World News
2013 OSCARS Red Carpet top looks!
Last Night night at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, our fave YBF celebs hit the biggest red carpet of the season. Check out the glitz, glamour, and sexiness of Halle Berry, Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Rowland, Kerry Washington, Jamie Foxx and plenty more inside at the 2013 Oscars… Let’s take a moment for this vintage perfection that is Halle Berry in a custom Versace black & silver sparkling gown. Ms. Berry revealed that, since she’s presenting in honor of the James Bond 50 year anniversary, she had Donatella Versace make her a gown to reflect her Bond days. Hot! The former Bond girl also rocked Adeler earrings and a Le Vian ring. Django Unchained star Kerry Washington had a melon-like moment on the red carpet in a coral strapless beaded bodice Miu Miu gown. As usual, she kept her hair and makeup simple and looked simply gorgeous. We wanted a bit more OOMPH..since this IS the Oscars…but she knows what works for her body and this is it. Before showing off her Fred Leighton diamond ring and Chopard earrings, she dished to E! Host Ryan Seacrest about her Oscar day routine saying, “I started today with a workout…I had to get the workout in early. I did Pilates so I feel tall and lean and strong.” She completed her look with a matching Prada clutch. Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson channeled a sexy mermaid in her navy blue high slit gown from Roberto Cavalli and Sutra opal and diamond earrings and ring. She paired the look with Giuseppe Zanotti metalic blue pumps. The singer/actress, who is performing a song from Dreamgirls tonight, dished to E! on how she chose this particular gown:
“I love it and it’s such a great pop of color on this Academy Award red carpet. Oh my God it took 3 fittings, 3 days of fittings. 3 hours each. It’s serious business to choose. My stylist cried tears of joy.”The dress and color looks great on her new bod. Jenny loves a “shocked” face doesn’t she? She brought her sister Julia along as her date for the night and spoke about working on her newest musical, Black Nativity. Kelly Rowland chose another winner after the Grammys as she hit the red carpet in this black & white stunner. She rocked this strapless exaggerated sweetheart neckline Donna Karan Atelier gown with a black skirt and high slit to show off her gams. Amazing look for her. She also hosted the red carpet for ABC alongside Kristin Chenoweth (in Tony Ward), and folks were wondering about that diamond on her left hand’s ring finger. Hmmm. Her boyfriend/manager Tim Weatherspoonalso Instagrammed a few pics of his lady backstage. Little 9-year-old Wallis kept her Armani dress very age appropriate as she’s done all awards season. The youngest nominee in Oscar history and dog lover told the story behind her cute puppy purse as well saying, “I named this one after my puppy at home, Sammy.” She said about choosing this cute dress, “I picked this because it’s sparkly and fluffy.” And since Q’s a huge Demi Lovato fan, Ryan Seacrest played video of Demi on the red carpet wishing her congrats. And she even got to catch up with Halle. We know Oscar winner Octavia Spencer loves Tadashi Shoji….but this dress is not the best choice for her. The actress has been making her rounds promoting Sensa, the new weight loss product she endorses, and she’s lost 20 pounds. But thanks to all this unnecessary tulle and fluffiness of the Tadashi dress, no one can tell. There’s so many other choices that would have been fabulous for her. But we wish she would have reserved this one for the church banquet. She accessorized her look with a Judith Leiber clutch and Lorraine Schwartz jewels.. Upcoming Nina star Zoe Saldana rocked a look that’s much talked about tonight on the red carpet: The pale lavender/white and black/grey trimmed Alexis Mabille couture gown wasn’t our fave, but she did have an ethereal look on the carpet. She’s gorgeous and it’s hard for her not to look that way regardless of what she’s wearing. The asymmetrical ruffled hem and decadent floral trim on the bust line gave the dress a punch. But maybe it’s the faux belt that gets us… Django Unchained star Jamie Foxx looked great with his John Asher stingray bowtie…but mainly due to his gorgeous 19-year-old daughter Corinne being his date for the night as usual. As Jamie was interviewed by Kelly Rowland on the carpet, who he made blush by flirting with her and revealing his crush, he dished on what he and Corinne talked about in the car on the way over:
“I was listening to my daughter talk about college and relationships. I’m always shooting movies so when we get in the car, we’re just catching up. Talking about love…you know.”Sweet! Queen Latifah was there to present and rocked a white Badgely Mischka gown. She looks good. Silver Linings Playbook star Chris Tucker hit the carpet looking clean in his look. And as for his comedy career, he’s headed back out on the road saying, “I’m going on tour and just filmed my stand up comedy movie that’s out soon. I’ve grown up over time. i talk about all that, friends and family and all that.” “Live” co-host Michael Strahan looked pretty dapper…pursed lips and all. Lincoln actress Gloria Reuben rocked an Oliver Tolentino Couture dark purple silk organza mermaid gown complete with rosette cut-outs. Correspondent Shaun Robinson looked nice as usual in her black and nude David Meister strapless gown, Mark Lash jewelry and Swarovski clutch. Robin Roberts returned to her post at ABC’s red carpet show looking stunning in a royal blue Marc Bauwer gown. And “ET” correspondent Rocsi Diaz showed off her Jean Fares Couture gown on Instagram before jetting out for the evening. Pretty. Who are your faves?! BONUS: Check out video of J-Hud running into Quvenzhané on the red carpet Sunday night and giving her some sound advice about handling the Oscars:
World News
Former US Army Servicemember, Sanda G. Frimpong Sentenced to Prison in Money Laundering Romance Scam
Sanda G. Frimpong, 33, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison and ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in restitution to victims for laundering the illicit proceeds of an elaborate series of romance scams. Frimpong pled guilty to three counts of money laundering on September 14, 2023.
“Romance scammers exploit our most vulnerable citizens, even our seniors and military veterans, sometimes leaving them financially and emotionally devastated,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “The fact that an Army servicemember was involved in romance scams while serving as a soldier is appalling. We are partnering with the Department of Defense to drum out fraudsters and money launderers like Frimpong from our military ranks and put them in prison where they belong.”
“Integrity is a core tenet of the armed forces and when servicemembers choose to compromise their integrity for greed, it tarnishes the reputation of all others serving in uniform,” stated Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “DCIS and its law enforcement partners will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold those accountable who cheat government programs and use online scams to prey on the most vulnerable.”
Frimpong and other conspirators, engaged in elaborate scams, impersonating romantic love interests, diplomats, customs personnel, military personnel, and other fictitious personas for the purpose of ensnaring their victims by earning their confidence, including promises of romance, sharing of an inheritance or other riches, or other scenarios intended to fraudulently induce the victims to provide money or property to the conspirators. Frimpong then laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars in proceeds of these frauds through his various bank accounts across state lines and through his contacts in Ghana. Frimpong was also an active-duty Army servicemember stationed at Fort Bragg during the commission of the offenses up until shortly after his arrest in 2023.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III announced the sentence. Defense Criminal Investigative Service led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Beraka prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-0035-D.
World News
US Army Major Kojo Owusu Dartey Found Guilty After He Smuggled Guns to Ghana in Blue Barrels of Rice and Home Goods
US Army Major Kojo Owusu Dartey, 42, was convicted for smuggling firearms to Ghana in blue barrels disguised as containing rice and household goods.
The incident, which took place in April 2024, has sparked widespread discussion on social media platforms. Dartey, involved in a marriage fraud scheme, faces a maximum sentence of 240 months and is scheduled for sentencing on July 23, 2024. The case has raised questions about the motives behind the smuggling and the potential implications for national security.
A US Army Major, Kojo Owusu Dartey, known for his role in the US special forces, has been found guilty of smuggling firearms to Ghana hidden in blue barrels of rice and household goods.
The 42-year-old is facing a maximum sentence of 240 months and awaits sentencing on July 23,… pic.twitter.com/o28I3wZOKd
— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) April 30, 2024
A federal jury convicted a United States Army Major, currently assigned to Fort Liberty, on charges of dealing in firearms without a license, delivering firearms without notice to the carrier, smuggling goods from the United States, illegally exporting firearms without a license, making false statements made to an agency of the United States, making false declarations before the court, and conspiracy. Kojo Owusu Dartey, age 42, faces a maximum penalty of 240 months when sentenced on July 23, 2024.
Read Also: Abena Korkor says she’s found love in a bipolar American army officer
“We are partnering with law enforcement agencies across the globe to expose international criminals – from money launderers to rogue international arms traffickers capable of fueling violence abroad,” said U.S Attorney Michael Easley. “Through a partnership with Ghanaian officials, this rogue Army Major was convicted at trial after smuggling guns to Ghana in blue barrels of rice and household goods. I want to thank the Ghana Revenue Authority and the International Cooperation Unit Office of the Attorney-General of Ghana for their assistance in the investigation. I also commend the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) attachés to U.S. Embassy Accra and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division for their significant assistance to this prosecution.”
“Far from being a victimless crime, firearms trafficking threatens public safety across our nation and beyond,” said Toni M. Crosby, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Baltimore Field Division. “The Baltimore Field Division is proud to partner with the Ghana Revenue Authority and ATF’s Charlotte and Louisville Field Divisions for this investigation, which has kept firearms off the streets — preventing them from being used in any number of killings and other crimes — and ended this international firearm trafficking scheme.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, between June 28 and July 2, 2021, Dartey purchased seven firearms in the Fort Liberty area and tasked a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to purchase three firearms there and send them to Dartey in North Carolina. Dartey then hid all the firearms, including multiple handguns, an AR15, 50-round magazines, suppressors, and a combat shotgun inside blue barrels underneath rice and household goods and smuggled the barrels out of the Port of Baltimore, Maryland, on a container ship to the Port of Tema in Ghana. The Ghana Revenue Authority recovered the firearms and reported the seizure to the DEA attaché in Ghana and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division. At the same time, Dartey was a witness in the trial of U.S. v. Agyapong. A case that involved a 16-defendant marriage fraud scheme between soldiers on Fort Liberty and foreign nationals from Ghana that Dartey had tipped off officials to. In preparation for the trial, Dartey lied to federal law enforcement about his sexual relationship with a defense witness and lied on the stand and under oath about the relationship.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II accepted the verdict. The ATF, Army Criminal Investigation Division and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Diaz prosecuted it with technical assistance from David Ryan, DOJ Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
World News
Ex-UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou announces death of his 15-month-old son
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World News
Iraqi TikTok star Om Fahad shot dead outside Baghdad home
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Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi sentenced to death for protesting
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Radio & TV
2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) to air LIVE on DStv
MTV has announced the 2024 “VMAs” will make its return to New York on Tuesday, September 10th at the UBS Arena. Airing LIVE on MTV, DStv Channel 130 on Wednesday, 11 September at 1:00am WAT and 2:00am CAT around the world in more than 150 countries. This year’s global fan-filled phenomenon will celebrate the best music videos of the past year with supersized performances, epic tributes, and unforgettable appearances from the world’s biggest celebrities.
“We’re excited to bring this year’s VMAs to UBS Arena, one of the country’s newest and most cutting edge venues,” said Bruce Gillmer, President of Music, Music Talent, Programming & Events, Paramount and Chief Content Officer, Music, Paramount+. “Celebrating one of music’s biggest nights with the incredible, robust New York area fans is something we’ve been looking forward to since the moment last year’s show ended.”
“It’s an honor to host MTV and the VMAs at UBS Arena,” said Mark Shulman, Senior Vice President of Programming, UBS Arena. “This is the culmination of bringing a world class event to a venue that offers state of the art capabilities and the best in fan amenities. We look forward to welcoming this year’s top artists, fans, and viewers worldwide to experience our arena and campus at Belmont Park.”
“We are excited to welcome back the MTV Video Music Awards to New York State,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul. “From its origins at Radio City Music Hall in 1984 to this September’s event at the UBS Arena, the VMAs continue to captivate millions, showcasing the very best in music video artistry. As we prepare to host this 40th anniversary event, let’s embrace the spirit of creativity and innovation that defines our state’s cultural landscape.”
The “VMAs” will air across MTV’s global footprint of linear and digital platforms in more than 150 countries and territories, reaching over 319 million households.
Additional details will be announced closer to the show. Follow @MTV and @VMAs on social to keep up with all-things #VMAs.
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