PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (BN24) — Authorities in Rivers State, Nigeria, have arrested 27 parents and five senior pastors in connection with a widely circulated video allegedly depicting the abuse of children during a so-called spiritual cleansing ritual.
The Rivers State Police Command said the arrests followed a high-level investigation launched after the footage, which showed minors undergoing what has been described as dehumanizing treatment, went viral on social media. The video sparked public outrage and calls for immediate government intervention.
Speaking to reporters at the Eneka Divisional Police Station in Port Harcourt, Police Public Relations Officer SP Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed that 32 children linked to the incident were rescued and are now in protective custody. The minors, some visibly traumatized, were reportedly subjected to harsh conditions under the pretense of exorcism and spiritual purification.
“The command remains committed to safeguarding the rights and dignity of minors and will not hesitate to prosecute anyone found culpable,” Iringe-Koko said, emphasizing the police’s zero-tolerance stance on child rights violations.
Authorities have not disclosed the identities of those arrested, but the pastors are believed to be affiliated with local Pentecostal churches that allegedly endorse extreme deliverance practices. The parents, according to investigators, willingly subjected their children to the so-called cleansing rituals, citing spiritual beliefs.
The case has reignited debate around the abuse of children in the name of religion and the role of faith-based organizations in perpetuating harmful practices. Human rights groups have praised the police for acting swiftly but are urging the government to impose stricter oversight on religious institutions involved in unregulated spiritual activities.
Police say the investigation is ongoing and more arrests may follow as they work to dismantle what appears to be a coordinated network of child abuse masked as religious deliverance.
LONDON (BN24) — In a deeply moving show of solidarity and respect, Chelsea Football Club players have decided to donate a portion of their Club World Cup bonuses to the family of former Liverpool star Diogo Jota, who tragically died last month at the age of 28. The touching gesture follows Chelsea’s victory in the global tournament, for which the 24-man squad was awarded a collective bonus of £11.4 million.
Each member of Enzo Maresca’s squad is set to earn approximately £475,000 for their role in the Club World Cup triumph. However, in a remarkable act of compassion, the players have unanimously chosen to contribute part of their earnings to support Jota’s widow following the fatal car crash that claimed his life, as well as the lives of his brother André Silva and his three children.
The exact amount or percentage to be donated has not been disclosed, but the decision underscores the wider football community’s sense of unity in the face of personal tragedy. The bonuses, already subject to tax and social security deductions, will now also carry the added purpose of aiding a grieving family.
Jota, who joined Liverpool in 2020 and became a fan favorite at Anfield, made 182 appearances and scored 65 goals for the Reds. His untimely death has prompted tributes from across the footballing world, none more poignant than from his former club.
Liverpool FC has announced plans to permanently honor the Portuguese international. A bronze sculpture of Jota will be erected outside Anfield, immortalizing his contribution and memory. Additionally, the club will hold a minute’s silence ahead of their Premier League opener against Bournemouth on Friday. Players will wear a “Forever 20” emblem throughout the 2025/26 season, and Jota’s iconic No. 20 shirt has been retired at all levels of the club.
Fenway Sports Group CEO Michael Edwards emphasized the emotional gravity behind the tributes, stating that the club’s decision to memorialize Jota was made with the full involvement of his widow, Rute, and their extended family.
“As a club, we were all acutely aware of the sentiment of our supporters – and we felt exactly the same way,” Edwards said. “It was vitally important to us to involve Diogo’s wife, Rute, and his family in the decision and to ensure they were the first to know of our intention. I believe this is the first time in Liverpool Football Club’s history that such an honor has been bestowed upon an individual.”
“Diogo joined us in 2020, he won us number 20, and he wore – with honor, distinction, and affection – the number 20,” Edwards added. “As far as Liverpool Football Club is concerned, he will be forever our number 20.”
Chelsea’s compassionate response to Jota’s death has resonated across the sport, serving as a poignant reminder of the human connection that transcends club rivalries. Their donation not only honors the memory of a beloved player but also provides tangible support to a grieving family, further highlighting the depth of camaraderie within football’s global community.
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, England (BN24) — A former church and charity treasurer who embezzled £285,000 over nearly five years has been sentenced to four years in prison.
Terence Capstick, 75, exploited his volunteer financial roles at Winslow Parish Church and the Rogers Free Educational Trust to siphon large sums of money for personal use between January 2019 and October 2023.
Authorities confirmed Capstick stole £163,600 from the church’s account and a further £122,052 from the charitable trust. His fraudulent activity went undetected for several years before Thames Valley Police arrested him on March 19. He was formally charged on April 23 and later pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by abuse of position at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court.
Last week, Aylesbury Crown Court handed down the four-year custodial sentence. The conviction follows what investigators described as a thorough and evidence-driven operation by the Central Fraud Unit.
“This is the correct result in this case,” said Detective Constable Ross Acland. “Capstick systematically abused the position of trust he was placed in through greed and solely for personal gain. Over more than four years, he has taken community funds earmarked for good causes and used them to fund his lifestyle.”
Detective Inspector Duncan Wynn echoed the sentiment, highlighting the broader community damage: “This was a dishonest and selfish act which has had a significant financial and emotional effect on the community. I hope this lengthy custodial sentence illustrates the seriousness of fraud cases, which are often seen as a ‘victimless crime’ when this is clearly not the case.”
The Bishop of Buckingham, the Rt Revd Canon Dave Bull, responded to the sentencing with a message of gratitude and hope. “We are very grateful for the work of Thames Valley Police and the Courts service for bringing this regrettable case to justice. Fraud is a crime which has far-reaching consequences, not least the financial viability of a parish,” he said.
He also expressed support for the parish and those affected, noting prayers for the congregation and the team now responsible for overseeing church finances. “We also pray for rehabilitation and healing for the former treasurer who was sentenced on August 6.”
Thames Valley Police emphasized their continued efforts to target financial crimes and reaffirmed their commitment to protecting community resources from abuse.
WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump declared Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin “is not going to mess around with me” and expressed confidence that the Russian leader “wants a deal” hours before their historic Alaska summit aimed at ending the Ukraine war.
The meeting is scheduled for August 15, 2025, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, marking the first meeting between Trump and Putin since Trump was re-elected in 2024 and first since their last meeting in 2019 in Osaka.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump pushed back against suggestions that Putin held a “strong hand” ahead of their showdown, noting pointedly: “Well, he came to our country.” The president told reporters he believes Putin “would like to see a deal” and warned that without his leadership, Russia would have taken all of Ukraine.
“If I weren’t president, he would take over all of Ukraine. It’s a war that should have never happened,” Trump said. “If I weren’t president, in my opinion, he would much rather take over all of Ukraine – but I am president and he’s not going to mess around with me.”
Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was unlikely to be included in talks he described as a “feel-out meeting” to better understand Russia’s demands for ending its war in Ukraine. However, the president floated Alaska as the potential host for a second round of peace talks “very quickly” after Friday’s face-to-face meeting, this time bringing Zelensky and possibly “some European leaders” into the room.
“We have a meeting with President Putin tomorrow, I think it’s going to be a good meeting,” Trump said Thursday. “But the more important meeting will be the second meeting that we’re having. We’re going to have a meeting with President Putin, President Zelensky, myself, and maybe we’ll bring some of the European leaders along. Maybe not.”
The president expressed cautious optimism about the diplomatic prospects: “I think President Putin will make peace. I think President Zelensky will make peace. We’ll see if they can get along. And if they can it will be great.”
Trump acknowledged the high stakes of the encounter, warning there was a “25 percent chance” his meeting with Putin could end in failure. Yet the U.S.-Russia summit in Alaska is happening at a site where East meets West in a place familiar to both countries as a Cold War front line of missile defense, radar outposts and intelligence gathering.
The president likened the diplomatic encounter to “playing chess,” saying Friday’s initial talks will set up a second meeting between Putin and Zelensky if negotiations proceed favorably. Trump emphasized that no deal would be finalized without Ukraine’s president present.
“The second meeting is going to be very, very important, because that’s going to be a meeting where they make a deal,” Trump told Fox News Radio. “And I don’t want to use the word ‘divvy’ things up. But you know, to a certain extent, it’s not a bad term, okay?”
While Trump expressed hope for progress, he tempered expectations about immediate results. “I don’t know that we’re going to get an immediate ceasefire but I think it’s going to come,” he said. “I’m more interested in an immediate peace deal – getting peace fast.”
The announcement comes as Trump’s deadline for Russia to agree to a Ukraine ceasefire passed without any new action. Earlier, the discussion of a summit came amid the countdown to President Trump’s Friday deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine or face new sanctions and tariffs on Russian energy exports.
European leaders have been warning the U.S. president against making a deal without Ukraine, with leaders of six European nations and the EU calling for more pressure on Russia before the Trump-Putin summit. European leaders held a high-stakes meeting Wednesday with President Trump, Vice President Vance, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO’s chief ahead of Friday’s U.S.-Russia summit.
Putin earlier attempted diplomatic outreach by praising Trump’s “sincere efforts” to reach peace. The Russian leader suggested Moscow and Washington could pursue nuclear arms discussions following their meeting, even as Russia continues military preparations.
The summit location holds symbolic significance – Alaska, sold by Russia to the United States 158 years ago for $7.2 million, will now be where Putin attempts to negotiate territorial concessions from Ukraine. Trump previewed terms of a potential peace deal that could include “some swapping of territories.”
The meeting represents the most significant diplomatic effort to end the Ukraine conflict since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022. Intelligence estimates suggest Russia has lost approximately 250,000 troops while Ukraine has suffered around 100,000 casualties during the prolonged conflict.
Both leaders face intense international scrutiny as they attempt to navigate competing demands from allies and domestic constituencies while addressing one of the most consequential geopolitical crises of the decade.
MANILA, Philippines (BN24) — The United States has deployed two warships to disputed waters in the South China Sea after a collision between Chinese naval and coast guard vessels earlier this week during a high-stakes confrontation with a Philippine ship near Scarborough Shoal. The incident has heightened regional tensions and drawn sharp warnings from Washington, Manila, and allied nations over maritime safety and freedom of navigation in the contested waterway.
The guided missile destroyer USS Higgins and the littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati sailed within 30 nautical miles of Scarborough Shoal on Wednesday, shadowed closely by a Chinese navy vessel, Philippine coast guard officials confirmed. There were no reports of new confrontations during the U.S. transit, which came amid a surge in confrontations between Chinese and Philippine forces over the rich fishing grounds off the northwestern Philippines.
The move followed a collision on Monday, when a Chinese navy destroyer and a Chinese coast guard ship rammed into each other while attempting to block the Philippine coast guard vessel BRP Suluan. Philippine officials said the incident occurred just 10.5 nautical miles from Scarborough Shoal — an area claimed by both China and the Philippines. Video released by Manila showed the Chinese coast guard firing water cannons at the smaller Philippine patrol ship before the naval vessel abruptly cut across its path, striking the bow of its own coast guard ship.
The collision left the Chinese coast guard vessel with a shattered bow and inflicted dents and deep scrapes on the Chinese navy warship. The Philippine coast guard said the incident underscores the risks posed by Beijing’s increasingly aggressive maneuvers in the contested waters, urging China to follow international maritime collision regulations.
China has accused the Philippines of “intruding” into its territory, with Chinese coast guard spokesperson Gan Yu telling state-run media that Manila ignored repeated warnings to leave the area. Scarborough Shoal, long a flashpoint in the South China Sea, is claimed by China, the Philippines, and several other countries, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.
Japan, Australia, and New Zealand joined the Philippines and the United States in condemning what they described as “dangerous and unprofessional” conduct by Chinese vessels. Japanese Ambassador to Manila Endo Kazuya said repeated Chinese actions “increase tensions” and undermine the rule of law in the region, while the Australian Embassy called for “de-escalation, restraint and respect for international law.”
The U.S. Navy’s presence in the area is part of its long-running freedom-of-navigation operations aimed at challenging China’s sweeping territorial claims and entry restrictions in the South China Sea. Washington has warned repeatedly that under its mutual defense treaty with Manila, it is obligated to defend the Philippines if its armed forces come under attack in the region.
The tensions also come as Washington and Manila discuss expanding U.S. military deployments in the Philippines, including the possible stationing of more missile launchers in strategic locations to deter Chinese actions. Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez said no final decision has been reached but confirmed it is part of ongoing defense cooperation talks.
Hours before the U.S. warships arrived near Scarborough, a Chinese fighter jet made a dangerously close pass — as close as 500 feet — to a Philippine coast guard surveillance aircraft carrying journalists. The Chinese pilot reportedly flew within 200 feet above the smaller plane during a 20-minute aerial standoff.
Scarborough Shoal remains one of the most volatile flashpoints in the South China Sea, a critical global trade route where overlapping claims and increasing militarization have made incidents like this week’s collision more frequent and dangerous.
New Delhi (BN24) – At least 56 people were killed and dozens remain missing after sudden flash floods swept through a remote Himalayan village in Indian-administered Kashmir, washing away homes, vehicles, and a community kitchen serving hundreds of Hindu pilgrims, officials said Wednesday.
The disaster struck late Tuesday in Chasoti, a mountainous settlement about 85 miles (136 kilometers) northeast of Jammu, where pilgrims en route to the Machail Mata temple had gathered. Local authorities said an estimated 80 people are still unaccounted for as rescue teams battle through mud, debris, and treacherous terrain to locate survivors.
Deputy minister for science and technology Jitendra Singh said the flooding was triggered by torrential rains caused by a cloudburst — a sudden and intense downpour over a small area that is increasingly common in India’s Himalayan regions. The deluge tore through the village with little warning, uprooting trees, sweeping away motorbikes and cars, and destroying the main communal kitchen where more than 200 people were gathered.
Rescuers have brought at least 300 people to safety, including 50 with serious injuries who are receiving treatment at nearby hospitals, according to local official Susheel Kumar Sharma. Ramesh Kumar, the divisional commissioner of Kishtwar district, said police, disaster response teams, and units from the Indian army and air force have joined the search and rescue effort.
Abdul Majeed Bichoo, a 75-year-old resident from a neighboring village, described the scene as “complete devastation from all sides.” He said he watched as eight bodies were pulled from beneath thick mud and debris. “It was heartbreaking and unbearable,” he said. “I have not seen this kind of destruction in my life.”
Television footage showed panicked pilgrims wading through chest-deep water as the torrent surged into homes and shops. The annual Machail Mata pilgrimage, which began in July and was scheduled to end on September 5, has been suspended.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the situation is being “monitored closely” and expressed his condolences to the victims’ families, offering prayers for those affected by the flooding.
Experts say climate change is intensifying extreme weather events in India’s Himalayan belt, where unplanned development has worsened the impact of cloudbursts, floods, and landslides. Just last week, a similar flood destroyed an entire village in the neighboring state of Uttarakhand.
California (BN24) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday called on state lawmakers to approve a November ballot measure that would allow Democrats to redraw California’s congressional map — a direct counter to Texas Republicans’ mid-decade redistricting effort backed by President Donald Trump.
Newsom’s proposal, called the Election Rigging Response Act, would temporarily bypass California’s independent redistricting commission and let the Legislature enact new congressional lines favoring Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The move mirrors aggressive GOP efforts in Texas, where Republicans are seeking to add as many as five U.S. House seats.
“It’s not complicated,” Newsom said during an event in Los Angeles alongside other Democratic leaders. “We’re doing this in reaction to a president of the United States that called a sitting governor of Texas and said, ‘Find me five seats.’ We cannot unilaterally disarm.”
Democrats currently hold 43 of California’s 52 House districts, while Republicans control 25 of Texas’ 38 congressional seats. If the GOP’s proposed Texas map is enacted, 30 of those seats would have voted for Trump in last year’s presidential election.
The California initiative, which must pass both the Legislature and a statewide vote, is the latest escalation in a growing national battle over congressional boundaries. Republican-led states can typically redraw maps with only legislative and gubernatorial approval, while in California and other Democratic states the process is more complex.
Newsom said lawmakers would begin advancing the ballot measure Monday, with final legislative approval expected by the end of next week. Draft maps could be unveiled within days, which he claimed would “neutralize” Texas Republicans’ plans.
The push comes after Texas Democrats fled their state last month to block the GOP redistricting vote, urging Democratic governors nationwide to respond in kind. Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu said Thursday that California introducing new maps was a key condition for his members to return home.
Republicans dismissed the move as partisan gamesmanship. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin also rejected criticism over the presence of Border Patrol agents near Newsom’s Los Angeles event, saying federal agents were “enforcing the law — not Gavin Newsom.”
In recent weeks, Newsom has taken his feud with Trump to social media, adopting the former president’s combative, all-caps style to draw attention to the fight over congressional control.
The ballot measure, if approved in November, would mark the first time in decades that California’s Legislature directly redrew congressional districts outside the regular 10-year cycle — underscoring the stakes in a political war that could shape the balance of power in Washington for years.
WASHINGTON (BN24) — Donald Trump is accelerating his campaign for the Nobel Peace Prize, presenting himself as a global “peacemaker” while preparing for a high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The push marks a striking shift from his first term, when he dismissed the idea of the award despite brokering normalization deals between Israel and several Arab states.
Now, aides say Trump not only wants the Nobel, but is actively working for it. The White House has amplified his role in a series of diplomatic breakthroughs, from easing tensions between Israel and Iran to mediating disputes in Armenia and Azerbaijan, Cambodia and Thailand, and Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Leaders of several of those nations have publicly backed his candidacy.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said last month that Trump has “brokered, on average, about one peace deal or ceasefire per month” during his six months back in office. She has raised the Nobel in three of her last four press briefings, while Trump has mentioned it seven times on social media since January, including six posts in June and July.
Friday’s meeting with Putin in Alaska could be the defining moment. If Trump can negotiate a ceasefire acceptable to Kyiv, it would be a diplomatic feat that eluded both Barack Obama and Joe Biden. The conflict has claimed nearly 1.5 million lives, and expectations for a breakthrough are tempered by deep divisions between Moscow and Kyiv.
The Nobel selection process remains beyond political influence. The five-member Norwegian committee operates independently, and deliberations are secret for 50 years. Past winners loom large in Trump’s orbit — from Theodore Roosevelt, who mediated the end of the Russo-Japanese War in 1906, to Obama, who received the prize less than a year into his presidency.
Despite his claims of promoting global fraternity, Trump’s “America First” trade policies, tariff disputes, and controversial suggestions to acquire Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal have strained some alliances. A former British diplomat described his Nobel push as “something of a joke in foreign capitals.”
Trump has nevertheless continued to cultivate endorsements. At a White House meeting last week, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev both voiced support for his Nobel bid. Pashinyan told Trump, “Hopefully you will invite us” to the ceremony. Trump replied: “Front row.”
Whether the Nobel committee will be swayed remains uncertain. As one Western diplomat put it: “This is not something you campaign for. You can’t buy it. Norway doesn’t need the money.”
New Mexico (BN24) – A former Republican state legislative candidate in New Mexico was sentenced Wednesday to 80 years in prison for masterminding a series of politically motivated drive-by shootings targeting the homes of Democratic officials following his 2022 election defeat.
Solomon Peña, 40, was convicted earlier this year on 13 felony charges for organizing and, in one instance, personally carrying out the attacks on four officials between December 2022 and January 2023 in Albuquerque, the state’s largest city. The shootings caused no injuries but sent shockwaves through the political landscape, drawing comparisons to other high-profile incidents of political violence, including the 2022 hammer attack on the husband of U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi.
Federal prosecutors said Peña’s actions were fueled by baseless conspiracy theories that he was the victim of election fraud. He lost his November 2022 race for the New Mexico House of Representatives to Democratic incumbent Miguel P. Garcia by a wide margin of 48 percentage points — roughly 3,600 votes. Despite the decisive loss, Peña refused to accept the results and pressured members of the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners not to certify the vote. His claims echoed unfounded allegations of widespread fraud that surged nationally after President Donald Trump refused to concede the 2020 presidential election.
When officials rejected his demands, Peña recruited Jose Trujillo and Demetrio Trujillo, among others, to carry out shootings at the homes of two county commissioners and two state legislators. Investigators said Peña paid the men for at least two of the attacks and later personally opened fire in one of the incidents.
The violence began within weeks of his defeat, with coordinated strikes on December 4, December 8, January 3, and January 5. Police recovered evidence linking Peña to the attacks, including ballistic matches and cellphone records.
Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina previously described Peña as the “mastermind” of the plot, while Mayor Tim Keller condemned the crimes as “a threat to our nation” and proof that political extremism had reached the city’s doorstep.
“This sentence sends a clear message — violence and intimidation have no place in our elections,” said U.S. Attorney for New Mexico Ryan Ellison after the sentencing.
Peña’s attorney, Nicholas Hart, said his client plans to appeal the conviction. Meanwhile, the two men he hired have pleaded guilty in connection with the shootings.
Tel Aviv (BN24) – Israeli gunfire killed at least 25 Palestinians in Gaza on Wednesday as people gathered for desperately needed aid, according to local health officials and witnesses, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his call for what he terms the “voluntary migration” of Palestinians from the war-torn enclave.
Netanyahu’s remarks, aired Tuesday on Israel’s i24 television, came as Israel prepared to expand its military offensive to parts of Gaza it does not yet control, including Gaza City, where hundreds of thousands of displaced residents are sheltering. “Give them the opportunity to leave — first from combat zones, and also from the strip if they want,” Netanyahu said. Critics warn the policy could amount to ethnic cleansing, while Netanyahu says it aligns with U.S. President Donald Trump’s vision of relocating much of Gaza’s population abroad.
Health workers at Nasser and Awda hospitals said those killed Wednesday were struck by Israeli fire either while approaching or waiting at aid distribution points. Fourteen people were killed in the Teina area, roughly 1.8 miles from a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) food distribution center, witnesses said. Another five died trying to reach a GHF site in the Netzarim corridor, while six others were fatally shot near the Morag corridor in southern Gaza, according to hospital reports.
The Israeli military said it had no knowledge of casualties in the Netzarim area and stressed there were no incidents at or near GHF sites that day. Israel and the U.S. back GHF as an alternative to the United Nations for aid delivery, accusing the U.N. of allowing Hamas to divert supplies — an allegation the U.N. denies.
The latest killings came as ceasefire efforts tentatively resumed in Cairo, where Hamas and Egyptian officials met to discuss a proposal for a 60-day truce, the release of some hostages, and increased humanitarian aid. Israel has not sent a delegation, and Netanyahu said he remains focused on recovering all hostages, both alive and dead. Hamas maintains it will only release captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, an Israeli withdrawal, and a permanent ceasefire.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced it had killed Hamas militant Abdullah Saeed Abd al-Baqin, accused of taking part in the Oct. 7, 2023 abduction of three hostages. That attack killed about 1,200 people in Israel and sparked a war that Gaza health authorities say has killed more than 61,700 Palestinians — roughly half of them women and children — and displaced nearly the entire population.
Violence also flared in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli settler gunfire killed a 35-year-old Palestinian, identified as Thamin Dawabshe, near the village of Duma. The military said he and others had thrown rocks at an off-duty soldier and another man, prompting warning shots before lethal fire. The killing underscored a surge in both settler and Palestinian violence in the West Bank since the war began.
