North Korea said on Sunday that it had detained another American citizen for “hostile acts” against the country. According to North Korea’s official news agency KCNA, Kim Hak Song, who was working at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, was detained on Saturday. If confirmed, he is the fourth American currently being held by the DPRK. Kim Sang Dok, an American who was a visiting professor at the university, was detained late last month under similar circumstances. The detentions come as tensions between the U.S. and North Korea are mounting over the north’s acceleration of its nuclear weapons program.
At least 50,000 people in the German city of Hannover were evacuated after the discovery of five World War II bombs. In 1943, Hannover was bombed by allied forces, killing more than 1,250 people and displacing 250,000 others. Evacuations due to bomb discoveries are rare in Germany, and Sunday’s evacuation was the second-largest ever, behind last year’s evacuation of 54,000 people in Augsburg. On Sunday, Hannover set up recreational events on Sunday in order to help residents pass the time, and food was provided.
*Steven Seagal Banned from Ukraine
American actor Steven Seagal has been banned from Ukraine for five years after being deemed a national security threat. The Ukraine security services said in a letter that Seagal has “committed socially dangerous actions … that contradict the interests of maintaining Ukraine’s security.” The declaration likely stems from Seagal’s praise of the Kremlin and his friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has won Seagal’s support on his actions such as the annexation of Crimea, a move that was decried by the international community. Seagal supported Donald Trump in last year’s election, and he was granted Russian citizenship and a Russian passport recently in a highly publicized ceremony.
*French Voters Head to the Polls in Runoff Presidential Election
French voters are heading to the polls on Sunday in the country’s presidential election, choosing between far-right nationalist Marine Le Pen and liberal centrist Emmanuel Macron. Sunday’s vote is a runoff between the top two candidates from the country’s hotly contested first round of elections. Le Pen is an anti-immigrant populist who has said she would attempt to take France out of the Eurozone and the European Union, while Macron has campaigned on a pro-EU platform and garnered the endorsement of former U.S. President Barack Obama. Macron’s campaign announced before a blackout on campaigning late Friday that it had been hacked, and that emails were posted anonymously online. Amid security concerns, as many as 50,000 French police officers have been deployed nationwide to ensure safety.
*LBN-INTEL FOR INFLUENCERS
*‘Always Dreaming’ Wins Kentucky Derby
The horse dubbed Always Dreaming won the 143rd Kentucky Derby race on Saturday. “We have had a great relationship for a long time now, and we have won a lot of races together. This is the one we wanted to win together,” trainer Todd Pletchersaid of the horse’s jockey, John Velazquez. Always Dreaming had the best odds going into the race, marking the fifth year in a row that the horse with the best odds was victorious. The long-shot horses Lookin At Lee and Battle of Midway placed second and third, respectively. “This is the best horse Todd and I have ever come to the Kentucky Derby with,” Velazquez said. “Being behind me for 24 years together, a long time for him to still trust in me and give me the opportunity, it’s not very often it happens in this business.”
*LBN-SITE OF THE DAY:
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
“Test your knowledge! Can you identify geographic features viewed from space? Each year, in honor of Geography Awareness Week, the National Air and Space Museum hosts the Geography From Space quiz.”
*LBN-VIDEO LINK: The revealing TV interview show — “Without Notes” with M. Zuhdi Jasser M.D. – Episode 2: The American Dream ——
| *LBN-THOUGHT OF THE DAY: “A change in perspective is worth 80 IQ points.” – Alan Kay |
*LBN-A DIFFERENT VIEW
*LBN-NOTICED: Famed Rock n’ Roll photographer Jimmy Steinfeld having dinner at The Tavern in Brentwood
LBN E-Lert Edited By Dan Gaylord
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