A federal judge dismissed Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group, ruling that Kendrick Lamar’s lyrics in “Not Like Us” — which accused Drake of being a pedophile — were protected opinion, not factual claims. The judge described the case as part of “the most infamous rap battle in the genre’s history,” ending Drake’s attempt to claim damages for harm to his reputation and brand.
Tag: The Associated Press
Posted inU.S. Government
No. 47 says he will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Ben Carson
The 47th president announced Sept. 20 that he will award former HUD secretary and neurosurgeon Ben Carson the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Carson is a former GOP presidential candidate and close ally of the current White House.
Posted inNational News
Fed Gov. Lisa Cook claimed 2nd residence as ‘vacation home,’ undercutting White House fraud claims
Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook described a condo she purchased in 2021 as a “vacation home” and “second home” on official documents, potentially undermining White House allegations that she committed mortgage fraud by claiming multiple primary residences. Cook, the first Fed governor to be targeted for removal by a president, has secured an injunction blocking her firing as the legal battle continues ahead of a key Fed interest rate decision.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Ciara is among the first descendants of enslaved people granted citizenship by Benin
Grammy-winning artist Ciara was granted citizenship in Benin on July 26 under a groundbreaking new law offering citizenship to descendants of enslaved Africans. The move is part of Benin’s wider effort to confront its role in the transatlantic slave trade and invite Afro-descendants to reconnect with their ancestral roots through cultural heritage and “memorial tourism.”
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Ousted Librarian of Congress tapped by Mellon Foundation
Carla Hayden, the former Librarian of Congress ousted under the 47TH presidential administration, has been named a senior fellow at the Mellon Foundation, where she will advise on advancing public knowledge through libraries and archives. Her appointment marks a return to cultural leadership amid growing national debates over censorship, federal funding cuts, and access to information.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
A beer pioneer, South Africa’s first Black female brewery owner trains a new generation
Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela, South Africa’s first Black female craft brewery owner, is training a new generation of brewers—most of them young Black women—at her Brewsters Academy in Johannesburg. With a focus on science, tradition, and inclusivity, she aims to diversify the male-dominated beer industry while reviving African brewing heritage.
Posted inNational News
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs not guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering, convicted of prostitution offense
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was convicted of two prostitution-related offenses but acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges, and could still face up to 10 years in prison.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Food rations are halved in one of Africa’s largest refugee camps after US aid cuts
Food rations in Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp have been halved after the Trump administration suspended U.S. aid to the U.N. World Food Program, putting 300,000 refugees at greater risk of hunger and malnutrition. Refugees now receive only a third of the recommended food supply, with cash transfers and nutritional support programs also cut. Aid workers warn of worsening conditions by August if funding doesn’t resume.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Death toll reaches 151 in north-central Nigerian town submerged in floods, with thousands displaced
At least 151 people have died and over 3,000 were displaced after sudden, torrential flooding devastated the market town of Mokwa in north-central Nigeria, prompting emergency response efforts and presidential intervention.
Posted inNational News
Biden has been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer
Former President Joe Biden, 82, has been diagnosed with aggressive, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones, following recent symptoms and testing. While the cancer is serious, doctors say it remains manageable with hormone-based treatments, and Biden is reviewing options with his physicians.
Posted inU.S. Government
Civil rights agency moves to fire judge fighting White House directives
EEOC Judge Karen Ortiz faces termination after publicly opposing the 47th president’s directives limiting transgender protections, as the agency shifts its stance on gender identity discrimination and enforces stricter discipline against internal dissent.
Posted inNational News
Most travelers must have a REAL ID now to fly in U.S., or face extra screening
By Olga R. Rodriguez REAL ID requirements for those flying within the United States begin May 7 after nearly 20 years of delays. The day ahead of the deadline, people lined up at government offices across the country to secure their compliant IDs. In Chicago, officials established a Real ID Supercenter for walk-in appointments, while […]