Israels top court gave the government further reprieve on a long-stalled petition seeking free access to Gaza. Critics say barring journalists denies the world a full picture of conditions there.

Brigitte Macron used a slur to criticize protesters who had interrupted a show by a French comedian accused of rape in 2021, in a case that was dismissed.

The classic show arrived on HBO Max with an embarrassing remastering error. But the shows creative mastery remains undeniable.

After deadly cross-border military clashes, the Pakistani and Afghan governments have locked their populations in a trade war threatening the livelihoods of millions.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listens during news conference with Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles, Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the State Department, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)2025-12-09T19:31:56Z WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. Navy admiral who is retiring early from command of the campaign to destroy vessels allegedly carrying drugs near Venezuela spoke to key lawmakers Tuesday as Congress seeks more answers on President Donald Trumps mission, which, in one instance, killed two survivors clinging to the wreckage of an initial strike.The classified video call between Adm. Alvin Holsey, who will be retiring from U.S. South Command in the coming days, and the GOP chairs and ranking Democrats of the Senate Armed Services Committee represented another determined step by lawmakers to demand an accounting from the Department of Defense on the threats against Venezuela and the strikes, especially after a report that two survivors were killed during one operation in September.Sen. Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, declined to discuss the specifics of the call, but described Holsey as a great public servant. Congress is also demanding that the Pentagon turn over unedited video of the strikes, as well as the orders authorizing the attacks, as part of its annual defense authorization bill. Wicker said that the Pentagon is weighing whether the video had classified sections. The demands were evidence of the intense scrutiny being placed on the Sept. 2 strike, which legal experts say may have violated the laws governing how the U.S. military uses deadly force. Congressional leaders will also receive a wider foreign policy and national security briefing from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday afternoon.They are using expensive, exquisite American military capabilities to kill people who are the equivalent of corner dealers and not making progress interdicting the trafficking by the cartels, said Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat. Congress presses for more informationWhat lawmakers learn from Holsey could shed new light on the purpose and parameters of Trumps campaign, which has struck 22 boats and killed at least 87 people since it started in September. Trump has also been making threats against Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro, sending a fleet of warships near the South American country, including the largest U.S. aircraft carrier.Holsey became the leader of U.S. Southern Command just over one year ago, but in October, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Holsey would be retiring early from his post. As commander of U.S. forces in the region, Holsey oversaw a command structure that has in recent years been mostly focused on building stability and cooperation across much of the region.Trumps drug boat campaign, however, has added a new, deadly dynamic to its mission. Rather than trying to interdict drug-carrying vessels, as forces like the U.S. Coast Guard have traditionally done, the Trump administration asserts that the drugs and drug-smugglers are posing a direct threat to American lives. Officials say they are applying the same rules as the global war on terror to kill drug smugglers.Lawmakers are also questioning what intelligence the military is using to determine whether the boats cargo is headed for the U.S. As they have looked closer at the Sept. 2 strike, lawmakers learned that the destroyed boat was heading south at the time of the attack and that military intelligence showed it was headed toward another vessel that was bound for Suriname. Still, it remains to be seen whether the Republican-controlled Congress will push back on the Trump administrations campaign.I want a full set of data to draw my conclusions from, said Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who had previously demanded accountability after it was revealed that two survivors had been killed.Trump this week justified the strike by claiming that the two suspected drug smugglers were trying to right the part of the boat after it had capsized in the initial attack. However, Adm. Frank Mitch Bradley, the special operations commander who ordered the second strike, told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing last week that he ordered the second strike to ensure that the cocaine in the boat could not be picked up later by cartel members. STEPHEN GROVES Groves covers Congress for The Associated Press. twitter mailto

Former Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers watches warmups before an NFL football game between the Chargers and the Denver Broncos, Dec. 10, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun, File)2025-12-09T18:19:28Z INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The Indianapolis Colts bolstered their injury-depleted quarterback corps Tuesday by bringing 44-year-old Philip Rivers out of retirement and signing him to the practice squad, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team had not yet made an official announcement.The move comes less than 24 hours after Colts coach Shane Steichen confirmed Indys starter, Daniel Jones, would miss the rest of this season after tearing his right Achilles tendon and backup Riley Leonard injured his right knee during Sundays loss at Jacksonville.Rivers hasnt taken a snap since finishing his career with a playoff loss following the Colts 2020 season. That was the last time Indy (8-5) made the postseason. The eight-time Pro Bowler announced his retirement in January 2021 and has been coaching St. Michael High School in Fairhope, Alabama, ever since. But its not clear how long it will take Rivers to learn Indys playbook or work his way into game shape as the reeling Colts try to snap a three-game losing streak next weekend at Seattle (10-3). Things happen, wacky stuff has happened in this league, your depth gets tested, your resolve gets tested as you get thrown into some adversity as a unit, as a coaching staff, as a position group, offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said, declining to take specific questions about Rivers. Weve been through some fire out there, but our coaching staffs excited to draw a plan up and teach it. Neither Steichen nor players were made available because the Colts typically take Tuesday off.Rivers rejoins a team desperately trying to rebound from its worst stretch of the season, four losses in five games. The result: Indy has fallen out of the race for the AFCs top seed and is tied for second in the AFC South with Houston (8-5), one game behind division leader Jacksonville (9-4). Rivers ranked among the NFLs career leaders in yards passing with 63,440, 421 touchdown passes and 12 4,000-yard seasons when he retired and was a semifinalist in his first year of eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame last month.So the question is how much does Rivers have left in the tank?In his first and only season with Indy, it appeared his arm strength already was diminished though he masterfully navigated the Colts through a season unlike any other playing in front of empty or sparsely-populated stadiums because of the COVID-19 pandemic.Also unclear is whether the Colts will need him this weekend.Jones was having a career year and had entered the midseason MVP discussion but had struggled over the last five games. He also played through a lower left leg injury that impeded his mobility during each of Indys last three losses.Then Sunday, he crumpled to the ground and grabbed toward his lower right leg on a play he did not take a hit. He slammed his helmet into the ground before limping off the field. Jones later returned to the rainy sideline in a protective walking boot. Hell have surgery within the week, Steichen said Monday. Obviously, just really feel for him, just an unfortunate situation. The work he puts in, the grind, a team captain for us. One of the toughest guys Ive ever been around. Just praying for a speedy recovery for him.Leonard did a solid job in relief of Jones, going 18 of 29 for 145 yards and one interception in his most extensive action since Notre Dame lost last years national championship game. When he reported to the team headquarters Monday, they found out Leonard also had been hurt during the game.The orbital bone injury to Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 draft pick in 2023, only compounded the problem. He still has not been activated from injured reserve to practice and Steichen said Monday he did not expect Richardsons status to change this week either.That left the Colts with only one other option veteran Brett Rypien, who has not been elevated from the practice squad to the active roster since he was signed in mid-October if Leonard cant play this weekend. So they added Rivers, who was with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers when Steichen was serving as the teams quarterbacks coach and interim offensive coordinator. Oddly, Leonard played prep ball at a different high school in Fairhope.And now all three will be working together to try and help Indy turn things around as they enter a brutal final four-game stretch to salvage their playoff hopes.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) has settled a lawsuit brought by right-wing school districts for the right for schools to bar trans students from joining sports teams that align with their gender. The lawsuit targeted multiple defendants and will continue with the remaining ones without CHSAAs involvement.Eligibility decisions have always been left to individual schools and districts, which is why being named in this lawsuit was both frustrating and unnecessary, a CHSAA spokesperson said in a statement. She went on to call the organizations inclusion in the lawsuit much more performative than substantive. Related National tennis governing body quietly bans trans women The lawsuit was brought by several school districts but was led by District 49. That districts board passed a controversial trans sports ban back in May by a narrow margin. The lawsuit against the state was filed the day after the policy was voted in, calling for Colorado to allow the ban to be enacted and to align policies with the demands laid out in the presidents two sexes executive order.Colorado has state laws prohibiting discrimination against trans people, specifically peoples gender identity or gender expression. While the lawsuit cites the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment in arguing that trans girls playing on the girls team affects the rights of cis girls, it does not mention the impact on the rights of trans girls. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today To settle their part of the lawsuit, CHSAA agreed not to sanction the districts and schools named in the lawsuit for banning trans students from sports teams. It will also not respond to statements the schools make about advantages of biological males over biological females in competitive sports or potential propaganda about the hazards of allowing biological males to play contact sports with or against biological females. There will also be no penalties from CHSAA for forfeiting against a team because they allow trans children to play.CSHAA has said that it will still sanction the schools and districts if any of those statements are demeaning in nature or call for violence against trans people. The organization is also recouping $60,000 in legal and operational fees. While some Colorado school districts specifically allow trans students to play sports under their correct gender identity, others have no concrete rules about it. CSHAA has never stepped in over a trans person being allowed to play school sports, or not being able to.The lawsuit will continue with the Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and other Colorado Civil Rights Division officials as the remaining defendants.Colorados District 49 has around 27,000 students. In May, Board President Lori Thompson noted that, as far as she was aware, the district had only had one instance of a trans student trying to join a sports team that aligned with their gender identity. The student in question was a trans boy, and they did not pass tryouts.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua acknowledged potential NFL interest in Marcus Freeman, saying he will push to make him one of college football's highest-paid coaches.

Michael Virgil, 35, became agitated on a Royal Caribbean ship and was restrained by at least five crew members, including some who stood on his back, before he died, the medical examiner said.

Nnena Kalu, who uses cardboard and tape to create her work, received the prestigious art award.

The measure is one of the most sweeping efforts in the world to safeguard children from the harms of the platforms.

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A disgruntled Michigan father has begun a crusade against trans women athletes after discovering his daughter played a single volleyball game against a team with a trans player.Im speaking out today not just for my daughter, but for every family who was betrayed when the adults responsible failed to do their job, Sean Lechner said at a press conference about the formal Title IX complaint he filed with the U.S. Department of Education. Related Congress moves to ban trans women from military academy sports Lechners daughter, Briley, plays volleyball at Monroe High School in Monroe, Michigan. The complaint says that weeks after a home game against another high school, the Monroe players discovered one of their opponents in that game was trans. The two teams had shared a locker room, and Lechners complaint alleges that the school knowingly forced female athletes to share with a male athlete, violating privacy and Title IX protections. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The complaint claims Monroe High Schools athletic director knew about the trans player and that failing to notify parents and players about the presence of a male athlete was a violation of privacy and bodily integrity for the other girls.Lechners argument differs from what many other anti-trans activists argue in that it does not mention whether the alleged trans player was especially good at volleyball or played a major role in the outcome of the game. While many do bring up locker rooms, most folks against trans women in sports also argue incorrectly that even when trans athletes have undergone hormone replacement therapy, they have an unfair advantage. Lechner has also reportedly said the athletic director told him he could not disclose information about a players gender because it would violate that players civil and privacy rights. Geoff Kimmerly, director of communications for the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), told local news stationABC 13that it granted one eligibility waiver for a trans student this sports season, but could not share details about which sport or school. The waiver was granted in compliance with applicable state and federal law, Kimmerly said. The MHSAA is obligated to follow both, even as state law and federal guidance have evolved in recent years, often in competing ways. Embrace Monroe, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group in the area, slammed the campaign against trans athletes in a statement to ABC 13.No one who lives to express themselves, and who does so especially without bothering anyone else, deserves to have their humility and dignity stripped away by those who refuse to accept our humanity.Monore Public Schools has hired a third party to investigate Lechners complaint, explaining in a statement that they wanted to allow complete transparency from beginning to end.The state GOP has been trying to pass legislation to ban trans girls from sports, but a Democrat-controlled state senate and governorship have made it virtually impossible. Current MHSAA policy allows trans participation via waiver on a case-by-case basis, but officials have reportedly said its rarely utilized. According to a 2021 report from the Detroit News, the state receives about two inquiries per year regarding transgender policies out of 180,000 high school athletes.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Johnson Wen, the Australian influencer known as Pyjama Man, has once again made headlines for the wrong reasons. Weeks after disrupting the red carpet for Wicked: For Good in Singapore, Wen was escorted out of Lady Gagas Mayhem Ball in Brisbane, Australia, before he could stir up trouble.The concert at Suncorp Stadium on Dec. 9 saw Wen removed by security, a moment he later confirmed on Instagram. Posting a selfie, Wen wrote: Got kicked out of Lady Gaga concert! The show doesnt start until 8pm! The early fans were booing me. Videos circulating online show him flanked by security, attempting to navigate the crowd in disguise.From Singapore to Australia: A History of StuntsWen first made global headlines during the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good on Nov. 13. Footage shows the influencer breaking through security and grabbing Ariana Grande on the yellow carpet, interrupting a group walk with co-stars Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum.Erivo is seen immediately pulling Wen away and comforting Grande, who appeared shaken by the incident. Singapore authorities detained Wen for nine days before deporting him back to Australia, where he continued his attempts at celebrity encounters.Who is Pyjama Man?Johnson Wen has built an online persona around chaotic public appearances. Branding himself as the Troll Most Hated, Wen often wears colorful, pajama-inspired outfits in videos, earning his nickname, Pyjama Man. In the lead-up to the Singapore incident, he posted on Instagram Stories claiming Grande was his best friend and expressing excitement about meeting her.BBC News reported that Wen faces charges of being a public nuisance in Singapore. This is not his first controversial stunt; he has previously appeared at events around the world and even launched a fundraiser to cover personal bills, which received no donations.Social Media SpotlightDespite legal trouble and public backlash, Wens antics continue to attract online attention. His Instagram posts following his Lady Gaga ejection show a mixture of defiance and humor, further cementing his reputation as a persistent, if unwelcome, celebrity interloper.Pyjama Mans story serves as a cautionary tale about celebrity obsession taken too far. While some fans may find his antics amusing, the repeated confrontations highlight the very real consequences of public disruption, from arrest to deportation, Wens pattern shows no signs of slowing down.Source

When Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey sit down together for Wonderland, the conversation skips pleasantries and lands somewhere much deeper. Theres no need for scripted questions or polite banter. They already know where the other is headed. The rhythm is familiar, shaped by shared roots and years spent navigating the same creative corridors of British theatre.That ease matters when youre carrying one of modern musical theaters most emotionally loaded stories into its final cinematic chapter.This November, Erivo and Bailey return in Wicked: For Good, the second installment of Jon M. Chus two-part adaptation of the Broadway phenomenon. The film continues the untold story before Dorothy arrives in Oz, charting how Elphaba becomes the Wicked Witch of the West and how Glinda steps into her public shine. The source material, Winnie Holzmans book paired with Stephen Schwartzs score, has long lived in the cultural bloodstream. Now, it carries the weight of blockbuster expectation.A Cultural Moment, RevisitedThe first Wicked film arrived after a press run that felt impossible to miss. Green and pink dominated feeds, red carpets turned theatrical, and Erivos bond with Ariana Grande became a central part of the conversation. That visibility helped reframe the story as something larger than nostalgia. It was about identity, choice, and consequence.Wicked: For Good narrows its focus. The spectacle remains, but the emotional stakes sharpen. Destiny replaces discovery, and relationships fracture under pressure. Baileys Fiyero, introduced as charm-forward and evasive, becomes a key emotional hinge. His dynamic with Erivos Elphaba is less about romance than recognition, two people clocking each others contradictions in real time.Theyre made for each other and not at the same time, Erivo says of their characters. The push and pull is the point. Neither lets the other hide.Chemistry Without FearBailey describes their connection as alignment rather than performance. Scenes were filmed entirely out of sequence, demanding constant emotional recalibration. That challenge, he says, only worked because there was no hesitation about going all in.Theres a lack of fear, Erivo adds. Were just diving in.That trust extends to the physical language of the film. Large musical numbers werent built for movement alone. Every choice carried story weight. Baileys choreography-heavy sequences required full presence, even amid spectacle. Nothing was decorative.Carrying the WorkBoth actors are balancing packed schedules. Erivo has filmed multiple projects in quick succession, released music, hosted major ceremonies, and is preparing to return to the stage in Kip Williams one-woman Dracula. Bailey recently closed a demanding run as Richard II and will return to Bridgerton next year. Neither talks about momentum as ambition. Its framed more as responsibility.Returning to theater, Erivo admits, is terrifying. But its also grounding. The fear signals meaning.That perspective shapes how she reflects on Wicked now, especially considering how unlikely the journey once seemed.I legitimately remember having a conversation with Ben Platt, during The Color Purple, and he said, Theyre gonna do a film of Wicked and you should play Elphaba. I thought he was absolutely insane. I thought it was the craziest thing to have said, because I was like, theres not a chance in any world that thats going to be mine. Theres no way Im ever going to be asked to play this character. Thank you so much for thinking that, but thats nonsense, and you know it. I really did not believe that was going to happen. So to be here, legitimately 10 years later, having completed two of these films is a mind boggling thing.Paying Respect to the ImpossibleBailey sees that disbelief as familiar. The industry tells narrow stories about who gets to arrive and when. What Wicked: For Good reflects back, on screen and off, is the slow dismantling of those narratives through work, trust, and time.Nothing arrived overnight. Everything was earned.And when the curtain finally falls on Oz, it wont just mark the end of a story. It closes a chapter defined by risk, patience, and the quiet decision to believe something better could be possible.Source

In a sport where athletes are expected to be "badass," newly crowned F1 champion Lando Norris' openness to talking about his emotions is a rarity.

Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua says the ACC engaged in a "targeted" social media campaign against the school's football team for College Football Playoff consideration.

The government says it will fast-track immigration for U.S. H1-B visa holders and spend more than $1 billion to attract researchers from the United States and the rest of the world.

The new Pew report also found that two-thirds of teens said they had used an A.I. chatbot.

Police in New Zealand recovered a rare $19,000 Faberg egg pendant swallowed by an alleged thief, with the pendant exiting his body naturally after six days of around-the-clock monitoring. What do you think?Maybe his body produced it naturally.Summer Aronson, UnemployedI thought anything you could swallow was free.Ken Bickel, Photograph BlurrerShake him around and see what else falls out.Alan Osorio, Tea PourerThe post Faberg Egg Recovered After Being Swallowed By Thief appeared first on The Onion.

WASHINGTONIn the wake of the Trump administrations decision to require employers to pay a $100,000 fee in order to hire immigrant physicians on H-1B visas, clinics closures across rural America this week have reportedly forced many residents to rely on a horse who stomps twice when a patient has cancer. Without access to board-certified oncologists in their area, millions of Americans have no choice but to head to the fairgrounds to visit Old Hickory, the Astounding Medical Equine, who, for just 50 cents, can diagnose a man, woman, or child with leukemia faster than any big-city doctor, said National Rural Health Association spokesperson Rachel McKidd, noting that after the horse gives a patient a whiff, he will clomp his hoof once for a clean bill of health, twice if he detects cancer in early stages, and thrice if he determines the condition is inoperable. These healthcare deserts leave countless Americans faced with the impossible choice of whether or not to skip work and wait in line all day for the chance to step right up and see the Prognosticatin Pony when the county fair comes to town. In fact, in many areas of the country, Old Hickory has become the sole provider of preventive care, diagnostic testing, and rides. While Old Hickory may be highly effective at his job, he is clearly overworked and simply does not have the capacity to whinny every time he smells diabetes on the 40 million rural Americans who lack proper access to primary care providers. At press time, sources confirmed Old Hickory had been placed on indefinite leave from medical duties after kicking a patient who had spooked him.The post Clinic Closures Force More Rural Americans To Rely On Horse Who Stomps Twice When Patient Has Cancer appeared first on The Onion.

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The latest legal maneuver in a months-long dispute invoking competing definitions of Title IX, the federal civil rights law prohibiting sex-based discrimination, saw the Department of Justice file suit against Virginias Loudoun County School Board, accusing the school district of discriminating against two Christian students who were suspended after objecting to a transgender student using a boys locker room. Loudoun Countys decision to advance and promote gender ideology tramples on the rights of religious students who cannot embrace ideas that deny biological reality, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Departments (DOJ) Civil Rights Division wrote, announcing the lawsuit. Related Students suspended for bullying trans teens as Trump cracks down on school for supporting trans kids The suit is based on differing interpretations of Title IX, which has been turned upside down by the Trump administration in its attempted erasure of transgender identity in the United States.Now the DOJ is injecting religious discrimination into the dispute. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The Biden administration expanded the definition of Title IX to include discrimination protections for transgender individuals; a series of executive orders has attempted to strip those protections by declaring the existence of only two biological sexes: male and female, with the threat of withdrawing federal funding from states and local entities as a cudgel.The DOJs lawsuit is based on actions the Loudoun County School Board took in April, after a trans athlete recorded two fellow students in a boys locker room making disparaging comments about him. Heather Bardot, attorney for the school board, said in an October 6 opposition to a motion in a related proceeding that the transgender male student was tired of the relentless harassment and decided to record the boys in the locker room to have proof in a formal Title IX complaint he filed just a few days later, Inside NOVA, reports.After an investigation, the school board announced in August that the two students would be suspended for 10 days, saying they had violated its policy prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment and assault in the districts educational programs and activities.In the DOJs telling, the two boys were suspended on the basis of sex-based discrimination and were made to submit to a Comprehensive Student Support Plan that further violates the boys right to free exercise of religion at school. The DOJ said that, as Christians, the boys religious beliefs require them to use biologically accurate pronouns and use sex-segregated facilities. In May, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares (R), who has supportedtransgender sports bansandrestrictions on gender-affirming care, opened aseparate inquiryinto how the school district was handling its investigation into the locker room incident.Miyaresreferred the caseto the Trump administrationsDepartment of EducationandDepartment of Justice, both of which have increasingly been used to target transgender communities.By July, the DOJs Office of Civil Rightsconcludedthat the school district was in violation of the Trump administrations interpretation of Title IX, for basing same-sex facility access on gender identity rather than biological sex. The DOJ gave the school district 10 days to reverse its policy.The school board refused, voting to maintain access for trans students.In response, the administration has ramped up pressure on the district, moving toward withholding tens of millions of dollars from the state for Loudoun County and other school districts, citing noncompliance with the administrations anti-trans diktats. The new lawsuit relies on an argument that the school district violated the religious rights of the suspended students in violation of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. While the U.S. Supreme Court has not ruled specifically on the Trump administrations definition of Title IX when it comes to education, it did state in its 2024 ruling in U.S. v Skrmetti, upholding Tennessees ban on gender-affirming care for minors, that a persons transgender identification is distinct from their biological sex, a decision the Trump administration has cited in its effort to ban trans students from sports and same-sex bathroom and locker facilities.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Simone Johnson, known to WWE fans as Ava Raine and to the world as the daughter of Dwayne The Rock Johnson, has officially gone public with her relationship with fellow professional wrestler Tatyanna Dumas. The 24-year-old wrestler shared the news on Instagram on Dec. 7, marking the couples first public confirmation that they are together.Dumas, 26, first posted an Instagram Reel featuring clips of the pair traveling, sharing meals and exchanging affectionate moments. The video, captioned Fall in love, again and again, shows the couple hugging, kissing and smiling through what appears to be months of shared memories. Simone reposted the Reel to her own page, adding the caption: Crying screaming throwing up. I am so lucky.The couples social media update follows several recent public appearances that had fans speculating about their relationship. In September, Simone and Dumas walked the red carpet together at the London premiere of The Smashing Machine, attending alongside Dwayne Johnson. The actor appeared overjoyed in photos as he posed between his daughter and her girlfriend, making the event an unofficial soft launch for the couple.Simone also included a picture of her and Dumas in a Thanksgiving-themed Instagram post last month. The image showed the pair attending a University of Virginia football game, smiling with their arms wrapped around each other. The post was simply captioned, Thankful.Dwayne Johnson and Simone Garcia Johnson attend the world premiere of Moana 2 at Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute on November 21, 2024 in Kapolei, Hawaii.Both Simone and Dumas are active performers on WWEs NXT program, the companys developmental brand for rising wrestling talent. Simone, the daughter of Dwayne Johnson and film producer Dany Garcia, joined WWEs developmental system in 2020 and made her on-screen debut in 2022 as Ava Raine. She currently appears as the shows fictional general manager, a role that allows her to develop her performance skills while continuing in-ring training.Dumas joined WWE in early 2025 after a successful athletic career in Australia, where she played professional basketball and competed on Gladiators and Ninja Warrior. Her athletic background has made her a fast standout within the NXT roster.While the exact start of their relationship remains private, the couples Instagram debut has been met with enthusiasm from fans, many celebrating the growing LGBTQ+ representation within professional wrestling.Source

Netflix, Lionsgate and 3Arts Entertainment announced today that three major stars, John Stamos, Dale Dickey and Cam Gigandet, have joined the cast of The Hunting Wives for its second season. The hit thriller, based on May Cobbs bestselling novel and created by Rebecca Cutter, is currently in production in the United States and will premiere globally as a Netflix-branded series.Stamos, known for his roles in Palm Royale, You and Big Shot, will play Chase Brylan. Dale Dickey, celebrated for her performances in Winters Bone, True Blood and Fallout, joins the cast as Zelda Moffitt. Rounding out the trio is Cam Gigandet, recognizable from Violent Night and Burlesque, who portrays Gentle John Moffitt.They join previously announced newcomers Kim Matula and Alex FitzAlan, alongside returning cast members Brittany Snow, Malin Akerman, Jaime Ray Newman, Dermot Mulroney, Evan Jonigkeit, George Ferrier, Karen Rodriguez, Hunter Emery and Branton Box. Additional cast announcements will be made at a later date.A Breakout Hit Returns Bigger Than EverSeason 1 of The Hunting Wives premiered exclusively on Netflix in the United States on July 21 and quickly became one of the most-watched shows of the summer. The series spent five consecutive weeks in Netflixs global Top 10 English-language TV list, earning more than 20 million views, an impressive feat considering it was only available in the U.S. at the time.Malin Akerman, left, and Dermot Mulroney as Jed Banks in The Hunting Wives. Photo: NetflixThe upcoming season will launch as a Netflix-branded series in nearly every country where the platform operates, positioning the show for an even broader international audience.What to Expect in Season 2Season 2 consists of eight episodes and continues the dark, seductive world introduced in the first season. Cutter returns as creator, showrunner and executive producer, with Erwin Stoff of 3 Arts Entertainment and author May Cobb also serving as executive producers.Malin Akerman, left, and Brittany Snow in The Hunting Wives. Photo: NetflixThe official logline teases a fraught reunion between Sophie and Margo:At the start of Season 2, Sophie and Margo are on the outs. But soon enough, old secrets and new foes force them back together. As they play their dangerous games, the question arises: Are they the hunters or the hunted?The new season promises even more twists, betrayal and Southern-gothic glamour as the women of East Texas navigate shifting alliances and mounting tension.Malin Akerman, left, and Brittany Snow in The Hunting Wives. Photo: NetflixA Stellar Cast for a High-Drama SeasonThe addition of Stamos, Dickey and Gigandet signals a higher-stakes, more expansive Season 2. Stamos long-standing appeal, Dickeys critically acclaimed grit and Gigandets intensity bring new dimensions to a show already known for its mix of mystery, sensuality and psychological tension.Katie Lowes, Brittany Snow and Malin Akerman in The Hunting Wives. Photo: NetflixWith production underway and anticipation growing, Season 2 of The Hunting Wives is shaping up to deliver even more of the decadent intrigue that made Season 1 a runaway success.Source

Provided Europeans want to fight for it.

Ms. Garcia, who ran for mayor of New York in 2021 after serving as the citys sanitation commissioner, would succeed Rick Cotton, who is retiring.

The public deserves to know how the Trump administration has justified the outright murder of civilians as lawful, the organizations said in their lawsuit.

The police said a suspect had been arrested after the shooting in Frankfort, Ky. The second student was in critical but stable condition, a university spokesman said.

Prosecutors showed body camera footage as they argued that some evidence the police said they collected from Luigi Mangiones backpack when he was arrested should be admitted at trial.

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Options trader Steven Rodriguez works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)2025-12-09T04:48:42Z NEW YORK (AP) U.S. stocks largely held in place on Tuesday as Wall Street waits to hear what the Federal Reserve will say Wednesday about where interest rates are heading.The S&P 500 edged down by 0.1% and remained near its all-time high set in October. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 179 points, or 0.4%, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.1%.JPMorgan Chase was the heaviest weight on the market after a top executive, Marianne Lake, said the banks expenses could rise to $105 billion next year.That would be up 9% from an estimated $95.9 billion in expenses this year, though Lake also said JPMorgan Chase is feeling pretty good about the underlying financial health of the borrowers in our portfolio. Its stock fell 4.7%.Another drop came from Toll Brothers, which lost 2.4% after the homebuilder reported weaker results for the latest quarter than analysts expected. CEO Douglas Yearley Jr. said demand for new homes remains soft across many markets, and he talked about affordability pressures that could be affecting potential homebuyers. One big factor in that affordability question is mortgage rates. Theyre cheaper than they were at the start of the year, though they perked up a bit after October. Thats largely because of questions in the bond market about how much more the Federal Reserve will cut its main interest rate. The widespread expectation is that the Fed will cut interest rates Wednesday afternoon, which would be the third such easing of the year. Lower interest rates can give the economy and prices for investments a boost, though the downside is they can worsen inflation. The U.S. stock market has run to the edge of its records in part because of the growing assumption that the Fed will cut rates again on Wednesday. The big question is what the Fed will say about where interest rates will go after that. Many on Wall Street are bracing for talk aimed at tamping down expectations for more cuts in 2026. Inflation has stubbornly remained above the Feds 2% target, and Fed officials are notably split in their opinions about whether high inflation or the slowing job market is the bigger threat to the economy.Treasury yields climbed in the bond market after a report on Tuesday showed that U.S. employers were advertising 7.7 million job openings at the end of October. Thats up a smidgen from the month before and the highest number since May. If the job market is not worsening, it may not need as much help from the Fed through more cuts to rates.After the report on job openings came out, the yield on the 10-year Treasury erased what had been an earlier dip and rose to 4.18% from 4.17% late Monday.The yield on the two-year Treasury, which moves more closely with expectations for what the Fed will do, rose to 3.60% from 3.57% late Monday.Elsewhere on Wall Street, Exxon Mobil climbed 2% after increasing its forecast for profit over the next five years, thanks in part to strength for its fields in the Permian basin in the United States and off Guyanas shore. Ares Management rallied 7.3% after S&P Dow Jones Indices said the investment company will join its widely followed S&P 500 index. It will replace Kellanova, the maker of Pringles and Pop-Tarts, which is being bought by Mars, the company behind Snickers and M&Ms.CVS Health rose 2.2% after unveiling new financial forecasts, including expectations for annual compounded growth in earnings per share at a mid-teens percentage over the next three years. AP AUDIO: Wall Street drifts near its record high as Exxon Mobil climbs U.S. stocks have been stable in early trading. Home Depot fell 1.3% after flipping between gains and losses. It gave a preliminary forecast for 2026 that said the broad home improvement market may shrink by up to 1%. But it also gave a separate set of forecasts saying its earnings per share could grow in the mid- to high-single digit percentages if the housing market recovers. The markets most influential stock, Nvidia, slipped 0.3% after President Donald Trump allowed it to sell an advanced chip used in artificial-intelligence technology to approved customers in China. The H200 is not Nvidias top product. All told, the S&P 500 fell 6.00 points to 6,840.51. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 179.03 to 47,650.29, and the Nasdaq composite rose 30.58 to 23,576.49.In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed Europe and Asia.Indexes fell 1.3% in Hong Kong and 0.7% in Paris for two of the worlds bigger moves. ___AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the rollout of GenAI.mil today in a video posted to X. To hear Hegseth tell it, the website is the future of American warfare. In practice, based on what we know so far from press releases and Hegseths posturing, GenAI.mil appears to be a custom chatbot interface for Google Gemini that can handle some forms of sensitivebut not classifieddata.Hegseths announcement was full of bold pronouncements about the future of killing people. These kinds of pronouncements are typical of the second Trump administration which has said it believes the rush to win AI is an existential threat on par with the invention of nuclear weapons during World War II.Hegseth, however, did not talk about weapons in his announcement. He talked about spreadsheets and videos. At the click of a button, AI models on GenAI can be used to conduct deep research, format documents, and even analyze video or imagery at unprecedented speed, Hegseth said in the video on X. Office work, basically. We will continue to aggressively field the worlds best technology to make our fighting force more lethal than ever before.Emil Michael, the Pentagons under secretary for research and engineering, also stressed how important GenAI would be to the process of killing people in a press release about the sites launch.There is no prize for second place in the global race for AI dominance. We are moving rapidly to deploy powerful AI capabilities like Gemini for Government directly to our workforce. AI is America's next Manifest Destiny, and we're ensuring that we dominate this new frontier, Michael said in the press release, referencing the 19th century American belief that God had divinely ordained Americans to settle the west at the same time he announced a new chatbot.The press release says Google Cloud's Gemini for Government will be the first instance available on the internal platform. Its certified for Controlled Unclassified Information, the release states, and claims that because its web grounded with Google Searchmeaning itll pull from Google search results to answer queriesthat makes it reliable and dramatically reduces the risk of AI hallucinations. As weve covered, because Google search results are also consuming AI content that contains errors and AI-invented data from across the web, its become nearly unusable for regular consumers and researchers alike.During a press conference about the rollout this morning, Michael told reporters that GenAI.mil would soon incorporate other AI models and would one day be able to handle classified as well as sensitive data. As of this writing, GenAIs website is down.For the first time ever, by the end of this week, three million employees, warfighters, contractors, are going to have AI on their desktop, every single one, Michael told reporters this morning, according to Breaking Defense. Theyll start with three million people, start innovating, using building, asking more about what they can do, then bring those to the higher classification level, bringing in different capabilities, he said.The second Trump administration has done everything in its power to make it easier for the people in Silicon Valley to push AI on America and the world. It has done this, in part, by framing it as a national security issue. Trump has signed several executive orders aimed at cutting regulations around data centers and the construction of nuclear power plants. Hes threatened to sign another that would block states from passing their own AI regulations. Each executive order and piece of proposed legislation threatens that losing the AI race would mean making America weak and vulnerable and erode national security.The countrys tech moguls are rushing to build datacenters and nuclear power plants while the boom time continues. Nevermind that people do not want to live next to datacenters for a whole host of reasons. Nevermind that tech companies are using faulty AIs to speed up the construction of nuclear power plants. Nevermind that the Pentagon already had a proprietary LLM it had operated since 2024.We are pushing all of our chips in on artificial intelligence as a fighting force. The Department is tapping into America's commercial genius, and we're embedding generative AI into our daily battle rhythm, Hegseth said in the press release about GenAI.mil. "AI tools present boundless opportunities to increase efficiency, and we are thrilled to witness AI's future positive impact across the War Department."

The holidays just got a little less predictable and a lot more fun. Smirnoff ICE is teaming up with pop singer Troye Sivan for a series of playful events, digital surprises, and quirky gift boxes designed to bring holiday cheer, and mischief.Snowed In With Troye SivanKicked off just before Thanksgiving, the digital series Snowed In with Troye Sivan follows the singer as he tries to write the next holiday anthem in his studio. A sudden blizzard strands him and his friends, leading to spontaneous jam sessions, surprise gift exchanges, and a delivery driver who doubles as paparazzi. Fans can watch the antics unfold on @Smirnoffs Instagram.I love how Smirnoff ICE always finds the fun in everything, its what makes this partnership such a blast, Sivan said. Everyones holiday season has its twists, and thats the magic of it. We just wanted to lean into that.Not-What-They-Seem Gift BoxesSmirnoff ICE is also bringing a playful twist to gift-giving with its holiday gift boxes. At first glance, they resemble ordinary items, like a hair dryer, but inside is a perfectly sized spot for an ice-cold Smirnoff ICE. The boxes are designed to wow party hosts or score points in a White Elephant exchange.Exclusive Consumer DropsFor those who want to bring the Smirnoff ICE energy home, 100 lucky fans will have the chance to snag their own gift boxes through an exclusive drop. Interested consumers, 21 and older, can sign up for a chance to grab one before they disappear.This season is all about good vibes, big laughs, and making festive moments count, said Fergus McCarthy, Director of Smirnoff ICE. Troye Sivan delivers the exact holiday chaos you want to be part of, and that energy carries through everything were doing, from sampling events to our playful gift boxes.From surprise jams to cleverly disguised gifts, Smirnoff ICE is proving that holidays hit differently when you actually enjoy them, and a little chaos never hurts.Consumers (21+) can sign upHEREfor a chance to snag one of the exclusive box drops! And keep an eye out for Smirnoff ICE holiday pop-ups rolling into select stores nationwide, featuring the boxes plus some of the brands best-tasting flavors.Source

If Heated Rivalry has you thirstier than a mid-period Taylor Swift breakup album, youre not alone. While the hockey romance series initially built its buzz around the fiery chemistry between leads Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, another star has abruptly, and completely, stolen the spotlight.Photo: HBO Max / Crave CanadaEnter Robbie G.K., the actor whose portrayal of Kip Grady has viewers rewinding scenes, pausing frames and fanning themselves like theyre watching a queer reboot of Top Gun. His breakout moment, yes, the shirtless scene, went viral before episode three had even finished airing.But Robbie G.K. is more than the internets latest heartthrob. The 29-year-old Canadian actor, born Robbie Graham-Kuntz, brings depth and charisma to a role that could have easily been a simple flirty barista love interest. Instead, viewers are watching a fully realized queer character whose presence helps reshape the emotional backbone of the show.A Standout Romance in a Series Already Known for HeatG.K. plays Kip Grady, an out-and-proud smoothie barista who finds himself drawn to Scott Hunter, the closeted captain of the New York Admirals. Scott is played by bisexual Canadian actor Franois Arnaud, but even Arnaud admits Robbie steals scenes. Speaking to Deadline, Arnaud praised their on-screen intimacy, saying their dynamic shows another side of sexuality tentative, repressed two people who are finally giving in.Franois Arnaud as Scott Hunter on Heated Rivalry. Photo: HBO Max/Crave CanadaThat chemistry didnt happen by accident. The actors met for the first time with the shows intimacy coordinator, and Arnaud later described G.K. as open, simple, and beautifully grounded, praising how effortlessly he navigates rom-com beats while keeping the performance authentic. Fans have noticed, and so have critics.Franois Arnaud as Scott Hunter and Robbie G.K. as Kip Grady on Heated Rivalry. Photo: HBO Max/Crave CanadaFrom Suburban Ontario to Streaming StardomRobbie G.K.s rise might feel sudden, but his career has been years in the making. The Port Credit, Ontario, native began performing professionally at just 13, landing the role of Kurt Von Trapp in the Mirvish Theatre production of The Sound of Music.He later attended Torontos Etobicoke School of the Arts, a powerhouse institution known for training some of Canadas most recognizable talent. While there, he honed not only his acting but also his dance and musical skills, a versatility that would later lead to his earliest on-screen jobs.Franois Arnaud as Scott Hunter and Robbie G.K. as Kip Grady on Heated Rivalry. Photo: HBO Max/Crave CanadaHis first major television break came in 2013 on the Canadian teen series The Next Step, where he appeared as Charlie. Robbie continued to build a varied rsum with roles in Utopia Falls, The Community Players, and Overcompensating, where he played the charmingly ambiguous Riley.Robbie G.K. as Kip Grady on Heated Rivalry. Photo: HBO Max/Crave CanadaIn 2023, he transitioned his acting alias to the cleaner, punchier Robbie G.K., debuting the new name in the film The House Call. The rebrand appears to have paid off: audiences remember it, casting directors love it, and the bold-font version would look delicious on any marquee.The Internets New Gay CrushNow, thanks to Heated Rivalry, Robbie G.K. is officially a streaming-era sensation. His portrayal of Kip blends tenderness, humor, confidence and vulnerability, a refreshing departure from queer side characters written solely for comic relief or heartbreak.And the best part? Were just getting to know him.Franois Arnaud as Scott Hunter and Robbie G.K. as Kip Grady on Heated Rivalry. Photo: HBO Max/Crave CanadaAs Heated Rivalry continues to dominate queer pop culture conversations, Robbie G.K. stands out not just as a thirst trap but as the emotional core of the seasons most compelling romance. The barista boyfriend fantasy has arrived, and judging by the fan response, hes here to stay.Source

The White Sox, who had the best odds to win the 2026 MLB draft lottery, will pick first in next summer's draft, followed by the Rays at No. 2 and Twins at No. 3.

The NBA Cup quarterfinals are underway between the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic, then New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors. Follow along for live updates.

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Health officials in England have identified a newly evolved strain of mpox in a person who recently returned from traveling in Asia. The rare recombinant version of the virus blends two major global strains, the BBC reports.Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ+ news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter.Genomic testing by the UK Health Security Agency found that the new virus variant contains genetic elements from clade Ib, which has been linked to more severe illness, and clade IIb, the strain responsible for the 2022 global outbreak. The virus does not yet have a formal name, and officials say they are still assessing its public health significance.Related: What public health experts want you to know about the severe mpox strain appearing in the U.S.Its a watch and wait situation at this point, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis told The Advocate on Monday. Its hard to say what it means other than vigilance needs to continue for mpox and [this] highlights the importance of a strong public health system to detect changes in the virus.Daskalakis is a leading infectious disease physician who previously served as the White House National Mpox Response Deputy Coordinator under President Joe Biden. In August, he resigned as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. In his resignation letter, he said that under the second Trump administration, the agency had been politicized beyond repair. He told The Advocate at the time that the CDC, as it was known, is over. Last week, Daskalakis was named chief medical officer at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in New York City, one of the United Statess largest providers of LGBTQ+ health care.Related: Out CDC vaccine chief resigns, saying enough is enough with Trump and RFK Jr.The CDCs mpox website, which was last updated on December 5, does not mention the new strain.Daskalakis told The Advocate that the UK Health Security Agencys website is a reliable public source for updates on the new variant.The discovery in England follows alarming reporting by The Advocate in October, when a more severe strain of mpox, clade I, was confirmed in three hospitalized patients in Southern California with no travel history, marking the first known cases of local transmission of that strain inside the United States.In an interview at the time, Daskalakis described the moment as an inflection point. That means somewhere theres been local transmission of a virus that we know can transmit and has a pretty good profile for being contagious, he said.All three California patients two in Los Angeles and one in Long Beach were hospitalized and unvaccinated. While their cases appeared unrelated, genomic sequencing showed the viral samples were genetically linked. Clade I, Daskalakis warned, is not necessarily more infectious, but significantly more severe than the clade II strain that drove the 2022 outbreak.The same communities who were most at risk in 2022, men who have sex with men, trans and nonbinary people, people living with HIV, are the ones who need to pay attention again, he said. Daskalakis described that moment as one of watchful waiting, not panic, but warned that sustained viral spread creates the precise conditions for mutation and recombination. The new recombinant strain now detected in England reflects exactly that risk: a virus adapting in real time as it moves through uneven global health systems.Related: Out former CDC vaccines head Demetre Daskalakis named chief medical officer at NYC LGBTQ+ health centerDepartment of Health and Human Services press secretary Emily Hilliard did not respond to The Advocates request for comment.Dr. Boghuma Titanji, an assistant professor of medicine at Emory University, told the BBC that the new strain represents what many experts feared would happen if mpox transmission continued unchecked. The more mpox circulation we permit, the more opportunities the virus has to recombine and adapt, further entrenching mpox virus as a human pathogen that is not going away, she said.Vaccination remains the most effective protection against severe disease. Health officials estimate the mpox vaccine is 75 to 80 percent effective. While no studies yet confirm how well it protects against the new recombinant strain, officials believe a high degree of protection is likely.Dr. Katy Sinka, head of sexually transmitted infections at UKHSA, said genomic testing made the discovery possible. Its normal for viruses to evolve, she said. Getting vaccinated is a proven effective way to protect yourself against severe disease.In October, Daskalakis stressed that the Jynneos vaccine remained fully protective. Two doses are enough. You dont need a booster right now.Mpox spreads through close physical contact and contaminated materials. While the 2022 outbreak disproportionately affected gay and bisexual men and transgender people, experts continue to stress that the virus is driven by exposure and not identity.

Former powerhouse Wolfsburg's campaign is unraveling, while Real Madrid look poised to finish top-four in the UWCL table.

Chris Paul said he's "at peace with everything" and is excited for what's next following his stunning ouster from the LA Clippers earlier this month.

With Chicago landing the No. 1 overall pick for next summer, let's see how the start of the first round could go down.

The birds lingered for days at a Catholic school near Cincinnati as agencies haggled over who was responsible for removing them. Officials said the public health risk was low.

A case against the Long Island-based cannabis company Omnium Health was halted on the eve of trial. A judge on Tuesday held off on dropping the matter.

Also, the Supreme Court considers campaign finance limits. Heres the latest at the end of Tuesday.

An award-winning poet and writer of fiction, she moonlighted as a competitive horsewoman and owned a horse farm outside Columbia, S.C.

President Trumps comments deepened his rift with mainstream European leaders over defense and Ukraine policy.

The homeowner wanted the transition from the first floor to the second floor to have a wow factor.READ MORE...