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Trump Administration Freezes $584 Million in UCLA Federal Grants Over Civil Rights Allegations

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Trump Administration Freezes $584 Million in UCLA Federal Grants Over Civil Rights Allegations

LOS ANGELES (BN24)— The Trump administration has suspended $584 million in federal research grants for UCLA, nearly double the figure previously reported, marking the first time a public university has faced such a freeze over allegations of civil rights violations tied to antisemitism and affirmative action.

Chancellor Julio Frenk confirmed the suspension Wednesday, warning the loss of funding from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Energy would have far-reaching consequences beyond California.

“If these funds remain suspended, it will be devastating for UCLA and for Americans across the nation,” Frenk said in a statement, citing the groundbreaking scientific, medical, and technological advances the university has produced.

The Education Department did not respond to requests for comment.

The freeze follows a Justice Department Civil Rights Division finding that UCLA violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by showing “deliberate indifference” in fostering a hostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students.

That determination came alongside a $6 million settlement UCLA reached with three Jewish students and a Jewish professor who alleged the university allowed pro-Palestinian protesters to block access to classes and campus facilities last year.

UCLA has pledged to improve campus safety and inclusivity. The settlement requires the school to contribute $2.3 million to eight organizations combating antisemitism and to create an Office of Campus and Community Safety with new protest management policies. Frenk, whose father and grandparents fled Nazi Germany and whose wife is the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, also launched an initiative to fight antisemitism and anti-Israel bias on campus.

James B. Milliken, president of the University of California system, said the UC is in talks with the administration over the allegations but criticized the funding cuts.

“These cuts do nothing to address antisemitism,” Milliken said. “Moreover, the extensive work that UCLA and the entire University of California have taken to combat antisemitism has apparently been ignored.” He called the suspended funding “a death knell for innovative work that saves lives, grows our economy, and fortifies our national security.”

The administration’s move follows a similar high-profile case at Columbia University, which agreed last month to pay $200 million to settle federal antidiscrimination allegations and saw $400 million in research funding restored. Officials have said the Columbia deal is serving as a model for other universities, pairing large financial penalties with compliance mandates.

The UCLA freeze is the latest escalation in the administration’s use of funding as leverage in disputes with higher education institutions over civil rights enforcement. Administration officials have said they intend to expand such measures to other schools facing similar allegations.

JD Vance to Host High-Level Trump Administration Meeting on Epstein Case Strategy-Report

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WASHINGTON (BN24) — Vice President JD Vance is expected to convene a closed-door meeting Wednesday evening with senior Trump administration officials to map out the White House’s next moves in the politically charged Jeffrey Epstein scandal, according to multiple media reports.

CNN and ABC News, citing sources familiar with the matter, said the strategy session at Vance’s residence will include Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. The officials are set to discuss whether to release the Justice Department’s transcript of its recent two-day interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate and convicted sex trafficker.

Blanche — a former personal lawyer to President Donald Trump — met with Maxwell late last month at the government’s request. Details of the conversation have not been made public, but administration officials are reportedly weighing the possibility of making the transcript public as early as this week.

The calls for transparency have grown louder. On Wednesday, model and actress Alicia Arden, who in 1997 filed a police report accusing Epstein of sexual assault, urged the administration at a news conference to release all Epstein-related files.

“I’m tired of the government saying that they want to release them. Please just do it,” Arden said, adding that she wanted to know exactly what Blanche asked Maxwell — and what Maxwell’s answers were. “She was convicted of sex-trafficking children. This is a terrible crime. She should not be pardoned.”

Arden’s attorney, Gloria Allred, echoed the demand, urging the release of “the entire transcript, including all of his questions and all of her answers.” Allred also called for Congress to invite Epstein and Maxwell’s victims to testify before House and Senate committees, detailing their abuse, the impact on their lives, and their experiences with the criminal justice system.

Maxwell, convicted in December 2021 of sex trafficking and other charges, is serving a 20-year sentence and has appealed her case to the U.S. Supreme Court, citing Epstein’s earlier plea deal. Her attorneys this week opposed the Justice Department’s request to unseal related grand jury transcripts, arguing that revealing the secret testimony would infringe on her due process rights while her legal options remain active.

The controversy intensified after Maxwell was quietly transferred last week from a Florida federal prison to a lower-security facility in Texas. Trump told reporters he was unaware of the move.

The administration is also facing bipartisan backlash over the Justice Department’s recent announcement that it would not release additional Epstein documents despite Trump and Bondi’s earlier pledges.

On Tuesday, the House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the Justice Department for Epstein files and ordered sworn depositions from a list of prominent figures, including former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former attorneys general Jeff Sessions, Alberto Gonzales, William Barr and Merrick Garland, and former FBI directors James Comey and Robert Mueller.

Notably absent from the subpoena list is Trump’s former labor secretary, Alex Acosta, who brokered Epstein’s controversial 2008 plea deal as a U.S. attorney in Florida. Allred said Acosta, along with Bondi and Blanche, should also be called to testify.

Maxwell has indicated she is willing to testify before Congress if granted immunity. Meanwhile, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., has introduced a resolution opposing any presidential pardon or clemency for her. “The vast majority of Americans oppose any form of clemency for Maxwell,” Krishnamoorthi told CNN, “and we need to say that with one voice in Congress.”

The White House did not respond to questions Tuesday about the planned meeting at Vance’s home.

Source: theguardian

Nigerian Man Extradited from France to U.S. to Face Charges of Hacking, Fraud, and Identity Theft

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Nigerian Man Extradited from France to U.S. to Face Charges of Hacking, Fraud, and Identity Theft

NEW YORK (BN24) — Chukwuemeka Victor Amarachukwu, a 39-year-old Nigerian national also known as Chukwuemeka Victor Eletuo and “So Kwan Leung,” has been extradited from France to the United States to face federal charges related to hacking, fraud, and identity theft, officials announced Tuesday.

Amarachukwu was brought to the U.S. on Monday, August 4, 2025, following a formal request from U.S. authorities. He was presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger in the Southern District of New York, where the case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe.

The U.S. Department of Justice alleges that Amarachukwu participated in a sophisticated cybercrime scheme targeting U.S.-based tax preparation businesses using spearphishing emails to gain unauthorized access to electronic systems. The stolen data included sensitive tax and identifying information of thousands of Americans.

“Amarachukwu and his co-conspirators sought fraudulent refunds totaling at least $8.4 million from the Internal Revenue Service and state tax authorities, successfully obtaining approximately $2.5 million,” said United States Attorney Jay Clayton. Additionally, the conspirators filed fraudulent claims under the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, netting over $819,000 in illegal payouts.

Beyond tax fraud, Amarachukwu is accused of orchestrating a separate scheme that defrauded victims by offering nonexistent investments in standby letters of credit, netting millions of dollars.

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia emphasized the bureau’s commitment to pursuing cybercriminals worldwide. “If you are attempting to enrich yourself by scamming Americans from behind a keyboard, the FBI, with our extensive law enforcement partnerships, is willing and able to bring you to the United States to face justice,” Raia said.

Amarachukwu faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The combined charges carry potential sentences ranging from a minimum of two years to up to 20 years in prison for each offense, with sentencing ultimately at the discretion of the presiding judge.

The extradition was made possible through close cooperation between U.S. law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the French National Gendarmerie.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Nessim, leading the prosecution, stressed that the charges remain allegations until proven in court.

Ghana Defence, Environment Ministers Die in Helicopter Crash, Presidency Confirms

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Ghana Defence, Environment Ministers Die in Helicopter Crash, Presidency Confirms

Accra, Ghana (BN24) — Ghana’s defence and environment ministers were killed Wednesday when a military helicopter crashed, the presidency confirmed, marking a tragic loss for the West African nation’s government. The Ghana Armed Forces had reported earlier that a helicopter carrying eight people—including three crew and five passengers—disappeared from radar shortly after departing Accra at around 9 a.m. The chopper was en route to Obuasi, northwest of the capital.

Among those on board were Edward Omane Boamah, who was appointed defence minister earlier this year by President John Mahama, and Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, serving as minister of environment, science and technology. The crash also claimed the lives of Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Ghana’s deputy national security coordinator and former agriculture minister, as well as Samuel Sarpong, vice chairman of Mahama’s National Democratic Congress party.

“The president and government extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of our comrades and servicemen who died in service to the country,” said Mahama’s chief of staff, Julius Debrah.

Boamah’s tenure as defence minister coincided with growing concerns about escalating jihadist activity along Ghana’s northern border with Burkina Faso. While Ghana has largely avoided direct spillover from Sahel-based militant groups, experts have warned of increased arms trafficking and cross-border movement of militants using Ghana as a strategic rear base. Boamah, a medical doctor by training, previously served as communications minister during Mahama’s 2012-2017 administration and was deputy minister for environment before that.

In recent months, Ghana has intensified diplomatic efforts with neighboring countries governed by military juntas, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, all of which have distanced themselves from the ECOWAS regional bloc. In May, Boamah led a delegation to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital, as part of this diplomatic engagement.

The presidency announced that all national flags would be flown at half-staff and that President Mahama had canceled official engagements for the day in mourning. Boamah had been preparing to publish a book titled “A Peaceful Man in an African Democracy,” dedicated to former Ghanaian president John Atta Mills, who passed away in 2012.

Army Officer Injures Five Soldiers at Fort Stewart Military Base, Suspect in Custody

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Army Officer Injures Five Soldiers at Fort Stewart Military Base, Suspect in Custody

FORT STEWART, Georgia (BN24) — Five soldiers were wounded Wednesday in a shooting incident at Fort Stewart, a U.S. Army base in Georgia, officials confirmed. The suspected shooter was apprehended by law enforcement shortly after the attack, which prompted a base-wide lockdown.

According to the official Fort Stewart Facebook page, all injured soldiers received immediate treatment on-site before being transferred to Winn Army Community Hospital for further medical care. Authorities have not disclosed the identity or motive of the suspect.

“The base went into lockdown shortly after law enforcement responded to the incident,” the post said. “There is no active threat to the community.” Investigators continue to probe the circumstances surrounding the shooting, and no further details will be released until the investigation is complete.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that President Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation and that the administration is closely monitoring developments.

While shootings on U.S. military installations remain uncommon, they underscore the broader challenge of gun violence affecting communities nationwide. The incident comes amid ongoing national debates, with conservative lawmakers opposing many firearm restrictions.

Ghislaine Maxwell Opposes Release of Grand Jury Transcripts in Epstein Sex Trafficking Case

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Ghislaine Maxwell Opposes Release of Grand Jury Transcripts in Epstein Sex Trafficking Case

NEW YORK (BN24) — Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime companion of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, is fighting to keep grand jury records under seal in the sex trafficking case that landed her in prison, her lawyers said Tuesday, even as prosecutors press to make portions of those records public.

In court filings, attorneys David O. Markus and Melissa Madrigal argued that releasing transcripts of secret grand jury testimony — which Maxwell has never seen herself — would violate longstanding secrecy rules and risk compromising her due process rights. They described the material as “hearsay-laden” and stressed that it was obtained without Maxwell’s defense present to challenge the evidence.

“Whatever interest the public may have in Epstein, that interest cannot justify a broad intrusion into grand jury secrecy in a case where the defendant is alive, her legal options are viable and her due process rights remain,” the defense attorneys wrote.

Prosecutors, who declined public comment Tuesday, said in filings that they support releasing transcripts of the two grand jury witnesses — both law enforcement officials — while withholding accompanying exhibits unless they are already part of the public record. They noted that much of the content has been disclosed in Maxwell’s 2021 trial or through lawsuits filed by Epstein’s victims, albeit with victims’ and witnesses’ names redacted.

The dispute comes six years after Epstein’s death in a New York jail, officially ruled a suicide, and four years after Maxwell’s conviction for grooming underage girls for Epstein to abuse. She is serving a 20-year sentence and has appealed without success so far.

The high-profile case remains politically charged. President Donald Trump, who has previously called for more transparency in the Epstein investigation, directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to push courts to unseal the transcripts. That order followed years of speculation from some of Trump’s allies, who have claimed the public has not been told the full story and have pushed for the release of a so-called “Epstein client list,” which the Justice Department says does not exist.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche interviewed Maxwell late last month at the government’s request. Shortly afterward, she was transferred from a federal prison in Florida to a lower-security prison camp in Texas. Officials have not explained the move. Trump said Tuesday he had no prior knowledge of the transfer and had not discussed Blanche’s meeting with Maxwell.

“I think he probably wants to make sure that people should not be involved, or aren’t involved, are not hurt by something that would be very, very unfortunate, very unfair to a lot of people,” Trump told reporters.

The political fallout has now reached Capitol Hill. On Tuesday, the House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the Justice Department for Epstein case files and ordered sworn testimony from former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and eight former senior law enforcement officials. Clinton, like Trump, has acknowledged knowing Epstein socially but denied any involvement in his crimes, and no accuser has alleged wrongdoing by either man.

Police Raid Shrine, Arrest 5 Suspects in Rape and Robbery Case in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria

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Police Raid Shrine, Arrest 5 Suspects in Rape and Robbery Case in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria

UYO (BN24) — Police in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, have arrested five suspects in connection with an armed robbery and rape investigation, following a dramatic raid on a suspected shrine in the Abak area. The operation, which took place late on July 30, 2025, led to the recovery of two coffins reportedly filled with women’s sanitary pads, photographs, and various fetish items believed to be linked to criminal activity.

The arrests were announced by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command through its spokesperson, DSP Timfon John, in a statement issued Tuesday, August 5. According to the statement, the raid was carried out at around 11:10 p.m., acting on intelligence gathered during a discreet investigation into a violent home invasion that occurred in June.

The incident under investigation was formally reported to police on June 26, 2025. The complaint detailed how armed individuals allegedly attacked a man at a guest house in Abak, robbing him and raping his female guest. In response, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, ordered a covert operation to track down the suspects.

The suspects arrested during the shrine raid were identified as Richard Edet Udo, Hope Unibong Anitie, Joseph Ibongidi, Christian Joseph Johnny, and Joseph Joseph. They were taken into custody after police stormed the location believed to be their hideout.

“Acting on a firm directive from the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, operatives of the Command initiated an investigation,” DSP Timfon John said. “On July 30, 2025, at approximately 11:10 PM, detectives raided the criminals’ hideout. Operatives recovered disturbing items from what appeared to be a shrine, including two coffins filled with women’s sanitary pads, pictures of people, and other fetish items.”

Authorities believe the recovered items may have been used for ritual or occult purposes. Investigations are ongoing as police work to apprehend additional suspects believed to be part of the gang.

The Akwa Ibom Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to public safety and justice, vowing that the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on those found guilty. The raid has sparked public interest, particularly due to the unusual items found at the scene, and has drawn renewed attention to ritual-related criminal activity in the region.

As of now, the five suspects remain in custody while detectives continue to pursue leads on the remaining members of the group.

NCAA Suspends Two ValueJet Pilots Over Safety Protocol Breach at Abuja Airport, Nigeria

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NCAA Suspends Two ValueJet Pilots Over Safety Protocol Breach at Abuja Airport, Nigeria

ABUJA, Nigeria (BN24) — The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the licences of two ValueJet pilots following a serious violation of aviation safety protocols at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the authority confirmed Tuesday.

In an official statement signed by Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, the agency revealed that one of the pilots-initiated departure procedures from a designated bay without following mandatory pre-departure clearance procedures. The action endangered ground personnel and other airport users, contravening national and international aviation safety regulations.

The NCAA described the incident as “reckless” and said it was treated with the “utmost seriousness,” prompting immediate enforcement measures against the flight crew involved.

Consequently, the licences of Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba were suspended effective immediately, pending the outcome of a comprehensive investigation into the breach.

Reiterating its firm commitment to aviation safety, the NCAA assured stakeholders and the public that it would uphold rigorous standards to ensure the safety of all air travel within Nigeria.

“The Authority hereby reaffirms all stakeholders of its commitment to safety,” Achimugu said.

The incident underscores the NCAA’s vigilance in enforcing compliance with safety protocols in Nigeria’s growing aviation sector.

Credit: Punching.com

High-Tension Wire Electrocutes Point of Sale Operator in Anambra, Nigeria, Raising Safety Concerns

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High-Tension Wire Electrocutes Point of Sale Operator in Anambra, Nigeria, Raising Safety Concerns

NIBO, Anambra, Nigeria(BN24) — A male Point of Sale (POS) operator was electrocuted by a fallen high-tension wire while standing in front of his shop in Nibo, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria, officials and eyewitnesses said.

The incident occurred over the weekend when a high-tension wire was severed and fell onto the victim, who was reportedly operating under the power line. Eyewitness accounts and a video circulating on social media showed the man’s lifeless body lying beneath the still-smoking wire, which continued to emit sparks hours after the accident, creating panic in the community.

The victim’s identity remains unconfirmed, though sources indicated he recently got married. The tragic event has reignited concerns over safety practices in areas where shops and kiosks operate directly under high-voltage lines.

Ossy Onuko, Managing Director and CEO of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), condemned the incident as unfortunate but underscored it as a consequence of ignoring repeated safety warnings. Onuko noted that the agency has long campaigned against building or trading beneath high-tension wires, efforts often met with public resistance.

“It is a suicide mission to have your shop or kiosk under a high-tension wire,” Onuko said Tuesday. “This avoidable loss of life should serve as a deterrent to others. Our sensitisation and enforcement campaigns are not meant to witch-hunt people but to protect them.”

Onuko urged residents to take personal responsibility for safety, warning against complacency and stressing that no life is worth the risk posed by such negligence. “A stitch in time saves nine,” he said, appealing to the public to heed safety advice and warn others to prevent similar tragedies.

The incident highlights ongoing challenges in enforcing safety regulations around electrical infrastructure in Anambra State and calls for increased public awareness to prevent further loss of life.

Ex-Romanian President Ion Iliescu Dies at 95, Marking End of an Era in Romania’s Transition to Democracy

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Ex-Romanian President Ion Iliescu Dies at 95, Marking End of an Era in Romania’s Transition to Democracy

BUCHAREST (BN24) — Ion Iliescu, the former president who played a pivotal role in Romania’s turbulent shift from communist rule to democracy, died Tuesday at the age of 95, the Romanian government announced.

BUC03 – 20001005 – BUCHAREST, ROMANIA : Romanian opposition leader Ion Iliescu, president of the Social Democratic Party of Romania (PDSR), waves to supporters during a meeting at Polivalenta Hall in Bucharest Thursday October 05 2000. Former Romanian president Iliescu launched his campaign for the first round of presidential and parliamentary elections tonight in front of a crowd of 2.000 supporters. Elections are scheduled for November 26. EPA PHOTO EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT

“It is with deep regret that the government announces the passing of the former President of Romania, Mr. Ion Iliescu,” read an official statement released online. The government extended condolences to Iliescu’s family and those close to him, adding that details regarding the state funeral would be announced in the coming days.

Iliescu, who had been hospitalized since early June with lung cancer, was reported last week to be in critical condition at a Bucharest hospital. His last public appearance dates back to 2017, when prosecutors questioned him amid ongoing legal scrutiny.

Born on March 3, 1930, Iliescu’s early political career included serving as youth minister under the regime of communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu, before falling out of favor in the 1970s. He reemerged at the forefront of Romanian politics during the December 1989 anti-communist uprising that led to Ceaușescu’s downfall, assuming leadership of the interim National Salvation Front under circumstances that remain debated.

Romanian President Ion Iliescu (center L) and his wife Nina (center R, others are unidentified) are on their way to the polling station during presidential elections in Bucharest, Romania, 27 September 1992. EPA/ADRIAN POPESCU

Iliescu won a decisive victory in Romania’s first democratic elections in May 1990 and was reelected in 1992. After a brief electoral defeat in 1996, he returned to the presidency in 2000 for a final term, during which Romania joined NATO in 2004 and signed the accession treaty to the European Union, formally becoming a member in 2007.

Despite his historic role in Romania’s democratic transition, Iliescu’s legacy is marred by legal controversies. Over the past two decades, he faced charges of crimes against humanity linked to violent crackdowns during the fall of communism. He was also indicted for his alleged involvement in deploying miners to suppress student protests after the 1990 election, a move that sparked international condemnation. Iliescu denied wrongdoing, and due to complex legal proceedings, he never stood trial.

His death closes a significant chapter in Romania’s modern history, marking the passing of a figure central to the country’s complex journey from dictatorship to democratic governance.

Credit: Punching.com

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