More than two million people attended a Lady Gaga concert in Rio de Janeiro that allegedly contained a plot to detonate explosives.
The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro announced on Sunday that it had prevented a bombing attack planned by the suspects for the free concert being held on Saturday at Copacabana Beach.
In an operation known as “Fake Monster,” which is a reference to “Little Monsters,” the star’s favorite name for her fans, the police added that an adult “responsible for the plan” had been detained along with a teenager.
According to the report, the suspects allegedly had arranged online recruiting for “carry out attacks using improvised explosives” with the aim of “gaining notoriety on social media”. In collaboration with the Justice Ministry, police carried out raids throughout Rio de Janeiro, as well as in Sao Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, and Mato Grosso.
Authorities in Brazil’s LGBTQ community, led by Felipe Cury, the group’s secretary, said on Sunday that they believed the suspects were planning an attack “motivated by sexual orientation.”
According to Rio Police Chief Luiz Lima, the group behind the plot distributed hate speech and violent content online “in order to draw more viewers, more participants, most of whom were teenagers and many of them children.”
Even though Brazilian authorities claimed to have arrested suspects in the hours leading up to the event, the show, which Rio City Hall claimed attracted 2.1 million people, continued without incident.
The star and her team were unaware of safety concerns “previous to and during the show,” according to a Lady Gaga spokesperson, who confirmed this in a statement.
Her team collaborated closely with law enforcement throughout the course of the concert’s planning and execution, according to the statement, adding that “everyone was confident in the safety measures in place.”
5,200 military and police officers were stationed at the beach where fans could watch the pop singer’s classic hits like Born This Way, which later became an LGBTQ anthem after its 2011 release, and security at Saturday’s concert.
EXCLUSIVE: Brooklyn Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz’s absence from David Beckham’s 50th birthday celebrations was noticed as a source close to the family revealed it was a ‘real blow to David’
Brooklyn Beckham’s absence from David’s birthday was ‘real blow’ as family hope to ‘heal’
As David Beckham celebrated his 50th birthday, concerns of a feud within the family grew as eldest son, Brooklyn Beckham, and his wife Nicola Peltz failed to show up to the many celebrations. The tension between the couple and the family “escalated in recent months”, with David and Victoria hoping to heal the “obvious rift”.
Romeo Beckham stepped up at dad David’s 50th birthday bash by giving a speech in the absence of his older brother Brooklyn. The 22-year-old was seen with cue cards in his pocket as he arrived at the party alongside brother Cruz, 20, and sister Harper, 13. He told guests at the swanky Core restaurant in London’s Notting Hill: “Without many of you, he wouldn’t be half of the man he is today.”
READ MORE: Discounted Ninja outdoor oven pizza is ‘better than takeaway’ say shoppers
David Beckham celebrated his 50th birthday this week(Image: instagram.com/davidbeckham)
Manchester United and England legend David partied into the early hours of Sunday with A-list celebrities and pals from his football days. But the name he would have loved to have seen on the guest list – 26-year-old Brooklyn – was not there.David has a tattoo on his neck reading “Buster”, his affectionate nickname for his first child. But the no-show by Brooklyn and his actress wife Nicola, 30, was not a complete surprise to the guests.The divide between Brooklyn and the rest of the family has been dragging on for months, but it is still hurting David and wife Victoria, 51. One source connected to the family claimed: “Brooklyn not turning up was a real blow to David.
Brooklyn not turning up to the party was a ‘real blow to David’(Image: Instagram)
Article continues below
“Brooklyn was close with his dad growing up, but he is married now. His wife Nicola is older and confident in her own right, and so there is distance between Brooklyn and his parents. It has become a problem and not something they can keep private because of the way the family uses social media. Things have escalated in recent months, and there is a very obvious rift that David and Victoria would love to heal.”Victoria was back on social media last night with a post praising all of her children who did make the bash. Tagging Romeo, Cruz and Harper, she said: “Creating special memories with family and friends. We love you all.” Brooklyn was not mentioned.A few days earlier, David had still shown love for Brooklyn in his birthday message. In a sweet post full of throwback photos, the football legend said all four kids were his “biggest accomplishment” and “the reason I get out of bed each day”.
Romeo gave a speech at the lavish bash(Image: Victoria Beckham/Instagram)
In his speech on Saturday night, Romeo praised his dad at length, having already called him “the most amazing role model” on social media.Brooklyn and Nicola flew to London from their LA home last week. As well as David’s 50th, they also did not attend Victoria’s birthday celebrations in April, or send a public Mother’s Day message in March.Some have insisted the rift is all about Nicola’s relationship with the Beckhams, but Brooklyn has also yet to post on his own social media about his dad’s milestone. The couple did not attend family celebrations in France on Friday, nor the big party at the Beckhams’ £10million mansion in the Cotswolds on Wednesday.However, David was not short of friends and family to party with at the weekend. Other guests included actor Tom Cruise, ex-teammate Gary Neville, and TV chef Gordon Ramsay. Gary, who turned 50 in February, wrote on social media: “Happy 50th mate. You’re the best! Stand still today for once and reflect on everything you have achieved and done in these first 50 years of your life.“We’ve won, lost, laughed and cried, but had the most incredible times together. I can still see our mums and dads in the crowd. Everything you’ve done has come through humility, care and hard work. I’m proud of you and, more importantly, trust you with my life. All my love to you.”He was one of the last to leave the celebrations at around 3am on Sunday morning and appeared to have enjoyed some fine wine with David as he raised his arms aloft and played around for the camera before posing and kissing his wife Emma.Gordon Ramsay said on social media: “Fantastic night of celebrations, thanks David Beckham and Victoria Beckham”, alongside a photo with his wife Tana taken on Saturday.Other guests included director Guy Ritchie and his wife Jacqui Ainsley, actress Eva Longoria and members of David’s family such as his dad Ted, 76, mum Sandra, 75, and sisters Lynne, 52, and Joanne, 43.But there was no Buster – and with David’s birthday celebrations now over, the row has gone into extra time.
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Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.
READ MORE: Le Creuset iconic rainbow mugs below £8 in deal cheaper than Amazon Prime Day
EXCLUSIVE: Brooklyn Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz’s absence from David Beckham’s 50th birthday celebrations was noticed as a source close to the family revealed it was a ‘real blow to David’
Brooklyn Beckham’s absence from David’s birthday was ‘real blow’ as family hope to ‘heal’
As David Beckham celebrated his 50th birthday, concerns of a feud within the family grew as eldest son, Brooklyn Beckham, and his wife Nicola Peltz failed to show up to the many celebrations. The tension between the couple and the family “escalated in recent months”, with David and Victoria hoping to heal the “obvious rift”.
Romeo Beckham stepped up at dad David’s 50th birthday bash by giving a speech in the absence of his older brother Brooklyn. The 22-year-old was seen with cue cards in his pocket as he arrived at the party alongside brother Cruz, 20, and sister Harper, 13. He told guests at the swanky Core restaurant in London’s Notting Hill: “Without many of you, he wouldn’t be half of the man he is today.”
READ MORE: Discounted Ninja outdoor oven pizza is ‘better than takeaway’ say shoppers
David Beckham celebrated his 50th birthday this week(Image: instagram.com/davidbeckham)
Manchester United and England legend David partied into the early hours of Sunday with A-list celebrities and pals from his football days. But the name he would have loved to have seen on the guest list – 26-year-old Brooklyn – was not there.David has a tattoo on his neck reading “Buster”, his affectionate nickname for his first child. But the no-show by Brooklyn and his actress wife Nicola, 30, was not a complete surprise to the guests.The divide between Brooklyn and the rest of the family has been dragging on for months, but it is still hurting David and wife Victoria, 51. One source connected to the family claimed: “Brooklyn not turning up was a real blow to David.
Brooklyn not turning up to the party was a ‘real blow to David’(Image: Instagram)
Article continues below
“Brooklyn was close with his dad growing up, but he is married now. His wife Nicola is older and confident in her own right, and so there is distance between Brooklyn and his parents. It has become a problem and not something they can keep private because of the way the family uses social media. Things have escalated in recent months, and there is a very obvious rift that David and Victoria would love to heal.”Victoria was back on social media last night with a post praising all of her children who did make the bash. Tagging Romeo, Cruz and Harper, she said: “Creating special memories with family and friends. We love you all.” Brooklyn was not mentioned.A few days earlier, David had still shown love for Brooklyn in his birthday message. In a sweet post full of throwback photos, the football legend said all four kids were his “biggest accomplishment” and “the reason I get out of bed each day”.
Romeo gave a speech at the lavish bash(Image: Victoria Beckham/Instagram)
In his speech on Saturday night, Romeo praised his dad at length, having already called him “the most amazing role model” on social media.Brooklyn and Nicola flew to London from their LA home last week. As well as David’s 50th, they also did not attend Victoria’s birthday celebrations in April, or send a public Mother’s Day message in March.Some have insisted the rift is all about Nicola’s relationship with the Beckhams, but Brooklyn has also yet to post on his own social media about his dad’s milestone. The couple did not attend family celebrations in France on Friday, nor the big party at the Beckhams’ £10million mansion in the Cotswolds on Wednesday.However, David was not short of friends and family to party with at the weekend. Other guests included actor Tom Cruise, ex-teammate Gary Neville, and TV chef Gordon Ramsay. Gary, who turned 50 in February, wrote on social media: “Happy 50th mate. You’re the best! Stand still today for once and reflect on everything you have achieved and done in these first 50 years of your life.“We’ve won, lost, laughed and cried, but had the most incredible times together. I can still see our mums and dads in the crowd. Everything you’ve done has come through humility, care and hard work. I’m proud of you and, more importantly, trust you with my life. All my love to you.”He was one of the last to leave the celebrations at around 3am on Sunday morning and appeared to have enjoyed some fine wine with David as he raised his arms aloft and played around for the camera before posing and kissing his wife Emma.Gordon Ramsay said on social media: “Fantastic night of celebrations, thanks David Beckham and Victoria Beckham”, alongside a photo with his wife Tana taken on Saturday.Other guests included director Guy Ritchie and his wife Jacqui Ainsley, actress Eva Longoria and members of David’s family such as his dad Ted, 76, mum Sandra, 75, and sisters Lynne, 52, and Joanne, 43.But there was no Buster – and with David’s birthday celebrations now over, the row has gone into extra time.
Article continues below
Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.
READ MORE: Le Creuset iconic rainbow mugs below £8 in deal cheaper than Amazon Prime Day
Gary Anderson thrashed Andrew Gilding to retain his European Grand Prix title in Sindelfingen, Germany.
The Scot, 54, cruised to an 8-0 victory to become the first player to defend the title.
Gilding had comprehensively beaten his fellow Englishman Luke Woodhouse 7-3 in the semi-final, but he missed 13 double finishes and was ruthlessly punished by Anderson.
A 141 checkout saw Anderson pull 4-0 ahead and he did not drop a leg throughout the match.
Anderson’s fellow Scot Peter Wright was knocked out in the quarter-final by Gilding with a 6-1 defeat, while Luke Humphries lost 6-5 to Michael Smith in the last 16.
The Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) insists no money is missing from the student loan scheme despite claims to the contrary.
A recent report had alleged that some schools were diverting money meant for the scheme operated by NELFUND. That prompted the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to launch an investigation into the matter.
However, NELFUND’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Akintunde Sawyerr, said the fund has a clean bill of health.
“We are all looking for this so-called money. First of all, let me be very clear. No money has been stolen. The President, in his wisdom and well-intentioned programme, decided that he was going to set up the Nigeria Education Loan Fund,” Sawyerr said on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
“But let me go back and just continue to correct this misconception. No N71bn is missing,” Sawyerr insisted.
He added, “So the funds that we’ve been given are to bridge the gap for those who don’t have the money to be able to attain the education. No money is missing. No money has been stolen. There had been some issues with what happened at this phase, where human intervention comes in.”
“No money is missing. No money has been stolen. There’d be some issues with what happens at this phase, where human intervention comes in,” the NELFUND boss said.
Since the inception of the scheme, some parents and students have complained of delayed payment, and in many instances, the money has not been getting to the beneficiaries.
The NELFUND chief, however, said funds are not disbursed to the students.
“Let me correct a misconception there. There is no disbursement from the NELFUND account through the schools to the students. The NELFUND money goes to the schools for their tuition or institutional charges. The schools are supposed to give unfettered access to the students for classes.
“The schools do not disburse to the students, except in the case where the student has already paid their fees, in which case there has been a double payment,” he said.
Despite claims that the contrary, The Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) insists that no money is missing from the student loan program.  ,
According to a recent report, some schools were diverting money from the NELFUND-run program. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) launched an investigation into the matter in response to that.
Akintunde Sawyerr, the fund’s Managing Director and CEO, claimed the fund has a current health situation.
“We are all searching for this phony currency,” the statement read. Let me start by being very clear. There hasn’t been any theft. On Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Sawyerr stated that the President made the decision to establish the Nigeria Education Loan Fund in his wisdom and good intentions.
“But let me turn around and just keep correcting this misunderstanding.” No N71 billion is missing, he resisted Sawyerr.
NELFund denies allegations of corruption, and the ICPC makes a statement clear.
He continued, “The funds that we’ve been given are to bridge the gap for those who don’t have the money to get the education.” No money has been lost. There hasn’t been any theft. There were some issues with what transpired at this point, which calls for human intervention.
No money has been missing,” the statement read. There hasn’t been any theft. The NELFUND boss said there might be some issues with what transpires at this point, which would require human intervention.
Some parents and students have complained about delayed payment since the scheme’s inception, and in many cases, the funds haven’t been reaching the beneficiaries.
However, the NELFUND chief claimed that the funds are not being distributed to students.
“Let me correct that misperception here. The students are not reimbursed for the NELFUND account through the schools. The schools receive funding for their tuition or fees at the institution. The instructors are supposed to give students unrestricted access to classes.
He said, “The schools do not disburse to the students, except in cases where the student has already paid their fees, and there has been a double payment.
