July 2020 – Page 95

DAILY UPDATE

Latest News

Fight Club: PRO International Tekkers results: Satomura loses title
Kyle O’Reilly to challenge for EVOLVE title in New York City
Quarterfinal matches set for New Japan Cup
MLW Fusion results: Hart Foundation vs. The Dynasty
New Japan Cup night eight results: Minoru Suzuki vs. SANADA
ROH World title ladder match added to G1 Supercard
Title change at ROH TV tapings in Las Vegas
NXT Ocala, FL, live results: Samuel Shaw debuts
Young Bucks win AAA Tag Team titles at Rey de Reyes

Latest Audio

WOR: Young Bucks, Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Kota Ibushi, UFC on ESPN+ 5 3/17
Left My Wallet: Wrestling stories with ‘The Grappler’ Len Denton 3/16
WOR: ROH 17th Anniversary Show, Ronda vs. Becky, New Japan Cup 3/16

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: WWE’s road to Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch

Though the road getting here was as convoluted as possible, WWE has finally confirmed Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch for WrestleMania 35.

Storyline suspensions, injuries, and even an “arrest” for Lynch, the McMahons getting involved and Vince replacing Lynch with Charlotte, Charlotte fully turning heel and Rousey turning against the crowd, and dozens of tweets all led to Lynch facing Charlotte at Fastlane. The stipulation was that if Lynch won, the Raw Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania would officially become a triple threat.

WON NEWSLETTER: March 18, 2019 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2018 Observer Newsletter Awards

One of the two biggest issues of the year, the awards issue, is out right now.

The awards issue contains not only the award winners, but also top placeholders in every category and an all-time history of award winners dating back to 1980.

Have a look at the career and life of Dick “The Destroyer” Beyer, from football to college wrestling to TV stardom in Japan to teaching school. It’s really an amazing story of one of the first Americans to become a TV celebrity in Japan and the greatest American masked wrestler of all-time.

Read full coverage of the road to WrestleMania with most of the card as well as full coverage of Fastlane with a match-by-match rundown with star ratings, poll results and business notes.

Look at SummerSlam tickets, WWE creative, Bruce Prichard, Jeff Jarrett, AEW vs. WWE, Takeover Brooklyn’s complete card, newcomers to WWE this week, Dwayne Johnson award, Harlem Heat Hall of Fame notes, WrestleMania 2020 week updates, new WWE hire, WWE ticket sales, WWE stock price, most watched shows of the past week no the WWE Network plus notes from all the weekend house shows with results, angles and business.

This issue has updated coverage of the New Japan Cup, with this week’s shows, a rundown of every match so far in the tournament and an updated look at the brackets.

ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].

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If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell,CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bob Armstrong, 79, had what was billed as his final match as a wrestler last night in Pensacola, FL. This was Armstrong’s 59th year as a pro wrestler. All of his family was there including son Brian (Road Dogg),who introduced him. He even had a great granddaughter at the show.

Matt Hardy starts back on the road with WWE tonight in Peoria. He will be teaming with brother Jeff on the Smackdown brand. They are also teaming in Rockford tomorrow night.

Everything you ever wanted to know about Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame voting can be found here.

The backstage brawl with Jorge Masvidal and Leon Edwards after the UFC London show.

WWE
Jerry Lawler was mentioned in today’s Dick Tracy comic strip (thanks to Sandy Krebs)
Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins will be doing a WrestleMania week podcast at the Create a Pro Wrestler Academy in Hicksville,NY at 10 p.m. There will be at least two WWE wrestlers as surprise guests.
UFC
A reporter ripping on yesterday’s UFC show in doing an article right out of 1995 here (thanks to Lee Wall)
MISCELLANEOUS
AAW from last night in Chicago before a sellout 550 fans: Laynie Luck b Evil Sierra, Garvin Quinn & Juntai b Xavier Walker & Palmer Cruise, Project MONIX b Danhausen, Ace Austin won over Hakim Zane, Gringo Loco and Joey Lynch, Fatu (managed by Armando Estrada) b Clayton Gainz, Kimber Lee won six-way over Paco, Larry D, Sterling Regal, Logan Regal and Nate Webb, Fred Yehi b Eddie Edwards, Jimmy Jacobs b Mance Warner, Myron Reed & Juventud Guerrera b Chuck Taylor & Trent Baretta, Ace Romero b Moose, Sami Callihan b Jake Something to keep the AAW title, Jessicka Havok b Kyle Rae to win the AAW women’s title. Next show is 4/12 at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park, IL with LAX vs. Penta 0M & Rey Fenix and Darby Allin vs Sammy Guevara
Warrior Wrestling from Friday night in Chicago Heights, IL: Ace Austin won six-way over Rich Swann, Isaias Velazquez, Gringo Loco, Andrew Everett and Bryce Benjamin, Robert Anthony b Brian Pillman Jr.,Wardlow b Moose, Britt Baker b Kylie Rae-DQ, Eddie Edwards b Austin Aries-DQ, Shane Sabre & Space Monkey won over Matt Knicks & Chris Castro and Swoggle & Kongo Kong, Sammy Guevara b DJZ, L.A. Park b Sam Adonis, Jordynne Grace b Lisa Marie Varon to keep the Progress women’s title, Brian Cage won four-way over Dezmond Xavier, Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz to keep the Warrior title. (thanks to Shannon Walsh and Wrestling with Demons)
This was Everett’s last show as he’s about to undergo knee surgery.
PCW Grand Slam from yesterday in Melbourne before 2,093 fans: Edward Dusk b Danny Psycho, Jamie Durden & Royce Chambers b Tommy Hellfire & Rocco, Trikki b Cass Stone, Daniel Swagger b Nate Cross in a street fight, Charlie Matthews won Rumble, Mark Kage b Nate Cross, Wait & Syd Parker & Erika Reid b Ryan Rapid & Sammy Falcon & Ayesha to win the tag titles in a TLC match (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
Melbourne Championship Wrestling from last night in Melbourne before 700 fans: JK Moody b Taylor King, Lochy Hendricks b Fun Time Phil, Robbie Eagles b Ritchie Taylor, Brat Pack won TLC match over The Loose and The Wreckless to win tag titles, DCT b Mike Burr, Avary won three-way over Kellyanne and Indi Hartwell, Slex b Gino Gambino to win MCW title. Crowd went nuts for the title change. The TLC match had crazy bumps. Eagles vs. Taylor said to be ****1/4. (thanks to Kevin Chiat and David Roughton)
Shine results from yesterday in Queens, NY: Champion Allysin Kay missed the show due to flight issues. Thunder Rosa & Holidead b Gabby Gilbert & Luscious Latasha-COR, Shotzi Blackheart b Stormie Lee, Brandi Lauren won three-way over Allie Recks and Riley Shepard, AJ Perera & Aerial Monroe b Kiera Hogan & Dementia D’Rose so Hogan and D’Rose must leave Shine for 90 days, Ivelisse won four-way to become top contender for the title over Mercedes Martinez, Su Yung and Priscilla Kelly (thanks to Shannon Walsh and Wrestling with Demons.com.
Southern Championship Wrestling last night in Longwood, FL (Morgan is Deputy Mayor of Longwood): Chasyn Race b Jarrett Diaz, Cisco Sucio & Remi Danitao b Jake Shadows & Ali Mohammed, Gorilla Blanco b Chris Ramirez, Amber Nova & Sofia Castillo b Kaci Lennox & Layne Rosario, Mike Reed b Austin Gunn, Matt Morgan & Deon James b Chico Adams & Braydon Knight..
Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling from last night in East Carondelet, IL: Jake Prater b Rockin Rivera, Gary Jackson b Big Texan, Curtis Wylde b Keith Smith Jr., Christopher Hargas b Khayman, Ricky Cruz & Gil Rogers DCOR Kowalski & Attila Khan, Ken Kasa b Flash Flanagan, Superstar Steve Fender b Billy McNeil (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
Penta 0M & Rey Fenix vs. Dragon Lee & Rush from Fort Worth on 2/22
Friday night’s IPW TV show from Fight Network UK is now available to view for free worldwide. The main event is an all-British three way for the IPW World title between defending champion Mark Haskins, Kip Sabian and the returning Pac. Given the politics of wrestling at the moment, with Haskins signed to ROH and the other two now with AEW, this will probably be the last time we see these three men in the same ring at the same time.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Wrestlemania XX

Ed in San Antonio presents the WRESTLEMANIA Weekend Events (more to be added):

Saturday, April 6th, at 12:00 pm: Lunch (all you can eat) at Churrascaria Plataforma ($90 per person), located at 316 W. 49th street in Manhattan. Purchase tickets here~!
Luxury Bus to MetLife Stadium for Wrestlemania: We will depart from the Hilton Midtown (site of Wrestlecon) located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas. Departure time is 4:00 pm and will return from MetLife approximately 30 mins after the event. Times are subject to change, and cost $67.00 per person for the round trip. Purchase tickets here~!

CONTACT INFORMATION

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Support the Empire~! with F4W shirts. Grab yours today!

Political operatives working for Benjamin Netanyahu’s party have boasted that they drove down voter turnout among Arab-Israelis by illegally hiding 1,300 cameras inside Arab polling stations.

Israeli police intervened in the middle of Tuesday’s election after it emerged that volunteers for Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party were monitoring Arab polling stations with hidden cameras attached to their clothing.

Israeli election forbids filming inside polling stations and police confiscated the cameras. Mr Netanyahu defended the use of hidden cameras as an effort to combat voter fraud in Arab areas.

Arab and Left-wing political parties said the cameras had deterred Arab voters from turning out because they were intimidated. Overall Arab turnout was at 50 per cent, down from 63 per cent in the 2015 election.

The heads of Kaizler Inbar, an Israeli PR firm, wrote on Facebook that they were behind the hidden camera operation and boasted “the percentage of [Arab] voters dropped to 50%, the lowest seen in recent years”.

An Israeli PR firm just posted that they were behind the hidden cameras in Arab polling stations. They boasted: "the percentage of [Arab] voters dropped to 50%, the lowest seen in recent years!"

The operatives seem to have been w/ Netanyahus last night. https://t.co/axwn6cnegc pic.twitter.com/ap63znQkfI

— Raf Sanchez (@rafsanchez) April 10, 2019

A photograph alongside the post appeared to show the PR firm’s leaders with Mr Netanyahu and his wife on election night.

The low Arab turnout helped propel Israel’s Right-wing to victory.

Mr Netanyahu made antagonising Israel’s Arab citizens a part of his election campaign. He said at one point that Israel is “not a state of all its citizens” but only a nation state of the Jewish people.

The comments led to a rebuke from Reuven Rivlin, Israel’s president, who condemned the “entirely unacceptable remarks about the Arab citizens of Israel”.

On the day of the 2015 Israeli election, Mr Netanyahu infamously warned that Arab voters were coming to the polls “in droves”. His comment was criticised by the White House and he later apologised.

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It seems more likely that Arab turnout was low this year because of frustration with Arab political parties, rather than fear of Likud’s hidden cameras.

Many Arab voters were frustrated when the Joint List, a coalition of all the Arab parties, broke apart after a bout of political infighting.

“All of the Arab parties are hopeless and nobody deserves my vote,” said Hamzeh Sahleh, a 47-year-old resident of Tamra, an Arab city in northern Israel.

The Arab parties appear to have won only 10 parliamentary seats in this election compared to 13 seats in the last election.

DAILY UPDATE

Latest News

Four matches announced for ROH State of the Art TV tapings
WWE confirms Nikki Cross for women’s MITB ladder match
Austin Aries vs. Adam Brooks set for MLW Fury Road
ROH announces Summer Supercard for Toronto
Report: WWE agrees to UK TV deal with BT Sport
Ric Flair undergoes scheduled surgery, medical status unclear
Alexa Bliss pulled from WWE Money in the Bank match
NJPW Best of the Super Juniors night four results: Ospreay vs. Romero

Latest Audio

WOL: Ric Flair, AEW TV money, Dave Meltzer, tons more! 5/16
WOR: AEW TV deal, Lars Sullivan, ratings, Money in the Bank, more! 5/16
F4D: Smackdown, weekend update, PRIME, surprise announcement, more! 5/15

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Goldberg vs. Undertaker set for WWE’s return to Saudi Arabia

With less than a month until the show, WWE has revealed the name and announced the first three matches for their return to Saudi Arabia.

The third show in WWE’s controversy-filled 10-year deal with the Saudi General Sports Authority will take place at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah on Friday, June 7. It will air live on the WWE Network and is titled “WWE Super ShowDown,” which is the same name the company used for their event in Melbourne, Australia last October.

WON NEWSLETTER: May 20, 2019 Observer Newsletter: AEW announces TV deal with TNT

A look at the new AEW television deal with TNT and other aspects of starting up is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Look at the detail of the two nights being considered and the arguments for each night, international television, streaming, why the price is what it is, and how long talks have been going on for the TNT deal.

Read a lengthy bio on Silver King, a breakdown of what happened in the ring when he passed away and what lessons can be learned by it. Look at the start of his career, and his going to All Japan as a teenager.

Read the updates on the next two WWE PPV shows.

Read a detailed article on Lars Sullivan, from his background, to his fine, to the questions asked, to what got him in trouble, why he was fined now, why he wasn’t before and a lot of the questions regarding all this.

Also look at changes to WWE Network, Vince McMahon talks the move to FOX, WWE gets award nominations, tons of new news on the XFL, what happens to Vince McMahon when the XFL starts, why Percy Watson left the company, and an update on the Mauro Ranallo’s situation.

Have a look at the legend of Tom Magee, the match with Bret Hart and the WWE documentary.

Read complete coverage of UFC 237 with match-by-match coverage and poll results.

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE

People are raving about today’s Will Ospreay vs. Rocky Romero match in the Best of the Super Juniors tournament.

There is some interest on the Bellator side in WWE’s Jack Gallagher. No deal has been reached but there is talk.

The Kazuchika Okada vs. Seiya Sanada IWGP title match from Dontaku in Fukuoka will air tomorrow night on AXS TV.

Arisa Hoshiki beat Momo Watanabe today to win the Wonder of Stardom title at today’s show at Korakuen Hall. Results were: Natsuko Tora & Andras Miyagi won three-way over Leo Onozaki & Hina and Starlight Kid & Hanan, Death Yama San won three-way over Natsu Sumire and Saya Iida, Toni Storm d Kagetsu 15:00, Hana Kimura & Jungle Kyona & Konami b Mayu Iwatani & Tam Nakano & Saki Kashima to win the Artist of Stardom trios titles, Bea Prietley b Hazuki to keep the World of Stardom title, Hoshiki b Watanabe. (thanks to Shannon Walsh and wrestlingwithdemons.net)

WWE
Dolph Ziggler will be appearing at the Oz Comic Con in Melbourne, Australia on 6/8 and 6/9.
Nikki & Brie Bella will be at the Wine and Food Experience at Cincinnati’s Riverfront on 10/5. (thanks to Brian Henke)

UFC
After Markus Perez pulled out of his fight with Deron Winn on 7/22 in Greenville, SC, UFC inked Bruno Silva as Winn’s next opponent.
MISCELLANEOUS
CMLL will have a somewhat major show on 5/31 with hair vs. hair matches with both Kaho Kobayashi vs. Amapola and Ultimo Guerrero vs. Mascara Ano 2000.
DAWG on 5/25 in Glassboro, NJ at the Max Fit Sports Center.
Joey Ryan vs. Indi Hartwell has been added to the 6/21 World Series Wrestling show in Melbourne, Australia. Pentagon Jr. & Fenix vs. Flip Gordon & Brian Cage was announced for the 6/22 show.
Combate Americas announced a 6/21 show on Univision from Hidalgo, TX and the State Farm Arena headlined by Enrique Gonzalez (7-3) vs. Alejandro Martinez (4-3) in a 150 pound fight.
Former UFC fighter Joe Riggs makes his pro boxing debut on 5/23 on a Roy Jones Jr. show on 5/23 from Tucson, AZ at the Casino del Sol AVA Amphitheater. Riggs, out of Phoenix, face David Damore (1-6-3) of Glendale in a four-round fight. The show will air on UFC Fight Pass.
AAW on 5/31 in Austin, TX at the Blue Genie Art Bazaar has Jessicka Havok vs. Priscilla Kelly for the AAW title, Eddie Kingston vs. Mance Warner, Pentagon Jr. & Fenix vs. Davey Vega & Mat Fitchett and Ace Romero vs. Ryan Davidson, plus Sami Callihan, Jake Something, Juventud Guerrera, Thunder Rosa, Josh Alexander, Myron Reed, Jimmy Jacob and more.
AWS announced that they will be shutting down with their final show on 11/30 at the American Legion Hall in South Gate, CA.
CWE on Saturday night in Keeseekoose First Nation, Saskatchewan at the Keeseekoose School.
An interview with New Japan’s Michael Craven.
A story on former WWE heel referee/wrestler Danny Davis.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Verne Gagne wins AWA World Title from Mad Dog Vachon

F4W Empire Convention Info:

Ed in San Antonio presents PODER~! at the FSW arena on Friday 5/24 – Showtime is at noon – Main event: Bryan Alvarez vs. Logan Stunt
Empire dinner on Friday 5/24 at 8:30 p.m. at Texas de Brazil – Price is $82 – All you can eat meat and salad, sodas, tea, and coffee, plus dessert included
Empire suite party on Friday 5/24 for those who were not able to get the Q&A package – Price is $25

Purchase tickets here.

[Advertisement] You can watch the Roast of Ric Flair, a discussion with Cody & the Bucks about All Elite Wrestling, and twenty other shows for just $59 at STARRCASTonFITE.com. The package includes the live feed plus on demand with unlimited replays on any smart device, PC, etc. For the best service pre-ordering is encouraged at STARRCASTonFITE.com.

Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat, and Jim Ross are going to do a panel at Starrcast discussing their 1989 trilogy.

Cody & the Young Bucks will be doing a Q&A as part of their panel about All Elite Wrestling just 48 hours prior to Double or Nothing in Las Vegas. Starrcast will be streaming it on FITE and allowing viewers the chance to ask questions.

Arn Anderson and Sting both have panels at Starrcast on May 24th. Tony Schiavone will taking questions from fans watching at home on FITE for the Q&A portion of the show.

The Young Bucks and Joey Janela will be guests for Colt Cabana’s live Art of Wrestling show on May 24th.

Bret Hart and Tom Magee will discuss their now infamous match from 1986 with Sean Mooney on Saturday, May 25th in Las Vegas.

All of the above can be watched live or demand by pre-ordering today at STARRCASTonFITE.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Steve Bannon has used a new interview to attack the Pope over his anti-populism, as the former Trump adviser ramps up his message ahead of the European elections.

In an interview with NBC News, to be broadcast in the US on Sunday night, Mr Bannon said the Pontiff should stay out of politics.

“He’s the administrator of the church, and he’s also a politician. This is the problem,” said Mr Bannon. “He’s constantly putting all the faults in the world on the populist nationalist movement.”

The Pope’s remarks about social justice have frequently irked Mr Bannon and his ideological mindfellows, like the US president.

Pope Francis visiting Panama in January

When Pope Francis visited Mexico in February 2016 and said that building walls between countries was not Christian, Mr Trump said his remarks were “disgraceful”.

In January, asked in Panama again about Mr Trump’s border wall, the Pope replied: “It is the fear that makes us crazy.”

Mr Bannon said that the Pope’s warning about the resurgence of populist movements – two years ago he cautioned that it could lead to the election of leaders like Hitler – was misplaced.

“You can go around Europe and it’s [populism] catching fire, and the Pope is just dead wrong,” he said, in an interview with NBC News to be broadcast on Sunday.

On Saturday it emerged that Mr Bannon advised far-Right Italian politician Matteo Salvini, Italy’s interior minister, to attack the Pope over the issue of migration.

“Bannon advised Salvini himself that the actual Pope is a sort of enemy,” said an insider in the Northern League, Mr Salvini’s party.

“He suggested for sure to attack, frontally.”

Steve Bannon with France's far-Right leader, Marine Le Pen, in March 2018

After their 2016 meeting, Mr Salvini became more outspoken against the Pope, claiming that conservatives in the Vatican were on his side.

One tweet from Mr Salvini’s account, in May 2016, said: “The pope says migrants are not a danger. Whatever!

“Uncontrolled immigration, an organised and financed invasion, brings chaos and problems, not peace.”

Mr Bannon, who left the White House in August 2017, has spent much of his time in recent months attempting to spread his nationalist message throughout Europe.

His Italian base is outside of Rome, in the summer home of Pope Innocent III, the Trisulti monastery. From there he works with the Dignitatis Humanae Institute, a right-wing think tank.

But there are signs Mr Bannon’s ambitious project may not be getting off the ground. Several Right-wing leaders, including Marine Le Pen, have distanced themselves from him, and plans for a major summit have reportedly stalled.

Steve Bannon in the White House in January 2017

Mr Bannon also alleged, in his NBC interview, that Francis has mismanaged numerous sex abuse scandals roiling the church, and said the Pope was not treating the issue seriously enough.

"The Catholic Church is heading to a financial crisis that will lead to a bankruptcy," he said.

"It could actually bring down, not the theology, not the teachings, not the community of the Catholic Church, but the physical and financial apparatus of this church."

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Kim Jong-un is an “unusually bold and courageous” leader who is “a gift from heaven”, according to a new biography of the North Korean dictator.

In a close echo of the propaganda that was used to keep the North Korean people loyal to his father and grandfather when they ruled the nation, the new book, titled “Kim Jong-un: A Great Man”, says he is a master of everything that he sets his mind to.

Mr Kim has “insightful foreknowledge and scientific analytical capabilities”, the book declares, according to the Chosun Ilbo newspaper, and possesses “a heroic and manly character and disposition, proficient in all things”.

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The leader is also described as a capable equestrian, a fearless sailor and an “aggressive” tank driver who “tightly grips the control stick and pushes the steel horse like storms and gales”.

Mr Kim’s “boldness and audacity cannot be matched by any mortal”, the book gushes, adding that he is “a gift from heaven” who is also “perfect and entrancing”.

About | Kim Jong-un

Earlier propaganda had also played up the North Korean leader’s military prowess, saying he had proved to be an expert marksman from the tender age of 3 who had “demolished 10 targets one second apart”. He then wrote poetry in Chinese and has mastered no fewer than seven languages.

The propaganda continues the North’s tradition of ascribing unlikely events to its leaders and fanning their cults of personality.

Party literature claims that Kim Jong-il, the present dictator’s father, was born in a humble cabin in 1941 on the slopes of Mount Baekdu, was foretold by an unseasonal swallow, was heralded by a double rainbow and “a bright star lit up the sky”. Historians believe that he was actually born in a refugee camp in Russia.

Nevertheless, state media insist that he was able to walk at three weeks, was talking at eight weeks, wrote 1,500 books in his three years at Kim Il-sung university, from where he graduated in 1964, and penned six full operas in two years – “all of which are better than any in the history of music”, his biography proclaims.

Kim Jong-un in pictures: Bizarre photoshoots of North Korea's leader

Kim Jong-il was also a master of cinema – his work was heavily influenced by his love for “Friday the 13th” and “Rambo” – and the sporting arena. According to his biography, he first hefted a golf club in 1994, at North Korea’s only golf course, and immediately shot a 38-under par round that included no fewer than 11 holes in one.”

The release of the book coincides with Kim Jong-un being awarded a number of new titles by the Central Committee of the Workers Party and the Supreme People’s Assembly.

The new positions have been bestowed on the third member of the Kim family to rule the country since 1945 in order to shore up his standing with the North Korean people after he failed to convince President Donald Trump to ease sanctions on his regime during their summit in Hanoi in February.

The additional titles include “Supreme Representative of the People”, which has caused a degree of concern in the South as it implies that Mr Kim now sees himself as head of all the people of the Korean Peninsula and is in line with his regime’s stated ambition of reunifying the two nations, by force if necessary.

The US authorities have made their first arrest in connection with the mysterious raid on North Korea’s Madrid embassy in February when a group of assailants allegedly tied up staff and stole sensitive information.

On Thursday, federal officers arrested Christopher Ahn, a former US marine and a member of the secretive Free Joseon group, who are dedicated to overthrowing Kim Jong-un’s regime and who carried out the bold daylight assault on the embassy.

In a related development, armed agents also raided the apartment of Adrian Hong, the alleged leader of the group, also known as Cheollima Civil Defense (CCD). Mr Hong was not present at the time.

Mr Ahn appeared on Friday in a Los Angeles federal court and his case has now been sealed at the request of his lawyer. The US justice department has declined to comment.

The authorities’ action marks a dramatic turn for the shadowy group who had initially offered information from stolen electronics that included flash drives, computers and a mobile phone to the FBI after they escaped from Spain via Portugal back to the US.

North Korea experts speculated that the information could have been invaluable for intelligence gathering.

In a March 26 statement, one month after the raid, the CCD claimed that it had shared “certain information of enormous potential value” with the FBI “under mutually agreed terms of confidentiality” and that it was “shared voluntarily and on their request.”

However, it added: “Those terms appear to have been broken.”

Last week a Spanish judicial source the material had been returned by Spanish authorities to Pyongyang’s mission after being returned two weeks previously by the FBI to the Spanish court investigating the raid.

The embassy raid was carried out just days before the failed Hanoi summitCredit:
Leah Millis/Reuters

Last month, a 14-page court summary issued by Jose de la Mata, a Spanish high court judge, alleged that a group of at least ten people stormed the North Korean embassy on the afternoon of February 22, restraining and physically beating some staff while holding them hostage for hours.

The document claimed they were armed with knives, machetes, metal bars and fake pellet guns and that one diplomat had sustained “several injuries” while his assailants tried to persuade him to defect.

Spain is seeking the extradition of several members of the group.

The CCD strongly denied the accusations, issuing a statement that painted a vastly different picture of events, claiming that had “responded to an urgent situation” at the embassy and that they were “invited” into the building.

“Contrary to reports, no one was gagged or beaten. Out of respect for the host nation of Spain, no weapons were used,” they said.

The incident came at a sensitive time, just days ahead of a second summit in Hanoi between Donald Trump, the US president, and Kim Jong-un to try to resolve an impasse over nuclear disarmament.

Their talks collapsed over a disagreement about sanctions relief, leading to increased tensions in recent weeks.

Following the Spanish court statement, North Korea denounced the embassy raid as a “grave terrorist attack” and cited rumours that the FBI was partially behind the raid.

The US state department has said Washington had nothing to do with it and the CIA has also denied any involvement.

On Friday, the CCD issued a statement on its website by Lee Wolosky, Mr Hong’s lawyer.

“We are dismayed that the US Department of Justice has decided to execute warrants against US persons that derive from criminal complaints filed by the North Korean regime,” he said.

“The last US citizen who fell into the custody of the Kim regime returned home maimed from torture and did not survive,” he added, in reference to Otto Warmbier, a US student detained by the regime, who died in 2017 after returning to the US in a coma.

“We have received no assurances from the US government about the safety and security of the US nationals it is now targeting.”

A US Justice Department spokeswoman told Reuters that extradition treaties “generally provide that an individual who has been extradited to another country to face criminal charges cannot thereafter be extradited to a third country without the consent of the original country.”

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The first white man in Texas to be convicted of the murder of a black man was executed on Wednesday night, after 20 years on death row.

John William King, a 44-year-old white supremacist, was put to death in the Texas death chamber in Huntsville with a dose of pentobarbital.

He declined to give any last words, but he prepared a statement in advance, saying: “Capital Punishment: Them without the capital get the punishment.”

King, an ex-convict who had decorated his body in racist tattoos including one of a black man hanging in a noose, was convicted of the murder of 49-year-old James Byrd Jr in the town of Jasper, Texas.

King and two other white men attacked Byrd early one Sunday morning in 1998, after offering him a ride home.

John William King, who was executed on Wednesday night

The men beat him, spray-painted his face, chained him to the back of a pickup truck and dragged him to his death on an isolated back road.

Louvon Harris, a sister of Byrd’s who planned to attend the execution, said on Tuesday that King’s death by lethal injection would not compare to the way he had tortured her brother.

“He’s not going through any pain,” she said. “He’s not chained and bound and dragged on a concrete road, swinging back and forth like a sack of potatoes, with an arm coming off and being decapitated or nothing like that.

“When you look at it at that angle, I don’t have sympathy.”

Betty Boatner, a sister of James Byrd Jr., talks to the crowd during a prayer vigil at James Byrd Memorial Park in Jasper, Texas, on Wednesday

Less than a year after the killing, King became the first white man in modern Texas history to be sentenced to death for killing a black person.

One of King’s accomplices, Lawrence Russell Brewer, was handed a death sentence after King and was executed before him, in 2011.

Shawn Allen Berry, the third man involved in the killing, was spared the death penalty but is not up for parole until 2038.

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Month: July 2020

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White supremacist executed in Texas, 20 years on from black man’s torture and murder