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No US boots on the ground in Ukraine, Trump says

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WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump categorically ruled out deploying U.S. troops to Ukraine as part of any security guarantees for a peace deal, while indicating that European allies are prepared to provide ground forces to ensure Ukrainian security.

Speaking to reporters following Monday’s White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders, Trump was unambiguous when asked whether the United States would have boots on the ground as part of security arrangements for Ukraine.

“You have my assurance and I am president,” Trump declared. “I’m just trying to stop people from being killed.”

The president suggested that European nations, including France, Germany and the United Kingdom, are among those who “want to have” boots on the ground in Ukraine, adding “I don’t think it’s going to be a problem.” Trump emphasized that these countries are “willing to put people on the ground” when it comes to Ukrainian security arrangements.

Trump explained the European willingness to deploy forces by noting the geographical proximity of the conflict to European nations. “So it’s a different kind of a thing for them. When it comes to security, they’re willing to put people on the ground,” he said, referencing how the Ukraine conflict is “closer to them because we have an ocean that’s separating us.”

While ruling out U.S. ground troops, Trump indicated American support would come through other means. The president said the United States is willing to help with aspects of security, for instance through air support, but stressed that joining NATO cannot be the key form of security Ukraine relies on.

When pressed about potential territorial arrangements discussed during the White House talks, Trump offered an optimistic assessment for Ukraine’s future. “Ukraine is going to get their life back,” he said. “They’re going to get a lot of land.”

However, Trump acknowledged the military realities of the conflict, stating “But this was a war” and noting that “Russia is a powerful military nation… whether people like it or not.”

The president characterized Monday’s discussions with world leaders as productive, calling them “good people” who “want to end the war.” The meeting brought together Zelensky with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

Trump hinted that Russian President Vladimir Putin would face consequences if he fails to cooperate in the peace process, suggesting Putin would face a “rough situation” without his participation in reaching a settlement.

Zelensky praised the White House meeting as “significant” and indicated that Ukraine is already working on “concrete” security guarantees following the discussions. The Ukrainian president’s positive assessment suggested progress in developing alternative security arrangements that could substitute for immediate NATO membership.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the gathering as “constructive,” with the “coalition of the willing” planning to hold further talks with their American counterparts in the coming days. The continued diplomatic engagement signals sustained effort to develop comprehensive security frameworks for Ukraine.

Adding to the diplomatic momentum, Switzerland announced its readiness to host a potential Zelensky-Putin summit, responding to Trump’s suggestion during a call with the Russian president. The Swiss offer provides a neutral venue for direct negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders if peace talks advance.

The White House meeting represents a significant diplomatic effort to align American and European approaches to Ukrainian security while the war continues. Trump’s explicit rejection of U.S. ground forces deployment, combined with European willingness to provide such support, suggests an emerging division of labor among Western allies in supporting Ukraine.

The discussions come as international pressure mounts for a negotiated settlement to the conflict that has claimed hundreds of thousands of casualties since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022. Trump’s emphasis on stopping casualties while maintaining security commitments reflects the delicate balance between achieving peace and ensuring Ukraine’s long-term sovereignty.

In Kyiv, residents expressed mixed reactions to the diplomatic developments. While some expressed hope following the White House talks, others remained skeptical about Putin’s trustworthiness, with one resident noting “I’m not sure I trust [Putin]” and another describing it as “very painful to watch all this happening.”

Source: bbc.com

Islamist Rebels Slaughter Dozens With Machetes in Eastern Congo Massacre

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Congo (BN24) – Rebels affiliated with the Islamic State carried out a wave of massacres in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, killing at least 52 civilians with machetes and hoes in the territories of Beni and Lubero, according to United Nations officials and local authorities.

The killings were attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamist militia with longstanding ties to the Islamic State group. Lieutenant Elongo Kyondwa Marc, a regional spokesperson for Congo’s army, said the attacks were an act of revenge after the ADF suffered heavy losses in recent battles with government forces.

Local leaders described the scenes of horror. “When they arrived, they first woke the residents, gathered them in one place, tied them up with ropes, and then began to massacre them with machetes and hoes,” Macaire Sivikunula, chief of Lubero’s Bapere sector, told Reuters.

Alain Kiwewe, the military administrator for Lubero territory, confirmed that around 30 people were killed in the village of Melia alone. He said women and children were among the victims, many of whom were executed in their homes. Several houses were also torched during the assaults.

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo, MONUSCO, condemned the violence “in the strongest possible terms,” noting that the death toll could climb higher as search operations continue. Officials said the confirmed fatalities so far include eight women and two children.

The ADF, which originated in neighboring Uganda, is one of several armed groups vying for control of eastern Congo’s vast mineral wealth. The region has endured decades of conflict, with civilians often bearing the brunt of the violence.

Congo’s army, supported by Ugandan forces, has intensified its offensive against the ADF in recent weeks. Still, the militia continues to strike back with lethal raids on villages. Just last month, ADF fighters stormed a church in eastern Congo, killing at least 38 worshippers.

Reuters

Polish Police Bust Smuggling Networks and Seize Drugs Worth $275 Million

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Warsaw (BN240 – Polish police announced Tuesday that they have dismantled several interconnected drug smuggling networks operating across Europe, confiscating narcotics with an estimated street value of 1 billion zlotys, or $275 million.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBSP) said in a statement that the criminal groups were largely run by Poles based in Spain, with several members linked to violent football hooliganism in Poland. Authorities described the networks as sophisticated operations that supplied multiple countries across the continent.

“During the investigation, 600 kilograms of marijuana, 180 kilograms of hashish, 40 kilograms of amphetamine sulfate, as well as seven firearms and several hundred rounds of ammunition were seized,” the CBSP said.

According to investigators, the groups transported drugs primarily to Ireland, Germany, Austria and several Scandinavian nations, where shipments were distributed through established criminal channels. Officials said the operation was the result of close cooperation between Polish authorities and law enforcement agencies from multiple European Union member states.

The CBSP emphasized that dismantling the networks not only disrupted a lucrative drug trade but also weakened the wider criminal ecosystem tied to organized violence and smuggling across borders.

Ukraine Accuses Russia of Attacking Despite White House Meeting

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Kyiv (BN24) – Russia unleashed a massive overnight assault on the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk, striking infrastructure with waves of drones and missiles, in what officials in Kyiv described as proof that President Vladimir Putin has no intention of seeking peace despite international efforts to end the war.

Kremenchuk Mayor Vitalii Maletskyi said on Tuesday that dozens of explosions rocked the industrial hub in the Poltava region, targeting energy facilities and transport links. The attack left hundreds without power and forced emergency crews to work through the night to restore critical services.

The barrage coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump’s talks in Washington with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Trump pledged American support for Ukraine’s long-term security and announced plans to broker direct talks between Zelenskiy and Putin, followed by a trilateral summit aimed at negotiating peace.

But Ukrainian officials said Moscow’s actions spoke louder than words. “At the very same time when Putin was assuring Trump over the phone that he seeks peace, and when President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was holding talks at the White House with European leaders about a just peace, Putin’s army launched yet another massive attack on Kremenchuk,” Maletskyi said on Telegram. “Once again, the world has seen that Putin does not want peace — he wants to destroy Ukraine.”

According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia launched 270 drones and 10 missiles overnight in the largest strike so far this month. Ukrainian defenses intercepted 230 drones and six missiles but confirmed that at least 16 sites were hit. In Poltava, regional governor Volodymyr Kohut reported damage to administrative buildings tied to the local energy grid, leaving nearly 1,500 homes and 119 businesses without electricity in the Lubny district.

“Fortunately, there were no casualties,” Kohut said.

In the northern Chernihiv region, another Russian drone strike Tuesday morning damaged infrastructure and triggered power outages in several districts, Governor Viacheslav Chaus said.

Russia, which has intensified attacks on Ukraine’s energy network as winter approaches, did not immediately comment on the Kremenchuk strike. However, Moscow claimed Ukraine carried out its own overnight drone attacks on Russian territory, sparking fires at an oil refinery and damaging the roof of a hospital in the Volgograd region.

The latest escalation underscored the widening battle over infrastructure, as both sides target facilities crucial to sustaining military operations. Kyiv argues the timing of Russia’s strikes shows Putin is deliberately undermining peace initiatives, even as Western leaders attempt to push forward negotiations.

Burkina Faso Junta Expels Top UN Official Over Children in Wartime Report

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OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (BN24) — Burkina Faso’s military government expelled the United Nations’ top representative in the country on Monday, August 18, following the release of a UN report that accused both armed groups and government-backed forces of recruiting children amid the ongoing jihadist conflict.

In an official statement, the junta declared UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator Carol Flore-Smereczniak “persona non grata,” condemning what it described as “baseless” allegations contained in the March report titled Children and Armed Conflict in Burkina Faso. The military regime accused the United Nations of publishing “falsehoods” and criticized the lack of investigative evidence supporting the report’s findings.

The UN document detailed serious violations against minors, including recruitment of child soldiers, killings, rapes, sexual violence, abductions, and targeted attacks on schools and hospitals. While most abuses were linked to jihadist factions such as the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), investigators found that Burkina Faso’s own defense and security forces, alongside their civilian auxiliary group known as the Volunteers for the Defence of the Nation (VDP), accounted for roughly 20 percent of the documented violations.

Among the verified incidents, members of the VDP were accused of abducting 23 children and perpetrating four of 20 confirmed cases of rape.

Flore-Smereczniak, a Mauritian appointed in July 2024, became the second senior UN official to be expelled by the Burkina Faso junta in recent years. Her predecessor, Barbara Manzi, an Italian national, was expelled in December 2022 under similar circumstances.

Burkina Faso has endured over a decade of jihadist insurgencies, with the military junta seizing power in September 2022. Despite promises to restore security, violence has surged, leaving more than 26,000 civilians and soldiers dead since the conflict began, with over half of the fatalities recorded in the last three years.

Air Canada Reaches Deal With Union To End Strike

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Ontario (BN24) – Air Canada and the union representing more than 10,000 flight attendants announced early Tuesday that they had reached a tentative agreement, ending a disruptive strike that had stranded hundreds of thousands of travelers during the peak of the summer holiday season.

The breakthrough came late Monday after the airline and the Canadian Union of Public Employees resumed negotiations for the first time since the walkout began over the weekend. The strike, which had been declared illegal by federal labor regulators, was causing massive flight cancellations and affecting an estimated 130,000 passengers daily.

Union leaders hailed the agreement as a decisive victory, saying it addressed one of the central grievances that sparked the job action: the lack of compensation for time spent working on the ground. “Unpaid work is over. We have reclaimed our voice and our power,” the union said in a statement. “When our rights were taken away, we stood strong, we fought back — and we secured a tentative agreement that our members can vote on.”

The deal came just hours after the union openly defied the Canada Industrial Relations Board, which had declared the strike illegal and twice ordered flight attendants to return to work. The government had directed the board to intervene under Canadian labor law, a move that union leaders condemned as an erosion of workers’ right to strike.

For several days, Air Canada scrambled to manage the fallout. The airline operates roughly 700 flights daily, and by Monday it had already canceled more than 2,500 flights, both domestic and international, according to aviation data firm Cirium. The carrier estimated that as many as half a million customers had been affected by rolling cancellations since last Thursday, when the airline began scaling back operations in anticipation of the strike.

Air Canada had offered what it described as a 38% increase in total compensation, including pensions and benefits, over a four-year contract, insisting that the deal would make its flight attendants the best compensated in Canada. But the union countered that the offer did not adequately address the cost of living, arguing that an 8% wage hike in the first year fell short of inflation.

The tentative agreement now gives the union’s members the chance to vote on a contract that directly tackles unpaid ground duties, a long-standing issue that flight attendants said forced them to work without proper compensation.

Passengers whose flights were canceled will be eligible for full refunds through Air Canada’s website and mobile app, the airline said.

The strike and its resolution underscore broader tensions in Canada’s labor landscape. In recent years, the federal government has repeatedly stepped in to restrict strikes by port, rail and other essential workers, often ordering them into binding arbitration. Union leaders argue that such interventions weaken collective bargaining power and diminish workers’ leverage.

The agreement with Air Canada marks the end of one of the most high-profile labor disputes in Canada’s aviation sector in years, though it remains subject to member approval before taking effect.

Menendez Brothers To Be Evaluated By Parole Board For Release After 30 Years In Prison-AP

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Los Angeles (BN24) – The Menendez brothers, Erik and Lyle, will go before California’s parole board this week in what marks their closest step toward possible freedom since their convictions nearly three decades ago for the murders of their parents inside their Beverly Hills mansion.

The two brothers were sentenced in 1996 to life in prison without parole for the 1989 killings of their father, Jose Menendez, a wealthy entertainment executive, and their mother, Kitty. Erik was 18 and Lyle 21 at the time. Prosecutors argued the motive was financial, saying the brothers shot their parents to secure a multimillion-dollar inheritance. Defense attorneys, however, claimed the brothers acted out of fear after years of sexual abuse by their father, a claim that has remained central to their legal battles and public support campaigns.

Their eligibility for parole came after a Los Angeles judge in May reduced their sentences to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible because California law recognizes offenders under 26 as “youthful” at the time of their crimes.

According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the parole board will evaluate the brothers individually over video from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego. Erik’s hearing is scheduled for Thursday, with Lyle’s to follow on Friday. The board will consider their criminal history, the circumstances and motivation behind the murders, expressions of remorse, rehabilitation efforts in prison, and their plans for life if released.

Even if parole is granted, the decision faces further review. The board’s chief counsel has 120 days to examine the ruling, followed by a 30-day review from Gov. Gavin Newsom, who holds final authority to affirm or deny parole. Newsom previously directed the board to conduct a formal risk assessment of the brothers, stressing that the key issue is whether they pose “an unreasonable risk to public safety.”

The parole hearings come amid renewed public interest in the Menendez case. A wave of true-crime documentaries and dramatizations—including Netflix’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story—has reignited debate over whether the brothers are murderers driven by greed or victims of long-term abuse. Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian have also voiced support for their release, and rallies have been held in Los Angeles calling for a reassessment of their convictions.

The brothers’ lawyer, Mark Geragos, has pointed to their rehabilitation, noting their participation in educational programs, self-help classes, and the creation of support groups inside prison. Last year, then–Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón initiated a resentencing petition, which ultimately allowed the brothers the chance for parole. However, prosecutors who opposed the decision argued that the brothers had not fully accepted responsibility for their crimes.

Beyond parole, the Menendez brothers also have a pending habeas corpus petition filed in May 2023 that asks the courts to reexamine their convictions, citing new evidence that they say supports their long-standing allegations of sexual abuse by their father. A judge last month ordered Los Angeles prosecutors to explain why the case should not be reopened.

One media representative has been selected by the corrections department to observe the parole hearings virtually and provide updates to the press at intervals.

Hamas Accepts Arab Ceasefire Proposal On Gaza As Palestinian Death Toll Passes 62,000

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Dubai (BN24) – Hamas said Monday it had accepted a new proposal from Arab mediators for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, even as Israel signaled its positions remain unchanged. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that the Palestinian death toll from nearly 22 months of war has now surpassed 62,000.

U.S. President Donald Trump cast doubt on the fragile process, warning in a social media post that hostages would only be released “when Hamas is confronted and destroyed.” His remarks came as Israel moved forward with plans to reoccupy Gaza City and other densely populated areas following the collapse of earlier ceasefire efforts, deepening fears of a worsening humanitarian crisis.

Mass protests swept through Israel on Sunday, with hundreds of thousands demanding the return of hostages still held in Gaza. Many families of abductees voiced anger over Israel’s expanded military campaign, which they fear could further endanger their loved ones.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said mediators are working to revive a U.S.-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire. Under the plan, some of the estimated 50 remaining hostages would be released, and negotiations would continue toward a permanent truce. Abdelatty confirmed that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff has been invited to join the talks.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya have already engaged in the Cairo discussions. An Egyptian official told The Associated Press that the new proposal includes minor changes to Israel’s troop withdrawal schedule and provides guarantees for talks on a lasting ceasefire during the initial truce. The plan is said to be almost identical to one Israel previously accepted, though Jerusalem has yet to participate in the current round.

Israeli officials, speaking anonymously, said the government’s core demands remain unchanged: the full release of hostages, the disarmament of Hamas, and enduring security control over Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted Israel would not end the war until those goals were met, while framing Hamas’ acceptance of the proposal as a sign it was under “massive pressure.”

Gaza’s Health Ministry said 62,004 Palestinians have been killed and more than 156,000 injured since the war began, with women and children comprising nearly half of the dead. The ministry reported that nearly 2,000 people have been killed while seeking humanitarian aid since May, including in chaotic scenes around U.N. convoys. Witnesses and rights groups accuse Israeli forces of firing on civilians, though Israel maintains it only fired warning shots.

Meanwhile, aid groups warn Gaza is on the brink of famine. The ministry reported five new deaths from malnutrition on Monday, including two children, bringing the total of child deaths from hunger-related causes to at least 112. Amnesty International accused Israel of waging a “deliberate campaign of starvation,” an allegation Israel has rejected, blaming U.N. agencies for distribution failures.

The United Nations World Food Program said community kitchens in Gaza produced 380,000 meals daily last week, far below the more than 1 million meals provided in April, underscoring the growing humanitarian emergency.

associated press

Neymar Jr. Breaks Down In Tears After Santos’ Devastating 6-0 Loss To Vasco Da Gama

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SAO PAULO (BN24) — Neymar Jr. was visibly shaken and in tears following Santos FC’s crushing 6-0 loss to Vasco da Gama in a crucial Serie A clash on Sunday. The result marked the worst defeat of Neymar’s storied career and left Santos teetering dangerously close to relegation.

Santos entered the match in a precarious position, battling relegation with just 21 points and sitting in 15th place. The club’s hopes were dashed as Philippe Coutinho’s performance propelled Vasco to a dominant win. Neymar, unable to make a significant impact, left the field in tears, a rare moment of raw emotion from the Brazilian forward.

“This is a shame. I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life,” Neymar said, wiping tears from his eyes. “I’m embarrassed. I’m totally disappointed with our performance.”

The emotional outpouring was evident as Neymar struggled to come to terms with the scale of the loss. In addition to the defeat, Neymar picked up his third yellow card of the season, which will rule him out of Santos’ next match against Bahia.

Head coach Fernando Diniz consoled Neymar as he walked off the pitch, but the result also had immediate consequences off the field. Santos announced the dismissal of head coach Cleber Xavier, who was let go by the club’s board shortly after the final whistle.

With both clubs fighting relegation, this was a make-or-break match, and the defeat left Santos with little margin for error as they continue their battle to stay in Brazil’s top flight. Neymar, however, acknowledged the frustration of the fans, who had every right to voice their displeasure, though he urged for protests to remain non-violent.

“The fans have every right to protest, obviously without violence,” Neymar explained. “But if they want to curse or insult us, they are in their right.”

Reflecting on his tears, Neymar admitted that they were born out of frustration and helplessness. “The tears were from anger, from everything. Unfortunately, I couldn’t help at all. Honestly, it was total crap — that’s the reality,” he said.

The loss not only dealt a devastating blow to Santos’ survival hopes but also marked a new low for Neymar in his professional journey. The club must now find a way to regroup quickly as they face a battle against relegation, with Neymar at the heart of their survival efforts.

42 Foreign Nationals Convicted of Cybercrimes and Ponzi Schemes Deported by Nigeria

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LAGOS, Nigeria (BN24) – In a significant move to combat cybercrime and financial fraud, Nigeria has commenced the deportation of 42 Chinese and Philippine nationals convicted of cyber terrorism and Ponzi scheme offences. The first group of deportees left Nigeria on Sunday, August 17, at 2:00 p.m. local time. These individuals were part of a larger group of 192 foreign nationals implicated in a wide-scale cyber fraud operation, initially exposed during a major police raid in December 2023.

The deportations are part of a broader crackdown on illegal online activities, with additional batches scheduled for Monday, August 18, and Tuesday, August 19. All of the convicted individuals have been transferred to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), which is handling their removal from the country.

The cybercrime syndicate, which had been operating on a large scale, was apprehended during a coordinated operation on Oyin Jolayemi Street in Victoria Island, Lagos. A total of 759 suspects were detained during the raid. The convicted foreigners, primarily Chinese and Philippine nationals, had been involved in elaborate Ponzi schemes and cyber fraud, using fake online identities to deceive and defraud victims. These fraudulent operations also included training employees of Genting International Co. Limited in deceptive and illegal practices.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which led the prosecution, confirmed that the charges included violations under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act of 2006. EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede called the convictions a major milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against cybercrime and financial fraud, noting the significant impact these crimes had on Nigeria’s financial security.

The EFCC stressed that these crimes were not only a direct attack on individuals but also posed a serious threat to Nigeria’s national security and financial integrity. The deportations signal Nigeria’s commitment to tackling the growing issue of cybercrime, which has increasingly become a global concern.

Keywords: Nigeria deportations, cybercrime, Ponzi schemes, financial fraud, Chinese nationals, Philippine nationals, EFCC, cyber terrorism, cyber fraud, Lagos raid

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