UN staff caught up in Kosovo police anti-smuggling sweep:

The UN mission in Kosovo (Unmik) has expressed "great concern" after 2 of its members were held during a police raid on suspected organised crime gangs.

It said "any harm" to its staff would have serious diplomatic consequences.

The two members were detained on Tuesday in northern Kosovo, an area with mainly ethnic Serbian inhabitants.

They were then taken to hospital "for treatment of injuries", Unmik said. One of the staff members, a Russian national, was later released.

Police director Rashit Qalaj said his force had arrested 19 police officers and nine civilians for offences including smuggling goods, organised crime, bribes and abuse of power.

Seven more were arrested for "preventing police from performing their duties", he said, adding that UN staff were in a vehicle that was being used as part of a "barricade" in the predominantly Serb town of Zubin Potok.

Unmik said it was working to establish the "precise circumstances" of the detention of its personnel.

Police officers reportedly fired live ammunition over the heads of protesting Serbs.

In response to the raid, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told parliament he had ordered all units of the army to be put on alert, a common occurrence during tensions with Kosovo.

"I guarantee you if an escalation of the conflict occurs, if an attack against the Serbian people occurs, Serbia will win," he added.

Russia, a key Serbian ally in the Balkans, condemned the detention of the Russian national.

"We consider this blatant act as yet another manifestation of the provocative line" by the Kosovo authorities, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Kosovo, which has a majority ethnic Albanian population, seceded from Serbia in 2008, and has since been recognised by more than 100 countries.

But Belgrade and Moscow continue to see the region as part of Serbia.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/un-staff-caught-up-in-kosovo-police-anti-smuggling-sweep/

Japan attack: Child among two killed in Kawasaki stabbing.

A knife-wielding man has attacked a group of schoolchildren waiting for a bus in the Japanese city of Kawasaki near Tokyo.

At least 18 people were injured in a residential area. two of them, an 11-year-old girl and a 39-year-old man, have died.

The suspect, a man in his 50s, stabbed himself in the neck after his rampage and later died in hospital.

Police have named him as Ryuichi Iwasaki.

Violent crime is rare in Japan and the motive for the attack is unknown.

The suspect was holding knives in both hands as he attacked the victims - 16 of whom were schoolgirls.

Police later named the victims of the fatal attack as Hanako Kuribayashi, who was in the sixth grade, and foreign ministry official Satoshi Oyama, who is believed to be the parent of another child.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned the attack, saying he felt "strong anger" against it.

"It is a very harrowing case. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the victims and hope the injured recover quickly," Mr Abe said.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/japan-attack-child-among-two-killed-in-kawasaki-stabbing/

Naira Marley: I have 2 wives and 4 kids, I’m not a criminal.

Popular singer Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, says he has two wives and four children, who are all British citizens.

He also said he is not a criminal and has no idea what the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission found on the laptop.

Naira Marley, who claimed to be 28-years old, said apart from storing his songs and music videos, he had never done anything illegal with his laptop.

The artiste said this in his statement on oath which he made while in EFCC custody, which was obtained by The Punch.

The artiste, who identified himself as a Swedish Yoruba man, wrote,

My name is Azeez Fashola.

I am married to two wives and I have four kids. They are all British citizens staying in the United Kingdom.

I studied in the United Kingdom, started studying at Porlock Hall, then I moved to Walworth School where I received my GCSE.

My results for my GCSE are English (C), Maths (B) and Science (C).

I left Walworth School with my qualification and went further to study at Peckham Academy, where I got distinction in Business.

Then, I went further to study at Crossways College where I finished my Business Law; but I had kids at that time, so I took a break and started making music till date.

According to Naira Marley, he did not own a laptop but was given one to use temporarily to upload videos on YouTube.

He said,

I started making music in 2014 individually (sic), but now I’m signed to Marathon, a United Kingdom-based record label.

I had a deal with Coca-Cola for my song, Issa Goal, in which I featured Olamide and Lil Kesh.

I also had deals with Nike to participate in the Nigerian sportswear (sic).

I’m in possession of a MacBook laptop, which I borrowed from a friend named Yad Isril in England, because while returning to Nigeria, I knew I was going to need a laptop to upload my music videos on YouTube and also to keep my exclusive songs.

Naira Marley added,

I’m in possession of the laptop but I have no idea what is on it apart from my music videos.

According to the artiste, the said laptop had no password and could be accessed by anyone.

He claimed to have met Isril in a secondary school in England.

He owns the butcher’s and an electronics shop in England. He is a British citizen, though his family is from Iraq.

I don’t have a personal laptop at the moment because I don’t need it.

My management team handles everything I need to do on the laptop. I only use my iPhone X for everything I do, he said.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/naira-marley-i-have-2-wives-and-4-kids-im-not-a-criminal/

Trump announces tariffs on all Mexico goods in latest anti-immigration measure:

US President Donald Trump has announced tariffs on all goods coming from Mexico in a bid to curb illegal immigration.

In a tweet, Mr Trump said that from ten June a 5th tariff would be imposed and would slowly rise "until the illegal Immigration problem is remedied".

President Trump has declared a national emergency to tackle what he claims is a crisis at the United States of America southern border.

Border agents say they are overwhelmed, but critics say they are mishandling and mistreating migrants.

Jesus Seade, Mexico's top diplomat for North America, said the tariffs would be "disastrous".

"If this is put in place, we must respond vigorously," he told reporters.

During his election campaign and throughout his time in office, President Trump has sought funds to build a wall on the US-Mexico border.

He declared a national emergency in February in an attempt to divert federal funds for a barrier wall, but a judge blocked his efforts in May.

The White House said on Thursday that the president would use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to implement the new tariffs on Mexico.

The announcement came the same day that the White House told Congress it planned to pursue a new trade deal with Mexico and Canada.

In a White House statement, Mr Trump said the tariffs would rise by 5% each month until October 1, when the rate would reach 25%.

The tariffs would stay at that level "unless and until Mexico substantially stops the illegal inflow of aliens coming through its territory", he said.

"For years, Mexico has not treated us fairly - but we are now asserting our rights as a sovereign Nation," the statement said.

The president also took aim at his Democratic opponents, accusing them of a "total dereliction of duty" over border security.

The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives is taking legal action to halt the Trump administration's efforts to build a border wall, saying it would be a waste of funds and would not stop illegal immigration.

Critics say border agents are taking a heavy-handed approach under the Trump administration to controlling migration at the US-Mexico border, pointing to the deaths of six migrant children in US custody since September.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/trump-announces-tariffs-on-all-mexico-goods-in-latest-anti-immigration-measure/

GM fungus rapidly kills 99% of malaria mosquitoes, study suggests:

A fungus - genetically enhanced to produce spider toxin - can rapidly kill huge numbers of the mosquitoes that spread malaria, a study suggests.

Trials, which took place in Burkina Faso, showed mosquito populations collapsed by 99% within 45 days.

The researchers say their aim is not to make the insects extinct but to help stop the spread of malaria.

The disease, which is spread when female mosquitoes drink blood, kills more than 400,000 people per year.

Worldwide, there are about 219 million cases of malaria each year

Conducting the study, researchers at the University of Maryland in the US - and the IRSS research institute in Burkina Faso - first identified a fungus called Metarhizium pingshaense, which naturally infects the Anopheles mosquitoes that spread malaria.

The next stage was to enhance the fungus.

"They're very malleable, you can genetically engineer them very easily," Prof Raymond St Leger, from the University of Maryland, told BBC News.

They turned to a toxin found in the venom of a species of funnel-web spider in Australia.

The genetic instructions for making the toxin were added to the fungus's own genetic code so it would start making the toxin once it was inside a mosquito.

"A spider uses its fangs to pierce the skin of insects and inject toxins, we replaced the fangs of spider with Metarhizium," Prof St Leger explained.

Laboratory tests showed the genetically modified fungus could kill quicker, and that it took fewer fungal spores to do the job.

The next step was to test the fungus in as close to real-world conditions as possible.

A 6,500-sq-ft fake village - complete with plants, huts, water sources and food for the mosquitoes - was set up in Burkina Faso.

It was surrounded by a double layer of mosquito netting to prevent anything escaping.

The fungal spores were mixed with sesame oil and wiped on to black cotton sheets.

The mosquitoes had to land on the sheets to be exposed to the deadly fungus.

The researchers started the experiments with 1,500 mosquitoes.

The results, published in the journal Science, showed numbers soared when the insects were left alone.

But when the spider-toxin fungus was used, there were just 13 mosquitoes left after 45 days.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/gm-fungus-rapidly-kills-99-of-malaria-mosquitoes-study-suggests/

Louisiana passes law banning abortions after heartbeat is detected:

Louisiana's Democratic governor has signed a highly restrictive new abortion law that bans the procedure after a foetal heartbeat is detected.

The law might prohibit abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy.

State legislators overwhelmingly backed the bill on Wednesday, by 79 votes to 23 and Governor John Bel Edwards signed the bill into law on Thursday.

It is the latest is a raft of anti-abortion measures which are expected to face legal challenges.

Four other states have passed similar limits to abortion this year.

In a statement, Governor Edwards said: "I call on the overwhelming bipartisan majority of legislators who voted for [the law] to join me in continuing to build a better Louisiana that cares for the least among us and provides more opportunity for everyone."

He did not hold a signing ceremony.

Governor Edwards has long opposed abortion. Support for abortion restrictions has put some state Democrats at odds with the national party, which views access to the procedure as a core plank of its platform.

Women throughout the US have staged protests against the Lousiana legislation, and major Hollywood stars and production companies have vowed to boycott states that implement such bans.

Disney, Netflix and WarnerMedia have all publicly threatened to rethink production in these states if the laws take effect.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/louisiana-passes-law-banning-abortions-after-heartbeat-is-detected/

Hungary boat crash: Captain of vessel involved in collision arrested.

The captain of a vessel that collided with a tour boat on the Danube in Budapest, leading to at least seven deaths, has been arrested, police say.

The 64-year-old Ukrainian national was held as a suspect over reckless misconduct in waterborne traffic leading to mass casualties.

The boat carrying South Korean tourists sank seven seconds after the collision during a rainstorm on Wednesday.

Hopes have faded that any of the 21 people missing will be found alive.

A criminal investigation has been launched into the collision, a rare incident on the Danube where navigation is busy but generally safe.

Seven people rescued alive were suffering from hypothermia but stable, an ambulance spokesman said.

CCTV footage showed the boat that sank - Hableany, or Mermaid - being hit from behind by a larger tour boat - Viking Sigyn - near the Margit (Margaret) Bridge in central Budapest after 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT).

"The whole thing happened very quickly" said Clay Findley, a US tourist who was on the Viking Sigyn.

"I thought at first we were going to miss it, but the front of the Viking hit the back of that little boat... and then the hull popped up on the opposite side of the ship, just a few seconds later, and then it was down."

Another passenger, 66-year-old Ginger Brinton from the US, told the AFP news agency that he was on the boat's balcony when he "saw people in the water, screaming for help".

He added: "We never felt any bump. We didn't realise. We just saw people in the water. It was just terrible."

No-one on the Swiss-registered Viking Sigyn was injured.

Hungarian police said the investigation yielded evidence that raised questions of personal responsibility so it questioned the captain - identified as Yuriy C., from Odessa - as a suspect and later decided to take him into custody.

Emergency crews found the wreckage of the Hableany, a double-decker river cruise boat built in 1949 in the former Soviet Union, on the riverbed near the Margaret Bridge and were preparing to lift it.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/hungary-boat-crash-captain-of-vessel-involved-in-collision-arrested/

Uber posts $1bn loss weeks after stock market listing:

Uber has posted a $1bn (£790m) loss as the ride-hailing firm delivered its 1st figures since a disappointing flotation earlier this month.

The quarterly loss came despite a 20th a rise in revenues to $3.1bn and increase in monthly active users to 93 million.

The results were in line with many analysts' forecasts and may provide reassurance about the company's future profitability.

Uber shares have sunk almost 11% since it listed on Wall Street on 10 May.

The company is the biggest of a group of Silicon Valley start-ups that have gone public this year against the backdrop of a global stock market sell-off sparked by renewed US-China trade tensions.

But Uber has also faced strong competition in the smartphone ride-hailing business, and incurred extra costs for signing up new drivers and establishing the Uber Eats delivery service.

Uber has posted a $1bn (£790m) loss as the ride-hailing firm delivered its first figures since a disappointing flotation earlier this month.

The quarterly loss came despite a 20% a rise in revenues to $3.1bn and increase in monthly active users to 93 million.

The results were in line with many analysts' forecasts and may provide reassurance about the company's future profitability.

Uber shares have sunk almost 11% since it listed on Wall Street on 10 May.

The company is the biggest of a group of Silicon Valley start-ups that have gone public this year against the backdrop of a global stock market sell-off sparked by renewed US-China trade tensions.

But Uber has also faced strong competition in the smartphone ride-hailing business, and incurred extra costs for signing up new drivers and establishing the Uber Eats delivery service.

The share price was almost flat in after-hours trading immediately following the release of the numbers but then jumped 1.6% higher before falling back.

Some analysts have expressed unease about the company ever making a profit. The number of investors betting that Uber's share price will fall - called short-selling - has risen during the past two weeks.

One analyst, Atlantic Equities' James Cordwell, said a lack of any forward guidance in Thursday's statement "is a little disappointing".

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/uber-posts-1bn-loss-weeks-after-stock-market-listing/

Philippines sends tonnes of rubbish back to Canada:

The Philippines has sent tonnes of rubbish back to Canada, after a weeks-long diplomatic spat that saw President Rodrigo Duterte threaten to "sail to Canada and dump their garbage there".

The Philippines says the rubbish was falsely labelled as plastic recycling when it was sent to Manila in 2014.

Canada has agreed to cover the full cost of its transfer and disposal.

Some 69 containers of refuse were sent back in a cargo vessel that set sail from Subic Bay, north of Manila.

"Baaaaaaaaa bye, as we say it," Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teddy Locsin Jr wrote on Twitter on Friday morning.

The minister, who is known for his rambunctious tweeting style, posted pictures and video of the ship leaving port.

The roughly 1,500 tonnes of repatriated rubbish will be shipped to the Canadian city of Vancouver, arriving before the end of June, to be treated at a waste-to-energy facility there.

"This is a demonstration that we're going to comply with our international obligations to deal with waste that originates in Canada," Sean Fraser, Canada's parliamentary secretary to the environment minister, told the BBC.

He said Canada had moved quickly in recent weeks to deal with the issue, which had dragged on for a number of years after the Philippines government made it "clear this is a very serious priority for them".

A growing number of countries across South East Asia are calling for Western nations to take back rubbish that has been sent to their shores, arguing that some of it was imported illegally.

The amount of rubbish exported by developed countries was revealed after China, which had imported the bulk of it for years, introduced a ban on "foreign garbage".

As a result, the trash - sometimes falsely declared as recyclables - was sent to other developing countries which have now begun to push back

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/philippines-sends-tonnes-of-rubbish-back-to-canada/

Trump: Robert Mueller 'conflicted' and a 'Never Trumper':

US President Donald Trump has launched a fierce personal attack on former special counsel Robert Mueller, describing him as "totally conflicted".

He said the person who led the inquiry into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 United States of America election had "wanted to be the FBI director, and I said 'no'".

The president also claimed the two had had a "business dispute".

Mr Mueller reiterated on Wednesday that his inquiry did not exonerate Mr Trump of obstruction of justice.

Following Mr Mueller's comments - his first public statement on his inquiry - Democratic presidential candidates called for the Republican president to be impeached.

But the Democratic leadership of the House of Representatives is sceptical of such a move. And any attempt to remove the president from office would almost certainly be rejected by the Republican-controlled Senate.

At the White House on Thursday morning, Mr Trump said impeachment was a "dirty, filthy disgusting word".

He said Mr Mueller was a "true Never Trumper", referring to his Republican critics during the 2016 White House race, and that his investigation was "a giant presidential harassment".

Mr Trump also referred to the special counsel's team of investigators as "some of the worst human beings on Earth".

He claimed Mr Mueller had approached him at the Oval Office in 2017 seeking to regain his former position as FBI director.

The president said: "Robert Mueller should never have been chosen because he wanted the FBI job and he didn't get it and the next day he was picked as special counsel."

But according to the Mueller report, former White House strategist Stephen Bannon told investigators that the special counsel had not gone to the White House job-seeking.

Mr Bannon said Mr Trump's oft-repeated claims about Mr Mueller's supposed conflicts of interest were "ridiculous".

On Thursday, the president also told reporters he had "a business dispute" with Mr Mueller.

It was not clear what Mr Trump was referring to, but in 2011 Mr Mueller suspended his membership with a Trump-owned golf course in northern Virginia.

Afterwards, Mr Mueller requested to have his annual dues refunded but never heard back from the Trump Organization, according to a Washington Post report from last year.

In a tweet earlier on Thursday, Mr Trump seemed to say for the first time that Moscow had played a role in helping him to get elected, while disavowing his own involvement.

"Russia, Russia, Russia! That's all you heard at the beginning of this Witch Hunt Hoax... And now Russia has disappeared because I had nothing to do with Russia helping me to get elected," he wrote.

But on the White House lawn, he said: "No, Russia did not help me get elected. You know who got me elected? I got me elected. Russia didn't help me at all."

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/trump-robert-mueller-conflicted-and-a-never-trumper/

Tiananmen Square: China minister defends 1989 crackdown

China has defended the crackdown on the 1989 Tiananmen square protests in a rare public acknowledgement of events.

Defence Minister Wei Fenghe told a regional forum that stopping the "turbulence" was the "correct" policy.

In spring 1989, students and workers occupied Beijing's Tiananmen square in a massive pro-democracy protest. many were killed in a brutal clampdown by the communist authorities.

Reporting on the events is heavily censored in China.

Tuesday marks 30 years since six weeks of demonstrations ended with the Beijing massacre of 3-4 June.

"That incident was a political turbulence and the central government took measures to stop the turbulence which is a correct policy," General Wei Fenghe told a security forum in Singapore, responding to a question from the audience.

"The 30 years have proven that China has undergone major changes," he said, adding that because of the government's action at that time "China has enjoyed stability and development".

The Chinese government has never said how many protesters were killed, although estimates range from the hundreds to thousands.

Tuesday marks 30 years since six weeks of demonstrations ended with the Beijing massacre of 3-4 June.

"That incident was a political turbulence and the central government took measures to stop the turbulence which is a correct policy," General Wei Fenghe told a security forum in Singapore, responding to a question from the audience.

"The 30 years have proven that China has undergone major changes," he said, adding that because of the government's action at that time "China has enjoyed stability and development".

The Chinese government has never said how many protesters were killed, although estimates range from the hundreds to thousands.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/tiananmen-square-china-minister-defends-1989-crackdown/

Trump: Prepare for no deal and send in Farage.

Nigel Farage should be involved in the government's Brexit negotiations and the United Kingdom should be prepared to leave the EU with no deal, Donald Trump has said.

In a Sunday Times interview, The United States of America president was critical of government's Brexit negotiations, saying it left the EU "with all the cards."

The interview comes before his state visit to the united kingdom begins on Monday.

On Saturday Mr Trump also said Boris Johnson would be an "excellent" Conservative Party leader.

Breaking with diplomatic convention, Mr Trump said the leader of the Brexit Party - an arch critic of Prime Minister Theresa May - "has a lot to offer" in negotiations with the EU, and should be included.

"Think how well they would do if they did," he added.

He also said the UK should walk away if it does not get what it wants from EU negotiations.

"If you don't get the deal you want, if you don't get a fair deal, then you walk away."

Meanwhile, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has marked Mr Trump's visit by calling him "one of the most egregious examples of a growing global threat".

In an article for the Observer, Mr Khan said: "The far right is on the rise around the world, threatening our hard-won rights and freedoms and the values that have defined our liberal, democratic societies for more than 70 years."

In April, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said he was boycotting Mr Trump's state banquet at Buckingham Palace, in protest at the president's "racist and misogynistic rhetoric".

The US president also reiterated his praise for Boris Johnson - who is willing to leave the EU with no deal.

Mr Johnson is one of the candidates in Tory leadership contest to replace Prime Minister Theresa May.

Sajid Javid, Esther McVey and Dominic Raab have said the UK should leave the EU on the current planned departure date of 31 October with or without an agreement.

But Rory Stewart does not back a no-deal Brexit - and Matt Hancock says politicians must be honest about the trade-offs involved in getting a deal approved by MPs.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said trying to push through a no-deal Brexit would be committing "political suicide", although he agreed the option had to remain on the negotiating table.

To compensate for lost trade with the EU, Mr Trump vowed to "go all out" to secure a free trade deal between the UK and US within months of Britain leaving the bloc.

The first day of Mr Trump's state visit to the UK will include a private lunch with the Queen, tea with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, and the state banquet at Buckingham Palace.
Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/trump-prepare-for-no-deal-and-send-in-farage/

Liverpool defeated Spur to left the UEFA Champions League:

Liverpool erased the disappointment of last season's Champions League final loss by claiming the trophy for the sixth time with victory over Tottenham in Madrid.

It was Mohamed Salah, such a disconsolate figure when he was injured early in that loss to Real Madrid, who set Liverpool on their way with a penalty after two minutes when Moussa Sissoko was contentiously punished for handball.

In a final that rarely touched the heights of the blockbuster semi-finals that made this an all-Premier League showpiece, Spurs had chances but were denied by Liverpool keeper Alisson, who saved well from Son Heung-min, Lucas Moura and Christian Eriksen.

And their failure to capitalise was ruthlessly punished when substitute Divock Origi ensured manager Jurgen Klopp won his first trophy as Liverpool manager by driving low and powerfully past Hugo Lloris with three minutes left.

Spurs counterpart Mauricio Pochettino took the gamble of selecting England captain and main striker Harry Kane despite his not having played since April because of an ankle injury, replacing semi-final hat-trick hero Lucas Moura, but he had no impact.

Liverpool lifted the trophy that was taken from their grasp in Ukraine last season and now stand behind only Real Madrid and AC Milan as serial winners of this tournament, the final whistle sparking huge celebrations among players, management and the red wave of supporters in Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/liverpool-defeated-spur-to-left-the-uefa-champions-league/

Anthony Joshua sensationally beaten by Andy Ruiz Jr at Madison Square Garden:

Andy Ruiz Jr produced one of the biggest shocks in the history of heavyweight boxing to rip Anthony Joshua's IBF, WBO and WBA world heavyweight titles from him and tear up the division's proposed plot lines.

In a truly remarkable fight at New York's Madison Square Garden, Ruiz floored Joshua four times en route to a seventh-round stoppage, which stunned this famous arena and handed the Briton his 1st defeat as a professional.

Joshua was a 1-25 favourite with bookmakers, with 22 wins - 21 by knockout - going into the fight. He will currently join the likes of Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson as dominant champions to suffer losses that brought the sport to a standstill.

"I got beaten by a good fighter," said 29-year-old Joshua on Sky Sports. "It will be interesting to see how far he goes, but this is all part of the journey.

"He's a champion for now, I shall return."

This was no fluke, no punch from the ages, it was the breakdown of a fighter who looked shattered from an early stage.

After flooring Ruiz with a left hook in the third round, Joshua hit the canvas when a right crashed against his temple. By the time a sensational three minutes was up he had been down again thanks to a flurry when cornered.

It created an electric buzz amongst the 19,000 or so in the arena. Just what was happening? Were they going to see the unthinkable?

Ruiz, 29, was not even supposed to be here. He took the bout at six weeks' notice and tickets were being collected by fans 24 hours before the bout which still had the name of Jarrell Miller - Joshua's original opponent - printed on them.

By the seventh round, when Joshua touched down under a flurry of shots again, the game looked up. Seconds later he was down on all fours again and spat his gum shield out, perhaps to buy time.

He simply did not have it. The bout was waved off and all that was planned for the glamour division was ripped up thanks to a man who had been dubbed unglamorous because of his rounded physique.

Ruiz, from appearance to pedigree, was an underdog in every sense of the word. When Britons wake up on Sunday morning, they will read of a truly iconic upset.

Ruiz, American born but with Mexican parents, becomes Mexico's first heavyweight world champion, just as he said he would.

When Joshua sat down with the media on Wednesday, virtually every question directed at him was about his future, not this bout.

He said he was "seeing the bigger picture" and maybe therein lies the problem.

After six fairly tentative minutes from both men he scored his knockdown from a crisp left hook as the pair boxed up close. Normal order appeared set to play out.

Moments later when he himself hit the deck, we were taken back to his titanic struggle with Wladimir Klitschko. The night was on a cliff edge, simply do not blink.

And from that first knock down, he never appeared comfortable. Whether it be stamina, a lack of focus or a lack of preparation for his late stand-in, this was not the Joshua the travelling 8,000 strong army of British fans had grown to know.

In the sixth round there were warning signs. After a smart left hook and right hand combination from Ruiz early on, he went on to take pot shots at Joshua's head, with the champion seemingly too fatigued to even muster a guard while his legs appeared confused below him.

And then came the finish, mainly built from punch volume as Ruiz overwhelmed his vulnerable opponent with two knock downs in quick succession. The crowd seemed frozen. Surely not? Yes, it was over.

There will be questions because Joshua is his own biggest analyst. For now, there is only disbelief.

Joshua was down on two cards and up on one when the stoppage came but, according to promoter Eddie Hearn, he will get his chance to rectify things in a rematch in London, in November or December.

"This will devastate him," said Hearn. "He will come back. It's now down to the rematch and winning that fight.

"To get back to the heights he has been, he must win that rematch."

For now, all talk of facing Tyson Fury or WBC champion Deontay Wilder can stop.

Ruiz, who now has 33 wins and one loss can temporarily bask in the glory of his glorious night. He joins James 'Buster' Douglas - who humbled Tyson in 1990 - and Hasim Rahman who beat Lewis in 2001 as men to land colossal upsets.

Lewis of course responded by winning a rematch. Ruiz though showed plenty here to suggest Joshua will have to find plenty to do the same.

Ruiz was calm and calculated in staying away from Joshua's obvious power early on. When he stepped forward he did so with conviction and threw plenty, ensuring he got shots off to justify the risk of making himself vulnerable.

When he did take shots after being floored, he took them and ploughed on gamely.

This bout changed his and his five children's lives financially. The rematch will do so even more.

"This is what I have been dreaming about and I cannot believe I made my dreams come true," he said.

"That was my first time getting dropped on the floor but it made me want it even more."

From starting boxing aged six, to being taunted and doubted because of his weight, he has now come up trumps to deliver the ultimate 'I told you so' moment.

He rightly said "the sky is the limit now", while Joshua will look back on a US bow which was wrecked.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/anthony-joshua-sensationally-beaten-by-andy-ruiz-jr-at-madison-square-garden/

Nanda Devi: Helicopters join search for eight missing climbers.

Indian Air Force helicopters have joined the search for eight climbers missing on the country's second highest mountain.

The missing group includes four people from the united kingdom, 2 Americans, an Australian and an Indian.

The team started climbing Nanda Devi in the Himalayas on 13 May; the alarm was raised when they did not return to base camp as scheduled on Friday.

Officials say there were signs of an avalanche on the 7,816-metre mountain.

Emergency workers set out to find the group on Saturday but the operation was called off in the evening amid harsh weather conditions.

The efforts resumed early on Sunday morning, as the Indian Air Force deployed two helicopters to launch an aerial search for the climbers.

The climbers were being led by experienced British mountain guide Martin Moran, whose Scotland-based company Moran Mountain has run many expeditions in the Indian Himalayas.

The rest of the group have been named locally as John McLaren, Rupert Whewell and Richard Payne from the UK; US nationals Anthony Sudekum and Ronald Beimel; Australian Ruth McCance; and Indian guide Chetan Pandey.

Moran Mountain confirmed on Saturday that it was working with authorities and the British Association of Mountain Guides to "gather information regarding the Nanda Devi East expedition team."

"Out of respect for those involved and their families, we will be making no further comments at this time," it added.

Photos posted to Moran Mountain's Facebook page the day before the start of the climb showed the group "starting their journey into the hills at Neem Kharoli Baba temple, Bhowali".

An update on 22 May, posted from their second base camp at 4,870 metres, suggested that the group would attempt to summit a previously unclimbed peak on the mountain.

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has confirmed that it is in contact with Indian authorities about the missing climbers.

"We will do all we can to assist any British people who need our help," a spokesperson said.

Nanda Devi is the world's 23rd highest mountain and was first scaled in 1936.

Considered one of the toughest Himalayan peaks to summit, it attracts fewer climbers than other mountains in the region.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/nanda-devi-helicopters-join-search-for-eight-missing-climbers/

Footballer Neymar denies rape accusation:

The Brazilian soccer star, Neymar, has strongly denied an accusation that he raped a lady in Paris.

According to a police report filed in Sao Paulo, the woman alleges that the attack took place in a hotel in Paris, where Neymar plays for Paris St-Germain (PSG).

Neymar's management put out a statement saying the footballer "completely repudiated" the accusation.

Neymar is now in Brazil training with the national team for the Copa América.

According to police documents, the woman - who has not been named - got to know Neymar on Instagram and he suggested they meet in Paris.

He provided her with an air ticket from Brazil to France and a reservation at the Hotel Sofitel Paris Arc Du Triomphe.

When Neymar came to the hotel on 15 May, he was "apparently drunk," the woman alleges.

After conversation and embraces, "at some point, Neymar became aggressive, and through violence, engaged in s*xual intercourse against the will of the victim," the police document states.

The woman returned to Brazil two days later, without reporting the alleged incident to French police, because she was "emotionally shaken and afraid to register the facts in another country," the document continues.

In a statement released after the accusations became public, the footballer's management said: "We completely repudiate the unjust accusations and, above all, the exposure in the press of an extremely negative situation."

The footballer's father, Neymar dos Santos, told Band TV in Brazil on Saturday that "it is clear that it was a trap".

"If public opinion is not cleared up, and if we can't show the truth rapidly, this will snowball. If we have to show Neymar's WhatsApps and the conversations with this girl, we will," he added.

The 27-year-old forward has been stripped of the captaincy of Brazil, following recent disciplinary issues.

French football authorities banned Neymar for three matches after he hit a fan following PSG's defeat by Rennes in the Coupe de France final last month.

He was also reportedly involved in a dressing room brawl.

The Copa América - South America's national team championship - takes place in Brazil from 14 June to 7 July, with the hosts taking on Bolivia, Venezuela and Peru in Group A.

Neymar had to stop training on Tuesday when he suffered a knee strain, although the injury was not thought to be serious.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/footballer-neymar-denies-rape-accusation/

BTS are the first Korean band to headline Wembley Stadium:

BTS have made history by becoming the first South Korean group to headline Wembley stadium.

The boy band blasted through 24 songs on Saturday, assisted by quirky props, glitter cannons, jet sprays... and 60,000 fans screaming their approval.

The septet, who said they "grew up watching videos of Live Aid," even paid tribute to Freddie Mercury.

During the encore, lavender-haired singer Jin led the crowd in a version of the Queen frontman's "ay-oh" chant.

"You guys always had the greatest artists, historically, in the music industry - The Beatles, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Adele. We don't even have to make a list," added his band-mate Kim Nam-joon, who's known to fans as RM.

"So the UK was like the big, big wall to me.

"But tonight we, and you guys, just broke the wall."

The gig was the first of two sold-out nights at Wembley Stadium - and just the third UK show of BTS's career.

It capped off an extremely successful year for the band, who topped the UK album charts in April with Map Of The Soul: Persona, played Saturday Night Live and Britain's Got Talent, and scored their biggest hit single to date when Boy With Luv entered the UK top 20.

Unlike previous Wembley headliners, they're not quite household names yet (and many people would be hard-pressed to name one of their songs) but their fanbase, dubbed the "Army", is unusually devoted, highly mobilised, and growing daily.

Indeed, BTS's sold-out stadium debut comes just eight months after they played the smaller, 20,000-capacity O2 Arena on the other side of London, and the significance of their achievement did not go unnoticed at home.

"Everyone in Korea is so excited," said Sungmi Ahn, a K-pop reporter for the Korean Herald. "They're doing a live broadcast of the show so everyone can watch it.

"The Freddie Mercury film Bohemian Rhapsody was huge in Korea, so when people think of Wembley Stadium, they know how important it is, and BTS are getting a lot of hype and excitement as a result."

For the band, however, this meant an additional level of pressure.

"I barely got any sleep last night, that's how nervous we are," said rapper/singer Suga at a pre-show press conference. "But the nerves will just make us work harder."

You certainly couldn't have accused BTS of slacking off.

From the moment they burst onstage from behind two giant panthers, no pirouette was left un-spun; and no leap left un-leapt.

Every member got their moment to shine: Resident heartthrob Jungkook floated perilously over the audience's heads for a high-wire performance of Euphoria; while Jimin showed off his balletic dance moves during Serendipity.

But the best moments came when the septet united for tracks like the rap-rock juggernaut Fake Love and the Justin Bieber-esque Make It Right.

The band's camaraderie was especially evident in the encore, as they leapt around an inflatable playground trying to make each other laugh with ever-more goofy dance moves.

They even attempted English accents, with Jungkook declaring, "easy peasy, lemon squeezy," for no particular reason during the intro to Dope.

It was a shame the backing tracks were all pre-recorded, as the lack of a live band robbed the show of musical spontaneity.

And there was a lingering suspicion the boys were miming during their more athletic dance routines, even though the impassioned harmonies of The Truth Untold proved they could ably handle a live vocal.

But any such minor gripes were swept away by the tidal wave of fans' enthusiasm.

They sang at the top of their voices, even during the Korean sections, and started Mexican waves with their "Army bombs" - Bluetooth connected light sticks that created cascades of colour across the stadium.

Oh, and they screamed. They screamed at the dancing. They screamed at the fireworks. They screamed when Jin held up a rose. They screamed at RM grabbing his crotch. They screamed at every, single smouldering look to the camera.

Even V's pet dog Yeontan got a scream of approval when he popped up in a video interlude.

Never has the phrase "Wembley, make some noise," been more redundant.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/bts-are-the-first-korean-band-to-headline-wembley-stadium/

Donald Trump arrives for three-day UK state visit:

US President Donald Trump and 1st woman Melania Trump have arrived in the United Kingdom for a three-day state visit.

Air Force One landed at Stansted airport at around 09:00 BST (04:00 ET).

Mr Trump will meet members of the royal family, and is expected to discuss climate change and Chinese technology firm Huawei during talks with outgoing Prime Minister Mother Teresa may.

Minutes before touching down, Mr Trump criticised Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, with whom he has clashed in the past.

He tweeted that Mr Khan - who had earlier said the UK should "not roll out the red carpet" for Mr Trump - was a "stone cold loser", but the president added he was looking forward to his visit.

Protests are planned across the UK during the visit, including in London, Manchester, Belfast, and Birmingham.

Although Mr Trump has spoken of his admiration for Mrs May, there is expected to be differences of opinion during their talks, which begin on Tuesday.

The prime minister will raise the issue of climate change, with a government spokesman again saying on Monday the UK was "disappointed by the US decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement in 2017".

The two leaders are also expected to discuss Huawei. The US has blacklisted the Chinese firm for security reasons, while the UK may allow it to supply "non-core" components for its 5G network.

Before the visit, President Trump told the Sun newspaper that he was backing Conservative Party leadership contender Boris Johnson to be the next UK prime minister.

He also told the Sunday Times that Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage - an arch critic of Mrs May - should be involved in the government's negotiations to leave the EU.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/donald-trump-arrives-for-three-day-uk-state-visit/

Sudan crisis: Security forces move against protesters.

Sudanese security forces have attacked a pro-democracy protest outside the military headquarters in the capital, Khartoum.

Live ammunition has been used and eyewitnesses say there are fatalities.

Sudan has been governed by a transitional Military Council (TMC) since President Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in a coup in April.

Protesters have been demanding that a civilian government should take over the running of the country.

The security services moved on the main protest site early on Monday.

Khartoum residents reported hearing heavy gunfire and seeing smoke rising from the area around the army headquarters.

At least five people are reported to have been killed and a number injured.

"Now an attempt is taking place to disperse the sit-in," said a short statement from the Sudanese Professionals Association, the group which is spearheading nationwide protests.

The association also called for a campaign of "sweeping civil disobedience to topple the treacherous and killer military council and finalise our revolution".

Protesters have been burning tyres and erecting barricades to try to fend off the security forces.

Journalist Benjamin Strick, who specialises in verifying footage on Twitter, has shared dramatic videos from Khartoum, where repeated gunfire could be heard.

Sudan's military has so far made no public comments.

The US embassy in Sudan said attacks by Sudanese security forces against protesters were "wrong and must stop".

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/sudan-crisis-security-forces-move-against-protesters/

Kim Yong-chol: 'Purged' N Korean diplomat appears with Kim.

A North Korean official who was reported to be in a labour camp attended a weekend concert alongside Kim Jong-un, state media said.

Last Friday, Kim Yong-chol was widely reported to have been sent to a re-education camp as punishment.

North Korean media showed him apparently at a musical performance with other officials.

A list of attendees identified him as present, though a picture showed his face partly obscured by his hands.

Kim Yong-chol, a former spymaster, has been described as the North Korean leader's right-hand man.

He travelled to the US in January to prepare for the second summit meeting between Mr Kim and President Trump, which was held in Vietnam.

Friday's reports that Kim Yong-chol had disappeared began with an anonymous source quoted in a South Korean newspaper. The paper also said that Kim Hyok-chol, a former North Korean envoy to the US, had been executed at an airport in Pyongyang.

Kim Hyok-chol was another key figure in talks ahead of the US-North Korea summit held in February.

Though he was not among the attendees listed for Sunday's event, state media have not yet reported any execution or punishment so his whereabouts remain unclear.

Kim Yong-chol's reported attendance at Sunday's concert does not guarantee that he was not blamed or punished for the collapse of the Vietnam talks.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he was demoted," North Korea expert Andrei Lankov of Seoul's Kookmin University told the BBC. "But he was seen quite alive on Sunday and that means he is still in a position of power.

"Had he been in prison or in a labour camp, he would never have been allowed to be seen at an event like this."

Asked if there was any doubt over the state media account, Mr Lankov replied: "He was pictured at the official photo, he was mentioned by the KCNA (Korean Central News Agency). They have no reason to engage in complicated charades."

It can be difficult to verify reports that high-ranking North Koreans have fallen from favour and been purged or executed - and such claims often prove inaccurate.

South Korean media and the government in Seoul have alleged purges in the past, only for the individuals to turn up alive and still alongside Kim Jong-un.

Singer Hyon Song-wol is a prominent example. In 2013 she was alleged to have been shot in a "hail of machine gun fire while members of her orchestra looked on".

In 2018 though, the singer appeared in Seoul leading a visiting North Korean delegation ahead of the Winter Olympics.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/kim-yong-chol-purged-n-korean-diplomat-appears-with-kim/