by Gerald Imray JOHANNESBURG — The sentiment in South Africa ahead of its leader’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday was one of fear and trepidation. “Into the mouth of Trump hell” was how one newspaper headline described his mission. South Africans worried that President Cyril Ramaphosa was exposing himself to the kind of public thrashing that Trump and Vice President JD Vance meted out on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in front of the world’s media three months ago. But after being confronted by Trump with baseless allegations that there are widespread killings of…

by Alanna Durkin Richer, Eric Tucker and Mike Catalini WASHINGTON — Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver is being charged with assault after a skirmish with federal officers who arrested the Newark mayor outside an immigration detention center, New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor announced Monday. Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced the charge of assaulting, impeding or interfering with law enforcement on social media, but court papers providing details were not immediately released or publicly available online. At the same time, Habba announced that her office was dismissing a misdemeanor case brought against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who was arrested after he…

by Mark Sherman WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Trump administration to strip legal protections from 350,000 Venezuelans, potentially exposing them to deportation. The court’s order, with only one noted dissent, puts on hold a ruling from a federal judge in San Francisco that kept in place Temporary Protected Status for the Venezuelans that would have otherwise expired last month. The justices provided no rationale, which is common in emergency appeals. The status allows people already in the United States to live and work legally because their native countries are deemed unsafe for return due to…

by Michael R. Sisak and Larry Neumeister NEW YORK — Singer Dawn Richard told jurors at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial on Monday that the hip-hop mogul threatened to kill her if she told anyone she saw him physically abusing his longtime girlfriend. Richard testified that Combs made the threat the day after she witnessed the Bad Boy Records founder punch and kick Casandra “Cassie” Ventura after taking a swing at her with a skillet. Richard said he told her and another woman who saw the attack that “we could go missing” if they didn’t stay quiet. Assistant U.S.…

by Josh Boak, Zeke Miller and Katie Maries Davies WASHINGTON — Russia and Ukraine will “immediately” begin ceasefire negotiations, President Donald Trump said Monday after separate calls with the leaders of both countries meant to spur progress toward ending the three-year war. The conversations did not appear to yield a major breakthrough. It was not clear when or where any talks might take place or who would participate. Trump’s announcement came days after the first direct engagement between Russian and Ukrainian delegations since 2022. Those negotiations Friday in Turkey brought about a limited exchange of prisoners but no pause in…

by Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking WASHINGTON — In a massive setback, House Republicans failed Friday to push their big package of tax breaks and spending cuts through the Budget Committee, as a handful of conservatives joined all Democrats in a stunning vote against it. The hard-right lawmakers are insisting on steeper spending cuts to Medicaid and the Biden-era green energy tax breaks, among other changes, before they will give their support to President Donald Trump’s “beautiful” bill. They warn the tax cuts alone would pile onto the nation’s $36 trillion debt. The failed vote, 16-21, stalls, for now, House…

by Agency report R&B singer Cassie is back on the witness stand to testify for a fourth day in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial. Defense lawyers began cross-examining the star witness on Thursday, pressing her to read aloud messages that showed her expressing desire for the drug-fueled group sex she previously testified left her traumatized. In a letter to the judge, prosecutors insisted that the defense should wrap up their questioning in time to allow for prosecution follow-ups on Friday, citing concern for Cassie’s “health and safety” and the potential for a mistrial if she goes into labor with…

by Joseph Omoremi CHICAGO, IL -A mixture of a conscientious efforts by Black professionals in the country to give back to motherland as well as teach Americans especially Black youths the various resources available in Africa were made at the weekend during the 2025 African Summit and Resources Fair held at Charles Hayes Center on 4859 S. Wabash Ave in Chicago. “Educate us on the resources in Africa to bridge the gap on the misinformation being taught us here,” said a community organizerJonathan Wilson. He wondered why Africa is referred as poor and most economic resources and talents are sourced…

by Matt O’Brien WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has fired the nation’s top copyright official , Shira Perlmutter, days after abruptly terminating the head of the Library of Congress, which oversees the U.S. Copyright Office. The office said in a statement Sunday that Perlmutter received an email from the White House a day earlier with the notification that “your position as the Register of Copyrights and Director at the U.S. Copyright Office is terminated effective immediately.” On Thursday, President Donald Trump fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, the first woman and the first African American to be librarian of Congress,…

by Samya Kullab and Dasha Litvinova KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday he is hoping for a full and temporary ceasefire with Russia starting Monday, adding he would be in Turkey to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin “personally.” His comments came after U.S. President Donald Trump insisted Ukraine accept Russia’s latest offer of holding direct talks in Turkey on Thursday. Ukraine, along with European allies, had demanded Russia accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting on Monday before holding talks, but Moscow effectively rejected the proposal and called for direct negotiations instead. It was not clear if…