STARS REPORTERS

Police in Brazil have raided the home and political headquarters of former President Jair Bolsonaro, placing him under a series of restrictions as he stands trial for allegedly plotting to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election.   Federal officers carried out the operation early Friday, seizing cash, searching multiple properties, and ordering Bolsonaro to wear an electronic ankle monitor. The Supreme Court also banned him from contacting foreign officials, approaching embassies, or using social media — citing fears he could attempt to flee the country. Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing.   Authorities also accused Bolsonaro and his son, Eduardo, of colluding with the United States to impose sanctions on Brazilian officials, an act the court claimed would directly benefit the former president. A large sum of U.S. dollars, reportedly around $14,000, was found at one of the raided properties. Bolsonaro insisted the money was for personal use and that...

Hollywood actor Brad Pitt has filed a fresh motion in court seeking access to private messages exchanged by his ex-wife, Angelina Jolie, in their ongoing legal battle over Château Miraval, the French winery they once co-owned.   According to Daily Mail, In documents filed on June 30, Brad claimed that obtaining Jolie’s communications—particularly those with the Stoli Group and its executive Alexey Oliynik—is vital to support his claims. Pitt, 61, argues that Jolie sold her $64 million stake in the vineyard to Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler, despite a prior agreement between them that neither party would sell without the other’s consent.   So far, Pitt’s legal team says efforts to depose Oliynik have failed, as the Stoli Group executive maintains that he is a Swiss resident and not subject to California court jurisdiction. Still, Pitt insists that Oliynik holds key knowledge of the sale negotiations.   This legal move is the latest in the pair’s ongoing feud ...

Six Secret Service agents have been suspended without pay following the July 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally.   Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn said the agents received penalties ranging from 10 to 42 days of unpaid leave and were reassigned to roles with less responsibility after returning to work. The disciplinary actions followed a federally mandated process.   “We’re not going to fire our way out of this,” Quinn told CBS News, adding that the agency is “laser focused on fixing the root cause of the problem.”   The agency faced sharp criticism after gunman Thomas Crooks opened fire at the Butler rally on July 13, 2024. Trump’s ear was grazed by a bullet, two other men were wounded, and Corey Comperatore, a firefighter and father attending the event, was killed. Crooks was fatally shot by a Secret Service sniper.   “Secret Service is totally accountable for Butler,” Quinn said. “It was an operational failure ...

Senegal has officially cancelled singer Akon’s ambitious plans to build a multibillion-dollar city along the country’s Atlantic coast due to insufficient progress and financial complications, replacing it with a $1.2 billion resort project.   In 2020, Senegal granted Akon 136 acres of land to build his ambitious “Akon City”, a futuristic smart city envisioned to transform the quiet farming village of Mbodiène into a tech-driven urban hub.   Last August, Akon received a final formal notice from the Senegalese government to commence construction on his proposed $6 billion futuristic city or risk losing the land. The notice followed missed payments to Sapco, the state-owned agency tasked with developing coastal and tourism zones.   Now, the government has reclaimed most of the land originally allocated for the project inspired by Marvel’s fictional Wakanda after little progress was made, according to Bloomberg.   “That project no longer exists,” said Serigne...

US President Donald Trump was basking in the praise of a group of African leaders on Wednesday, July 7, with many of them speaking a different language, when the Liberian president took to his microphone and spoke in English - his country's official language.   "Liberia is a longtime friend of the United States, and we believe in your policy of making America great again. We just want to thank you so much for this opportunity." President Joseph Boakai said at a White House meeting before advocating for U.S. investment in his country. Trump was impressed and inquired where Boakai got his language skills.   "Such good English," Trump said. "Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?" Boakai seemed to chuckle. "In Liberia?" Trump asked. "Yes sir," Boakai said. "That's very interesting," Trump said. “I have people at this table who can't speak nearly as well.”   Liberia was founded in 1822 as a colony for...

LiAngelo Ball has filed for divorce from Rashida Nicole, just days after the influencer announced she was expecting the couple’s child.   According to court records obtained by TMZ Sports, the professional basketball player and rapper submitted the divorce petition at a Southern California courthouse on July 3.   While it remains unclear exactly when the two got married, the couple was seen leaving the same courthouse back in February wearing all-white outfits and holding a large envelope, sparking speculation at the time that they had tied the knot.   The news of Ball’s filing comes as a surprise, as there had been no public indication of a rift between the pair. On June 26, only a week before the divorce filing, Nicole announced her pregnancy in a social media post, one that Ball appeared to support, leaving a heart emoji and a lock and key in the comments.   Attempts to reach Ball’s legal team for comment have so far gone unanswered.   This isn’t ...

Relations between the United States and Brazil entered a fresh diplomatic crisis on Monday, July 7, after U.S. President Donald Trump condemned Brazil's prosecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro, calling it a “WITCH HUNT” and urging authorities to “LEAVE BOLSONARO ALONE.”   Trump’s remarks, delivered in a fiery post on Truth Social, drew a swift and pointed response from Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who dismissed the comments as foreign “interference” and emphasized that “no one is above the law.”   Bolsonaro, 70, is currently standing trial in Brazil on charges that he led a “criminal organization” plotting a coup to keep him in office following his 2022 electoral defeat. Prosecutors allege the conspiracy collapsed after failing to secure the backing of Brazil’s military high command. If convicted, the former president faces up to 40 years in prison.   The politically explosive case has drawn parallels to Trump’s own legal battles, inclu...

Stefanie Cohen Magarici, popularly known as Dr. Stefi Cohen, a prominent social media influencer and champion powerlifter, has been arrested on charges of domestic violence battery. The arrest occurred on Wednesday, adding to an ongoing series of legal issues facing the fitness personality.   Cohen, who describes herself as a doctor of physical therapy and commands a following of over one million users on Instagram, was previously arrested in 2023 on allegations of sexual cyberharassment. That case stemmed from claims that she leaked nude photographs of her ex-boyfriend’s new partner in an attempt to humiliate her.   According to reports cited by CBS News, the incident was brought to the attention of law enforcement in November 2023 when Cohen’s former boyfriend and his current girlfriend filed a complaint at a police station. They alleged that Cohen disseminated the images with the intent of embarrassing the woman.   Authorities have not yet released further ...

Craig Evison and Victoria Morrison, a grieving couple who raised £100,000 for their late son’s cancer treatment, are taking legal action against a children’s cancer charity after being denied access to the funds for their terminally ill daughter.   The couple’s son, Kyle Morrison, died in October 2020 at age nine after battling diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a rare and aggressive brain tumour. Before his passing, a campaign spearheaded on Facebook and later managed by the charity Gold Geese raised a substantial sum for treatment in the United States and for “memory-making” experiences. However, due to Covid-19 restrictions, Kyle was unable to travel, and the money was never used.   Now, Craig and Victoria are seeking to use the remaining money to create special memories with their two-year-old daughter, Ruby-Rose, who has been diagnosed with Megdel syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that is typically fatal in early childhood. In court, the parents said, “W...

As US President-elect, Donald Trump prepares to re-enter the White House, universities across the USA are warning international students including Nigerians to be aware that executive orders on immigration could affect their status in the US. “During the first four years of the Trump administration, a travel ban was imposed that impacted multiple countries, and resulted in many/some international students encountering difficulties re-entering the US to resume classes,” the University of California-Berkeley recently posted on its International website. “Whether such policies will be implemented again and/or blocked by the courts or via other means is unclear. Out of an abundance of caution, we are recommending a return to the United States prior to January 20.” Cornell University's Office of Global Learning issued a similar warning to students of a travel ban that “is likely to go into effect soon after inauguration”. “The ban is likely to include citizens of the cou...

Actress Betsy Brandt, best known for her role as Marie Schrader on the hit series  Breaking Bad , has officially filed for divorce from her husband, Grady Olsen, after nearly 25 years of marriage. The filing comes more than a year after their reported separation.   Brandt submitted the paperwork herself, without legal representation, citing the standard "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the split. According to court documents, the couple married in September 1998 and separated in August 2023.   The actress indicated that she is seeking both legal and physical custody of their 16-year-old child, August. Details regarding the division of property remain unclear, as the filing notes that the couple has yet to resolve the matter. It is also unknown if they had a prenuptial agreement in place.   Betsy Brandt rose to prominence during  Breaking Bad's  five-season run, appearing in all 62 episodes as Walter White’s sister-in-law. Aft...

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has clarified a remark made during a joint press conference with U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, following media buzz over his use of the word "daddy."   Rutte addressed reporters later in the day, explaining that his comment was taken out of context and that he was not referring to President Trump directly.   “I didn’t call him ‘daddy,’” Rutte said, according to The Hill. “What I said was that sometimes in Europe, I hear countries asking, ‘Hey Mark, will the U.S. stay with us?’ I compared that to a small child asking his father, ‘Are you still staying with the family?’ So in that sense, I used the word ‘daddy’—but not to describe President Trump himself.”   The clarification came after an exchange during a bilateral meeting between Trump and Rutte at the NATO Summit in The Hague raised eyebrows. During the meeting, Trump used a schoolyard analogy to describe the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran.  “They ...

Concern for Justin Bieber’s welfare has increased online after the star changed his Instagram name to a new moniker.  The Stay hitmaker, 31, has had fans speculating about his well-being for months due to his erratic behaviour online, from posts seemingly shading his wife Hailey to an explosive Father’s Day message.  Worries have intensified once more after the musician changed his handle on Instagram while sharing a slew of unusual posts.  Formerly just "justinbieber" on the platform, he has now changed his handle to "lilbieber" for reasons completely unknown.     Celebrity music events He also had a posting spree on the site, sharing a series of dark selfies and screenshots from video calls with friends.  Fans have commented on the name change, with some wondering if he's about to venture into rap and comparing him to artists like Lil Wayne and Lil Xan   Influencer marketing courses Concern for Justin Bieber’s welfare has increased onlin...

Ray J has publicly defended music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, disputing the federal charges recently levelled against him and downplaying the seriousness of the allegations.    Appearing on "TMZ Live" on Wednesday, July 2, the singer and entrepreneur stated that Diddy's actions were part of consensual adult encounters and should not warrant prison time.   "Diddy was entangled in consensual freak-offs and should NOT be punished by jail time," Ray J insisted, pushing back against prosecutors who have described Diddy as a violent threat to society. Despite Ray J’s optimism that Diddy would be released and flying to Miami by the end of the day, a judge later denied bail. Diddy will remain in custody until his sentencing hearing in October.   Ray J suggested the high-profile trial should be seen as a "lesson learned" but not a deterrent for others engaged in similar behavior, particularly in drug-fueled interactions with sex workers. He ...

Australia has cancelled US rapper Kanye West’s visa over his song glorifying Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, the government said Wednesday, July 2.  Ye, 48, released “Heil Hitler” on May 8, the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.  Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Kanye, whose wife Bianca Censori is Australian, has been coming to Australia for some time because he has family in the country. However, following the release of his song, his visa has been cancelled.  Burke said: “He’s made a lot of offensive comments. But my officials looked at it again once he released the ‘Heil Hitler’ song and he no longer has a valid visa in Australia.”  Burke said the rapper’s cancelled visa was not intended for holding concerts.  “It was a lower level, and the officials still looked at the law and said: You’re going to have a song and promote that sort of Nazism — we don’t need that in Australia,” he told public broadcaster ABC.  Aske...

American singer and rapper Post Malone took an unexpected fall during a live performance at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on June 21, an incident that was caught on video by a fan and has since circulated widely on social media.   The artist, born Austin Post, was in the middle of performing his hit track "Pour Me A Drink" as part of his "Big Ass Stadium" tour when the accident occurred. A TikTok video filmed by a concertgoer shows the moment Post Malone approached the edge of the stage to toast with a fan. As he knelt down with a cup in hand, the ledge beneath his feet appeared to give way, sending him tumbling to the floor. Online movie streaming services   Despite the startling fall, Post Malone quickly recovered and continued the performance. The fan who recorded the clip later posted the video on TikTok with a caption referencing the song’s lyrics, writing, “I didn’t mean to almost break your back… I am SO sorry Austin. I love you! Su...

Hollywood star Brad Pitt has opened up about the only two women who have ever truly left him starstruck — and surprisingly, neither of them are his famous exes.   According to Daily Mail, while speaking on the  New Heights  podcast hosted by NFL stars Jason and Travis Kelce, the 61-year-old actor revealed that his former  Thelma & Louise  co-stars Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon were the only two women who genuinely took his breath away.   “When I first met Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, I was. Yeah,” Pitt admitted. “I got over it quickly, though.”   Brad’s breakout role in  Thelma & Louise (1991) saw him playing J.D., a flirty hitchhiker who charms Thelma (Davis), seduces her, then disappears with her money — a role that launched him into stardom.   Reflecting on that period in a 2023 interview with  W Magazine , Pitt credited Geena Davis for making his first love scene easier:   “That love scene, I th...

The New York judge overseeing Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial has ruled that Combs would not be released on bail while awaiting sentencing after he was found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.   The hip-hop mogul will remain locked up in a Brooklyn federal prison after he was convicted of the lesser two of five charges in a federal indictment.    After the verdict was read on Wednesday, Combs’ lead defense attorney told the court Combs should be freed today, given that he was no longer under indictment for the major crimes the government said he committed.   Prosecutors cried foul on this, arguing he was a flight risk and meddler, even while in the Brooklyn lockup he’s called home for about a year.    The prosecutors also stated that they would pursue an aggressive sentencing that could put Combs away for two decades.    Judge Subramanian cited Combs’ history of violence...

Sean "Diddy" Combs' lawyers expect him to get a two-year prison sentence following his conviction on two counts of transportation to engage in pr0stitution, which was handed down on Wednesday, July 2.   The sentence is much less than the 51 to 63 months sentence that prosecutors have recommended.   The two sides addressed Combs' potential sentence in separate letters to the judge overseeing the case. Combs has already spent 10 months in custody.   Combs was acquitted on Wednesday morning of the more serious charges of s£x trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.   He was accused of sex trafficking two of his former girlfriends, Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, and a woman who testified under the pseudonym "Jane" and of forcing them to participate in drug-fueled s£x sessions with male escorts that he called "freak offs" or "hotel nights." Combs had denied all the charges and said that the sexual acts were consensual...

  Pop star, Rihanna, 32, shared this sexy topless photo of herself wearing only a pair of purple satin boxers from her Savage X Fenty lingerie line with coordinating jewelry as she posed in front of a pool.