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The trial of US R&B singer, R. Kelly started at a court in Brooklyn, New York on Wednesday, August 18, and details have started pouring in over what transpired during the hearing . The 'i believe I can fly' hitmaker is accused of racketeering, sexual abuse and bribery; charges which he has repeatedly denied but could spend decades in jail if he is found guilty by the jury. Some of the allegations made against the singer date back more than 20 years. Kelly faces charges that he was the ringleader of a two-decade-long scheme where he recruited women and underage girls for sex.  Prosecutors described Mr Kelly as "a man who used lies, manipulation, threats and physical abuse to dominate his victims and to avoid accountability for years". "This case is about a predator," Assistant US Attorney Maria Melendez said in her opening statement. "This case is not about a celebrity who likes to party a lot." The first witness during the hearing, ...

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested nine suspected members of a dreaded cult group, Eye Confraternity.  The State Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko, who paraded the suspects at the police headquarters at Eleyele, Ibadan on Wednesday, August 18, said they were arrested after the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Atiba Division got information that some cultists were gathering to do handing-over and initiation of some new members. The suspects were identified as Ayinde Kehinde (23), Bolaji Owodunni (27), Adedeji Abdullahi (23), Folaranmi Babatunde (26), Omiwinde Oyekunle (19), Olayemi Quadri (23), Olafemi Oyewole (33), Olamide Joshua (21) and Toheeb Bello (25). It was gathered that the cultists, in a large number, had moved to a forest at Oroki area of the town to do the handover ceremony when they were arrested on August 14 at almost 12 midnight, while others were nabbed at a place in the early hours of August 15 after a raid.  "We swung into action ...

Former Chelsea star, Pedro has left Roma in order to join fierce rivals, Lazio, on a free transfer after just one season. The former Spain International was surplus to requirements by new Roma boss José Mourinho, who was appointed in May. The Portuguese coach froze the ex-Barcelona man out of the first team and did not include him as one of his players for preseason. Following Mourinho's decision, the attacker accepted the option to join city rivals Lazio, where he reunites with his former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri. Pedro underwent his medical with the Biancocelesti this afternoon at the Paideia Clinic and penned a two-year contract with the club. He was also presented with the number nine shirt.

A small wildfire swept through a mobile home park, leaving dozens of homes in ashes, the latest in a series of explosive blazes propelled by gusts that have torn through Northern California mountains and forests. The drought-parched region was expected to see red flag warnings for dangerously high winds and hot, dry weather through Thursday. Those conditions have fed a dozen uncontrolled wildfires, including the month-old Dixie Fire and the nearby Caldor Fire in the northern Sierra Nevada that incinerated much of the small rural towns of Greenville and Grizzly Flats.  No deaths have been reported despite the speed and damage of the blazes. On Wednesday, a grass fire driven by winds up to 30 mph (48 kilometers per hour) destroyed dozens of mobile homes in Lake County and injured at least one resident before firefighters stopped its progress, fire officials said at an evening briefing. Rows of homes were destroyed on at least two blocks and television footage showed cre...

The Taliban met with former Afghan President Hamid Karzai Wednesday to discuss setting up a government. Taliban commander Anas Haqqani, a senior leader of the Haqqani Network – a militant Taliban faction that overtook Kabul Sunday – sat down with the former leader. Karzai, the dominant political figure in Afghanistan following the 2001 US invasion, was accompanied by his former government’s main peace envoy, Abdullah Abdullah, according to a Taliban official who declined to be identified.  The former president, who served as leader from 2001 to 2014, was stepping up to promote a peaceful transfer of power after President Ashraf Ghani abandoned his post and fled to the United Arab Emirates amid the resurgent Taliban takeover.

A Brazilian Bishop has resigned days after a video of him allegedly masturbating on a video call went viral. The Vatican announced that Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Tomé Ferreira da Silva, 60, of Sao Jose de Rio Preto, who confirmed to a local newspaper Diario da Regiao that it was, in fact, him in the video, but provided no additional comment. The bishop has been subject to other Vatican investigations — including covering up reports of sexual abuse and many in his diocese have petitioned for his removal since 2014. In 2015, the Vatican launched an investigation into alleged embezzlement and having a romantic relationship with his driver. In 2018, the Vatican opened an investigation into s.e.xual abuses in Ferreira’s diocese, including allegations he covered up some accusations. The Vatican also investigated da Silva’s reported relationship with an adolescent male, with whom he’d exchanged explicit sexual messages. “We had already signed another petitio...

Reality TV star, Vee Iye, turns 25 today August 19, and her boyfriend, Neo Akpofure, has taken to his Instagram page to celebrate her, promising to ride with her forever. Neo shared loved up photos of them with the caption;   ''Words can’t explain, feelings may not fully express, but give me forever and I will ride it with you. Happy 25 London Girl Vee and Neo met during the BBNaija ''Lockdown'' Edition and have remained lovers outside the house. See another photo he shared below    

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has charged a dean in the University of Calabar, Prof. Francisca Ime Bassey, to court over her alleged involvement in a contract fraud of ₦20.6 million. Prof. Bassey, who is the Dean and Director of the Pre-Degree Programme of the university, was arraigned on Wednesday at the Cross River State High Court Six, Calabar, by the Commission for allegedly holding private interests in multiple contracts awarded by the school to four companies directly owned by her. The Commission, in 10 counts filed before Justice Elias O. Abua, noted that the alleged crime happened between 2013 and 2017 and violated Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.   The charge sheet revealed that Prof. Bassey at different times benefited from a series of contracts totaling ₦20,679,324.63 awarded to Bakuf Ventures, Rivet Investment Nigeria Ltd, Joebas Enterprises, and Arumo Nigeria Ltd. ...

Romelu Lukaku has taken the No 9 shirt at Chelsea following his £97.5m move from Inter Milan. The Belgium international takes the vacant shirt number following Tammy Abraham’s move to Roma for £34m. And the 28-year-old is ready to start for Thomas Tuchel’s side in the Premier League this weekend against Arsenal. “I’ve got the No 9 yes,” Lukaku confirmed. “I’m very happy and fortunate to be in this situation.” Lukaku then confirmed his condition ahead of this weekend’s game, informing fans that he is ready after participating in pre-season with Inter Milan. “Yes I’ve been training,” Lukaku said at his unveiling press conference when asked if he can start this weekend.     “I did a full pre-season, now I try to get my teammates better, at the end of the day I’m available for the manager if he wants me.” Lukaku admitted that Didier Drogba’s influence helped ahead of his return to Stamford Bridge.   “He kept it really simple, very happy about the improvements I ...

Comedian, AY Makun, is celebrating his 50th birthday today August 19. He shared lovely new photos of himself on his page to mark the day. Happy Birthday to him. More photos below..  

Former Afghan president Ashraf Ghani has finally broken his silence after leaving his country to escape the Taliban militants. Ghani ran for his life as Taliban forces entered Kabul on Sunday, August 15.  Speaking from exile today, in his first public comment since it was confirmed he is in the United Arab Emirates, Ghani said he had left Kabul to prevent bloodshed and denied reports he took large sums of money with him as he departed the presidential palace. 'What had happened 25 years ago in Afghanistan was going to take place again. That was something that needed to be avoided, a shameful development like that,'  Ghani said in a video streamed on Facebook on Wednesday, his first public comments since it was confirmed he was in the UAE.  'The dignity of Afghanistan was important for me, and that was to be ensured, so I had to leave Afghanistan in order to present bloodshed, in order to make sure that a huge disaster (was) prevented.' He said: 'When it c...

One of the housemates of the ongoing Big Brother Naija Season 6, BBNaija ‘Shine Ya Eyes’, Angel, has disclosed her preference for group sex. Angel who revealed this to another housemate, Boma Akpore, stated that she likes being watched while having sex. The housemate stated this while discussing with Boma during their stay in the executive lounge Wednesday night.   “If I wanted to do that, I’ll do that where I’m comfortable. I mean I like being watched, like one person at most. I like being watched when I’m having sex,” she said. Boma, who is the current deputy head of house, had picked Angel to be with him in the executive lounge after discovering the opening of the lounge.  While the discussion was going on, Big Brother told the two housemates to leave the executive lounge.

The first rescue mission by the UK government carrying Afghan evacuees has landed safely in the UK after escaping the Taliban even as thousands remain trapped in Kabul and fearing for their lives. The Royal Airforce plane, which also carried stranded Brits, touched down in Brize Norton in Oxfordshire early Wednesday morning .     People were pictured peeping through the plane windows and giving photographers on the tarmac below a thumbs-ups before disembarking the Voyager A330 aircraft.   The UK government say troops are rushing to evacuate around 6,000 people from Afghanistan. UK Ministers on Monday announced plans to help Afghans fleeing the Taliban by giving some 20,000 refugees sanctuary in the UK over the coming years.  The first flight of British nationals and embassy staff arrived at the base on Sunday night, and more flights carrying Afghan interpreters and other eligible locals are expected in the coming days. Royal Navy Vice Admiral Sir Be...

OAP Tolu Oniru-Demuren aka Toolz has shown off her bikini body in new photos posted on Instagram.  The mother of two is currently vacationing with her husband, Tunde and their children in Dominican Republic.   

The trial of R&B singer R. Kelly, full names Robert Sylvester Kelly, 54, has begun at a court in Brooklyn, New York.   Opening statements were delivered to a jury of seven men and five women on Wednesday afternoon, August 18. The jury will decide the Kelly's fate. The multiple Grammy award winning singer, songwriter and producer is accused of racketeering, sexual abuse and bribery; charges which he has repeatedly denied.     Some of the allegations made against the singer date back more than 20 years.   Kelly faces charges that he was the ringleader of a scheme for twenty years where he recruited women and underage girls for sex.   "This case is about a predator," Assistant US Attorney Maria Melendez said in her opening statement. "This case is not about a celebrity who likes to party a lot."  She described Kelly as "a man who used lies, manipulation, threats and physical abuse to dominate his victims and to avoid accountability for ye...