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.
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.
VILNIUS (BN24) — Lithuania on Tuesday formally requested immediate NATO assistance to strengthen its air defence capabilities after a Russian military drone carrying explosives violated the Baltic nation’s airspace last week, officials said.
Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys and Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene sent a joint letter to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urging swift action to bolster Lithuania’s aerial defenses amid increasing security threats from Russia.
Budrys disclosed on the social media platform X that on July 28, a Russian military drone intruded into Lithuanian airspace and was later discovered on August 1 in a military training zone near the capital, Vilnius. Eyewitnesses reported spotting the unmanned aircraft flying over parts of the city.
Prosecutor-General Nida Grunskiene confirmed the drone was equipped with an explosive device, which Lithuanian armed forces specialists successfully neutralized at the scene. Investigators consider one of the main hypotheses that the drone accidentally entered Lithuanian territory, though alternative scenarios remain under investigation.
Officials identified the drone as a Russian-made Gerbera model, typically employed as a decoy in Russian military strikes on Ukraine. This incident marks the second known breach of Lithuanian airspace involving a Russian drone in less than a month. Similar incursions have been reported by other NATO allies in the region.
“The threat is real and growing,” Budrys said, emphasizing the escalating risks facing Lithuania and its allies. He also pointed to Belarus, Moscow’s close partner, warning that Minsk bears responsibility to prevent such incidents. “If Belarus fails to take action to minimize the potential damage on our side, Lithuania will respond with political and other measures,” he added.
Lithuania’s appeal to NATO highlights rising security concerns across the Baltic region amid ongoing tensions with Russia, reinforcing the alliance’s critical role in safeguarding member states’ sovereignty.
JERUSALEM (BN24) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened senior Israeli security officials on Tuesday to review military options for Gaza, with Israeli media reporting he is leaning toward a complete takeover of the besieged enclave nearly two years into the war.
The closed-door meeting, described by Netanyahu’s office as a “limited security discussion” lasting three hours, included military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. Officials briefed on the session said options for continuing the campaign were presented, and a strategy will be brought to the cabinet for approval later this week. The cabinet is set to meet Thursday evening.
Channel 12 television, citing a senior official in the prime minister’s office, reported Netanyahu favored regaining full control over Gaza — a move that would reverse Israel’s 2005 unilateral withdrawal and decades of policy that left governance to Palestinian authorities while Israel retained control over borders. It was unclear whether Netanyahu envisioned a prolonged occupation or a short-term operation aimed at dismantling Hamas and freeing remaining Israeli hostages. His office declined to confirm the report.
“It is still necessary to complete the defeat of the enemy in Gaza, release our hostages and ensure that Gaza never again constitutes a threat to Israel,” Netanyahu told new military recruits on Tuesday. “We are not giving up on any of these missions.”
The reported plans come as international pressure mounts for a ceasefire to relieve catastrophic conditions in Gaza. Mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas have collapsed. Palestinian health authorities say at least 20 people were killed Tuesday when Israeli gunfire struck crowds waiting for U.N. aid trucks in the north, and 20 more were wounded under similar circumstances near Rafah in the south. Gaza’s Health Ministry said eight people died from starvation in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll from hunger to 188 — including 94 children — since the war began.
The United Nations warned that any decision to expand Israel’s operations across all of Gaza would be “deeply alarming.” The U.S. State Department declined to comment on Netanyahu’s potential strategy, but Axios reported that President Donald Trump and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff discussed plans to expand U.S. humanitarian aid to Gaza in a Monday White House meeting.
Hamas on Saturday released a video showing Israeli hostage Evyatar David, one of 50 captives still believed to be in Gaza, appearing severely emaciated in what looked like an underground tunnel. The images sparked outrage in Israel and abroad.
A Palestinian official told reporters the suggestion of a full military takeover could be intended as leverage against Hamas in stalled negotiations. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry urged the international community to act immediately to prevent the move, calling it either “a pressure tactic, a test of reactions, or a genuine plan.”
Inside Israel, the idea of occupying Gaza has divided political and military leaders. While far-right coalition members — including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir — have openly called for annexation, military leaders have consistently warned against a long-term ground presence in the densely populated territory. The Israel Defense Forces said Tuesday they are “prepared to implement any decision made by the Political-Security Cabinet.”
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants killed roughly 1,200 people in southern Israel and abducted 251 hostages. Israel’s subsequent military campaign has killed more than 61,000 people in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials, and displaced nearly all of its more than 2 million residents. Hunger and disease are widespread, with international monitors warning of an “unfolding famine.”
On Tuesday, Israeli tanks advanced into central Gaza, though it was unclear whether the incursion marked the beginning of a larger offensive. Residents in the last remaining areas outside Israeli ground control warned that a full push into the territory would be devastating.
“If the tanks push through, where would we go — into the sea?” said Abu Jehad, a wood merchant from Gaza. “It will be like a death sentence for the entire population.”
WASHINGTON (BN24) — The Trump administration will reinstall a statue of Confederate general Albert Pike in Washington, D.C., nearly five years after protesters pulled it down and set it on fire during nationwide racial justice demonstrations.
The National Park Service announced Monday that the bronze statue, the only outdoor monument to a Confederate general in the nation’s capital, is being cleaned, repaired, and prepared for reinstallation by October. The agency said the restoration “aligns with federal responsibilities under historic preservation law” and follows President Donald Trump’s March executive order to “restore truth and sanity to American history” by reinstating statues removed since 2020.
The Pike statue was toppled on Juneteenth 2020 — the annual commemoration of the end of slavery — when antiracism protesters used ropes and chains to bring it down before setting it ablaze. The action came in the wake of George Floyd’s killing by Minneapolis police, which sparked a nationwide reckoning with systemic racism and the removal of more than 300 Confederate monuments across the United States.
At the time, Trump condemned the toppling on social media as “a disgrace to our country” and demanded the immediate arrest of those involved. According to officials, he requested the statue’s restoration just days later. Now, his administration has directed the Department of the Interior to oversee the return of monuments removed since 2020, while also reversing previous Pentagon orders to strip Confederate names from Army bases.
The Pike statue, dedicated in 1901, stood in Judiciary Square, half a mile from the U.S. Capitol. Funded by Freemason groups, it depicted Pike in civilian attire rather than military uniform — a condition set by Congress when approving the monument. Pike, a senior Freemason leader, also served in the Confederate army and has been accused by critics of involvement with the post-Civil War Ku Klux Klan — an allegation the Masons dispute.
For decades, the statue was a flashpoint. The D.C. Council formally called for its removal in 1992, and local officials renewed those efforts in 2017. Civil rights activists argued that monuments to Confederate figures were erected to intimidate Black Americans and glorify white supremacy.
The National Park Service’s decision to reinstall the Pike statue comes amid criticism that the agency, under Trump, has altered or removed references to marginalized communities from official sites. Earlier this year, the NPS faced backlash for deleting mentions of transgender history from the Stonewall National Monument website and for ordering reviews of gift shop merchandise deemed “anti-American.”
Eleanor Holmes Norton, Washington’s non-voting delegate in Congress, called the decision “morally objectionable” and pledged to reintroduce legislation to remove the Pike statue permanently and donate it to a museum.
“I’ve long believed Confederate statues should be placed in museums as historical artifacts, not remain in parks and locations that imply honor,” Norton said. “The decision to honor Albert Pike by reinstalling the Pike statue is as odd and indefensible as it is morally objectionable. Pike served dishonorably.”
JACKSON, Tenn. (BN24) — Authorities in western Tennessee have arrested the man accused of killing four members of the same family before abandoning an infant in a stranger’s front yard, bringing a tense multi-day search to an end.
Police in Jackson said 28-year-old Austin Robert Drummond was taken into custody Tuesday in a wooded area after being spotted in a neighborhood. Hours earlier, officers had urged residents to stay indoors following reports of his presence nearby. A photo released by police showed Drummond wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, looking directly at the camera.
District Attorney Danny Goodman of Dyer and Lake counties told The Associated Press that Drummond fatally shot the victims, all related to the child found alive. “They were actually all associated with one another,” Goodman said. “So it wasn’t a random attack.” Drummond’s girlfriend is the sister of the infant’s grandmother, Goodman added.
Drummond faces four counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping, and multiple weapons charges. He is scheduled for arraignment later this week in Tiptonville.
The investigation began July 29 when deputies in Dyer County received a call about an infant left in a car seat outside a home in the Tigrett community, about 40 miles from Tiptonville. A witness reported seeing a minivan or midsize SUV leave the scene.
The Dyer County Sheriff’s Office soon linked the case to a crime scene in neighboring Lake County, where the bodies of the child’s parents, grandmother, and uncle were found in nearby woods. The victims were identified as James M. Wilson, 21; Adrianna Williams, 20; Cortney Rose, 38; and Braydon Williams, 15. Wilson and Adrianna Williams were the baby’s parents, and Rose was the mother of Adrianna and Braydon.
Goodman said the four had not been seen since the previous night, when a relative discovered two abandoned vehicles in a remote area and called 911. Investigators believe Drummond carried out a targeted attack before abandoning the child. The baby, a girl, is now in the care of other relatives and is safe.
Authorities say Drummond’s capture followed the release of surveillance footage showing a man in camouflage, armed with a gun, attempting to enter a building. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and multiple agencies were involved in the search.
Two other suspects — Tanaka Brown, 29, and Giovonte Thomas, 29 — have been charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. Investigators allege they helped Drummond after the killings.
Drummond has a criminal record that includes serving prison time for robbing a convenience store and threatening jurors. While incarcerated, he was charged with attempted murder.
Goodman said the killings have deeply shaken the small river communities. “The biggest emotion has been fear,” he said. “You don’t usually hear about a quadruple homicide in small towns. The two emotions are shock, and fear.”
WASHINGTON (BN24) — The House Oversight Committee issued subpoenas Tuesday demanding the Department of Justice turn over files from the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation, escalating a congressional probe that lawmakers believe may reveal connections to President Donald Trump and other former high-ranking officials.
The Republican-controlled committee simultaneously issued subpoenas requiring depositions from former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and eight former top law enforcement officials as part of the expanding investigation into the deceased financier’s criminal network.
The committee’s aggressive legal action demonstrates that congressional interest in the Epstein files remains intense even as lawmakers remain away from Washington during a monthlong recess. The subpoenas represent a significant escalation in efforts to obtain documents that have remained largely sealed since Epstein’s death in federal custody in 2019.
Trump has repeatedly attempted to move beyond the Justice Department’s decision not to release a comprehensive accounting of the Epstein investigation. However, lawmakers from both parties, along with significant portions of the president’s political base, have maintained pressure for full disclosure of the materials.
The congressional probe seeks to uncover potential links between Epstein’s extensive network of powerful associates and current or former government officials. Epstein maintained relationships with numerous prominent figures in politics, business, and entertainment before his arrest on federal sex trafficking charges.
The subpoenas targeting the Clintons reflect the investigation’s broad scope, as both former President Clinton and former Secretary of State Clinton had documented interactions with Epstein over the years. Clinton previously acknowledged flying on Epstein’s private aircraft on several occasions for charitable work.
The eight former law enforcement officials named in the subpoenas have not been publicly identified, but their inclusion suggests the committee is examining how federal agencies handled the Epstein case and whether any investigative decisions were influenced by the financier’s high-profile connections.
The Justice Department has not immediately responded to the subpoenas, though the agency typically reviews such congressional demands before determining its response. The department has previously cited ongoing investigations and privacy concerns as reasons for limiting public access to Epstein-related materials.
Epstein died by suicide in his Manhattan federal jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death occurred just weeks after his arrest, preventing a trial that many hoped would expose the full extent of his alleged criminal network.
The financier’s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was subsequently convicted on sex trafficking charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison. However, many documents related to the broader investigation have remained under seal, fueling continued speculation about Epstein’s connections to powerful individuals.
The House committee’s actions come as Trump begins his second term with promises of greater government transparency. However, the Epstein investigation presents a complex challenge given the potential implications for figures across the political spectrum.
Legal experts note that congressional subpoenas carry significant weight, though executive privilege claims or other legal challenges could potentially delay or limit the release of sensitive materials. The committee’s Republican majority provides political backing for the investigation’s continuation.
The timing of the subpoenas during Congress’s recess period underscores the committee’s determination to maintain momentum in the investigation despite the traditional Washington slowdown. Committee staff continue working on the probe even as members remain in their home districts.
The Epstein files investigation represents one of several high-profile inquiries being pursued by House Republicans, who have promised aggressive oversight of federal agencies and past investigative decisions during Trump’s second term.
BRASILIA, Brazil (BN24) — Brazil’s Supreme Court on Monday placed former President Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest ahead of his trial for allegedly plotting to overturn the country’s 2022 election, deepening a political standoff that has drawn in U.S. President Donald Trump and prompted new trade sanctions.
The order was issued by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has become a central figure in Bolsonaro’s legal troubles. Moraes — targeted by U.S. Treasury sanctions last week over allegations of human rights abuses — accused Bolsonaro of repeatedly defying court-imposed restrictions, including efforts to solicit Trump’s interference in the case.
Bolsonaro faces charges before Brazil’s highest court that he conspired with allies to violently contest his loss to leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Trump has denounced the prosecution as a “witch hunt” and announced a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods set to take effect Wednesday, warning that even higher tariffs are possible.
In addition to confining Bolsonaro to his residence in Brasilia, Moraes’s order prohibits him from using a cell phone or receiving visitors other than his lawyers and individuals explicitly authorized by the court. Police seized his phone during the arrest, according to a spokesperson for the former president.
Bolsonaro’s attorneys said they would appeal, calling the order “unjust” and arguing he had complied with all court directives. The former president has long accused Moraes of abusing his authority, telling Reuters last month that the justice was a “dictator” whose rulings were acts of “cowardice.”
The U.S. State Department condemned the house arrest, accusing Moraes of weaponizing Brazilian institutions to “silence opposition and threaten democracy.” It vowed to “hold accountable all those aiding and abetting sanctioned conduct,” though it did not detail additional measures.
Bolsonaro’s arrest came as thousands of his supporters rallied in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday — the largest pro-Bolsonaro demonstrations in months. Addressing the crowd via a phone call to his son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the former president appeared to test the boundaries of his court-imposed restrictions. Moraes wrote in his decision that Bolsonaro had “repeatedly” sought to circumvent the orders.
“Justice is blind, but not foolish,” the justice said.
Senator Bolsonaro called the arrest “a clear display of vengeance” over U.S. sanctions targeting Moraes. Another son, Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, has relocated to the United States, lobbying for his father’s cause and urging Trump to increase pressure on Brazil — a move he claims influenced the new tariff decision.
The charges against Bolsonaro stem from a two-year investigation into his alleged role in Brazil’s election-denial movement, which culminated in the January 2023 riots in Brasilia that drew comparisons to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol after Trump’s defeat. While criminal cases against Trump have largely stalled, Brazil’s courts have moved quickly against Bolsonaro. In addition to the pending criminal trial, the country’s electoral court has already barred him from holding public office until 2030.
Analysts say the arrest could escalate tensions between Washington and Brasilia. Graziella Testa, a political science professor at the Federal University of Paraná, said Bolsonaro appears to be “consciously provoking escalation” in hopes of turning the case into a political battle with international repercussions.
Leonardo Barreto, a partner at the Think Policy political risk consultancy in Brasilia, warned that the move would likely be interpreted as retaliation for the U.S. Magnitsky sanctions on Moraes, which froze the justice’s assets and accused him of arbitrary detentions and suppressing free speech.
Trump, for his part, has doubled down on his support for Bolsonaro. In a letter shared publicly last month, he wrote: “I have seen the terrible treatment you are receiving at the hands of an unjust system turned against you. This trial should end immediately!”
With the trial looming and tensions flaring between the Trump administration and Brazil’s judiciary, Bolsonaro’s legal and political future appears increasingly uncertain — and the diplomatic fallout is far from over.
WASHINGTON (BN24) — The U.S. State Department is proposing a new visa requirement that could force certain foreign travelers to post a bond of up to $15,000 before entering the United States, a measure officials say is aimed at curbing visa overstays but critics warn could put U.S. travel out of reach for many.
Under a 12-month pilot program outlined in a notice set for publication in the Federal Register on Tuesday, applicants for temporary business or tourist visas from countries with high overstay rates or inadequate document security systems could be required to post bonds of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000.
The proposal is part of a broader tightening of U.S. entry requirements under President Donald Trump’s administration. Just last week, the State Department announced that more visa renewal applicants would now need to undergo an additional in-person interview, reversing past practice. It is also advancing a rule requiring entrants to the Visa Diversity Lottery program to hold valid passports from their country of citizenship at the time of application.
According to a preview posted Monday on the Federal Register’s website, the bond pilot would take effect within 15 days of formal publication. The department said the measure is intended to ensure the U.S. government is not left financially liable if a visitor fails to comply with visa terms.
The notice specifies that the requirement could apply to travelers who are nationals of countries with both high visa overstay rates and deficiencies in screening or vetting systems, or to those who obtained citizenship through investment programs with no residency requirement. The final list of affected countries will be published when the program begins.
While the bond could be waived depending on individual circumstances, the State Department stressed it would not apply to travelers from the 42 nations participating in the Visa Waiver Program, which allows visits of up to 90 days for business or tourism without a visa. Most Visa Waiver countries are in Europe, with others in Asia, the Middle East and beyond.
Visa bond proposals have surfaced before but were never enacted. Historically, the State Department has discouraged such measures, citing the administrative burden of posting and releasing bonds and concerns about creating negative perceptions abroad. However, in its notice, the department said that previous opposition “is not supported by any recent examples or evidence, as visa bonds have not generally been required in any recent period.”
The move represents a significant policy shift in U.S. travel regulations and could reshape visitor flows from certain countries. The administration has framed the measure as a targeted tool to address compliance issues, while critics are likely to see it as an added barrier to legitimate travel and tourism.
Hersonissos, Crete (BN24) — A 78-year-old British woman has died after reportedly falling ill while swimming in a hotel pool in Hersonissos, a popular resort town in Crete. The woman, whose identity has not been released, was pulled from the water but was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders.
Greek authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the incident. Three individuals — two hotel employees, aged 51 and 41, and a 21-year-old lifeguard who was allegedly not on duty at the time — were briefly detained for questioning. All have since been released on bail, but the investigation into the cause of the woman’s death is ongoing.
This incident is the latest in a series of troubling drownings involving British tourists. On July 29, a 52-year-old British man drowned in a hotel pool in Majorca, Spain, near the famed Love Island villa. Emergency responders, including an air ambulance, were dispatched to the scene, but the man was found floating face down in the pool and was declared dead shortly after being pulled from the water.
Both cases have raised concerns over the safety protocols at hotel pools. Greek and Spanish authorities are reviewing whether proper safety measures, including lifeguard coverage and emergency procedures, were in place during these incidents.
