Ozone layer: Banned CFCs traced to China say scientists.

Researchers say that they have pinpointed the main sources of a mysterious recent rise in a dangerous, ozone-destroying chemical.

CFC-11 was primarily used for home insulation but global production was due to be phased out in 2010.

But scientists have seen a big delay in the rate of depletion over the past six years.

This new study says this is mostly being caused by new gas production in eastern provinces of China.

CFC-11 is also known as trichlorofluoromethane, and is one of a number of chloroflurocarbon (CFC) chemicals that were initially developed as refrigerants during the 1930s.

However, it took many decades for scientists to discover that when CFCs break down in the atmosphere, they release chlorine atoms that are able to rapidly destroy the ozone layer which protects us from ultraviolet light. A gaping hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica was discovered in the mid 1980s.

The international community agreed the Montreal Protocol in 1987, which banned most of the offending chemicals. Recent research suggests that the hole in the Northern Hemisphere could be fully fixed by the 2030s and Antarctica by the 2060s.

CFC-11 was the second most abundant CFCs and was initially seen to be declining as expected.

However, in 2018 a team of researchers monitoring the atmosphere found that the rate of decline had slowed by about 50% after 2012.

That team reasoned that they were seeing new production of the gas, coming from East Asia. The authors of that paper argued that if the sources of new production weren't shut down, it could delay the healing of the ozone layer by a decade.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/ozone-layer-banned-cfcs-traced-to-china-say-scientists/

Panasonic 'suspends transactions' with Huawei after US ban:

Japan's Panasonic said it was halting business with Huawei to comply with United States of America restrictions, dealing a fresh blow to the Chinese telecoms firm.

Last week the United States of America country|North American nation} place Huawei on a list of firms that American companies cannot trade with unless they have a licence.

The ban applies to product having twenty five or more of US-originated materials, according to reports.

The restrictions mark an escalation in US efforts to block Huawei, which it says poses a security risk.

"Panasonic announced in [an] internal notification that it should suspend transactions with Huawei and its 68 affiliates that were banned by the US government," the firm said in a statement.

Last week the Trump administration added Huawei - the world's second largest smartphone maker - to its "entity list" which bans the company from acquiring technology from US firms without government approval.

The firm's founder Ren Zhengfei has downplayed the impact of US curbs on Huawei, but early signs suggest the fallout could be significant.

Google has barred Huawei from some updates to the Android operating system, meaning new designs of Huawei smartphones are set to lose access to some Google apps.

Japan's Softbank and KDDI have both said they will not sell Huawei's new handsets for now.

UK-based chip designer ARM told staff it must suspend business with Huawei, according to internal documents obtained by the BBC.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/panasonic-suspends-transactions-with-huawei-after-us-ban/

US border: Sixth death of migrant child in custody.

A 10-year-old girl from El Salvador died in United States of America custody last year, a previously unreported case that brings to six the number of migrant children known to have died after being detained by border authorities in eight months.

The girl had a history of congenital heart defects and died in September at a hospital in Nebraska, officials say.

Her name, when and how she had entered the United States of America has not been disclosed.

Meanwhile, Democrats have demanded an investigation into the deaths.

President Donald Trump has vowed to clamp down on illegal immigration at the US-Mexico border amid an increase in the number of people trying to cross the frontier in recent months.

He has repeatedly criticised Democrats for their opposition to his plans on immigration and declared a national emergency in February to bypass Congress and appropriate funds for a border wall.

The girl entered the care of an Office of Refugee Resettlement facility in San Antonio, Texas, in a "medically fragile" state on 4 March 2018, Mark Weber, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), said in a statement. The HHS provides care to unaccompanied minors.

Following an unspecified surgical procedure, complications left her in a comatose state, he added. After her release from hospital in May, the girl was sent to a nursing facility in Phoenix, Arizona, for palliative care.

On 26 September, she was transferred to a nursing facility in Omaha, Nebraska, to be "closer to her family", Mr Weber said. She died three days later due to "fever and respiratory distress".

Officials are not required to announce the deaths to the public. This case marks the first death of migrant child in federal custody since 2010.

Speaking to CBS News, Democratic Texas congressman Joaquin Castro accused the government of covering up the death.

"It's outrageous that another child has died in government custody and that the Trump administration didn't tell anybody," said Mr Castro, who on Tuesday spoke of an "epidemic of death" in the border area.

Writing on Twitter after the girl's death was announced, Mr Trump said: "Democrats don't want to fix the loopholes at the border. They don't want to do anything. Open borders and crime!"

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/us-border-sixth-death-of-migrant-child-in-custody/

New US $20 bill with anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman delayed:

A redesign of the $20 bill featuring anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman, due to be unveiled next year, has been postponed until 2028, the United States of America treasury secretary says.

Steven Mnuchin said the focus was on improving the banknote's security features and not changing the imagery.

Tubman's photo was due to replace that of former President Andrew Jackson, a slave owner, on the front of the note.

President Donald Trump has called the redesign "pure political correctness".

Harriett Tubman was born into slavery in the 1820s. After suffering a serious head injury, she escaped and helped to free more than 70 slaves through the "Underground Railroad", a network of anti-slavery activists and safe houses.

Speaking at a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee, Mr Mnuchin said "the primary reason" for the changes was for "counterfeiting issues", and that the department would focus on the image later.

"Based upon this, the $20 bill will now not come out until 2028. The $10 bill and the $50 bill will come out with new features beforehand," he added, declining to say whether he supported the decision to add Tubman's picture.

The proposed redesign, announced in 2016 under the Obama administrationby then-Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew after months of public debate, would see Jackson's picture going to the back of the bill.

At the time, Mr Lew said Tubman was "not just a historical figure but a role model for leadership and participation in our democracy".

Mr Trump has previously expressed admiration for Andrew Jackson and on the campaign trail in 2016 he suggested that Tubman - whom he described as "fantastic" - would be better-suited for the $2 bill, a note that is not widely circulated, or another note.

The women last depicted on US notes were former first lady Martha Washington, on the $1 silver certificate from 1891 to 1896, and Native American Pocahontas, in a group image on the $20 bill from 1865 to 1869.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/new-us-20-bill-with-anti-slavery-activist-harriet-tubman-delayed/

Theresa May faces pressure after Andrea Leadsom resigns:

Theresa may is continuing to face pressure from her own MPs to resign after one of her senior ministers quit the cupboard.

The Leader of the House, Andrea Leadsom, stepped down on Wednesday night over the PM's Brexit policy.

Several cabinet ministers have also told the BBC that the PM cannot stay in her post.

Mrs May said she was "sorry to lose someone of [Mrs Leadsom's] passion, drive and sincerity".

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday night, Mrs Leadsom said Mrs May's new Brexit plan had "elements I cannot support, that aren't Brexit".

The minister had been due to appear in the Commons on Thursday to give a business statement to MPs.

Mrs Leadsom was set to announce when the prime minister's Withdrawal Agreement Bill - the legislation needed to implement the agreement between the UK and EU - would be introduced to Parliament.

It is not clear who will take her place at the dispatch box.

On Wednesday, members of the Conservatives' backbench 1922 Committee held a secret ballot on whether to change party rules, to allow the prime minister to face a vote of no confidence immediately.

The results, in sealed envelopes, will be opened if Mrs May does not agree to stand down by 10 June.

Mrs May survived a no-confidence vote of Conservative MPs in December.Under existing rules, she cannot be challenged again until December this year

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/theresa-may-faces-pressure-after-andrea-leadsom-resigns/

Trump hits back at Democratic 'cover-up' claims:

US President Donald Trump has angrily lashed out at Democratic leaders' claims he is engaged in a "cover-up".

"I don't do cover-ups," the Republican president said in an unscheduled briefing from the White House.

His remarks came after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met fellow Democrats to discuss impeaching the president.

Mr Trump is fighting congressional inquiries by ignoring subpoenas, withholding documents and blocking testimony by current and ex-advisers.

The president spoke minutes after cutting short a planned meeting with the two top Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill.

The trio were due to discuss spending on ageing US roads and bridges, a rare possible area of agreement between the White House and its political antagonists.

But Mr Trump abruptly left the discussion with House of Representatives leader Mrs Pelosi and her Senate counterpart Chuck Schumer after barely five minutes.

The president then appeared in the Rose Garden to make a surprise statement, condemning "phoney investigations" by Democrats.

Mr Trump also charged his political opponents with "abuse" and railed against their invoking of "the big i word" - impeachment.

According to CBS News, Mr Trump walked into the meeting with Mrs Pelosi and Mr Schumer and did not shake either's hand or sit down.

An unnamed source familiar with the encounter said Mr Trump upbraided the House speaker for her "terrible" allegation earlier in the day about a cover-up.

The president demanded Democrats end their investigations against him, or he would not discuss anything else, then abruptly left the room.

Mrs Pelosi did not back down, later specifically mentioning the US constitutional process for removing a president from office.

She said at an event in Washington: "The fact is, in plain sight in the public domain, this president is obstructing justice and he's engaged in a cover-up - and that could be an impeachable offence."

At a press conference earlier with Mrs Pelosi, Mr Schumer accused Mr Trump of "running away".

"When we got in the room, the curtains were closed," the New York senator said about their brief meeting.

"There was a place for him at the front so he could stand and attempt to tell us why he wouldn't do infrastructure, and of course, then he went to the Rose Garden with prepared signs that had been printed long before our meeting."

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/trump-hits-back-at-democratic-cover-up-claims/

Tonto Dikeh: IK Ogbonna's ass is leaking as he calls her a dog.

Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh has stated that IK Ogbonna's ass is leaking, as he called her a dog who needs a bone after she threatens to beat him and other colleagues up if they beg her new man for money. 

See screenshot below:




Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/tonto-dikeh-ik-ogbonnas-ass-is-leaking-as-he-calls-her-a-dog/

Toolz Oniru reveals her favorite s*x position:

Online Air Personality, Toolz went on her Instagram to reveal her s*x position.

A fan took to her Instagram story to ask her about her favourite s*x position and she replied saying:



Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/toolz-oniru-reveals-her-favorite-sex-position/

Theresa May: PM expected to reveal departure date.

Theresa May is due to make a statement in Downing Street shortly, amid expectation she will announce the date of her departure.

Sources say they believe the PM will give a timetable for her successor to be chosen, with 10 June likely to be the start of the leadership race.

She is in Downing Street and was due to talk to the Tory backbench chairman.

She has been under pressure to resign, after a backlash by her own MPs against her latest Brexit plan.

Since January, Parliament has rejected the withdrawal agreement Mrs May negotiated with the EU three times. Recent attempts to find a formal compromise with Labour also failed.

Mrs May had planned to publish the Withdrawal Agreement Bill on Friday - the legislation required to bring the agreement into UK law - describing it as "one last chance" to deliver Brexit.

However, her proposals - including a customs union arrangement and an offer to give MPs a vote on holding another referendum - angered many Tories.

Labour said it was a "rehash" and they would not support the plans.

Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers, is meeting the prime minister on Friday morning.

It is thought she faced the possibility of further moves by Conservative MPs to instigate a vote of no confidence in her, if she did not name the date of her departure.

Andrea Leadsom quit as Commons leader on Wednesday evening saying she no longer believed the government's approach would "deliver on the referendum result".

And on Thursday, Mrs May met Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt at Downing Street, where they are understood to have expressed their concerns about the bill.

BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg says several cabinet ministers have said they expect Mrs May to announce her departure on Friday morning, although there has been no confirmation from Downing Street.

Ministers hope the campaign for the next Conservative Party leader can be finished by the end of July.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/theresa-may-pm-expected-to-reveal-departure-date/

Trump orders new powers for Attorney General's surveillance probe:

US President Donald Trump has ordered United States of America intelligence agencies to co-operate with an investigation into whether or not he was spied on during the 2016 election.

The probe, headed by attorney General William Barr, is examining the origins of the Russia investigation.

It has long been requested by Mr Trump, who often labels the inquiry into Russian interference a "witch hunt".

On Thursday he announced a directive that gave Mr Barr sweeping new powers, including to declassify documents.

Mr Barr is already subject to intense scrutiny and criticism by Democrats - who have accused him of acting on the president's behalf and not in the national interest.

The president has repeatedly suggested his campaign was spied on and accused intelligence agencies of abusing their power.

He has also said this could amount to "treason" and has suggested those involved should be criminally prosecuted.

In April, the attorney general told Congress that "spying did occur" on the Trump campaign, and said he wanted to ensure that any intelligence gathering had been legitimate.

Earlier this month Mr Barr assigned a federal prosecutor to look at the origins of the Russia investigation. Mr Trump has denied asking Mr Barr to do so.

Thursday's memorandum directs the head of intelligence agencies to "promptly provide" information to Mr Barr upon his request.

"Today's action will help ensure that all Americans learn the truth about the events that occurred, and the actions that were taken, during the last presidential election and will restore confidence in our public institutions," press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/trump-orders-new-powers-for-attorney-generals-surveillance-probe/

SpaceX puts up 60 internet satellites:

The SpaceX company has begun the roll-out of its orbiting broadband system.

A Falcon-9 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida late on Thursday, packed with 60 satellites capable of giving users on the ground high-speed connections to the internet.

Entrepreneur Elon Musk's firm aims eventually to loft nearly 12,000 spacecraft for its "Starlink" network.

SpaceX is one of several commercial outfits with permission to fly an internet mega-constellation.

Others include the UK-based start-up OneWeb, which began its roll-out in February with six operational spacecraft.

Online retailer Amazon also has ambitions in this market. It's working on a 3,200-satellite proposal known as Project Kuiper.

All the concepts envisage flying spacecraft in a low-Earth orbit less than 2,000km above the planet. This will minimise the delay, or latency, in the internet connections.

The Falcon lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 22:30 local time (02:30 GMT, Friday).

Deployment of the Starlink satellites was successfully completed just over an hour into the flight, SpaceX announced.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/spacex-puts-up-60-internet-satellites/

Viewpoint: What Assange charges could mean for press freedom

For over a decade, there has been a raging debate over precisely what Julian Assange is - whistle-blower, journalist, or spy.

Now that question will have to be answered after the united states hit him with 17 new counts under the Espionage Act for receiving and publishing information from Army Intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning.

The Trump administration has now crossed the line that many counselled it to avoid - and may have triggered the most important press freedom case in the United States of America in 300 years.

While the status of Assange has long been hotly debated, his actions in publishing classified information on Wikileaks is a common component of journalism. Indeed, the most celebrated cases in history - such as the failed attempts to stop the release of the Pentagon Papers in 1971 - were based on the publications of classified evidence.

Assange's supporters note that his publications revealed alleged war crimes in places like Afghanistan and Iraq that were unlikely to have been exposed otherwise. If it was a crime for Assange to receive and publish such information, much of the journalism in the US would become a de facto criminal enterprise.

In April, the government avoided this threshold question by charging Assange with a single count of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion. The charge related to helping Manning obtain access to defence department computers in 2010. In doing so, the justice department stayed clear of charging him as a publisher as opposed to an intruder. That is until Thursday.

The charges were brought under the controversial Espionage Act of 1917. Passed after World War One, it was used to target anti-war activists and political dissidents.

The government charged figures ranging from German-American Socialist congressman (and newspaper editor) Victor Berger to anarchist and author Emma Goldman to five-time Socialist Party presidential candidate Eugene Debs.

The law has long been denounced as unconstitutional in its criminalising of receiving and publishing classified information. It is no surprise that the justice department had to use this much-ridiculed law to achieve this ignoble goal.

Counts nine through 17 against Assange concern the publications of "national defence information." The justice department takes pains to try to argue that Assange is not a journalist and that the publication counts concern the disclosure of not just classified information but the actual names of intelligence sources. That however may establish that Assange is a poor journalist, but a journalist all the same.

If successful, the justice department would have not only the ability to prosecute but to investigate a wide array of journalists. This danger is made all the more acute in an administration headed by a president who routinely calls the press "the enemy of the people".

However, the danger did not begin with President Trump. The Obama administration used this law to conduct surveillance on mainstream journalists, including a well-regarded Fox News reporter.

The Obama administration reportedly rejected the option of a criminal charge against Assange under the Espionage Act, in recognition of the danger to press freedom. Mr Trump and Attorney General William Barr have now crossed that Rubicon.

This also comes at a particularly precarious time for journalists around the world. Reporters are being arrested and killed in increasing numbers. Some countries like China and Russia have even taken up the Trump trope of "fake news" to crack down on the press. Most vividly, Saudi Arabia's crown prince is accused of ordering the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi - yet has suffered few consequences from the Trump administration.

It is not just the "usual suspects" attacking the free press. Just this week, the French government put three journalists under criminal investigation for disclosing alleged lies by French officials on the country's role in the war in Yemen.

A couple days later a senior reporter, Ariane Chemin, at the renowned French Le Monde, was called in for questioning after revealing embarrassing details about a former bodyguard to President Emmanuel Macron.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/viewpoint-what-assange-charges-could-mean-for-press-freedom/

Harvey Weinstein 'to settle with accusers for $44m':

Disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein and his former studio's board members have reached a tentative deal with women who accuse him of s*xual misconduct, United States of America media report.

Lawyers said the settlement to resolve civil lawsuits and compensate alleged victims was worth about $44m (£34.7m).

Mr Weinstein denies s*xually harassing or abusing over 75 women.

He will stand trial in New York in June on criminal charges brought by two women, including rape.

Adam Harris, a lawyer for the studio co-founder Bob Weinstein told a judge that "an economic agreement in principle" had been reached, the Associated Press news agency reports.

He added: "I personally am very optimistic."

Mr Weinstein's team later told the Wall Street Journal that the size of the settlement would be approximately $44m.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/harvey-weinstein-to-settle-with-accusers-for-44m/

Zakir Musa: Thousands mourn India's 'most wanted' militant.

Thousands of people have attended the funeral of Zakir Musa, described as "India's most wanted" militant, who was killed in Indian-administered Kashmir.

The army said that Musa was shot dead on Thursday after they trapped him in a house in south Kashmir's Tral district.

Musa split from the Hizbul Mujahideen, one of the largest groups fighting Indian rule in Kashmir, and declared his allegiance to al-Qaeda in 2017.

His killing has already brought protests in the Muslim-majority state.

Zakir Musa, whose real name is Zakir Rashid Bhat, was a close aide of Burhan Wani, a charismatic Kashmiri militant leader, whose killing by security forces in 2016 sparked widespread protests. More than 100 civilians lost their lives during four months of clashes with security forces in the Kashmir valley that year.

Local media have said that Zakir Musa's death is the "biggest victory" for the Indian armed forces since the killing of Wani.

It is unclear how many fighters were in his Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind group.

The one-line army statement confirming his death read: "Op Dadasur (Pulwama). One terrorist killed. Terrorist identified as Zakir Musa. Weapons and warlike stores recovered. Operation over."

Correspondents say more than 10,000 people have attended Musa's funeral in Tral.

Kashmir-based journalist Sameer Yasir told the BBC that officials are braced for violence following the confirmation of Musa's death.

However, with news of the killing trickling out, unrest has already started, he says.

"Protesters have clashed with police at many places since morning. Many people shouting 'Musa Musa Zakir Musa' also gathered at the only highway that connects Srinagar with the rest of India and threw stones at forces. The police have been retaliating with tear gas shells and pellet guns," Mr Yasir added.

Mobile internet services have been suspended and a curfew imposed in the region. Schools and colleges have been asked to remain closed on Friday.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/zakir-musa-thousands-mourn-indias-most-wanted-militant/

School students walk out in global climate strike:

School students in Australia and New Zealand have gone on strike, marking the start of a worldwide day of climate change protests.

Organisers expect over one million youngsters will participate in at least 110 countries on Friday.

The protesters are calling for politicians and businesses to take action to fight climate change.

The strikes are inspired by school student Greta Thunberg who protested outside Sweden's parliament in 2018.

Carrying a "school strike for climate change" sign, the then 15-year old said she was refusing to attend classes until Swedish politicians took action.

Her example inspired various movements across Europe, the US and Australia, known as Fridays For Future or School Strike for Climate.

The last co-ordinated international protest took place on 15 March, with an estimated 1.6 million students from 125 countries walking out of school.

This Friday's protests started in Australia and New Zealand, and are expected to be picked up across Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas.

"I'm worried about all the weather disasters," Nina Pasqualini, a 13-year-old at a rally in Melbourne, told the Reuters news agency.

"Every time we have huge a bushfire here another animal might go extinct."

Australia just had its hottest summer on record and climate change is seen as the cause of the increasing frequency and severity of droughts, heat waves, floods and the melting of glaciers around the world.

In 2018, global carbon emissions hit a record high and UN-backed panel on climate change last October warned that to stabilise the climate, emissions will have to be slashed over the next 12 years.

Earlier this month, a UN report warned that one million animal and plant species were now threatened with extinction.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/school-students-walk-out-in-global-climate-strike/

Tory leadership: Matt Hancock latest candidate to enter race.

The race to become the next conservative party leader has begun, following Theresa May's announcement that she will step down next month.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock is the fifth Tory to enter the race.

He told the BBC that delivering Brexit was "mission critical" and Mrs May's successor must be more "brutally honest" about the "trade-offs" required to get a deal through Parliament.

The leadership contest will determine who is the UK's next prime minister.

Party bosses expect a new leader to be chosen by the end of July.

Mrs May confirmed on Friday that she will resign as party leader on 7 June, but will continue as PM while the leadership contest takes place.

She agreed with chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, that the process to choose a new leader should begin the week after she stands down.

Five candidates have confirmed their intention to stand:

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt
International Development Secretary Rory Stewart
Health Secretary Matt Hancock
Former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson
Former Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey
Announcing his candidacy, Mr Hancock ruled out a snap general election in order to resolve the Brexit stalemate, saying this would be "disastrous for the country" and would risk seeing the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in power "by Christmas".

Instead, he said his focus would be on getting a Brexit deal through the current Parliament and "levelling" with MPs about what this would mean for the UK.

He told Radio 4's Today programme he would be more upfront than Mrs May had been about what compromises the UK would have to make to continue to access EU markets.

"Theresa May started with a different argument," he said. "I think it is much, much easier to bring people behind a proposal if you are straight forward in advance."

He also said the party needed a "leader for the future not just for now", capable of appealing to younger voters.

"We need to move on from the horrible politics of the last three years," he said.

"We need a fresh start and a fresh face to ensure this country wins the battles of the 2020s and remains prosperous for many years to come."

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/tory-leadership-matt-hancock-latest-candidate-to-enter-race/

Trump approves $8bn Saudi weapons sale over Iran tensions.

US President Donald Trump is approving the sale of billions of dollars' worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia, citing Iranian threats to its arch-rival.

Mr Trump invoked a rarely used aspect of federal law to push through the $8bn (£6bn) deal - bypassing Congress.

He did so by declaring that ongoing tensions with Iran amounted to a national emergency.

The move has angered those who fear the weapons may be used against civilians in Yemen by Saudi-led forces.

Some Democrats accused the president of bypassing Congress because the sale of weapons - including precision-guided bombs - would have been strongly opposed on Capitol Hill.

Weapons will also reportedly be sold to the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

Members of Congress have heavily criticised Saudi Arabia's human rights record over its role in the Yemen conflict and for the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul last October.

On Friday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo notified Congress of the administration's decision to make the sale. In a letter, widely reported in US media, he said that "Iranian malign activity" required the "immediate sale" of weapons.

"[Iran's] activity poses a fundamental threat to the stability of the Middle East and to American security at home and abroad," he wrote.

He said the transfers "must occur as quickly as possible in order to deter further Iranian adventurism in the Gulf and throughout the Middle East".

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/trump-approves-8bn-saudi-weapons-sale-over-iran-tensions/

France Lyon: Police appeal after parcel bomb attack hurts 13.

French police have made an appeal for information in their hunt for a man suspected of planting a parcel bomb in Lyon, that injured 13 individuals.

The device went off outside a bakery on a busy street in the heart of the country's third-biggest city.

Those hurt, including a girl aged eight, appear to have suffered superficial injuries.

Anti-terrorist prosecutors have taken over the investigation and security has been boosted in public places.

The device, which was reportedly full of screws, nuts and bolts, exploded around 17:30 (15:30 GMT) on Victor-Hugo Street, in the historic city centre, between the Saone and Rhone rivers.

Police released a grainy image of the suspect taken from CCTV footage.

They said he was wearing a long-sleeved dark top and light-coloured shorts.

A police source told AFP news agency the suspect appeared to be about 30 and was using a black mountain bike.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/france-lyon-police-appeal-after-parcel-bomb-attack-hurts-13/

India tuition class fire kills at least 19 students:

At least nineteen students have died in a fire at a school in India, officials said.

Students were seen jumping and falling from the building in the western city of Surat as black smoke billowed from windows.

Most of the victims were teenagers who had been studying at a tuition centre.

The initial cause of the fire was not immediately clear. Officials said the blaze spread through packed classrooms because of flammable roofing.

At least 20 others sustained serious injuries and were being treated in hospital in Gujarat.

"The students lost their life both because of the fire and jumping out of the building," Deepak Sapthaley, a local fire official, told AFP.

All of the dead were aged below 20 years and many were trapped because the fire began near the staircase, Reuters reported.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences on Twitter and called for local authorities to provide assistance.

An inquiry into the incident has been ordered and a report is expected within three days, said the spokesman for the office of Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

The fire is the latest in a long line of deadly blazes in India. In February at least 17 people died in a Delhi hotel fire.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/india-tuition-class-fire-kills-at-least-19-students/

Jayme Closs case: Man gets life for murder and kidnapping.

A man in Wisconsin has been convicted of kidnapping 13-year-old Jayme Closs and killing her parents.

Jake Patterson, 21, will serve 2 life terms without parole for the murder charges and 40 years for kidnapping.

Patterson said he chose to abduct Ms Closs after seeing her board the bus to school.

She was found alive in January after escaping from the remote cabin where Patterson held her. She had been kept there against her will for 88 days.

The teenager was found by a local teacher, Jeanne Nutter, who was walking her dog. Nutter said that Ms Closs was skinny, dirty and wearing shoes too large for her feet.

Ms Nutter told the Associated Press that the girl shouted "please help me, I don't know where I am, I'm lost".

Barron County Circuit Court Judge James Babler said Patterson's crime was "most heinous and dangerous". He added that Patterson was a danger to society due to his fantasies of "taking multiple girls and killing multiple families".

According to court documents, Patterson shot Ms Closs's parents James and Denise at the family home in Barron in October 2018, before kidnapping the teenager and driving her 60 miles (97km) north of Barron to the cabin where she was held.

Ms Closs escaped from the cabin one day after Patterson had left. In a written statement, she told the court: "I watched his routine and I took back my freedom. I will always have my freedom, and he will not.

"Jake Patterson can never take away my courage. I feel like what he did was what a coward would do. I was brave, he was not. He can never take away my spirit."

Patterson's lawyers said a "lifetime of social isolation" led him to commit the crime. He told the court he wished he could "take back what I did."

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/jayme-closs-case-man-gets-life-for-murder-and-kidnapping/