COUNTY DURHAM, England (BN24) — A British skydiver who leapt 15,500 feet from a plane without deploying her parachute died by suicide just hours after ending her relationship with her boyfriend, an inquest has ruled.
Jade Damarell, 32, was killed instantly when she struck the ground at Wrefords’ Farm in Peterlee, according to evidence presented before coroner Dr. Leslie Hamilton, who confirmed the cause of death as suicide.
Damarell, an experienced jumper with more than 500 skydives, had broken up with her boyfriend of eight months, Ben Goodfellow, the night before her death. Handwritten notes addressed to her family were found at around 2:30 a.m. on April 27, the inquest heard.
On the morning of her final jump, she was seen eating breakfast by Bryn Chaffe, co-owner of Sky-High Skydiving. Chaffe told the hearing she appeared quiet but added that her demeanor was not unusual.
Damarell completed six routine jumps the previous day without any problems, but on her last descent she made no attempt to deploy her parachute or emergency backup. Investigators revealed that she had disabled her automatic activation device, which is designed to release a parachute at a set altitude. A report by British Skydiving later confirmed her equipment was fully functional.
Her cause of death was recorded as blunt trauma from multiple severe injuries, including a fractured skull. Durham Constabulary said her death was not being treated as suspicious, while Sky-High Skydiving described the tragedy as “a deliberate act” and ruled out negligence by the club.
In a statement following the inquest, her family paid tribute to Damarell, describing her as a “brilliant, beautiful, brave and truly extraordinary person” who lived with passion, adventure and kindness.
“Jade loved the sport with a passion, and it brought her so much joy,” the family said. “Sky-High handled the tragedy and investigation into Jade’s death professionally and with compassion that allowed us to all share in our grief.”
Her mother, Liz, honored her memory with a final tandem skydive organized by the club.
The family added that by speaking openly about her death, they hope to encourage more compassion around mental health struggles.
“We miss Jade beyond words, but Jade’s love, brilliance, courage and light will live on in our family and among all those who knew and loved her,” they said.
TEHRAN, Iran (BN24) — In a stark demonstration of Iran’s use of public executions under Islamic law, a man convicted of murdering a woman and her three children was publicly hanged from a crane as a crowd gathered to watch, cheer, and applaud in a southern city on August 19.
Graphic footage widely circulated online shows the condemned man, identified as Sajad Molayi Hakani, blindfolded with a noose around his neck, standing on a raised platform moments before the crane lifts him into the air. Spectators, including young children, are visible in the crowd, some clapping as the execution is carried out in broad daylight.
Hakani had been sentenced under qisas, the Islamic principle of “retaliation in kind,” for the killings committed during a robbery in October. Iranian judicial officials said he was found guilty of murdering a mother and her three children in a brutal attack that shocked the Fars province.
Authorities confirmed the execution was conducted in public with full state sanction. The man operating the crane appeared to be part of the official execution team, emphasizing the procedural and punitive nature of the sentence.
Sadrallah Rajaei, head of the judiciary in Fars province, stated that Hakani’s wife, Masha Akbari, who was also implicated in the crime, is scheduled for execution in prison. “The qisas sentence of the second defendant in this case, who is the wife of the first defendant, will be carried out in prison in the presence of the victims’ next of kin,” Rajaei said.
The case is one of several recent examples of Iran’s strict application of capital punishment. On the same day, another public execution reportedly took place in the northern city of Kordkuy, Golestan province. Provincial judiciary chief Heidar Asiabi confirmed the hanging of a man convicted of fatally stabbing a couple and a young woman with a hunting knife late last year. That execution was also conducted publicly, at the alleged crime scene, just before dawn.
Human rights groups have long criticized Iran for its frequent and public use of capital punishment, particularly executions carried out by hanging in front of large crowds. Iran remains among the top countries in the world for recorded executions annually, with authorities often invoking Islamic law and public deterrence as justification.
The public hanging in Fars — captured and shared widely on social media — has once again reignited international concerns about the spectacle of death and the role of public executions in Iran’s justice system.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (BN24) — Russian President Vladimir Putin is demanding that Ukraine surrender all remaining territory in the eastern Donbas region, renounce ambitions to join NATO and maintain permanent neutrality while keeping Western troops out of the country, according to three sources familiar with high-level Kremlin thinking.
Putin outlined these terms during his first meeting with President Donald Trump in more than four years, a three-hour closed-door summit in Alaska on Friday that focused almost entirely on potential compromise solutions for ending the war in Ukraine, the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.
Speaking alongside Trump after the meeting, Putin said the summit would hopefully open pathways to peace in Ukraine, though neither leader provided specific details about their discussions or any agreements reached.
The Russian proposal represents Putin’s most detailed peace offer since the war began, according to sources who described the Kremlin’s position. The terms would require Ukraine to completely withdraw from parts of the Donbas region it still controls, while Moscow would halt advances along current front lines in the southern Zaporizhzhia and Kherson provinces.
Russia currently controls approximately 88 percent of the Donbas and 73 percent of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, according to U.S. intelligence estimates and open-source data analysis.
Putin’s latest proposal marks a modification from his June 2024 territorial demands, which required Ukraine to cede the entirety of four provinces Moscow claims as part of Russia. Kyiv rejected those earlier terms as tantamount to unconditional surrender.
Under the new framework, Moscow would be willing to return small portions of the Kharkiv, Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk regions currently under Russian control, the sources said.
Putin maintains his previous demands that Ukraine formally abandon NATO membership aspirations and provide legally binding pledges that the U.S.-led military alliance will not expand further eastward. The proposal also calls for limitations on Ukrainian military forces and guarantees that no Western peacekeeping troops would be deployed on Ukrainian soil.
The two sides remain fundamentally divided more than three years after Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, following Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and prolonged fighting between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces in eastern regions.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reported proposals.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected the concept of withdrawing from internationally recognized Ukrainian territory as part of any peace agreement. The Ukrainian leader has described the industrial Donbas region as a critical fortress preventing Russian advances deeper into Ukrainian territory.
“If we’re talking about simply withdrawing from the east, we cannot do that,” Zelenskyy told reporters in comments released Thursday by Kyiv. “It is a matter of our country’s survival, involving the strongest defensive lines.”
NATO membership remains a strategic objective enshrined in Ukraine’s constitution and represents what Kyiv considers its most reliable long-term security guarantee. Zelenskyy has maintained that Russia has no authority to determine alliance membership decisions.
The White House and NATO headquarters did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reported Russian proposals.
Samuel Charap, chair in Russia and Eurasia Policy at RAND Corporation, a U.S.-based policy research organization, said any requirement for Ukraine to withdraw from the Donbas remained politically and strategically unacceptable to Kyiv.
“Openness to ‘peace’ on terms categorically unacceptable to the other side could be more of a performance for Trump than a sign of true willingness to compromise,” Charap said. “The only way to test that proposition is to begin a serious process at the working level to hash out those details.”
Russian forces currently occupy approximately one-fifth of Ukraine, an area roughly equivalent to the size of Ohio, according to U.S. assessments and open-source mapping data.
The three Kremlin sources described the Anchorage summit as creating the best opportunity for peace since the war’s inception because it featured specific discussions about Russian terms and demonstrated Putin’s willingness to make territorial concessions.
“Putin is ready for peace, for compromise. That is the message that was conveyed to Trump,” one source said.
The sources cautioned that Moscow remains uncertain whether Ukraine would accept surrendering remaining Donbas territory, warning that the war would continue if no agreement is reached. They also expressed uncertainty about whether the United States would provide any recognition of Russian-controlled Ukrainian territories.
A fourth source indicated that while economic considerations are secondary for Putin, the Russian leader understands his country’s economic vulnerabilities and the massive resources required for further territorial expansion into Ukraine.
Trump has stated his intention to end what he calls the “bloodbath” of the war and establish his legacy as a “peacemaker president.” On Monday, Trump announced he had begun arranging a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian leaders, to be followed by a trilateral summit including the U.S. president.
“I believe Vladimir Putin wants to see it ended,” Trump said during an Oval Office meeting with Zelenskyy. “I feel confident we are going to get it solved.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday that Putin was prepared to meet with Zelenskyy but insisted all issues must be resolved in advance, while questioning Zelenskyy’s authority to sign any peace agreement.
Putin has repeatedly challenged Zelenskyy’s legitimacy, noting that the Ukrainian president’s term was scheduled to expire in May 2024 but no new presidential election has been conducted due to wartime conditions. Kyiv maintains that Zelenskyy remains the legitimate president under Ukrainian law.
Leaders of Britain, France and Germany have expressed skepticism about Putin’s genuine desire to end the conflict through negotiated settlement.
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff played an instrumental role in facilitating the summit and current peace initiative, according to two Russian sources. Witkoff met with Putin and Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov on August 6, during which Putin clearly conveyed his readiness to compromise and outlined acceptable peace terms.
If Russia and Ukraine reach an agreement, several formal frameworks could structure a final deal, including a possible three-way Russia-Ukraine-U.S. accord recognized by the U.N. Security Council, one source said.
Another option involves reviving the failed 2022 Istanbul agreements, where Russia and Ukraine discussed Ukrainian permanent neutrality in exchange for security guarantees from the five permanent U.N. Security Council members: Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.
“There are two choices: war or peace, and if there is no peace, then there is more war,” one source said.
Austin, Texas (BN24) – Texas Republicans approved a sweeping redistricting plan Wednesday that aims to flip five Democratic-held U.S. House seats and strengthen President Donald Trump’s push to maintain his party’s narrow majority in Congress ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The Texas House passed the map on a party-line vote of 88-52 after Democrats ended a two-week walkout that had stalled legislative action. The measure now moves to the state Senate, with Republican Gov. Greg Abbott expected to sign it into law.
The unusual mid-decade redistricting was carried out at Trump’s urging as Republicans seek to insulate their slim control of the U.S. House. Democrats denounced the move as a partisan power grab and accused Republicans of deliberately weakening the voting strength of minority communities in violation of federal law.
“This is Donald Trump’s map,” Democratic state Rep. John Bucy said during debate on the House floor. “It clearly manufactures five more Republican seats in Congress because Trump knows voters are rejecting his agenda. This is not democracy — this is authoritarianism in real time.”
Republicans argued the map reflects political realities and will actually increase the number of majority-Hispanic districts. The GOP currently controls 25 of Texas’ 38 congressional seats under a Republican-drawn map passed four years ago.
8636UO-USA-ELECTION_TEXAS_REDISTRICTING_O_
The Texas showdown coincides with Democrats in California advancing their own redistricting package, backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, to flip five Republican seats. California’s Supreme Court rejected an emergency challenge from GOP lawmakers this week, clearing the way for a quick legislative vote.
The clash between the two most populous states underscores how both parties are using redistricting as a weapon in an increasingly bitter fight for control of Congress. Other battleground states, including Ohio, Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Maryland, and Illinois, are also considering new maps to bolster partisan advantages.
Redistricting typically occurs every 10 years after the U.S. Census, but Texas’ mid-decade effort highlights the stakes of narrow margins in Washington. Trump and his Republican allies have openly acknowledged their intent to leverage the new map to lock in power, even as Democrats and civil rights groups prepare legal challenges that could drag the dispute into federal courts.
Nationally, Republicans reclaimed the U.S. House in 2024 by only three seats, and history suggests the party in the White House often loses ground in midterm elections. With Trump’s approval ratings slipping since his return to office in January, the new Texas map represents one of his most aggressive plays to secure political survival.
Washington (BN24) – Uganda has reached an agreement with the United States to accept deported migrants, but only under strict conditions that exclude individuals with criminal records and unaccompanied minors, officials said Thursday.
In a statement, Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the two countries had “concluded” the deal and were now working on the “detailed modalities” of how it will be carried out. The ministry also emphasized that Kampala preferred the deportees to be of African nationalities.
It remains unclear whether a formal agreement has been signed, but the announcement marks the latest step in Uganda’s long-standing reputation for hosting displaced populations. However, International Relations Minister Henry Okello Oryem stressed that the arrangement has clear limits.
“Uganda is known worldwide for its benevolent refugee policy, but there are boundaries,” Oryem told The Associated Press. “We are talking about cartels — people unwanted in their own countries. How can we integrate them into local communities in Uganda?”
He further questioned the fairness of the arrangement, noting that discussions between Kampala and Washington were focused on “visas, tariffs, sanctions, and related issues — not accepting illegal aliens from the U.S. That would be unfair to Ugandans.”
The development comes weeks after the United States deported five men with criminal backgrounds to Eswatini and sent another eight to South Sudan. Uganda’s stipulation that it will not take in individuals with criminal histories reflects concerns about security and integration challenges in host communities.
LUANDA, Angola (BN24) — Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, will look to extend their unbeaten run and take a major step toward a second AfroBasket title as they clash with Senegal in a hotly anticipated quarter-final Wednesday at the Pavilhão Multiusos de Luanda.
The matchup marks a significant test for Nigeria, who topped Group B with a perfect record, sweeping all three of their group-stage opponents. D’Tigers opened the tournament with a dominant 77-59 victory over Madagascar, followed by a statement win against defending champions Tunisia, 87-66. Their third game, a hard-fought 99-90 triumph over Cameroon, sealed their passage to the last eight with maximum points.
Head coach Mohammed Abdulrahman has emphasized a high-tempo, defensively aggressive identity for his squad, built on speed and ball pressure. “Our identity is to play good defence and then see if we can run and get quick and easy baskets,” Abdulrahman said before the quarter-final. “We are not the biggest team, so we turn that into an advantage by staying quick on the floor and trying to choke opponents defensively.”
Senegal arrives at the quarter-final via a more turbulent route. The Teranga Lions started strong with an 88-53 win over Uganda, but stumbled against Egypt in a 91-77 loss before recovering to defeat Mali 80-70. Finishing outside the top two in their group, they were forced into a playoff to reach the quarter-finals. In that do-or-die encounter, Senegal dispatched South Sudan 78-65 to earn the right to face Nigeria.
The encounter renews one of African basketball’s most enduring rivalries. Nigeria and Senegal have met eight times in previous competitions, with the 2015 champions holding a slight edge with five wins to Senegal’s three. Their rivalry dates back to the 2001 AfroBasket, where D’Tigers claimed an 80-65 win. Notable clashes include Nigeria’s semi-final victories in 2015 and 2017, as well as Senegal’s lone knockout win in the 2013 quarter-finals.
Recent meetings have been split. Nigeria dominated 89-61 in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, only for Senegal to bounce back with an 84-63 win months later. Most recently, at the 2023 FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Lagos, the Lions edged the hosts 93-87 in a high-scoring affair.
D’Tigers will count heavily on NBA guard Josh Okogie of the Houston Rockets, along with co-captains Ike Nwamu and veteran forward Stan Okoye, the lone holdover from Nigeria’s historic 2015 AfroBasket title-winning squad. Caleb Agada has also emerged as a key contributor, supported by a versatile bench that has stepped up when needed.
Senegal’s primary weapons lie in the hands of captain Brancou Badio and guard Jean Jacques Boissy. Badio poured in 31 points in the crucial playoff win over South Sudan, while Ibrahim Faye has been a constant interior threat on both ends of the floor.
With a place in the semi-finals at stake, both teams are expected to bring their best to Luanda in what promises to be one of the marquee fixtures of the 2025 AfroBasket quarter-final stage.
Uthai Thani, Thailand (BN24) — A 17-year-old male student at a private school in Uthai Thani province violently assaulted his female math teacher after she refused to raise his midterm test score from 18 to 20, leaving her with broken ribs and other injuries.
The incident occurred on August 5 after the grade 11 student questioned why he did not receive a perfect score on the exam. The teacher explained that while his answers were correct, he failed to show his working process, which prevented her from awarding full marks. She advised him to consult other teachers, who later confirmed that her marking was accurate.
Unsatisfied, the student returned to the classroom and demanded that the teacher increase his grade. When she refused, he became agitated, kicked a desk, and stormed out. About 10 minutes later, he came back, insisting that she apologize. The teacher asked, “Who should be apologizing?” triggering the teenager’s violent outburst.
According to witnesses, the student struck the teacher 17 times in front of her class, punching her in the head and kicking her as she tried to escape. She was later rushed to a hospital where doctors confirmed broken ribs, a bruised eye and swelling on her head.
Police said the teacher has filed a report and is expected to provide a formal statement. School officials confirmed the student has been removed from the institution. His parents have contacted the teacher to apologize for his actions.
The shocking classroom assault has drawn attention across Thailand, raising concerns about student violence and teacher safety.
NEW YORK (BN24) — 2Face Idibia’s “African Queen” has topped Billboard’s list of the Top 50 Best Afrobeats Songs of All-Time. The 2004 hit, considered a key track in the global rise of Afrobeats, secured the No. 1 position, cementing its place as a landmark song in African music history.
Billboard’s ranking highlights the dominance of Nigerian artists in the genre. Wizkid stands out with two tracks in the top 10: “Ojuelegba” at No. 2 and “Essence” at No. 5, featuring Tems. Both songs have garnered massive international success, further solidifying Wizkid’s position as one of the most influential figures in Afrobeats.
Other Nigerian artists also made strong showings in the list’s top 10. Rema’s “Calm Down” ranked at No. 4, while Favour’s “Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix)” secured the No. 3 spot. CKay’s “Love Nwantiti” landed at No. 6, continuing its global success. D’banj’s “Oliver Twist”, Davido’s “Fall”, Burna Boy’s “Ye”, and P-Square’s “Chop My Money (Remix)” featuring Akon, also made the cut in the top 10.
The list also included two Ghanaian artists, Fuse ODG and Sarkodie, representing the broader West African influence on the Afrobeats genre. Fuse ODG’s “Azonto” (featuring Itz Tiffany) placed at No. 18, and Sarkodie’s “Adonai” (featuring Castro) came in at No. 19.
Beyond the top 10, Styl-Plus’s “Olufunmi” claimed the No. 11 spot, while 9ice’s “Gongo Aso” ranked No. 12. P-Square’s “Do Me” and Davido’s “Dami Duro” rounded out the list at No. 13 and No. 14, respectively.
Yemi Alade is the highest-ranked female artist, with her track “Johnny” securing the No. 15 position. Wande Coal’s “Bumper to Bumper” and Phyno’s “Fada Fada” (featuring Olamide) rounded out the top 20, further demonstrating the diversity and reach of Afrobeats music.
The rankings showcase not only the growing international appeal of Afrobeats but also the enduring influence of Nigerian artists on the global music scene.
TIM VILLAGE, Plateau (BN24) — Five people were killed and 10 thatched houses set on fire in a fresh attack by suspected herdsmen on Tim village in the Chakfem District of Mangu Local Government Area in Plateau State on Tuesday evening, Aug. 19, 2025.
Several others were injured in the attack, which left the village in shock and fear. Initial reports suggest the assault may have been a reprisal linked to allegations of cattle rustling in the area, according to security analyst Zagazola Makama.
The bodies of the victims have since been buried in accordance with local customs, while the injured are receiving treatment at nearby hospitals.
Residents of Tim village have criticized the delayed response of security forces, attributing it to the village’s difficult terrain, poor network coverage, and its remote location. Although calm has returned to the area, locals remain tense and fear further reprisal attacks if underlying grievances are not addressed.
The attack comes amid increasing violence between herders and farmers in Plateau State, with cattle rustling often cited as a major trigger for conflict.
KISII, Kenya (BN24) — Heart-wrenching images surfaced this week showing two young boys gazing at the body of their 3-year-old friend, Moses Mokua, who tragically passed away after a visit to a neighbor’s home in Kisii County.
Moses, described by family as healthy and playful, was in the care of a relative at his grandmother’s compound on August 6, 2025. He was invited by a neighbor to play with her child, but when Moses did not return home, a search ensued. The search ended in devastation as Moses was discovered in a water drum, a discovery that has left the community in shock.
The neighbor’s request for Moses to join her child for a playdate has since been marred by the tragedy. His family, overwhelmed with grief, confirmed that the boy was found unresponsive in the water drum. The loss has raised questions within the neighborhood, as no one could have predicted such an outcome from what seemed like an innocent visit.
Moses was laid to rest on August 19, 2025, in a ceremony that drew mourning friends and family. Among the most poignant moments were the images of Moses’s young friends standing by his coffin, their faces filled with confusion and sorrow. The photos have since sparked emotional reactions on social media, with many Kenyans expressing sympathy for the children, who appeared unable to understand why their friend wouldn’t wake up to join them in play. Some speculated that the young boys were trying to make sense of the situation, wondering what had happened to their friend, while others suggested that the sight of Moses lying motionless may have left them wondering why he could not get up.
The untimely death of Moses Mokua has left a profound impact on his family, friends, and the community at large. The event serves as a reminder of the fragile nature of life, especially among children, and the profound grief that comes with the loss of young innocence.
