Christchurch attack: New Zealand launches gun buy-back scheme.

New Zealand has launched a gun buy-back scheme in the wake of the deadly Christchurch mosque shootings.

More than $208m New Zealand dollars (£108m, $136m), have been put aside to compensate owners of semi-automatic weapons which were banned following the attacks.

The ban was agreed by parliament in April, weeks after the shootings.

In March, a gunman killed 51 people at a mosque and Islamic centre during Friday prayers.

The scheme, which only applies to licensed guns, will last six months meaning people will have until 20 December to hand in their weapons.

"The buy-back has one objective - to remove the most dangerous weapons from circulation," Minister of Police Stuart Nash said.

"Police have detailed plans in place for the next step, which is the collection of firearms from the community. It will be a huge logistical exercise and is expected to get under way in mid-July."

The new gun laws agreed in April ban military-style semi-automatic weapons and parts that can be used to assemble prohibited firearms.

The money set aside will compensate owners up to 95% of the original price of their weapons.

Police estimate that around 14,300 military style semi-automatic weapons would be covered by the new legislation.

So far, almost 700 weapons have already been handed in before the buy-back scheme was launched and around 5,000 have been registered by owners for the police to collect.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/christchurch-attack-new-zealand-launches-gun-buy-back-scheme/

Iranian military claims to have shot down US spy drone:

Iran's Muslim Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) claim to have shot down a United States of America spy drone over Iranian airspace.

State media reported the military hit a drone, which they named as a RQ-4 global Hawk, near Kuhmobarak in Iran's southern Hormozgan province.

The United States of America military has not confirmed if a drone was hit, however, a spokesman denied its aircraft was in Iranian airspace.

It comes days after the Pentagon said it was deploying 1,000 extra troops to the region amid tension.

Washington has accused Iran of attacking oil tankers with mines in the Gulf of Oman.

Tensions were further fuelled on Monday when Iran said its stockpile of low-enriched uranium would next week exceed limits it agreed with international powers in 2015.

Iran stepped up its production in response to tightening economic sanctions from the US, who left the landmark nuclear deal last year.

Kuhmobarak, where Iran says it shot down the drone on Thursday, is close to the Strait of Hormuz - a key route for global oil supplies.

Navy Captain Bill Urban, a spokesman for the US military Central Command told the Reuters news agency that "no US aircraft were operating in Iranian airspace today" but declined to comment further.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/iranian-military-claims-to-have-shot-down-us-spy-drone/

Spy satellites reveal extent of Himalayan glacier loss:

Images from cold war spy satellites have discovered the dramatic extent of ice loss in the Himalayan glaciers.

Scientists compared images taken by a United States of America reconnaissance programme with recent spacecraft observations and found that melting in the region has doubled over the last 40 years.

The study shows that since 2000, glaciers heights have been shrinking by an average of 0.5m per year.

The researchers say that climate change is the main cause.

"From this study, we really see the clearest picture yet of how Himalayan glaciers have changed," Joshua Maurer, from Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in New York, told BBC News.

The research is published in the journal Science Advances.

During the 1970s and 1980s, a US spy programme - codenamed Hexagon - launched 20 satellites into orbit to secretly photograph the Earth.

The covert images were taken on rolls of film that were then dropped by the satellites into the atmosphere to be collected mid-air by passing military planes.

The material was declassified in 2011, and has been digitised by the US Geological Survey for scientists to use.

Among the spy photos are the Himalayas - an area for which historical data is scarce.

By comparing these pictures with more recent satellite data from Nasa and the Japanese space agency (Jaxa), the researchers have been able to see how the region has changed.

The Columbia University team looked at 650 glaciers in the Himalayas spanning 2,000km.

The group found that between 1975 and 2000, an average of 4bn tonnes of ice was being lost each year.

But between 2000 and 2016, the glaciers melted approximately twice as fast - losing about 8bn tonnes of ice each year on average.

Mr Maurer said: "For a sense of scale, 8bn tonnes of ice is enough to fill 3.2 million Olympic-sized swimming pools per year."

And the ice loss was not uniform, he added.

"Glaciers lose most of their ice in the lower elevation portions of the glacier, and it's there where most of the thinning is concentrated.

"Some of those zones have been thinning by as much as 5m per year."

Among the scientific community, there has been some debate over the cause. Changes in rainfall in the region and soot deposited from industrial pollutants are thought to have hastened the melt.

However the Columbia team said that while these factors were contributing, rising temperatures in the Himalayas were the main cause.

"The fact we see such a similar spatial pattern of ice loss across so many glaciers across such a large and climatically complex region suggests there needs to be some kind of overall forcing affecting all of the glaciers similarly."

Scientists say continued losses will have a huge impact.

In the short-term, the huge increase in meltwater could cause flooding.

In the longer term, millions of people in the region who depend on glacier meltwater during drought years could experience very real difficulties.

Commenting on the research, Dr Hamish Pritchard from the British Antarctic Survey, said: "What's new here is being able to see how the melting of glaciers across the whole Himalayan range has increased due to climate change.

"Over one generation, the melt has doubled and these glaciers are now shrinking fast.

"Why does this matter? Because when the ice runs out, some of Asia's most important rivers will lose a water supply that keeps them flowing through drought summers, just when water is at its most valuable.

"Without mountain glaciers, droughts will be worse for millions of water-stressed people living downstream."

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/spy-satellites-reveal-extent-of-himalayan-glacier-loss/

Nxivm: S*x cult leader Raniere found guilty in New York.

Keith Raniere, a self-help guru accused of leading a s*x cult that enslaved women, has been found guilty of all charges against him.

Raniere, 58, was convicted by a jury after a six-week trial in brooklyn, New York.

He allegedly oversaw a "slave and master" system in his group, called Nxivm.

He was convicted of all counts against him, including racketeering, s*x trafficking and child pornography.

Mr Raniere, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, could face life in prison.

During the trial, the court heard how female recruits in the group were branded with his initials and coerced into having s*x with Raniere.

Raniere maintained that Nxivm (pronounced nexium) was a self-improvement organisation, but investigators said it was a s*x-trafficking operation disguised as a mentoring group.

Recruits were told it was an all-female group and were asked to hand over compromising materials that were later used to blackmail them, prosecutors said.

Raniere was arrested by the FBI in Mexico last year. His defence team said the alleged s*xual relationships were consensual.

When the verdict was read outside court, former members of Nxivm gave the prosecution team a round of applause.

According to Nxivm's tagline, Raniere and his organisation were "working to build a better world".

But witnesses called to testify at his trial painted a starkly different picture of the man.

Raniere, the court heard, ran a secret society within Nxivm called DOS.

As the "grandmaster" of DOS, he was a "predator" who exploited and blackmailed women, including a 15-year-old girl, prosecutors alleged.

Raniere forced his "slaves" to give him nude photos of themselves and other compromising materials, telling them they would be made public if they disobeyed him, the court heard.

Every August, Nxivm members - called "Nixians" - would dole out $2,000 (£1,575) or more to gather in Silver Bay, New York to celebrate Raniere's birthday week, according to court documents.

A former member testified that the week included "tribute ceremonies" to Raniere, who was referred to as "The Vanguard" by his followers.

Another former member of the alleged s*x cult, identified by prosecutors as Daniela, testified she was "groomed" for weeks before she turned 18 for Raniere to take her virginity.

The same women was allegedly confined to a bedroom for two years - all because she gained weight and asked to see a man other than Raniere.

In her closing arguments, prosecutor Moira Penza said Raniere was a "crime boss with no limits" who "tapped into a never-ending flow of women and money".

In his defence, his lawyer Marc Agnifilo told the court that no women were ever forced to do anything against their will.

"You may find him repulsive, disgusting and offensive. We don't convict people in this country for being repulsive or offensive," Agnifilo said. "Unpopular ideas aren't criminal. Disgusting ideas aren't criminal."

A jury of eight men and four women dismissed his arguments, convicting Raniere for the catalogue of abuse, forced starvation and s*xual exploitation he subjected his victims to.

Image copyrightFBI
Image captionPhotos from the FBI show the branding on one victim, with Mr Raniere's initials, KR, superimposed in white.   

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/nxivm-sx-cult-leader-raniere-found-guilty-in-new-york/

US-Iran: Trump 'pulls back after approving military strikes'.

President Donald Trump approved retaliatory military strikes against Iran on Thursday before changing his mind, United States of America media reports.

The new york Times, citing senior White House officials, said strikes were planned against a "handful" of targets.

They say the operation was allegedly under way "in its early stages" when Mr Trump stood the United States of America military down. The White House has so far made no comment.

This comes after Iran shot down a US spy drone.

Tehran claims the unmanned US aircraft entered their airspace early on Thursday morning. The US maintains it was shot down in international airspace.

Tensions have been escalating between the two countries, with the US recently blaming Iran for attacks on oil tankers operating in the region. Meanwhile, Iran has announced it will soon exceed international agreed limits on its nuclear programme.

Last year, the US unilaterally pulled out of a 2015 nuclear deal aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear activities.

The New York Times first published details of the apparent planned strikes late on Thursday night in Washington.

The NYT said that as late as 19:00 local time (23:00 GMT), US military and diplomatic officials still expected the strikes on agreed targets, including Iranian radar and missile batteries, to take place.

"Planes were in the air and ships were in position, but no missiles had been fired when word came to stand down," the newspaper reported, citing an unnamed senior administration official.

The strikes were set to take place just before dawn on Friday to minimise risk to the Iranian military or to civilians, the newspaper added.

Several other US media outlets then independently reported the same.

The Associated Press quoted a US official as saying that the strikes were recommended by the Pentagon and were among the options presented to senior administration officials.

The operation was called off after President Trump had spent most of Thursday discussing the Iran issue with his national security advisers and also congressional leaders, the AP reports.

It says that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton had pushed for a hardline stance, but the congressional leaders urged caution.

Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the US had no appetite for war with Iran, while the leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, Joe Biden, called Mr Trump's Iran strategy a "self-inflicted disaster".

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, said: "The administration is engaged in what I would call measured responses."

The top Democrat in the US Senate, Chuck Schumer, said: "The president may not intend to go to war here, but we're worried that he and the administration may bumble into a war."

It remains unclear if the apparent strikes could still go ahead.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/us-iran-trump-pulls-back-after-approving-military-strikes/

Hong Kong protests: Thousands surround police headquarters.

Thousands of people in Hong Kong have surrounded police headquarters, calling for an extradition bill to be scrapped.

Police have asked the protesters to withdraw peacefully, saying their presence would "seriously affect" emergency services.

Millions of people have marched against the bill in recent weeks, with violent clashes breaking out with police.

The bill, which allows extradition to mainland China, has already been suspended.

Critics say it would erode the judicial independence of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong has been part of China since 1997 under the "one country, two systems" principle, which allows it freedoms not seen in mainland China.

The protest comes a day after the government ignored a deadline set by a group of students from various universities in Hong Kong, who called for the bill to be completely scrapped.

t is telling that many protesters have now dropped Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam's resignation from their list of demands - focusing instead on a complete withdrawal of the bill, revoking the term "riot" to describe 12 June's protests, releasing all detained activists, and investigating police violence. One protester, June, 20, had snuck out to the protests despite her parents disapproval.

She said she didn't think it was realistic to expect Carrie Lam to resign, but "I really hope they release injured protesters and investigate their actions". So far, there haven't been any violent clashes - some protesters threw eggs, but nothing harder, at uniformed police officers, while there were no riot police at the scene - perhaps in an attempt to defuse tensions. But the anger at the police is palpable - as people chanted "evil police" and "release them" and attempted to block some entrances with steel barriers.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/hong-kong-protests-thousands-surround-police-headquarters/

Georgia protests: Thousands storm parliament over Russian MP's speech.

Protesters have attempted to storm Georgia's parliament during a mass rally against a speech inside the chamber by a Russian lawmaker.

Riot police stopped them from entering the building, reportedly using tear gas and rubber bullets.

Tensions flared up when Sergei Gavrilov addressed an assembly of MPs from Orthodox Christian countries from the seat of the speaker.

Russia and Georgia have fought over two breakaway Georgian regions.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia were occupied by Russia in 2008.

Moscow recognises them as independent states and Russian troops have remained there since.

Thursday's protests left 39 police officers and 30 protesters in hospital with injuries, according to an advisor to Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze quoted by the AFP news agency.

Mr Gavrilov was taking part in the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO), a body set up by the Greek parliament in 1993 to foster relationships between Christian Orthodox lawmakers.

Opposition MPs in Georgia's pro-Western parliament called for protests in response to his decision to deliver a speech from the speaker's seat.

He addressed delegates in Russian, angering politicians and Georgians vehemently opposed to Moscow's presence in the country.

Calling for speaker Irakli Kobakhidze and other officials to resign, about 10,000 protesters breached the police cordon in the capital, Tbilisi, AFP reported.

Some were carrying EU flags and placards reading "Russia is an occupier".

Giga Bokeria, an opposition MP for the European Georgia party, told AFP the rally outside parliament was "a spontaneous protest by ordinary Georgians".

Inside parliament, opposition lawmakers blocked the presidium and demanded that the parliamentary speaker, interior minister and state security service chief all resign over the incident.

The session was suspended and Mr Gavrilov has reportedly left the country.

"That was a slap in the face of recent Georgian history," Elene Khoshtaria, an opposition member of parliament, said.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/georgia-protests-thousands-storm-parliament-over-russian-mps-speech/

Israel Folau: Sacked rugby player in anti-gay row asks for donations.

Rugby player Israel Folau, who was sacked by Rugby Australia (RA) for criticising gay people, has appealed for public donations to help him legally contest his dismissal.

Folau, a 30-year-old star full-back, had his contract terminated in May after posting on social media saying "hell awaits" gay people.

The devout Christian argues his firing was unlawful and an act of religious discrimination.

RA says he breached a code of conduct.

The former Wallabies player has drawn widespread condemnation for his social media comments, but he also has vocal supporters.

On Friday, Folau released a video to launch a crowd-funding campaign aiming to raise A$3m (£1.6m; $2.1m) for his legal case.

He filed a case against RA and Rugby New South Wales at the Fair Work Commission - Australia's national workplace relations tribunal - earlier this month.

"Every Australian should be able to practise their religion without fear of discrimination in the workplace," he says in the fundraising video.

"Even people who don't share my beliefs have defended my right to uphold and express them.

"If you want to join this journey with me, to fight for the right to freedom of religion, please donate."

Folau has played 73 Tests for Australia and was estimated to be on a contract worth A$5m. He owns a multi-million dollar property portfolio in Sydney and Brisbane, Australia's Daily Telegraph newspaper reported.

Folau said he and his wife had already spent more than A$100,000 on legal fees, after engaging a top legal team.

RA has consistently defended their firing of the star full-back, saying he breached player behaviour standards "including respectful use of social media".

It had previously warned Folau over anti-gay messages he had posted on social media in the past.

In May, chief executive Raelene Castle said RA had terminated his contract to "stand by our values and the qualities of inclusion, passion, integrity, discipline, respect and teamwork".

Folau also lost sponsorship deals with companies including car manufacturer Land Rover and sportswear brand Asics.

He could be seeking up to A$10m in damages through the Fair Work Commission, media reports say.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/israel-folau-sacked-rugby-player-in-anti-gay-row-asks-for-donations/

MP Mark Field accused of assaulting Greenpeace activist.

Greenpeace has accused Foreign Office minister Mark Field of assault, after he pushed a female activist out of a black-tie City event.

Mr Field claimed he reacted "instinctively" and has referred himself to the Cabinet Office for an investigation.

He also apologised to the woman for "grabbing her" - but said he was worried she may have been armed.

The Tory MP has been widely criticised, but some people defended his actions.

Thursday night's incident - which was filmed - happened after climate change protesters disrupted the beginning of Chancellor Philip Hammond's annual Mansion House speech to the City about the state of the UK economy.

Dozens of activists - dressed in suits, red dresses and sashes - "gatecrashed" the dinner, according to Greenpeace, and refused to leave.

Video footage shows Mr Field getting out of his seat and stopping one female protester by pushing her against a column and then marching her out of the room.

In a statement, Greenpeace said it was "shocked" at the response to a peaceful protest.

One of its climate campaigners, Areeba Hamid, said: "The protester in question was hoping to discuss climate change and the economic reforms we need with the financiers and bankers at the dinner.

"Mark Field is the MP for the City and represents many of those financiers and bankers. We hope they will show a greater willingness to listen and understand the necessity for urgent action than their representative."

Labour's shadow women and equalities minister, Dawn Butler, was among those who criticised Mr Field, tweeting: "This is horrific... He must immediately be suspended or sacked."

Fellow Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi added: "No one who reacts like this to a peaceful protest should be sitting in our Parliament."

And Jess Phillips MP tweeted: "Every MP has to deal with protest and conflict, it is done with words. To watch this is so so awful."

Meanwhile Liberal Democrat MP Chuka Umunna described Mr Field's actions as "totally unacceptable" while former Tory MP Sarah Wollaston said it was"absolutely shameful, a male MP marching a woman out of a room by her neck".

But one of Mr Field's Conservative colleagues, Sir Peter Bottomley MP, said he had done nothing wrong.

"I think Mark Field did the right thing. He prevented the woman going further, he reversed her direction and she went out pretty willingly," he told the BBC.

"He intervened - I congratulate him for that, I would have done the same. Although she may have been harmless, others won't be."

Sir Peter said that attacks on MPs and their staff meant that such protests could not be ignored. "Not intervening often has a cost, and if this becomes a fashion, there will be casualties," he said.

In a statement given to ITV News, Mr Field - who is the Foreign Office minister for Asia and the Pacific - said: "In the confusion many guests understandably felt threatened and when one protester rushed past me towards the top table I instinctively reacted.

"There was no security present and I was for a split-second genuinely worried she might have been armed.

"As a result I grasped the intruder firmly in order to remove her from the room as swiftly as possible.

"I deeply regret this episode and unreservedly apologise to the lady concerned for grabbing her but in the current climate I felt the need to act decisively to close down the threat to the safety of those present."

He added: "In view of the publicity around this incident I am referring myself to the Cabinet Office to examine whether there has been a breach of the ministerial code, and will of course co-operate fully with their investigation."

Watching the clip for the first time on BBC Newsnight, former Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt said: "I've no appreciation of the context of anything like that. Mark will answer for himself. But it looks to be a very difficult situation for everyone concerned."

Meanwhile, Conservative MP George Freeman tweeted: "This looks appallingly rough handling of a woman climate protester in a dress.

"But before everyone rushes to instant armchair judgement can I suggest that all of us who weren't there and don't know what was said or done just wait a few hours to hear what those who *were* there say."

The protesters were removed from the event after several minutes and Mr Hammond was able to continue soon afterwards.

City of London Police said they received a call from security at Mansion House just after 21:00 BST.

"Officers arrived to help with their ejection. Once in the presence of the police, the protesters were co-operative and left the premises. No arrests were made."

Resuming his speech, Mr Hammond told the guests: "The irony is that this is government that has just led the world by committing to a zero carbon economy by 2050."

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/mp-mark-field-accused-of-assaulting-greenpeace-activist/

EU leaders fail to agree top job candidates in Brussels talks:

A summit of 28 European Union leaders has ended without an agreement on who should take on the bloc's top jobs.

The talks, held in Bruxelles, continued until the early hours of Friday morning without candidates being finalised.

On top of trying to find majorities for successors, leaders were also trying to decide what issues the EU should prioritise over the next 5 years.

A new summit will now be held on 30 June - just two days before a key meeting of the European Parliament.

All of the bloc's leading jobs are changing hands this year, following European-wide elections in May.

Tense differences are said to have emerged over the successors for the key roles.

After Thursday's summit ended, European Council President Donald Tusk confirmed a new summit was necessary.

The most powerful role being decided is EU Commission president - a role held by ex-Luxembourg PM Jean-Claude Juncker since 2014.

The European Commission drafts EU laws, oversees national budgets, enforces EU treaties and negotiates international trade deals.

"I note with certain amusement that it is not easy to replace me," Mr Juncker told journalists at a press conference early on Friday.

Besides the replacements for him and Mr Tusk, the leaders also have to decide on a new European Central Bank president and a high representative for foreign policy.

Nominees require the support of least 21 of the 28 EU leaders and a majority in the European Parliament - which will meet on 2 July.

Entering Thursday's talks, Mr Tusk had said he was "more cautious than optimistic" about finalising candidates at the Council summit.

The choices for the EU's top jobs have to take account of last month's European elections and achieve an acceptable balance regarding large and small states, gender and geography.

The elections produced more political fragmentation, including a surge in the numbers of Green and liberal MEPs.

The choices for the EU's top jobs have to take account of last month's European elections and achieve an acceptable balance regarding large and small states, gender and geography.

The elections produced more political fragmentation, including a surge in the numbers of Green and liberal MEPs.

The contest for a new Commission president began with the parliament's "Spitzenkandidat" (lead candidate) race, but leaders do not have to go along with the result.

The parliament says the president should come from the party with the most seats - which would mean Manfred Weber, a German in the centre-right European People's Party (EPP).

Strong potential rivals to Mr Weber are EU veteran Frans Timmermans (Dutch, from the centre-left Socialist bloc) and Danish EU commissioner Margrethe Vestager, a liberal.

But French President Emmanuel Macron is reported to favour Michel Barnier - the man who has been in charge of negotiating Brexit - for the post.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel had stressed the important of finding a "joint solution" at the Council summit.

Leaving the meeting on Friday, Mr Macron said no consensus was found on any of the leading candidates.

"The three Spitzenkandidat, the three names were tested by Donald Tusk and he considered that they had found no majority on either of these three names," he said.

However, Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas struck a more upbeat note, telling journalists: "All the names are still on the table but I am positive we will find a solution next Sunday".

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/eu-leaders-fail-to-agree-top-job-candidates-in-brussels-talks/

Apple warns Trump that more China tariffs will help rivals.

Apple has joined a growing chorus of firms urging the Trump administration to drop a plan for more United States of America tariffs on Chinese goods.

The United States of America has said it may impose duties on $300bn (£236.1bn) worth of Chinese products if the two sides can't reach a trade deal.

In a letter, Apple "urged" the White House to drop the tariff plan.

The tech giant said the duties would "tilt the playing field" to its global rivals.

The company said the proposed tariffs would cover its major products including iPhone, iPads, and Airpods, as well as parts used to repair devices in the US.

"We urge the US government not to impose tariffs on these products," Apple said in its filing to US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, who is considering submissions on the proposed duties.

The company said more tariffs would hurt its "global competitiveness".

Apple said its Chinese competitors - which include top smartphone maker Huawei - do not have a "significant presence" in the US market and would not be impacted by US duties.

"A US tariff would, therefore, tilt the playing field in favour of our global competitors," the company wrote.

It follows reports that the Silicon Valley giant has asked suppliers to explore shifting some production out of China in response to the ongoing trade battle between Washington and Beijing.

Apple joins a string of other companies pushing the Trump administration to abandon plans for more tariffs on Chinese goods citing risks to their business and consumers.

In a joint submission filed this week, tech firms Microsoft, Dell and HP and Intel said the proposed tariffs would increase prices for laptops and tablets by at least 19%.

The US reignited the trade war last month by raising tariffs on billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to retaliate.

The two countries have been in an escalating conflict over trade for the past year. The scope of the battle has expanded in recent months as Washington has tightened trade restrictions on Chinese telecoms giant Huawei.

Hopes for an imminent deal were shattered in May after the Trump administration more than doubled tariffs on $200bn of Chinese imports and threatened additional duties.

Tariffs imposed by both countries over the past year have weighed on the global economy and hit financial markets.

Still, the prospect of a resolution was raised this week as US President Donald Trump said trade negotiations are set to resume shortly.

The talks lead up to a closely watched meeting between Mr Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Japan later this month.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/apple-warns-trump-that-more-china-tariffs-will-help-rivals/

Sophia Momodu: "Don’t put all your eggs in one bastard".

Davido's first baby mama Sophia Momodu shared new photos as she rocks "Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Bastard" shirt.

Sophia Momodu Captioned:

"Don’t put your eggs in one Bastard"




Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/sophia-momodu-dont-put-all-your-eggs-in-one-bastard/

Popular Nigerian Actress, Iyabo Ojo shares cute photos of her son, Festus Oladunjoye Ojo as she celebrates his 20th birthday. Gistvic Reports.

Iyabo Ojo also said Festus has brought nothing but sunshine, strength, happiness, joy & gladness into her life since his birth.

She wrote:
"My Love @fedel_x I wish you endless joy, may your life be filled with wonders and delight... I am always so grateful to God that you came into my world. ... You have brought nothing but sunshine, strength, happiness, joy & gladness into my life � Festus Oladunjoye Ojo omo iyabo, i will never ever mourn over you in Jesus name, but i will always have a blessed reason to celebrate you forever my son ��you shall be greater in life, you shall prosper beyond your own imagination, you shall live very long to fulfill God's purpose in your life, you shall always be the head & never the tail.... ��.always stay true to yourself & never allow the pressures of this World pull you down..... stay focus, stay dedicated, stay happy & always remember God's words, he has said that he will never leave you nor forsake you! he will continually protect, provide & promote you... AMEN!!!. I miss you so so much baby � wish i was there to trouble you a little in taking more pictures & videos ��� but I'm always with you in spirit �‍♀️ I hope my little birthday gift gave you a cute smile � you know i would give you the world if I owned it, there's nothing I wouldn't do to put a smile on your cute face, � you know I gat you forever & I love you beyond & above �.Happy birthday My heartbeat ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤"




Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/festus-oladunjoye-ojo-20th-birthday-iyabo-ojo-celebrates-son-photos/

Trump warns Iran of ‘obliteration’ in event of war:

President Trump has said he doesn't want war however warned Iran it would face "obliteration" if conflict broke out.

Speaking to NBC on Friday, he said the United States of America was open to talks however wouldn't allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons.

He also expanded on his last-minute decision to call off strikes planned in response to the shooting down of a United States of America unmanned drone this week, saying he had been told 150 Iranians would be killed.

"I didn't like it. I didn't think it was proportionate," he said.

Tehran says the unmanned US aircraft entered Iranian airspace early on Thursday morning. The US maintains it was shot down in international airspace.

Tensions have been escalating between the two countries, with the US recently blaming Iran for attacks on oil tankers operating in the region. Iran has announced it will soon exceed international agreed limits on its nuclear programme.

Last year, the US unilaterally pulled out of a 2015 nuclear deal aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear activities.

The US has now asked the UN Security Council to meet on Monday to discuss Iran.

He said a plan of attack was "ready to go, subject to my approval" but said he had then asked generals how many people would be killed.

"I thought about it for a second and I said, you know what, they shot down an unmanned drone, plane, whatever you want to call it, and here we are sitting with 150 dead people that would have taken place probably within a half an hour after I said go ahead," he told NBC.

He denied suggestions that aircraft had already been on their way to attack Iranian targets - reportedly including Iranian radar and missile batteries - saying: "No planes were in the air."

Addressing Iran's leaders, Mr Trump said: "You can't have nuclear weapons. And if you want to talk about it, good. Otherwise, you can live in a shattered economy for a long time to come."

Earlier on Friday Mr Trump tweeted that the US had been "cocked and loaded" to strike.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/trump-warns-iran-of-obliteration-in-event-of-war/

Trump dismisses E. Jean Carroll rape allegation as 'fiction':

President Donald Trump has dismissed allegations that he raped a woman in a room in the mid-1990s as "fiction".

The United States of America president says he has never met E. Jean Carroll and the writer's motivation behind the claim is "to sell a new book".

Ms Carroll's story was published in New York magazine on Friday.

More than a dozen women have previously made s*xual misconduct allegations against Mr Trump, which he has denied.

"I've never met this person in my life," the US president said in a statement. "She is trying to sell a new book—that should indicate her motivation. It should be sold in the fiction section."

Mr Trump encouraged anyone with "information that the Democratic Party is working with Ms. Carroll or New York Magazine" to notify the White House.

He accused the publication of "peddling fake news".

"Shame on those who make up false stories of assault to try to get publicity for themselves, or sell a book, or carry out a political agenda," he said.

"It's just as bad for people to believe it, particularly when there is zero evidence," he added.

In his statement, Mr Trump thanked Bergdorf Goodman for "confirming they have no video footage of any such incident".

In the article, she describes meeting Mr Trump in late 1995 or early 1996, in Bergdof Goodman, an upmarket department store in New York. She said she recognised him as the "real estate tycoon" and said he told her he was buying a present for "a girl".

She said that Mr Trump knew she was a TV agony aunt and the two joked around, encouraging each other to try on some lingerie.

She alleges that they then went to a dressing room, where she accuses him of raping her.

Both Mr Trump and Ms Carroll were aged around 50 at the time and he was married to Marla Maples.

Ms Carroll said she told two friends about the alleged incident, one of whom advised her to go to the police.

But she said the other advised her against telling anyone saying: "Forget it! He has 200 lawyers. He'll bury you."

The accusation is one of six alleged attacks by "awful men" that Ms Carroll details in her article.

Another alleged incident involves Les Moonves, the former CEO of CBS. He resigned in 2018 after allegations of s*xual misconduct.

Mr Moonves' representative told New York magazine that he "emphatically denies" the incident.

Ms Carroll ends the article by saying Mr Trump was her "last hideous man" and she has not had s*x with anyone else since then.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/trump-dismisses-e-jean-carroll-rape-allegation-as-fiction/

Russia suspends flights to Georgia after violent clashes:

President Vladimir Putin has temporarily banned Russian airlines from flying to Georgia following a spate of violent unrest in the country.

He signed the decree - which will be implemented from 8 July - on Friday.

It came after some 240 individuals were hurt a day earlier in protests that were ignited by the appearance of a Russian MP in Georgia's parliament.

Tensions between the countries remain high, 11 years after they fought a war over the region of South Ossetia.

Moscow will also recommend that Russian travel agencies suspend all tours to Neighboring Georgia.

Sergei Gavrilov, the Russian MP who sparked the fury on Thursday, addressed an assembly of MPs from Orthodox Christian nations.

But protesters stormed the parliament in the capital, Tbilisi, and police used rubber bullets and tear gas in an attempt to disperse them.

The speaker of Georgia's parliament, Irakli Kobakhidze, has resigned following the violence. He faced a fierce backlash for inviting Mr Gavrilov to give the speech.

Protesters gathered again on Friday night outside the Georgian parliament building where they have been chanting "No to Russia" over and over again.

But they have motives that extend beyond denouncing Moscow. These demonstrators want the Georgian Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia to resign over his handling of the unrest.

These people are also angry at how the police dealt with Thursday's protests. They used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon to push back the crowd in what were ugly scenes.

And on Friday, protesters came out in bigger numbers. It appears the visit of a Russian MP has unlocked much deeper frustrations with the current administration and the way it has handled relations with its northern neighbour Russia.

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili called Russia "an enemy and occupier", saying Moscow had helped to stir the unrest.

The Kremlin condemned the protests as "Russophobic provocation". Russia's foreign ministry accused Georgia's opposition of trying to prevent an improvement in bilateral relations in recent years.
Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/russia-suspends-flights-to-georgia-after-violent-clashes/

Boris Johnson: Police 'called to Tory leadership contender's home'.

Police was called to the London home of Boris Johnson and his partner in the early hours of Friday after a neighbour reportedly heard a loud argument.

The Guardian said Carrie Symonds was heard telling the Conservative MP to "get off me" and "get out of my flat".

The Metropolitan Police told the BBC it "spoke to all occupants of the address, who were all safe and well".

In a statement, it said "there was no cause for police action". A spokesman for Mr Johnson said: "No comment".

The Guardian reported that a neighbour had told the newspaper they heard a woman screaming followed by "slamming and banging".

The paper said the neighbour was inside their own flat when they recorded the alleged altercation.

It said that in the recording - heard by the Guardian, but not by the BBC - Mr Johnson was refusing to leave the flat and telling the woman to "get off" his laptop before there was a loud crashing noise.

Ms Symonds is allegedly heard saying the MP had ruined a sofa with red wine: "You just don't care for anything because you're spoilt. You have no care for money or anything."

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: "At 00:24 on Friday 21 June, police responded to a call from a local resident in the SE5 area of Camberwell.

"The caller was concerned for the welfare of a female neighbour.

"Police attended and spoke to all occupants of the address, who were all safe and well. There were no offences or concerns apparent to the officers and there was no cause for police action."

Mr Johnson is the bookmakers' favourite to succeed Theresa May as Conservative leader and the UK's next prime minister.

The former foreign secretary and Mayor of London is in a run-off with Jeremy Hunt, with Tory party members to vote over the next month.

Mr Johnson came top in a ballot of Tory MPs on Thursday. The first hustings of the second phase of the leadership campaign takes place on Saturday.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/boris-johnson-police-called-to-tory-leadership-contenders-home/

'Jihadi Jack' parents guilty of funding terrorism:

The parents of a Muslim convert dubbed "Jihadi Jack" have been found guilty of funding terrorism.

John Letts, 58, and Sally Lane, 57, from Oxford, sent their son £223 while he was in Syria despite concerns he had joined the Muslim State cluster.

An old Bailey jury found the couple not guilty of sending him an extra £1,000 and could not reach a verdict on a 3rd charge of funding terrorism.

The pair each received 15 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.

In a statement read by their solicitor, they said: "We have been convicted for doing what any parent would do if they thought that their child's life was in danger."

Muslim convert Jack Letts left his home in Oxford at 18 for Jordan and Kuwait for study and tourism.

In March 2015, police warned the couple they risked prosecution if they sent their son money.

Then in September, Lane transferred money to an account in Lebanon after her son insisted it had "nothing to do with jihad".

She told him: "I would go to prison for you if I thought it gave you a better chance of actually reaching your 25th birthday."

Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC said: "It was one thing for parents to be optimistic about their children, and I do acknowledge he is your son who you love very much.

"But in this context you did lose sight of realities."

He told the couple: "The warning signs were there for you to see."

He said that they were "intelligent adults" who set aside their suspicions to "please your son".

In the statement read outside the Old Bailey, the couple said: "The fact the jury acquitted us of some of the allegations makes it clear that the jury accepted we believed that our son's life was in imminent danger."

They added that they had "tried to do the right thing" and co-operate with police in a bid to get Jack home.

"But instead of helping us they used the information we provided to prosecute us."

In the statement, Letts and Lane said that "having escaped from Isis [Jack] is now in limbo".

Jack has been detained for the past 18 months 1by the Kurdish-led YPG in northern Syria.

His parents said: "Jack is still a British citizen and we have pleaded with the government to help us to bring him to safety, even if that meant he might be prosecuted in the UK.

"We are committed to help Jack return home."

Prosecutor Alison Morgan QC had earlier said Jack's parents "turned a blind eye to the obvious".

"Saying they wanted to help Jack is not a defence," she said.

"They had every reason to expect the worst; they just in fact did not want to hear the truth."

She added Letts and Lane were repeatedly told by "numerous police officers" not to send any money.

Letts and Lane were found not guilty of sending a further £1,000 in December 2015 and the jury could not reach a verdict on the couple sending £500 in January 2016.

Jurors heard that in July 2015 Jack Letts spoke about wanting to decapitate a former school friend on social media.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/jihadi-jack-parents-guilty-of-funding-terrorism/

Mauritania heads to polls in first election since independence:

Mauritania is heading to the polls in what may result in the first democratic transition of power since the West African country achieved independence in 1960.

President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz seized power in a coup in 2008, but has agreed to step down and abide by a two-term limit of office.

More than a million people are eligible to vote in Saturday's election.

Six candidates are competing for the presidency.

The frontrunner is Mohamed Ahmed Ould Ghazouani, the country's defence minister and a close ally of the current president, BBC West Africa correspondent Louise Dewast reports.

Opposition candidates are also taking part in a move seen as a positive step forward, after boycotting several previous polls.

The five other candidates include former Prime Minister Sidi Mohamed Ould Boubacar, and a well-known activist and anti-slavery campaigner, Biram Dah Abeid.

The country's electoral commission has promised a free and fair election, despite claims by the opposition that it is biased in favour of the governing party.

Mauritania's press authority said on Friday that it had received no complaints about the coverage of the campaign.

The most critical issue on the campaign trail has been the standard of living, which every candidate has promised to improve.

Slavery also remains an issue. Mauritania became the final country in the world to formally abolish slavery in 1981, but it continues to this day. Criminal laws allowing slaveholders to be prosecuted were passed in 2007, but have yet to be fully and effectively enforced.

After Mauritania achieved independence from France in 1960, the country's first president held power for 18 years before being ousted in a military coup. More coups followed in 1984, 2005, and in 2008.

If Saturday's election ends with no clear winner, a run-off election is due to be held on 6 July.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/mauritania-heads-to-polls-in-first-election-since-independence/

Jackie Appia: I lost my teeth to a goat, i speak 5 languages, Igbo, Yoruba.

Dark and beautiful, Ghanaian actress, Jackie Appia is one of the most sought-after movie stars in her country, and Nigeria as well.

In a recent interview with BBC pidgin, Jackie went down memory lane to recall the ugly incidence that made her lose two of her lower teeth to a goat.”When I was young, I think about 5. I was brought in from Canada to Ghana. Then, I saw a goat tied onto a tree, I didn’t understand why they would tie a goat down.

So, I picked up stones and started throwing at the goats. At a point, the goat got angry, got itself off the rope and chased me. I tried to run away.

Just as I was about to go open the door to get into the house, it hit me.

I feel and lost two of my lower teeth,” she recalled.When asked the character, she would love to play in movies, the divorced mother of one who said she can speak over 5 languages including Igbo and Yoruba stated that she still looks forward to playing a Gangster role.”

I still look forward to playing that Gangster role..like Charlie Charlie, how far..”Speaking on her love for travel and adventure, Jackie said “I love to travel a lot. I love beautiful places. So far, I have traveled to over 100 countries. And had different adventures.

Zip lining was the highest risk I have taken during adventure. The video went viral. I cried.”On what inspires her and what people love and admire about her body, the talented thespian said:

“My son and my mum inspires. I also get inspirations from traffic. I see people see a lot of people hawking in traffic and I wish I could do the same.On what people love and admire about my body, I think my smile and eyes.The way I roll my eyes and my charming smile get people attracted to me.”

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/jackie-appia-i-lost-my-teeth-to-a-goat-i-speak-5-languages-igbo-yoruba/