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Bangladeshi Forces Clash With Hasina Loyalists in Gopalganj, Leaving 4 Dead as Unrest Deepens

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Bangladeshi Forces Clash With Hasina Loyalists in Gopalganj, Leaving 4 Dead as Unrest Deepens

DHAKA, Bangladesh (BN24) — Deadly clashes erupted Wednesday between Bangladeshi security forces and supporters of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the politically volatile district of Gopalganj, leaving at least four people dead and dozens more injured, according to hospital officials and local media.

The violence broke out as members of the newly formed National Citizen Party, led by students who spearheaded the August uprising that removed Hasina from power, staged a symbolic march toward Gopalganj — Hasina’s ancestral home and former political stronghold. Television footage showed a chaotic scene as activists loyal to the former leader wielded sticks, confronted police, and set fire to vehicles, including those in a convoy carrying party leaders.

The confrontation marks one of the most violent incidents since the toppling of Hasina nearly a year ago, highlighting the persistent instability and widening political fracture under Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus’ interim government. Authorities responded by imposing a curfew in the district and deploying military escorts to extract opposition leaders from the scene.

As tensions escalated, the student-led group accused the state of enabling political violence and demanded swift arrests. “We are giving the authorities 24 hours to detain those responsible,” said party figure Nahid Islam, threatening further action in neighboring Faridpur if demands were unmet.

Jibitesh Biswas, a senior official at a state hospital, confirmed at least three fatalities, while The Daily Star reported four deaths. The victims’ identities have not been released.

The interim government denounced the attack on the student-led party as “utterly indefensible.” In a statement issued on behalf of Yunus, officials promised that perpetrators would be held accountable, but critics accuse the administration of failing to prevent growing political violence that now threatens the nation’s fragile transition.

Hasina’s Awami League party, outlawed in May, issued multiple statements on social media platform X condemning the government’s role in the bloodshed. “We urge the world to take note of this blatant use of security apparatus,” one message read, accusing Yunus’ administration of weaponizing mob violence against dissenters.

Meanwhile, the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami party, which has aligned itself with the rising opposition movement, announced nationwide protests for Thursday, calling the attack an “assault on democracy.”

Gopalganj remains a deeply symbolic site in Bangladesh’s political history. It is home to the mausoleum of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina’s father and the founding leader of the country, who was assassinated in 1975 during a military coup that decimated much of his family. The National Citizen Party’s decision to march into the district was seen as a bold challenge to the remnants of Hasina’s influence.

The protest was part of the group’s broader “July March to Rebuild the Nation,” a grassroots campaign aimed at presenting itself as a viable third force in a country long dominated by the dynastic rivalry between Hasina’s Awami League and Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party, or BNP. While the BNP has largely remained quiet following Wednesday’s unrest, political observers say the party is positioning itself to benefit from Hasina’s absence ahead of the scheduled elections.

Yunus, who took over after Hasina fled to India amid allegations of crimes against humanity, has pledged to stabilize the country and hold new elections by April. However, critics argue that polarization is deepening under his watch, and warn that the promise of a peaceful democratic transition is slipping away.

India has yet to respond to Bangladesh’s formal request for Hasina’s extradition, adding another layer of uncertainty to a nation already gripped by unrest.

Source: The Associated Press

Cambodia Arrests Over 1,000 in Major Cybercrime Crackdown

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Cambodia Arrests Over 1,000 in Major Cybercrime Crackdown

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (BN24) – Cambodia announced Wednesday that Prime Minister Hun Manet’s order for government bodies to crack down on criminal cybercrime operations resulted in the arrest of more than 1,000 suspects so far this week, marking one of the largest enforcement actions against international scam networks operating in the country.

More than 1,000 suspects were arrested in raids across at least five provinces between Monday and Wednesday, according to statements from Information Minister Neth Pheaktra and police. The operation targeted cybercrime operations that authorities say have been run by foreign criminal groups infiltrating Cambodia to conduct online scams.

Hun Manet issued the directive Tuesday, authorizing state action for “maintaining and protecting security, public order, and social safety.” In his statement, the prime minister acknowledged that “online scams are currently causing threats and insecurity in the world and the region” and noted that “foreign criminal groups have also infiltrated to engage in online scams” within Cambodia.

The arrests encompassed suspects from multiple countries, reflecting the international scope of cybercrime operations in Southeast Asia. Those detained included more than 200 Vietnamese, 27 Chinese, and 75 suspects from Taiwan and 85 Cambodians in the capital Phnom Penh and the southern city of Sihanoukville. Police also seized equipment, including computers and hundreds of mobile phones during the raids.

In Poipet, a border town with Thailand notorious for cyberscam and gambling operations, at least 270 Indonesians, including 45 women, were arrested Wednesday. The northeastern province of Kratie saw the arrest of 312 people, including nationals from Thailand, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar and Vietnam, while 27 people from Vietnam, China and Myanmar were detained in the western province of Pursat.

The United Nations and other international agencies estimate that cyberscams, most of them originating from Southeast Asia, generate billions of dollars annually for international criminal gangs. These operations have become increasingly sophisticated, targeting victims worldwide through various online platforms and communication channels.

The cybercrime industry in Cambodia has drawn significant international attention due to its scale and the human rights abuses associated with these operations. Amnesty International published findings last month from an 18-month investigation into cybercrime in Cambodia, concluding that evidence “point towards state complicity in abuses carried out by Chinese criminal gangs.”

The human rights organization documented extensive abuses within what it described as more than 50 scamming compounds located across the country. Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, characterized survivors’ experiences as being “trapped in a living nightmare” and described workers as “deceived, trafficked and enslaved” into criminal enterprises operating with apparent government consent.

Human trafficking remains closely associated with cyberscam operations throughout the region, as workers are frequently recruited under false pretenses and subsequently held captive. The deceptive recruitment practices often promise legitimate employment opportunities before forcing individuals into cybercrime activities against their will.

The timing of Cambodia’s crackdown coincides with escalating tensions with neighboring Thailand, which began with a brief armed skirmish in late May over disputed border territory. The conflict has led to border closures and daily exchanges of nationalistic rhetoric between the two nations, with previously friendly leaders becoming estranged.

Thailand has implemented measures including cutting off cross-border electricity supplies and closing crossing points, actions Cambodia has characterized as retaliatory responses to its territorial claims. Thailand initially stated its intentions were to combat long-existing cyberscam operations in Poipet, though the broader diplomatic dispute has complicated regional cooperation on cybercrime enforcement.

The current arrests represent Cambodia’s most significant public action against cybercrime operations in recent years, though questions remain about the long-term sustainability of enforcement efforts and whether the crackdown addresses the systemic issues that have allowed these operations to flourish across the country.

Trump Says Coca-Cola Agrees to Use Real Cane Sugar in US Drinks

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Trump Says Coca-Cola Agrees to Use Real Cane Sugar in US Drinks

WASHINGTON (BN24) – President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Coca-Cola Company has agreed to use real cane sugar in its U.S. beverages following discussions between Trump and company leadership, marking a potential shift away from the high-fructose corn syrup currently used in American production.

Trump revealed the agreement in a Truth Social post, stating he had been “speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so.” The president expressed gratitude to Coca-Cola leadership, writing “I’d like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them — You’ll see. It’s just better!”

The announcement addresses a longstanding difference between Coca-Cola’s U.S. formula and its international versions. The switch to natural cane sugar from high-fructose corn syrup would follow in the steps of many other countries, including Mexico, South Africa and some in Europe. The beverage giant made the transition to corn syrup in the United States during the 1980s primarily due to cost considerations and agricultural supply factors.

Coca-Cola responded to the president’s announcement with a statement saying they “appreciate President Trump’s enthusiasm for our iconic Coca-Cola brand,” and indicated more details would be shared “soon.” However, it remains unclear whether the company plans to change the original recipe or introduce a new product.

The announcement comes amid the Trump administration’s broader “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, spearheaded by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The administration has taken several steps to address what it characterizes as a chronic disease epidemic, including recent moves to phase out artificial dyes from ice cream production and approving state waivers that would prevent SNAP recipients from purchasing soda and candy with government benefits.

Trump’s announcement carries particular irony given that the president is famously known for drinking Diet Coke, which contains aspartame rather than any sugar. Trump has previously acknowledged his preference for the diet version of the cola, even installing a Diet Coke button in the Oval Office during his first term.

The potential ingredient change has already drawn opposition from corn industry representatives. Corn Refiners Association President and CEO John Bode said in a statement that “replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesn’t make sense.”

Many cola enthusiasts have long preferred the taste of Mexican Coca-Cola, which uses cane sugar and has developed a cult following among American consumers seeking the original flavor profile. Trump referenced this preference in his announcement, noting that Coca-Cola already uses cane sugar in its Mexican Coke.

The timing and implementation details of any formula change remain unclear, as Coca-Cola has not provided specific information about production timelines or whether the change would apply to all Coca-Cola products or represent a limited offering. The company’s measured response suggests the beverage giant is carefully considering the logistical and economic implications of such a significant ingredient modification.

If implemented, the change would represent one of the most substantial alterations to Coca-Cola’s U.S. formula in decades, potentially affecting supply chains, production costs, and consumer preferences across the American market.

Syrian Government and Druze Leaders Announce Ceasefire as Israeli Strikes Pound Damascus

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Syrian Government and Druze Leaders Announce Ceasefire as Israeli Strikes Pound Damascus

Damascus (BN24) – Syrian officials and Druze religious leaders announced a renewed ceasefire Wednesday after days of fierce clashes in southern Syria that have jeopardized the country’s fragile postwar transition and triggered Israeli military intervention.

Convoys of Syrian government forces began withdrawing from the city of Sweida under the agreement, which was announced by the Interior Ministry and in a video statement from Druze religious authorities. But it was unclear whether the truce would hold: an earlier ceasefire collapsed within hours, and influential Druze cleric Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri publicly rejected the new deal.

Even as officials declared the ceasefire, Israeli warplanes continued to strike Syrian targets.

 The escalation reached new heights as Israel carried out rare airstrikes deep in the Syrian capital. One barrage targeted the Ministry of Defense headquarters, a prominent building near a busy square that has become a symbol of the country’s attempt to rebuild after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December. Another strike hit near the presidential palace in the hills outside Damascus.

Syrian state media reported that at least three people were killed and 34 injured in the Damascus attacks.

Israel said the operations were intended to defend Syria’s Druze minority—seen in Israel as a potential ally—from both Islamist militant factions and government troops. The Druze community forms a significant minority in Israel and Syria and has long been viewed by Israeli leaders as a bridge between the countries.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz called the strikes the start of “painful blows” and warned Damascus that the army would intensify attacks unless Syrian troops withdrew from Druze areas. “The army will continue to attack regime forces until they leave,” Katz said in a statement.

An Israeli military official, speaking anonymously under regulations, confirmed that thousands of troops were being redeployed from Gaza to the Golan Heights in anticipation of further escalation.

 The violence erupted after tit-for-tat abductions and attacks between Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze militias in Sweida, a historically Druze province. When government forces deployed to restore order, they clashed with local fighters and were accused of carrying out reprisal attacks against civilians.

The fighting has become the most serious threat so far to the new Sunni-led authorities attempting to solidify power in Syria. The government, which replaced Assad’s rule after more than a decade of war, has faced suspicion and hostility from minorities, including the Druze and the Alawites, Assad’s own sect.

No updated official death toll was released Wednesday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 300 people have been killed since Monday, including children, women, and more than 160 soldiers and security personnel.

Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa condemned the bloodshed in a statement Wednesday, saying “criminal and illegal actions cannot be accepted under any circumstances.” He promised those responsible for abuses would be prosecuted.

 Across Syria and in the diaspora, Druze families were desperate for news of relatives caught in the fighting.

In the Damascus suburb of Jaramana, 20-year-old Evelyn Azzam said she feared her husband, Robert Kiwan, was dead. Azzam had been speaking to Kiwan by phone when security forces stopped him and a colleague on suspicion of supporting Druze militias. She heard gunshots as her husband was shot in the hip.

“Since then, we have no idea what has happened,” she said in tears.

Other Druze who fled to the United Arab Emirates said they could hear shelling over the phone when speaking to relatives hiding in basements.

One woman told The Associated Press her cousin’s house had been set on fire with family members still inside. “It’s the same as when ISIS came in 2018,” she said.

 Videos circulating online showed graphic scenes of violence: government-aligned fighters shaving Druze sheikhs’ mustaches, stepping on Druze flags, and desecrating portraits of religious figures. Other footage appeared to show Druze militiamen beating captured soldiers and posing with their bodies.

The Syrian Observatory said at least 27 people were killed in summary executions.

 Israel’s intervention has expanded rapidly in recent days. The military has launched dozens of strikes targeting government convoys heading toward Sweida and installations across southern Syria.

Israel also took control of a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone along the border with the Golan Heights, territory it captured from Syria in 1967 and later annexed.

Defense Minister Katz said Israel would continue airstrikes and was prepared to escalate further if Syrian troops did not withdraw.

 U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was “very concerned” by the violence, describing it as the result of a “misunderstanding.”

Rubio said American diplomats were in contact with both Damascus and Jerusalem to try to de-escalate the crisis.

Meanwhile, Druze communities in the Israeli-occupied Golan gathered along the border fence to protest attacks on their relatives.

 For Syria’s new leadership, the Sweida crisis underscores the precariousness of postwar governance. After Assad’s ouster, authorities promised to unify the country and include minorities. But clashes with Druze fighters and reports of sectarian killings have deepened mistrust.

Political analyst Samy Akil told Al Jazeera the government’s failure to deliver an inclusive power-sharing arrangement is fueling the unrest.

“They have not backed up their rhetoric with any real guarantees to protect minorities,” he said. “That’s why we’re seeing this explosive violence now.”

Israel Strikes Syrian Military HQ Near Damascus Presidential Palace as Suwayda Fighting Spirals

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Israel Strikes Syrian Military HQ Near Damascus Presidential Palace as Suwayda Fighting Spirals

Tel Aviv (BN24)  – Israel launched airstrikes on the headquarters of Syria’s Ministry of Defence and areas near the presidential palace in Damascus on Wednesday, marking a dangerous escalation in the region as sectarian violence in southern Syria spilled into the capital.

The strikes followed days of fierce clashes between Syrian government forces and Druze fighters in Suwayda province. Footage broadcast by Al Jazeera showed four massive explosions striking the Defence Ministry, sending columns of smoke billowing over Damascus before another airstrike hit close to the palace complex.

Syria’s Interior Ministry later announced a ceasefire in Suwayda, confirmed by Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Yousef Jarbou. The truce, which took effect immediately, was intended to halt all military operations and “fully integrate Suwayda into the Syrian state.”

But the fighting had already left deep scars. According to Syria’s Health Ministry, at least three people were killed and 34 wounded in the Israeli attacks. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported even higher casualties in Suwayda, estimating more than 250 people killed, including 138 soldiers and security personnel, alongside civilians.


 Israel claimed the strikes were meant to protect Syria’s Druze minority, describing them as natural allies threatened by government forces. However, many Druze leaders have historically rejected Israeli overtures and criticized foreign interference.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz framed the bombardment as a final warning. “The warnings in Damascus have ended—now painful blows will come,” he declared in a statement on X. Katz said Israel’s military would sustain operations in Suwayda until Syrian forces withdrew entirely.

Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr, reporting live from Damascus, said the strikes were among the most brazen Israeli attacks on the capital in years. “This is a significant escalation,” she noted. “Israel is sending a very direct message that it will not hesitate to deepen its involvement.”

 Earlier attempts to end the fighting in Suwayda quickly fell apart. A ceasefire announced on Tuesday collapsed overnight as gun battles erupted between Syrian troops and Druze fighters.

Syrian Defence Ministry officials blamed “groups outside the law” for violating the truce. The ministry said it opened safe corridors for civilians to flee, but local reports described chaotic scenes as residents tried to escape.

Medical sources said more than 200 people were wounded in the violence. Witnesses told Reuters that the fighting began after a Druze merchant was abducted by Sunni Bedouin tribesmen, rekindling old rivalries.

 The violence has triggered chaos along the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Crowds of Israeli Druze gathered at the border, with some crossing into Syria to support their kin.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally appealed to the community to stay put. “You can be kidnapped, and you hurt the army’s efforts,” Netanyahu said. “Go back to your homes.”

Despite the pleas, Israeli warplanes continued pounding targets across southern Syria. Public broadcaster Kan reported nearly 160 strikes since Tuesday night, the majority focused on Suwayda.

 Al Jazeera’s Khodr said Israel’s demands for a demilitarized zone presented Syria’s leadership with an impossible choice. “If they stay in Suwayda, it will mean more airstrikes. If they pull back, it will be seen as surrender,” she said.

Syria’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks as “flagrant violations of sovereignty and international law.” Arab states also criticized Israel’s actions, though the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa has struggled to rally international backing.

Since Bashar al-Assad’s overthrow in December, the new Syrian authorities have faced resistance from minority groups and former loyalist militias. In a sign of shifting dynamics, the United States recently removed the new ruling faction, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, from its list of foreign terrorist organizations.

 The abrupt escalation appeared to catch Washington off guard. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced concern: “We’re going to be working on that issue as we speak.”

Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett reported from Washington that the Biden administration had hoped to stabilize Syria after more than a decade of war, but Israeli strikes risk undermining that strategy.

 Analysts said the crisis in Suwayda underscores the fractured nature of post-Assad Syria. Political analyst Samy Akil told Al Jazeera the failure to create a truly inclusive system was fueling instability. “The government hasn’t backed its promises with tangible action,” Akil said.

Rob Geist Pinfold, a lecturer at King’s College London, said Israel’s alliance with Druze leader Hikmat al-Hijri, whose forces captured government buildings last week, shows it has chosen to continue military dominance rather than seek accommodation with Syria’s new rulers.

“Israel had an opportunity for a reset,” Pinfold said. “Instead, it’s maintaining the status quo—pursuing hegemony and occupation.”

UK PM Keir Starmer Suspends 4 Labour MPs Over Welfare Rebellion

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UK PM Keir Starmer Suspends 4 Labour MPs Over Welfare Rebellion

LONDON (BN24) — Keir Starmer has suspended four Labour MPs for “repeated breaches of discipline,” in a dramatic escalation of tensions following the government’s bruising struggle to pass controversial welfare reforms.

The move came hours after a grim-faced Prime Minister’s Questions session and weeks of internal turmoil, culminating in a major rebellion on welfare cuts that forced a series of government U-turns.

Three of the suspended MPs — Neil Duncan-Jordan (Poole), Brian Leishman (Alloa and Grangemouth), and Chris Hinchcliff (North East Herefordshire) — were only elected at the last general election. The fourth, Rachael Maskell (York Central), has served in Parliament for a decade.

All four will now sit as independents and will be barred from standing as Labour candidates at the next election unless readmitted. Allies said they were “devastated” and shocked by the severity of the action.

Three other MPs — Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, and Mohammed Yasin — lost frontbench roles over their participation in the revolt. All were among 47 Labour MPs who defied the whip to oppose the government’s welfare overhaul, despite significant concessions.

Ministers ultimately pushed the legislation through by 335 votes to 260 after watering down large parts of the plan to prevent a total collapse. The government exempted existing Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants from tougher new rules and agreed to delay further changes pending a review.

The only measure MPs passed was a reduction in Universal Credit sickness benefits for new claimants, from £97 to £50 a week. Even so, the compromise left Chancellor Rachel Reeves facing a multibillion-pound fiscal shortfall — likely to require tax increases to plug the gap. Reeves reportedly broke down in tears during the first PMQs after the vote.

Many Labour MPs had believed the leadership would engage in dialogue after the rebellion rather than impose sweeping punishments. “When Number 10 said they were committed to engagement, this was not what we expected,” one MP said.

Meanwhile, the government suffered an additional setback as peers voted to strip out another manifesto pledge. The House of Lords defeated a Labour proposal to grant “day one” protection against unfair dismissal for new workers, backing instead a Tory amendment reducing the qualifying period from two years to six months.

The 304–160 vote sets up a fresh confrontation when the Employment Rights Bill returns to the Commons for “ping-pong,” where the Houses attempt to resolve their differences.

The bill would also expand immediate rights to sick pay, paternity leave and flexible working, and impose new restrictions on so-called “fire and rehire” tactics.

news.sky

Bodies of Two Young Sisters and Man Found in Georgia River After Tragedy at Park

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Bodies of Two Young Sisters and Man Found in Georgia River After Tragedy at Park

MACON, Ga. (BN24) — Authorities recovered the bodies of two young sisters and a man from the Ocmulgee River in Macon, Georgia, on Wednesday, a day after all three drowned while swimming at a popular middle Georgia park.

Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones identified the victims as Johnny Collins III, 28, Skyler Worthen, 10, and her 7-year-old sister, Summer McRae.

Investigators said the girls had been swimming at Amerson River Park on Tuesday afternoon when they began drifting into deeper water. Collins jumped in to try to save them, but all three disappeared beneath the surface.

It was not immediately clear what Collins’ relationship to the children was.

Emergency crews launched boats and used sonar-equipped divers and a helicopter to search the river. The official search was called off at sundown Tuesday night, but family members continued looking in the dark. The bodies were recovered after authorities resumed operations Wednesday morning.

Since the park opened in 2009, at least 14 people have drowned in this stretch of the Ocmulgee, local media reported. While the river remains shallow in some areas—where tubing companies operate and rope swings draw crowds—officials have long warned that strong currents and sudden drop-offs can quickly overwhelm swimmers.

The park was closed Wednesday during the search but is expected to reopen Thursday, deputies said.

Trump Blasts His Own Supporters as ‘Weaklings’ for Falling for Epstein ‘Hoax’

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Trump Blasts His Own Supporters as ‘Weaklings’ for Falling for Epstein ‘Hoax’

WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday delivered a blistering rebuke of his own supporters, accusing them of being duped by Democrats and “stupid Republicans” over the controversy surrounding the release of Jeffrey Epstein investigation records, which Trump now dismisses as a “hoax.”

“Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this bull— hook, line, and sinker,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, using an expletive. “They haven’t learned their lesson and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years.”

The president went further, disavowing parts of his own base in unusually harsh terms: “Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats’ work. Don’t even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don’t want their support anymore!”

The outburst marks Trump’s most aggressive public split with supporters who have fueled speculation for years about Epstein’s ties to political and business elites. The clash erupted after the Justice Department and the FBI confirmed last week that Epstein did not maintain a “client list” of people to whom underage girls were trafficked and said no further records would be released, despite repeated promises by Attorney General Pam Bondi to bring transparency.

Bondi, who previously suggested she was reviewing documents that would soon be public, clarified she was referring only to general case files. Trump has defended her handling of the matter, telling a reporter Tuesday, “I don’t understand what the interest or what the fascination is.”

Speaking from the Oval Office on Wednesday, he made clear he was finished discussing the issue. “It’s all been a big hoax,” Trump said. “It’s perpetrated by the Democrats, and some foolish Republicans fell into the net.”

He also complained that Bondi had been “waylaid” over the case and insisted she had already disclosed all “credible information.” “If she finds any more, she’ll give it. What more can she do than that?” he said, adding that Bondi had “bigger problems,” including removing criminal migrants.

The fallout has been swift. Several prominent pro-Trump influencers expressed anger and disbelief over the president’s dismissive stance.

Far-right commentator Alex Jones called Trump’s comments “the biggest train wreck I’ve ever seen,” telling viewers, “It’s not in character for you to be acting like this. You’re not the movement. You just surfed in on it.”

Benny Johnson, a conservative podcaster who has pushed for the Epstein files to be released, said he was disappointed but still hoped Trump would reconsider. “Maybe it hasn’t been framed correctly for the president,” he said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., also broke ranks this week, telling Johnson’s show the Justice Department should “put everything out there and let the people decide.”

Others rushed to Trump’s defense. Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk urged supporters not to overreact, telling his audience Wednesday, “Don’t take too seriously this whole Truth Social here. I don’t believe he was trying to insult anybody personally.”

Kirk added, “The grassroots is not trying to make you look bad. We want to make sure the bad people who have done such terrible things to you can finally be held accountable.”

Meanwhile, Brenden Dilley, head of a group of pro-Trump meme creators, lashed out at the president’s critics: “He lent you his clout and voters. They don’t belong to you.”

California Officials Take Custody of 21 Children as Surrogates Accuse Couple of Deception

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California Officials Take Custody of 21 Children as Surrogates Accuse Couple of Deception

LOS ANGELES (BN24) — California authorities have taken custody of 21 children amid an investigation into whether a Los Angeles-area couple misled surrogate mothers across the country, police said Wednesday.

According to the Associated Press, fifteen children were removed in May from an opulent home in Arcadia, east of Los Angeles, following an abuse report. Six additional children living elsewhere were also located, Arcadia police Lt. Kollin Cieadlo said. The children, ranging in age from 2 months to 13 years old, are now under the care of county child welfare officials. Most of them are toddlers between 1 and 3 years old.

“We believe one or two of the children were born biologically to the mother,” Cieadlo said. “There are some surrogates who have come forward and said they were surrogates for the children.”

The couple, identified as Silvia Zhang, 38, and Guojun Xuan, 65, are believed to be the legal parents of all 21 children, he said.

Their arrests in May came after a local hospital alerted police that their 2-month-old infant had suffered a traumatic head injury. Investigators allege the injury was caused when a nanny violently shook the baby inside the home. The child was not taken to the hospital for two days.

Although authorities initially considered filing neglect charges, Cieadlo said those charges were not pursued to allow the broader investigation to continue.

According to police, Zhang and Xuan told officers they simply “wanted a large family.”

The case has raised questions about how many of the children were born through surrogacy and whether the women carrying the pregnancies were fully informed.

Source: AP

Thai Woman Arrested for Allegedly Seducing and Blackmailing Senior Buddhist Monks

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Thai Woman Arrested for Allegedly Seducing and Blackmailing Senior Buddhist Monks

BANGKOK (BN24) — Thai police have arrested a woman accused of luring senior Buddhist monks into sexual relationships and extorting large sums of money to keep the affairs secret, a scandal that has shaken Thailand’s Buddhist institutions and fueled public outrage.

Wilawan Emsawat, reportedly in her mid-30s, was taken into custody Tuesday at her home in Nonthaburi province, just north of Bangkok. Authorities charged her with extortion, money laundering, and receiving stolen goods. Investigators said they discovered she had received money from a senior monk who diverted temple funds from a monastery in northern Thailand.

The scandal has already led to the downfall of at least nine abbots and senior monks, all of whom have been disrobed and expelled from the monkhood, the Royal Thai Police Central Investigation Bureau said. Police allege Wilawan deliberately targeted prominent monks to profit from their vows of celibacy.

“This woman is dangerous and we needed to arrest her as soon as possible,” Deputy Commissioner Jaroonkiat Pankaew told reporters Tuesday. He said the investigation began last month when an abbot at a well-known Bangkok temple abruptly left the monkhood under suspicious circumstances. Investigators later determined the abbot had been blackmailed after Wilawan claimed she was pregnant and demanded 7.2 million baht ($222,000) in “financial assistance.”

Police said they traced 385 million baht ($11.9 million) that flowed through Wilawan’s bank accounts over the past three years, much of it spent on online gambling. They also seized her mobile phones, which reportedly contained tens of thousands of photos and videos and chat logs showing intimate exchanges with several monks.

Before her arrest, Wilawan acknowledged to local media that she had been involved in at least one relationship and claimed she had given money to the monk. She has not issued any statement since being detained, and it was unclear if she had retained legal representation.

Scandals involving monks surface periodically in Thailand, but this case is unusual for its scale and for implicating high-ranking clergy. Under Theravada Buddhist rules, monks are required to remain celibate and are forbidden even to touch a woman.

Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has ordered a review of regulations governing temples and monks, particularly financial transparency, to help restore public confidence. “We must look carefully at the laws and consider strengthening them,” government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub said Tuesday.

The Central Investigation Bureau has also created an online reporting system to allow the public to file complaints about monks suspected of misconduct. “I believe the ripple effects of this investigation will lead to a lot of changes,” Jaroonkiat said.

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