R. Kelly’s Associate Pleads Guilty To Attempted Bribery In Ongoing Court Case

An associate of disgraced R&B singer, R. Kelly has pleaded guilty this week to trying to bribe a witness to keep her from testifying against the singer.

According to Page Six, Richard Arline Jr. attempted to silence one of the singer’s accusers with hush money.

Prosecutors said he offered the woman $500,000 on behalf of R.Kelly who is awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

“Me and another person offered Jane Doe money for her to not go forward with her complaint or testimony against Robert Kelly,” said Arline Jr. “I knew what I did was wrong.”

Arline and the witness, one of Kelly’s accusers, spoke numerous times over the phone about a potential pay out from the singer in exchange for her silence, prosecutors said.

Jane Doe told the police about the potential bribe and recorded the phone calls with Arline, according to prosecutors.

“Rob, if I had talked to Rob on the phone and Rob got the money, he gonna pay [first name of Jane Doe] to be quiet,” Arline said according to documents.

“Like if I had a way to talk to Rob, being next to him, and telling him what’s going on, without nobody listening to, no feds, nobody, he gonna pay her ass off to be quiet. She got too much. She got too much.”

Arline is one of three men charged with bribing or otherwise intimidating witnesses around the R. Kelly trial.

Kelly’s manager, Donnell Russell, allegedly threatened to spread nude photographs of another woman if she refused to back out of the trial against Kelly.

Another associate, Michael Williams is believed to have set an SUV on fire in front of the home of one of the accusers.

Kelly, 54, is accused of running a racketeering scheme that trafficked girls and women at his shows. He forced the girls to call him daddy, and did not allow them to eat or leave their rooms without his permission, prosecutors said.

SOURCE: HERALD

The U.S. envoy said on Thursday - Biden to Pursue Arms Control, Seeks to Engage China – U.S. envoy

 

The Biden administration views the New Start Treaty clinched with Russia this week as the beginning of engagement on strategic issues including multilateral arms control.

Robert Wood, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, speaking  at the U.N.sponsored Conference on Disarmament, called for new arms control that covers more weapons, and eventually more countries.

The United States will also seek to engage China on nuclear arms control and risk.

I hope that China will join us in that effort,’’ Wood said.

SOURCE: HERALD

IFRC to Vaccinate 500 Million People Against COVID-19

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is launching a plan to help vaccinate 500 million people who might be affected by inequality in coronavirus vaccine distribution, IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain said at a virtual news conference.“Our goal is ensuring equitable geographical access to the vaccines.

“Our plan is to reach 500 million people this year, 2021.

“But we will see whether we have to continue the campaign beyond 2021.

“We will adapt if we have to adapt,” he continued.IFRC secretary-general explained that the plan would be complimentary to the COVAX initiative, aimed at delivering vaccines to developing nations and led by the World Health Organisation; GAVI vaccine alliance; and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

“We will help in deliveries of the vaccines in the arms of the people who need it,” Chapagain said.

IFRC Director of Health Emanuele Capobianco added that there are already over 60 national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies that have agreements with national governments of their countries on supporting the vaccination efforts.

“We imagine this will be expanding,” Capobianco said.

SOURCE: HERALD

Biden appoints Nigerian-born Ebong as acting director USTDA

 

 United States President Joe Biden has appointed Nigerian-born Enoh Titilayo Ebong as the acting director of the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

 “The appointment meant a return to USTDA where from 2004 to 2019, Ms. Ebong had served in a variety of roles, most recently as the Agency’s General Counsel, and Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer,” USTDA said in a statement.

 “As Acting Director, Ms. Ebong leads an agency that partners with the U.S. private sector to develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in emerging economies, while supporting U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services.”

 Ebong had previously served as the head of strategic partnerships at the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream.

 She is expected to lead the agency in partnering with the country’s private sector in order to develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in emerging economies.

 “It is an honor to return to USTDA,” Ebong said.

 “The opportunity to lead the Agency comes at a critical moment when the world is turning to the United States for leadership on clean energy and climate-smart infrastructure, as well as safe and secure ICT solutions.”

 She also noted that the agency is one of the most effective, targeted and proven tools within the U.S. government.

 “I’ve longed believed in USTDA’s mission and program, which are fully aligned with the President’s vision of strengthening the country’s economy and addressing climate as an essential component of American foreign policy and national security,” Ebong said.

 Ebong grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. Her father, Ime James Ebong, was a Nigerian civil servant who served as permanent secretary.

 She practiced law at the Boston office of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris and Popeo, P.C., representing public and private companies in public offerings, financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance issues before joining the agency in 2004.

 Ebong earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School, a Master of Arts in Communication from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Arts in History, with Honors, from The University of Edinburgh, Scotland. She is a member of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bar.

She  is not the first Nigerian- American to be appointed by the US president. Adewale Adeyemo was recently announced as deputy secretary of the treasury department.

 Biden also appointed Funmi Olorunnipa Badejo into his cabinet as white house counsel, as well as Osaremen Okolo as a member of his COVID-19 response team.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER

 

COVID-19 hits Army, GOC dies...

There was panic at the venue of the botched Annual Chief of Army Staff Conference in Abuja following the reported sudden death of the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Major General Johnson Olubunmi Irefin, from COVID-19.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sagir Musa had in a statement announced the suspension of the conference over the sudden illness of the General.

The statement read: “Due to resurgence of COVID-19 in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja in what appears to be a second wave of infection cycle and the unfortunate incident on December 8, where an officer participating in the ongoing Chief of Army Staff’s Annual Conference 2020 in Abuja, tested positive for COVID 19, the remaining activities of the conference have therefore been immediately cancelled.

All the participants have been mandated to immediately proceed on self-isolation in line with the Federal Government’s protocol for COVID-19 and to prevent any further spread of the disease,” General Musa added.

It was, however, gathered that Major General Irefin who hailed from Kogi State died Thursday morning in Abuja following sudden illness The Annual Chief of Army Staff Conference which was taking place in Abuja had President Muhammadu Buhari addressing participants virtually when it kicked off a few days ago. 

SOURCE: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

NGF starts distribution of palliatives donated by R&A

To cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on players, officials, and clubs, the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) at the weekend started distributing COVID-19 palliatives donated to the country by the world golfing body, Royal & Ancient of St. Andrews, Scotland.

The distribution of the first tranche of the palliatives to golf clubs commenced at the just concluded 29th edition of the Port Harcourt Ladies Amateur Open Championship with Bonny International Golf Club (BIGC) the first to receive it.

Presenting the items, which include packs of facemasks and hand sanitisers, to BIGC Captain, Dr. Okuns Ohiosimuan, on behalf of NGF President, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola, NGF Director, Finance, Rev. (Mrs.) Omatsola Williams urged golfers to always be safety conscious.

She said, “We have to thank R&A for these palliatives; it will go round the clubs in all zones of the Federation, but we’re beginning with the South-South.

“However, this is to let us know that COVID-19 is still with us and there’s a need for us not to backslide on the safety protocols: washing of hands all the time, wearing your facemasks and social distancing, it’s very important.”

Dr. Ohiosimuan in the same vein commended NGF for being alive to its responsibilities and carrying the clubs along.

Port Harcourt Golf Club’s palliatives were received by the manager, Mr. Pennington.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris named Time ‘Person of the Year’

US President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris have been chosen as Time magazine’s 2020 “Person of the Year,” the publication announced Thursday.

The Democratic pair was chosen ahead of three other finalists: frontline health care workers and Anthony Fauci, the racial justice movement, and President Donald Trump who Biden defeated in November’s election.

Time’s magazine cover has a picture of Biden, 78, and Harris, 56, with the subtitle “Changing America’s story.”

Biden beat Trump by 306 electoral college votes to Trump’s 232 to end the real estate tycoon turned politician’s presidency after one term.

Biden received roughly seven million more votes than his Republican adversary, who is yet to concede, claiming widespread fraud of which there is no evidence.

Time magazine’s award — handed out annually since 1927 — honours the person or people who most impacted the news, for better or worse, during the calendar year.

Earlier Thursday, Time named basketball superstar LeBron James Athlete of the Year for his achievements on and off the court.

The 35-year-old Los Angeles Lakers player was honoured for battling voter suppression among Black citizens in a year when he won his fourth NBA title.

K-Pop sensation BTS was named Entertainer of the Year.

Teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg was Time’s Person of the Year last year, while Trump won in 2016.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN