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US singer R. Kelly has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for using his celebrity status to sexually abuse children and women, BBC reported.

The R&B artist, 55, was convicted last September in New York of racketeering and sex trafficking crimes.

He had faced years of allegations and the judge on Wednesday said he had an "indifference to human suffering".

Lawyers for the singer, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, say he will appeal. 

Ahead of his sentencing, a handful of women took the stand to confront Kelly.

A woman identified only as Angela called the singer a Pied Piper who "grew in wickedness" with every new victim, while others who were not named testified he had broken their spirits.

"I literally wished I would die because of how you made me feel," said one, according to BBC.

Dressed in prison khakis and dark glasses, Kelly declined to make a statement of his own and did not react as the verdict was handed down.

US District Judge Ann Donnelly said the celebrity had used sex as a weapon, forcing his victims to do unspeakable things and saddling some with sexually transmitted diseases.

"You taught them that love is enslavement and violence," she said.

The court heard how Kelly - known for hit songs like I Believe I Can Fly and Ignition - used his influence to lure women and children into sexual abuse over two decades.

Jurors at his six-week trial in Brooklyn heard how he trafficked women between different US states, assisted by managers, security guards and other members of his entourage.

The court also heard how Kelly had illegally obtained paperwork to marry singer Aaliyah when she was 15 in 1994, seven years before the singer died in a plane crash.

The certificate, leaked at the time, listed Aaliyah's age as 18. The marriage was annulled months later.

Jovante Cunningham, a former backup singer for Kelly, said she never believed this day would come, BBC reported.

"There wasn't a day in my life up until this moment that I actually believed that the judicial system would come through for black and brown girls," she told reporters. 

"I stand here very proud of my judicial system, very proud of my fellow survivors and very pleased with the outcome."

Federal prosecutors had recommended that Kelly be sentenced to more than 25 years in prison, given the seriousness of his crimes and "the need to protect the public from further crimes".

But his lawyers called for a sentence of 10 years - the mandatory minimum for his conviction - or less.

They portrayed Kelly as growing up poor in a household rife with domestic violence and suffering sexual abuse from a young age.

They said he was "devastated" by the sentence and planned to appeal.

Lizzette Martinez, who met Kelly when she was 17, said that there were "so many things he could have done to stop himself."

"He had all the resources; we don't have resources like that. He could have gotten help," she told BBC News.

She said he avoided justice for years due to the "power of celebrity".

"I believe that he was just making so much money for so many powerful people that they protected him."

Kelly has been in custody since he was indicted by federal prosecutors in New York and Chicago in July 2019.

His three years behind bars have been eventful, including a beating from a fellow inmate in 2020 and a bout with Covid-19 earlier this year, according to BBC.

The singer faces further legal action in August, when he goes on trial again, this time in Chicago on child sex images and obstruction charges.

He is also due to face sex abuse charges in courts in Illinois and Minnesota.

Singer R. Kelly could face decades in prison when he is sentenced on Wednesday, nine months after being found guilty of running a scheme to sexually abuse women and children, BBC reported.

In September, a New York jury convicted the disgraced pop star of racketeering and eight counts of sex trafficking.

The 55-year-old R&B singer will spend at least 10 years in prison, with the maximum possible sentence being life.

Prosecutors have said he should spend at least 25 years behind bars.

The singer - known for the hit songs I Believe I Can Fly and Ignition (Remix) - was found to have been the ringleader of a violent and coercive scheme to lure women and children for him to sexually abuse.

The six-week trial heard how he trafficked women between different US states, assisted by managers, security guards and other entourage members, over two decades, according to BBC.

Prosecutors said he showed a "callous disregard" for his victims and showed no remorse.

"Indeed, the defendant's decades of crime appear to have been fuelled by narcissism and a belief that his musical talent absolved him of any need to conform his conduct - no matter how predatory, harmful, humiliating or abusive to others - to the strictures of the law," they said.

The court also heard how Kelly had illegally obtained paperwork to marry singer Aaliyah when she was 15 in 1994, seven years before the singer died in a plane crash.

The certificate, leaked at the time, listed Aaliyah's age as 18. The marriage was annulled months later.

After several delays, he will be sentenced at the US District Court in New York on Wednesday, BBC reported.

Kelly is separately facing trial in Chicago on child sex images and obstruction charges. He is also due to face sex abuse charges in Illinois and Minnesota.

Priyanka Rani Joshi has been crowned Miss Nepal 2022 at the 26th edition of the Miss Nepal organized by the Hidden Treasure.

At the grand finale event of the pageant held in Godawari, Lalitpur, Joshi, an entrepreneur, beat 26 other contestants to bag the title.

Similarly, Sareesha Shrestha and Nancy Khadka were named Miss Nepal Earth and Miss Nepal International, respectively.

Likewise, Smarika Sharma won the title of Miss Beauty with a Purpose, Mamata Dhakal Miss Photogenic, Ganga Gurung Farmasi Face of 2022, Rose Kandel Miss Beautiful Hair and Sophia Shrestha Miss Glamor.

Sir Mick Jagger has tested positive for Covid-19, prompting The Rolling Stones to cancel a performance in Amsterdam, BBC reported.

The band said the show at the Johan Cruijff Arena would be rescheduled and that they were "deeply sorry".

Sir Mick, 78, added in a message to fans: "Thank you for your patience and understanding."

The band are currently on their Sixty tour, where they had planned to play 14 shows in 10 European countries.

Tickets for the original show will be honoured for the new date once the show is rescheduled.

The Stones had already played three of their tour dates, including one at Anfield in Liverpool, according to BBC.

A statement on behalf of the band said: "The Rolling Stones have been forced to call off tonight's concert in Amsterdam at the Johan Cruijff Arena, following Mick Jagger testing positive after experiencing symptoms of Covid upon arrival at the stadium.

"The Rolling Stones are deeply sorry for tonight's postponement, but the safety of the audience, fellow musicians and the touring crew has to take priority".

Writing on Twitter, Sir Mick, added: "I'm so sorry that we've had to postpone the Amsterdam show with such short notice tonight.

"I have unfortunately just tested positive for Covid. We aim to reschedule the date ASAP and get back as soon as we can. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Mick."

A further two dates are planned in the UK as part of BST Hyde Park, a music festival. The Stones are due to play on 25 June and 3 July.

Two more performances, in Switzerland and Italy, are also planned within the next ten days, according to BBC. 

There has been no announcement yet about whether these shows will go ahead as planned.