Judge Rejects Trump-Era Bid to Unseal Grand Jury Records in Jeffrey Epstein’s Florida Case

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July 23, 2025

MOSCOW, Idaho (BN24) — Bryan Kohberger, the former criminology student charged with the 2022 slayings of four University of Idaho students, was sentenced Wednesday to four consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole, bringing a legal end to one of the most harrowing cases in recent memory.

Latah County Judge Steven Hippler handed down the sentence after Kohberger pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary, sparing him the death penalty in exchange for waiving his right to appeal. He was also ordered to serve a 10-year sentence for burglary and pay $270,000 in fines and civil penalties.

The November 13, 2022 killings of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin in their off-campus rental home left the close-knit college town of Moscow, Idaho, gripped by fear. Kohberger, then a graduate student at Washington State University studying criminology, lived just a short drive away from the crime scene.

Investigators connected Kohberger to the killings through a sheath found near one of the victims’ bodies that contained a single trace of DNA. They used genetic genealogy to trace the DNA to Kohberger’s family and confirmed the match using a sample collected from his parents’ home in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested six weeks after the murders. Cell phone data, surveillance video of a white Hyundai Elantra near the crime scene, and online purchases of a combat-style knife and sheath further built the case.

At the sentencing hearing, families of the victims delivered emotional impact statements that underscored the lasting trauma the killings had caused.

Alivea Goncalves, sister to Kaylee, addressed Kohberger directly. “If you hadn’t attacked them in their sleep, in the middle of the night like a pedophile, Kaylee would have kicked your fucking ass,” she said, calling Kohberger “pathetic,” prompting a standing ovation from the courtroom.

Kaylee’s parents, Steve and Kristi Goncalves, had long advocated for the death penalty but reluctantly accepted the plea deal. “BK did not show Kaylee ANY mercy,” Kristi said, referring to Kohberger by his initials. She told him in court, “Hell will be waiting for you.”

Maddie Mogen’s stepfather, Scott Laramie, said the family agreed with the plea deal, stating: “Society needs to be protected against this evil.”

Xana Kernodle’s family also spoke. Her stepfather, Randy Davis, told Kohberger, “You’re evil … you took our children … you are gonna suffer.” Her aunt, Kim Kernodle, offered a rare note of forgiveness, telling Kohberger, “I’ve forgiven you, because I could no longer live with that hate,” and added she would listen if he ever chose to speak about what happened.

Despite the emotional testimonies, Kohberger declined to speak before sentencing, responding simply, “I respectfully decline,” when offered the chance.

Prosecutors initially sought the death penalty, citing the brutality of the attack. Defense attorneys challenged the validity of the DNA evidence and argued for its exclusion, but the legal challenges failed. Kohberger ultimately accepted a plea deal that removed capital punishment in exchange for four life sentences and no right to appeal.

The sentencing ends a nearly three-year legal process and brings closure to a community still shaken by the random and savage nature of the crime.

Justice Department Told Trump His Name Appears in Jeffrey Epstein Files, Report Says

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July 23, 2025

WASHINGTON (BN24) — The U.S. Justice Department informed President Donald Trump in May that his name appears multiple times in government files related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a report published Wednesday by The Wall Street Journal.

Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly told Trump during a White House meeting that his name was among those mentioned in the Epstein files, along with several other prominent figures. The information in the documents reportedly includes what officials described as “unverified hearsay” about individuals who socialized with Epstein in the past, including Trump himself.

The Justice Department has opted not to release further Epstein-related records due to the presence of child pornography and the need to protect victims’ identities, Bondi told the president during the meeting, the Journal said.

The disclosure comes as the Trump administration works to contain mounting pressure from within the Republican base over what many perceive as a lack of transparency in the handling of the Epstein case. Earlier this month, the Justice Department and FBI issued a joint memo confirming the conclusion that Epstein died by suicide in federal custody and announced they would not release additional case files, sparking backlash from Trump’s supporters who had hoped his administration would expose a broader network of individuals connected to Epstein.

Trump has a well-documented past with Epstein. In a now-infamous 2002 quote, Trump told New York Magazine, “I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”

Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had once sent Epstein a provocative birthday message in the early 2000s, noting that the two shared “certain things in common.” Trump denied the report and filed a lawsuit against the publication shortly thereafter.

The Journal’s latest report was amplified by tech billionaire Elon Musk, a former adviser in Trump’s first administration and now a frequent critic, who posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Trump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”

When asked by ABC News last week whether Bondi had informed him about his name appearing in the Epstein files, Trump replied, “No, no,” and praised Bondi’s handling of the situation, saying she managed the Epstein matter “very well.”

The latest revelations add further complexity to a case that continues to stir controversy, conspiracy theories, and calls for accountability, even years after Epstein’s death in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019.

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Israeli Protesters March in Tel Aviv Over Gaza Food Crisis, Accuse Government of War Cries

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July 23, 2025

Food Crisis, Accuse Government of War Cries

TELAVIV, Israel (BN24)—Dozens of Israeli activists marched through Tel Aviv on Tuesday, protesting what they described as the Israeli government’s role in the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where aid agencies warn of widespread famine and rising child mortality.

Gathering at HaBima Square, demonstrators carried placards reading “Starvation is a War Crime” and “It’s Being Done in Our Name.” The group marched toward the Israeli Ministry of Defense carrying symbolic sacks of flour, denouncing the alleged weaponization of food and forced displacement of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The protest comes amid escalating international concern over what the United Nations has described as a “man-made famine.” In a June 2025 statement, the UN condemned Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian aid into Gaza, declaring the blockade and resulting starvation a violation of international law and a potential war crime.

UN: Famine Crisis Escalates in Gaza

More than 2.1 million Palestinians are now living in increasingly dire conditions, with the majority displaced and crowded into 12 percent of Gaza’s territory. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the territory’s food, water, and medical supplies are at “unprecedented” scarcity levels.

Humanitarian agencies report that food convoys remain blocked at Gaza’s borders while malnutrition rates—especially among children—have doubled in recent months. Al Jazeera cited medical sources reporting the deaths of 21 children from starvation in just 72 hours this week, amid widespread shortages.

At Gaza’s overwhelmed hospitals, including Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah and Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, staff report a surge in patients suffering from acute food deprivation. Among the deceased were two newborns and a young child.

Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, Director of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, warned that Gaza has entered a critical phase of famine. “We are seeing irreversible damage—children with memory loss, pregnant women with severe deficiencies, and no medical infrastructure to support them,” he said.

Airstrikes Compound Humanitarian Disaster

Tuesday’s protest also coincided with reports of renewed Israeli airstrikes across Gaza. According to local hospital officials, at least 45 Palestinians were killed in a single day, including five civilians—three of them children—near the Ali Ibn Abi Talib Mosque in Gaza City. Thirteen others died in pre-dawn shelling of a tent encampment at Al-Shati refugee camp.

The rising civilian toll has intensified calls for international intervention. The Arab League urged the UN to pass an emergency resolution ending the siege and ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid. Algeria and Somalia, both currently serving as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, have been tasked with lobbying for the resolution.

Professional Unions Join Global Appeals

Palestinian professional associations including doctors, journalists, and lawyers—have joined the outcry. In a rare joint statement, they appealed to global unions and human rights organizations to condemn what they called a “systematic starvation policy” and demand accountability under international humanitarian law.

Medical workers in Gaza describe operating under extreme conditions, with hospitals running at 250% capacity and supplies exhausted. Some doctors report being forced to treat patients while suffering from hunger themselves.

The situation has sparked outrage beyond the region. U.S.-based company GHF and its CEO, Johnnie Moore—an evangelical pastor and outspoken supporter of Israel—have come under scrutiny following reports linking them to controversial food distribution operations in Gaza. Critics accuse GHF of exacerbating civilian suffering by allegedly controlling food flows in what they called “Hunger Games-style tactics.”

A Humanitarian Catastrophe Unfolding

The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) recently reported that more than 5,500 children in Gaza are now suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Estimates suggest 17,000 children are at immediate risk, with hundreds arriving daily at hospitals exhibiting signs of starvation-related cognitive dysfunction.

“We are facing a full-blown famine,” said a UN spokesperson. “The main threat in Gaza is no longer airstrikes—it’s hunger.”

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Man Arrested in Cross River for Brutal Killing of Commercial Driver

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July 23, 2025

POLICE IN CROSS RIVER STATE(BN24) — Calabar, Nigeria have arrested a 35-year-old man, Adeshina Gilbert, in connection with the brutal murder of a commercial driver, Agage Ternenge, in Obudu Local Government Area. The arrest, confirmed by police spokesperson Irene Ugbo, follows intense efforts by the Cross River State Police Command to apprehend those involved in the fatal assault, which authorities have linked to an ongoing land dispute between communities in Cross River and neighboring Benue State.

The incident, which took place on Friday, July 18, has drawn widespread condemnation after a disturbing video showing the assault began circulating on social media. The footage reportedly depicts a group of assailants attacking Ternenge, who was later confirmed to have died after being stoned.

According to a police statement dated July 21, Ternenge, a native of Mbanyam in Mbatyough Council Ward of Vandeikya Local Government Area, Benue State, had traveled to Obudu to deliver a waybill when he was ambushed. He was killed during what police believe was a fallout of a deepening boundary disagreement between Vandeikya in Benue and Obudu in Cross River.

Gilbert, identified as a resident of Abonkib community in Obudu Urban, is currently in custody as police continue their investigation. Authorities say efforts are underway to locate and arrest other suspects who remain at large.

Cross River State Commissioner of Police, CP Rashid Afegbua, condemned the attack, calling it a “barbaric act” and “a gross violation of the victim’s human rights and dignity.” He emphasized the command’s commitment to ensuring justice is served and assured that all individuals involved would be tracked down.

The case has sparked concern among residents and human rights advocates, particularly given the violent nature of the attack and its connection to a longstanding territorial conflict. Police have called for public cooperation as they continue their manhunt for the remaining perpetrators.

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Iran Ready for War With Israel, President Pezeshkian Warns in First Televised Interview

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July 23, 2025

TEHRAN (BN24) — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that Iran is fully prepared for a renewed conflict with Israel, casting doubt on the durability of the recent ceasefire and warning that Iranian forces stand ready to strike deep into Israeli territory if provoked.

In his first televised interview since the end of last month’s 12-day war with Israel, Pezeshkian told Al Jazeera that Iran remains on high alert despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, which halted an escalating military confrontation that included American strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

“We are fully prepared for any new Israeli military move, and our armed forces are ready to strike deep inside Israel again,” Pezeshkian said in the interview broadcast late Monday. “We do not rely on the recent ceasefire, and we are not very optimistic about it. That is why we have prepared ourselves for any possible scenario and any potential response.”

The war marked the most direct military confrontation between Iran and Israel in years. While the U.S. intervened militarily on Israel’s behalf, Pezeshkian insisted that Iran inflicted significant damage in response, even as Israeli officials have downplayed or withheld information about their losses.

“Israel has harmed us, and we have also harmed it,” Pezeshkian said. “It has dealt us powerful blows, and we have struck it hard in its depths. But it is concealing its losses.”

The Iranian president accused Israel of attempting to destabilize and ultimately dismantle the Islamic Republic through military aggression and covert operations. “Israel sought to change Iran, dismantle it, and eliminate Iran, its regime, and its society by unleashing chaos and striking the regime, but it has completely failed to do so,” he said.

The recent fighting followed a sharp escalation in tensions between the two regional rivals, including strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and retaliatory drone and missile attacks on Israeli military positions. The conflict prompted fears of a broader regional war, especially with continued hostilities involving Iran-backed groups such as Hezbollah and the Houthis.

While Pezeshkian is seen as a reformist at home, his firm stance on national defense and confrontation with Israel reflects the longstanding posture of the Iranian state. Despite calls from the international community to de-escalate, Pezeshkian made it clear that Iran’s strategic calculus remains centered on deterrence and retaliation.

The ceasefire, negotiated with indirect U.S. and Qatari mediation, remains fragile. Analysts say that without meaningful diplomatic engagement, both sides could quickly slip back into open conflict.

U.S. House Cuts Week Short to Avoid Epstein File Vote, Prompting Democratic Outcry

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July 23, 2025

WASHINGTON (BN24) — The Republican-led House of Representatives will adjourn for its summer recess a day early, a move that Democrats allege is aimed at avoiding politically sensitive votes on the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking case.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise announced Tuesday that the final votes would be held Wednesday instead of Thursday, cutting short the legislative week ahead of the chamber’s five-week recess. The abrupt schedule change comes amid intensifying Democratic efforts to force votes on making Epstein-related documents public—a push Republicans have resisted.

“They are actually ending this week early because they’re afraid to cast votes on the Jeffrey Epstein issue,” said Rep. Ted Lieu, the Democratic caucus vice chair. “This is a deliberate attempt to avoid accountability.”

Scalise dismissed the criticism, saying that committees would continue working through Thursday and that much of the chamber’s work happens outside of floor votes. He declined to comment on whether the decision was tied to the Epstein controversy.

The move deepens a partisan rift over how to handle the lingering public demand for transparency in the Epstein case. President Donald Trump’s administration has faced criticism over its limited efforts to release the full scope of Epstein’s files. While Attorney General Pam Bondi agreed last week to release select grand jury materials, the Justice Department has maintained that most documents, including any alleged client list, will remain sealed.

House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the GOP’s approach, emphasizing caution. “Congress must be careful,” he said Tuesday, warning that pushing for rapid release of documents could retraumatize victims. “This is political theater. We can demand transparency without harming those who have already suffered.”

Still, the controversy shows no signs of fading. Democrats have repeatedly attempted to attach amendments to unrelated legislation in the House Rules Committee to compel the release of Epstein-related records—tactics that put Republicans in the uncomfortable position of voting to block disclosure.

Frustration among GOP lawmakers peaked Monday when Democrats prepared to introduce more Epstein-related measures during a committee session. In response, Republicans froze the process, refusing to vote on additional rules and effectively halting House floor activity.

While Johnson has promised a vote on a symbolic resolution calling for the documents’ release, that measure is now delayed until after the August break.

On Tuesday, the House Oversight Committee approved a subpoena for Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in the sex trafficking operation. The Justice Department is also seeking to question her, but no date for her congressional testimony has been confirmed.

Separately, Rep. Thomas Massie, a libertarian-leaning Republican, and Democrat Ro Khanna are collaborating on a legislative maneuver to compel a vote on the full release of the Epstein files. That action is expected to take place in early September when lawmakers return.

Democratic leaders criticized the decision to end the week early as a dereliction of duty. Rep. Joe Morelle, ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, warned that the shortened week will delay work on critical spending bills needed to avert a government shutdown by the end of September.

“We haven’t done appropriation bills,” Morelle said. “And yet we’re going to take extra days off to avoid pressuring the administration to fulfill promises it made to release these files. That’s unacceptable.”

The renewed focus on Epstein’s death in federal custody and his alleged ties to powerful figures continues to stir public distrust. Despite the Justice Department’s recent conclusion that Epstein died by suicide and had no “client list,” critics accuse the administration of withholding vital information.

Pam Bondi, who previously served as a prominent Trump ally and now leads the Justice Department, told Fox News in February that the Epstein files were “sitting on my desk,” further inflaming calls for full disclosure.

Columbia University Expels, Suspends Dozens of Students Over Pro-Palestinian Protests

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July 23, 2025

NEW YORK (BN24) — Columbia University has expelled and suspended students who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including a library sit-in before final exams in May and an encampment during last year’s alumni weekend, the Ivy League school announced Tuesday.

In a statement, the university confirmed disciplinary measures ranging from probation and degree revocation to multi-year suspensions and expulsions, stemming from its internal judicial board’s findings. A student activist group claimed nearly 80 students were notified of suspensions lasting one to three years or permanent removal.

The crackdown comes as Columbia faces intense pressure from President Donald Trump’s administration to comply with federal demands after the White House froze more than $400 million in research grants and federal contracts in March. The administration accused the university of failing to curb antisemitism amid escalating campus protests against Israel’s war in Gaza.

Columbia has since agreed to overhaul its disciplinary procedures and adopt a revised definition of antisemitism to meet conditions for restoring funding. “Our institution must focus on delivering on its academic mission,” the university said Tuesday, adding that disruptions to academic operations violate campus rules and “generate consequences.”

The school did not release the names of those sanctioned. However, it noted that disciplinary actions were specific to policy breaches linked to the spring protests.

The impact of the federal funding loss has already rippled across campus. Columbia disclosed in May that nearly 180 staff members—about 20% of those tied to canceled federal grants—would lose their jobs or face contract nonrenewals. Research projects are also being scaled back.

Student activists say the punishments are unprecedented and politically motivated. “This level of disciplinary action exceeds anything seen before for peaceful protests,” said Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a student-led group. They claimed students must issue written apologies to be reinstated—an ultimatum many will reject.

“We will not be deterred. We are committed to the struggle for Palestinian liberation,” the group said in a statement.

Columbia emerged as the epicenter of nationwide campus protests over the war in Gaza during the spring of 2024, when students erected an encampment and briefly seized a building, drawing national attention and prompting similar actions at other U.S. universities. Dozens of arrests followed.

Since returning to the White House in January, President Trump has taken aggressive steps to clamp down on what he calls “institutionalized antisemitism,” cutting funds to elite universities and targeting individual protesters.

Among them is Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, a legal U.S. resident with no criminal history, who was detained in March for participating in demonstrations. Khalil is now suing the Trump administration, alleging false imprisonment and defamation.

Man Arrested for Alleged Murder of Commercial Driver in Cross River, Nigeria

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July 22, 2025

Cross River, Nigeria (BN24) — Police in Cross River State have arrested a 35-year-old man in connection with the alleged murder of a commercial driver who was fatally attacked in the Obudu local government area. Authorities identified the suspect as Adeshina Gilbert, a resident of Abonkib community in Obudu Urban. He was taken into custody following the death of Agage Ternenge, a driver who was ambushed while making a delivery.

The attack occurred on July 18 when Ternenge, a native of Mbanyam in the Mbatyough Council Ward of Vandeikya Local Government Area in Benue State, entered Obudu to deliver a waybill. According to police, he was surrounded by suspected hoodlums who violently stoned him to death. A disturbing video capturing the assault circulated on social media shortly after the incident, drawing widespread condemnation and renewed calls for justice.

Police spokesperson Irene Ugbo described the act as cruel and inhumane, confirming that Gilbert is in custody while investigations remain ongoing. She noted that law enforcement is actively pursuing other individuals believed to be involved in the fatal mob attack.

The Commissioner of Police in Cross River State denounced the killing as a barbaric violation of human rights and emphasized the police command’s determination to arrest and prosecute all those responsible. He urged residents to refrain from mob action, stressing that due process and the rule of law must be upheld.

The violent death of the commercial driver has triggered serious concern across the region, with community leaders, civil society groups, and human rights advocates calling for swift justice and improved security. The incident has once again brought attention to the dangers of mob justice in Nigeria, where several such cases have led to tragic outcomes in recent years.

As investigations continue, police are urging members of the public to provide any useful information that may lead to the arrest of additional suspects, reaffirming their commitment to restoring public safety and maintaining law and order in Cross River State.

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Manchester United Confirm £71m Signing of Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford

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July 22, 2025