LIVERPOOL, England (BN24) — Liverpool have reached a £79 million (€91 million) agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt for the signing of French striker Hugo Ekitike, marking a significant step in the Premier League champions’ aggressive summer recruitment.
Ekitike, 22, is scheduled to arrive in the United Kingdom on Tuesday for a medical examination before signing a six-year contract with the Merseyside club. Club officials, who remained in the UK in anticipation of the deal’s finalization, are expected to complete the formalities quickly. Once confirmed, Ekitike will travel to Asia later this week to join Liverpool’s ongoing pre-season tour.
The move makes Ekitike Liverpool’s fifth major signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. The latest addition pushes Liverpool’s total summer spending to £289 million, signaling their intent to consolidate domestic dominance and challenge for European honors. Sources close to the club suggest that their transfer activity may not yet be complete.
Ekitike enjoyed a breakout campaign with Eintracht Frankfurt last season, scoring 22 goals in 48 appearances across all competitions, including 15 in the Bundesliga. His performances earned him a spot in the Bundesliga Team of the Season and attracted interest from several top clubs. Last week, Newcastle United saw a £70 million bid for the forward rejected, falling short of his release clause.
Liverpool’s pursuit of Ekitike casts doubt on reported interest in Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, though no formal approach has been made for the Swedish international.
Before his rise in Germany, Ekitike spent time at Paris Saint-Germain, initially joining from Stade de Reims on loan before securing a permanent move. However, he struggled to make an impact in the French capital, scoring only four goals in 33 appearances for PSG prior to his switch to the Bundesliga.
The high-profile signing underlines Liverpool’s determination to reinforce their attacking options as they prepare to defend their Premier League crown and make a deep run in European competition.
Nigerian striker (BN24) – Victor Boniface revealed that he nearly completed a high-profile transfer to Saudi Arabian giants Al Nassr during the January winter transfer window. The lucrative contract offered by Al Nassr, reportedly worth €15 million per year, was an offer the Bayer Leverkusen forward found impossible to decline.
Boniface, currently playing in the Bundesliga for Bayer Leverkusen on a €2 million annual salary, described the Saudi club’s offer as a significant financial upgrade that factored heavily into his decision-making. Despite his strong desire to move, the transfer ultimately fell through when Al Nassr decided to sign Jhon Duran from Aston Villa instead.
Speaking on the popular podcast The Culture League, Boniface candidly shared his perspective on the near transfer. “I have been injured so many times, if I go and play two, three seasons…the money was a lot,” he said, highlighting the financial security the deal would have provided. He also stressed that the deal was not just about him but involved the club’s interests as well. “There was also the club, who were offered 70 million Euros, and they wanted the money,” Boniface explained.
The Nigerian striker added that he was fully prepared to join Al Nassr, having packed his bags and even given away his designer clothes and shoes to friends ahead of the move. “The plane was waiting,” he said, describing the moment when the transfer unexpectedly collapsed at the last minute.
Victor Boniface’s near transfer to Al Nassr underscores the growing influence of Saudi Arabian football clubs in attracting top international talent with highly competitive salaries. The striker’s candid remarks also shed light on the complex dynamics behind football transfers, where player ambitions, club finances, and last-minute decisions intersect.
WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday unveiled what he described as a “massive” new trade agreement with Japan, marking the conclusion of months of tense negotiations and ushering in a new phase in U.S.-Japan economic relations. The deal includes a 15 percent tariff on Japanese exports and a sweeping $550 billion investment pledge from Tokyo.
“We just completed a massive deal with Japan, perhaps the largest deal ever made,” Trump announced on his Truth Social platform. “Japan will invest, at my direction, $550 Billion Dollars into the United States, which will receive 90% of the Profits.”
While Japanese officials have yet to confirm the terms, Trump said the agreement includes greater market access for American exports of automobiles, rice, and select agricultural products. He added that the trade package is expected to generate “hundreds of thousands of jobs” across the U.S. economy.
Japan had faced the threat of a punitive 25 percent tariff on its exports if a deal was not reached by an August 1 deadline set by the Trump administration. Prior to the agreement, Japanese goods were generally subject to a 10 percent tariff under baseline U.S. trade policy.
While Trump did not reference other contentious elements in the months-long talks—namely the previously proposed 25 percent tariff on cars or the 50 percent duties on steel and aluminum—Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported Wednesday that auto exports would now face a 15 percent rate under the finalized accord.
Japan’s government has not yet issued an official statement confirming the deal’s terms or timelines.
Following Trump’s announcement, Japan’s stock market responded positively. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index surged 1.8 percent in early trading on Wednesday, signaling investor optimism over strengthened economic ties and reduced trade friction between the two allies.
The agreement marks a major step forward in Trump’s “America First” trade strategy, which has prioritized bilateral deals and aggressive tariff leverage. The White House has yet to release a full text of the agreement or provide additional details about the timeline for Japan’s investments or U.S. market access expansions.
BIRMINGHAM, England (BN24) – Ozzy Osbourne, the heavy metal legend who rose to fame as frontman of the pioneering group Black Sabbath and later became a global icon through his solo career and reality television stardom, has died at age 76, his family announced Tuesday.
“It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning,” the family said in a statement. “He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
The family’s statement did not provide additional details about the circumstances surrounding Osbourne’s death. The rock legend had battled Parkinson’s disease since revealing his diagnosis in 2020, a progressive movement disorder affecting the nervous system that worsens over time. His health struggles included a 2019 fall at his Los Angeles home that aggravated injuries from a 2003 all-terrain vehicle accident, leading him to postpone all performances that year and announce his retirement from touring in 2023.
Just two weeks before his death, Osbourne took the stage for what he declared would be his final performance, reuniting with the original Black Sabbath lineup for the first time in 20 years at a farewell concert in Birmingham, England. “Let the madness begin!” he told the crowd of 42,000 fans at the massive tribute show featuring performances by Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera and other metal acts.
Born John Michael Osbourne in the industrial city of Birmingham, England, the singer who became known as the “Prince of Darkness” helped create the template for heavy metal music when Black Sabbath formed in the late 1960s. The band’s 1970 self-titled debut album has been called the Big Bang of heavy metal, arriving during the height of the Vietnam War with a sound that crashed the hippie party with menace and foreboding.
Black Sabbath’s impact on rock music cannot be overstated. The band’s second album, “Paranoid,” included such classic metal anthems as “War Pigs,” “Iron Man” and “Fairies Wear Boots.” Both albums were voted among the top 10 greatest heavy metal albums of all time by Rolling Stone magazine readers. Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction wrote in a 2010 Rolling Stone tribute that “Black Sabbath are the Beatles of heavy metal. Anybody who’s serious about metal will tell you it all comes down to Sabbath.”
The music was built on industrial guitar riffs and disorienting changes in time signatures, paired with lyrics that spoke of alienation and doom. As The Guardian newspaper observed in 2009, the band “introduced working-class anger, stoner sludge grooves and witchy horror-rock to flower power” and “along with Altamont and Charles Manson, almost certainly helped kill off the hippy counterculture.”
Black Sabbath fired Osbourne in 1979 due to his legendary excesses, including showing up late for rehearsals and missing performances entirely. Bassist Terry “Geezer” Butler wrote in his memoir “Into the Void” that “we knew we didn’t really have a choice but to sack him because he was just so out of control.”
Osbourne’s solo career proved even more successful than his time with Sabbath. He reemerged in 1980 with “Blizzard of Ozz” and 1981’s “Diary of a Madman,” both hard rock classics that achieved multi-platinum status and spawned enduring favorites including “Crazy Train,” “Goodbye to Romance,” “Flying High Again” and “You Can’t Kill Rock and Roll.” His ability to discover talented guitarists became legendary, working with brilliant innovators like Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee and Zakk Wylde throughout his career.
Rhoads, who played on Osbourne’s finest solo albums, was killed in a freak plane accident in 1982. Osbourne released the live album “Tribute” in 1987 in his memory, cementing Rhoads’ legacy as one of metal’s greatest guitarists.
Throughout his career, Osbourne embodied the excesses and controversies that defined heavy metal culture. His outlandish exploits included relieving himself on the Alamo in 1982, snorting a line of ants off a sidewalk, and most memorably, biting the head off a live bat that a fan threw onstage during a 1981 concert. He later said he thought the bat was rubber.
The Alamo acknowledged Osbourne’s passing Tuesday with a Facebook statement noting that while his 1982 incident “profoundly and rightfully upset many who hold this site sacred,” redemption became part of his story when he personally apologized in 1992 and later visited the grounds in 2015 to learn about its history, “openly demonstrating humility and understanding.”
Osbourne faced significant controversy throughout his career, including a 1987 lawsuit from parents of a teenager who died by suicide while listening to “Suicide Solution.” The case was dismissed, with Osbourne explaining the song addressed the dangers of alcohol following the death of his friend Bon Scott, AC/DC’s lead singer. Then-Cardinal John J. O’Connor of New York claimed in 1990 that Osbourne’s songs led to demonic possession and suicide, prompting the singer to respond: “You are ignorant about the true meaning of my songs. You have also insulted the intelligence of rock fans all over the world.”
Despite his dark imagery and Satan-invoking persona, Osbourne typically sent crowds home with a hearty “God bless!” His look remained consistent throughout his career, featuring long flat hair, heavy black eye makeup, round glasses, and often wearing a cross around his neck.
After being rejected from Lollapalooza’s lineup, Osbourne created Ozzfest in 1996, an annual touring festival that became a launching pad for bands including Slipknot, Tool, Megadeth, Rob Zombie, System of a Down, Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park.
A different side of Osbourne emerged through MTV’s reality show “The Osbournes,” which ran from 2002 to 2005. The program revealed this self-proclaimed madman as a doddering, sweet father drinking Diet Cokes while struggling with satellite television and warning his children not to smoke or drink. The show made him a household name beyond the metal community and earned him a new generation of fans.
Later television appearances included the travel show “Ozzy & Jack’s World Detour,” where he and son Jack visited American landmarks including Mount Rushmore and Space Center Houston. In 2014, scientists honored him by naming a newly discovered Amazon bat frog Dendropsophus ozzyi, noting its high-pitched, batlike calls.
Osbourne’s music career experienced a renaissance in his later years. His 2020 album “Ordinary Man” featured a title track duet with Elton John, with lyrics reflecting on mortality: “I’ve been a bad guy, been higher than the blue sky/And the truth is I don’t wanna die an ordinary man.” His 2022 album “Patient Number 9” featured collaborations with guitar legends Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Mike McCready, Chad Smith, Robert Trujillo and Duff McKagan, earning four Grammy nominations and producing his first career back-to-back number one rock radio singles.
The rock legend was twice inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, first with Black Sabbath in 2006 and again as a solo artist in 2024. At the 2024 ceremony, actor Jack Black called him “the greatest frontman in the history of rock and roll” and “the Jack Nicholson of rock.”
Osbourne married Thelma Riley in 1971, adopting her son Elliot Kingsley and having two more children, Jessica and Louis. He later met Sharon Arden in Los Angeles, where she was working in her father’s concert promotion business. Despite an inauspicious first meeting when she came to collect money he had spent on drugs, they married in 1982 and had three children together: Kelly, Aimee and Jack. Their relationship endured periodic separations and reconciliations throughout their decades-long marriage.
Music world tributes poured in following news of Osbourne’s death. Black Sabbath guitarist and co-founder Tony Iommi wrote on social media: “I just can’t believe it! My dear dear friend Ozzy has passed away only weeks after our show at Villa Park. It’s just such heartbreaking news that I can’t really find the words, there won’t ever be another like him.”
Bassist Geezer Butler added: “Goodbye dear friend – thanks for all those years – we had some great fun. 4 kids from Aston- who’d have thought, eh? So glad we got to do it one last time, back in Aston.”
Elton John described Osbourne as “a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods – a true legend. He was also one of the funniest people I’ve ever met.”
Kiss co-founder Gene Simmons called Osbourne “a giant” who was “admired and loved by millions of fans worldwide.”
Osbourne is survived by his wife Sharon and his six children. His legacy as the godfather of heavy metal and one of rock music’s most enduring and influential figures remains unquestioned, having inspired countless musicians and defined a genre that continues to evolve decades after Black Sabbath’s groundbreaking debut.
MEXICO CITY (BN24) — President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday that 14 Mexican nationals are currently being held at a U.S. immigration detention center nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” and that her government is seeking their immediate repatriation. The facility, located in a remote wetland near Miami, has become a controversial symbol of the Biden-era immigration rollback under President Donald Trump’s administration.
“All arrangements are being made to ensure they are repatriated immediately to Mexico,” Sheinbaum said during her daily press briefing. She added that consular and legal teams are actively working with U.S. authorities to secure the release of the detainees, many of whom have not yet seen a judge.
The detention center, situated roughly 37 miles west of Miami, is surrounded by swamplands inhabited by alligators, crocodiles and invasive Burmese pythons. The site’s location and its harsh conditions have been used by the White House to illustrate its commitment to removing migrants it claims were unlawfully permitted to remain in the U.S. during the Biden presidency.
Since Trump returned to office in January, Mexico has received 73,533 deportees, including 67,008 Mexican citizens, according to figures released by Sheinbaum in a separate briefing earlier this month. Most of the repatriations occurred via air transport.
The plight of two detainees, brothers Carlos and Alejandro Gonzalez, has drawn widespread attention in Mexico. Their father, Martin Gonzalez, told local radio station W that his sons were locked up in the Alligator Alcatraz facility despite holding valid tourist visas. He said Carlos, 26, was initially pulled over by a state trooper while driving in the U.S. and detained for lacking vehicle registration. When Alejandro arrived shortly afterward to deliver the document, he was also taken into custody.
“It’s really bad. The facility is completely closed—no sunlight gets in. The lights are on 24/7, so they don’t even know if it’s day or night,” Martin Gonzalez said. “Obviously my sons are desperate to get out of this situation.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has not responded to requests for comment regarding the brothers’ case.
Mexico’s consul in Orlando, Juan Sabines, released a video on Monday with the brothers’ father, confirming that the two young men remain in legal limbo. He said a court-appointed lawyer has yet to gain access to their case files, and no immigration judge has been assigned.
The Sheinbaum administration has made the defense of Mexican nationals abroad a key part of its foreign policy platform, and the president reiterated that her government would not tolerate violations of their rights on foreign soil.
AUSTIN, TEXAS - JULY 17: In this photo illustration, Coke beverages are displayed in an ice-cooler at a park on July 17, 2025 in Austin, Texas. U.S. President Donald Trump stated in a Truth Social post that Coca-Cola has agreed to use real cane sugar in its U.S. beverages, similar to Mexican Coke. (Photo illustration by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
ATLANTA (BN24) — Coca-Cola says it will introduce a version of its flagship soda sweetened with cane sugar in the U.S., a move the company confirmed Tuesday as it posted stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings fueled by higher pricing—even as product volumes slipped globally.
AUSTIN, TEXAS – JULY 17: In this photo illustration, Coke beverages are displayed in an ice-cooler at a park on July 17, 2025 in Austin, Texas. U.S. President Donald Trump stated in a Truth Social post that Coca-Cola has agreed to use real cane sugar in its U.S. beverages, similar to Mexican Coke. (Photo illustration by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
The beverage giant reported a 2.5% increase in comparable revenue, reaching $12.62 billion for the quarter ending June 27, surpassing Wall Street estimates of $12.54 billion. Earnings per share came in at 87 cents, beating the 83 cents expected by analysts, according to data compiled by LSEG. Despite the revenue growth, overall sales volumes dropped 1%, following two consecutive quarters of 2% growth, with declines noted in major markets like India, Mexico and the U.S.
CEO James Quincey said in a post-earnings call that Coca-Cola is preparing to roll out a cane sugar version of Coke in the U.S. in response to shifting consumer preferences and broader calls for healthier alternatives. “We’re using the whole toolkit of sweetening options to meet consumer demand,” Quincey said, noting that the new product will “complement” existing offerings.
The decision comes amid public pressure to respond to health trends and political momentum from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” campaign. President Donald Trump announced last week that Coca-Cola had agreed to produce Coke with real cane sugar for U.S. consumers.
Coca-Cola already markets cane sugar-sweetened Coke in international markets, particularly in Mexico, and it is available in the U.S. in select stores as “Mexican Coke,” typically sold in glass bottles. The expansion of cane sugar-based products domestically could help Coca-Cola better align with evolving consumer preferences and political sentiment.
Industry analysts, however, cautioned that the move may significantly increase production costs and strain supply chains. “Cane sugar is more expensive, and shifting away from high-fructose corn syrup will require adjustments across the board,” said Sean King, an analyst with Columbia Threadneedle. Still, Quincey emphasized that costs associated with global trade dynamics remain “manageable.”
The pricing hikes, rather than volume growth, were the key driver of earnings this quarter. Overall prices rose 6% in Q2, especially in inflation-impacted markets. However, higher shelf prices may prove challenging for consumers already facing economic strain. Quincey acknowledged that volume declines in North America stemmed from “uncertainty and pressure” on certain socioeconomic groups.
A notable source of sales decline was a boycott among Hispanic consumers in both the U.S. and Mexico, triggered by viral allegations that Coca-Cola had laid off Latino workers and reported them to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Reuters reported in February that there was no public evidence supporting those claims, and Quincey said the boycott’s effects have largely dissipated.
Coca-Cola’s Zero Sugar line was a standout performer, with global volumes surging 14%, indicating continued demand for no-calorie options even amid price hikes.
The company reaffirmed its full-year guidance, saying it expects earnings per share growth near the upper end of its 2% to 3% target range, buoyed by a weaker dollar. Despite the strong earnings, Coca-Cola shares dipped 0.6% to $69.61 in afternoon trading.
The cane sugar Coke rollout is likely to further differentiate the brand in an increasingly health-conscious market, as rivals like PepsiCo also pivot toward natural ingredients where consumer demand exists.
WASHINGTON (BN24) — The U.S. Justice Department has asked Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, to meet with federal prosecutors, amid renewed political pressure to unseal records and revisit allegations tied to Epstein’s sex-trafficking network. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed Tuesday that he expects to speak with Maxwell “in the coming days.”
The request marks a significant development in a case that continues to shadow public institutions and political figures years after Epstein’s 2019 death in federal custody, which was ruled a suicide. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence following her 2021 conviction for sex trafficking underage girls to Epstein.
Blanche’s announcement came as Attorney General Pam Bondi faces mounting criticism from President Donald Trump’s supporters, who have demanded the release of additional case materials, including client names and flight records linked to Epstein’s alleged criminal enterprise. The renewed attention follows earlier promises by Bondi to provide “a lot of names” and full transparency—promises that critics say have not yet been met.
“President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence,” Blanche posted on X, formerly Twitter. He said if Maxwell “has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say.”
Blanche also noted that he had been in communication with Maxwell’s attorneys to determine her willingness to cooperate. Maxwell’s lawyer, David Oscar Markus, confirmed discussions were underway. “Ghislaine will always testify truthfully,” Markus said, adding, “We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case.”
Trump himself weighed in during remarks in the Oval Office, saying it would be “appropriate” for the Justice Department to interview Maxwell, who did not testify during her trial and is appealing her conviction to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Also on Tuesday, two federal judges in Manhattan ordered the Justice Department to submit detailed legal arguments by July 29 in support of its bid to unseal grand jury transcripts and other sealed documents from both the Epstein and Maxwell cases. U.S. District Judges Richard Berman and Paul Engelmayer instructed Maxwell, representatives for Epstein’s estate, and alleged victims to submit their positions on the proposed disclosures by August 5.
The Justice Department’s move comes after it released only a limited set of records earlier this year, which critics say revealed little new information. The DOJ and FBI also issued a joint memo this month dismissing longstanding conspiracy theories, stating there is “no incriminating client list” or proof of blackmail involving Epstein’s associates.
Still, some Trump allies have urged the administration to go further. Alan Dershowitz, Epstein’s former defense attorney, said during an appearance on Fox News Sunday that Maxwell should be granted immunity in exchange for testifying before Congress. He also urged the release of FBI interview reports from Epstein’s victims, arguing those files might offer more insight than the grand jury material.
Despite growing demands from Trump’s political base, legal experts caution that unsealed grand jury transcripts are unlikely to contain evidence directly implicating high-profile individuals, due to the nature of such proceedings and their limited focus.
Nonetheless, the Justice Department’s decision to re-engage with Maxwell underscores the political weight the Epstein case continues to carry, particularly in an election year where transparency and institutional accountability are dominating political discourse.
WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday intensified his attacks against former President Barack Obama, accusing him of “treason” in connection with the U.S. intelligence community’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. The accusation, made without evidence, marked Trump’s most aggressive rhetorical escalation against his Democratic predecessor since returning to office in January.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump seized on recent remarks by his director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, who last week threatened to refer Obama-era officials to the Justice Department over their role in producing a 2017 intelligence assessment that concluded Russia had interfered in the 2016 election to benefit Trump’s candidacy.
“They tried to steal the election,” Trump said. “This was treason. They did things nobody’s ever imagined, even in other countries.” He offered no supporting documentation to substantiate the claim.
Gabbard recently declassified a set of intelligence documents that she claimed show a “treasonous conspiracy” by senior Obama officials. Democrats and intelligence experts quickly dismissed the assertion as politically driven and lacking factual foundation. A spokesperson for Obama, Patrick Rodenbush, called Trump’s charges “bizarre,” “ridiculous,” and a “weak attempt at distraction.”
Despite Trump’s claims, the U.S. intelligence assessment produced in January 2017 and endorsed by multiple agencies, concluded that the Russian government sought to harm Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and boost Trump through hacking, social media manipulation, and coordinated disinformation campaigns. The report found no evidence votes were changed or tampered with.
A separate bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report in 2020 found that Russia had leveraged individuals like Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and platforms like WikiLeaks to try to influence the election outcome. That report also found no indication that intelligence findings were politically manipulated—countering accusations now repeated by Trump and Gabbard.
Trump has repeatedly dismissed the Russia investigations as a “hoax” and has long claimed victimhood in what he terms a political witch hunt. He has recently amplified this narrative through social media, including reposting a doctored video showing Obama being arrested inside the Oval Office.
Trump’s remarks Tuesday also shifted quickly to attacking both Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton when questioned about growing demands from his conservative base to release records related to Jeffrey Epstein’s death in 2019. Instead of addressing the matter directly, Trump pivoted, claiming that “the witch hunt that you should be talking about” was led by Obama.
“It’s time to go after people,” Trump added. “Obama has been caught directly.”
Democratic Congressman Jim Himes rebuked Trump’s allegations, writing on X: “This is a lie,” and citing former Republican Senator Marco Rubio—now Trump’s Secretary of State—who had helped lead the Senate’s bipartisan inquiry that found no evidence of politicization in the intelligence community’s behavior.
Trump’s return to office has been marked by heightened attacks on his political adversaries and claims that federal institutions were weaponized against him during and after his presidency. He continues to assert that those behind the Russia investigation, the January 6 Capitol attack inquiry, and probes into his handling of classified documents conspired to undermine him.
Obama has remained a central target of Trump’s ire dating back to the false “birther” movement Trump helped promote in 2011. That conspiracy prompted Obama to release his long-form birth certificate to quell public doubt over his U.S. citizenship.
Trump has also revived unfounded claims against President Joe Biden, alleging that his administration signed official documents with an autopen without proper authorization. Biden has dismissed those accusations as “ridiculous.”
Gabbard’s allegations, now amplified by Trump, rest on a misrepresentation of U.S. intelligence. Documents she released show two separate assessments—one concluding Russia had not hacked voting systems, and the other, more significant, concluding Moscow used cyber tools to influence U.S. politics through data theft, leaks, and propaganda.
A subsequent review ordered by former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe raised questions about how the 2017 assessment was produced but reaffirmed the credibility of the classified CIA report that formed its core.
As Trump continues to lean into these allegations, the battle over the legacy of the 2016 election—and the role of the U.S. intelligence community—remains a charged flashpoint in his confrontational return to the White House.
CHITUNGWIZA, Zimbabwe (BN24) — At least 17 people were killed and several others injured Tuesday in a head-on collision between a minibus taxi and a haulage truck, police said. The fatal accident, which occurred near Chitungwiza—approximately 25 kilometers southeast of Harare—claimed the lives of 17 victims, including pedestrians, according to spokesperson Paul Nyathi.
Nyathi explained that the truck, after losing control, veered into the opposite lane and struck the minibus. Prior to colliding with the taxi, the truck hit two pedestrians walking on what police described as an “island of the road.” Fifteen of the minibus’s passengers died instantly at the scene, while the remaining victims were rushed to hospital.
State-run media reported that rescuers arrived at the accident site to find the minibus completely flattened, with only fragments of its chassis visible under the truck’s undercarriage. Twisted metal, shattered glass, and debris littered the roadway as emergency teams worked to extract survivors and recover bodies. Although the crash occurred in the morning, officials continued to retrieve victims’ remains at noon.
Chitungwiza Mayor Rosaria Mangoma described the incident as “one of the most disturbing and traumatic scenes” witnessed in the town and urged the government to declare a national disaster to address the widespread loss. She emphasized that deadly road accidents involving public transportation are common in Zimbabwe, where speeding and poorly maintained roads contribute to a high fatality rate—statistics show that the nation experiences a road accident every 15 minutes, killing at least five people daily.
This tragedy follows a similar fatal incident in February near Beitbridge, where a head-on collision between a bus and a truck claimed 24 lives along the South African border.
Authorities continue investigating the incident, while calls for improved road safety and stricter enforcement of traffic laws grow louder amid the persistent dangers on Zimbabwe’s roads.
WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a new trade deal with the Philippines that will see the United States impose a 19% tariff on Philippine goods—down from the 20% previously threatened—while American exports to the Philippines will enter duty-free.
The agreement followed a high-profile meeting between Trump and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House. Trump revealed the broad terms on his social media platform Truth Social, calling the visit “beautiful” and praising Marcos as “a very good, and tough, negotiator.”
The deal marks a step forward in Washington’s push to deepen security and economic ties with Manila amid heightened tensions with China over the South China Sea. While details of the agreement remain scarce, Trump said the Philippines agreed to open its market to U.S. products without charging tariffs—an apparent win for American exporters.
Ahead of the meeting, Marcos’ administration had signaled it was willing to reduce or eliminate tariffs on certain U.S. goods. The Philippine Embassy has not commented publicly on the finalized arrangement.
“This has evolved into as important a relationship as is possible to have,” Marcos said in the Oval Office before their closed-door session. He is the first Southeast Asian leader to meet with Trump during the president’s second term.
The White House framed the deal as part of a broader strategic realignment in the Indo-Pacific, with Trump pursuing stronger ties to treaty allies like the Philippines to counter China’s growing influence. At the same time, the U.S. is attempting to maintain open lines of communication with Beijing.
China responded warily to the agreement. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun warned the U.S.-Philippines cooperation should “not target or harm any third party, still less incite confrontation and heighten tensions in the region.”
Beijing continues to assert sweeping territorial claims in the South China Sea, leading to repeated confrontations with Manila. The Chinese coast guard has used water cannons against Filipino vessels, drawing international condemnation.
Marcos’ visit also included meetings with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. At the Pentagon, Marcos reaffirmed the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty as the “cornerstone” of their alliance. He cited growing security cooperation, including joint military exercises and American support for modernizing the Philippine armed forces.
Defense Secretary Hegseth said the U.S. is reorienting its strategic posture to deter “aggression by Communist China,” echoing the Biden and Obama administrations’ efforts to pivot U.S. focus toward Asia.
Even so, U.S. officials have kept diplomatic channels open with China. Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Malaysia earlier this month, agreeing to manage tensions and explore areas of cooperation.
Trump’s announcement of the 19% tariff rate suggests a more transactional approach to foreign policy, one he has emphasized throughout his presidency. While the long-term economic implications of the deal remain unclear, Trump characterized it as a victory for American trade interests.
Still, the White House session was not without controversy. Trump, asked about the Justice Department’s interest in Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend, veered into familiar political territory—repeating false claims about the 2020 election, attacking political rivals, and vowing retaliation.
“After what they did to me, whether it’s right or wrong, it’s time to go after people,” Trump told reporters, reigniting partisan tensions even as he tried to spotlight a strategic diplomatic win.
