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Trump Administration Weighs $30 Billion Civilian Nuclear Deal for Iran in Exchange for Halting Enrichment

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Trump Administration Weighs $30 Billion Civilian Nuclear Deal for Iran in Exchange for Halting Enrichment

WASHINGTON (BN24) — The Trump administration has examined offering Iran as much as $30 billion in assistance to develop a civilian nuclear program if Tehran agrees to halt uranium enrichment, according to three people familiar with the internal discussions.

The tentative plan, which would also involve releasing billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets, is among a range of options under consideration as officials debate how to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The idea reflects a potentially dramatic shift for President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly condemned any sanctions relief for Iran since pulling the United States out of the Obama-era nuclear accord in 2018.

The discussions, first reported by CNN, included proposals for regional countries to help Tehran establish a peaceful nuclear energy industry while restricting its capacity to produce weapons-grade material.

It remained unclear whether the plan would move forward or whether U.S. and Iranian officials would enter any direct negotiations.

Trump publicly denied knowledge of the proposal on Friday night, calling it “just another HOAX put out by the Fake News.”

“I never heard of this ridiculous idea,” he wrote in a post on Truth Social.

The president’s remarks came only hours after he threatened to abandon any sanctions relief following inflammatory comments by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who claimed victory over Israel and dismissed the significance of recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

“Why would the so-called ‘Supreme Leader,’ Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, of the war-torn Country of Iran, say so blatantly and foolishly that he won the War with Israel, when he knows his statement is a lie?” Trump wrote, adding that he had been exploring options for removing sanctions “which would have given a much better chance to Iran at a full, fast, and complete recovery.”

“The sanctions are BITING!” he continued. “But no, instead I get hit with a statement of anger, hatred, and disgust.”

In a televised speech Thursday, Khamenei declared Iran’s retaliation had delivered a “hand slap” to the United States and warned that such operations could be repeated.

Despite the fiery exchange, Trump on Friday said Tehran still appeared interested in meeting to discuss potential sanctions relief.

“They do want to meet me, and we’ll do that quickly. We’re going to do it quickly,” Trump told reporters during a White House meeting with the foreign ministers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda.

“Don’t you think we have sanctions on there that they can’t do anything?” he said. “Wouldn’t you think that they want to meet me? I mean, they’re not stupid people.”

Russia Masses 110,000 Troops Near Pokrovsk in Bid to Capture Strategic Ukrainian City, Kyiv Warns

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Russia Masses 110,000 Troops Near Pokrovsk in Bid to Capture Strategic Ukrainian City, Kyiv Warns

KYIV, Ukraine (BN24) — Russia has concentrated roughly 110,000 troops near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in preparation for what Kyiv described as a renewed push to seize the strategically critical area, Ukraine’s military chief said Friday.

General Oleksandr Syrskyi called the sector surrounding Pokrovsk the “hottest spot” along the 1,200-kilometer (745-mile) front line, where Russian forces have tried and failed to break through for nearly a year despite their overwhelming advantage in manpower and firepower.

Pokrovsk, though not a major urban center, has long been a central target for the Kremlin as Russian President Vladimir Putin pursues control of the entire Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Those territories remain only partially occupied by Moscow’s forces.

“Pokrovsk is key,” Syrskyi said in televised remarks. “Its capture would disrupt our defensive network across Donetsk and open routes toward Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk.”

Before the Russian invasion began in February 2022, Pokrovsk had about 60,000 residents. Almost all have since fled as the city became a hub for Ukrainian military logistics and defense. The last functioning coking coal mine, once a major local employer, shut down earlier this year, prompting more evacuations.

The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that Ukrainian forces have used integrated drone reconnaissance and coordinated artillery strikes to blunt Russian advances, compelling Moscow’s commanders to abandon plans for a frontal assault. Instead, Russian troops have been attempting to encircle Pokrovsk from the south and northeast.

Despite Moscow’s buildup, Syrskyi said Russian efforts have been hampered by troop shortages as Kremlin forces redeployed thousands to respond to Ukraine’s surprise raids into Russia’s Kursk region. According to Syrskyi, those operations forced Moscow to divert nearly 63,000 soldiers and around 7,000 North Korean fighters, reducing pressure on Ukrainian lines around Pokrovsk.

“This allowed us to regroup and weaken the enemy’s push on key fronts,” he said. “Their announced capture of Pokrovsk back in September 2024 still hasn’t happened, in part thanks to our actions in Kursk.”

The ISW noted that Russian units in the Pokrovsk area increasingly rely on small fireteams that maneuver on motorcycles, buggies, and all-terrain vehicles to probe Ukrainian defenses.

Syrskyi said Russia’s objectives are as much symbolic as tactical.

“They want to do this not only for operational gains, but also for psychological impact—so they can plant a flag and trumpet another false triumph,” he said.

Diddy and Son Justin Combs Accused in Lawsuit of Luring Woman to Los Angeles for Alleged Gang Rape

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Diddy and Son Justin Combs Accused in Lawsuit of Luring Woman to Los Angeles for Alleged Gang Rape

LOS ANGELES (BN24) — Sean “Diddy” Combs and his son Justin Combs are facing new accusations in a lawsuit alleging they lured a woman from Louisiana to Los Angeles in 2017 with promises of a television job before she was held against her will and gang-raped.

Filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the civil suit claims Justin Combs contacted the woman — identified only as “Jane Doe” — through Snapchat and invited her to visit California with assurances of career opportunities. Once she arrived, she was allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted by Sean Combs, Justin Combs, and two unidentified men who wore masquerade masks.

The lawsuit details how Jane Doe was flown to Los Angeles on April 14, 2017, met at the airport by a black SUV, and taken to a Beverly Hills home known as “The Glass House.” According to the complaint, she initially believed she would be networking to secure a production job in Atlanta through the Combs family’s connections. Instead, she said she was kept inside the residence, provided liquor and marijuana she believed were laced, and later pressured to ingest additional pills.

“When asked if they were ever going to leave, Justin abruptly said ‘no,’” the complaint said.

The woman alleges that later that day, three masked men entered the home, including Sean Combs, whom she recognized by his “stature and mannerisms” and because Justin referred to him as “Pops.” She claims she was threatened — told “You better let this happen. Or else” — and then raped repeatedly over two days while incapacitated.

The lawsuit further claims Jane Doe was driven back to the airport on Monday and warned about explicit photos she had sent to Justin, which he allegedly retained and could use to intimidate her.

In a statement Friday, Combs’ media representatives denied all allegations, saying, “No matter how many lawsuits are filed it won’t change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone.”

The suit names Sean and Justin Combs, Combs Enterprises LLC, Bad Boy Entertainment, and ten unnamed defendants, alleging sexual battery, gender violence, and negligent supervision. It also accuses Combs’ companies of enabling the abuse by facilitating the deception about job prospects.

Attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents Jane Doe, said Friday, “We are proud of our client for having the courage to step forward and be heard. The details of the lawsuit speak for themselves. We will see that justice is done.”

Sean Combs, whose racketeering and sex trafficking trial is nearing a verdict in New York, has faced multiple lawsuits in recent years alleging sexual misconduct, including a high-profile claim by ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura that was settled out of court.

Jane Doe’s complaint states she has suffered severe trauma, physical injuries, anxiety, and emotional distress as a result of the alleged assault.

Combs’ legal team has not yet filed a formal response to the latest suit.

Marcus Monzo Sentenced to Life for Samurai Sword Murder of Schoolboy in Hainault, London

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Marcus Monzo Sentenced to Life for Samurai Sword Murder of Schoolboy in Hainault, London

LONDON (BN24) — Marcus Arduini Monzo, who launched a brutal samurai sword attack that killed a 14-year-old boy on his way to school, has been sentenced to life in prison for murder and a series of other violent crimes that terrorized an east London neighborhood.

Monzo, 37, was convicted at the Old Bailey of murdering Daniel Anjorin, along with three counts of attempted murder, wounding with intent, aggravated burglary, and possession of a bladed article. Mr Justice Bennathan ordered that Monzo serve a minimum of 40 years before he can be considered for release, meaning he will remain behind bars for at least 38 years and 309 days given time already served. He will be at least 75 if ever eligible for parole.

On April 30 last year, Monzo went on a 20-minute rampage in Hainault, nearly decapitating Daniel with a sword as the boy walked to school. The attack left five others injured, including police officers and a man struck by Monzo’s van and slashed in the neck.

“In Hainault, east London, just before 7 a.m., the weather was good and the streets were starting to fill with people on their way to work and even a few children heading to school,” Mr Justice Bennathan told the court Friday. “Over the 20 minutes that followed, that peaceful, busy scene was devastated as members of the public were attacked, police officers were gravely injured, a couple were terrified in their own home, and a clever, talented young boy was killed.”

Daniel was remembered by his family as a gifted student and talented athlete whose life was filled with promise. His father, Dr. Ebenezer Anjorin, speaking outside the court alongside Daniel’s mother, Grace Anjorin, called the ordeal “the worst nightmare experience of our lives.”

“This has been a painful and deeply traumatic chapter,” Dr. Anjorin said. “No verdict or sentence can bring back our son. But we are grateful that justice has been served.”

The family expressed gratitude to the Metropolitan Police and the prosecution team, adding that they would honor Daniel’s memory through the love and happiness he shared with them.

During the trial, prosecutors described Monzo as intent on “killing as many people as he could” while under the influence of cannabis, hours after he skinned and deboned his pet cat. CCTV footage played to the jury captured him ramming a pedestrian with his van and slashing others with the sword as terrified screams filled the street.

Monzo, a Spanish-Brazilian national from Newham, admitted possessing offensive weapons but claimed he remembered nothing of the attacks. He denied Daniel’s murder and several other charges, but jurors convicted him after hearing harrowing accounts from victims and seeing graphic video evidence.

In court, Daniel’s father said: “We will not see him get married or have children. All these hopes and aspirations have been cruelly snatched away through the wicked actions of Marcus Monzo.”

Trump Says He Would Consider More Strikes on Iran if Necessary

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Trump Says He Would Consider More Strikes on Iran if Necessary

WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump said he would be prepared to order additional military strikes against Iran if necessary, as questions swirl about the extent of damage caused by recent U.S. and Israeli attacks on the country’s nuclear facilities.

Trump insisted the sites targeted last weekend were “obliterated,” dismissing any suggestion that the impact had been overstated. Still, he said he would support the International Atomic Energy Agency or another credible body inspecting the facilities to verify the damage.

“I’d like inspectors to be able to look, whether it’s the IAEA or some other respected source,” Trump told reporters. “I don’t believe Iran wants to keep trying for a nuclear weapon after what we did.”

His comments came as the head of the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, declared that restoring inspections in Iran remained his top priority. No IAEA visits have taken place since Israel launched strikes on June 13.

Iran’s Parliament moved on June 25 to suspend such inspections, escalating the standoff. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi signaled on June 27 that Tehran may refuse any IAEA request to enter its nuclear sites.

While Trump said he believes Iran is still interested in talks about what comes next, the White House confirmed on June 26 that no meeting between U.S. and Iranian representatives has been scheduled.

Son of Norway’s Crown Princess Suspected in Rape and Assault Cases, Police Say

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Son of Norway’s Crown Princess Suspected in Rape and Assault Cases, Police Say

OSLO, Norway (BN24) — The son of Norway’s crown princess is suspected of committing three rapes and more than 20 other offences, Norwegian authorities announced Friday, marking the latest development in a sprawling investigation that has gripped the Scandinavian nation.

Marius Borg Høiby, 28, who is the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon and does not hold a royal title or official duties, was arrested three times last year — in August, September and November — amid allegations ranging from sexual assault to bodily harm.

After a 10-month inquiry, police in Oslo have turned the case over to prosecutors, who will determine whether to file formal charges, police attorney Andreas Kruszewski said.

Høiby’s lawyer, Petar Sekulic, said his client “takes the accusations very seriously” but denies any wrongdoing in most of the alleged incidents, especially those involving sexual violence.

The police investigation began after Høiby was detained on August 4, 2024, on suspicion of assault. Authorities said the inquiry had involved “a large number of witness interviews, several searches and a review of extensive digital material.” Høiby was questioned multiple times over the autumn of 2024 and the spring of this year and “cooperated with the police,” the Oslo Police District said in a statement.

Among the suspected offences are four counts of sexually offensive behavior, one count of abuse in a close relationship and two counts of bodily harm.

Kruszewski confirmed that some allegations of sexual offenses were dropped because of the statute of limitations and insufficient evidence. He declined to provide the exact number of alleged victims but said it was in the “double digits.”

Høiby, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has largely stayed out of the public eye compared to other members of Norway’s royal family.

The Royal House of Norway acknowledged the case in a brief statement, noting that the matter was moving through the legal system and declining to comment further.

Togo Soldiers Break Up Protests Against Longtime Leader Faure Gnassingbe

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Togo Soldiers Break Up Protests Against Longtime Leader Faure Gnassingbe

LOME, Togo (BN24) — Soldiers in Togo clashed with demonstrators Thursday, using tear gas and batons to disperse hundreds of protesters who blocked major roads in the capital to demand the resignation of Faure Gnassingbe, the West African country’s longtime ruler.

The protests underscored the deepening political tensions in Togo after Gnassingbe assumed a sweeping new role as president of the Council of Ministers, a position created last month that has no term limits. Opposition leaders have condemned the appointment as a “constitutional coup,” warning it effectively allows Gnassingbe to extend his family’s grip on power indefinitely.

Witnesses said demonstrators gathered early Thursday in several neighborhoods of Lome, erecting barricades with burning tires and wooden debris that sent thick plumes of smoke into the air. Security forces responded quickly, charging into the crowds to break up the rallies organized by a coalition of bloggers and activists.

By midday, soldiers in trucks were seen patrolling the city’s main arteries, where storefronts were shuttered and the atmosphere remained tense. Scattered clashes continued into the afternoon as protesters regrouped in the suburbs.

“We’re hungry. Nothing works for Togolese youth any more, that’s why we’re going out to protest this morning,” said Kossi Albert, a 30-year-old unemployed man who joined the demonstration. Albert said he planned to return to the streets on Friday despite the crackdown.

Calls for three days of protests were issued earlier this week, but authorities moved swiftly to quash the gatherings. Togo’s minister of territorial administration, Hodabalo Awate, did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the security response.

The unrest comes weeks after dozens of people were arrested during demonstrations against Gnassingbe’s consolidation of power. Amnesty International said many were quickly released, though rights groups have raised alarms about a broader clampdown on dissent amid soaring living costs.

Gnassingbe, who has already served two decades as president, inherited leadership from his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, who seized power in a 1967 coup and ruled Togo until his death in 2005. Together, the father and son have overseen more than half a century of continuous rule.

Last week, Togolese authorities suspended the broadcasts of French international news outlets RFI and France 24 for three months, accusing them of biased reporting. The move was widely criticized by press freedom advocates as part of a wider effort to stifle independent coverage of opposition activity.

As tensions simmered Thursday, the demonstrations signaled growing frustration among Togolese citizens who say their demands for political reform and economic relief have been ignored.

Rwanda and Congo Sign U.S.-Brokered Accord on Troop Withdrawal and Economic Cooperation

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Rwanda and Congo Sign U.S.-Brokered Accord on Troop Withdrawal and Economic Cooperation

Washington (BN24) – At a signing ceremony in Washington attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the foreign ministers of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo formally pledged on Friday to carry out a 2024 agreement that will see Rwandan troops withdraw from eastern Congo within 90 days, according to a copy of the initialled deal reviewed by Reuters.

The agreement also commits the two countries to launch a regional economic integration framework over the same period.

“They were going at it for many years—and with machetes. It is one of the worst wars anyone has ever seen,” President Donald Trump said Friday ahead of the signing. “And I just happened to have somebody that was able to get it settled.”

Trump added that as part of the deal, the United States would secure substantial rights to Congolese mineral resources. “They’re so honored to be here. They never thought they’d be coming,” he said, before a planned Oval Office meeting with the visiting foreign ministers.

M23 and the Path to Withdrawal
 Rwanda has deployed at least 7,000 soldiers into eastern Congo, according to diplomats and analysts, backing the M23 rebels who earlier this year captured Congo’s two largest eastern cities and key mining zones.

M23’s offensive renewed longstanding fears of a broader regional war rooted in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe hailed the agreement as a “turning point,” while Congo’s top diplomat, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, stressed that true progress would require Rwanda to disengage on the ground.

The initialled text calls for the creation of a joint security coordination mechanism within 30 days to oversee the withdrawal. A separate plan to monitor and verify Rwanda’s exit is also expected to be implemented within three months.

Congolese military operations against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda—a group that includes remnants of forces responsible for the genocide—are scheduled to wrap up over the same timeline.

Reuters reported earlier this week that Congolese negotiators had dropped a previous demand for an immediate Rwandan pullout, clearing the way for the signing ceremony.

Congo, Western governments, and the United Nations have long accused Rwanda of supporting M23 by providing troops and weapons. Rwanda denies aiding the rebels, saying it is acting in self-defense against Congolese forces and Hutu militias linked to the genocide.

Economic Integration and Critical Minerals
 The agreement envisions a new economic framework “to expand foreign trade and investment derived from regional critical mineral supply chains,” according to the version seen by Reuters.

Senior White House Africa adviser Massad Boulos previously told Reuters that Washington hoped to finalize the peace and minerals deals together this summer.

Rubio said Friday that heads of state from both countries would return to Washington “in a few weeks” to formalize the broader agreement.

One source familiar with the matter said another signing ceremony is planned at the White House, though no date has been set. Progress in separate Doha talks between M23 and the Congolese government remains a prerequisite before the economic framework can be concluded, the source said.

Analysts said the focus on de-risking and integrating mineral supply chains carried an unmistakable strategic message.

“This is the best chance we have at a peace process for the moment despite all the challenges and flaws,” said Jason Stearns, a political scientist at Simon Fraser University who studies the Great Lakes region. “But it will be up to the U.S., as the godfather of this deal, to make sure both sides abide by the terms.”

The agreement commits Rwanda and Congo to building joint value chains for critical minerals “in partnership, as appropriate, with the U.S. and U.S. investors.”

Tresor Kibangula, a political analyst at Congo’s Ebuteli research institute, said the focus on economic incentives underlined the stakes.

“It remains to be seen whether this economic logic will suffice to end the fighting,” he said.

Supreme Court Scales Back Injunctions Blocking Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Policy

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Supreme Court Scales Back Injunctions Blocking Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Policy

The Supreme Court on Friday delivered a significant victory to President Donald Trump, allowing his administration to advance—at least in part—its plan to end automatic birthright citizenship.

In a 6-3 decision split along ideological lines, the justices ruled that nationwide injunctions issued by lower courts should be narrowed to apply only to the plaintiffs and states that filed the lawsuits. The decision does not address the constitutionality of Trump’s policy itself but clears the way for the administration to begin laying groundwork for its implementation while litigation continues.

“This is a monumental decision,” Trump said at the White House. “It delivers a victory for the Constitution, the separation of powers, and the rule of law by striking down excessive nationwide injunctions.”

The administration argues that the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of citizenship to all people born in the U.S. does not apply to the children of non-citizens and undocumented immigrants. Trump’s executive order, signed on his first day in office in January, would confer citizenship only on children with at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

For more than a century, courts have held that nearly all children born on U.S. soil are automatically citizens, with narrow exceptions such as children of foreign diplomats. Every court that has considered Trump’s order has so far blocked it.

The Supreme Court’s decision leaves injunctions in place but limits them to the specific plaintiffs involved in the suits in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington state. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, writing for the majority, said the broad injunctions were “more sweeping than necessary.” She directed lower courts to re-evaluate how wide the orders should reach.

“Federal courts must not exceed their authority simply because they believe the executive has exceeded his,” Barrett wrote.

Liberal justices strongly dissented. From the bench, Justice Sonia Sotomayor called the ruling “a travesty for the rule of law” and warned that it would “hamstring” federal judges who need to prevent harm nationwide. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in a separate dissent described the decision as “an existential threat to the rule of law.”

The Trump administration has repeatedly complained that nationwide injunctions have derailed its agenda on issues including deportations, federal workforce cuts, and regulation of universities. The Justice Department has argued such injunctions are an unconstitutional overreach by the judiciary.

Advocacy groups challenging the birthright citizenship order wasted no time in responding. Within hours, lawyers filed amended lawsuits and new class-action claims, which could potentially block the policy on a national basis again.

William Powell, senior counsel at the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, said his group was seeking class certification to protect all affected children and parents nationwide. “Given this ruling, a class action is the fastest and most effective way to secure relief,” he said.

Trump, who has frequently attacked judges that stand in his way, portrayed the ruling as a correction of judicial activism. “This brings back the Constitution,” he said. “This is what it’s all about.”

For now, the policy technically remains blocked in New Hampshire under a separate lawsuit. The Supreme Court’s ruling allows the administration to continue drafting regulations and planning enforcement while further litigation plays out.

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, whose state challenged the plan, said he was confident Trump’s order would never take effect. “And in the meantime, our fight continues,” he said.

Trump Ends Trade Negotiations with Canada Over Digital Tax on Tech Giants

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Trump Ends Trade Negotiations with Canada Over Digital Tax on Tech Giants

President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is immediately ending trade negotiations with Canada in retaliation for its plan to press ahead with a digital services tax targeting major technology companies.

In a post on his social media platform, Trump called the tax “a direct and blatant attack on our country.”

According to the president, Canadian officials informed Washington this week that they would not back down from implementing the measure, which is set to take effect Monday.

The digital services tax applies a 3% levy on revenue generated from Canadian users by both Canadian and foreign companies. The policy will impact U.S. tech giants such as Amazon, Google, Meta, Uber and Airbnb and is retroactive, leaving American firms facing an estimated $2 billion bill payable by the end of the month.

“Canada has made it clear they intend to continue this unfair tax,” Trump wrote. “Accordingly, I am terminating all trade discussions with them immediately.”

The decision halts months of negotiations aimed at easing steep tariffs Trump imposed on Canadian goods. The talks had been viewed as a possible first step toward normalizing economic relations between the two countries.

Canada first approved the digital services tax in June 2024, arguing it was necessary to ensure that large technology platforms pay their fair share in the markets where they profit.

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