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A hot air balloon has caught fire and crashed in the US state of Texas, killing all 16 people on board, local media report. Authorities said the balloon came down near Lockhart, south of the city of Austin in central Texas, after catching fire,  BBC   reports. The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Saturday, that investigators are determining the identities of the victims. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials said in an earlier statement that the accident happened shortly after 7:40 a.m. (American time) near Lockhart, when the hot air balloon crashed into a pasture. They claim there were at least 16 people on board. Lynn Lunsford of the FAA said they are heading to the scene of the accident to investigate although the National Transportation Safety Board will eventually take over the inquiry. The town of Lockhart is about 50 kilometres south of Austin OJPals,  what do you think? Sound off below! @OJ’s Blog  EXCLUSIVE

You’re probably familiar with the urban legend: the opera singer ascends the stage and clears his throat. His audience cheer and wave their champagne flutes in anticipation. He opens his mouth – and a roomful of glasses smash to pieces. We have no record that this has ever actually happened, but there were rumours that the legendary tenor Enrico Caruso could quiver a glass into a million pieces. And according to physics, it should be possible. It all comes down to a phenomenon known as resonance. When sound hits an object – such as a champagne flute – it excites the particles inside, causing them to vibrate. Each object will naturally vibrate at a particular frequency – known as its resonant frequency, and if you choose a soundwave that matches that pitch, the object will start to shake more and more vigorously. Think of it like the act of pushing someone on a swing in the park, where you give them a little shove each time they reach you. Get the pace right and you’ll

New reports have just confirmed that at least 1,000 people in Burundi have taken to the streets, to protest against the United Nations’ decision to send police to the country. According to  Guardian UK , the protesters trooped to the French Embassy in anger for drafting the UN resolution to send 228 police. Some of the protesters, while demanding that the UN stay away from the country’s affairs, said it was the French who needed the police the most – citing the recent attack on Bastille Day in Nice. The Burundians also stormed the Rwandan Embassy, accusing them of training the Burundi rebels. Guardian UK said that the UN had agreed on Friday to send the 228 officers to the capital Bujumbura and all over Burundi for a year. These officers are expected to monitor the human rights situation in the country in accordance, and they are to work with the African Union right observers and military experts following the developments in the war-wracked country. 

Jealousy is a dangerous thing and history is full of stories of men and woman who allowed jealousy to get the better of them.  In Abia State, Jacob Nwachukwu recently became another sad example of what people do when jealousy clouds the mind. According to reports, the man cut off his wife, Nwadiokeonu Nwachukwu’s left hand on grounds that she was having an affair. Vanguard reports that Jacob, who lost his job years ago, left his family in Aba and returned to his village, Abala, in the same state. Nwadiokeonu was left to care for the couple’s children. Neighbours revealed that all was not well with Jacob and his wife, as they always fought each time he visited Aba. “The couple had always quarrelled any time the man visited his wife in the city, to the extent that all the tenants are aware and intervened in their quarrels,” a source told Vanguard. One Monday in July 2015, Jacob returned to Aba with accusations of infidelity, a machete and, some believe, an int

Summer is here and tennis legend Serena Williams is reminding fans the importance of staying healthy, eating healthy and working out. Yesterday, Williams took to SnapChat to share selfies she took by the pool. Dressed in a black two-piece swimsuit, the tennis star struck a confident pose, and it brought back the memories of how far she had come. Recall that in her interview with Times UK, Williams said it took years before she learned to love her own body. “I know I get flak for my physique and it has been a struggle to love my body,” she told Times UK, adding, “but now curves are in and I’m happier in myself.” Williams had also been body-shamed by people who described her as being too ‘muscular’. Many times she faced media criticism which ignored her victories and talked rather about how ‘muscular’ she looked. Overtime, the athlete turned that criticism around. “Strong is beautiful,” she wrote in March, and ever since has never being ashamed to show off her asse

Hillary Clinton has officially secured her place as the first female to lead the presidential ticket of a major U.S. party,  Buzzfeed  reports. Last night at the Democratic National Convention, Clinton shared her plans for America, from the health care system to women right, and also spoke of her political history. “Look at my record,” she said. “I’ve worked across the aisle to pass laws and treaties.” As expected, she slammed Trump, albeit in an epic way. “ A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons ,” she said. Watch the speech here: Read the full transcript here:

Hours after Roc Nation officially welcomed Tiwa Savage to the record label, Don Jazzy has taken to social media to congratulate his company’s leading queen, and also to shade critics accusing her of joining the Illuminati. “ Congrats to the First Lady of Mavin on the Rocnation management deal once again  @tiwasavage ,” Don Jazzy said of the deal, adding, “ More success coming our way in GOD’s name. Amen .” And making a joke about claims that Ms Savage joined the Illuminati secret society, the Mavin boss said this of their photo taken at the Roc Nation office: “Lol, see as I nearly sit down for ground. I no want make that Illuminati ram head for the wall catch me.” Recall that Tiwa Savage was included in the list of Nigerian artistes accused of joining the mysterious ‘Illuminati’ after she shared the trailer of her upcoming US tour which features concentric triangles. Plus, at the end of her performance at the One Africa Festival in New York, the singer threw

The Indonesian government has executed the first four out of 14 planned execution of drug convicts. They include one Indonesian and three Nigerians, and were killed by firing squad in Nusakambangan prison island, A source told media that the execution took place at 00:45 Friday (17:45 GMT, Thursday),  reports say . This comes after speculations in the media that the government could secretly carry out these executions. You can read about that  here . The remaining 10 drug convicts are expected to be put to death in the coming days. Amnesty International has condemned the executions as a “ deplorable act that violates international and Indonesian law “. Relatives reportedly gathered at the Prison Island earlier in the day to say goodbye to loved ones. News reports say that 17 ambulances were sent to the island – 14 of them carrying coffins.

Former Nigeria captain and coach Okechukwu Stephen Keshi was on Friday laid to rest in his home town of Illah in Delta State. Keshi goes home The final journey home for the legendary Keshi, who passed away on June 8, began with a church service on Thursday at St Paul’s Catholic Church, Benin City. The ‘Big Boss’ was then moved to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, where a novelty match was played in his honour, followed by the lying in state for loved ones and admirers to pay their last respect,  Cable  writes. His body was then moved to Asaba, the Delta state capital, on Friday, where there was a lying in state at the stadium named after him by former governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. Keshi’s children. Image: Cable His son, Stephen Jr takes a Bible reading Pallbearers at the event On arrival, Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa urged family members of the late coach to take solace in the fact that he lived a good life. While calling on the family to

In the most heart-breaking development, a 7-year-old child lost her life after an elephant hurled a huge stone at her head in a zoo. According to  Daily Mail , the unnamed girl and her parents visited the Moroccan zoo in the capital, Rabat. Her father lifted her on his shoulder, with their backs facing the animal, so that the girl’s mother could take a photo of them with the elephant in the background. At that instance, while they smiled for the camera, the elephant flung a huge rock and it caught the girl on the back of her head. Knocked unconscious, the child lay dying while the officials ran around for medical help. The girl later died in a hospital nearby. The stone. Credit: Daily Mail From the footage shared on social media by an eye witness, the huge stone could be seen as a staff and the parents struggled to contain the child’s bleeding. The medic and the girl’s parents, struggling to contain the injuries.  Credit: Daily Mail Speaking with the

Just days after Toyin Aimakhu massively pushed the #SaveMayowa campaign, which aimed to raise funds for the treatment of Ahmed Mayowa Shukurat, who was reportedly diagnosed with Stage IV Ovarian cancer, media reports are suggesting the campaign was a heartless scam organised and carried out by the family of the sick woman. Mayowa’s story was first shared on social media by concerned friends who reported that she needed N32 million for cancer treatment abroad. With Aimaku’s intervention, the story reached Nigerians and they donated over N8 million in 24 hours. Today, the donations have surpassed the target N32million. Toyin Aimakhu and Mayowa Nigerian were celebrating the feat and slapping each other on the back, until now. According to  Linda Ikeji’s Blog , the whole campaign was a scam. She reports: “This is such a sad thing for me to report this afternoon. Just two days after we were all happy that Nigerians kindly donated to cancer patient, Mayowa Ahmed, for

It was no joke the moment Pope Francis fell while celebrating Mass while visiting Poland’s holiest site. The Pontiff, 79, stumbled at the altar, and had to be helped to his feet as he celebrated a Mass at the Jasna Gora Monastery in the southern city of Czestochowa,  Daily mail  reports. Pictures below show him falling dramatically, and being helped to his feet by Vatican Master of Ceremonies, Guido Marini. And this ceremony was televised and screened before millions of viewers. The Pope is known to suffer from sciatica, a medical condition in which pain sometimes shoots down the leg from the lower back. Thankfully he was able to finish the event, uninjured. OJPals, what do you think? Tell us in the comments! @OJ’s Blog  EXCLUSIVE Email : olumidejohnson.blogs@gmail.com

Telecommunications giants, MTN Nigeria has announce the decision to list its shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2017, the  cableng  is reporting. MTN Group CEO Sifiso Dabengwa; credit: PM News The information is contained in a statement by the company. It states “MTN Nigeria is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has resolved to proceed with preparations for a listing of MTN Nigeria on The NSE as soon as commercially and legally possible and has established a management task team with the responsibility to guide the company towards a listing. At present, MTN Nigeria is targeting that the listing takes place during 2017, subject to suitable market conditions.” The announcement, according to market observers, is in partial fulfillment of the company’s bargain arrangement with the Federal Government. Recall that MTN earlier announced its intention to list after the reduction of its fine by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) but did not give a spe

The owners of Samchese Nigeria Limited will be having a date with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the allegation that it offered kickbacks to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State. According to The Punch,  the EFCC sent an invitation to the company’s chairman asking him to appear before it on Thursday. The commission is investigating the company for alleged conspiracy, abuse of office, money laundering and theft. The commission has accused Samchese Nigeria Limited of giving fayose bribe to buy properties. Meanwhile, the EFCC is set to investigate some state governments that allegedly embezzled the ecological funds given to them. On Wednesday that the anti-graft agency had received some petitions against some state governors who diverted the funds. A source at the agency said, “We will probe some states involved in the diversion of ecological funds but it will not be all the states and it will not be at the same time. It will be on a case-by

Following the widely reported fight between Lindsay Lohan and fiance, Egor Tarabasov, the 30-year-old actress has publicly apologised for her actions. Lindsay Lohan Press Conference at Social Film Loft during the  2014 Park City on  January 20, 2014 in Park City, Utah. The actress had accused 23-year-old Egor of strangling and trying to kill her in a video that made its way all over the internet after she accused him of cheating with a  “Russian hooker.” The  Parents Trap  star took to her Instagram page to make an acerbic post asking fans to stay out of her personal life. She, however, deleted that post, and chose instead to pen another message noting that she is  “good and well”  while expressing a desire to work things out with Tarabasov. She, however, deleted that post, and chose instead to pen another message noting that she is  “good and well”  while expressing a desire to work things out with Tarabasov. “Dear friends. I’m good and well. #ATM I

Chelsea coach Antonio Conte has made it clear midfielder Nemanja Matic is going nowhere and believes the Serbia international can become one of the best in the world,  Goal  writes. Conte takes charge Matic was inspirational as Chelsea romped to a first title in five years during the 2014/15 campaign, but was far from his best during the Blues’ forgettable title defence that saw former coach Jose Mourinho get the boot. And amid speculation the 27-year-old Serbian midfielder is surplus to requirement at Stamford Bridge following the signing of N’Golo Kante from Leicester City, Conte has offered glowing endorsement of the player’s abilities. “Matic is a very important player for me, he is very important in my idea of football,”  Conte said ahead of Thursday’s International Champions Cup match against Liverpool in Pasadena. Staying on! Matic to remain at the Bridge “He knows this and I’m delighted by his attitude and behaviour and I see in him commitment. I kn

The list of this year’s MTV Video Music Awards nominations is finally out and dominating this year, is Beyoncé, whose #Lemonade swept up 11 whooping nods. Also on the list is Adele who is up for 8 awards most of which were for her smash hit single, ‘Hello’. Others on the list include Drake, Kanye West, and many others. Taylor Swift was left out of the 2016 MTV VMA list. See the full list of nominees as compiled by Pitchfork: Video of the Year: Adele: “Hello” Beyoncé: “Formation” Drake: “Hotline Bling” Justin Bieber: “Sorry” Kanye West: “Famous” Best Female Video: Adele: “Hello” Beyoncé: “Hold Up” Sia: “Cheap Thrills” Ariana Grande: “Into You” Rihanna [ft. Drake]: “Work” (short version) Best Male Video: Drake: “Hotline Bling” Bryson Tiller: “Don’t” Calvin Harris [ft. Rihanna]: “This Is What You Came For” Kanye West: “Famous” The Weeknd: “Can’t Feel My Face” Best Collaboration: Beyoncé [ft. Kendrick Lamar]: “Freedom” Fifth Harmo