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Israel Says It Killed Top Iranian Commander as Escalating Strikes Intensify Conflict

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Israel Says It Killed Top Iranian Commander as Escalating Strikes Intensify Conflict

TEL AVIV/QOM (BN24) — Israel said Saturday it had killed senior Iranian Quds Force commander Saeed Izadi in a targeted airstrike as both nations traded fresh attacks, further inflaming a week-long conflict that shows no signs of de-escalation.

Defense Minister Israel Katz called the assassination of Izadi — the head of the Palestine Corps within Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — a “major achievement” for Israel’s intelligence and air forces. The commander, long accused by Israeli officials of arming and funding Hamas before its deadly Oct. 7, 2023 assault, was reportedly killed in an airstrike on an apartment in the religious city of Qom.

“Izadi played a central role in Iran’s terror axis. His elimination sends a clear message,” Katz said.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards have yet to confirm Izadi’s death. State-affiliated media acknowledged five IRGC members were killed in Israeli attacks on the city of Khorramabad but made no mention of the top commander. Earlier reports from Iran indicated that a 16-year-old was killed and two others injured in the Qom strike.

Iran’s Fars news agency also claimed that Israel targeted the Isfahan nuclear facility—one of the country’s largest—but added there was no hazardous material leakage.

In its own statement, the Israeli military said it had conducted widespread airstrikes against Iranian missile storage and launch sites. Iran’s air defense units responded with a barrage of missiles that triggered sirens across central Israel, including Tel Aviv and the occupied West Bank. Explosions and air defense interceptions were visible in the skies over Israel’s commercial hub, though no injuries were reported.

Among the casualties so far are 639 Iranians, including top military officials and nuclear scientists, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. On Saturday, Iran’s health minister accused Israel of targeting medical facilities, claiming that three hospitals had been hit, resulting in the deaths of two health workers and a child. Israel did not immediately respond to the accusation. Meanwhile, a hospital in Beersheba was struck by an Iranian missile on Thursday.

In Israel, at least 24 civilians have been killed in Iranian missile strikes, Israeli authorities said.

The latest escalation follows Israel’s June 13 military offensive, which it said was aimed at halting Iran’s alleged progress toward nuclear weapons capability. Iran has repeatedly denied those claims, insisting its nuclear program is purely peaceful.

President Donald Trump, speaking Friday in New Jersey, said he believes Iran could acquire nuclear weapons “within weeks, or certainly within months,” contradicting assessments from some in his own administration, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

“We can’t let that happen,” Trump said, expressing skepticism over ongoing European-led diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis.

Trump reiterated that he would make a decision within two weeks about possible U.S. military intervention, saying he wants to see whether “people come to their senses.” He added that asking Israel to scale back now would be “very hard… if somebody is winning.”

Despite continued European mediation efforts, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi ruled out negotiations while Israeli aggression persisted. Araqchi met with European foreign ministers in Geneva on Friday, but the talks yielded no breakthrough.

“Iran doesn’t want to speak to Europe. They want to speak to us,” Trump told reporters. “Europe is not going to be able to help in this one.”

U.S. State Department officials confirmed that hundreds of American citizens have fled Iran since the aerial conflict erupted.

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, told the Security Council that Israel would not cease operations “until Iran’s nuclear threat is dismantled.” In response, Iranian envoy Amir Saeid Iravani called for immediate Security Council intervention and expressed alarm at U.S. discussions of joining the war.

Russia and China issued urgent calls for de-escalation. But a senior Iranian official, speaking to Reuters, said Tehran would consider limitations on uranium enrichment—but not an outright ban, particularly “now under Israel’s strikes.”

Back in Iran, prominent regime figure Ali Shamkhani, a close ally of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, claimed he had narrowly survived an Israeli attack. “It was my fate to stay with a wounded body, so I stay to continue to be the reason for the enemy’s hostility,” he said in a statement carried by state media.

As military and diplomatic tensions mount, both sides appear entrenched, with little sign of a ceasefire in sight.

Pro-Palestinian Columbia Protester Mahmoud Khalil Released From Immigration Detention After 104 Days

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Pro-Palestinian Columbia Protester Mahmoud Khalil Released From Immigration Detention After 104 Days

JENA, La. (BN24) — Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil was released from U.S. immigration detention Friday, ending a 104-day confinement that had drawn national attention and symbolized President Donald Trump’s intensified campaign against pro-Palestinian campus protesters.

Khalil, 32, walked free from the federal detention facility in Jena, Louisiana, following a ruling from U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz, who sharply rebuked the government’s continued efforts to hold Khalil without criminal charges.

“Justice prevailed, but it came far too late,” Khalil said outside the detention center, shortly before departing for New York, where he will reunite with his wife, Dr. Noor Abdalla, and their newborn son—born during his detention.

The Trump administration had sought to deport Khalil, accusing him of supporting protests deemed hostile to U.S. foreign policy. He was detained on March 8 in New York and became the first person arrested under Trump’s controversial crackdown on student-led opposition to Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.

Judge Farbiarz, however, ruled Friday that the government’s justification for holding Khalil was insufficient and constitutionally suspect.

“Petitioner is not a flight risk, and the evidence presented is that he is not a danger to the community. Period, full stop,” Farbiarz said during an hourlong hearing, conducted by phone from New Jersey.

Shortly after the judge’s decision, the Department of Homeland Security announced it would appeal. DHS argued that an immigration judge in the same Louisiana facility had earlier ruled Khalil should be deported and denied him bond—effectively clashing with the federal court order.

Khalil’s release comes amid a broader legal and political battle over student activism and the rights of noncitizens to protest U.S. foreign policy. Trump administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have framed pro-Palestinian demonstrations as antisemitic threats to national interests and have advocated for deportation in such cases.

Civil rights groups, however, argue that such actions violate free speech and due process rights. Khalil, who was never charged with a crime and was not arrested during campus protests, served as a negotiator and public voice for student demonstrators at Columbia. His public profile made him a target of political scrutiny and legal action, his attorneys said.

Farbiarz agreed that Khalil’s detention lacked legal basis and warned against the government’s overreach. He also ruled that the administration cannot deport Khalil simply because of its claims that his activism undermines U.S. foreign policy. However, the court left the door open for separate proceedings over alleged inconsistencies in Khalil’s green card application—claims that Khalil adamantly denies.

Following his release, Khalil criticized what he described as a betrayal of American democratic ideals.

“Whether you’re a U.S. citizen or not, your humanity should not be up for debate,” he said. “This experience revealed a different reality about a country that claims to stand for liberty and human rights.”

Khalil is under travel restrictions but will regain his green card and be allowed limited movement between states for court obligations and family reunification. He is also permitted to travel to Washington to lobby members of Congress about his case and broader immigration issues.

His wife, Dr. Noor Abdalla, expressed relief in a statement after the ruling.

“We can finally breathe again,” she said. “This ruling doesn’t erase the harm we’ve endured, but today we celebrate Mahmoud coming home to our family.”

Khalil’s release follows the recent liberation of other student activists, including Mohsen Mahdawi (Columbia University), Rumeysa Ozturk (Tufts University), and Badar Khan Suri (Georgetown University), all of whom faced government scrutiny over pro-Palestinian advocacy.

As he prepared to leave Louisiana, Khalil vowed to keep speaking out.

“Justice will prevail,” he said, “no matter how hard this administration tries to silence us.”

Mine Collapse in Eastern Congo Kills 12 at Key Global Coltan Source

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Mine Collapse in Eastern Congo Kills 12 at Key Global Coltan Source

GOMA, Congo (BN24) — A coltan mine collapse in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has left at least 12 miners dead, with dozens more managing to escape, officials said Friday, as dangerous working conditions and rebel control continue to plague one of the world’s most crucial sources of tech minerals.

The collapse occurred Thursday at an artisanal mining site near Rubaya, a remote town in North Kivu province. The cause of the disaster remains unclear, but collapses at informal mining sites are common in Congo due to unstable shafts and lack of safety protocols.

“We have confirmed 12 fatalities,” a local mining official told reporters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation. A civil society leader in the region confirmed the death toll and said that additional miners had narrowly escaped when the ground gave way.

Rubaya’s mines are among the world’s most significant producers of coltan, a metallic ore used in the manufacture of smartphones, laptops, and other electronic devices. Artisanal mining in the area accounts for roughly one-sixth of global coltan supply, making the region a vital link in the international tech supply chain.

The mine sits within territory held by the M23 rebel group, which has controlled parts of North Kivu since mid-2024. Rebel officials told Reuters earlier this year that they impose a 15% tax on coltan production in the region, further complicating international efforts to regulate Congo’s mining sector and trace minerals free from conflict financing.

As mining deaths mount across the country, rights groups and observers have urged Congo’s government and international stakeholders to prioritize safety reforms and limit exploitation in conflict zones. However, rebel control and weak oversight have rendered many artisanal sites inaccessible to regulators and humanitarian organizations.

The latest tragedy underscores the perils faced daily by Congolese miners working in some of the world’s most dangerous and unregulated conditions — all while powering the devices millions use around the globe.

Over 200 Jihadists on Motorbikes Kill 34 Soldiers in Deadly Assault on Niger Army Base

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Over 200 Jihadists on Motorbikes Kill 34 Soldiers in Deadly Assault on Niger Army Base

NIAMEY, Niger (BN24) — More than 200 armed militants riding motorbikes stormed a Nigerien army base near the country’s western border with Mali, killing at least 34 soldiers in a deadly assault that underscores the growing jihadist threat in the Sahel region.

Niger’s defense ministry confirmed the attack on the military post in the town of Banibangou occurred Thursday, describing the assailants as “mercenaries” and part of a well-coordinated force using eight vehicles and more than 200 motorcycles.

“This cowardly and barbaric attack was carried out by a horde of several hundred mercenaries,” the ministry said in a statement broadcast on state television. Fourteen other soldiers were wounded during the ambush, while dozens of attackers were reported killed during the ensuing battle.

Banibangou lies near the volatile tri-border area where Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso converge — a hotspot for extremist violence driven by jihadist groups affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State. The zone has seen a steady escalation in deadly raids targeting civilians and security forces alike.

In the wake of the assault, Nigerien troops launched search operations in the surrounding area in a bid to locate and neutralize the remaining militants. The ministry did not provide details on which jihadist faction may have been responsible.

The attack is another blow to Niger’s ruling military junta, which seized power in a July 2023 coup, deposing democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum. The junta had cited spiraling insecurity and jihadist insurgency as justification for its takeover — pledging to restore stability.

Since assuming control, Niger’s new leaders have expelled French and U.S. forces who were previously involved in counterterrorism operations across the region. Alongside Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger has withdrawn from Western military partnerships and instead aligned with Russia and Turkey in a shift that has raised concerns among international allies.

Despite the new security posture and a growing alliance between the three Sahelian juntas, the insurgency continues to spread. Analysts warn that deteriorating regional cooperation and weakening state institutions are leaving large swaths of territory vulnerable to militant control.

Thursday’s assault marks one of the deadliest single attacks on Nigerien forces in recent months and further highlights the challenges facing the junta’s promise to curb terrorism and restore order in one of the world’s most unstable regions.

Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty to London Nightclub Assault Charge

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Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty to London Nightclub Assault Charge

LONDON (BN24) — American R&B artist Chris Brown pleaded not guilty Friday to a charge of attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm on a music producer during an alleged bottle attack at a London nightclub in 2023.

Appearing before Southwark Crown Court, Brown, 36, was formally accused of carrying out what prosecutors described as an “unprovoked attack” using a tequila bottle against music producer Abraham Diaw. The alleged assault took place at a London club during Brown’s previous visit to the United Kingdom.

Brown, dressed in dark formal attire, quietly confirmed his name and date of birth before responding to the charge with a calm: “Not guilty, ma’am.” His co-defendant, 38-year-old Omololu Akinlolu, entered the same plea.

The Grammy-winning performer did not enter a plea on a separate charge of possessing an offensive weapon — the bottle allegedly used in the incident. That charge is expected to be addressed at a later date.

Judge Christopher Hehir allowed both defendants to remain free on bail until their next scheduled court appearance on July 11. At that hearing, they may be asked to respond to a reduced charge of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Brown’s legal team previously secured bail in May after the singer agreed to post a £5 million ($6.7 million) security bond to continue his “Breezy Bowl XX” concert tour across Europe. The singer was arrested last month at a hotel in Manchester — his first return to the UK since the nightclub incident.

Supporters filled the courtroom gallery during the brief hearing, some shouting “We love you, Chris” as the pop star exited the dock.

Brown, best known for hits like Run It, Loyal, and Under the Influence, has faced multiple legal controversies over the years. The upcoming trial is set to begin on October 26, 2026, and could last several weeks.

Prosecutors have yet to disclose full evidence to the public but have characterized the assault as violent and unprovoked. Neither Brown nor his legal representatives have made further public comments on the case.

Israeli Daycare Hit in Missile Strike as Israel, Iran Escalate Cross-Border Attacks

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Israeli Daycare Hit in Missile Strike as Israel, Iran Escalate Cross-Border Attacks

BEERSHEBA, Israel (BN24) — An Iranian ballistic missile obliterated an Israeli childcare center in the southern city of Beersheba on Friday, as Israel launched a fresh wave of airstrikes on Iranian military infrastructure, intensifying a week-old conflict that shows no sign of de-escalation.

Disturbing surveillance footage captured the moment a cluster missile fired from Iran struck the Colel Chabad Daycare Center just after closing time. The building suffered major structural damage, but no children or staff were present at the time, Israeli officials confirmed.

“The building sustained significant damage. Miraculously, no children or staff were present — the attack occurred just after closing time,” the daycare center said in a statement.

The strike was one of approximately 20 missile attacks launched by Iran early Friday, according to an Israeli military official. Air raid sirens sounded across multiple cities, including Tel Aviv, Haifa, and areas of the Negev Desert, prompting widespread panic as citizens took shelter.

In Haifa, a coastal port city in northern Israel, at least 19 people were wounded in a separate missile attack, hospital officials said. Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency medical service, reported that a 16-year-old boy sustained critical injuries from shrapnel and a 54-year-old man was moderately wounded.

Iranian state-affiliated Fars news agency claimed that long-range and ultra-heavy missiles targeted Israeli military infrastructure, including defense installations, command hubs, and weapons development sites. A military spokesman said the attacks were retaliation for Israel’s ongoing offensive.

In response, Israel launched sweeping retaliatory airstrikes inside Iran on Friday. More than 60 Israeli aircraft struck strategic military and industrial locations, including missile factories and weapons storage facilities in Kermanshah and Tabriz. Israeli officials said the operation focused on neutralizing Iran’s launch capabilities and supply chains.

Among the targets was a five-story building in Tehran that housed a bakery and hair salon. At least five civilians were injured in that strike, Iranian media reported.

The Israeli military also confirmed it had bombed the headquarters of Iran’s Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research, a site that the United States has previously linked to suspected nuclear weapons development efforts.

“A week has passed since the operation began,” Israeli military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin told reporters. “We are strengthening air control in the region and expanding our offensive. We have more sites to strike in Tehran, western Iran, and beyond.”

Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant echoed that determination, instructing the IDF to intensify operations designed to destabilize the Islamic regime in Tehran. “We must strike all symbols of the regime and its mechanisms of oppression, such as the Basij and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” Gallant said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the bombed Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot on Friday, a facility recently targeted in an earlier Iranian strike. Speaking to reporters, he expressed confidence in U.S. support and said he believed President Donald Trump would act decisively.

“I can tell you that they’re already helping a lot,” Netanyahu said. “I trust President Trump will do what’s best for America.”

On Thursday, Trump said he would make a final decision within two weeks on whether to directly strike Iranian targets, even as he continued to leave the door open for possible nuclear negotiations.

As the tit-for-tat escalation intensifies, analysts warn the conflict between the regional powers may be nearing a point of no return, with the potential to further destabilize the Middle East.

R. Kelly Claims Prison Officials Plotted to Kill Him. Judge Denies His Release

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R. Kelly Claims Prison Officials Plotted to Kill Him. Judge Denies His Release

CHICAGO (BN24) — A federal judge has rejected R. Kelly’s emergency request for release from prison after the convicted R&B singer alleged that federal correctional officials orchestrated a plot to murder him while he serves sentences for child sex crimes and racketeering.

U.S. District Judge Martha M. Pacold issued a five-page ruling Friday denying the Grammy-winning artist’s petition for temporary furlough and home detention, determining that federal courts lack jurisdiction to consider his extraordinary claims against prison administrators.

The 58-year-old singer, born Robert Sylvester Kelly, is currently serving concurrent sentences totaling decades at a federal correctional facility in Butner, North Carolina. His legal team had sought emergency intervention based on allegations that prison officials conspired with white supremacist inmates to silence him permanently.

Judge Pacold canceled scheduled oral arguments and instead delivered a written decision that systematically examined and rejected multiple legal avenues through which Kelly’s request might have been considered. The ruling emphasized that jurisdictional limitations must be observed regardless of the severity of a defendant’s claims.

“Jurisdictional limitations must be respected even where, as here, a litigant claims that the circumstances are extraordinary,” Pacold wrote in her decision. “Kelly has not identified, nor is the court aware of, any statute or rule that authorizes the court to exercise jurisdiction. Thus, the court cannot award relief in this case.”

Kelly’s legal filings this month detailed allegations that prison officials solicited white supremacist leaders within the facility to kill him, purportedly to prevent disclosure of information that could damage the reputations of correctional administrators. The singer’s attorneys claimed the alleged conspiracy was designed to silence their client permanently.

According to Kelly’s legal team, prison officials subsequently moved him to solitary confinement and deliberately administered an overdose of medication that required emergency hospitalization and surgical intervention for blood clots. The attorneys characterized these actions as attempted murder disguised as medical treatment.

Judge Pacold noted in her ruling that Kelly provided no substantive evidence to support his serious allegations against federal prison officials. The lack of documentation or corroborating testimony undermined the credibility of his claims, according to the court’s analysis.

Government prosecutors responding to Kelly’s emergency petition dismissed his allegations as a “fanciful conspiracy” lacking any basis in fact. Federal attorneys suggested that the singer’s claims represented an attempt to manipulate the legal system to obtain unwarranted relief from his lawful imprisonment.

Kelly rose to international fame with hits including “I Believe I Can Fly” before his career was derailed by criminal convictions in multiple jurisdictions. A Chicago federal jury found him guilty in 2022 of three charges of producing child sexual abuse images and three charges of enticement of minors for sexual purposes.

The Chicago conviction followed a separate 2021 racketeering and sex trafficking conviction in New York federal court. Kelly received a 20-year sentence in Chicago and a 30-year sentence in New York, with most of the terms running concurrently rather than consecutively.

The singer’s legal team has pursued multiple avenues of appeal since his convictions, including petitions to the U.S. Supreme Court, but has been unsuccessful in overturning the verdicts or reducing the sentences. Kelly has also reportedly sought intervention from President Donald Trump, though no official response has been forthcoming.

The current legal challenge represents Kelly’s latest attempt to secure release from federal custody through extraordinary circumstances claims. His attorneys have argued that the alleged threats to his safety within the prison system justify immediate transfer to home confinement pending resolution of his safety concerns.

Federal courts have historically maintained limited authority to intervene in prison administration matters, particularly when inmates make unsubstantiated claims about treatment or safety within correctional facilities. The separation of powers between judicial and executive branches restricts courts’ ability to micromanage prison operations.

Kelly’s case has drawn significant public attention due to his celebrity status and the serious nature of his criminal convictions involving minors. The singer’s legal troubles have been documented extensively in media coverage and documentary productions that examined allegations spanning decades.

Prison officials at the Butner facility have not publicly responded to Kelly’s allegations, following standard protocols that typically restrict commentary on individual inmate cases. Federal Bureau of Prisons policies generally prohibit detailed discussions of specific prisoner treatment or security measures.

The denial of Kelly’s emergency petition means he will continue serving his federal sentences at the North Carolina facility while his legal team considers additional options for addressing his safety concerns through appropriate administrative channels rather than federal court intervention.

Fat Joe Accused of Sex Trafficking, Financial Exploitation in Federal Lawsuit Filed in New York

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Fat Joe Accused of Sex Trafficking, Financial Exploitation in Federal Lawsuit Filed in New York

NEW YORK (BN24) — Rapper Joseph “Fat Joe” Cartagena has been accused of sex trafficking, fraud, and coercive abuse in a wide-ranging lawsuit filed Wednesday in the Southern District of New York by a longtime former employee.

Fat Joe arrives at the premiere of “This Is Me… Now: A Love Story,” Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

The 157-page federal complaint, filed on June 19 by attorney Tyrone Blackburn, centers on allegations from Terrance “T.A.” Dixon, who claims to have worked with Cartagena in multiple roles from 2005 to 2020. Dixon’s positions reportedly included lyricist, hype man, creative collaborator, and member of the rapper’s security team.

According to the lawsuit, Dixon alleges that Cartagena and his associates operated a “systematic scheme” involving “coercive labor exploitation, financial fraud, sexual manipulation, violent intimidation, and psychological coercion.” He claims he was forced into “humiliating sexual situations” under surveillance and duress, and subjected to threats of abandonment overseas, job loss, or physical harm if he resisted.

Dixon further contends he contributed vocals, lyrics, and creative direction to tracks like “Congratulations” and “Ice Cream” without credit or compensation. The lawsuit also includes disturbing claims that Cartagena and his associates allegedly trafficked underage girls and that Dixon personally witnessed Cartagena engaging in sexual acts with minors as young as 15 and 16 years old.

Due to the nature of the allegations, the court filing includes a trigger warning citing “highly graphic information of a sexual nature, including sexual assault.”

Dixon is seeking over $2 million in unpaid wages and additional damages. He has also accused Cartagena of cultivating a toxic, exploitative environment throughout their years of collaboration.

In response, Fat Joe’s attorney, Joe Tacopina — known for representing high-profile clients including President Donald Trump — categorically denied the allegations, calling the lawsuit “a blatant act of retaliation.” Tacopina noted that Cartagena had already filed a civil suit in April against Dixon and Blackburn, alleging extortion, slander, and defamation.

“The lawsuit filed by Tyrone Blackburn and Terrance Dixon is a desperate attempt to deflect attention from the civil suit we filed first, which exposed their coordinated scheme to extort Mr. Cartagena through lies, threats, and manufactured allegations,” Tacopina said in a statement to ABC News.

He described Dixon as a “disgruntled former employee” attempting to revive a “false claim from 15 years ago,” and accused Blackburn of “a well-documented pattern of abusing the courts” to attract media attention.

Tacopina added, “Mr. Cartagena will not be intimidated. We have taken legal action to expose this fraudulent campaign and hold everyone involved accountable.”

Dixon and Blackburn must file a response to Cartagena’s earlier lawsuit by June 23, with a court hearing scheduled for August 1.

In a sharp rebuttal, Blackburn dismissed Tacopina’s characterization and defended the credibility of his client.

“Joe Tacopina is desperate. He thought only of himself when he erroneously advised his client to take this course,” Blackburn said. “Fat Joe knows what he has done. My client does not drink or use drugs. His memory is sharp and he has receipts. We have three additional pages of predicate acts detailing other forms of trafficking.”

Both attorneys have handled notable celebrity legal battles. Tacopina has represented Trump, while Blackburn has advocated for public figures such as rapper T.I. and music producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins.

As the dueling lawsuits unfold, the case adds another high-profile controversy to the growing list of abuse allegations in the entertainment industry, raising renewed questions about accountability, power dynamics, and artist exploitation.

Trump Orders Sweeping Layoffs at Voice of America and U.S.-Funded Media Outlets, Sparking Legal and Political Backlash

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Trump Orders Sweeping Layoffs at Voice of America and U.S.-Funded Media Outlets, Sparking Legal and Political Backlash

WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday ordered sweeping layoffs at Voice of America and other U.S.-funded international media organizations, pressing forward with a controversial plan to drastically downsize the nation’s global broadcasting operations despite active legal challenges and warnings that authoritarian regimes will benefit.

The action, which affects hundreds of employees, is being led by Kari Lake, a staunch Trump ally recently appointed to a senior post at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). In a statement, Lake defended the dismissals as a necessary overhaul of “a bloated, unaccountable bureaucracy” and vowed to modernize U.S. global media in alignment with Trump-era foreign policy priorities.

“This is a long-overdue effort to dismantle a bureaucracy that resists reform,” Lake said, pledging to coordinate with the State Department and Congress to reshape the government’s voice abroad.

The mass firings come just months after Trump issued an executive order in March that froze operations at Voice of America (VOA) for the first time since its World War II-era founding in 1942. On Friday, termination notices were issued to 639 staffers following earlier rounds of contractor dismissals and voluntary departure offers. According to Lake, USAGM has now slashed roughly 1,400 positions, leaving only 250 employees across all agencies.

Among those laid off were journalists from VOA’s Persian service, some of whom had briefly been reinstated following the recent Israeli strikes on Iran. Their removal sparked fresh alarm given the timing and geopolitical implications.

The layoffs have triggered a lawsuit by employees who argue that the firings are unlawful, especially given that Congress had already approved funding for the agencies. Plaintiffs Patsy Widakuswara, Jessica Jerreat, and Kate Neeper issued a joint statement condemning the move as a direct attack on American journalistic independence.

“This spells the death of 83 years of independent journalism that upholds U.S. ideals of democracy and freedom around the world,” they wrote. “Moscow, Beijing, Tehran and extremist groups are flooding the information space with anti-American propaganda. Do not cede this ground by silencing America’s voice.”

The backlash has been swift and bipartisan. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the layoffs undermine the very mission of U.S.-backed media and violate legislative intent.

“The decimation of U.S. broadcasting leaves authoritarian propaganda unchecked by U.S.-funded independent media and is a perversion of the law and congressional intent,” Shaheen said in a post on X. “It is a dark day for the truth.”

Trump has repeatedly criticized Voice of America throughout his presidency, arguing that its editorial independence has allowed for critical coverage of his administration. He has long questioned the value of the so-called “editorial firewall,” which legally protects U.S.-funded journalists from government interference.

Of the media arms affected, some outlets like Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe — historic instruments of U.S. soft power during the Cold War — are now operating in limited capacity. However, Radio Marti, which targets Cuban audiences and enjoys strong support from Republican Cuban-American lawmakers, has been spared.

Critics argue that the selective nature of the cuts reveals political bias, privileging outlets aligned with Trump’s hardline foreign policy while dismantling others central to U.S. democratic messaging.

As legal battles unfold and employees seek redress, media freedom advocates warn that the gutting of U.S. global media weakens the nation’s ability to combat disinformation and promote free expression abroad — a vulnerability that U.S. adversaries are likely to exploit.

Putin Declares ‘Whole of Ukraine Is Ours’ in Defiant Rhetoric as Russia Eyes Sumy

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Putin Declares ‘Whole of Ukraine Is Ours’ in Defiant Rhetoric as Russia Eyes Sumy

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (BN24) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday declared that “the whole of Ukraine is ours” in principle, as he hinted that advancing Russian forces could move to capture the Ukrainian city of Sumy in an effort to expand a buffer zone along the northern border.

Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin reinforced his long-standing assertion that Russians and Ukrainians are “one people” and claimed that Ukraine, in its entirety, historically belongs to Russia. “In that sense, the whole of Ukraine is ours,” he said, further escalating rhetoric that Kyiv and Western allies condemn as an attempt to justify illegal territorial seizures.

The comments sparked immediate outrage from Ukraine’s government. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Putin’s remarks demonstrated “complete disdain for U.S. peace efforts” and accused Moscow of actively pursuing further territorial expansion and destruction.

“While the United States and the rest of the world have called for an immediate end to the killing, Russia’s top war criminal discusses plans to seize more Ukrainian territory and kill more Ukrainians,” Sybiha wrote on X. “Wherever a Russian soldier sets foot, he brings along only death, destruction, and devastation.”

Putin’s comments come as Russian forces continue to make incremental gains in eastern and northeastern Ukraine. Russia now controls roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, the vast majority of Luhansk, and significant portions of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, along with parts of Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Sumy.

Despite the sweeping nature of his territorial claims, Putin insisted he was not denying Ukraine’s sovereignty, referencing Ukraine’s 1991 independence declaration after the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, he emphasized that Ukraine had initially committed to neutrality, a point he framed as broken by Kyiv’s current pro-Western stance.

Putin claimed that Russia’s current goal is to create a “buffer zone” along the border to shield Russian territory from Ukrainian attacks. “Next is the city of Sumy, the regional center. We don’t have the task of taking it, but in principle I don’t rule it out,” he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his nightly address, accused Moscow of deliberately prolonging the war and ignoring calls for a ceasefire. “Russia wants to continue the war,” he said, noting that Ukrainian commanders had been discussing Russian threats in the Sumy region. “We are holding them back and eliminating these killers, defending our Sumy region.”

Zelenskyy again rejected the notion that Russians and Ukrainians share a single identity and denounced Putin’s so-called peace terms as tantamount to surrender.

Putin invoked a Russian military proverb to underscore his stance: “Where the foot of a Russian soldier steps, that is ours.” The remark was widely interpreted as a chilling reaffirmation of Russia’s expansionist ambitions.

The Kremlin’s renewed push in Ukraine and Putin’s inflammatory language underscore a growing divide between Russian objectives and international diplomatic efforts. U.S. officials have continued to press for a negotiated end to the conflict, but with both sides dug in and rhetoric intensifying, a diplomatic breakthrough remains elusive.

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