New evidence against R&B singer R. Kelly
CHICAGO — Attorney Michael Avenatti said Thursday he has given Chicago prosecutors new video evidence of R&B star R. Kelly having sex with an underage girl.
Mr. Avenatti said the video isn’t the same evidence used in Mr. Kelly’s 2008 trial, when he was acquitted on child pornography charges. CNN reported the nearly 45-minute VHS tape shows a man appearing to be Mr. Kelly performing sex acts with a girl who refers to her body parts as 14 years old.
Tandra Simonton, spokeswoman for Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, wouldn’t confirm or deny the office is investigating.
Mr. Kelly and his attorney have for years denied allegations of sexual misconduct involving women and underage girls. His attorney didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday on the latest allegations.
Mr. Avenatti said his office was retained in April 2018 by multiple people regarding allegations of sexual assault of minors by Mr. Kelly, whose legal name is Robert Kelly.
Car bomb kills at least 38
NEW DELHI — At least 38 paramilitary police officers were killed by a massive car bomb in Indian-controlled Kashmir in the worst attack on security personnel since the start of the insurgency in the disputed region three decades ago.
The attack occurred on Thursday afternoon around 3:15 p.m., police officials said, as a security convoy of 70 vehicles traveled down a major highway toward the city of Srinagar.
An explosive-laden vehicle driven by a suicide bomber rammed into a bus carrying dozens of paramilitary personnel, said Sanjay Sharma, a spokesperson for India’s Central Reserve Police Force.
The killings will inflame tensions between nucleararmed rivals India and Pakistan, which both claim the Himalayan territory of Kashmir.
GOP rejects Kaepernick
MADISON, Wis. — Republicans who control the Wisconsin Senate refused to mention NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick in a resolution honoring Black History Month passed Wednesday, rejecting calls from Democrats who said ignoring the Milwaukee native put them on the wrong side of history.
Just as the Wisconsin Assembly did a day earlier, the Senate approved the resolution with no mention of Mr. Kaepernick. All Republicans voted in support, with all Democrats against. No Senate Republicans spoke during four hours of debate.
Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Lena Taylor, proposed adding a mention of Mr. Kaepernick, but that was rejected unanimously by Republicans. Ms. Taylor, who is black and from Milwaukee, argued that history will show Republicans as being on the “wrong side.”
U.S.-China trade talks
BEIJING — U.S. and Chinese negotiators opened talks Thursday on a sprawling trade dispute as Beijing reported its January exports rebounded despite President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes.
Mr. Trump said earlier the talks could help decide whether he escalates the fight over China’s technology ambitions by going ahead with more penalty duties March 2 on $200 billion in Chinese goods.
The battle between the two biggest economies has fueled fears it will drag on weakening global growth. China’s economy grew at its slowest pace in three decades last year, adding to pressure on communist leaders to reach a settlement.