In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, and President Donald Trump, talk as they attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025.(Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)2025-04-26T10:30:06Z KYIV, Ukraine (AP) All Ukrainian troops have been forced from Russias Kursk region, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff for Russias Armed Forces, gave Russian President Vladimir Putin the news in a meeting Saturday, Peskov told Russian state news outlet Interfax.Ukrainian officials have not commented on the claim.Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in Vatican City on the sidelines of the popes funeral.The presidents met at St. Peters Basilica for about 15 minutes and agreed to continue negotiations later on Saturday, Ukrainian presidential spokesman Serhii Nykyforov said.White House Communications Director Steven Cheung also confirmed the meeting and said they met privately today and had a very productive discussion.Three people were killed overnight by Russian attacks across Ukraine, local officials also said. Two people died in a strike on the town of Yarova in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region, local Gov. Vadym Filashkin said in a post on social media. Another person died in the Dnipropetrovsk region, said Gov Serhiy Lysak. Six people were injured, including an 88-year-old woman and an 11-year-old girl, he said. Shortly after arriving in Rome last Friday, Trump said on social media that Ukraine and Russia should meet for very high-level talks on ending the three-year war sparked by Russias invasion. His envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier Friday, and Trump said both sides were very close to a deal. Meanwhile, in a statement Friday night, Zelenskyy said that very significant meetings may take place in coming days, and that an unconditional ceasefire was needed.Real pressure on Russia is needed so that they accept either the American proposal to cease fire and move towards peace, or our proposal whichever one can truly work and ensure a reliable, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, and then a dignified peace and security guarantees, he said. Diplomacy must succeed. And we are doing everything to make diplomacy truly meaningful and finally effective.Russia launched three missiles and 114 drones over Ukraine overnight, Ukraines air force wrote in a statement Saturday. Sixty-six drones were destroyed and a further 31 decoy drones failed to reach their destination.Meanwhile, Russian air defenses shot down 45 Ukrainian drones overnight, the countrys defense ministry said.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney arrives for a tour of Algoma Steel in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick /The Canadian Press via AP)2025-04-26T05:03:25Z TORONTO (AP) Canadians will vote for a new government on Monday in an election that has been upended by U.S. President Donald Trump s trade war and his threats to make Canada the 51st state.Prime Minister Mark Carney and the governing Liberal Party appeared poised for a historic election defeat until Trump slapped heavy tariffs on Canada and began threatening its sovereignty. Trumps attacks have infuriated Canadians, who are canceling trips to their southern neighbor and avoiding buying American goods when they can. The surge in Canadian nationalism has bolstered the Liberals poll numbers.The opposition Conservative Party had hoped to make the election a referendum on former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose popularity cratered as food and housing prices rose and immigration surged. But after decades of bilateral stability, the vote is now expected to focus on who is best equipped to deal with Trump. How will the election work?Voters nationwide will elect all 343 member of the House of Commons, one for each constituency. There are no primaries or runoffs just a single round of voting.Like the U.K., Canada uses a first-past-the-post voting system, meaning the candidate who finishes first in each constituency will be elected, even if they dont get 50% of the vote.This has generally cemented the dominance of the two largest parties, the Liberals and Conservatives, because its difficult for smaller parties to win seats unless they have concentrated support in particular areas. How is the prime minister chosen?The party that commands a majority in the House of Commons, either alone or with the support of another party, will form the next government and its leader will be prime minister.Carney replaced Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January but remained in power until the Liberal Party elected a new leader, Carney, on March 9.Carney was sworn in as Canadas 24th prime minister on March 14. He hopes to retain the job and avoid becoming one of Canadas shortest-serving prime ministers. Who is running?Carney, 60, is one of the two main candidates. He successfully navigated financial crises when he headed the Bank of Canada and later ran the Bank of England, becoming the first non-U.K. citizen to do so since its 1694 founding.A highly educated economist, Carney worked for 13 years for Goldman Sachs in London, Tokyo, New York and Toronto, before being appointed deputy governor of the Bank of Canada in 2003. He has financial industry and public service credentials.Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservatives, is Carneys main challenger. He and the party seemed headed for a big victory in the election until Trumps near-daily trade and annexation threats derailed them.Poilievre, 45, is a career politician and firebrand populist who says he will put Canada first. For years his partys go-to attack dog, he frequently criticizes the mainstream media and vows to defund Canadas public broadcaster. There are two other parties that have official status in Parliament. If the Liberals or Conservatives secure the most seats in the House of Commons but fail to win a majority, they would need to rely on either the New Democrats, a progressive party, or the separatist Quebec party Bloc Qubcois to pass legislation.

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President Donald Trump speaks with reporters as he and first lady Melania Trump depart on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House, Friday, April 25, 2025, in Washington. The President and first lady will be traveling to Rome and the Vatican to attend the funeral for Pope Francis. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)2025-04-26T11:23:37Z WASHINGTON (AP) Many Americans do not agree with President Trumps aggressive efforts to quickly enact his agenda, a new poll finds, and even Republicans are not overwhelmingly convinced that his attention has been in the right place. Americans are nearly twice as likely to say Trump has been mostly focusing on the wrong priorities as to say he has been focusing on the right ones, according to the survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Further, about 4 in 10 Americans say Trump has been a terrible president in his second term, and about 1 in 10 say he has been poor. In contrast, about 3 in 10 say he has been great or good, while just under 2 in 10 say he has been average.Most havent been shocked by the drama of Trumps first 100 days. About 7 in 10 U.S. adults say the first few months of Trumps second term have been mostly what they expected, and only about 3 in 10 say the Republican presidents actions have been mostly unexpected. But that does not mean they are pleased with how those opening months have gone.In fact, Democrats seem even unhappier with the reality of the second Trump term than before he was sworn in on Jan. 20. About three-quarters of Democrats say Trump is focused on the wrong topics and about 7 in 10 think he has been a terrible president so far. That is an increase from January, when about 6 in 10 anticipated that he would be terrible. Rahsaan Henderson, a Democrat from California, said it has been one of the longest 100 days Ive ever had to sit through. I think the next four years will be a test of seeing who can resist the most and continue defying whatever hes trying to do, since he defies everything, including the Supreme Court, said Henderson, 40.Republicans are largely standing behind the president, but are ambivalent about what he has chosen to emphasize. About 7 in 10 say he has been at least a good president. But only about half say he has mostly had the right priorities so far, while about one-quarter say it has been about an even mix and about 1 in 10 said Trump has mostly had the wrong priorities. Hes really doing the stuff that he said he was going to do, said Tanner Bergstrom, 29, a Republican from Minnesota. He is not making a bunch of promises and getting into office and nothing happens. ... I really like that. Even if its some stuff I dont agree with, its still doing what he said he was going to do. Those who were surprised by Trumps first few months seem to have had a rude awakening. The people who say Trumps actions were not what they expected who are mostly Democrats and independents are more likely to say Trump has had mostly the wrong priorities and that he has been a poor or terrible president, compared with the people who mostly expected his actions.About 4 in 10 in the survey approve of how Trump is handling the presidency overall. The issue of immigration is a relative strength. According to the poll, 46% of U.S. adults approve of his handling of the issue, which is slightly higher than his overall approval. But there are also indications that foreign policy, trade negotiationsand the economy could prove problematic as he aims to prove his approach will benefit the country. Trumps approval on those issues is much lower than it is on immigration. Only about 4 in 10 U.S. adults approve of how he is handling each. Republicans are less likely to approve of Trumps approach to trade and the economy than immigration. There are additional signals that some Trump supporters may not be thrilled with his performance so far. The share of Republicans who say he has been at least a good president has fallen about 10 percentage points since January. They also have grown a bit more likely to say Trump will be either poor or terrible, although only 16% describe his first few months that way.Republican Stephanie Melnyk, 45, from Tennessee, is supportive of Trumps handling of the presidency more broadly but said she did not approve of his handling of foreign affairs, particularly on the war in Ukraine. Melnyks family emigrated from Ukraine and she said Trump is trying for a quick fix thats not going to last and that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not to be trusted. Melnyk, who voted for Trump largely for his positions on immigration, said she wished the president would stay on script. He sounds like he can be very condescending, and it sounds like my way or the highway, Melnyk said. Its like, dude. Youre not 12. Its common, though, for a presidents standing to be at its best before taking office and beginning the work of governing. And Trump continues to hold high approval from Republicans. About 4 in 10 Americans have a favorable opinion of Trump, roughly in line with his approval number. Among Republicans, the figure is about double: About 8 in 10 Republicans have a positive view of the president, and about the same share approves of how he is handling the presidency. About one-third of U.S. adults have a favorable opinion of Vice President JD Vance, including about 7 in 10 Republicans. Those Republicans interviewed were particularly fond of efforts to scale back the size of the federal government led by billionaire outside adviser Elon Musk and Trumps cost-cutting initiative, the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE. Overall, I would have to say that Im happy with the Trump presidency, said Matthew Spencer, 30, a Republican from Texas. I think that the Department of Government Efficiency has made great strides in reducing our spending, and I also agree with putting America first. I agree with the policies hes put in as far as border protection and America standing for itself again as far as the tariffs.Were only three months in, but so far, so good, said Carlos Guevara, 46, who lives in Florida. Guevara, a Republican, said DOGE has been a smash hit and on tariffs, and while there may be short-term pain, if that does encourage businesses to start manufacturing here ... then thatll wash out over time. Democrats have a much bleaker outlook on the economy than they held before Trump took office. The poll also found that the vast majority of Democrats think he has gone too far on deportations and tariffs.Gabriel Antonucci, 26, a Democrat who recently moved to South Carolina, said Trumps second term is just a lot more ridiculous than he had anticipated. It really seems like he is doing everything he can to make the wrong decisions, Antonucci said. Things are probably going to be worse in four years than they are right now.___The AP-NORC poll of 1,260 adults was conducted April 17-21, using a sample drawn from NORCs probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.9 percentage points. SEUNG MIN KIM Kim covers the White House for The Associated Press. She joined the AP in 2022 and is based in Washington. twitter mailto LINLEY SANDERS Sanders is a polls and surveys reporter for The Associated Press. She develops and writes about polls conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, and works on AP VoteCast. twitter

Palestinians bid farewell to their relatives who were killed in Israeli airstrikes early this morning on Yaffa School, in Gaza City, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)2025-04-26T10:55:52Z DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) At least 49 people were killed by Israeli strikes in the last 24 hours, according to health officials, as Arab mediators scrambled to restart a ceasefire.An airstrike in a neighborhood in western Gaza City early Saturday morning, flattened a three-story house, killing 10 people, according to a cameraman cooperating with The Associated Press. The number was confirmed by Gazas Health Ministry, along with three more people who were killed in the Shati refugee camp along the citys shoreline.There was no immediate comment from Israel on the strikes.The attacks come as Hamas said on Saturday that it sent a high-level delegation to Cairo to try and get the stalled ceasefire back on track.Israel ended a ceasefire with Hamas last month and has vowed to continue the war until all the hostages are returned and Hamas is destroyed, or disarmed and sent into exile. It says it will hold parts of Gaza indefinitely and implement President Donald Trumps proposal for the resettlement of the population in other countries, which has been widely rejected internationally. Hamas has said it will only release the dozens of hostages it holds in return for Palestinian prisoners, a complete Israeli withdrawal and a lasting ceasefire, as called for in the now-defunct agreement reached in January. Hamas said Saturday that the delegation will discuss with Egyptian officials the groups vision to end the war, which includes the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and reconstruction. Earlier this week, other Hamas officials arrived in Cairo to discuss a proposal that would include a five-to-seven year truce and the release of all remaining hostages, officials said. Egypt and Qatar are still developing the proposal, which would include the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners, according to an Egyptian official and a Hamas official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief media. Meanwhile, Israel has continued its nearly two-month blockade on Gaza even as aid groups warn that supplies are dwindling.On Friday, the World Food Program said its food stocks in Gaza had run out, ending a main source of sustenance for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the territory. The WFP said in a statement that it delivered the last of its stocks to charity kitchens that it supports around Gaza. It said those kitchens are expected to run out of food in the coming days.About 80% of Gazas population of more than 2 million relies primarily on charity kitchens for food, because other sources have shut down under Israels blockade, according to the U.N. The WFP has been supporting 47 kitchens that distribute 644,000 hot meals a day, WFP spokesperson Abeer Etefa told The Associated Press.Israels offensive has killed over 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were fighters or civilians. Israel says it has killed around 20,000 militants, without providing evidence. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. The militants still have 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.___Magdy reported from Cairo.___Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war SAMY MAGDY Magdy is a Middle East reporter for The Associated Press, based in Cairo. He focuses on conflict, migration and human rights abuses. twitter facebook mailto

For most of film history, it was impossible to find a movie directed by a woman, let alone a lesbian. Although we still have a long way to go to get to parity, now there are a handful of extremely talented lesbian directors who are making movie magic. The pickings are still a little slim, but now we have rom-coms, tragic love stories, campy comedies, and touching coming-of-age stories being made by sapphic women. These movies were not just directed by lesbians, but are all excellent films that can stand on their own.So here are the 13 best films ever made by lesbians (according to us)!'Watermelon Woman' directed by Cheryl DunyeThe Watermelon Woman, which follow the story of a twenty something black lesbian making a documentary about an elusive 1930s film actress known as the Watermelon Woman, is consider to be the first feature-length film written and directed by a Black lesbian. Not only is it an exploration of film history, but its also a beautiful rom-com, and the grainy VHS aesthetic will have you nostalgic for the 90s.Where to watch: Rent on Amazon PrimeBut Im a Cheerleader directed by Jamie BabbitJamie Babbits cult classic But Im a Cheerleader remains a funny, campy, and heartfelt take on a naive teen girl (Natasha Lyonne) being sent to a gay conversion camp by her parents. This one is a cult classic for a reason, its full of slapstick comedy, John Waters style (minus some of the delightfully ruder elements), and also stars fellow lesbian filmmaker Clea DuVall as the best friend. Where to watch: Plex, Fandango at HomePariah' directed by Dee ReesPariah, directed by Dee Rees, is a semi-autobiographical look at a young lesbian's life as she navigates life with her family and looks for her first love. The film does a beautiful job of portraying the 17-year-old Alike (Adepero Oduye) in this coming-of-age story that explores the struggles of a Black lesbian coming into her own and exploring her newly discovered identity.Where to watch: Rent on Amazon PrimeParis is Burning directed by Jennie LivingstonThe documentary Paris is Burning is a seminal piece of queer cinema. Released in 1991, during the height of the AIDS crisis, the landmark film focuses on drag queens and the ballroom culture in New York City. This is one of those films that everyone needs to see at least once. Not only does it give you a window into an important part of queer history, but it also explore issues around poverty, race, sex work, and the people you meet in the film will have you riveted to the screen. Where to watch: MaxDesert Hearts' directed by Donna DeitchDesert Hearts may be set in the 1950s, and made in 1986, but the passionate affair between the two main characters (Patricia Charbonneau and Helen Shaver) is so steamy youd think it was a modern film. Donna Deitchs film is a sapphic classic for a reason: the chemistry of the two leads is off the charts, the sex scene in the hotel is one of the sexiest ever filmed (trust us), and it has a happy ending, which was unusual for a queer movie back then.Where to watch: MaxProfessor Marston and the Wonder Women directed by Angela RobinsonProfessor Marston and the Wonder Women has everything you could want in a period piece: bondage, polyamory, a sweet love story, and is based on a true story. The film follows the story of William Marston (Luke Evans), who created Wonder Woman, his brilliant wife Elizabeth (Rebecca Hall), and university student Olive Byrne (Bella Heathcote) as they discover that they are all in love with each other. Director Angela Robinson is also responsible for the campy teen classic D.E.B.S., which should also be on your must-watch list.Where to watch: Pluto TV, Prime Video, Plex, and Fandango at HomeHome for the Holidays directed by Jodie FosterLesbian icon Jodie Foster directed this holiday movie about a Claudia (Holly Hunter) who goes home for Thanksgiving with her oddball family, including her unapologetically gay brother Tommy (Robert Downey Jr.). The film is darkly funny, has an amazing ensemble cast, and is about a messy family that will feel relatable to most people.Where to watch: Rent on Amazon PrimeDance, Girl, Dance directed by Dorothy ArznerDorothy Arzner was one of the only female filmmakers to consistently work in the male-dominated Hollywood system throughout the 1930s and 40s after making her debut with the movie Fashions for Women in 1927. She was the first woman to be accepted into the Directors Guild of America, and was also a lesbian who lived openly with her partner, Marion Morgan, at a time when it was dangerous to do so. Her film Dance, Girl, Dance stars Lucille Ball as a bawdy entertainer and Maureen OHara as an aspiring ballerina, who are struggling to survive and find love. Even if you're not a lover of black and white movies, this musical comedy is worth checking out.Where to watch: Rent on Amazon Prime, MGM+Portrait of a Lady on Fire directed by Cline SciammaIn 18th century France, Marianne (Nomie Merlant) arrives to paint a wedding portrait of Hlose (Adle Haenel), the daughter of a wealthy Italian countess (Valeria Golino), in this beautiful period piece by director Cline Sciamma. Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a sapphic romance for the ages, and while its definitely a tearjerker, its also touchingly beautiful and doesnt just explore love and passion, but class and expressions of femininity too.Where to watch: MaxSaving Face directed by Alice WuAnother lesbian film about messy families (relatable!), Alice Wus film about young lesbian Wil (Michelle Krusiec) who feels like she cant tell her widowed mom (Joan Chen) about her sexuality, but is then shocked when she finds out her mom is keeping a secret too, shes pregnant. Not only is the plot funny and sweet, but it explored Chinese immigrant culture and and is one of the few comedies directed by a lesbian of color.Where to watch: Rent on Amazon PrimeShiva Baby' directed by Emma SeligmanStarring Rachel Sennott, Shiva Baby is about a sugar baby who runs into both her sugar daddy (Danny Deferrari) and her ex-girlfriend (Molly Gordon) while sitting shiva with her parents. This may be a comedy but its shot like a horror movie and is likely to cause as much anxiety as it does laughs. The film is funny, messy, and a heartfelt portrayal of a young queer person trying to figure out life.Where to watch: NetflixMama Mia! directed by Phyllida LloydMama Mia! may be all about straight relationships, but its also a campy musical starring Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried and features songs by ABBA, which lets be honest, makes it a little bit gay. This sun-drenched, low-stakes movie is perfect for a day when youre feeling low and need a little pick-me-up. Before you know it, youll be bopping along to the music and trying to figure out who Sophies real dad is right along with her.Where to watch: MaxHappiest Season directed by Clea DuvallDirected by Clea DuVall, and starring Kristen Stewart as Abby and Mackenzie Davis as Harper, Happiest Season follows a young woman who plans to propose to her girlfriend while at her family's holiday party only to discover her partner hasn't yet come out to her conservative parents. This movie is somewhat divisive (some people hate Harper), but we love the ensemble cast (Aubrey Plaza, Alison Brie, and Dan Levy also star), the romcom-but-make-it-gay vibes, and the clever dialogue. Plus, we all need a little lesbian love around the holidays!Where to watch: Hulu

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Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, left, talks with quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) during a timeout in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Central Florida, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)2025-04-26T05:04:51Z Plenty of playmakers remain for teams to pick through Saturday in the NFL drafts final four rounds, Shedeur Sanders stunningly among them.Sanders is the biggest name still on the board more than 48 hours after he was widely expected to hear his name called, a spectacular slide for a quarterback who has gotten snubbed through 102 selections so far.Even before plunging through Day 2 on Friday, the former Colorado stars plight caught the attention of the White House.In a post on his Truth Social platform Friday afternoon, President Donald Trump criticized teams for not selecting Sanders on Day 1 and suggested he should be picked immediately in Round 2.NFL franchises, however, plucked 70 more players from the college ranks and left Sanders still waiting for his phone to ring.Sanders and Miamis Cam Ward were considered the top two passing prospects in this years draft with some analysts even rating Sanders higher than Ward, whom the Tennessee Titans made the top overall pick Thursday night. Four other quarterbacks have leap-frogged Sanders. In a surprise in the first round, the Giants took Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss. And in Round 2, the Saints selected Louisvilles Tyler Shough, who began his college career at Oregon in 2018 and who will be 26 in September, and two more QBs went in the third round: Alabamas Jalen Milroe to the Seahawks and Oregons Dillon Gabriel to the Browns. At best, Sanders will be the sixth QB drafted in 2025, and he wont even be the first Sanders selected. That honor went to South Carolina defensive tackle T.J. Sanders (no relation), who went 41st overall in Round 2 to Buffalo. One possible reason cited for Shedeur Sanders slide is his size 6-foot-1, which is short for a QB by todays standards and yet, Gabriel is even shorter at 5-11 and 201 pounds, 15 pounds lighter than Sanders, whos an accurate thrower and quick processor but who took a combined 94 sacks in his two seasons in Boulder. One team that isnt looking for a quarterback after finally landing one a year ago is the Denver Broncos, and their coach, Sean Payton, expressed dismay at Sanders slide into Day 3 of this years draft.There will be this chip on his shoulder and beware because this guys going to play in this league, Payton said. "... yeah, I think its surprising.Sanders is the highest-ranked player left on the board of several draft analysts, including the NFL Networks Daniel Jeremiah, who has him as the 20th-ranked prospect, and ESPN senior writer Jeff Legwold, who ranked Sanders 32nd in his annual ranking of the top 100 college prospects.Legwold noted that although Sanders nearly 72% completion rate in two seasons at Colorado was an FBS career record, he is undersized and doesnt throw the ball quickly, which led to many of the FBS-leading 94 sacks he took the last two seasons.Among the other best available prospects when the draft resumes with the Titans choosing 103rd overall are 5-foot-8 Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson, who scored a school-record 22 touchdowns last season, and Arizona States bruising running back Cam Skattebo, who rushed for 1,711 yards and 21 TDs last season.Other top candidates for Round 4 include LSU guard Miles Frazier, Ohio State edge rusher Jack Sawyer and Colorado State wide receiver Tory Horton.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl ARNIE MELENDREZ STAPLETON Melendrez Stapleton is a pro football writer for The Associated Press. He is based in Denver. twitter mailto

This is a locator map for Iran with its capital, Tehran. (AP Photo)2025-04-26T09:32:07Z TEHRAN, Iran (AP) A massive explosion and fire struck the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday, officials said. Mehrdad Hasanzadeh, a provincial disaster management official, told Iranian state television there were injuries in the blast, without elaborating. He added that first responders were trying to reach the area while others were attempting to evacuate the site.Hasanzadeh said the blast came from containers at Rajaei port in the city.Social media videos showed a huge plume of black smoke.Rajaei port mainly handles container traffic and also has oil tanks and other petrochemical facilities.

Welcome back to the Abstract!Beware: This weeks offerings are not for the faint of heart. There will be blood. There will be gore. There will be death. There will behoneydew?First stop is a gladiator cemetery, which has got to be one of the most haunted varieties of burial ground. There is very bad mojo at a gladiator cemetery! This one is no exception. Next, meet a very hungry caterpillar with a very grotesque fashion sense and behold a hell ant from the age of dinosaurs.If you make it through a cavalcade of horrors, you will be rewarded with some chimp sangria. Go forth and good luck!Are You Not Entertained? (Personally, I Am Not)Thompson, T.J.U. et al. Unique osteological evidence for human-animal gladiatorial combat in Roman Britain. PLOS ONE.Some 1,700 years ago, a young man of about 30 was publicly decapitated and fed to a lion during a gladiatorial event. Thats the speculative conclusion of a new study about the skeleton of this man, known as Individual 6DT19, which presents the first physical evidence for human-animal gladiatorial combat from the Roman period seen anywhere in Europe.Gladiators have been a cultural obsession for thousands of years because, lets be real, people are sickos. Spectators across the Roman Empire packed arenas to watch gladiators kill each other, or kill dangerous animals, or be killed by dangerous animals. You get the idea: Blood spilling on the arena floor and blood pumping in the stands. Sicko stuff.Driffield Terrace, a Roman site near the English city of York, is packed with the bones of dead men that bear obvious signs of blunt force trauma, hinting that it might be a gladiator cemetery. Many of the bodies at Driffield Terrace are also decapitated, with the heads placed at the feet for burial. Individual 6DT19, who lived between 200 and 300 CE, is unusual in that his head, while still chopped off, was placed in the correct anatomical position. But what really sets him apart is his punctured pelvis, which looks like it was used as a chew toy.A 5th-century mosaic in the Great Palace of Constantinople depicting human-animal.Now, researchers have re-examined the holes on this mans pelvic bone with a 3D-scanner and concluded that they were probably made by a big cat with a taste for human flesh.It is proposed, based on the evidence from the archaeological, medical and forensic evidence, that the bite marks on 6DT19 derive from a large felid, such as a lion, said researchers led by Tim Thompson of Maynooth University. The location solely on the pelvis suggests that they were not part of an attack per se, but rather the result of scavenging at around the time of death. The decapitation of this individual was likely either to put him out of his misery at the point of death, or for the sake of conforming to customary practice.The bite marks on 6DT19s pelvis. Thompson et al., 2025, PLOS One, CC-BY 4.0In other words, this guy might have got off lucky; he was beheaded before he was thrown to the lions. Others were not so fortunate, as animals in these gladiatorial shows were used as the agents of spectacular mutilation and execution of criminals, captives from warfare and other perceived deviants, including Christians, who were also sometimes forced to participate in such events, known as damnatio ad bestias, the team said. These would sometimes include the re-enactment of mythical narratives as executions.Blech, just evil stuff, though you cant accuse it of lacking creativity. And though its unclear why 6DT19 was condemned to a public death, the new study does expose a fleeting glimpse of these iconic and brutal spectacles, which continue to live on in our modern imaginations.Personally though, when it comes to gladiators, Ill take the spandex-clad TV stars of the 1990s over the gory Roman death matches any day of the week.The Bone Collectors LookbookRubinoff, Daniel et al. Hawaiian caterpillar patrols spiderwebs camouflaged in insect preys body parts. Science.Amazingly, the tale of a man who was fed to a lion is not even the gnarliest study that was on offer this week. Enter the bone collector, a newly described species of carnivorous caterpillar that invades spiderwebs, eats the ensnared insects, and then wears their body parts like prized armor.We have identified body parts belonging to more than six different families of insect attached to the silk caterpillar cases, suggesting that they are adaptable scavengers and predators, said researchers led by Daniel Rubinoff of the University of Hawaii. When decorating their silken portable cases, the caterpillars are particular. Body parts are carefully measured for size before the caterpillar weaves them into its collection. Each prospective new addition is rotated and probed with its mandibles several times, and parts that are too large are chewed down to a size that will fit its case.In other words, the caterpillars are bedazzling themselves with the bodies of their victims. Imagine all of this unfolding from the point of view of an entrapped insect. Youve already had the worst day of your lifeyou are cached spider chowthen you see a caterpillar methodically eating your cell mates and sewing their remains into a dapper outfit?But wait, it actually gets better:If denied access to arthropod body parts in captivity, the caterpillars do not accept other bits of detritus, suggesting that they recognize and exclusively use corpses in nature and that this decoration is important to their survival, the team said. Given the context, it is possible that the array of partially consumed body parts and shed spider skins covering the case forms effective camouflage from a spider landlord; the caterpillars have never been found predated by spiders or wrapped in spider silk.Gladiators, eat your heart out (assuming a lion hasnt already done that).The caterpillars refuse to adorn themselves in anything other than dead bodies, which they use to avoid detection by spider landlords. Great animal, no notes.Sadly, though, this species has only been observed in the forests of one mountain on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, and may be facing extinction. Without conservation attention, it is likely that the last living representative of this lineage of carnivorous, body partcollecting caterpillars that has adapted to a precarious existence among spider webs will disappear.It makes you wonder how many weird, trippy species have already vanished without documentation. Save the Bone Collectors does not have the same ring as Save the Whales but nonetheless these macabre fashion mavens deserve a helping handespecially a disembodied one that they can wear.The Deadest AntLepeco, Anderson et al. A hell ant from the Lower Cretaceous of Brazil. Current Biology.Hold onto your butts, because were not done with grisly insects yet. Our next entomological curiosity is a fossilized hell ant that lived an astonishing 113 million years ago, making it the oldest definitive ant known to science and also the most complete evidence for the early evolution of ants in the fossil record, according to a new study.The exquisitely preserved ant was discovered in Brazils Crato Formation and represents a new species called Vulcanidris cratensis. It is at least 10 million years older than the next unambiguous ant fossils, pushing the timeline of ant evolution deeper into the Cretaceous period and shedding light on the first radiations of ants during the age of dinosaurs.Dead ant. Image: Anderson LepecoAs part of this initial radiation, hell ants of the subfamily Haidomyrmecinae are arguably the most fascinating group discovered to date, said researchers led by Anderson Lepeco of the Universidade de So Paulo. They are readily recognized by their bizarre scythe-like mandibles, often pointed upward and coupled with facial projections, representing unparalleled morphologies in the context of modern ants. Many hypotheses have been raised to explain their anatomical uniqueness, including prey impaling, clasping, or even honeydew collection.Wow, theres a real vibe shift between impaled prey and collected dew. These ants have range. Indeed, the discovery of this new species demonstrates that hell ants had achieved a wide geographical distribution during the Cretaceous, spreading through Laurasia (i.e., Canada and France) and South America, according to the team. Though they went extinct along with the dinosaurs, may they live on forever in our nightmares.Boozy Breadfruit, Family StyleBowland, Anna et al. Wild chimpanzees share fermented fruits. Current Biology.Lion bites, bone outfits, and exhumed hell ants. Its time for a drink. The special this week is a fermented African breadfruit that has been left in the Sun too long. At least, thats whats being served at chimpanzee cocktail bars, according to a study this week that presents the first evidence for ethanolic food sharing and feeding by wild nonhuman great apes (also known as a booze-up).The use of fermented foods and drinks by humans is so widespread as to be considered ubiquitous, with their use largely linked to dietary benefits and social bonding, said researchers led by Anna Bowland of the University of Exeter. However, little is known about the inclusion of ethanolic foods in the diet of nonhuman great apes.You know what that means: Time to party with some chimps. The team observed troops of wild chimpanzees sharing fermented breadfruit in Cantanhez National Park, Guinea-Bissau. The alcohol content of the fruits is about 0.61 percent, similar to kombucha, so its not like the animals are getting obliterated. Still, the consumption of alcoholic beverages in friendly group settings suggests that humans arent the only apes that bond and unwind over libations.Chimps sharing fermented breadfruit. Image: Bowland et al.Chimpanzees were seen to regularly select and feed on T. africana fruits when available (70 events), the team said. Sharing was observed on 10 separate occasionsbetween 17 individuals across all age- and sex-classes. Nine of ten sharing events were passive (i.e., a possessor tolerates feeding from the fruit but does not facilitate its transfer), with one event classed as activepassive, whereby the possessor tolerated the taking of a food portion held in their mouth.I admire the gumption of the chimp that grabbed spiked breadfruit out of its companion's mouth, and I appreciate the tolerance of the chimp that allowed it. The team concluded that the use of alcohol by humans is not recent but rather rooted in our deep evolutionary history, according to the study. Whether you imbibe or abstain, heres a toast to the happy hours of prehistory.Thanks for reading! See you next week.

Subscribe nowIn April 2013, Jason Collins made NBA history as the first active player to come out as openly gay. He penned an article in Sports Illustrated that immediately went viral, making international headlines. Many in the sporting world, including the late Kobe Bryant and NBA Commissioner David Stern, praised the two-time NBA finalist's courage. Collins also received praise from Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, as well as Oprah Winfrey and First Lady Michelle Obama.Many believed Collins admission would lead to a snowball effect of other men feeling confident enough to come out in sports. But 12 years later, that hasnt happened. Today, out of the nearly 4,000 players in the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL, there are currently zero openly gay or bi players. This stat is even more remarkable when you take into consideration that nearly 30% of Gen Z adults identify as LGBTQ.So whats taking so long? And what can be done to make it easier for young men and boys to feel confident coming out in sports? We called up Collins to get his take.Watch the full interview above or read the transcript here:Spencer Macnaughton: Hi everyone! I'm here with Jason Collins, former NBA basketball star who played 13 seasons, including in two finals. He also happens to be the first and still the only openly gay player to come out while still actively in the NBA. Jason, thank you so much for speaking with me and Uncloseted Media today.Jason Collins: Thank you for having me.SM: So I definitely want to talk a lot about current day stuff, but I'd be remiss not to rewind. You come out in 2013 as the first openly gay player in the NBA. You have former president Barack Obama [calling you], Oprah calling you. You were all over national news, international news. Tell me about the pros and cons of having made the decision to do that. How has it transformed your life?JC: Wow. By not having to hide who I am, just being able to live an authentic life. There's something powerful about being the one to out yourself and step forward and speak your truth. There's no greater feeling.SM: And you spoke a lot after you came out about having sleepless nights, about experiencing depression, about just wanting to go back in your room and not hang out with the other team members. Can you kind of articulate a little bit more about what those nights were like?JC: I think everyone can relate to having lots of stress in your life. So it is like that. Having extreme stress, you are dealing with something that when you're in the closet, the stress that comes along with that, the energy in your gut, it can make you actually physically so nervous and anxious, and you're devoting energy that you have in the day towards combating that versus towards accomplishing your goals and accomplishing whatever it is that you want to do. But again, when you do step forward, that's why people talk about a weight being lifted off your shoulders. Because you're no longer devoting that energy that you were expending to keeping the secret and hiding and like, Oh, am I saying it this way? All of that is gone, and you can focus on what is truly important in your life, which is accomplishing your goalsPhoto: Keith AllisonSM: One of the reasons I started this publication that keeps me up at night is that 41% of LGBTQ kids in the U.S. seriously considered suicide in [2023]. Did it ever get that bad for you?JC: It definitely got to very dark, lonely places because I felt like I was going through this alone. When I was younger, I was constantly looking for those role models, of people who have sort of been down this path. And in male sports, there really wasn't an active player. Now you can look at my example, you can look at Robbie Rogers in Major League Soccer, Carl Nassib in the NFL. There are now, with regards to male athletes, people who have stepped forward and still been able to go out there and do their job as professional athletes and have found inspiration from Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, you name it, of those other female athletes. But when I was younger, I was looking for those male athletes.SM: Mm-hmm. Me too. And even today, there's obviously been so much progress. Over one-fifth of Gen Z adults identify as LGBTQ. But currently in the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, of the roughly 3,600 players, there is not one openly gay or bi man right now. I would call that a crisis. Why do you think that is still the case in 2025?JC: It's still the case because there are people who have fear to step forward and speak their truth. You need to continue to push the sports leagues in the sports franchises to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, whether it's participating in pride parades, marches or hosting pride games. And in this climate that we're in, where there's such an attack on DEI, it's important to speak to your values and speak to your community of people who support your franchises, your athletes.Photo: Marissa GawelSM: I remember reading that article in 2013 and I had just finished playing varsity tennis in college. I grew up an athlete and always wanted mentors like you to come out and say, Hey, I'm gay and I'm playing in sports. So that was really meaningful for me. And I remember thinking, There's going to be a snowball effect now, more and more men are going to come out. But we're now in 2025, 12 years later, why specifically do you think that's still not really happening?JC: Yeah, there's still a lot of homophobia. There's a lot of homophobia in our society. There is a lot of homophobia still in sports, in particular, male sports. And we still have a lot of work to do as far as creating those environments that those athletes do feel comfortable to step forward [in] and share who they are. It's about education and letting them know it's okay to say, I am gay, I am bisexual. You know, you name it, but it's okay. It's okay to speak your truth.SM: What other things systemically do you think can happen inside the locker rooms or on the fields or on the courts? Are there other examples of things that we're not necessarily seeing in the mainstream that you think would make a difference?JC: Well, I think a lot of the work that happens is in those day-to-day, person-to-person connections that we have. Or even in a team environment. It's important to empower people to speak up when they hear something that isn't in line with an accepting environment, you need to say something. You never know who's in the locker room. You never know, whether it's a player, a teammate of yours, a coach, an owner. But when you do have and hear homophobic language, it's important to speak [up], call it out, pull someone aside and say, Hey, I heard what you were saying earlier, and I need to talk to you about this language that you're using. That is what allyship looks like, being in those spaces and then using your voice in those moments and saying, Hey, let's not use that language.Subscribe for LGBTQ-focused journalism.SM: Yeah, I also think masculinity plays into this so much. I remember in grade eight, I was playing basketball and tennis and had to decide which one to play. And I chose tennis because I didn't wanna deal with the homophobia in the locker room or seeing other naked people in the locker room and all the complications that it comes with. How much does masculinity play into this? And what can be done to have straight guys holding other straight guys accountable for hate, which is what homophobia is?JC: You need to have these conversations. You need to bring in people who are experts or just have more information to help. Because maybe you do want to have that environment, but you just don't know how to go about it. If you're a coach or if you're an athletic director or even a headmaster out of school, you have to seek out help. You have to bring other organizations who have expertise. And it can be as simple as a 30- to 60-minute conversation, but at least you're laying the groundwork down for educating those players, educating those athletes. These are the values that we talk about with regards to our team: accountability, teamwork, hard work, hustle, creating that great team environment. And then when someone does step out of line, you say, Okay, when you use those words, that language, you did not step up to our principle of teamwork, of creating an environment where everyone feels accepted, and you're getting everyone to focus on the main goal, which is that winning, which is then going out there and playing your best.SM: And I keep going back to that number, zero openly gay or bi right now, right? And I think about the talent drain that this is probably having on sports like basketball. But the number of kids who just said, I don't wanna deal with that, so I'm gonna push myself out of the sport. How big do you think the talent drain or talent loss is by having these closeted guys just saying, No, not for me. I don't wanna deal with the potential pain of homophobia.JC: There are ways that you can improve yourself as an athlete, whether it be with just learning fundamentals, to watching tape, to going into the weight room, to the track, but all that takes energy and focus. And when you're diverting that energy and focus into trying to hide who you are, it takes away from the best possible product. A best possible version of yourself that you're bringing to the table, that youre bringing to your team, to your sport. And as a coach, I want my players to bring the best versions of themselves to our team, to our court, to our field. So just from a standpoint of, I want the best version of my team, of my players. This is very important for coaches, for those people in leadership positions, to think about as far as, How do I get the best possible version of my athlete? And this is one way you do that is by creating a team environment where everyone feels safe.SM: That's really interesting. So it's almost two-pronged. Like the next Jason Collins or Kobe or LeBron, you want to create a safe space so they have the opportunity to perform at their best. But also a safe place so they don't just quit full stop and never see what could have been possible.JC: Exactly.Photo courtesy of Collins.Subscribe for nonpartisan, LGBTQ journalism.SM: I know you grew up in quite a religious environment and I wonder, what can we do in a lot of these Bible Belt towns where the next LeBron could be training right now, but is in an extremely homophobic environment. How can we intervene in circles where the coaches and the teachers are people who believe that homosexuality is a sin? Is there any way we can make those experiences a bit better for kids in those environments?JC: A lot of it goes back to leadership. I was very fortunate because one of the elders in our church was my grandmother. My grandfather was a deacon in the church. And for my grandmother, everything was about love. Jesus was about love. Usually religions are supposed to bring people together and are a way for people to come together. And usually it's through love. Jesus was about love and acceptance. And we saw that even with Pope Francis. One of his last messages before leaving was about accepting and showing love and compassion to others. And then for me, that was my grandmother. We need those people who are in position, who have that sort of seniority or voice or platform within the church, to use that platform of love and acceptance to help create environments and then speak to those who maybe have a different perspective and try to bring them around to, which I believe should be a common thread, which is that with regards to Christianity is that, it's about love. Love and acceptance. So let's start there. How do we bring more people to the table and serve others? Because that was what Jesus was about, He was about serving others, which goes back to team sports, creating those environments of love and acceptance and, again, safe spaces. So there are common themes in religion that can translate to team sports.Collins and his grandmother. Photo courtesy of Collins.SM: There are currently 42 openly LGBTQ women in the WNBA right now. Anything else on why that gender divide is so much? What's taking men so much longer to come out? And some people call it the last closet.JC: I think you touched on it before as far as the macho-masculinity component with regards to it, that goes sort of hand in hand with homophobia. In our society, it's one of those issues where women, with regards to sports, are able to step forward. If a player were to come out tomorrow in Major League Baseball, there's going to be media fanfare and media attention. I will say that on good teams, when you do step forward and speak your truth, the good teams will come and rally around you like Robbie's did with him, Carl's did with him and then also my teammates did with me. It brought us together, and if anything it isn't a distraction in a negative way, it's a positive thing on those good teams. Because then like they all come together and like I got to support my brother and then we're going to go out there and take it out on, you know, the next opponent. And in my opinion, it's a positive thing because it will bring the team closer, especially on those good teams.Collins and Billie Jean King. Photo courtesy of Collins.SM: What's your message to guys right now who are closeted? Because of course there are guys who are closeted right now in these leagues who are living in Trump's America, which is very aggressive towards the LGBTQ community, but are thinking, Maybe I wanna come out. What's your message to them 12 years after you've done just that?JC: My message to them is A: You can do it, but B: You have to have a plan. You have to have that support system in place. Be strategic. When I did make my announcement, I made sure that every interview that I did was in the realm of sports. If I did interviews, it was usually with Disney, ABC, ESPN, because that's who the NBA had their contract with. But there were a lot of other things that we said no to. We said no to a documentary crew. We said no to certain interviews because it just wasn't in the realm of like sports. And also know that you don't have to go through this alone. There's a network. I was very fortunate that I was able to reach out to Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, my friend, Billy Bean, who unfortunately recently passed away from Major League Baseball. And you can take bits and pieces from our story and see how our experiences can then help you navigate this world and continue to live your life. Take advantage of those resources that are out there and those people and create that sort of safety net.SM: There's obviously so many closeted gay and bi boys. What would your message be to the gay high school footballer in Louisiana, you know the gay hockey player in Canada and so on on the basketball court as well. What would your message be to the countless young boys out there who are getting into sports and who might really be afraid to take it to the next level, because they know they're living with this secret with this skeleton in their closet?JC: Hey, don't look at it as a skeleton in your closet! It's not, it's who you are! I will say that your life is so much better when you celebrate everything that makes you unique and embrace who you are. This is one of the positives of social media. There are resources available that you can connect to in a semi-anonymous way if you want to. Whether it be reaching out to an organization like Athlete Ally, like A Call to Men, my biggest piece of advice is don't feel like you have to go through this journey alone. There are many resources available and please reach out. And if you do so anonymously, or you know, semi-[anonymously], there are so many people who know how to keep a secret out there and will protect you and help you so that you get to a point where you feel safe enough. And you have resources in place so that you can step forward and speak your truth and live your life. And again, there's no greater feeling than after the game is over and having your significant other alongside everyone else's in the family room or waiting for you after the game and just being a normal athlete, which is what you are.SM: Jason Collins, such an important conversation. Thank you so much for speaking with me and Uncloseted Media today.JC: Thank you so much for having me. And I wish everyone out there love and acceptance and a safe space to thrive in life.If objective, nonpartisan, rigorous, LGBTQ-focused journalism is important to you, please consider making a tax-deductible donation through our fiscal sponsor, Resource Impact, by clicking this button:Donate to Uncloseted Media

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A faithful waves a flag with Carlo Acutis, the 15-year-old Italian boy who died in 2006 of leukemia and beatified in 2020, at the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)2025-04-26T13:03:27Z VATICAN CITY (AP) Thousands of young people from around the world had come to Rome expecting to rejoice this weekend in the canonization of the first millennial saint during the Vaticans Holy Year. They ended up bidding farewell to Pope Francis instead, with their exuberance giving an uplifting tone to Saturdays otherwise somber funeral.He always said you have to be joyful about life, you have to live life in a similar way, said Marco Falchi, who traveled from his home near Perugia with his wife and 11-year-old son. He and his wife credit Francis with reviving their spirituality, and they named their son, Francesco, after him.The family is also devoted to the cause of sainthood for Carlo Acutis, a young Italian who died in 2006 from leukemia and inspired faith in many young Catholics. They planned their trip to Rome around that. The canonization of Acutis had been scheduled for Sunday during the first-ever Jubilee of Adolescents, dedicated to teens. It was suspended after Francis death.Falchi was struck by the lack of deep mourning at the funeral for the pope. Especially since this was the jubilee for adolescents, he certainly didnt want a day of mourning but he wanted a day of joy, he said. There was a clear blue sky over St. Peters Square. Some people camped out the night before to get a good spot. Many stood respectfully, their hands folded, as they followed the Mass on large screens. Radio broadcasts in multiple languages added to the hum of humanity. They applauded when Francis simple wooden coffin was moved outdoors. Tens of thousands of Catholic faithful had planned their trips before the popes death on Monday at age 88 following a long hospitalization.I bought my ticket for Carlo, said Reyes Arribas, a 23-year-old from Valencia, Spain. And then suddenly Pope Francis died, so I came to the funeral. She confessed that while she admired Francis, she felt a closer affinity to his predecessors, St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Her feelings for Acutis, however, are very strong. She excitedly praised him as the first saint of young people because he was immersed in the technological world of today.Even those who were disappointed by the suspended canonization were gratified that they could celebrate Francis, loved by many for his humility and concern for the poor.I feel I grew up with Pope Francis, said Jessica Naranjo, a 27-year-old from Austin, Texas. He advocated for social justice. This was a big loss for me.Ana Kalen, a 22-year-old medical student, traveled to Rome for the Acutis canonization with a group from Sarajevo, Bosnia.The plans have changed, but we are still so glad to be here for this historical moment, Kalen said, a Bosnian flag draped over her shoulders.We are sad about each death, Kalen said. But we do believe that Pope Francis is in a better place.After St. John Paul II died in 2005, the mood was different. The faithful made pilgrimages from his Polish homeland and elsewhere to mourn a towering figure of the 20th century in a spirit of deep sadness and loss. Francis had a different style. During his 12-year papacy, he urged people to maintain a sense of humor, and that spirit seemed to guide many participants Saturday.Groups of young people filled St. Peters Square before the funeral Mass. One from a parish in Cassano Magnago in the northern Italian province of Varese danced in circle and sang religious songs.The popes death during Easter season filled them with a sense of peace, one teenager said.Its a good sign, said 16-year-old Matteo Cozzi. The death of a pope at Easter is a sign of hope.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is completely surrounded as he leads a civil rights march in Boston, April 23, 1965, en route to historic Boston Common where he will address a crowd. (AP Photo, file)2025-04-26T04:06:43Z BOSTON (AP) As a Black teenager growing up in Boston, Wayne Lucas vividly remembers joining some 20,000 people to hear the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. speak out against the citys segregated school system and the entrenched poverty in poor communities.Sixty years on, Lucas will be back on the Boston Common on Saturday to celebrate the anniversary of what became known as the 1965 Freedom Rally. This time, though, Lucas expects much of the focus will be on President Donald Trump and concerns that the commander-in-chief is exploiting divisions and fears about race and immigration.Theres different forms of, how do we say it, racism and also I have to include fascism, whats going on in this country, said Lucas, a social activist and retired postal worker who was standing on the Boston Common near the site of 20-foot-high (6-meter) memorial to racial equity, The Embrace, where the rally will be held. The rally will be preceded by a march mostly along the route taken to the Boston Common in 1965 and feature up to 125 different organizations.People gotta be aware and say something. he continued. We can grumble (and) stuff like that, but we need to take part and do something. 1965 protest brings civil rights movement to the NortheastThe original protest rally in 1965 brought the civil rights movement to the Northeast, a place King knew well from his time earning a doctorate in theology from Boston University and serving as assistant minister at the citys Twelfth Baptist Church. It was also the place he met his wife, Coretta Scott King, who earned a degree in music education from the New England Conservatory. In his speech, King told the crowd that he returned to Boston not to condemn the city but to encourage its leaders to do better at a time when Black leaders were fighting to desegregate the schools and housing and working to improve economic opportunities for Black residents. King also implored Boston to become a leader that other cities like New York and Chicago could follow in conducting the creative experiments in the abolition of ghettos. It would be demagogic and dishonest for me to say that Boston is a Birmingham, or to equate Massachusetts with Mississippi, he told the crowd. But it would be morally irresponsible were I to remain blind to the threat to liberty, the denial of opportunity, and the crippling poverty that we face in some sections of this community.Rally followed Civil Rights Act signing in 1964The Boston rally happened after President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and months ahead of the enactment of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 signed in August. King and other civil rights movement leaders had just come off the Selma to Montgomery march in Alabama, also referred to as Blood Sunday, weeks before the Boston rally. The civil rights icon also was successful in the 1963 Birmingham campaign prompting the end of legalized racial segregation in the Alabama city, and eventually throughout the nation.This time in Boston, Kings eldest son, Martin Luther King III, will be the keynote speaker. He and other speakers are expected to touch on some of the same issues that have plagued communities of color for decades including the need for good jobs, decent health care and affordable housing. DEI comes under threat by Trump administrationHis visit also comes at a time when the Trump administration is waging war on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in government, schools and businesses around the country, including in Massachusetts.Since his Jan. 20 inauguration, Trump has banned diversity initiatives across the federal government. The administration has launched investigations of colleges public and private that it accuses of discriminating against white and Asian students with race-conscious admissions programs intended to address historic inequities in access for Black students.The Defense Department at one point temporarily removed training videos recognizing the Tuskegee Airmen and an online biography of Jackie Robinson. In February, Trump fired Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr., a champion of racial diversity in the military, as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Brown, in the wake of Floyds killing, had spoken publicly about his experiences as a Black man, and was only the second Black general to serve as chairman. The administration has fired diversity officers across government, curtailed some agencies celebrations of Black History Month and terminated grants and contracts for projects ranging from planting trees in disadvantaged communities to studying achievement gaps in American schools. Trump also wants to force changes at the Smithsonian Institution with an executive order targeting funding for programs that advance divisive narratives and improper ideology. Massachusetts also impactedThe efforts also impact Massachusetts. The state has pushed back against threats from the Trump administration to cut funding if the state doesnt comply with an Education Department order to certify local school systems compliance with a race-neutral interpretation of civil rights laws. The Museum of African American History in Boston also announced earlier this month that a $500,000 federal grant received last year has been terminated.Make no mistake, these efforts are designed to marginalize and destabilize the Museum of African American History, and African American public history institutions like us, the museum wrote in a statement. We are all in danger of being erased.Martin Luther King III told The Associated Press that the attacks on diversity make little sense, noting, We cannot move forward without understanding what happened in the past.It doesnt mean that its about blaming people. Its not about collective guilt. Its about collective responsibility, he continued. How do we become better? Well, we appreciate everything that helped us to get to where we are. Diversity hasnt hurt the country.King said opponents of diversity have floated an uninformed narrative that unqualified people of color are taking jobs from white people, when the reality is they have long been denied opportunities they deserve.I dont know if white people understand this, but Black people are tolerant, he said. From knee-high to a grasshopper, you have to be five times better than your white colleague. And thats how we prepare ourselves. So its never a matter of unqualified, its a matter of being excluded.Imari Paris Jeffries, the president and CEO of Embrace Boston, which along with the city is putting on the rally, said the event is a chance to remind people that elements of the promissory note King referred to in his I Have A Dream speech remain out of reach for many people.Were having a conversation about democracy. This is the promissory note public education, public housing, public health, access to public art, Paris Jeffries said. All of these things are a part of democracy. Those are the things that are actually being threatened right now. MICHAEL CASEY Casey writes about the environment, housing and inequality for The Associated Press. He lives in Boston. twitter mailto

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In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, and President Donald Trump, talk as they attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025.(Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)2025-04-26T11:41:11Z ROME (AP) President Donald Trump said Saturday that he doubts Russias Vladimir Putin wants to end his war in Ukraine, expressing new skepticism that a peace deal can be reached soon. Only a day earlier, Trump had said Ukraine and Russia were very close to a deal.Trump said in a social media post as he flew back to the United States after Pope Francis funeral that there was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days. Trump hinted at further sanctions against Russia. It makes me think that maybe he doesnt want to stop the war, hes just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through Banking or Secondary Sanctions? Too many people are dying!!! Trump wrote.Trump earlier on Saturday met briefly at the Vatican with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before the popes funeral. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APs earlier story follows below.ROME (AP) President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met briefly Saturday before the funeral for Pope Francis as the American leader steps up the pressure to end Russias war against Ukraine. It was the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and the Ukrainian leader since they argued during a heated Oval Office meeting at the White House in late February. Zelenskyys office had said teams were making arrangements for the leaders to talk again Saturday, but Trump went directly to the Rome airport after the funeral and boarded Air Force One for the 10-hour flight back to the United States, which seemed to rule out a second in-person conversation. Zelenskyys spokesperson, Serhii Nykyforov, said Trump and Zelenskyy did not meet again in person because of their tight schedules. Zelenskyy said good meeting on social media after the funeral. We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out, he said on X. Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results. Thank you. The White House called the discussion very productive and said it would release more details later. The meeting lasted about 15 minutes inside St. Peters Basilica at the Vatican, where Francis often preached the need for a peaceful end to the war, just before Trump and Zelenskyy took their seats at the outdoor funeral service.The Vatican long ago had offered to help facilitate peace talks and Francis had regularly called for peace and dialogue from the altar of the basilica. That Trump and Zelenskyy spoke privately, face to face and hunched over on chairs on the marbled floors of the popes home, on the day of his funeral, was perhaps a fitting way to honor his wishes.The meeting came together hours after Trump said on social media, after he arrived in Italy late Friday, that Russia and Ukraine should meet for very high level talks on ending the three-year war that was sparked by Russias invasion. Trump has pressed both sides to quickly come to an agreement to end the war, but while Zelenskyy agreed to an American plan for an initial 30-day halt to hostilities, Russia has not signed on and has continued to strike at targets inside Ukraine.Last weeks hourslong missile and drone barrage of Kyiv that killed at least 12 people led Trump to appeal over social media for Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the strikes on Ukraines capital. Vladimir, STOP! Trump wrote.Trumps special envoy, Steve Witkoff, had met earlier on Friday with Putin in Moscow, and Trump said both sides were very close to a deal.Putin did not attend Francis funeral. He faces an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, which has accused him of war crimes stemming from Moscows invasion of Ukraine.Meanwhile, in a statement Friday night, Zelenskyy said very significant meetings may take place in the coming days, and that an unconditional ceasefire was needed. Real pressure on Russia is needed so that they accept either the American proposal to cease fire and move towards peace, or our proposal whichever one can truly work and ensure a reliable, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, and then a dignified peace and security guarantees, he said.Diplomacy must succeed. And we are doing everything to make diplomacy truly meaningful and finally effective.The meeting Saturday also came shortly after Trump had issued his most definitive statement to date about the need for Ukraine to give up territory to Russia to bring the war to a close. He said in a Time magazine interview published Friday that Crimea will stay with Russia.Russia seized the strategic peninsula along the Black Sea in southern Ukraine in 2014, years before the full-scale invasion that began in 2022. Zelenskyy wants to regain Crimea and other Ukrainian territory seized by Russia, but Trump considers that demand to be unrealistic. Referring to Crimea during the interview, which was conducted at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said, everybody understands that its been with them for a long time, meaning Russia.Madhani reported from Washington. Associated Press journalists Nicole Winfield in Vatican City and Volodymyr Yurchuk in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed to this report. DARLENE SUPERVILLE Superville covers the White House for The Associated Press, with a special emphasis on first ladies and first families. AAMER MADHANI Madhani covers the White House for The Associated Press. He is based in Washington. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

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Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders takes part in passing drills during Colorado's NFL football pro day Friday, April 4, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)2025-04-26T15:45:02Z GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) Shedeur Sanders is still waiting for a call on the NFL drafts final day, a shocking turn of events for a quarterback with arguably the highest profile in this class.The uncertainty surrounding the Colorado star and son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders is the dominant story in this draft. Generally regarded as one of the top two quarterback prospects in this class, Sanders didnt get taken in the first round Thursday. Nor was he chosen in the second and third rounds Friday.Sanders remained optimistic Saturday while providing an update on social media.Another day another opportunity to get a chance to play the game I love, he said in an X post Saturday morning. Thank you GOD #LEGENDARY.Many of the teams with obvious quarterback needs already have drafted someone else at that position, making Sanders situation even more of a mystery as the draft wraps up Saturday with the final four rounds. This day typically appeals more to the true draft connoisseurs, as the names of the available prospects get less familiar and much of the television coverage focuses on picks that already were made in earlier rounds. Not this time, when someone with Sanders star power remains available. The history of the draft includes plenty of stories of quarterbacks waiting much longer than expected to get drafted. Sometimes it ultimately worked out just fine for them. Dan Marino was the sixth quarterback taken in the famous 1983 draft class and went 27th overall to Miami, where he would spend his entire Hall of Fame career. Aaron Rodgers was supposed to go among the first few picks in 2005 but went 24th to Green Bay, where he went on to win four MVP awards. More recently, Will Levis was considered a near-certain first-round pick in 2023 but slipped into the second round before Tennessee took him at No. 33 overall. But its hard to come up with a fall as steep as this one.Sanders was one of the most recognizable names in college football the last couple of years while teaming up with 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter taken second overall by Jacksonville and playing for his father.He finished eighth in the Heisman balloting last season while throwing for a school-record 4,134 yards and helping Colorado go 9-4. The Buffaloes had gone 4-8 in Sanders first season there in 2023 after he spent two years playing for his dad at Jackson State.Most forecasts heading into the draft had Sanders getting taken second among quarterbacks, behind only Miamis Cam Ward, who went to the Tennessee Titans with the first overall pick.Thats now how its turned out.The New York Giants traded up to get the 25th pick on Thursday but opted for Mississippis Jaxson Dart. Three other quarterbacks went Friday. New Orleans selected Louisvilles Tyler Shough in the second round. Seattle chose Alabamas Jalen Milroe and Cleveland took Oregons Dillon Gabriel in the third round.One criticism of Sanders was the fact that he was sacked 94 times the last two seasons at Colorado. Concerns also arose about his arm strength. There also were worries about how he would adapt to playing for someone other than his father. Now that Sanders is slipping into the middle rounds, teams might shy away from picking him up because of the potential distractions that come with adding someone who could generate so much attention and publicity as a backup. There are still some teams out there that could use a quarterback.Pittsburghs only quarterbacks are Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson following the offseason departures of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Sanders visited the Steelers facility before the draft.Las Vegas has acquired 34-year-old Geno Smith but could use a long-term solution at the position.And at this point in the draft, some team that already has an established quarterback in his prime simply might consider Sanders a good value and asset for the future.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

This photo provided by Emilys Entourage in April 2025 shows Emily Kramer-Golinkoff, who has cystic fibrosis caused by a rare genetic mutation, during a trip to Maine. (Emilys Entourage via AP)2025-04-26T14:59:04Z Emily Kramer-Golinkoff cant get enough oxygen with each breath. Advanced cystic fibrosis makes even simple things like walking or showering arduous and exhausting.She has the most common fatal genetic disease in the U.S., which afflicts 40,000 Americans. But her case is caused by a rare genetic mutation, so medications that work for 90% of people with cystic fibrosis wont help her. The same dynamic plays out in other genetic conditions. Stunning advances in genetic science have revealed the subtle, insidious culprits behind these brutal diseases and have started paving the way for treatments. But patients with these exceedingly rare mutations have fewer options and poorer prospects than those with more typical forms of these diseases and many are now pinning hopes on experimental gene therapies.We feel such pure joy for our friends who have been lifted from this sinking ship, said Kramer-Golinkoff, 40. But we just feel so eager and desperate to join them. Its really hard to be in this minority of people left behind. Its not just science that is working against these patients, its market forces. Drug companies are naturally going to look for medications that target the most common mutations. You need a sufficiently large number of patients in a major market in order for a company to be interested in going forward, said Dr. Kiran Musunuru, a University of Pennsylvania gene editing expert. What it amounts to, he says, is mutational discrimination. Charities including a nonprofit Kramer-Golinkoff co-founded called Emilys Entourage are trying to overcome this barrier. Fundraising efforts have helped jump-start gene therapy that could help patients regardless of mutation.While it likely wont be available for years, just to have these therapies in trials provides so much hope, Kramer-Golinkoff said. Current treatments for genetic diseases dont help everyoneKramer-Golinkoff was just six weeks old when she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, which causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the body. It occurs when the so-called CFTR protein is not made or not made correctly, allowing chloride to become trapped in cells, meaning water cant keep the cells surface hydrated. Mucus buildup can lead to damage, blockages and infections in the lungs and other affected organs.As Ive gotten older my CF has gotten worse, despite all my best efforts to delay it, Kramer-Golinkoff said.Before her illness got so bad, she was able to earn a masters degree in bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania, work, travel and spend time with friends. But she eventually developed CF-related diabetes and other problems. Shes prone to infections, and since the pandemic has lived with her parents in isolation in Greater Philadelphia.CF is a real monster of a disease, she said.Meanwhile, others with the condition have seen vast improvements in their health with CFTR modulator therapies that work for people with the most common mutation, correcting the malfunctioning protein. Research shows they dramatically improve lung function, respiratory symptoms and patients overall quality of life. Besides not working for people with rare mutations, these treatments are unavailable to patients whose disease-causing mutations arent known or fully understood. Mutations may be unknown because of a lack of genetic testing in places such as developing nations, or understudied because they are uncommon or difficult to detect.Genetic testing companies such as GeneDx have made some headway in screening more people of diverse backgrounds, but inequities remain.For example, comprehensive data about cystic fibrosis is scarce among African populations affecting people who live on the continent as well as those who trace their ancestry there. Research shows Black cystic fibrosis patients are more likely than their white counterparts to be among the 10% who dont benefit from modulator therapies. Can a gene therapy work no matter the mutation? While theres little chance of changing market dynamics, researchers said, one solution is to develop mutation agnostic gene therapies targeting all patients with a disease. This approach is being tried in diseases of the retina as well as cystic fibrosis.Theres a huge push to develop these therapies, said Dr. Garry Cutting of the Johns Hopkins Cystic Fibrosis Center. Most of the 14 experimental gene therapies in the pipeline for the disease aim to help patients with any mutation, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation says, delivering a new, correct version of the CFTR gene to cells. Getting correct copies of the CFTR gene would enable cells to make normal proteins no matter what mutation causes a patient to have no, or not enough, functional CFTR proteins.One treatment, partially funded by the foundation, is sponsored by Spirovant Sciences, a company Emilys Entourage provided seed money to launch. The first patient received the therapy in November in a 53-week clinical trial at Columbia University that aims to determine if its safe and how long it stays in the lung. Kramer-Golinkoff said shes more optimistic about her future these days, even as her own illness worsens. At this point, shes living with 30% lung function, suffers from kidney issues and has high blood pressure in her lungs. She depends on insulin for her diabetes and takes numerous pills daily.You have to make really conscientious choices ... throughout the day on how to use your limited energy. And thats really difficult to do when you have big dreams and important work and life to live, she said.Were incredibly excited about the promise of gene therapies. They cant come soon enough.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. LAURA UNGAR Ungar covers medicine and science on the APs Global Health and Science team. She has been a health journalist for more than two decades. twitter mailto

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