A major study led by the University of Oxford has investigated how the HIV has evolved since first infecting humans 100 years ago, becoming weaker, less infectious and less deadly, with its ability to cause AIDS slowing down. The virus, which currently affects over 35 million people, having killed 40 million over the last 30 years, has been such a devastating illness because of its strong ability to mutate and disguise itself so fast. It appears to match every move its host’s immune system makes.

The new findings came after scientists observed a surprising increase in the ability of some patients in Africa to live with the virus without getting AIDS, the deadly syndrome in which their immune systems become ineffective.

Professor Phillip Goulder’s team looked at 2,000 female patients in Botswana and South Africa. In Botswana, many of the patients have a gene variant called HLA-B*57 which helps to protect them. The HIV there has learned to adapt to this, but in the process it has become less potent. This result doesn’t come as a surprise, as scientists have long believed that most viruses start out deadly, but mellow with age.

Some virologists suggest the virus may eventually become “almost harmless” as it continues to evolve.

HIV originally came from apes or monkeys, in which it is frequently a minor infection.

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Former host of BET’s “Teen Summit” and Council of the District of Columbia candidate A.J. Cooper died Wednesday morning, reportedly from a heart attack. His aunt, Peggy Cooper Cafritz, said he collapsed at his mother’s home after experiencing chest pains and dizziness, according to the Washington Post. Cafritz said he had been ill recently. Cooper was 34.

Cooper, known as “Jay” during his television years, hosted “Teen Summit,” a talk program focusing on issues of the youth in the Black community. He was in his high school and college years while hosting.

After college, the D.C. native became active in political and social programs in the city. He became the policy director of the D.C. Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.  Then, in 2012, he ran for the city’s at-large council seat. Cooper looked to follow in the footsteps of his father Algernon Johnson Cooper, who in 1972 became the first Black man to be mayor of Prichard, a predominately white Alabama town.

Though the younger Cooper did not win the seat, he continued with plans to stay active in his community.

“He loved the city, and he loved serving the people in the city, from the elderly to the young,” Cafritz said Wednesday. “Jay was just on the verge of bursting forth.”

Cooper had most recently protested the shooting of Ferguson, Missouri’s Michael Brown and helped organize a demonstration outside the Justice Department building.

In 2011, I joined the infamous Nomadness Travel Tribe, which was an eye opening experience for one main reason. I got to immediately connect and interact with like-minded, young, urban professionals from all over the world in one unique space. Not only did these men and women represent every corner of the globe, but many have traveled to damn-near every crevice of this planet and they could provide an insight on the world I never had access to before. And since there is such a proliferation of Black folks in the group, I’ve been able to gleam a lot of different insights into how race and racism play into life in different parts of the planet. Sadly, the one thing I’ve learned is that white privilege and racism are not only staples of life in North America, but also all over the world in many first world and third world nations. Concepts such as being pulled over for driving while Black, meeting racist glass ceilings in the work place, and being disproportionately harassed by the police are GLOBAL concepts — yet, concepts that are largely ignored by the privileged majority.

For many, many decades, Black folks all over the world have been pleading to state officials to give them release from brutality and racial targeting. For many, many decades, we have continually stated that the justice system has two-tiers. The system for white people, in which lenience, fairness and rehabilitation live. And the system for everyone else, in which we must largely live without the aforementioned human rights — unless we have money and fame. For as many decades as we’ve been complaining, we’ve also been ignored for that same time. In fact, to bring up the inequality in profiling and sentencing, even when armed with hard facts is considered “playing the race card.”

[Image: Shutterstock]

So last night, as outrage engulfed the nation over the grand jury’s decision not to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo in the choking death of Eric Garner, white Twitter users decided to start a hashtag called #CrimingWhileWhite, in which they discussed how they were caught doing crimes by white police officers and managed to escape severe punishment in a way most Black people wouldn’t be able. Folks were sharing stories about being caught driving drunk, having an officer find weed on them, and even assaulting someone without the police applying excessive force on them. As the hashtag grew and began trending worldwide, it was a great way to show solidarity with Black people who desire more fair and equitable treatment from officers of the law. But it did raise one disturbing question: Why was #CrimingWhileWhite unbelievable when Black folks said it?

Look, I’m an advocate for each community controlling their own narrative, but why exactly was it so inconceivable when Black folks explained that they saw white folks explicitly receiving preferential treatment from police officers? Why is the majority so quick to dismiss factual evidence of this abuse when we even brought statistics to the table such as Black offenders receiving sentences that are 10 percent longer than white offenders for the same crime, or the fact that Black Americans are incarcerated at nearly six times the rate of white people? While I appreciate everyone who contributed to the #CrimingWhileWhite hashtag, we must address the tone-deafness of our society towards Black pain.

LAB

Lincoln Anthony Blades blogs daily on his site ThisIsYourConscience.com, he’s an author of the book “You’re Not A Victim, You’re A Volunteer” and a weekly contributor for UPTOWN Magazine. He can be reached via Twitter @lincolnablades and on Facebook at This Is Your Conscience.

A rise in healthcare premiums is inevitable in the second year of President Barack Obama‘s Affordable Healthcare Act, according to a report from the Health and Human Services Department.  In 2015, many who use  subsidized private health insurance will have to choose between either accepting higher rates or choosing a new provider altogether.

The most popular insurers are expected to raise rates by an average of 5 percent in the 35 states where health exchanges are controlled by the federal government.  Daily Finance reports that these increases mask more significant price changes from state to state, and some states could see double-digit surges.

The upside is that customers will be able to switch to another plan that may offer lower costs.  The Obama administration says approximately two-thirds of customers should be able to find health coverage at rates of $100 per month or lower at Heathcare.gov’s marketplace if they weigh their options.

“In today’s marketplace, [insurers] are competing for business,” Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell said in a recent statement. “Returning customers may find an even better deal if they shop and save.”

This money-saving method is expected to be quite convenient since, as the report states, 90 percent of customers will have the option of choosing from three or more insurance companies in 2015, whereas before, only 74 percent had such options.

If a customer chooses to switch insurers, they are likely to find themselves switching to a company with low enrollment numbers in 2014, as these unpopular insurers plan to cut rates next year to attract new buyers.

“Braxton Family Values” star Toni Braxton is reportedly fed up with her ex-husband, Keri Lewis refusing to pay child support for their two sons, Denim Cole Braxton-Lewis and Diezel Ky Braxton-Lewis.  Now she’s taking him to court and asking the musician to pay up.

The Grammy-award winning singer filed the lawsuit against Lewis on Oct. 31 in a Georgia court.  Braxton’s bankruptcy documents state she is entitled to $2000 per month in child support from Lewis.  Braxton is asking for that amount, plus back-child support fees in the lawsuit.

Braxton met Lewis when Mint Condition was opening for her at a concert.  The two married in 2001, but separated in 2009.  They divorced in 2012.

She has spoken rather highly of her ex-husband and their current relationship and arrangements.  On an episode of the now-cancelled talk show “Bethany” in February, Braxton spoke candidly about she and Lewis’ breakup with a very interesting description.

“We get along great.  We’re very Caucasian, very White about it,” Braxton tells the host.  “Black people, we kind of look and say ‘Why is that? How come they don’t hate each other?'”

Hopefully the two artists can also walk away from this child support battle without hating each other..

This week in celeb quotes, Chris Rock likens modern race relations to Ike and Tina Turner‘s marriage, Mel B reveals a lesbian relationship before marrying her husband, and Terry Crews discusses the trouble with modern-day masculinity! Plus, K. Michelle still denies Soulja Boy smashed her hot pocket. And Lil Wayne said what?! AND I QUOTE …

“If you saw Tina Turner and Ike having a lovely breakfast over there, would you say their relationship’s improved? Some people would. But a smart person would go, ‘Oh, he stopped punching her in the face.’”

Chris Rock comparing the tumultuous relationship of white and Black Americans with that of former couple Ike and Tina Turner, who had a notoriously abusive marriage, via Vulture.com

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“I did have a four-year relationship with a woman. But I’ve been very happily married for seven years to a penis. An amazing guy.”

Mel B. admitting to a lesbian affair with a PTA mom before marrying her husband, via Page Six.

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“Oh, if I had known you were serving food I would have brought a tuna casserole. I panicked!”

Gabrielle Union on meeting Prince for the first time at one of his infamous text message invite-only parties, on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.”

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“I would like Cosby to come out and at least acknowledge that he is a pig, that he is a monster, and he raped me.”

Janice Dickinson pleading with Bill Cosby to confess to sexually molesting her, in an exclusive interview wih CNN’s Fredericka Whitfield.

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“There are levels to people getting into my hot pocket….Soulja Boy is like a little peewee. He wouldn’t even be allowed to lick my big toe.”

K. Michelle reiterating that she did not have a sexual relationship with the  “Love & Hip Hop Hollywood” star Soulja Boy, in an exclusive with C.Nikky.com.

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“Does man code work when it’s your daughter who gets raped? Man code — does that work when your mom gets abused?”

Terry Crews speaking about the damaging effects of modern-day masculinity, at the recent What Makes A Man 2014: Maps to Manhood conference.

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“To all my fans, I want u to know that my album won’t and hasn’t been released bekuz Baby & Cash Money Rec. refuse to release it. This is not my fault. I am truly and deeply sorry to all my fans but most of all to myself and my family for putting us in this situation. I want off this label and nothing to do with these people but unfortunately it ain’t that easy.”

Lil Wayne explaining the delay of his album, Tha Carter V, and pleading with Baby to release him from Cash Money Records, via Twitter. 

The soon to be ex-wife of Columbus Short has been charged with battery after brawling with his alleged mistress, and it was all caught on tape. The former “Scandal” star recorded his estranged wife, Tanee McCall-Short, assaulting a woman she believed was his mistress.

32-year-old Tilly Key, friend of Short, picked him up from home after he was released from jail in May 2014. When McCall-Short spotted Key inside, things went awry. Instead of diffusing the fight, the 32 year old actor filmed the incident. In the 46-second clip, McCall-Short is videoed yelling, pulling Key’s hair and calling her a “low-rent bitch.” Key suffered a concussion, a cervical sprain, multiple contusions and a lower back strain and sprain from the altercation.

Short has yet to make a statement.

Take a look at the video for yourself:

Tyler Perry and longtime girlfriend, model and activist Gelila Bekele, who welcomed their first child, Aman Tyler Perry on Sunday, Nov. 30. “Aman” means peace.

After welcoming their baby boy, the parents sent out a birth announcement asking that instead of gifts, donations be made to Charity Water, an organization dedicated to providing clean water to developing countries.

“The greatest gift I’m being given right now is the opportunity to give the little boy in me everything I never had,” the 45 year old film maker told “Extra,” accidentally revealing the baby’s gender “So that’s what I’m excited about. This beautiful human being that God has allowed to come into my life for me to get to know, because they come with their own personalities, who they are, to shepherd and usher him.”

The news first broke in September that the pair would be expecting. Aman is the first child for both Perry and the 28 year old model.

After being discovered at the age of 15 for a role in the popular independent film Kids, Rosario Dawson proved that she deserved a spot on the big screen. Since then, her talent has positioned her everywhere from the Broadway production of Rent to major films such as Robert Rodriguez‘s adaptation of Frank Miller‘s Sin City. Now, we get to see Rosario in Chris Rock‘s highly-anticipated comedy, Top Five. Come 2015, Marvel and Netflix have announced that the acclaimed actress will appear in “Marvel’s Daredevil,” an all-new 13-episode series premiering on the streaming network.

Although Rosario has a deep passion for her craft, giving a helping hand to social, political, and environmental causes also tops her list of priorities. Among the many organizations she is committed to, Rosario launched a non-profit called Voto Latino which encourages American Latinos to empower their voice and future by voting and becoming involved with politics. But, style and fashion seems to also have a special place in Rosario’s heart. She’s launched her own fashion brand and e-commerce site called, Studio One Eighty Nine. This week’s Star Style subject, Rosario Dawson takes a contemporary meets classic approach to fashion, as shown in the following looks.

I love that Rosario stepped outside the box for the season in ethnic-inspired outerwear. Incorporating such a piece within your wardrobe adds another dimension to layering, especially when mixing other prints.

 The dark contrast of black opaque tights and a bright color makes an outfit pop in an unexpected way.

An African print skirt is perfect for adding a feminine and vibrant touch for any type of mood you want to take your outfit.

To pull off the sleek androgynous sophistication of a white tuxedo, skip wearing a shirt all together. Simply add a long chandelier earring, a sexy heel, and an embellished clutch.

Some fashion rules were made to be broken. One in particular that’s been perceived as a fashion don’t is wearing navy blue and black together. But, there are many ways to make the combination work. For instance, Rosario’s plaid scarf which consists of the color emerald green, happens to coordinate well with navy  blue and black.

A crop top and pencil skirt pairing is a sexy addition to add to your wardrobe.

There’s always one statement vacation dress that you should always have ready when jetting off to a warm destination.

Never underestimate the power of a beautifully flowing, elegant Greek-inspired gown. To make a sexy impression for a special occasion, a short dress isn’t the only way.

When wanting to add the impression of hips, wearing a shirt or dress with pleats, gathered fabric, or a peplum does the trick.

There should be at least one coat in your closet that works seamlessly well with everything. As seen here on Rosario, her black coat coordinates well with her red boot-cut pants and gold heels

Rosario’s 1950s style cocktail ensemble is chic and effortless.

Rosario looks stunning in her full-length black ball gown. A dress as such can be accessorized with either light or dramatic touches.

We’d thought this day would never come. A white South Carolina cop was charged with murder for the fatal shooting of an unarmed Black man in 2011. The Orangeburg County grand jury decision to indict Richard Combs on Wednesday was the same day a Staten Island grand jury declined to indict NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo for choking unarmed Eric Garner to death in July 2014.

Combs, former chief and sole officer in the small town of Eutawville, shot Bernard Bailey, 54, twice in the chest after a scuffle occurred when Bailey visited the Town Hall to argue about his daughter’s broken tail light ticket. According to prosecutors, Combs, 38, attempted to arrest Bailey on obstruction of justice charges. Bailey walked back to his car, where Combs followed. The pair quickly fought before Combs drew his gun, shooting Bailey, a 6-foot-6 former prison guard, twice in his pickup truck.

Combs claimed he feared for his life, after trying to turn off Bailey’s ignition. But prosecutors say Combs was the aggressor, as he followed Bailey as he walked away. Combs had previously been charged with misconduct in office for the shooting. He had faced up to 10 years in prison.

Combs was released on Thursday on a $150,000 bail. He was placed on leave after the shooting, and the town let him go six months later. He is currently unemployed.

In August, Bailey’s family reached a $400,000 wrongful death settlement with Eutawville, which is 50 miles southeast of Columbia, a small city of 300 residents.

If convicted of murder, the former cop could spend 30 years to life in prison.

Instead of announcing the 2015 Grammy Award nominations during a prime time concert, the nominations reveal is now an all-day event. After the initial TV announcement, more nominees rolled out on Twitter, with the hashtag, #Grammys.

British breakout star Sam Smith holds the most nominations so far with five, while industry vets like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Pharrell Williams are also nominated.

Beyoncé was nominated for Best Urban Contemporary album for the surprise self-titled video album, Beyoncé, along with Pharrell Williams for Girl, which features his smash hit “Happy.”

Nominees for Album of the Year, the most coveted Grammy award, will be announced on A Very GRAMMY Christmas, which will air tonight at 9:00p.m. ET on CBS.

Maroon 5, Pharrell, Mary J. Blige, Tim McGraw, Ariana Grande, with new beau rapper Big Sean, and Sam Smith will perform current hits.

Keep clicking for the rest of the 2015 Grammy Award nominations.

The 2015 nominees:

Song of the year

•”All About That Bass” – Meghan Trainor
• “Chandelier” – Sia
• “Shake It Off” – Taylor Swift
• “Stay with Me (Darkchild Version)” – Sam Smith
• “Take Me to Church” – Hozier

Best country album

• Riser – Dierks Bentley
• The Outsiders – Eric Church
• 12 Stories – Brandy Clark
• Platinum – Miranda Lambert
• The Way I’m Livin’ – Lee Ann Womack

Best pop vocal album

• Ghost Stories – Coldplay
• Bangerz – Miley Cyrus
• My Everything – Ariana Grande
• Prism – Katy Perry
• x – Ed Sheeran
• In the Lonely Hour – Sam Smith

Best urban contemporary album

• Sail Out – Jhené Aiko
• Beyoncé – Beyoncé
• X – Chris Brown
• Mali Is – Mali Music
• Girl – Pharrell Williams

Record of the year

• “Fancy” – Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX
• “Chandelier” – Sia
• “Stay with Me” (Darkchild version) – Sam Smith
• “Shake It Off” – Taylor Swift
• “All About That Bass” – Meghan Trainor

Best pop solo performance

• “All of Me” – John Legend
• “Chandelier” – Sia
• “Stay With Me” – Sam Smith
• “Shake It Off” – Taylor Swift
• “Happy” – Pharrell Williams

Best rock song

• “Ain’t it Fun” – Paramore
• “Blue Moon” – Beck
• “Fever” – The Black Keys
• “Gimme Something Good” – Ryan Adams
• “Lazaretto” – Jack White

Best rock album

• Ryan Adams – Ryan Adams
• Morning Phase – Beck
• Turn Blue – The Black Keys
• Hypnotic Eye – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
• Songs of Innocence – U2

Best new artist
• Iggy Azalea
• Bastile
• Brandy Clark
• HAIM
• Sam Smith

Best country song

• “American Kids” – Kenny Chesney
• “Automatic” – Miranda Lambert
• “Give Me Back My Hometown” – Eric Church
• “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” – Glen Campbell
• “Meanwhile Back at Mama’s” – Tim McGraw ft. Faith Hill

Best reggae album

• Fly Rasta – Ziggy Marley
• Back on the Controls – Lee “Scratch” Perry
• Full Frequency – Sean Paul
• Out of Many, One Music – Shaggy
• The Reggae Power – Sly & Robbie & Spicy Chocolate
• Amid the Noise and the Haste – Soja

The 57th annual Grammy Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, February 8, 2015 on CBS.

Remember when the internet exploded once LIFETIME’s highly controversial Aaliyah movie premiered? Well it looks like there is another biopic that is ready to make waves. This time the network will pay homage to the legendary Whitney Houston with a tv biopic of the late singer’s life.

Let’s not jump to conclusions about the film just yet. Unlike the Aaliyah movie which was directed by Wendy Williams, this movie features the directorial debut of Angela Basset. Perhaps, she’ll be able to create a film that receives better reviews than Wendy’s did?

Unfortunately, like the Aaliyah bioflick, LIFETIME was not able to get the support of Whitney’s family to produce the film,  nor were they able to get rights to any of Whitney’s original music. Grammy nominated singer Deborah Cox will lend her vocals on the project.

Want to see if the film will be any good? Watch the official trailer featuring model and actress Yaya Acosta as Whitney Houston for the film below.

Don’t miss the airing of LIFETIME’s biopic, debuting Saturday January 17th.

Earlier this week hip-hop aficionados got the surprise of a lifetime when Lil Wayne, Young Money’s established leader, took to twitter to spew some not so kind words about Cash Money Records. In a series of tweets, Lil Wayne revealed that he wasn’t happy with his current situation and felt like his always revered label was holding him back from releasing his upcoming album, Carter V.

The series of tweets came as a big surprise to most. Weezy and the whole Cash Money team have always publicly displayed themselves as nothing but a family, so to hear that a possible split could be eminent took the hip-hop community for a loop.

The tweets that shook up the net read, “To all my fans, I want u to know that my album won’t and hasn’t been released bekuz Baby & Cash Money Rec. refuse to release it. This is not my fault. I am truly and deeply sorry to all my fans but most of all to myself and my family for putting us in this situation. I want off this label and nothing to do with these people but unfortunately it ain’t that easy. I am a prisoner and so is my creativity Again, I am truly sorry and I don’t blame ya if ya fed up with waiting 4 me & this album. But thk u. Pray”

When word of the tweets surfaced, many questioned the authenticity of the message. Was Weezy’s account hacked? Is this just another publicity stunt to sell records? This weekend Wanye put all of the speculations to rest when he addressed the drama during a performance for Vice’s 20th anniversary party, calling the release of the Carter V a “f***ed up situation”.

It’s unfortunate to watch the demise of a mega music empire occur, but it’s no surprise here that teams like Cash Money have drama and tension that go on behind the scenes.

Want to see what else Wayne had to say about Cash Money? You can watch the entire NSFW rant here.

This weekend black Hollywood’s finest celebs took the scene looking hotter than ever. Whether they were rocking the red carpet, hitting up Miami’s Art Basel or promoting a their new film, they showed the world why black is always beautiful.

Take a look through our gallery of some of the sexiest celebs to take the streets this weekend!

Gabriel Union at the SensatioNail event on FridayGabriel Union and Rosaria Dawson posing at 106 & Park Friday. The ladies are promoting their upcoming film Top Five.Solange Knowles Ferguson oustide of the W Hotel in Miami Friday.

Wiz Khalifa at Art Basel in Miami Friday.

Miguel at Art Basel in Miami.
Ashanti on the red carpet at the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards.
Letoya Luckett posted this photo on her Instagram page posing with Debra Lee.

“I had the pleasure & the honor of presenting the chairman & CEO of @BETnetworks Ms. Debra Lee with the Fly Beyond award at #ArtBasel tonight! All I can say is wow!!! What a WOMAN!! #Blessed #ArtBasel”

Dave Chappelle at the 19th annual GQ “Men of the Year” party at the Chateau Marmont in L.A.

Wale at the 19th annual GQ “Men of the Year” party at the Chateau Marmont in L.A.

Terry Crews at the 19th annual GQ “Men of the Year” party at the Chateau Marmont in L.A.

Uh-oh here we go again — looks like Chris Brown and on-and-off again girlfriend Karrueche Tran are officially over. After what went down, it doesn’t look like the two will be able to kiss and makeup any time soon. Here’s what went down.

Friday night during Chris Brown’s set at the Power 106’s Cali Christmas Concert in Los Angeles, Chris Brown announced that he was officially single, saying, “how many single ladies out there tonight? I’m single too! F*ck that b*tch!”

Karrueche must have heard about the insult and took to twitter to make a statement of her own, saying “N***as be in there feelings when you break up with them lol”

Niggas be in they feelings when you break up with them lol

— Karrueche Tran (@karrueche) December 6, 2014

Of  course word of the breakup went viral. Karrueche felt the need to explain her side of things, so she shared the following image and caption on Instagram.

Once you find strength within yourself, it’s hard to allow any type of bs around you. I refuse to be repeatedly mistreated especially by someone who claims to love me. That’s not love. And if that’s what you define as love then I don’t want it. Yes, I have not been so smart before in the past but I made a promise to be a better and stronger woman and I’m keeping that promise. If you can’t love me the right way, then don’t love me at all. Don’t be mad at me because I prefer to be happy. Keep love in your life folks. Not just love between people but love within your HEART, flowing in all aspects of your life. I promise life is so much better ❤️

Chris Brown, known for his short-temper and slick mouth was not feeling Kae’s “I prefer to be happy” message, so he took to IG with a few choice words of his own. In the photos caption, he briefly touches on the couples public appearance, threesomes and her inappropriate relationship with Drake.

We’ve got scars, some of them u gave me, some of them I’ve caused. That ride or die act we have been fooling the world with obviously ain’t working. I was locked up for d**n near 4 months and only got 1 visit from you while u was hosting parties and taking secret trips to Toronto, going on dates with Drake! When this relationship first started u knew what it was and even participated in threesomes. I slowed all that sh*t down. So let’s not try to save face for public opinion because I don’t need to play victim so people can take my side. All these celebrity ni**as ain’t sh*t and focus only on themselves. I made it clear to the world who my girl was and made your life equal to mine even at the cost of me not focusing on my career at times. So miss me wit the bullsh*t. Now yall know the real.

Things sure are getting messy, but we’ll be sure to keep you updated on all drama as it unfolds.

Rapper Nicki Minaj put her performing arts school background in theater to good use Saturday night when she graced Saturday Night Live for the second time with a heartfelt performance of “Bed of Lies” and skits that had us rolling on the floor with laughter.

One big moment from last night’s show came when Nicki Minaj flawlessly imitated Beyonce during the hilarious MTV Jingle Ballerz skit. SNL cast-mates imitated celebs like Rihanna, Eminem, Rick Ross, Justin Bieber, Kanye West and more as they honored the holidays with a special hip-hop tribute performance centered around the nativity scene. Nicki Minaj took the stage and stole the show by delivering an impressive Bey-like note that had us all in awe of all of the rapper’s many talents.

Watch Nicki Minaj belt “I woke up like dis” in the clip below.

The second big Nicki moment of the night came when the rapper portrayed Kim Kardashian during SNL’s infamous “Weekend Update” bit. Because Kim’s PAPER Magazine shoot is still breaking the internet, Nicki as Kim Kardashian dropped by the news station to provide better context on the controversial yet buzzed about images. In the sketch, Nicki attempts to justify why Kim would would pose for such images. The result is pretty funny. You can watch the sketch below.

Only television series that we obsess over appear in the annual Top 10 List of Most Illegally downloaded shows. This year, USA’s hit legal drama Suits made the cut. Meghan Markle, also known as the clever, ambitious Rachel Zane for the past four seasons, is clearly one of the reasons troves tune in. The striking 33-year-old has been checking off all kinds of boxes lately. Outside of the nine months she’s on set in Toronto filming Suits, Markle—who once worked at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires—is busy revisiting her political roots with a new United Nations appointment (and building a media empire).

POST RACIAL RACHEL

Though she was sure the audition for Suits was a bust, Markle, who began her career on soap operas, beat out a White Pages’ worth of competition. Not lost on the Los Angeles native is the significance of landing this particular role. “Rachel was written as the dream girl. In television, the dream girl for so many decades had been blonde-haired and blue-eyed,” says Markle, whose mother is African American and father is of Dutch and Irish descent. “I went in and they revamped their vision. They reframed how the dream girl is seen.”

EUREKA EFFECT

Recommendation-seeking friends and fans inspired the launch of Markle’s popular lifestyle portal, TheTIG.com, giving the Northwestern University grad yet another job: editrix-in-chief. “I realized I have a voice I want to share and I’m really protective of it. I developed the site, write all the content and take the majority of the photographs,” says Markle. Seven years ago, she had an epiphany after her first taste of a red wine known as Tignanello or Tig. “When people talk about the body and the structure of wine—[that sip] was really my first moment of getting it. The Tig became my nickname for an a-ha moment.”

FULL CIRCLE

While TheTIG is where Markle blogs about get-worthy meals, fashion as art or the virtues of staying in an 18th century palace-turned-hotel, she hardly thought it would lead back to politics. And yet, a Fourth of July post on “embracing your independence, specifically as women,” caught the attention of higher-ups at the United Nations. Summarily, Markle joined execs at UN Women’s NYC headquarters this summer for immersive training before she departs on aid and humanitarian trips in the fall.

By Chrystal Parker | Photo: Jake Rosenberg

Uber has been banned from the city of Delhi after a driver was accused of raping a woman who booked a ride Friday night. The car service provider is under fire for not conducting a thorough background check on the male driver, who’d been arrested and acquitted three years prior for rape.

On Friday evening Uber driver Shiv Kumar Yadav, 32, picked up a woman from a company event, and attacked her before dropping her off at her home.  The unnamed 26 year old reported that Yadav threatened to insert a rod in her genitals and warned her not to report the assault. He is expected to be charged Monday.

Police are contemplating taking legal action against Uber for not conducting a background check on the driver or making sure there was a satellite tracking device in his vehicle. In response, the company used the defense that India doesn’t have defined rules for background checks related to commercial transport licenses and that “it was working with the government to address the issue.”

Uber’s chief executive officer Travis Kalanick addressed the incident in a statement. “What happened over the weekend in New Delhi is horrific. We will do everything, I repeat, everything to help bring this perpetrator to justice.”

In June, Uber was in the headlines for a similar incident where one of its drivers kidnapped a woman in Los Angeles with the intention of raping her.  The company and its officials have been criticized most recently for comments made by Emil Michael, Uber’s senior vice president of business, regarding his willingness to spend $1M on a smear campaign against female journalist who had criticized the company.

-Colby Carrington

The Chronicle of Higher Education released Sunday a report that names the highest-paid private university presidents across the U.S. Three dozen presidents at private colleges and universities made more than $1 million, with the highest earner taking home more than $7 million in 2012. That spot goes to Shirley Ann Jackson of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, New York.

Jackson’s 2012 compensation included a $5.9 million retention incentive that was set aside over a decade, according to the Chronicle for Higher Education. Her total compensation that year was $7.1 million.

The survey included the 500 private colleges and universities with the highest endowments. The Chronicle’s researchers examined tax forms and Education Department filings. The annual compensation was calculated using base salary, bonuses, other reportable compensation, and nontaxable benefits. Retirement pay that wasn’t paid out in 2012 wasn’t included. The survey found that the median income for presidents of private institutions is $400,000. However, clergy at Roman Catholic institutions often received no compensation.

In 1999, Jackson became the first African American woman appointed to the position of president of Rensselaer. Her specific area of research is condensed matter physics. She serves on the U.S. Secretary of State’s International Security Advisory Board, the U.S. Secretary of Energy Advisory Board, and the U.S. Comptroller-General’s Advisory Committee for the Government Accountability Office, according to her profile on the school’s website.

Time once recognized Jackson as “the ultimate role model for women in science.” She has been awarded 52 honorary doctorates.

Jackson is married to Rensselaer physics professor Morris A. Washington and they have a son who is a Dartmouth College alum.

The other top-earning private college or university presidents were Quinnipiac University‘s John L. Lahey with total compensation of $3.7 million, Columbia University‘s Lee C. Bollinger with $3.3 million, and Amy Gutmann at the University of Pennsylvania with $2.4 million. The presidents of Princeton, Stanford and Harvard had compensation in the $900,000s.

High salaries can garner prestige for the presidents, but it can also open them up for criticism, considering how expensive it has become to get a higher education in this country.

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