New Dope (Page 30)

Trump Administration Moves To Lay Off 1,600 USAID Jobs

Trump Administration Slashes 1,600 USAID Jobs In Major Overhaul Of US Foreign Aid Operations The Donald Trump administration has initiated a sweeping reduction in the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), affecting at least 1,600 employees. In a statement published on its website, USAID confirmed that as of 11:59 p.m. EST on February 23, 2025, most direct-hire personnel—except those handling mission-critical functions—will be placed on administrative leave worldwide. Mas

News Donald Trump

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Feb 25, 2025 — 1 min read

Roberta Flack, Grammy-Winning Icon, Dies at 88

The iconic singer, known for hits like “Killing Me Softly” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” has died at 88 after battling ALS. Roberta Flack, the Grammy-winning singer and pianist whose soulful voice and intimate style defined the 1970s, has passed away at the age of 88. She died at home, surrounded by family, her publicist confirmed. In 2022, Flack revealed she had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which left her unable to sing. Flack’s rise to stardom came unexpectedly in her ea

News Grammy

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Feb 25, 2025 — 2 min read

UK Artists Absent from Global Top 10 Albums and Singles Chart for First Time Since 2003

British pop stars have failed to reach the worldwide annual charts of the year’s Top 10 biggest singles and albums for the first time in more than two decades. In 2022, UK acts such as Harry Styles and Glass Animals made up seven of the 20 entries in the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) list. This year, the leading UK act was producer and singer Artemas, for I Like the Way You Kiss Me. British stars such as Charli xcx – arguably the most conversation-dominating UK a

Music Billie Eilish

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Feb 24, 2025 — 2 min read

Trump Appoints Dan Bongino as Deputy FBI Director

US President Donald Trump has appointed right-wing commentator Dan Bongino as deputy director of the FBI. Trump posted on social media that Bongino was "a man of incredible love and passion for our Country" and would serve under newly confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel. Bongino, 50, has worked for the New York police department and the Secret Service - as well as having been part of the protection detail for two presidents, George W Bush and Barack Obama. He hosts a self-titled podcast whose F

News Donald Trump

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Feb 24, 2025 — 1 min read

Chloe Bailey Accused of Exploiting Songwriter in New Lawsuit

Chloe Bailey is facing a lawsuit from songwriter and producer Melvin Moore, known professionally as 4Rest, who alleges that he was not properly credited or compensated for his contributions to her Trouble In Paradise album. According to court documents obtained by Rolling Stone, the lawsuit—filed on Thursday (Feb. 20)—also names Columbia Records, Sony Music, and Parkwood Entertainment as defendants. Throughout the 33-page suit, Moore accuses Bailey of “exploiting” his work and misappropriating

Music Chloe Bailey

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Feb 23, 2025 — 1 min read

Rihanna Reportedly Set to Headline 2025 Glastonbury Festival

After years of speculation, Rihanna may finally be taking the stage at Glastonbury. Reports suggest that the global superstar and business mogul is set to headline the iconic 2025 festival, which will once again be held in Somerset, England. According to sources, there’s also a possibility, that Rihanna might schedule at least six concerts in London following the festival. This proposed residency would take place in July, tentatively set for the 4th through the 12th. Fans are still awaiting

Entertainment Glastonbury Festival

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Feb 23, 2025 — 1 min read

Pope Francis in Critical Condition After Respiratory Crisis, Vatican Confirms

The pontiff is in hospital for a complex lung infection and has been given high flows of oxygen and blood transfusions. The Vatican has said Pope Francis is in a critical condition after he suffered a long asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen. Francis has been hospitalised for a week with a complex lung infection. The Vatican said on Saturday that Francis has received blood transfusions after tests showed a condition associated with anaemia. The 88-year-old pope has

World News Catholicism

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Feb 22, 2025 — 1 min read

A$AP Rocky Named Ray-Ban's First-Ever Creative Director

A$AP Rocky has landed a major new role in fashion. The 36-year-old musician and entrepreneur was named Ray-Ban’s first-ever creative director on Friday, Feb. 21. The announcement comes just three days after he was acquitted in his Los Angeles felony assault trial. With a long-standing presence in the fashion world—having appeared in campaigns, collaborated with Puma, and recently been named a co-chair for the 2025 Met Gala—Rocky will now take on a leadership role at Ray-Ban Studios, where he’l

Lifestyle A$AP Rocky

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Feb 22, 2025 — 2 min read

Apple Pulls Key iPhone Security Feature Amid UK Government Pressure

Apple has removed security features from iPhones in the UK, in response to demands from the government to be given access to user data. The tech giant is removing its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) system, which encrypts user files uploaded to the cloud. It comes after reports that the British government issued Apple with a order under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 to provide “back door” access to its devices, which would allow intelligence agencies to spy on users. Neither Apple nor the

News Apple

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Feb 21, 2025 — 2 min read

Voletta Wallace, Mother of The Notorious B.I.G., Dies at 78

Voletta Wallace, the mother of rap legend The Notorious B.I.G., has passed away at the age of 78. She died at her home in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, on Friday (Feb. 21) while in hospice care, Monroe County Coroner Thomas Yanac confirmed. Wallace’s death was attributed to natural causes. TMZ first reported the news. A Jamaican immigrant, Wallace gave birth to Christopher Wallace—known to the world as The Notorious B.I.G.—on May 21, 1972, in Brooklyn. She worked as a preschool teacher while rais

News The notorious B.i.g.

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Feb 21, 2025 — 1 min read

Broadway Star Cynthia Erivo to Host 78th Tony Awards

“Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo has been picked to host Broadway’s biggest night, the 78th Tony Awards due to be held at the Radio City Music Hall in New York in June. Erivo who was recently nominated for an Oscar in the musical fantasy film, said she was “proud and excited” to have been chosen. “I am looking forward to ushering the theatre community at large through a night that celebrates the wonderful performances we have witnessed throughout the year. I hope I can rise to the occasion,” she sa

Entertainment Broadway

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Feb 20, 2025 — 1 min read

Drake Suggests His Album Is Being Suppressed in Favor of Kendrick Lamar’s ‘GNX’

Drake is no stranger to voicing his thoughts on social media, and his latest move has fans speculating that he believes his new collaborative album, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U with PARTYNEXTDOOR, isn’t getting fair treatment—specifically on Spotify. In a post made by polarizing culture commentator Akademiks, it is alleged that when searching for Drake’s new album, Kendrick Lamar’s album ‘GNX ‘appears instead, preventing listeners from listening to the collaboration between Drizzy and PARTYNEXTDOOR. “

Music $ome $exy $ongs 4 U

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Feb 20, 2025 — 1 min read

A$AP Rocky Rocky’s Emotional Reaction as Jury Finds Him Not Guilty in Felony Assault Trial

A$AP Rocky dove into the arms of Rihanna Tuesday as a clerk read the not guilty verdict at his trial on two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. The Los Angeles courtroom, full of fans of the hip-hop performer and his singing superstar partner, exploded into screaming glee as Rocky leapt from the defense table into the gallery, where Rihanna sat between his mother and sister. They embraced and sobbed. After a three-week trial, the jury deliberated for just three hours to reac

News A$AP Relli

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Feb 19, 2025 — 5 min read

Taylor Swift Crowned IFPI’s Global Recording Artist for a Record Fifth Time

It’s official: Taylor Swift dominated 2024, and the rest of us were just along for the ride. Swift has made history yet again, securing the IFPI’s Global Recording Artist of the Year title for the fifth time—and for the third consecutive year. This recognition, which measures physical sales, digital downloads, and streaming worldwide, cements her as the top-selling recording artist on the planet. Breaking Records, Again Announced on February 18, Swift claimed the No. 1 spot, finishing ahead o

Music IFPI

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Feb 19, 2025 — 2 min read

Tens of millions of dead people aren’t getting Social Security checks, despite Trump and Musk claims

The Trump administration is making false claims that millions of dead people over 100 years old are still getting Social Security payments. Recently, both President Donald Trump and billionaire adviser Elon Musk have shared on social media and in press conferences that people aged 100, 200, or even 300 years old are improperly collecting benefits. Musk even called it a "HUGE problem" as his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) digs into federal agencies to fight waste, fraud, and abuse.

Politics Donald Trump

Brandon Marshall

Feb 19, 2025 — 2 min read

Federal judge won’t immediately block Elon Musk or DOGE from federal data or worker layoffs

A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that she wouldn't immediately block Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing government data systems or getting involved in worker layoffs. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan acknowledged that there are real questions about Musk’s authority, but she didn’t find enough evidence of serious legal harm to warrant a temporary restraining order. This decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by 14 Democratic states challenging DOG

Politics DOGE

Brandon Marshall

Feb 19, 2025 — 1 min read