death. Enough destruction,” said Bisan Ghazal, a woman displaced from Gaza City.
Plans for the expanded military offensive sparked widespread international outrage, with many of Israel’s closest allies, with the exception of the United States, calling for an end to the war.
Human rights groups have repeatedly warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis in the Strip, where most residents have been displaced, vast neighborhoods lie in ruins and where famine is at a tipping point.
On Thursday, at least 36 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire across the Gaza Strip, including 14 who were seeking humanitarian aid, local hospitals reported.
Israeli airstrikes also destroyed a tent camp in Deir al-Balah, where residents had been told by the Israeli military to flee. No casualties were reported, but the strike destroyed around 100 tents sheltering families already uprooted by fighting elsewhere.
The Israel-Hamas war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 people hostage.
Israel’s offensive has killed at least 62,192 Palestinians, the Gaza Health Ministry said, whose figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
