Dr. Mohammad Fares, right, watches a man close the Sarmada Health Center, in Sarmada district, north of Idlib city, Syria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)2025-02-13T05:16:35Z SARMADA, Syria (AP) In the town of Sarmada in northern Syria, Dr. Mohammad Fares unlocked a clinic that once bustled with patients. Now its empty, and shelves of medicine reduced to a few boxes of bandages and expired drugs.This is what it looks like after the Trump administration halted U.S. foreign assistance last month. The U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID, issued stop-work orders during a 90-day review for what the administration has alleged is wasteful spending.Fares had been working in three clinics run by Mdecins du Monde, or Doctors of the World, offering free health care to the displaced population in northern Syria, which until the fall of former President Bashar Assad in December had been the countrys main rebel-held enclave. It sheltered millions of people who had fled years of civil war.Their already grim camps swelled again in 2023 after a deadly magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit Turkey and northern Syria. Since the fall of Assad, some displaced Syrians have begun to return home, but many have no homes left. Fares clinic in Sarmada used to support 16 camps in the region, assisting approximately 35,000 people. Since the aid freeze, 10 such clinics receiving USAID funding had to close, and Doctors of the World had to lay off 184 people, officials with the organization said. If the support is not resumed, there will be a major disaster and serious harm to vulnerable groups, said Fares, who heads the organizations medical programs. Operating costs of clinics are much lower than those of hospitals. The cessation of work in these clinics will put increased pressure on emergency hospitals and other healthcare facilities This part of Syria lacks centralized government healthcare, leaving people reliant on nonprofit providers and making the impact of the sudden U.S. cuts especially dire, aid workers and experts said. Our analysis shows that withdrawing all of USAIDs support in Syria would be equivalent to a devastating shock of 5% to its already struggling economy. This is among the largest impacts on any recipient. said Ian Mitchell, senior policy fellow at the Washington based Center for Global Development.The U.S. had been providing 25 cents in foreign aid for every $100 of U.S. income, Mitchell said, but that relatively small contribution had outsized impact: Without U.S. support in places like Gaza and Syria, the world will become a more dangerous place.In one camp that had been served by a Doctors of the World clinic, near Kawkaba village, children played among the crowded tents.Camp director Abdelkareem Khaled said the suspension of aid has exacerbated already difficult conditions.Patients, especially those who need medicine every month, can no longer afford it at the pharmacy, he said, leaving those with chronic diseases like diabetes with wrenching decisions to make.In one tent, Bassam Hussein, father of 4 daughters. said he was forced to pull his 12-year-old daughter out of school so she could work in an almond field to help pay for the medicine he uses for his thyroid illness. Every twenty days, I need a pack of medicine that costs $12, he said, If I dont secure the cost of the medicine, I experience complications weakness, depression and so on. He said he was unable to work because of past injuries and illnesses.Other organizations are in limbo. Some have continued providing services without knowing where they will find the money.Dr. Mufaddal Hamadeh, president of the Syrian American Medical Society, which runs hospitals and mobile clinics across the north, said some services had to continue, such as the maternity ward and incubators. But its unclear how long that will remain sustainable.Were not certain if well get a waiver or reimbursement for the expenses weve already covered, he said, referring to the U.S. government. That already put a huge financial burden on us. He refused to give details.Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued a waiver to exempt emergency food aid and life-saving programs. But Hamadeh and others said funding has not resumed to a point that would allow them to fully restore services. Were going to have to shut down some of these hospitals and shrink, Hamadeh said. We cant be providing free services anymore.Some programs, such as mental health support for refugees in Turkey and an autism center for children, may not be deemed life-saving.We have a grant that supports survivors of torture and sexual assault, Hamadeh said. Are these services life-saving or not? Likely they will be shut down.USAID and the U.S. government did not respond to questions. Elsewhere, USAID workers and aid officials have said funding hasnt resumed despite waivers, or USAID staffers who would process them are now gone.SAMS relies on USAID for about 25 to 30% of its funds. Its significant, but some other organizations working in Syria receive much more. Doctors of the Worlds Istanbul office, which oversees operations in northern Syria, was receiving 60% of its funding from USAID.Sitting in a new, downsized office, Turkish branch director Hakan Bilgin recalled the day they were told to halt services.We just received the stop-work order suddenly. Nobody was expecting it, he said. As a medical organization providing life-saving services, youre basically telling us: Close all the clinics, stop all your doctors, and youre not providing services to women, children, and the elderly.Bilgin said his group has cut its daily consultations across northern Syria from 5,000 to 500. The organization has applied for a waiver from the U.S. but has received no response.Trump and Elon Musk, who runs what is billed as a cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency, have taken aim at various government agencies. But USAID has been hit the hardest, with Trump and Musk accusing the agencys work of being out of line with Trumps agenda.Hamadeh, the SAMS president, said the aid cuts are short-sighted and could harm Washingtons standing abroad.This money is helping people, saving lives, he said. You cant just shut down USAID, which has helped millions across the world and actually did help improve Americas reputation.Northwest Syria has been devastated by years of war and neglect, he said. Pulling the plug over that will just increase the suffering.___Badendieck reported from Istanbul. Associated Press writer Suzan Fraser contributed from Ankara, Turkey.

The reunion center is located at the Diamond Mountain, North Korea, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Korea Pool, File)2025-02-13T03:20:00Z SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea is demolishing a South Korea-built property that had been used to host reunions of families separated during the 1950-53 Korean War, the Souths government said Thursday, as it continues to eliminate symbols of engagement between the war-divided rivals.Relations between the Koreas are at their worst in years, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un continuing to flaunt his expanding nuclear weapons program and declaring to abandon long-standing goals of inter-Korean reconciliation, while describing the South as a permanent enemy.The 12-story building at the Norths scenic Diamond Mountain resort, which has 206 rooms and banquet facilities for hosting meetings, had been used for family reunions since 2009. The Koreas last held a family reunion in 2018, after Kim initiated diplomacy with Seoul and Washington in an effort to leverage his nuclear program for economic benefits. Negotiations derailed in 2019 after a failed summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump, who was serving his first term, when the Americans rejected North Koreas demands for a major release of U.S.-led economic sanctions in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities. The North has since suspended virtually all diplomatic activity with the South and ignored U.S. requests to resume talks while accelerating the development of nuclear weapons and missiles. Seouls Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said it had confirmed that North Korea was demolishing the building, named the Reunion Center for the Separated Families, and urged the North to suspend the destruction. The North had previously removed a South Korea-built hotel, golf course and other tourist facilities from the Diamond Mountain resort. Demolishing the reunion center is an act against humanity that crushes the yearning of separated families, as well as a grave infringement of our state-owned property, the ministry said in a statement. The ministry said the Souths government will consider necessary countermeasures, including legal action and international pressure, but it isnt clear whether Seoul has any effective options. In 2023, South Korea filed a 44.7 billion won ($30 million) damage suit against North Korea for blowing up a joint liaison office just north of their border in 2020. The lawsuit was seen as symbolic as theres no clear way for South Korea to force North Korea to pay if it is found liable for damages. KIM TONG-HYUNG Kim has been covering the Koreas for the AP since 2014. He has published widely read stories on North Koreas nuclear ambitions, the dark side of South Koreas economic rise and international adoptions of Korean children. twitter mailto

United States Vice-President JD Vance arrives to the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit at the Grand Palais in Paris, France, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)2025-02-13T05:32:24Z MUNICH, Germany (AP) U.S. Vice President JD Vance will visit the Dachau concentration camp memorial Thursday, making a stop at one of the most powerful symbols of World War II on the eve of his critical talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the three-year Russia-Ukraine conflict.Vance, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is due to sit down Friday with Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference to discuss President Donald Trumps intensifying push for Ukraine and Russia to begin negotiations to end Europes deadliest conflict since World War II.But first Vance is stopping at the solemn memorial that is a powerful reminder of the Nazis World War II-era atrocities and the U.S. and Western allies slowness to take decisive action to confront Adolf Hitler and the rise of his violent nationalist ideology. Dachau was established in 1933 the same year Hitler took power as one of the first concentration camps. More than 200,000 people from across Europe were held at the camp, and over 40,000 prisoners died there in horrendous conditions. U.S. soldiers completed the liberation on April 29, 1945. Vance is in the midst of a five-day visit to France and Germany, his first overseas travel since becoming vice president last month. His wife, Usha Vance, is expected to join him for the Dachau visit.The moment at Dachau will offer Vance a chance to reflect on the scourges of war just as his boss, Donald Trump, is ratcheting up his efforts to end the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Trump on Wednesday spoke separately with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy. Trump said that he and Putin agreed it was time to start negotiations immediately to end the war. And as Trump announced his agreement on negotiations with Putin, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that NATO membership for Ukraine was unrealistic and suggested Kyiv should abandon hopes of winning all its territory back from Russia and instead prepare for a negotiated peace settlement to be backed up by international troops. In addition to his talks with Zelenskyy, Vance is scheduled to deliver an address on Friday to the annual Munich Security Conference.The war in Europe and NATO members defense spending are expected to be front and center for the world leaders gathering in Munich. Vance, like Trump, has been a sharp critic of U.S. allies spending what the administration deems as too little on their defense budgets.The Trump administration has been clear that we care a lot about Europe, Vance said during a meeting this week with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. But we also want to make sure that were engaged in a security partnership thats both good for Europe and the United States.Over nearly three years of war, 50 countries known as the Ukraine Contact Group have collectively provided Ukraine with more than $126 billion in weapons and military assistance, including more than $66.5 billion from the U.S., which has served as chair of the group since its creation. Trump in his 2024 campaign derided the enormous amount of U.S. military aid poured into Ukraine and vowed to end the conflict within 24 hours of returning to the White House. Since his November election victory over Democrat Kamala Harris, Trump and his advisers have dialed back on their boldest timelines and set a goal of ending the war in about six months. AAMER MADHANI Madhani covers the White House for The Associated Press. He is based in Washington. twitter mailto

Supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, AfD, sing the national anthem as they attend an election campaign rally of the party for the upcoming state elections in Suhl, Germany, Aug. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)2025-02-13T05:21:13Z BERLIN (AP) Alternative for Germany appears to be heading for its strongest national election result yet this month and is fielding its first candidate to lead the country. Even though its highly unlikely to take a share of power soon, it has become a factor that other politicians cant ignore and helped shape Germanys debate on migration. The far-right party first entered Germanys national parliament eight years ago on the back of discontent with the arrival of large numbers of migrants in the mid-2010s, and curbing migration remains its signature theme. But the party has proven adept at harnessing discontent with other issues: Germanys move away from fossil fuels, restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic and support for Ukraine after Russias full-scale invasion nearly three years ago. How did it start?Alternative for Germany, or AfD, was founded in 2013 and initially focused on opposition to bailouts for struggling countries in the eurozone debt crisis measures that then Chancellor Angela Merkel described as without alternative. It was sometimes known as a party of professors, a reference to leading figures in the early days, though it already had a strong streak of hard-right, anti-establishment identity. Over the years, AfD became more radical and repeatedly changed leaders. It was Merkels decision in 2015 to allow in large numbers of migrants that supercharged it as a political force, and in the 2017 national election, it won 12.6% of the vote to take seats in the German parliament for the first time. Where does it stand now?After returning to parliament in 2021 with reduced support of 10.3%, AfD picked up strength as Chancellor Olaf Scholzs center-left government bickered through a series of crises some of its own making and finally collapsed. Germany saw a wave of protests a year ago triggered by a report that right-wing extremists met to discuss the deportation of millions of immigrants, including some with German citizenship, and that AfD members were present. But that didnt do long-term poll damage to AfD. It finished second in the European Parliament election in June, and in September, the best-known figure on its hardest-right wing, Bjrn Hcke, secured the first far-right win in a state election in post-World War II Germany. AfD is going into this election with renewed confidence and radical language. Alice Weidel, its first candidate for chancellor, has embraced the term remigration as the party calls for large-scale deportations of people with no legal entitlement to be in Germany a politically loaded word that featured in last years controversy. AfD calls for the immediate lifting of sanctions against Russia and opposes weapons deliveries to Ukraine. It wants Germany to reintroduce a national currency and for the European Union to be turned into a looser association of European nations, though it isnt explicitly advocating leaving the 27-nation bloc. Germanys domestic intelligence agency has the party under observation for suspected right-wing extremism. The AfDs branches in three eastern states are designated proven right-wing extremist groups. AfD strongly objects to those assessments and rejects any association with the Nazi past. Hcke has appealed two convictions for knowingly using a Nazi slogan at a political event. Who supports it?AfD has support across Germany and is represented in all but two of the 16 state legislatures, but the party is strongest in the formerly communist and less prosperous east.It has a unique ability to seize on issues that other parties dont handle with this clarity, with this intensity, with this radicalism and this emotionality, said Wolfgang Schroeder, a political science professor at the Berlin Social Science Center. And on top of that, its an internet party and from the beginning used the emotionalizing power of the internet for its own communication much better than all other German parties together.That has helped it to perform strongly among young voters in recent regional elections. The party portrays itself as an anti-establishment force at a time of low trust in politicians, sometimes dismissing the old parties as a cartel.Schroeder described it as something like an aircraft carrier for resentment and anger. Other parties say they wont work with it. Who are its friends abroad?AfDs rise has coincided with that of far-right parties in many other European countries, including Austrias Freedom Party and the National Rally in France, with which it has plenty of common ground. Weidel was in Budapest to visit Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbn on Wednesday.However, it isnt part of those parties Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament after some tensions before last years EU elections. AfD was thrown out of one of the groups predecessors after its leading candidate at the time, Maximilian Krah, said that not all Nazi SS men were necessarily criminals. The party has found an enthusiastic supporter in billionaire Elon Musk, a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump. Musk has declared that only the AfD can save Germany. He held a live chat on X with Weidel and appeared live by video link at an AfD campaign rally. At that rally, Weidel vowed to make Germany great again in an echo of the U.S. presidents slogan.___Kerstin Sopke contributed to this report.

A woman holds the hand of a sick relative lying on the floor of the overcrowded Lilongwe Central Hospital, in Lilongwe, Malawi, Sept. 30, 1998, as the hospital is overflowing because of an epidemic of AIDS rampaging in southern Africa. (AP Photo /Denis Farrell, File)2025-02-13T05:38:20Z A generation has passed since the world saw the peak in AIDS-related deaths. Those deaths agonizing, from diseases the body might otherwise fight off sent loved ones into the streets, pressuring governments to act. The United States eventually did, creating PEPFAR, arguably the most successful foreign aid program in history. HIV, which causes AIDS, is now manageable, though there is still no cure.Now the Trump administration has put the brakes on foreign aid while alleging its wasteful, causing chaos in the system that for over 20 years has kept millions of people alive. Confusion over a temporary waiver for PEPFAR and the difficulty of restarting its work, with U.S. workers, contractors and payments in upheaval means the clock is ticking for many who are suddenly unable to obtain medications to keep AIDS at bay.Few people under 30 years old understand what AIDS does to the body. The U.S.-led global response to HIV has been so effective that AIDS wards of people wasting away are a vision of the past. Now health experts, patients and others fear those days could return if the Trump administration doesnt reverse course or no other global power steps into the void, and fast. In the next five years, we could have 6.3 million AIDS-related deaths, the U.N. AIDS agency told The Associated Press. Thats a shock at a time of rising complacency around HIV, declining condom use among some young people and the rise of a medication that some believe could end AIDS for good. The agency has begun publicly tracking new HIV infections since the aid freeze.Heres a look at what happens to the body when HIV drugs are stopped: An immune system collapseHIV is spread by bodily fluids such as blood, breast milk or semen. It gradually weakens the bodys immune system and makes it vulnerable to disease, including ones rarely seen in otherwise healthy people. The surprising emergence of such cases in the 1980s is what tipped off health experts to what became known as the AIDS epidemic.Years of intense advocacy and shocking sights of children, young adults and others dying of pneumonia and other infections led to the response that created PEPFAR, the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Twenty million people around the world died before the program was founded. Now millions of people take drugs known as antivirals that keep HIV from spreading in the body.Stopping those drugs lets the virus start multiplying in the body again, and it could become drug-resistant. HIV can rebound to detectable levels in peoples blood in just a few weeks, putting sexual partners at risk. Babies born to mothers with HIV can escape infection only if the woman was properly treated during pregnancy or the infant is treated immediately after birth.If the drugs are not taken, a body is heading toward AIDS, the final stage of infection. The daily danger of germsWithout HIV treatment, people with AIDS typically survive about three years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.For a long time, there may be no noticeable symptoms. But a person can easily spread HIV to others, and the immune system becomes vulnerable to what are called opportunistic diseases.The National Institutes of Health says opportunistic diseases include fungal infections, pneumonia, salmonella and tuberculosis. For a country like South Africa, with the worlds highest number of HIV cases and one of the largest numbers of TB cases, the toll could be immense.Unchecked by HIV treatment, the damage continues. The immune system is increasingly unable to fight off diseases. Every action, from eating to travel, must consider the potential exposure to germs. Every day countsFor years, the importance of taking the drugs every day, even at the same time of day, has been emphasized to people with HIV. Now the ability to follow that essential rule has been shaken.Already, hundreds or thousands of U.S.-funded health partners in countries such as Kenya and Ethiopia have been laid off, causing widespread gaps in HIV testing, messaging, care and support on the continent most helped by PEPFAR. At some African clinics, people with HIV have been turned away.Restoring the effects caused by the Trump administrations foreign aid freeze during a 90-day review period, and understanding whats allowed under the waiver for PEPFAR, will take time that health experts say many people dont have.Meanwhile, the head of the U.N. AIDS agency, Winnie Byanyima, told the AP that more resistant strains of the disease could emerge.And an additional 3.4 million children could be made orphans another echo of the time when the world raced to confront AIDS with few tools at hand.___Follow coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/us-agency-for-international-development

President Donald Trump listens as Elon Musk speaks in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. (Photo/Alex Brandon)2025-02-13T05:25:17Z DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Elon Musk called Thursday to delete entire agencies from the United States federal government as part of his push under President Donald Trump to radically cut spending and restructure its priorities.Musk offered a wide-ranging survey via a videocall to the World Governments Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, of what he described as the priorities of the Trump administration interspersed with multiple references to thermonuclear warfare and the possible dangers of artificial intelligence.We really have here rule of the bureaucracy as opposed to rule of the people democracy, Musk said, wearing a black T-shirt that read: Tech Support. He also joked that he was the White Houses tech support, borrowing from his profile on the social platform X, which he owns. I think we do need to delete entire agencies as opposed to leave a lot of them behind, Musk said. If we dont remove the roots of the weed, then its easy for the weed to grow back. While Musk has spoken to the summit in the past, his appearance Thursday comes as he has consolidated control over large swaths of the government with Trumps blessing since assuming leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency. Thats included sidelining career officials, gaining access to sensitive databases and inviting a constitutional clash over the limits of presidential authority. Musks new role imbued his comments with more weight beyond being the worlds wealthiest person through his investments in SpaceX and electric carmaker Tesla. His remarks also offered a more-isolationist view of American power in the Middle East, where the U.S. has fought wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.A lot of attention has been on USAID for example, Musk said, referring to Trumps dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development. Theres like the National Endowment for Democracy. But Im like, Okay, well, how much democracy have they achieved lately? He added that the U.S. under Trump is less interested in interfering with the affairs of other countries.There are times the United States has been kind of pushy in international affairs, which may resonate with some members of the audience, Musk said, speaking to the crowd in the UAE, an autocratically ruled nation of seven sheikhdoms. Basically, America should mind its own business, rather than push for regime change all over the place, he said.He also noted the Trump administrations focus on eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion work, at one point linking it to AI.If hypothetically, AI is designed for DEI, you know, diversity at all costs, it could decide that theres too many men in power and execute them, Musk said.On AI, Musk said he believed Xs newly updated AI chatbot, Grok 3, would be ready in about two weeks, calling it at one point kind of scary. He criticized Sam Altmans management of OpenAI, which Musk just led a $97.4 billion takeover bid for, describing it as akin to a nonprofit aimed at saving the Amazon rainforest becoming a lumber company that chops down the trees. Musk also announced plans for a Dubai Loop project in line with his work in the Boring Company which is digging tunnels in Las Vegas to speed transit. However, he and the Emirati government official speaking with him offered no immediate details of the plan.Its going to be like a wormhole, Musk promised. You just wormhole from one part of the city boom and youre out in another part of the city. JON GAMBRELL Gambrell is the news director for the Gulf and Iran for The Associated Press. He has reported from each of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Iran and other locations across the world since joining the AP in 2006. twitter instagram mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Nissan Chief Executive Makoto Uchida, left, Honda Chief Executive Toshihiro Mibe, right, with Takao Kato, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors, not in photo, pose for photographers during a joint news conference in Tokyo, Japan, on Dec. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)2025-02-13T06:57:19Z TOKYO (AP) Japanese automakers Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi said Thursday they are dropping their talks for a business integration. The automakers agreed to end their agreement regarding the consideration of the structure for a collaboration, their joint statement said. Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Corp. announced in December that they were going to hold talks to set up a joint holding company. Mitsubishi Motors Corp. had said it was considering joining that group. From the start, the effort had analysts puzzled as to the advantages to any of the companies, as their model lineups and strengths overlap in an industry shaken by the arrival of powerful newcomers like Tesla and BYD, as well as the move to electrification. Details as to why the talks unraveled werent immediately available. Honda and Nissan initially said they were trying to finalize an agreement by June and set up the holding company by August. The three automakers will continue to work together on electric vehicles and smart cars, such as autonomous driving, they said Thursday.In recent weeks, Japanese media had various reports about the talks breaking down, citing unidentified sources. Some said Nissan balked at becoming a minor player in the partnership with Honda. Honda is in far better financial shape and was to take the lead in the joint executive team.Nissan reported a loss for the July-September quarter as its vehicle sales sank, prompting it to slash 9,000 jobs. At that time, Chief Executive Makoto Uchida took a 50% pay cut to take responsibility for the results. ___Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@yurikageyama YURI KAGEYAMA Kageyama covers Japan news for The Associated Press. Her topics include social issues, the environment, businesses, entertainment and technology. twitter instagram facebook mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Migrants from Haiti stand in line outside the Mexican Commission for Refugee Aid (COMAR) government office to apply for asylum in Mexico City, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)2025-02-13T05:13:44Z MEXICO CITY (AP) When Angelica Delgado took a one-way flight to Mexico as she fled Cuba in December, she was set on seeking asylum in the United States.But after President Donald Trump effectively slammed the door on asylum-seekers crossing the U.S. border when he took office last month, the 23-year-old recalibrated her plans.She decided she would seek protection in Mexico.Like almost all Cubans, our objective was to go to the United States, she said. It wasnt in our plans to stay, but now we have to face reality.Amid a clampdown on asylum under Trump and tightening restrictions in recent years under the Biden administration, Delgado is among a growing number of migrants from across the world to ditch or at least pause their ambitions of reaching the U.S., and focus instead on building a life in Mexico.Migrants trying to apply for asylum in Mexico in January more than tripled compared to the monthly average from the previous year, according to an international official with knowledge of the numbers who was not authorized to discuss them publicly. Mexicos refugee agency has not yet published figures for January. All of these policies Trump is pushing are leading more people to seek international protection in Mexico, said Andrs Ramrez, former director of the Mexican Commission for Refugee Aid, which processes asylum cases. Delgado was among hundreds of migrants from Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, Afghanistan and other countries gathering outside the refugee agency in Mexico City after Trump unleashed executive orders last month meant to slash access to asylum and militarize the border. The Associated Press spoke to around a half-dozen people who had asylum appointments in the U.S. through the Biden-era app, CBP One, that Trump canceled on Inauguration Day. They were left stranded on the Mexican side of the border, their dreams of a legal pathway into the U.S. snuffed. Many more said they now intended to seek asylum in Mexico, citing increasingly harsh restrictions in recent years in the U.S. or what they said was anti-immigrant sentiment there.Now, its the Mexican dream, said a Mexican man helping Haitian friends try to get an appointment this month to apply for asylum in Mexico following the Trump executive orders. Delgado, her partner and many others had put their hopes on pathways opened by the Biden administration to legally seek asylum in the U.S. They said they had no intention of hiring a smuggler to enter the U.S. illegally.They said the risks of returning to Cuba were too great following a government clampdown on protests in recent years.Crossing illegally isnt an option for us. Wed rather stay here in Mexico, Delgado said, adding that if they crossed illegally into the U.S. and were caught theyll deport us and theyll send us back to Cuba.Delgado, who is an architect, and her partner, a doctor, arent able to work in their fields in Mexico because their training in Cuba is not recognized there, she said. So for now shes washing dishes in a market. Mexico has long opened its doors to refugees and exiles, but asylum applications have soared in recent years, growing from 1,295 in 2013 to a record 140,982 in 2023. That number dipped to 78,975 in 2024, as the CBP One app allowed migrants in southern Mexico to apply for appointments for entry into the U.S. before heading to the northern border.The rise in petitions for asylum in Mexico may not result in an immediate uptick in refugees there as only a couple hundred applications can be processed each day, fueling criticism about Mexicos capacity to take on the burgeoning asylum demand.Amid criticisms over the backlog, President Claudia Sheinbaum has sharply boosted funding for Mexican agencies handling migration and asylum.Venezuelan asylum-seeker Harry Luzardo, 37, said life in Mexico is an improvement after scrambling for years to scrape by in Ecuador and Chile.Ecuador, Chile, Peru and Colombia were once the epicenter of the exodus of 8 million people from Venezuela, fleeing spiraling economic and political crises. But with little international aid and an array of their own economic and security crises, Chile was among countries that began closing their doors to migrants.In Chile, you dont receive any kind of support, Luzardo said, waiting patiently in line earlier this month to make an asylum petition request in Mexico City. In Chile, theres nothing for migrants.Luzardo left Venezuela four years ago, but unable to get legal status to stay and work in Chile, he decided hed try his luck at reuniting with family in the U.S. Now, with that door closed, Mexico is his plan B. For now, I feel good here, he said. Still, he conceded, hed rather be in the U.S.

United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, right, speaks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, center, and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Christopher Cavoli during a meeting of the North Atlantic Council in defense ministers format at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)2025-02-13T07:58:20Z BRUSSELS (AP) Several NATO allies stressed on Thursday that Ukraine and Europe must not be cut out of any peace negotiations as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied that the United States is betraying the war-ravaged country.European governments are reeling after the Trump administration signaled that it is planning face-to-face talks with Russia on ending the Ukraine war without involving them, insisted that Kyiv should not join NATO, and said that its up to Europe to protect itself and Ukraine from whatever Russia might do next.There can be no negotiation about Ukraine without Ukraine. And Ukraines voice must be at the heart of any talks, U.K. Defence Secretary John Healey told reporters at NATO headquarters, as the organizations 32 defense ministers met for talks on Ukraine.German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said: For me, its clear that Europe must be involved in the negotiations and I think thats very easy to understand, particularly if Europe is supposed to play a central or the main role in the peace order. Europe, he said, will have to live directly with the consequences, so it goes without saying that we must be part of the negotiations. Hegseth denied that the U.S. has betrayed Ukraine by launching negotiations about its future without Kyivs full involvement. After talks with Putin and then Zelenskyy, Trump said on Wednesday he would probably meet in person with the Russian leader in the near term, possibly in Saudi Arabia. There is no betrayal there. There is a recognition that the whole world and the United States is invested and interested in peace. A negotiated peace, Hegesth told reporters.Hegseth warned that the war in Ukraine must be a wakeup call for NATOs European allies to spend more on their own defense budgets.Twenty-three of the 32 member countries were forecast to have met the organizations guideline of spending 2% of gross domestic product on their national defense budgets last year, but a third still do not. But Hegseths French counterpart, Sbastien Lecornu, described the wrangling over greater defense spending as a false debate, saying that governments and parliaments across Europe are already approving more weapons purchases and bigger military budgets while helping Ukraine stave off an invasion.Lecornu warned that the future of NATO itself is now in question.To say that its the biggest and most robust alliance in history is true, historically speaking. But the real question is will that still be the case in 10 or 15 years, he said, after the U.S. by far NATOs biggest and most powerful member signaled that its security priorities lie elsewhere, including in Asia.NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who was chairing Thursdays meeting, said that whatever agreement is struck between Russia and Ukraine, it is crucial that the peace deal is enduring, that Putin knows that this is the end, that he can never again try to capture a piece of Ukraine.Touting Europes investment in Ukraine, Swedish Defense Minister Pl Jonson said European nations provided about 60% of the military support to Kyiv last year and must be involved, especially given U.S. demands that Europe take more responsibility for Ukraines security in the longer term. Its very natural that were engaged into the discussions, Jonson said.His Estonian counterpart, Hanno Pevkur, underlined that the European Union has driven sanctions against Russia, has invested heavily in Ukraines defense, and will be asked to foot the bill for rebuilding the war-ravaged country.We have to be there. So there is no question about it. Otherwise this peace will not be long lasting, Pevkur warned.___Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.

Palestinians walk past a pile of burning garbage, as there is no refuse collection in the city and people are disposing of their rubbish in the streets, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)2025-02-13T10:21:34Z CAIRO (AP) Hamas said Thursday it would release the next group of Israeli hostages as planned, apparently resolving a major dispute that threatened the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The militant group said Egyptian and Qatari mediators have affirmed that they will work to remove all hurdles, and that it would implement the ceasefire deal. The statement indicated three more Israeli hostages would be freed Saturday. There was no immediate comment from Israel after Hamas announcement.Hamas move would allow the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to continue for now, but its future remains in doubt.Hamas had threatened to delay the next release of Israeli hostages, accusing Israel of failing to meet its obligations to allow in tents and shelters, among other alleged violations of the truce. Israel, with the support of U.S. President Donald Trump, had threatened to renew its offensive if hostages were not freed. Hamas said its delegation held talks in Cairo with Egyptian officials and was in contact with Qatars prime minister about increasing the entry of shelters, medical supplies, fuel and heavy equipment for clearing rubble into Gaza.Egypts state-run Qahera TV, which is close to the countrys security services, reported that Egypt and Qatar had succeeded in resolving the dispute. The two Arab countries have served as key mediators with Hamas and helped broker the ceasefire, which took effect in January, 15 months into the war. ___Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

Subscribe nowIt was the Winter of Grade 12 and I had just hooked up with my first male partner. While I had been out to friends and family for about a year, I still had an irrational fear about acting on my sexual orientation: Anything I do with a guy will give me some terminal illness, I remember thinking.The morning after, I was hanging out with my Dad and I broke down in tears. I gave him a blowjob, and I think I have AIDS, I told him. My Dad, a former varsity basketball player and frat guy turned business professor, was still grappling with my sexual orientation. Oh fuck, Spence. I dont know if you can get HIV from that, he responded.We hopped in the car and sped downtown to the closest STI clinic in Toronto. Upon arrival, the nurse chuckled and informed me I very likely didnt have anything to worry about related to contracting HIV/Aids. She tested me for all other STIs and when the results came back negative, she sent me and my Dad home.Ill never forget my Dad responding in this way. Nonjudgmental, accepting, solution-oriented. It made me realize I can talk to him about sex, and it doesnt have to be weird. It made me realize ifGod forbidsomething bad ever happened to me, I could tell him.On this Valentines Week, Im thinking about how lucky I am to have a Dad like him. Most parents, according to a 2018 study, feel uncomfortable and unequipped talking about sex with their LGBTQ teens. In American society, sex is still taboo and stigmatized in many pockets of the country, especially in religious circles.And when queer kids cant talk to their parents, school doesnt always provide an outlet for these essential conversations. More than half of U.S. states dont mandate sex education for youth at school. And in many states that do offer sex-ed, teachers arent allowed to talk about LGBTQ sex and must teach abstinence only. Not to mention, there are variants of Dont Say Gay laws in at least 24 states where teachers are not legally allowed to bring up anything related to sexual orientation or gender identity.Staying silent about sex has real consequences. Children who receive sex education are more likely to report abuse and rape and recognize inappropriate behavior. Sex education is directly related to a decrease in the likelihood of teen pregnancies and STIs.On this Valentines Week, we should all talk about sex more. Gay sex, straight sex, and everything in between. Only then can the next generation understand essential and complex topics like sexual health, consent, and the difference between right and wrong.Upgrade to paid to support LGBTQ-focused accountability journalism. Trumps Shameful Campaign Against Transgender Americans (New York Times)NYT Hypocrisy: Outlet Criticizes Trump's Attacks On Trans People That They Helped Usher In (Erin in the Morning) The New York Times Editorial Board today released an opinion piece calling Trump's attacks on transgender Americans "shameful." The paper has been influential in fueling those attacks.As Trump hits delete, the race is on to save LGBTQ and climate data (NBC News)Thousands of government web pages are being altered or deleted following executive orders targeting gender ideology extremism and environmental policies.Sarah McBride wants the LGBTQ+ rights movement to fight smarter, not harder (The 19th)"We have to reclaim the narrative and the humanity in the publics mind of trans people," she told The 19th.Nex Benedict Has Been Gone a Year. What Have We Learned? (Teen Vogue)Nex Benedicts death was confirmation that anti-trans policies and rhetoric have a body count. Is anyone listening?Our list of newsroom partners is growing. In the last week, The Emancipator republished our story examining why Black women are 10 times more at risk for contracting HIV and The Oregonian republished our story looking at why people with autism spectrum disorder are more likely to identify as asexual.If you are a publication looking for more LGBTQ-focused journalism, you are welcome to republish any of our stories so long as you follow our guidelines.A huge thank you to Out Professionals for hosting us last night at their networking event at 30 Rock. It was a blast, and we are so grateful for the opportunity to meet more people in the community. Subscribe nowThis weekend, be on the lookout for new Uncloseted reporting: You probably know @boyabaddie from social media, where she boasts over 340,000 followers on Instagram. But as a queer woman of color, how does she feel about Trumps attempt to erase the trans and nonbinary community? In our debut episode of Beneath the Grid, a video series where we dive deep with prominent influencers, Baddie sends a powerful message to the President and his team trying to roll back LGBTQ rights. Since tying for fifth place against trans swimmer Lia Thomas, Riley Gaines has made a career not in the pool, but by becoming the go-to mouthpiece of the far-right when it comes to the trans sports debate. Podcasts, pinup calendars, 29 appearances on Fox News, a college campus speaking tour and the launch of The Riley Gaines Center. Why did anti-LGBTQ hate groups pick Gaines to be their talking head? Thanks for reading! Feel free to email me with questions, complaints, tips, and story ideas! Spencer Macnaughton, Editor-In-Chiefspencer@unclosetedmedia.comIf 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

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, attends a hearing of his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (Joen Heon-Kyun/Pool Photo via AP)2025-02-13T10:33:25Z SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is putting up a desperate fight for his political life at Seouls Constitutional Court after being impeached and arrested for his short-lived imposition of martial law last year. After weeks of hearings, the court is nearing a decision on whether to formally remove him from office.Yoons legal saga, which also includes a separate criminal indictment on rebellion charges, has become a stress test for the countrys democracy, which has been challenged by deepening political polarization and distrust. Yoons conservative supporters rioted at a Seoul court that authorized his arrest; his lawyers and ruling party have openly questioned the credibility of courts and law enforcement institutions; and Yoon has continued to express contempt for his liberal rivals, endorsing baseless conspiracy theories about election fraud to justify his ill-fated authoritarian push. If Yoon is dismissed, that would trigger a presidential by-election that could test voters trust in the electoral process, while a decision to reinstate him could fuel further instability if the public see it as unjust.The Constitutional Courts ruling, expected by March, will be a crucial moment for South Korea. Heres a look at how its being decided. How the process worksUnder South Koreas constitution, the National Assembly has the power to impeach presidents but not to remove them from office. After an impeachment, the presidents powers are temporarily suspended and a trial begins at the Constitutional Court. The court has 180 days to either remove Yoon from office or reject the impeachment and restore his powers. If hes thrown out of office, a national election to choose his successor must be held within 60 days.The Assembly made specific charges against Yoon when impeaching him misusing military force, circumventing legal processes to declare a state of emergency, and attempting to disband the legislature but the court is only required to rule on whether or not he can remain in office. Removing Yoon would need the votes of six of the courts eight justices. Was the declaration of martial law legal?Yoon faces criminal accusations of attempted rebellion over his short-lived declaration of martial law, but the Constitutional Court is focusing on a relatively simple question: whether he had legitimate grounds to declare martial law on Dec. 3.The constitution limits the exercise of that power to times of war or comparable national emergencies. Yoon has argued that his martial law decree was necessary to overcome the anti-state liberal opposition, which he claims improperly used its legislative majority to block his agenda.After winning a landslide victory in last years legislative elections, the liberal opposition impeached several of Yoons key officials and blocked his budget bill. Yoons side says those moves created a crisis that required drastic action.But Yoons National Security Director Shin Won-shik told the Constitutional Court on Tuesday that Yoon began floating the idea of using his emergency powers before the general elections in April. Did Yoon follow legal protocols?The National Assembly has also said that Yoon sidestepped a constitutional requirement to deliberate in a formal meeting of the Cabinet before declaring martial law.Yoon called 11 Cabinet members to his office shortly before declaring martial law on late-night television, but most participants, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, have said the gathering did not qualify as a meeting and that Yoon unilaterally informed them of his decision rather than inviting deliberation.The meeting also failed to follow legal procedures required for formal state council meetings: no agenda was proposed, no signatures were collected from participants and no minutes were recorded. Yoon told the court Tuesday that he thought the records could be produced later through electronic approval. Several top officials, including Han, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, and Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, said they attempted to talk Yoon out of the decision, citing potential damage to the countrys international reputation and economy. But Yoon went ahead with the martial law declaration, saying that his perception of the situation was different, according to public prosecutors criminal indictments of Yoon and his former Defense Minister, Kim Yong Hyun, who played a key role in the events.Former Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min, one of Yoons closest allies, is the only participant who has said the Dec. 3 Cabinet meeting had substance, telling the court on Tuesday that officials engaged in passionate debates. Yoon has said that it makes absolutely no sense to suggest that Cabinet members came to the presidential office just for an informal meeting or to hang out. Did Yoon try to disband the legislature?Finally, the Assembly accused Yoon of attempting to dissolve the legislature, something that is beyond his constitutional powers even under martial law.A military decree that followed Yoons declaration stated that all political activities are prohibited, including activities of the National Assembly and local councils, and hundreds of troops were deployed to the National Assembly, including special operation units who broke windows while unsuccessfully attempting to reach the main chamber.Legislators managed to assemble a quorum in the chamber despite the assault and voted unanimously to lift the state of martial law.Yoon and his lawyers have maintained that the martial law declaration was intended as a temporary and peaceful warning to the liberal opposition, and that he had always planned to respect lawmakers will if they voted to lift the measure. He said the troops were there to maintain order, not to disrupt the legislature.But the Assembly has pointed to testimonies by some military commanders, who have described a deliberate attempt to seize the legislature that was thwarted by hundreds of civilians and legislative staff who helped lawmakers enter the assembly, and by the troops reluctance or refusal to follow Yoons orders.Yoons claims have been contradicted by testimony from Kwak Jong-keun, the now-arrested commander of the Army Special Warfare Command. Kwak said the president directly instructed him to have troops pull the lawmakers out, desperate to prevent the 300-member Assembly from gathering the 150 votes necessary to overturn his martial law order. Yoon has denied accusations that he sought to arrest key politicians and election officials.In addition to surrounding the legislature, hundreds of other troops were sent to National Election Commission offices the same day. Yoon says he was aiming to investigate election fraud allegations, which remain unsubstantiated. KIM TONG-HYUNG Kim has been covering the Koreas for the AP since 2014. He has published widely read stories on North Koreas nuclear ambitions, the dark side of South Koreas economic rise and international adoptions of Korean children. twitter mailto

Emergency services attend the scene of an accident after a driver hit a group of people in Munich, Germany, Thursday Feb. 13, 2025. (Christoph Trost/dpa via AP)2025-02-13T10:12:09Z BERLIN (AP) A driver drove a vehicle into a group of people in Munich on Thursday, injuring at least 20 people, authorities said.Authorities didnt provide details about the incident near downtown Munich which took place around 10:30 a.m., including whether the people were hit deliberately.Police said on social platform X that the driver was secured at the scene and no longer poses any danger. A damaged Mini could be seen at the scene.The fire service said at least 20 people were injured, some of them seriously, German news agency dpa reported.Mayor Dieter Reiter said he was deeply shocked by the incident. He said that children were among those injured. A demonstration by the service workers union ver.di was taking place at the time of the incident. It was not immediately clear whether demonstrators were among the injured. The Bavarian capital will see heavy security in the coming days because the three-day Munich Security Conference, an annual gathering of international foreign and security policy officials, opens on Friday.

The flags of Canada and the United States fly outside a hotel in downtown Ottawa, on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)2025-02-13T12:03:19Z WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump has repeatedly said Canada should be the 51st U.S. state as he proposes erasing the 5,525-mile-long border that separates the countries and alleviating the need for tariffs hes threatened against one of Americas top allies and trading partners. The traditional Lower 48 states would become the contiguous 50 as the Canadian territory between the U.S. mainland and Alaska disappears, leaving Hawaii as the only noncontinental state. If people wanted to play the game right, it would be 100% certain that theyd become a state, Trump said recently. Canada at first reacted as though Trump must be joking, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowing that his country will never be the 51st state. But Trudeau more recently suggested behind closed doors of Trumps sustained annexation calls: It is a real thing. But is it? Really? Heres a closer look: Whats the process for add ing a state?Congress has to approve accepting a new state.It takes only a House majority, but Senate filibuster rules require a minimum of 60 votes in the 100-member chamber to bring a bill to the floor an insurmountable threshold for all kinds of key legislation. The Constitutions Admissions Clause, Article IV, Section 3, states: New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress. Any measure approving a new state that clears Congress would also have to be signed into law by the president though Trump, a Republican, has made it clear hed do so to admit Canada.Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a Trump ally, joked on X when all 50 states certified Trumps Electoral College victory last month, They skipped Canada. Well fix that next time! Still, no major legislation is advancing that would extend an invitation to statehood to Americas northern neighbor. Doesnt Canada have a say?A territorys residents dont necessarily have to vote to join the United States. There have been multiple past pathways to statehood from the absorption of the 13 colonies under the Articles of Confederation, to Congress formally agreeing to Texas request to be annexed as the 28th state, but only after rejecting previous overtures from the then-republic. However, most states were added after Congress accepted a petition from some territorial legislative body, which could include legislatures that Congress itself suggested forming as part of the process. In practice, therefore, Canada would probably have to have a referendum to gauge voters interests in joining the U.S. before more detailed aspects of the process could begin and the chances of passage dont seem high. While not addressing Canada as the 51st state directly, polling last year from Gallup and the Pew Research Center shows that Americans overwhelmingly have a positive view of Canada and that while Canadians view the U.S. more positively than negatively, their view may be a little more muted. Trumps threats of tariffs have left Canadians feeling betrayed, and sports fans in Canada have begun voicing their displeasure by booing the U.S. national anthem at NBA and NHL games.Of course, public opinion wouldnt matter if the U.S. opted to invade Canada and annex it by force. Not even Trump is suggesting that, though hes refused to rule out U.S. military force to seize back control of the Panama Canal. How would adding Canada affect U.S. elections? Profoundly and thats without speculating about whether a majority of Canadians might back Democrats or Republicans for president and in Congress. If Canada were to join the U.S., its population of 41.6 million would make it the largest state, outpacing Californias 39.4 million residents. Canada would get two senators but also 55 House seats based on the average congressional district population following the 2020 U.S. census, which was 761,169 individuals. That would make Canada the presidential races richest prize, with 57 Electoral College delegates exceeding Californias 54. The Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929, meanwhile, caps the number of House seats at 435, meaning that other state delegations would shrink to make room for the new Canadian members of the House and, by extension, its delegates to the Electoral College.Suddenly, make-or-break swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin may not look so important if there are tens of millions of Canucks waiting to be wooed with a presidential election on the line. What about other potential new states? Before Trump took office for his second term, debate around adding State No. 51 traditionally centered around Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.Puerto Rico is a U.S. commonwealth, and its voters have approved statehood in nonbinding referendums. Proposals to allow it become a state have repeatedly been introduced in Congress but not approved. Washington, D.C., residents have voted in support of statehood and approved a state constitution and proposed boundaries. A bill admitting into the union the city as Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, passed the Democrat-controlled House as recently as 2021 but not the Senate. Republicans now control both chambers, meaning theyll likely oppose adding states that could be majority Democratic like Puerto Rico or D.C. The nations capital gets three Electoral College votes for president under the Constitutions 23rd Amendment, though it lacks voting representation in Congress. Thats why the Electoral College has 538 total delegates: 435 House members, 100 senators and three for D.C. Trump has talked about the U.S. invading or purchasing Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Thats despite Danish authorities insisting it isnt for sale. The president hasnt said if Greenland could be a state, only that I think were going to have it and that the islands roughly 57,000 residents want to be with us. When was the last time the United States added a state?Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959, nearly 18 years after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. The island chain about 2,400 miles (3,900 kilometers) from the mainland United States was annexed as a U.S. territory by Congress in 1898, after the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. Many bills offering Hawaii statehood were subsequently introduced, but they stalled for decades amid racial discrimination and partisan disagreement. By the early 1950s, Hawaii leaned Republican and Democrats opposed its admission to the union without including Alaska, which was seen as more favorable to their party. Alaska, currently separated from the mainland U.S. by about 500 miles (800 kilometers) of Canadian territory, was eventually admitted as State No. 49 in January 1959. That opened the door for Congress to approve Hawaiis statehood that March, and Hawaiians voted to join the union on Aug. 21, 1959. Ironically, Alaska has backed Republicans in every presidential election except 1964, while Hawaii has voted Democratic every presidential cycle but 1972 and 1984. WILL WEISSERT Weissert covers national politics and the White House for The Associated Press. He is based in Washington. twitter mailto

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a video conference meeting with Bryansk Region Governor Alexander Bogomaz at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow Russia, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)2025-02-13T12:50:18Z KHMELNYTSKI, Ukraine (AP) Russian officials and state media took a triumphant tone Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump jettisoned three years of U.S. policy and announced he would likely meet soon with Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate a peace deal in the almost three-year war in Ukraine.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday he will not accept any agreements about Ukraine that do not include his country in talks.Trumps change of tack seemed to identify Putin as the only player that matters in ending the fighting and looked set to sideline Zelenskyy, as well as European governments, in any peace negotiations. The Ukrainian leader recently described that prospect as very dangerous.Putin has been ostracized by the West since Russias Feb. 2022 invasion of its neighbor, and in 2023 the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Russian leader for war crimes.Heres a look at some reactions to Wednesdays events. Russia rejoices at Putins spotlight roleTo us, the position of the current (U.S.) administration is much more appealing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.Russian officials and state-backed media appeared triumphant after Wednesdays call between Trump and Putin that lasted more than an hour.The presidents of Russia and the U.S. have talked at last. This is very important in and of itself, the deputy chair of Russias National Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said in an online statement. Senior lawmaker Alexei Pushkov said that the call will go down in the history of world politics and diplomacy.I am sure that in Kyiv, Brussels, Paris and London they are now reading Trumps lengthy statement on his conversation with Putin with horror and cannot believe their eyes, Pushkov wrote on his messaging app.Russias state news agency RIA Novosti said in an opinion column: The U.S. finally hurt Zelenskyy for real, adding that Trump had found common ground with Putin. This means that the formula nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine -- a sacred cow for Zelenskyy, the European Union and the previous U.S. administration -- no longer exists. Moreover, the opinion of Kyiv and Brussels (the European Union) is of no interest to Trump at all, it added.Russian popular pro-Kremlin tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda went even further and published a column stating in the headline that Trump signed Zelenskyys death sentence.The myth of Russia as a pariah in global politics, carefully inflated by Western propaganda, has burst with a bang, the column said.Zelenskyy wont accept a deal without consultationIn his first comments to journalists since Trump held individual calls first with Putin and then Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian leader said the main thing was to not allow everything to go according to Putins plan.We cannot accept it, as an independent country, any agreements (made) without us. I articulate this very clearly to our partners - any bilateral negotiations about Ukraine, not on other topics, but any bilateral talks about Ukraine without us - we will not accept, Zelenskyy said as he visited a nuclear power station in western Ukraine. Zelenskyy said during his conversation with Trump on Wednesday, the U.S. president told him he wanted to speak to both the Russian and Ukrainian leaders at the same time.He never mentioned in a conversation that Putin and Russia was a priority. We, today, trust these words. For us it is very important to preserve the support of the United States of America., Zelenskyy said.Alarm bells ring in Europe and NATOTrump appears minded to make a deal over the heads of Ukraine and European governments.He also effectively dashed Ukraines hopes of becoming part of NATO, which the alliance said less than a year ago was an irreversible step, or getting back the parts of its territory, estimated at close to 20% of the country, captured so far by the Russian army.The U.S. administrations approach to a potential settlement is notably close to Moscows vision of how the war should end. That has caused alarm and tension within the 32-nation NATO alliance and 27-nation European Union. Some European governments who fear their countries could also be in the Kremlins crosshairs were alarmed by Washingtons new course, saying they must have a seat at the negotiating table.Ukraine, Europe and the United States should work on this together. TOGETHER, Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on social media Wednesday.Others balked at Trumps overtures and poured cold water on his upbeat outlook.Just as Putin has no intention of stopping hostilities even during potential talks, we must maintain Western unity and increase support to Ukraine, and political and economic pressure on Russia, Estonias Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said. Our actions must show that we are not changing course. A Ukrainian soldier is resigned to Trump and Putin talkingA soldier from Ukraines 53rd Brigade fighting in the eastern Donetsk region said it was normal for Trump and Putin to speak to each other.If dialogue is one way to influence the situation, then let them talk but let it be meaningful enough for us to feel the results of those talks, the soldier said, insisting on anonymity due to security risks for her family in occupied Ukrainian territory.But she was skeptical about the negotiations, given the incompatible demands tabled in the past by Russia and Ukraine.The conditions are unacceptable for everyone. What we propose doesnt work for them, and what they propose is unacceptable for us, she said. Thats why I, like probably every soldier here, believe this can only be resolved by force.___Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

A hiring sign is seen in Waukegan, Ill., on Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)2025-02-13T13:39:40Z U.S. applications for unemployment benefits fell last week as employers continue to retain workers despite resurgent inflation and elevated interest rates.The number of Americans filing for jobless benefits fell by 7,000 to 213,000 for the week ending February 8, the Labor Department said Thursday. Analysts projected that 215,000 new applications would be filed.Weekly applications for jobless benefits are considered representative of layoffs.The four-week average, which smooths out some of the week-to-week volatility, inched down by 1,000 to 216,000.Despite showing some signs of weakening during the past year, the labor market remains healthy with plentiful jobs and relatively few layoffs.Last week, the Labor Department reported that U.S. employers added 143,000 jobs in January, significantly fewer than Decembers 256,000 job gains. However, the unemployment rate ticked down to an even 4%, signaling a still very healthy labor market. Late in January, the Federal Reserve left its benchmark lending rate alone after issuing three cuts late in 2024. Fed officials are closely monitoring inflation and the labor market for signs of a potentially weakening economy. They expect only two rate cuts this year, down from previous projections of four. However, after Wednesdays consumer prices report that showed inflation accelerated last month, many experts believe the Fed may not be moved to cut rates at all this year. The consumer price index increased 3% in January from a year ago, up from a 3 1/2 year low of 2.4% in September. The new data shows that inflation has remained stubbornly above the Feds 2% target for roughly the past six months after it fell steadily for about a year and a half.Overall, while layoffs remain low by historical standards, a host of companies have announced job cuts already this year.Workday, Dow, CNN, Starbucks and Facebook parent company Meta have all trimmed their workforces already in 2025.Late in 2024, GM, Boeing, Cargill and Stellantis announced layoffs.The total number of Americans receiving unemployment benefits for the week of February 1 fell to 1.85 million, a decrease of 36,000 from the previous week.

Subscribe Join the newsletter to get the latest updates. Success Great! Check your inbox and click the link. Error Please enter a valid email address. Elizabeth Hernandez found out about the decade-old murder from a flurry of tips sent to her newsroom in August last year.The tips were all reacting to a YouTube video with a shocking title: "Husband's Secret Gay Love Affair with Step Son Ends in Grisly Murder. It described a gruesome crime that apparently took place in Littleton, Colorado. Almost two million people had watched it.Some people in fact were saying, Why didn't The Denver Post cover this? Hernandez, a reporter at the paper, told me. Because in the video, it makes it sound like it was a big news event and yet, when you Google it, there is no coverage. 0:00 /25:46 1 The reason for the lack of coverage was pretty clear to her. In the 26-minute long video, a stilted voice narrated over hazy still images of a neighborhood that really didnt look like Littleton.Hernandez called several law enforcement officials and quickly confirmed her suspicions. The murder was fake, and the video was made using generative AI.The video was uploaded to a YouTube channel called True Crime Case Files. Before the channel was terminated while I was working on this story in January, it posted more than 150 similar videos over the past year. This one was the most popular.The thumbnail of the videoThe plots were disturbing, often hypersexual. They described parents selling teenagers into sex slavery with a sheriff, and transgender teachers committing murders to hide affairs with students. The video thumbnails were perverse, with clickbaity phrasing in big blocky text.Other titles included:Sheriff Murdered After Affair With His Secretary Got Exposed with 30,000 views.Wife Secret Affair with Neighbors Teenage Daughter Ends in Grisly Murder with 34,000 views.Coach Gives Cheerleader HIV after Secret Affair, Leading to Pregnancy with 10,000 views.Each one was made with AI and the crimes described did not happen. There was no language on the channels homepage or in video descriptions to tell a viewer otherwise.According to the man who ran the page, that was by design.It needs to be called true crime, because true crime is a genre, the channels owner told me over the phone in December. I wanted [the audience] to think about why [] they care so much that it was true, why it matters so much to them that real people are being murdered. I was able to verify and contact the man who ran the channel; 404 Media is using a pseudonym for him, Paul, because he has received threats and his channel is no longer active.I was curious about how his whole operation worked. Paul is not the first person to lie on the internet, but it felt like he was lying in a brand-new way. Paul had found his own niche within the AI-generated slop ecosystem that 404 Media has reported on for the last few months. He believed people wouldnt want to watch his videos if they knew they were fake, and that he wasnt any worse than the competition.True crime, its entertainment masquerading as news [] that's all there is to it, he said.Paul told me he tried to get people to question the reality of his videos by naming characters strangely or inserting bizarre details into his scripts, but if you looked at the comments on his videos, there were a lot of people who couldnt tell they werent real. Whatever moral lesson Paul said he wanted to impart clearly didnt land for most commenters.Im 100% confident that sexual relationship between the stepfather and the stepson started way before he was 19, read one of the top comments on the video Hernandez found. There were countless others, all hypothesizing about the fake police investigation and fake criminals.I'm trying to overdose the viewer on luridness, to try to confront them with the fact that they seem to be so invested in the luridness of it all. Peoples secret lives, their secret affairs that are really taboo, Paul told me. Of course, Paul was also making money from the videos.About half of each video was made using ChatGPT or an AI image service, Paul said. The other half, the bones of the story, small details and edits, are all his. He typically made one or two videos a week, which took about two and a half hours each, and billed himself as a filmmaker to meone seizing on a new era of content without the need for expensive crews and camera equipment.While he would not say how much his videos made him in ad revenue, he said he devoted himself to it full-time.I made a thingPaul told me he graduated college just before the COVID-19 pandemic forced Americans inside for a year. During that time, he moved back home with his parents. While some families baked sourdough bread, Pauls family did something different. Together, they started binge-watching Dateline.Paul mapped out the formula for the genre as he watched: a scandalous affair, some brutal crime, interrogating the suspects and a stunning trial of a perpetrator to bring things home.But once he figured out that formula, the show became less appealing.Once you see how the sausage is made, you don't really want to eat it too much, he said.As he tired of Dateline, Paul started experimenting withChatGPT. His first experiments with the product also relied on another generic television formula he was familiar with: Hallmark Christmas movies.Paul did this by first typing a prompt into ChatGPT. Then, he took those generated still images of characters and backgrounds to make short Hallmark romcom parodies on YouTube. They had titles like Princess meets Fisherman or Romance and Reindeer. All included a disclaimer that they were generated with AI.The videos bombed. Not one has more than 100 views. He attributes that to the limitations of the generative AI he used at the time, and to disclosing how he made each video.I labeled it [as] AI parody, and it didn't do well [] I think part of it is people are just hostile towards AI. So when they see the word AI, they're just freaked out by it, Paul said.I think the videos also sucked. Paul disagrees with me on that.His next idea was to ditch any disclaimer about how the video was made. He noticed just how high the demand for true crime was and how low the production value could be for a fake documentary. With that, True Crime Case Files was born.It was almost sort of like a gold rush. I really felt like I needed to stake my claim before anybody else thought of it, he said.Even though Pauls videos are themselves variations on a popular genre, his channels success had, at least in this singular respect, proved him right. There are several other copycat channels that either rip his videos entirely or mimic their style. A few even copied the title of Pauls most popular video and posted their own AI-generated versions. None are quite as popular though.Its an absurdist art formTo debate with Paul about the ethics of his videos means constantly retreading the same ground. It can feel futile, but here's what he says:True crime [] at the end of the day, it's a form of entertainment. Viewers are watching this not to be informed about things that will affect them personally. They're really just there to be entertained and to have a thrilling mystery with some lurid elements, he said.Okay, sure. I buy that.It's almost become this national pastime, like bullfighting, he said. People just passively observe it, and they don't even question, Why are we enjoying this violence so much?True crime is, of course, astronomically popular. More than half of all Americans say they consume some form of the genre, and true crime made up three of Apples 10 most popular podcasts of 2024.Its also not a new argument that the true crime genre might have some problems. According to some experts, it might revictimize people who have already suffered. It acts similarly to local TV news that leads with the bloodiest crimes of the night, which research shows makes viewers more afraid. Other experts also say it influences our ideas of common crimes, victims and investigators; the way we see true evil committed on screen shapes how we expect it to happen in real life.Paul says what hes doing is no worse than the actual sins of the true crime genre. In fact, he says his version is better because he isnt exploiting any real victims. Viewers get their pint of blood, he makes his videosand moneyand no one is harmed in the process.There's really no difference between us except that [I am] not using real people and their suffering as my vehicle, he told me in an email.That doesnt sit right with Annie Nichol. Nichol is a victims advocate in Washington. Her sister, Polly Klaas, was murdered in 1993 and was the subject of exhaustive true crime documentaries, podcasts and television adaptations.She also has lots of problems with true crime media. Nichol, however, says what Paul is doing isnt any better.Victims are used in this way by the media and by true crime content creators, she told me in an interview. Where our trauma is frequently co-opted and exploited for profit. So someone generating AI true crime for profit is certainly not helping victims in any way.Nichol says that even if Paul isnt using real stories from survivors of violent crimes, the bigger societal impact is the same. The trappings of reality let the audience walk away with the same impressions as they would with an actual crime.Though, when talking to Paul, any criticism falls on deaf ears.It's an absurdist art form, he said. If people don't understand it, that says a lot about human nature and their own natures and the nature of crime, and perhaps they're not willing to question themselves, but I don't have any misgivings about what I'm doing.Content not availableWhen I asked YouTube for comment on this story, I had a list of questions about how Pauls channel was monetized, and if he had broken any policies that had caused him to run afoul of the platforms guidelines. After I asked for comment, YouTube nuked the channel and four others associated with Paul, including the Hallmark parody channel.We terminated the channel in question for multiple violations of our Community Guidelines, including our policies covering child safety that prohibit the sexualization of minors, Jack Malon, a YouTube spokesperson, wrote in a statement.The channels views dropped dramatically in the past few months, and at least one video was hit with a community note calling it false, making it seem likely his videos had already been reviewed in some capacity. Paul told me hes trying to appeal the ban. (Audio only versions of all his videos are still accessible on Spotify and other podcast players. Spotify did not respond to a request for comment for this story.)But Pandoras AI-generated box is open. Paul and creators like him have shown people theres a new way to make money on the internet without much work, child safety policies be damned. The fact that YouTube deleted this channel doesnt mean that its taking a broader stand against AI-generated content or AI-generated true crime.YouTube channels with names like Hidden Family Crime Stories, True Crime Cases, True Crime Home and Crime Tapes are pumping out ever greater numbers of AI generated murder stories just like the ones Paul made.He got his gold rush after all.

Pedestrians cross a snowy street in downtown Kansas City, Mo., as a winter storm passed through the area Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)2025-02-13T06:54:55Z Rain has begun falling in California where an atmospheric river is expected to bring heavy downpours, winds and flooding Thursday to areas ravaged by wildfires. Ahead of the storms arrival, officials distributed sandbags, prepositioned rescue swimmers and told residents to have their go-bags ready.Meanwhile, Portland, Oregon, coated its streets with liquid anti-icer while officials in that state and Idaho opened emergency shelters to prepare for snow and ice on Thursday. Southern California could see as much as 6 inches (about 15 centimeters) of rain in the mountains and 3 inches (nearly 8 centimeters) in coastal areas and valleys, according to Brent Bower, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service. Strong wind gusts could bring down trees, cause power outages and delay flights.Evacuation warnings were issued in Mandeville Canyon and other areas ravaged by the Palisades Fire, which was the most destructive in Los Angeles history, over concerns about potential debris flows during the storm. There were also warnings for Trabuco Canyon and other areas near the burn scar for an earlier wildfire. All Malibu schools were closed Thursday and the Knotts Berry Farm amusement park shuttered due to the atmospheric river, which is a long band of water vapor that forms over the ocean and transports moisture from the tropics to northern latitudes. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist for the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, said the area is desperate for rain, but that this storm might bring too much too quickly. The result could be debris flows and flash flooding around wildfire burn areas.These burned areas are more at risk to debris flows because vegetation that helps to keep soil anchored has been burned away and loose debris, including ash, soil and rocks, have been added, he said in a statement. East hit with heavy snow and freezing rainThe rain follows storms Wednesday that dumped heavy snow and freezing rain on a swath of the U.S. East from Kentucky to the nations capital, causing hundreds of traffic accidents, knocking out power in places and threatening to flood waterways. The storm system, which cut a path from Kentucky to Maryland and points farther north on Tuesday, brought more than 14 inches (37 centimeters) of snow to Iron Gate, a tiny Appalachian town in western Virginia, and 12 inches (30.5 centimeters) to White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, a small city about 65 miles (105 kilometers) to the west, the National Weather Service said.By early Thursday, more than 150,000 customers in Virginia and more than 13,000 in North Carolina were still without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us. Appalachian Power, which serves a million customers in West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee, said more than 5,700 workers were trying to restore power.The regions airports received several inches of snow, according to Scott Kleebauer, a meteorologist with the weather services Weather Prediction Center.Nearly 7,000 flights were canceled or delayed across the United States Wednesday, including almost 300 into Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, according to the flight-tracking site FlightAware.com. Suspected tornado in MississippiA suspected tornado flung large pieces of debris into the air as it moved through the small town of Columbia, Mississippi, where it shredded the steel roof of an industrial building and damaged several homes Wednesday, video shows.About 20 homes were damaged, but no deaths or major injuries were reported, Columbia Mayor Justin McKenzie told WDAM-TV.Were very fortunate, actually, McKenzie said. Were just blessed that we dont have any injuries or anything and everything thats been damaged can be rebuilt.Hundreds of accidents In Kentucky, snowy roads caused a head-on fatal crash Tuesday in Nelson County, south of Louisville. The driver of a car lost control going into a curve, crossed the center line and hit an oncoming semi truck head on, according to the countys emergency management director, Brad Metcalf. The driver died at the scene.In Virginia, where Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency, the state police reported about 850 crashes on Tuesday and Wednesday, dozens of which involved injuries. Officials said it was not known if they were caused by the weather. Maryland State Police reported 235 crashes and 185 inoperable or unattended vehicles.In southern West Virginia, multiple crashes temporarily shut down several major highways Tuesday. Pacific Northwest ice stormFreezing rain and snow were expected in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington, which could cause power outages, according to the National Weather Service.Officials in Oregons Multnomah County extended a state of emergency through at least Thursday and said six emergency shelters would be open. Officials said 356 people went to the shelters Tuesday night. Wind chill readings could dip to 10 degrees (minus 12 Celsius) in Portland, the weather service said. In Idaho, a cold weather advisory was in effect, with wind chills potentially as low as minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 25 degrees Celsius) in the north central part of the state. An ice storm forecast for the Portland area early Thursday and Friday could challenge deliveries of flowers and other gifts for Valentines Day. Temperatures plummeted earlier this week in Portland, which is more known for its rainfall. Julia Duncan, a co-owner of Flowers in Flight, shrugged off the weather, saying the area endured ice storms in past winters and customers are willing to go the extra mile for the people they love.Its Valentines Day! Duncan said. Well just have to wait and see what happens.Were in the neighborhood where a lot of people tend to do pickups, too, and (weve) got a couple of drivers who are willing to drive in the ice and snow, Duncan said. So hopefully it wont affect us too much.___Associated Press journalists from across the U.S. contributed to this report. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Johkiya Pierre prepares a fresh omelette at The Breakfast Brothers restaurant, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)2025-02-13T15:00:00Z Its a chicken-and-egg problem: Restaurants are struggling with record-high U.S. egg prices, but their omelets, scrambles and huevos rancheros may be part of the problem.Breakfast is booming at U.S. eateries. First Watch, a restaurant chain that serves breakfast, brunch and lunch, nearly quadrupled its locations over the past decade to 570. Eggs Up Grill has 90 restaurants in nine southern states, up from 26 in 2018. Florida-based Another Broken Egg Caf celebrated its 100th restaurant last year. Fast-food chains are also adding more breakfast items. Starbucks, which launched egg bites in 2017, now has a breakfast menu with 12 separate items containing eggs. Wendys reintroduced breakfast in 2020 and offers 10 items with eggs.Reviews website Yelp said 6,421 breakfast and brunch businesses opened in the United States last year, 23% more than in 2019. In normal times, producers could meet the demand for all those eggs. But an ongoing bird flu outbreak, which so far has forced farms to slaughter more than 145 million chickens, turkeys and other birds, is making supplies scarcer and pushing up prices. In January, the average price of eggs in the U.S. hit a record $4.95 per dozen. The percentage of eggs that go to U.S. restaurants versus other places, like grocery stores or food manufacturers, is not publicly available. U.S. Foods, a restaurant supplier, and Cal-Maine Foods, the largest U.S. producer of shell eggs, did not respond to The Associated Press requests for comment. But demand from restaurants is almost certainly growing. Foot traffic at U.S. restaurants has grown the most since 2019 for morning meals, 2019, according to market research firm Circana. Pre-lunchtime hours accounted for 21% of total restaurant visits in 2024.Breakfast sandwiches are the most popular order during morning visits, Circana said, and 70% of the breakfast sandwiches on U.S. menus include eggs. Eggs Up Grill CEO Ricky Richardson said breakfast restaurants took off after the COVID pandemic because people longed for comfort and connection. As inflation made food more expensive, customers saw breakfast and lunch as more affordable options for eating out, he said.The growth in restaurant demand reverses a pattern that emerged during the pandemic, when consumers tried to stock up on eggs for home use but restaurants needed fewer of them, according to Brian Earnest, a lead economist for animal proteins at CoBank. Changing preferences since then have caused further market strain. Americans are increasingly looking for protein with few added ingredients, and eggs fit that bill.Consumers think eggs are really fresh, so if youre making something with eggs, you know its fresh, Earnest said. To address animal rights concerns, McDonalds and some other companies have switched to 100% cage-free eggs, which limits the sources they will buy from. Ten states, including California and Colorado, have passed laws restricting egg sales to products from cage-free environments. It makes the market much more complicated than it was 20 years ago, Earnest said. The higher prices are hitting restaurants hard. Wholesale egg prices hit a national average of $7.34 per dozen last week, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That was 51% higher than at the beginning of the year. Wholesale costs may be higher than retail prices since grocers use eggs as a loss leader to get customers in the door.Some chains, like Waffle House, have added a surcharge to help offset the cost of eggs. Others may turn to egg substitutes like tapioca starch for some recipes or cut egg dishes from the menu, said Phil Kafarakis, the president and CEO of the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association. First Watch President and CEO Chris Tomasso said eggs are critical for the chains brand and are found in the majority of its offerings, whether at the center of the plate or as an ingredient in batters. So far, he said, the company has been able to obtain the eggs it needs and isnt charging extra for them. First Watch is also increasing portion sizes for non-egg items like meat and potatoes, Tomasso said.Richardson, of Eggs Up Grill, said he recently met with franchisees to discuss adding a surcharge but they decided against it. Eggs have always been and will continue to be an important part of American diets, Richardson said. DEE-ANN DURBIN Durbin is an Associated Press business writer focusing on the food and beverage industry. She has also covered the auto industry and state and national politics in her nearly 30-year career with the AP. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump shakes hands with Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a campaign rally at the Desert Diamond Arena, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)2025-02-13T05:19:28Z WASHINGTON (AP) The Senate on Thursday confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as President Donald Trumps health secretary, putting the prominent vaccine skeptic in control of $1.7 trillion in federal spending, vaccine recommendations and food safety as well as health insurance programs for roughly half the country.Republicans fell in line behind Trump despite hesitancy over Kennedy views on vaccines, voting 52-48 to elevate the scion of one of Americas most storied political and Democratic families to secretary of the Health and Human Services Department. Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, who had polio as a child, was the only no vote among Republicans, mirroring his stands against Trumps picks for the Pentagon chief and director of national intelligence. All Democrats opposed Kennedy.The GOP has largely embraced Kennedys vision to Make America Healthy Again by directing the public health agencies to focus on chronic diseases such as obesity. Kennedy, 71, whose name and family tragedies have put him in the national spotlight since he was a child, has earned a formidable following with his populist and sometimes extreme views on food, chemicals and vaccines. His audience only grew during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Kennedy devoted much of his time to a nonprofit that sued vaccine makers and harnessed social media campaigns to erode trust in vaccines as well as the government agencies that promote them. With Trumps backing, Kennedy insisted he was uniquely positioned to revive trust in those public health agencies, which include the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes for Health. Last week, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said he hoped Kennedy goes wild in reining in health care costs and improving Americans health. But before agreeing to support Kennedy, potential holdout Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., a doctor who leads the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, required assurances that Kennedy would not make changes to existing vaccine recommendations. During Senate hearings, Democrats tried to prod Kennedy to deny a long-discredited theory that vaccines cause autism. Some lawmakers also raised alarms about Kennedy financially benefiting from changing vaccine guidelines or weakening federal lawsuit protections against vaccine makers. Kennedy made more than $850,000 last year from an arrangement referring clients to a law firm that has sued the makers of Gardasil, a human papillomavirus vaccine that protects against cervical cancer. If confirmed as health secretary, he promised to reroute fees collected from the arrangement to his son. Kennedy will take over the agency in the midst of a massive federal government shakeup, led by billionaire Elon Musk, that has shut off even if temporarily billions of taxpayer dollars in public health funding and left thousands of federal workers unsure about their jobs. On Friday, the NIH announced it would cap billions of dollars in medical research given to universities and cancer being used to develop treatments for diseases such as cancer and Alzheimers. Kennedy, too, has called for a staffing overhaul at the NIH, FDA and CDC. Last year, he promised to fire 600 employees at the NIH, the nations largest funder of biomedical research. AMANDA SEITZ Seitz is an Associated Press reporter covering federal health care policy. She is based in Washington, D.C. twitter mailto

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama reacts during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)2025-02-13T16:18:16Z SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Victor Wembanyama went to All-Star weekend in Indianapolis last year as one of the featured attractions. The San Antonio star was at the leagues Tech Summit, plus played in the Rising Stars event and was a participant in the Skills Challenge.He left all that with a clear goal.Next year, hopefully, the big game, Wembanyama said.Next year is here. The big game or games, perhaps await.Wembanyama, to no ones surprise, is a first-time All-Star wholl compete in the NBAs new All-Star mini-tournament on Sunday in San Francisco. Hell have these seven players for teammates: Denvers Nikola Jokic, Oklahoma Citys Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Indianas Pascal Siakam, New Yorks Karl-Anthony Towns, Clevelands Donovan Mitchell, Atlantas Trae Young and another first-timer Houstons Alperen Sengun.Wembanyamas selection almost seemed like a formality. The leagues reigning rookie of the year is already a global name; the NBA says Wembanyama content on social media is among the most viewed of all players and his jersey ranks No. 5 on the leagues worldwide sales list. Ive been talking to a few people about a moment he had when he was in New York, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. He played the Knicks on Christmas Day and then he played the Brooklyn Nets a few days later, so he spent some time in New York, and Victor, who plays chess, went down to a famous park in New York City, Washington Square Park, and brought his chess board and just began playing a few games, and within a few days, something like 100 million people had seen that on social media. So, it just speaks to the popularity of Victor and the dramatic interest were seeing in players lifestyles and their interests and everything they enjoy doing. That was remarkable. There are six All-Star rookies in this years event: Wembanyama, Sengun, Miamis Tyler Herro, Clevelands Evan Mobley, Detroits Cade Cunningham and Oklahoma Citys Jalen Williams. Of that group, Wembanyama is the youngest (just turned 21), the tallest (officially 7-foot-3) and will surely be the one with the most eyeballs on him in San Francisco this weekend. I think that was one of the most active days that weve had in our group chat since the summer when Vic made the All-Star Game, Spurs forward Harrison Barnes said. I think it was really just a testament to the person that he is. Obviously, he works extremely hard. He gets so much attention, and he always tries to put it back on the team, make it more about the team and less about him.Of the six All-Star rookies, Herro is the oldest and the one whos been in the NBA the longest. Hes averaging 23.5 points this season.Man, Im truly proud of him because there has been a lot of media thats thrown that mans name in the mud, Heat captain Bam Adebayo said. Thrown his name in trade rumors, yall said hes not good enough, he cant do this, he cant do that, all the way to down to somebodys wingspan. Its a testament to him.For Williams, the All-Star trip is a homecoming of sorts. The Thunder guard played his college basketball at Santa Clara, about an hour from Chase Center where hell play on Sunday night. What am I most excited about? Honestly, I havent seen my parents in a minute, so thatll be cool to see them out there, Williams said. Im going to be down the street from my school basically, so I think thats going to be cool. Ill be able to see some people I havent seen in a while.Cunningham is leading one of the NBA surprise stories this season: The Pistons, who were awful a year ago, are squarely in the playoff mix right now and his 25.4 points per game are obviously a big reason why thats happening.Its a great feeling. Its hard to put words on it, Cunningham said. Its been a lot of work, a lot of wins, losses, lessons, all that stuff thats led up to this point. Im just thankful for the moment.Sengun is part of another turnaround in Houston; the Rockets made a push that fell short of the playoffs last year, but now are in position to even have home-court advantage in Round 1 of what will surely be a loaded postseason in the Western Conference. Thank you to my team, my country, the city of Houston and all the fans for believing in me, Sengun said. This is just the beginning.And for Mobley, the All-Star nod shows that people still notice defense and rebounding in the NBA. Hes one of the leaders of a Cleveland team that goes into the break leading the Eastern Conference and is right there with Oklahoma City for the best record in the NBA.I worked real hard to get to this point, Mobley said. Hopefully more to come.___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA TIM REYNOLDS Reynolds is an Associated Press sports writer, based in South Florida. twitter mailto

In our Black HERstory series, we honor the profound contributions of Black queer women in literature. Their narratives offer invaluable insights into the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality, enriching the literary world with diverse perspectives. Here are five remarkable authors whose works you should know: Ann Allen Shockleyis a trailblazer in African-American lesbian literature. [...]The post Black HERstory: 5 Black Queer Womxn in Literature first appeared on GLAAD.

The best medicine during these trying times? Laughter.Urzila Carlson is a rising star in Hollywood as she brings her signature wit and humor to the new Netflix film Kinda Pregnant. Starring alongside Amy Schumer, the comedian improvised most of her hilarious lines as she portrays a hysterical school guidance counselor."I'm pushing [the gay agenda] hard! There's no where in the world where you go, 'We're good, we don't need anything.' We need to just get out and have a laugh and just be present within ourselves. Now is not a time to hide," Carlson tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Beyond her role in Kinda Pregnant, Carlson is bringing the funny to a slew of cities across North America with her stand-up show Just Jokes.The Sapphic comedian is well aware of the scary political climate facing LGBTQ+ Americans right now, so Carlson is advising everyone to lean on each other and spread love whenever possible."The positive thing for me and the thing that I lean on quite heavily is I surround myself with really good people. If your team is strong and your support is strong, you are unstoppable."Carlson is sharing the important reminder that chosen family is needed more than ever, but it's crucial for the love to go both ways."It's not just who you choose. You need to be the person that other people want to choose. We need to be strong and we need to pick strong people. Then, we have to look after the ones who can't look after themselves or who are picked on."Kinda Pregnant is streaming now on Netflix and fans can get tickets to see Carlson on tour by visiting her website here. To see the full interview, check out the video at the top of the page.

The OpenAI logo appears on a mobile phone in front of a computer screen with random binary data, March 9, 2023, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)2025-02-13T12:49:19Z Elon Musk says he will abandon his $97.4 billion offer to buy the nonprofit behind OpenAI if the ChatGPT maker drops its plan to convert into a for-profit company. If OpenAI, Inc.s Board is prepared to preserve the charitys mission and stipulate to take the for sale sign off its assets by halting its conversion, Musk will withdraw the bid, lawyers for the billionaire said in a filing to a California court on Wednesday. Otherwise, the charity must be compensated by what an arms-length buyer will pay for its assets. Musk and a group of investors made their offer earlier this week, in the latest twist to a dispute with the artificial intelligence company that he helped found a decade ago.OpenAI is controlled by a nonprofit board bound to its original mission of safely building better-than-human AI for public benefit. Now a fast-growing business, it unveiled plans last year to formally change its corporate structure. Musk and his own AI startup, xAI, and a consortium of investment firms want to acquire the nonprofits controlling stake in the for-profit OpenAI subsidiary.OpenAI CEO Sam Altman quickly rejected the unsolicited bid in a post on social media and told questioners at a Paris summit on AI that the company is not for sale. The chair of OpenAIs board, Bret Taylor, echoed those remarks at an event Wednesday. Musk and Altman helped start OpenAI in 2015 and later competed over who should lead it before Musk resigned from the board in 2018. Theyve been in a long-running and bitter feud over the startup. Musk again criticized Altmans management on Thursday during a videocall to the World Governments Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, describing it as akin to a nonprofit aimed at saving the Amazon rainforest becoming a lumber company that chops down the trees. Altman has repeatedly countered that Musks legal challenges to OpenAI are motivated by his role as a competitor. Musk has asked a California federal judge to block OpenAIs for-profit conversion on allegations ranging from breach of contract to antitrust violations. The judge has expressed skepticism about some of Musks arguments but hasnt yet issued a ruling. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

A bouquet of white flowers placed outside the headquarters of the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, is pictured, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)2025-02-13T14:08:16Z WASHINGTON (AP) Employees at the U.S. Agency for International Development are asking a federal judge on Thursday to keep blocking an effort by President Donald Trumps administration meant to pull all but a fraction of worldwide staffers off the job.U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, who was nominated by Trump, handed the administration and billionaire ally Elon Musk a setback last week by temporarily halting plans that would have put thousands of workers on leave and given those abroad only 30 days to return to the United States at government expense. Nichols order was set to expire by the end of the day.Two associations representing federal employees want him to continue it as well as suspending Trumps freeze on almost all foreign assistance. The presidents pause has shut down clinics, emergency water deliveries and almost all other of the thousands of U.S.-funded aid and development programs around the globe, USAID workers and humanitarian groups say. While the administration and Musks cost-cutting initiative, the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, have taken aim at other agencies, they have moved most destructively against USAID, asserting without evidence that its work is wasteful and out of line with Trumps agenda. In a court filing, deputy USAID head Pete Marocco argued that insubordination made it impossible for the new administration to undertake a close review of aid programs without first pushing almost all USAID staffers off the job and halting aid and development work. He did not provide evidence for his assertion. USAID staffers, in court filings, have denied being insubordinate. They said they were doing their best to carry out what they describe as vague and confusing orders, some of which were said to come from a Musk associate and other outsiders.Agency supporters told Democratic senators on Wednesday that the shutdown along with other administration steps, including revoking USAIDs lease on its Washington headquarters was really about eradicating USAID before lawmakers or the courts could stop it. The employee groups, Democratic lawmakers and others argue that without congressional approval, Trump lacks the power to shut USAID or end its programs. His team says the power of courts or lawmakers to stand in the way is limited at best.The Presidents powers in the realm of foreign affairs are generally vast and unreviewable, government lawyers said in court documents. LINDSAY WHITEHURST Whitehurst covers the Supreme Court, legal affairs and criminal justice for The Associated Press in Washington, D.C. Past stops include Salt Lake City, New Mexico and Indiana. twitter mailto ELLEN KNICKMEYER Knickmeyer covers foreign policy and national security for The Associated Press. She is based in Washington, D.C. twitter RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

This article was produced in collaborationwith Court Watch, an independent outlet that unearths overlooked court records.Subscribe to them here.After a judge called out a law firm for citing fake cases in court documents, the attorneys admitted to AI hallucinating the cases.In a court order filed last week, Wyoming District Judge Kelly Rankin demanded the attorneys explain why they shouldnt be sanctioned or disciplined for citing made-up information, including referencing eight non-existent cases.The lawsuit, first filed in 2023, is against Walmart and Jetson Electronic Bikes, Inc., which makes hoverboards for sale at Walmart. The plaintiffs, including a woman, her husband, and four minor children, claim a Jetson hoverboards lithium ion battery malfunctioned and caught fire while they were sleeping and burned their house down, severely injuring several members of the family.In a motion in limine filed by the plaintiffs attorneys in January, they cited multiple cases (a "motion in limine" is a pretrial motion where attorneys request specific evidence or arguments be excluded from presentation during the trial) that dont exist. The cases are not identifiable by their Westlaw cite, and the Court cannot locate the District of Wyoming cases by their case name in its local Electronic Court Filing System, Rankin wrote. She demanded each of the attorneys provide a thorough explanation for how the motion and fake cases were generated, and explain their role in drafting or supervising the motion.Four days later, they responded: Our internal artificial intelligence platform hallucinated the cases in question while assisting our attorney in drafting the motion in limine, the law firm said in a filed response. This matter comes with great embarrassment and has prompted discussion and action regarding the training, implementation, and future use of artificial intelligence within our firm. This serves as a cautionary tale for our firm and all firms, as we enter this new age of artificial intelligence.Lawyers increasingly use AI tools for research and analyzing documents. But this isnt the first time using AI to draft legal cases has gotten lawyers in trouble. In 2022, a man filed an action alleging he was injured by an Avianca airlines metal serving cart during an Avianca Airlines flight. His lawyers cited non-existent cases, and instead of admitting it and apologizing immediately, they doubled down and defended the filings. Eventually, they were fined $5,000 for fabricating the case, with the judge writing that they abandoned their responsibilities when they submitted non-existent judicial opinions with fake quotes and citations created by the artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT, then continued to stand by the fake opinions after judicial orders called their existence into question.And in 2024, disbarred former celebrity attorney Michael Cohen gave his own lawyer, David Schwartz fake case citations generated by Google Bard. Cohen and Schwartz werent fined, but the judge who let them off without discipline did call the error embarrassing for them.

Drag queen and climate activist Pattie Gonia made history this week by becoming the first person to deliver a TED Talk in drag on the organizations main stage.The nearly 10-minute talk, titled Why Joy is a Serious Way to Take Action, was filmed in October 2024 but was only released this week.Gonia, known for blending drag performance with environmental activism, took the stage wearing a pink, upcycled dress emblazoned with the words Climate Change is a Drag in bold, sparkly letters. The performance-based talk featured Gonias message that joy can be a strategic tool in combating climate change, offering a powerful and entertaining perspective on how to address the planets urgent environmental crisis.During the talk, Gonia explained that joy is a strategy to fight back, a lesson she said she learned through drag. Drag taught me that you can take fighting for something seriously without taking yourself too seriously, she shared. For Gonia, drag is not only an art form but a way to inspire creative thinking and a new approach to problem-solving.In her talk, Gonia elaborated on how drag is an invitation to build new futures through creativity, diversity, and joy. She recalled how, during a personal flop era, drag helped her see new possibilities for her future and embrace the process of transformation. Gonia extended this analogy to the planet, noting that Earth is currently undergoing a flop era of its own and could benefit from the transformative power of drag.The climate movement, Gonia argued, can learn valuable lessons from drag performers. She challenged common misconceptions about drag, noting that people often think that as drag performers, we are hiding who we are, but babe, the one time I cant hide is when I look like this. Drag, she asserted, does not conceal identity; it reveals it and celebrates diversity. Drag welcomes our diversity, Gonia said, emphasizing that the climate movement should embrace creativity and inclusion as essential components of solving the climate crisis.Gonia also highlighted the role of diversity in climate activism, stating that it is essential to our best solutions. She pointed out that some people in the climate movement may not feel safe or comfortable expressing themselves fully, and as a result, they may be holding back their most innovative ideas. She reflected on how a well-known environmental activist once told her to abandon drag and focus on more traditional methods of activism. Instead, she said her refusal to do so has helped her raise over $2 million for climate action.I want a climate movement rooted in fertile soil that supports all of our growth, she declared.In addition to discussing the power of joy in activism, Gonia took a moment to reflect on the historical role of drag queens in activism. She reminded the audience that drag performers have long been at the forefront of protests, particularly in the queer community. When queer people were beaten in their homes, put in jail just for existing, when we had the statistics and the facts on the millions of queer people dying of AIDS yet no one was joining our fight drag performers turned pain into joy, and in doing so, welcomed millions more people to fight with us, Gonia said.The activist also criticized the climate movement for focusing too much on despair, stating that the problem in the climate movement isnt just the abundance of carbon; it is the lack of joy. While she acknowledged that facts and the stark realities of climate change can raise awareness, she believes that joy is what motivates people to take action. Joy is strategic because joy inspires momentum, and joy is an inside job, she emphasized.To inspire more joy in the climate movement, Gonia suggested a simple but profound action: Get outside and encourage others to fall in love with the outdoors. She explained that we fight for what we love, and by cultivating a deeper appreciation for the environment, people can become more motivated to protect it.Gonia concluded her TED Talk with a compelling message about the power of joy in making the climate movement irresistible. Joy provides an unbelievable opportunity to make the climate movement irresistible, she said. Do not underestimate the power of joy. We deserve more than doom and gloom because this is the only planet with a Beyonc on it.Pattie Gonias TED Talk marks an important moment in both the climate and LGBTQ+ activism spaces. By blending the art of drag with serious discussions on climate action, Gonia has showcased how creativity, joy, and diversity can drive meaningful change.The post Pattie Gonia Makes TED Talk History As The First Drag Queen To Give Speech on Main Stage appeared first on Gayety.

Jenny Blake Isabella, the creator of DC Comics iconic series Black Lightning, has publicly come out as transgender. The 73-year-old comic book writer made the announcement on her personal blog, where she shared her journey and answered questions from fans. While Isabellas preferred name is now Jenny, she emphasized that she does not consider her former name, Tony Isabella, a deadname. Instead, she plans to continue using both names, with her professional work still being credited under Tony Isabella for the time being.Isabella is widely known for her groundbreaking work in the comic book world. In 1977, she and artist Trevor Von Eeden co-created Black Lightning, making it the first comic series to feature a Black superhero as its lead character. This marked a pivotal moment in the history of mainstream comic books, as Black Lightning became a trailblazer for African American representation in the genre. The character went on to become a cornerstone of DCs superhero universe.In a February 9 post on X (formerly Twitter), Isabella shared an image with the message, Keep calm and yes Im transgender, confirming her announcement. Alongside the image, Isabella requested privacy for herself and her family during this period of personal transition. She followed up by revealing her preferred name on Facebook, sharing more details about how she plans to balance her professional identity with her new identity.Reflecting on her journey, Isabella wrote that coming out was one of the most challenging experiences of her life. Despite the fear, she expressed immense gratitude for the support and love shes received from her fanbase since her announcement. Isabella also shared a lighter moment on social media, posting a picture of a Christmas ornament her friend had made for her following her decision to publicly reveal her new name.On February 11, Isabella expanded on her coming-out experience in a blog post on her website, where she answered fan questions and shared deeper insights into her decision to continue using her previous name professionally. Ive always liked the name Jenny, she explained, while also revealing that Blake is inspired by Marvels Doctor Don, acknowledging her longstanding love for Marvel Comics.Isabella expressed her intention to continue writing under both her former and current names. She clarified that DC Comics had offered to change the credits on her previous works, including reprints of Black Lightning, to reflect her new name but left the decision up to her. She added, Darn thoughtful of them, highlighting the publishers respectful and supportive approach to her transition.In addition to her personal revelation, Isabella shared exciting news about her professional future. She announced that she is working on a new comic book series centered around a transgender superhero. Isabella expressed her excitement about the character, saying, I love her more every day. I think she can be a contemporary Peter Parker for queer and straight kids alike. She made it clear that she is determined to retain creative control over the character, stating that she is not interested in giving up rights or selling the character to any publisher or partner without a fair and mutually beneficial agreement.Isabellas announcement and new comic project continue her legacy of promoting diversity and representation in the comic book industry. Black Lightning was lauded not only for its groundbreaking portrayal of a Black superhero but also for addressing significant social issues, including police brutality, racial poverty, and generational trauma. The series impact continues to be felt today, particularly through its inclusion of Thunder, the lesbian daughter of Black Lightning, who also inherits superpowers.It is possible that Isabellas new transgender superhero series will similarly explore the issues faced by the transgender community, offering a contemporary commentary on the challenges and triumphs of transgender individuals in society. Isabellas commitment to creating inclusive stories that reflect diverse experiences continues to inspire both fans and fellow creators in the comic book world.As a trailblazer in the industry, Isabellas decision to come out publicly serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of visibility and representation, not only in comics but in all forms of media. Her willingness to embrace her true self while continuing to contribute to the world of comics ensures her place as a lasting figure in both LGBTQ+ and comic book history.The post Jenny Blake Isabella, Creator of Black Lightning, Comes Out as Transgender appeared first on Gayety.

A Cal Fire search and rescue crew walks through mud near homes damaged by storms in Montecito, Calif., Jan. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)2025-02-13T18:42:26Z Mudslides are dangerous torrents that are usually referred to by geologists and first responders as debris flows. They have been particularly lethal in parts of California where landscape, climate, weather and geology can combine to make them more likely.California has worked to add tools to protect against mudslides, including pinpointing hot spots, creating basins and placing nets to capture falling debris before it hits homes. A firefighter stands on the roof of a house submerged in mud and rocks, Jan. 10, 2018, in Montecito, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) A firefighter stands on the roof of a house submerged in mud and rocks, Jan. 10, 2018, in Montecito, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Why is California prone to mudslides?California has relatively young mountains from a geology standpoint, meaning much of its steep terrain is still in motion and covered in loose rocks and soil that can be sloughed off easily, especially when the ground is wet, according to geologists.Severe drought can be a problem, too. Experts say that when hard rains fall on extremely dry and hard-packed soil, it can rush downhill and pick up energy, carrying soil and debris away.And wildfires an increasing problem across the West can leave hillsides with little to no vegetation to hold the soil in place. Residents evacuate past damaged vehicles after storms caused a mudslide, Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in the Beverly Crest area of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) Residents evacuate past damaged vehicles after storms caused a mudslide, Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in the Beverly Crest area of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More What are the most vulnerable areas? The areas most at risk are on or near hillsides that have burned in recent years, with little or no vegetation left to hold soil in place.Burning vegetation and soil on a slope more than doubles the rate of water runoff, according to the California Department of Conservation, and there have been severe events over the years.On Jan. 9, 2018, intense rain fell on a weeks-old wildfire burn scar in the mountains above Montecito on the Santa Barbara County coast, unleashing huge torrents that tore through the community, killing 23 people and destroying or damaging hundreds of homes. In 1934 a storm over the Southern California mountains unleashed runoff so intense that 30 people were killed, more than 480 homes were destroyed.And on Christmas Day in 2003, rain over fire-scarred mountains unleashed a debris flow that killed 16 people who had gathered at a church facility in a canyon. Rocks and vegetation cover Highway 70 following a landslide in the Dixie Fire zone on Oct. 24, 2021, in Plumas County, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File) Rocks and vegetation cover Highway 70 following a landslide in the Dixie Fire zone on Oct. 24, 2021, in Plumas County, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More What can be done to protect communities? One of the best ways to manage landslides is with debris basins pits carved out of the landscape to catch material flowing downhill that the U.S. Geological Survey says can reach speeds exceeding 35 mph (56 kph).Often located at the mouths of canyons, the basins collect debris while allowing water to continue downstream, according to Los Angeles County Public Works. This prevents blockages of the storm drain system but requires the removal of sediment from the basins, something that can take days or months depending on their size.But basins, which can require a lot of land, can also disrupt the natural ecosystem and lead to beaches needing to be replenished by collecting sediment that flows out of the canyons, according to experts. Theyre also costly Santa Barbara County spent $20 million on a new basin after 2018 and must be emptied occasionally or they can be overwhelmed by new landslides or mudslides.After the 2018 mudslides hit Montecito, the Los Angeles Times reported that debris basins above the community were undersized and hadnt been sufficiently emptied. The community raised millions to address the problem, hiring an engineering company to map the canyons and install debris nets. Permit Sonoma Director Tennis Wick crosses a mudslide to inspect a home as heavy rains fall near Healdsburg in unincorporated Sonoma County, Calif., Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File) Permit Sonoma Director Tennis Wick crosses a mudslide to inspect a home as heavy rains fall near Healdsburg in unincorporated Sonoma County, Calif., Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More The California Department of Conservation runs a geological and landslide mapping team that seeks to identify hot spots, and continually updates its map so local communities can make decisions including potential evacuations.Experts say agencies use a variety of tools to gauge the likelihood of landslides in a given area, including terrain maps and lidar pulsed light from lasers to penetrate foliage to see the ground. Then they can watch for early warnings, such as changes over time in photos taken from the air, or from satellites, or in data from GPS monitoring stations, tilt meters and or other on-site instrumentation.___The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

A worker grabs a chicken to slaughter inside a poultry store in New York, Feb. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, File)2025-02-13T18:33:16Z NEW YORK (AP) A new study shows that bird flu has silently spread from animals to some veterinarians.The study published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention echoes two smaller ones that detected evidence of infection in previously undiagnosed farmworkers. In those studies, several of the infected workers remembered having symptoms of H5N1 bird flu, while none of the veterinarians in the new paper recalled any such symptoms. The new study is more evidence that the official U.S. tally of confirmed human bird flu infections 68 in the last year is likely a significant undercount, said Dr. Gregory Gray, an infectious disease researcher at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.This means that people are being infected, likely due to their occupational exposures, and not developing signs of illness and therefore not seeking medical care, Gray said. He said it shows that officials cannot fully understand bird flu transmission by only tracking people who go to medical clinics with symptoms. Study suggests bird flu cases are undercountedCDC researchers went to an American Association of Bovine Practitioners veterinary conference in September 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. They recruited 150 vets from 46 states to fill out a questionnaire and agree to have their blood drawn. None said they had suffered red eyes or other symptoms associated with bird flu. Testing found three of the vets, or 2%, had evidence of antibodies to H5N1 infection. All three worked with dairy cattle, as well as other animals. None said theyd worked with a herd that was known to be infected, although one had worked with a flock of infected poultry.Gray and some colleagues did a study last year of 14 dairy farmworkers and found two, or 14%, had evidence of past infections. Both had experienced symptoms but were never diagnosed.Another study published last year by the CDC checked 115 dairy workers. The researchers found that eight of them, or 7%, had evidence in their blood of recent infection. Half recalled feeling ill. The studies were far too small to use as a basis to provide a solid estimate of how many undiagnosed human infections are out there, Gray said. But even just a very small percentage could translate to hundreds or thousands of Americans who were infected while working with animals, he noted.Thats not necessarily a reason to be alarmed, said Jacqueline Nolting, an Ohio State University researcher who helped CDC with the latest study.Available studies suggest people who are infected mount antibody responses and may develop natural immunity, which is good news, she said.However, if the virus changes or mutates to start making people very sick, or to start spreading easily from person to person, that would be a completely different story, Nolting said. Experts urge caution around animalsThe H5N1 bird flu has been spreading widely among wild birds, poultry, cows and other animals. Its escalating presence in the environment increases the chances people will be exposed, and potentially catch it, officials have said.Right now the risk to the general public is low, the CDC says. But officials continue to urge people who have contact with sick or dead birds to take precautions, including wearing respiratory and eye protection and gloves when handling poultry.No ones really questioning that the virus has been moving around the country more than has been reported, said Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.He said he expected to see stepped-up information reminding veterinarians across the country to protect themselves with gloves, masks and other equipment to halt infection.___Associated Press writer JoNel Aleccia contributed to this report.___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.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has suspended the enforcement of a regulation that prevented discrimination based on gender identity in federally funded programs. This move, which could limit access to essential services for transgender individuals, follows a recent directive issued by HUD Secretary Scott Turner shortly after he assumed office.In a decisive shift from previous policies, Turner ordered the halt of any future or pending enforcement actions related to the 2016 rule known as Equal Access in Accordance With an Individuals Gender Identity in Community Planning and Development Programs. This regulation expanded upon the 2012 Equal Access Rule, which prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and marital status, ensuring that core HUD programs were open to all eligible individuals and families.Now, under the new directive, housing programs, shelters, and other HUD-funded service providers will align their services based on an individuals sex at birth, mirroring former President Donald Trumps executive order that declared there are only two sexes. As a result, transgender individuals, particularly trans women, may face significant barriers to accessing female-designated shelters and other services intended to support women.Turner, a former NFL player for the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers, defended the policy change during a recent announcement, claiming that the 2016 rule had linked HUD programs to far-left gender ideology. He emphasized that the departments efforts would align with President Trumps stance on biological sex.We, at this agency, are carrying out the mission laid out by President Trump when he signed an executive order to restore biological truth to the federal government, Turner said. This means recognizing there are only two sexes: male and female. It means getting government out of the way of what the Lord established from the beginning when he created man in his own image.In his comments, Turner also outlined his broader goals for HUD, vowing to focus on the departments core mission of providing affordable housing and promoting economic investment in communities nationwide. He stressed that the decision was part of a broader effort to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently and in line with the administrations priorities.This move comes as part of a larger pattern of actions taken by the Trump administration to restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those in the transgender community. The former president signed several executive orders during his time in office that targeted the rights of transgender people, including a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, prohibitions on trans women competing in womens sports, and limitations on gender-affirming healthcare for minors.While the suspension of the HUD rule is viewed as a significant setback for LGBTQ+ advocates, the change could have far-reaching implications. Transgender individuals, particularly those experiencing homelessness, rely heavily on federally funded shelters and housing programs for basic safety and survival. Without the protections that the 2016 rule provided, many could face discrimination or be forced into unsafe environments.LGBTQ+ advocacy groups have already expressed their concerns over the decision, warning that it could disproportionately impact vulnerable trans people. Organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign and the National LGBTQ Task Force have criticized the move as a step backward for civil rights, particularly for transgender individuals who are already at higher risk of homelessness and violence.The decision to stop enforcing the Equal Access rule is also likely to reignite ongoing debates about the rights of transgender individuals in the U.S. Critics argue that such policies undermine the basic principle of equal access to services, while supporters of the move argue that it represents a necessary correction to what they see as overreach by the previous administration.As the HUD policy change begins to take effect, LGBTQ+ advocates are bracing for potential legal challenges and further legislative actions aimed at reversing the decision. The battle over LGBTQ+ rights, particularly for transgender individuals, is expected to remain a key point of contention in U.S. politics, with both sides preparing for continued advocacy and resistance in the months ahead.The suspension of this rule highlights the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States, a fight that continues to evolve at the intersection of law, policy, and public opinion. For now, the fate of transgender access to HUD programs rests in the hands of the current administration, which has made clear its intention to prioritize other issues, such as affordable housing and economic development, over the inclusion of transgender individuals in federally funded services.As the situation unfolds, transgender advocates and their allies will likely continue to push for protections and push back against efforts to roll back hard-won rights.The post Homeless Trans Women in the U.S. May Be Denied Shelter Access Due to New Department of Housing and Urban Development Regulations appeared first on Gayety.

A police sergeant in Edmonton, Canada, was recently demoted after facing allegations of harassment and making crude comments about gay sex. The disciplinary decision comes after a series of incidents between August 2021 and July 2022, while Sgt. Ken Smith served at the Eastwood Police Station.Smith, who had been with the Edmonton Police Service for 22 years, was stripped of his rank and responsibilities after a departmental hearing found that he showed little remorse for his actions. The demotion led to a $14,000 salary reduction as Smith was downgraded from sergeant to constable.The controversy arose from three specific incidents during the period of Smiths service. In one instance, Smith reportedly suggested that two gay officers should not be assigned to work together because they would likely engage in sexual activity during their patrol. In another incident, Smith allegedly made a similar comment, telling two constables that there would be no hanky-panky if they worked together. A third event saw Smith singling out three gay officers at a pre-shift meeting, making uncomfortable remarks about them sitting together.Despite his background in the diversity and hate crimes units of the force and having received a Pride Award in 2011, Smiths actions were deemed inappropriate and discriminatory. His comments, particularly as a supervisor, were considered damaging, and his lack of understanding of their severity raised concerns among his colleagues and superiors.Fred Kamins, a retired chief superintendent who led the hearing, criticized Smith for his lack of self-awareness. Kamins questioned how someone with Smiths experience could make such insensitive remarks, especially considering his previous work with LGBTQ+ initiatives. The report also noted Smiths deceptive behavior during the investigation and his attempt to deflect responsibility.Smith has the option to appeal the ruling but will remain ineligible for promotion for two years unless he receives commendations. This case has raised serious concerns about the conduct of officers in positions of power and the need for better sensitivity training within police forces.The post Police Officer Demoted After Harassing Gay Colleagues with Crude Remarks and Lying About It appeared first on Gayety.

Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick listens as President Donald Trump speaks after signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)2025-02-13T12:52:00Z Follow live updates on President Donald Trump and his new administration. WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump on Thursday rolled out his plan to increase U.S. tariffs to match the tax rates that other countries charge on imports, possibly triggering a broader economic confrontation with allies and rivals alike as he hopes to eliminate any trade imbalances.Ive decided for purposes of fairness that I will charge a reciprocal tariff, Trump said in the Oval Office at the proclamation signing. Its fair to all. No other country can complain.Trumps Republican administration has insisted that its new tariffs would level the playing field between U.S. manufacturers and foreign competitors, though under current law these new taxes would likely be paid by American consumers and businesses either directly or in the form of higher prices. The politics of tariffs could easily backfire on Trump if his agenda pushes up inflation and grinds down growth, making this a high stakes wager for a president eager to declare his authority over the U.S. economy. The tariff increases would be customized for each country with the partial goal of starting trade new negotiations. But other nations might also feel the need to respond with their own tariff increases on American goods. As a result, Trump may need to find ways to reassure consumers and businesses to counteract any uncertainty caused by his tariffs. Trumps proclamation identifies value added taxes which are similar to sales taxes and common in the European Union as a trade barrier to be included in any reciprocal tariff calculations. Other nations tariff rates, subsidies to industries, regulations and possible undervaluing of currencies would be among the factors the Trump administration would use to assess tariffs. A senior White House official, who insisted on anonymity to preview the details on a call with reporters, said that the expected tariff revenues would separately help to balance the expected $1.9 trillion budget deficit. The official also said the reviews needed for the tariffs could be completed within a matter of weeks or a few months. The possible tax increases on imports and exports could be large compared to the comparatively modest tariffs that Trump imposed during his first term. Trade in goods between Europe and the United States nearly totaled $1.3 trillion last year, with the United States exporting $267 billion less than it imports, according to the Census Bureau.The president has openly antagonized multiple U.S. trading partners over the past several weeks, levying tariff threats and inviting them to retaliate with import taxes of their own that could send the economy hurtling into a trade war.Trump has put an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports due that countrys role in the production of the opioid fentanyl. He also has readied tariffs on Canada and Mexico, Americas two largest trading partners, that could take effect in March after being suspended for 30 days. On top of that, on Monday, he removed the exemptions from his 2018 steel and aluminum tariffs. And hes mused about new tariffs on computer chips and pharmaceutical drugs. In the case of the 25% steel and aluminum tariffs being imposed by Trump, those would be part of the reciprocal tariff calculations, a White House official told The Associated Press, insisting on anonymity to explain the administrations approach. The official did not know on whether Trumps planned tariffs on computer chips and pharmaceutical drugs would be separate from how the reciprocal tariffs are calculated, since they could have separate justifications such as national security.The EU, Canada and Mexico have countermeasures ready to inflict economic pain on the United States in response to Trumps actions, while China has already taken retaliatory steps with its own tariffs on U.S. energy, agricultural machinery and large-engine autos as well as an antitrust investigation of Google.The White House has argued that charging the same import taxes as other countries do would improve the fairness of trade, potentially raising revenues for the U.S. government while also enabling negotiations that could eventually improve trade. But Trump is also making a political wager that voters can tolerate higher inflation levels. Price spikes in 2021 and 2022 severely weakened the popularity of then-President Joe Biden, with voters so frustrated by inflation eroding their buying power that they chose last year to put Trump back in the White House to address the problem. Inflation has risen since Novembers election, with the government reporting on Wednesday that the consumer price index is running at an annual rate of 3%.The Trump team has decried criticism of its tariffs even as it has acknowledged the likelihood of some financial pain. It says that the tariffs have to be weighed against the possible extension and expansion of Trumps 2017 tax cuts as well as efforts to curb regulations and force savings through the spending freezes and staff reductions in billionaire adviser Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency initiative. But an obstacle for this approach might be the sequencing of the various policies and the possibilities of a wider trade conflict stifling investment and hiring amid the greater inflationary pressures. Analysts at the bank Wells Fargo said in a Thursday report that the tariffs would likely hurt growth this year, just as the extended tax cuts could help growth recover in 2026.Tariffs impart a modest stagflationary shock to an economy, the report said. The U.S. economy entered 2025 with a fair amount of momentum, but we look for real GDP growth to downshift a bit over the next few quarters as the price-boosting effects of tariffs erode growth in real income, thereby weighing on growth in real consumer spending. JOSH BOAK Boak covers the White House and economic policy for The Associated Press. He joined the AP in 2013. twitter mailto

Brooke Rollins attends a Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee hearing on her nomination for Secretary of Agriculture, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)2025-02-13T17:09:16Z WASHINGTON (AP) Conservative lawyer Brooke Rollins was confirmed Thursday as secretary of agriculture, placing a close ally of President Donald Trump into a key Cabinet position at a time when mass deportation plans could lead to farm labor shortages and tariffs could hit agricultural exports.Rollins, who served as chief for domestic policy during Trumps first administration, was confirmed overwhelmingly by the Senate in a 72-28 vote.Rollins will now lead a department tasked with overseeing nearly all aspects of the nations food system, including standards on farming practices and livestock rearing, federal subsidies to farmers or agribusinesses and setting nutrition standards for schools and public health officials nationwide. The Department of Agriculture was at the center of Trumps trade war in his last administration, when it increased subsidies to farmers growing the nations two biggest crops, corn and soybeans, after retaliatory tariffs were levied by China on the grains and international markets were disrupted. The United States is the worlds largest food exporter. In her Senate confirmation hearing, Rollins acknowledged that Trumps plans for the mass deportation of people in the country illegally could led to farm labor shortages. Growers of some vegetables and crops such as apples as well as dairy operations are especially dependent on migrant labor. But Rollins said Americans support Trumps plans and she would work to help the president while also trying to protect farmers. The presidents vision of a secure border and a mass deportation at a scale that matters is something I support, Rollins said.Rollins is a conservative legal activist and public policy analyst who most recently served as president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a Trump-aligned think tank that developed policy and cultivated a network of personnel for the second Trump administration. Other AFPI alumni in the administration include the groups chair, Linda McMahon, who was tapped to lead the Education Department, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner and Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, among others. Rollins served as acting director of the White House Domestic Policy Council during Trumps first term, where she oversaw a portfolio that included agriculture policy. She also served as president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank. Rollins nomination was unanimously approved by the Senates agriculture committee. Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., called Rollins a superstar while Rollins home state senators, Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, testified on her behalf ahead of her confirmation hearing. Rollins promised to modernize USDA in line with Trumps vision for the department that included faster procession of disaster aid for farmers and tackling animal diseases. She also vowed to immediately begin to modernize, realign, rethink the United States Department of Agriculture on policies like remote work, in line with the Trump administrations broader stance. Democrats expressed concern that federal funding freezes had disrupted aid to farmers and land grant universities and pressed Rollins on how her support for farming communities may clash with Trumps immigration and trade agenda. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., the ranking member of the agriculture committee, pressed Rollins on how she would respond to retaliatory tariffs on U.S. crops, given Trumps previous trade wars. Beyond just getting extra payments to make up for it, will you be a voice to make sure people understand the importance of exports for rural America? And its not just farming but manufacturing and the like, Klobuchar asked. Rollins promised that her team would be at the table fighting for what we believe is necessary for these communities. Of all of the portfolio that, if confirmed, I am taking on, the one that excites me the most is the opportunity to put forward a vision and build a program around revivifying, restoring and bringing back rural America, Rollins said. She cautioned that clearly, the federal government itself cant do that but said that an all approach would be needed to help rural communities. ___McFetridge reported from Des Moines, Iowa. MATT BROWN Brown is a reporter covering national politics, race and democracy issues. twitter instagram mailto

Five things happened in the summer of 2022 that changed everything for J. Birch, the Anishinaabe creator behind #SaveQueerStories.There was the interview that Elliot Page did with Esquire about his transition, right around the same time Nimona creator ND Stevenson posted a comic about his own transition. It was also the summer that Birch began watching Our Flag Means Death and The Owl House, two shows that famously made huge headway for nonbinary representation on screen.Characters like Jim Jimenez and Raine Whispers were allowed to be complicated and badass and funny and loved, recalls Birch. I had never seen trans people portrayed that way before, and they were everything I wanted to be. Then when I read the way that Elliot Page and ND Stevenson described their transitions, it was like my own thoughts had been written down in front of me. All of those things together made me realize that transitioning would finally let me feel like myself.It was also during this summer that Birchs father started in-home hospice.Birch was already out as queer at this point, but they felt transitioning wasnt worth the risk until the hospice care began.I knew that if I didnt make this change for myself pretty immediately, my dad would never know who I had discovered I was, and I would never know how he felt about it. If it hadnt been for queer representation, I wouldnt have had the courage to come out when I did. I wouldnt have gotten the chance to share that experience with my dad. Now Ill always have the knowledge that he loved and supported me for who I am.As most queer people can already attest, LGBTQ+ storytelling is instrumental in shaping our lives. The right film or book or TV show can radically affirm us in ways nothing else can, holding up a mirror to who we truly are and who we want to be. Such stories can also help shape how the world perceives us too. Yet queer TV especially is under fire right now, despite there being more LGBTQ+ shows to watch than ever. The problem is they all end too soon.In the past year alone, a huge number of queer TV shows were canceled across the board, including everything from My Lady Jane and Our Flag Means Death to The Acolyte, Kaos and Dead Boy Detectives. Its almost a running joke at this point, except its not really a joke at all.Inspired (and saddened) by Kaos and Dead Boy Detectives, which were both canceled just one month apart, Birch did research of their own to confirm if most queer shows really were biting the dust early or whether it just seemed that way.The only consistent data I could find was GLAADs Where We Are On TV report, says Birch, and they follow the number of queer CHARACTERS, not series. Their 2023-2024 report said that about a quarter of queer characters would not be returning due to cancellations or endings but was that disproportionate? Autostraddle reported that about one in four of the queer shows they tracked ended in a single season but again, was that unusual? How did those numbers compare to the average non-queer show?Using data pulled from Deadline, Vulture, Rotten Tomatoes and more, Birch conducted their own independent study called #SaveQueerStories that did confirm LGBTQ+ projects were indeed treated unfairly by networks, and streamers especially. In fact, half of all queer TV shows were canceled in 2024, twice as often as their straight counterparts, and usually at a faster rate too.Theres not a lot of information about why queer shows are canceled more often, says Birch. In their 2023-24 Where We Are On TV report, GLAAD suggests these shows may struggle to find viewership because of poor promotion and a cycle of frequent cancellations overall. I think those are definitely contributing factors. But the more I dig, the more Im finding that queer shows are watched just as much as other shows. In fact, most of the studies I can find about viewing numbers suggest that queer representation actually IMPROVES viewership.Thats undoubtedly true for a title like Netflixs Heartstopper, which accrued over 50 million viewing hours in its first four weeks of release. No one who pressed play on that series ever went in expecting a straight love story.Agatha All Along wasnt as obviously queer from the get go, but, still, the fact it now holds the record for the highest continuation rate of any Marvel show suggests fans certainly werent put off by its increasingly queer story. And lets not forget The Wheel of Time, another queer-led fantasy that overtook The Boys and The Terminal List as Prime Videos most popular series back in 2021.Clearly, people are showing up for queer content, whether theyre queer or straight themselves, yet all too often, low ratings are blamed still for the untimely cancellations of queer shows, specifically. Thats what Disney+ suggested after they ended The Acolyte, for example. But how then do you account for the fact that this series was actually their second most streamed show in 2024 (according to findings shared by Deadline)?So what gives?My best guess is that queer shows are held to a different performance standard than non-queer shows, suggests Birch. A non-queer show can achieve good viewing numbers and move on to another season or more, but queer shows must achieve viral success or else theyre dropped.We dont need to tell you that these expectations are completely unreasonable. After all, not every new release can instantly become a Stranger Things scale success overnight. In fact, its safe to say that classic network shows like Buffy or Dawsons Creek, the kind that streamers hope to emulate in terms of success, probably wouldnt have lasted for as half as long if they had been released today. And TV would have been a lot worse off for it.Queer stories matter because we know that positive representation supports emotional wellness for queer people.J. BirchWho knows what impact a show like Kaos, Willow or The Acolyte could have had if given the chance to organically evolve and grow an audience beyond just one season? Its hard to fathom what weve lost because well never know what could have come next, but what we can measure is the scale of that loss in immediate terms and how its affected us, as #SaveQueerStories does so well.Its not just data that Birch is concerned with though. The idea behind #SaveQueerStories is to do just that, to convince media companies to commit to diverse storytelling and treat queer shows equally. Thankfully, there is some precedent to suggest that this really can work.The biggest example I can think of is Brooklyn Nine-Nine, says Birch. They were able to generate enough attention online to get their show back in just over a day. They even had celebrities tweeting about it.But its not all good news. A lot of canceled queer shows have big fan bases like this, but they simply arent as lucky. Fandoms like Warrior Nun have been able to get their hashtags trending repeatedly even over the span of years, but havent had proper renewals (yet).The [cancellation] that I worry is coming but would still be a big shock is Heartstopper, adds Birch. Its been five months since season 3 was released.If Heartstopper isnt safe, what queer show is? Bearing that in mind, what can fans do to help in the face of all this? What can we do to save the queer stories that matter to us most?Birch suggests plenty of different ways to help their campaign and get involved: We have resources on how to support queer shows on our Take Action page. Sharing the campaign and hashtag widely is going to be the best thing the more people who speak up about this, the more powerful their voices become. You can contact your streaming services and tell them your concerns. Searching, posting, and sharing about specific queer shows also helps because it drives up their demand as measured by Parrot Analytics.Some of the most recent (and most painful cancellations) inspired show-specific fandoms to speak up too, many of whom can be found working alongside #SaveQueerStories, including My Lady Jane (@SaveMyLadyJane), Our Flag Means Death (@AdoptOurCrew) and The Acolyte (@SaveTheAcolyte.com). Signing their petitions and speaking up using their hashtags can also help.In the meantime, says Birch, were working on finding ways to get active on other social media platforms and connect with other groups who care about queer representation. Well also keep adding to our page with new data and articles.To anyone who might wonder what the point of this is, go back and read the start of this article, first off, and then look at the wider impact that queer storytelling or a lack of queer storytelling can have on us as a community.The political atmosphere around queer people, especially trans people, is so incredibly tough right now, says Birch. I know that caring about TV shows seems like such a small thing to focus on, given everything thats going on, but media does matter, especially in times like this. When everything seems insurmountable, sometimes its encouraging to work on the little things you can do to help.Birch continues: Queer stories matter because we know that positive representation supports emotional wellness for queer people. For those who feel seen and affirmed by queer representation, this cancellation trend actively takes one more support away Were already seeing everything related to LGBTQ people disappear from our federal websites, a vocal push to ban LGBTQ books from school libraries, and the censorship of LGBTQ-related hashtags on sites like Instagram. They know our voices are powerful. Thats why they want to hide us.The answer then is to speak up louder than ever, and thats true whether were trying to save our favourite queer shows or push back on harmful, discriminatory legislation. Its all part of the same fight, after all.Keeping hope is so important, Birch tells us. I like to back up what I say with numbers when I can, and the numbers show that the vast majority of Americans still support LGBTQ people and our equal rights. As many people watch queer shows as other shows, and a lot of the biggest shows on air right now have visible representation in them. There are so many of us and we have so many stories to tell. I have to believe that we can make changes if we work together.Just as 2022 proved to be transformative for Birch, let 2025 be the year that things shift for the better when it comes queer storytelling too. I think theres a real shot of making it happen if enough people decide to speak up.The post #SaveQueerStories explains how to save your favorite queer TV show from cancellation appeared first on News Is Out.

For many children, an introduction to art comes from museums or kindergarten art classes. For Jaqui Almaguer, it was Little Village graffiti.Almaguer, a 42-year-old self-taught Chicago-based artist, had a lifetime of experiences before committing to an art career full-time. Now, shes putting her Chicana heritage and spiritual beliefs into her vibrant traditionally inspired painted pieces.Almaguer grew up a self-proclaimed troubled kid until she graduated high school, moving across the country at times to be with either of her divorced parents. As a young child, her introduction to art was gang graffiti around her neighborhood in Little Village.At the time, she mostly was just copying graffiti into her sketchbook and focusing on the shading, blending and dimension of the art form. As her interest grew, Almaguer saved up enough money to buy a book of Van Goghs artshe was fascinated by the way his work showed emotion.In her last year of high school, Almaguer moved to Nashville, where her mother livedwho Almaguer recalled was always into arts and crafts at home and had started working as an artist in her thirtieslived. But art remained just a hobby for Almaguer due to her moms belief in the starving artist stereotype, especially as Almaguer moved back and forth across the country in her young adult life.Almaguer began painting a series of Virgins of Guadalupe following her mothers passing. Photo courtesy of Jaqui AlmaguerHer father, however, wasnt supportive of her interest in art as a career. She came out as queer to her family at 14, so her queer identity combined with a desire for a nontraditional career path did not garner much support from him.When she was 29, Almaguer met her mentora Native American woman she lived with for about a year in Nashville and traveled with around the country. Her life continued to take her to unexpected places as she then went to work at her stepfathers company in Alabama before visiting his family Costa Rica, which she extended into a two year stay.She eventually returned to Chicago where shes been ever since, living in the southwest suburb of Berwyn.I saw people that looked like me in Chicago and I felt a sense of community, she said. I saw other queer Latinas that were doing art, that were tatted up, that were just doing the thing. And I saw a chance.Almaguer went on to host her first exhibit at 35 and began connecting with others in the Chicago art scene. People from the Pilsen Arts & Community opened their doors to her and she assisted them in curating an exhibit. She credits much of her art education to the community she found when she returned to Chicago.I saw people that looked like me in Chicago and I felt a sense of community.Jaqui AlmaguerOnce the pandemic hit, Almaguer decided to make the leap and become a full-time artist. She said the career comes with the usual expected struggles since art isnt a necessity people need to buy, but she has now been working full time for nearly five years.Almaguers art style is highly influenced by Mexican art in its color usage and pattern design, with bold shades and sharply defined shapes. She said it wasnt something she chose intentionally, but came out of an evolution of all the things that matter to her, from spirituality to Chicana culture. The vibrancy of the traditional art was something she felt she could expand upon and use.Her art also took a turn after her mother passed in 2020 during the COVID pandemic. The tragic passing inspired a series of works highlighting Our Lady of Guadalupe, a Catholic title given to the Virgin Mary after famous appearances in Mexico.[My mother] actually passed away on the [feast] day of the Guadalupe, and she was very dedicated to the Guadalupe, Almaguer said. So the images just came into my head, the fear of the pandemic, everything I was feeling and wanting to bring something beautiful to people during such a dark time.A lot of the themes in Almaguers art are reflective of major issues facing people in the U.S. todayreligion, queerness, Latino identity and migration. She was raised in a very Catholic household but had her queer awakening in high school, which led her to have questions about the churchs teachingsbut she was always scolded for asking them. While living in Costa Rica and going through mental struggles, she began to lean into prayer and spirituality in a different way.Ive incorporated bits and pieces of it into my art and who I am as a queer person, she said. You cant have spirituality without sexuality, and you cant have sexuality without spirituality. They go hand in hand.Almaguers art takes inspiration from traditional Mexican arts design and use of vibrant colors. Photo courtesy of Jaqui AlmaguerErika Latines met Almaguer at a pagan festival they were both tabling at in 2017, where they bought their first piece from Almaguer. They said she went into detail explaining the arts design and history, which Latines found incredible.They immediately became a fan and have followed Almaguers journey ever since, and over time became very close friends.We prop each other up, we value each other and all that, Latines said. Shes also not afraid to challenge me and educate [me]. I learn so much from her. She introduces insightful questions to me with genuine curiosity in a way that challenges me to look at it from a different perspective shes what I call a PhD-level human.One of the ways the two connect is over cooking, often traditional Mexican dishes like tacos or panecitos, Mexican sweet bread. Almaguer has served them homemade comfort foods at times they didnt ask, just out of kindness, which Latines said are some of their favorite memories and shows the type of person she is.As the daughter of immigrants, Almaguer also incorporates motifs highlighting the immigrant experiencewhen she returned to Chicago, she painted a lot of cacti, inspired by immigrants ability to survive and thrive under harsh conditions. Shes created masks inspired by a desire to feel protection from a higher spirit and other pieces inspired by witchcraft-seeming practices in traditional Mexican culture.When people told Almaguer to paint her trauma in response to her experiences, she didnt resonate with creating something reflecting her pain or negativityespecially with all the harsh news in the world today. She believes where the mind flows, energy flows and wants people to remember their own happy memories.I love hearing people say, Oh my God, this reminds me of my grandma, she said. Ive heard people get teary-eyed because theyre like, Oh, this looks like something that was in my grandmas house Its nostalgic to people, and thats what makes me feel good too.This story is part of the Digital Equity Local Voices Fellowship lab through News is Out. The lab initiative is made possible with support from Comcast NBCUniversal.The post Queer Chicana artist Jaqui Almaguer uses traditional styles to highlight immigrant experiences appeared first on News Is Out.

A mobile billboard stationed outside The New York Times headquarters today posed a pointed question: Why wont the newspaper meet with leaders from the transgender community? The public display marks two years since a coalition of more than 100 organizations, leaders, and notables sent an open letter to the Times requesting action to address irresponsible [...]The post Still No Meeting for Trans Leaders at The New York Times first appeared on GLAAD.

Video footage of Elon Musks son X A-Xii referred to as Little X by the internet speaking candidly to President Donald Trump in the Oval Office has gone viral on social media as everyone laughs at the kids honesty.On Tuesday, amid criticism that the tech billionaire has been systematically taking over the federal government and using his Department of Government Efficiency as a cudgel, Musk and Trump appeared together to speak to journalists to defend the sweeping changes the two men have enacted in the last few weeks, and the new executive order giving DOGE more power.While the content of what Musk and Trump said was no laughing matter, people across the internet cracked up at what Little X had to say to the MAGA leader.Its hard to make out exactly what he said in many of the clips floating around X (formerly Twitter), but most people seem to agree that while his father was towering over the president, the four-year-old told Trump, You're not the president, and you need to go away, and Shush your mouth, before picking his nose and wiping it on the Resolute Desk. (@) This isnt the first time Little X has spoken out of turn. Musk has been parading his son around at official events since last fall, including to an interview with Tucker Carlson in November where the kid said, Were in Space X and quietly just do whatever we want, before laughing hysterically while saying theyll never know after the former Fox News host asked of Trump was going to win the election. (@) (@) Some people have been writing on X that Musks son is probably just repeating things hes heard his father say at home, and other people are joking that Trump looks angry that Musk his holding court in his office while his son tells him to shush. but the most cathartic response may be that this incident will lead to an "epic breakup" between the two men.Keep scrolling to see the funniest reactions to Little X speaking truth to power! (@) "I'M SCREAMING" (@) "Look at Trump's body language. The break up is going to be Epic." (@) "Ive changed my mind. Little X for President" (@) 'Youre not the president you need to go away' is the funniest possible thing that kid coulda said goddamn Trumps gonna drone strike his little ass" (@) (@) "fingers crossed" (@) "Theres no doubt in my mind. In-between picking his nose and wiping his boogers on the Resolute Desk, the son of Space Nazi Elon Musk said Youre not the president and you need to go away to Donald trump. Just repeating what he hears at home, as kids do." (@) "Trump babysitting Elons kid while Musk holds court with the press in the Oval Office." (@) "Who thinks that Elon Musk coached his son to say: "Shush, you are not the president....go away?"" (@) "Youre not the President, and you need to go away. He definitely heard Elon Musk calling himself the president." (@) "Rapper Little X's lyrics - Let's all sing it together You're not the President You need to go away! I want you to shut Your fucking mouth up!" (@) "Wanna hear a little kid tell Trump to shut his trap-mouth?!? Lmfao!" (@) "Little X, now that you have said to Donald Trump I want you to shut your fucking mouth up, could you please say this to your dad. Sincerely, 75 million people who did not sign up for this shit." (@) "Elon's little X is putting boogers all over germaphobe Grandpa RICO's desk while telling him to shut up." (@) "Little X - 'My daddy owns you'" (@) "Little X telling reporters to shush while his dad is speaking is the best thing on the internet today!" (@) "Elon thought it was a good idea to bring his toddler into the Oval Office while he speaks to the nation. Watch Trumps expression change immediately when little X speaks. Hes pissed. You can see Trump think, 'and thats exactly why I dont bring that idiot Don Jr in here.'"

In a lively and candid conversation with drag queen Katya Zamolodchikova, television personality Lisa Rinna delved into topics ranging from her ideal biopic casting to the intricacies of long-lasting relationships. The pairs fun and engaging exchange touched on everything from love and marriage to the dos and donts of social media and vow renewals.Television personality Lisa Rinna recently opened up in a lively conversation with drag queen Katya Zamolodchikova about her rise as a preeminent gay icon, the challenges of reality TV, and the role of social media in modern relationships. The two shared humorous insights into everything from personal relationships to the highs and lows of life in the public eye, with Rinna acknowledging the pivotal role the LGBTQ+ community has played in her career.Becoming a Gay Icon: Rinna Reflects on Her JourneyDuring their exchange, Katya asked Rinna when she became aware of her status as one of the top gay icons. Im aware now because Ive been told, Rinna responded. The gays, they helped me through my really rough year, my really rough last year on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.Rinna explained how, during difficult moments on the reality show, the LGBTQ+ community was instrumental in supporting her. They were there for me, and they pushed me through, she said, a sentiment that resonated with many of her fans. The actress, who is known for her candidness on the show, has cultivated a strong fan base among the LGBTQ+ community, something she doesnt take for granted.Katya responded by reflecting on the unique role gay fans often play in reality TV culture. I dont watch the show, but I see how peopleits almost like a a moral morality courtroom in a way, she said. Rinna, laughing, agreed, adding that its so bizarre how the show can evolve into something that feels more like a societal trial than simple entertainment.Its just a show, Rinna added. I look at it like sports. Its gay sports. Her comparison of reality TV to sports is particularly apt, as both have loyal followings and are often subject to intense scrutiny from fans. While reality TV can sometimes feel overly dramatic, Rinna seemed to suggest that its best enjoyed with the same enthusiasm and detachment that people often reserve for sports.Katya, ever the insightful interviewer, took a moment to reference an often-quoted sentiment from icons like Judy Garland or Liza Minnelli, who have long embraced the LGBTQ+ community. The gays have taste, she said, referencing the deep appreciation and connection that the LGBTQ+ community has with art, culture, and pop icons. Rinna wholeheartedly agreed, acknowledging that the LGBTQ+ community is known for its discerning taste. They sure do, she said. Its true.Reality TV: A Glimpse Behind the CurtainThe discussion then shifted toward the nature of reality television itself, with both Katya and Rinna sharing their perspectives on the genre. Katya, reflecting on her time competing on RuPauls Drag Race, recalled how she and her fellow drag queens entered the competition with no formal training or experience in front of cameras.Its amazing what you guys do, Rinna said, genuinely impressed. Youve never been in front of a camera? Just performing? Katya explained how the drag queens had no expectations going into the show, which made the experience even more challenging. Despite their lack of experience, Katya and the others quickly adapted and became stars in their own right, demonstrating the power of performance and the importance of the LGBTQ+ community in shaping mainstream culture.Katya, known for her quick wit, noted the odd nature of reality competitions, commenting on how, despite having no formal training, the drag queens were expected to perform under the publics scrutiny. Its so its so cunty, Katya said, using her signature humor to highlight the tension and high stakes involved in reality TV. Rinna agreed, noting the oddity of shows where individuals are thrust into the spotlight with little preparation.A Unique Bond with Fans: The Gays Unwavering SupportRinna reflected further on her connection with her LGBTQ+ fans, expressing gratitude for the support theyve shown her over the years. The gays supported me and were there for me, and I will never forget that, she said with sincerity. This bond has helped Rinna navigate the ups and downs of her career, including the challenges of being on a reality show that often pits contestants and cast members against each other in public forums.For many, Rinnas authenticity and willingness to embrace her own flaws have endeared her to the LGBTQ+ community. The fans who supported her during tough times on The Real Housewives made it clear that they saw something genuine in Rinna, beyond the drama and the television ratings.Reality TV: A Love-Hate Relationship with the Public EyeAs Rinna continued to reflect on her career in reality TV, Katya asked her to expand on her thoughts about social media and its role in shaping relationships today. The two discussed the trend of posting personal milestones, such as romantic photos, online. While both agreed that it can be nice to share happy moments occasionally, Rinna was quick to caution against over-sharing.Its like, what are you trying to prove? Rinna asked, echoing her earlier sentiments about keeping parts of ones life private. This was a theme that ran through much of their conversation, as both Katya and Rinna agreed that social media can sometimes put undue pressure on relationships, turning them into public spectacles rather than private connections. Rinna also echoed her earlier advice about vow renewals, adding that too many public displays of affection can actually harm relationships.From her experiences on The Real Housewives to her deep connection with the LGBTQ+ community, Lisa Rinnas journey has been anything but conventional. Yet, through it all, she remains one of the most beloved figures in reality television, supported by fans who appreciate her openness, humor, and authenticity.The post Lisa Rinna Says Gay People Truly Saved Her After Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Final Season appeared first on Gayety.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)2025-02-13T20:09:02Z WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump said Thursday that he wants to restart nuclear arms control talks with Russia and China and that eventually he hopes all three countries could agree to cut their massive defense budgets in half.Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump lamented the hundreds of billions of dollars being invested in rebuilding the nations nuclear deterrent and said he hopes to gain commitments from the U.S. adversaries to cut their own spending.Theres no reason for us to be building brand new nuclear weapons, we already have so many, Trump said. You could destroy the world 50 times over, 100 times over. And here we are building new nuclear weapons, and theyre building nuclear weapons.Were all spending a lot of money that we could be spending on other things that are actually, hopefully much more productive, Trump said. While the U.S. and Russia hold massive stockpiles of weapons since the Cold War, Trump predicted that China would catch up in their capability to exact nuclear devastation within five or six years.He said if the weapons were ever called to use, thats going to be probably oblivion. Trump said he would look to engage in nuclear talks with the two countries once we straighten it all out in the Middle East and Ukraine.One of the first meetings I want to have is with President Xi of China, President Putin of Russia. And I want to say, lets cut our military budget in half. And we can do that. And I think well be able to. Trump in his first term tried and failed to bring China into nuclear arms reduction talks when the U.S. and Russia were negotiating an extension of a pact known as New START. Russia suspended its participation in the treaty during the Biden administration, as the U.S. and Russia continued on massive programs to extend the life-spans or replace their Cold War-era nuclear arsenals. ZEKE MILLER Zeke is APs chief White House correspondent twitter mailto MICHELLE L. PRICE Price is a national political reporter for The Associated Press. She is based in New York. twitter mailto

New York City Mayor Eric Adams exits from federal court in New York, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Kena Betancur, File)2025-02-13T19:26:48Z NEW YORK (AP) The top federal prosecutor in Manhattan resigned Thursday rather than obey a Justice Department order to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.The resignation of Danielle Sassoon, a Republican who was the interim U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, was confirmed by a spokesperson for the office.Her resignation came days after a senior Justice Department official directed New York prosecutors to drop the case against Adams, who was accused of accepting illegal campaign contributions and bribes of free or discounted travel from people who wanted to buy his influence.Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove said in a memo Monday that the case should be dismissed so that Adams, a Democrat, could help with President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown and campaign for reelection. Justice Department officials didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Neither did Adams attorney, Alex Spiro. A spokesperson for the mayor did not immediately respond.The Justice Departments decision to end the case because of political considerations, rather than the strength or weakness of the evidence, alarmed some career prosecutors who said it was a departure from longstanding norms. While Bove had directed that the case be dismissed as soon as practicable, days went by with no public statements or actions by the prosecution team in New York. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Wednesday that she would look into why the charges had yet to be dismissed.Sassoon, a former clerk for the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia who is a member of the conservative Federalist Society, was not the one who brought the case against Adams last year. The prosecutor who did, former U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, stepped down after Trumps election victory. Sassoon had only been tapped to serve as acting U.S. Attorney on Jan. 21, the day after Trump took office. Her role was intended to be temporary. Trump in November nominated Jay Clayton, the former chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, to the post, an appointment that must be confirmed by the Senate.The office she led, the Southern District of New York, is among the largest and most prominent prosecutors offices in the U.S., with a long track record of tackling Wall Street malfeasance, political corruption and international terrorism.It has a tradition of independence from Washington, something that has earned it the nickname the sovereign district.During Trumps first term, the office prosecuted both the presidents personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, and his strategic adviser, Steve Bannon, in separate cases. Cohen pleaded guilty to tax evasion and campaign finance charges. Trump ended the federal fraud case against Bannon by pardoning him, though nearly identical charges were then brought by state prosecutors.Sassoon joined the U.S. attorneys office in 2016. In 2023 she helped lead the fraud prosecution of Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX. More recently, she had served as the offices co-chief of criminal appeals. Adams was indicted in September on charges that while he worked as Brooklyn Borough President, he accepted over $100,000 in illegal campaign contributions and lavish travel perks such as expensive flight upgrades, luxury hotel stays and even a trip to a bathhouse.The indictment said a Turkish official who helped facilitate the trips then leaned on Adams for favors, including asking him to lobby the Fire Department to let a newly constructed, 36-story diplomatic building open in time for a planned visit by Turkeys president.Prosecutors said they had proof that Adams personally directed political aides to solicit foreign donations and disguise them to help the campaign qualify for a city program that provides a generous, publicly-funded match for small dollar donations. Under federal law, foreign nationals are banned from contributing to U.S. election campaigns.As recently as Jan. 6th, prosecutors had indicated their investigation remained active, writing in court papers that they continued to uncover additional criminal conduct by Adams. Bove said in his memo that Justice Department officials in Washington hadnt evaluated the evidence in the case before deciding it should be dropped at least until after the mayoral election in November.But he criticized recent public actions by Williams that he said had threatened the integrity of the proceedings, including by increasing prejudicial pretrial publicity. Williams hasnt spoken publicly about the Adams case since his resignation, but wrote an editorial decrying corruption in politics.Federal agents had also been investigating other senior Adams aides. It was unclear what will happen to that side of the probe.

Listen, congratulations to all of those Sapphic ladies out there who are in love and planning to celebrate Valentines Day with champagne and strawberries. Truly, were all happy for you. But for those of us who are living in Singleland, sometimes you dont want sappy love stories shoved down your throat, what you want are tragic, doomed romances in the form of movies that will have you crying your eyes out because they are devastatingly sad and not because you've been dumped and your ex moved on too quickly for your liking. So, on Valentines Day, instead of mopping around, grab a box of Kleenex and marathon these lesbian tearjerkers!Portrait of a Lady on FirePortrait of a Lady on Fire follows the doomed love story between a noblewoman and the female artist hired to paint her portrait. It's the definition of a tearjerker because, despite their passion for each other, they cant stay together.Where to watch: HuluGiaGia is a late 90s biopic starring bi-con Angelina Jolie that tells the story of supermodel Gia Carangi, who struggles with drug addiction and passed away from AIDS-related complications in 1986.Where to watch: MAXBlue is the Warmest ColorMany Sapphics out there hate the portrayal of queer sex in Blue is the Warmest Color, but it is about a love story that ends in a breakup, which seems fitting when youre trying to drown out all of the sappy love stories that normally take over on Valentines Day. Where to watch: Roku and AMC+Aimee & JaguarA perfect movie for when youre down in the dumps and craving a sad movie. Aime & Jaguar is set during WWII and is about a doomed love affair between Lily, a Nazi officers wife, and Felice, a Jewish woman, that ends in tragedy. Where to watch: Hoopla and Kanopy The World to ComeIn The World to Come, two farmers' wives fall for each other in 19th century America, and because of the time period, the ending is predictably a Bury Your Gays situation.Where to watch: Rent on Amazon PrimeHuesera: The Bone WomanWhile the ending of this horror movie is likely to be cathartic to queer women who have a deep understanding of compulsory heterosexuality and being reduced to a womb, the film is also tragic, and the lesbian love story doesnt have the happy ending you normally get in traditional romances. Where to watch: Shudder and AMC+ Lost and DeliriousLost and Delirious, starring Piper Perabo, is a haunting love story about two young women in a New England boarding school that ends in a way that will have you ugly crying in your Kleenex. Where to watch: YouTubeMonsterStarring Charlize Theron and Christina Ricci, Monster is about the story of real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos (Theron) and her romantic relationship with Selby (Ricci). But if you know anything about the true life story of Americas most famous female serial killer, then you already know this one ends in tragedy for the queer couple. Where to watch: Prime VideoTell it to the BeesIf youre in the mood for a happy ending where the women ride off into the sunset together, then Anna Paquin's Tell it to the Bees is not for you, but if you want something thatll make you tear up, this is the one for you!Where to watch: HuluThe Last Thing Mary SawThe Last Thing Mary Saw is a bleak and devastating horror movie that will have you feeling very glad you arent part of a 19th-century Puritan community. Prepare for scares and tears with this one.Where to watch: Shudder and AMC+So, grab a box of tissues and gear up for a cathartic cry because these movies are guaranteed to have you weeping by the time the credits roll!

Lisa Rinna, television personality, actress, and entrepreneur, recently sat down for a playful and revealing conversation with Katya Zamolodchikova, a popular drag queen and RuPauls Drag Race alum for Grindrs Am I The A**hole podcast. The two discussed a wide range of topics, from Rinnas ideal cast for a biopic about her life, to relationship dynamics, and advice for those navigating the world of online dating.Casting Her Biopic: Rinnas Dream PicksThe iconic drag queen asked Rinna who she would choose to play her in a biopic, suggesting three different actresses for various stages of her lifeyoung, middle-aged, and older. Lisa Rinna was quick to offer her picks, starting with Selena Gomez for a younger version of herself, a choice Katya enthusiastically endorsed. Oh, hell yeah, Katya responded with a smile.Rinna then considered Chlo Sevigny for her middle-aged years, admitting that Sevignys distinct style would suit the role perfectly. Katya agreed, saying Sevigny in approval. For an even younger version, Rinna opted for Jenna Ortega, best known for her portrayal of Wednesday Addams. Yeah, I think shed be great, Rinna said with a nod.Katya then offered her own picks for a potential biopic. She suggested Amanda Seyfried as a middle-aged version, noting that while Seyfried is typically seen as a blonde, she would make an interesting choice for the role. Rinna seemed intrigued by the idea, saying, I like it. Katya also threw in Chlo Grace Moretz, and for the older version, she chose none other than Angelina Jolie.Rinna was impressed by Katyas choices, replying, Well, thats lovely. I wouldnt even touch that, before adding an amusing twist to the scenario. Katya suggested that the movie could include a scene where both Rinna and Jolie, playing versions of Rinna, engage in a dramatic fight with chainsaws. Bejeweled naked. I agree, Rinna quipped, embracing the fun and chaos of the idea. Katya elaborated, suggesting that both heads would be chopped off at the end in a dramatic flourish. Thats so cunt. Thats cunt, Rinna laughed.Relationship Realities: Advice for Dating and MarriageThe two also delved into more serious territory when Katya asked Rinna about her thoughts on relationships and marriage, particularly regarding men on dating apps like Grindr. Rinna began by questioning whether people on Grindr were actually seeking marriage or simply casual encounters. I dont know how you look for marriage material, she admitted, suggesting that the traditional playbook for finding a life partner may not exist.Katya agreed, saying its tough to gauge whether someone is the one right away. Rinna echoed this sentiment, pointing out that many people rush into marriage without truly knowing one another. I think a lot of people rush into it, Rinna said, adding that it often takes a lot of time to truly understand your partner.How many dates do you think it takes to tell if someone is the one? Katya asked. Rinna responded that she thinks it takes at least two years to truly understand someone. You have to live with somebody, she continued, explaining that its crucial to see a persons habits and how they adapt to different situations. When things are nice, theyre nice. But what happens when things are really bad? You want to see how they react.Katya agreed, quipping that living in separate houses on separate streets might be the secret to maintaining a healthy relationship. Rinna laughed, noting the difficulty of keeping a long-term relationship intact. I think what weve done and been together for 32 years has been its remarkable. We didnt kill each other, first of all, Rinna reflected, sharing her appreciation for her long-standing marriage.Rinna also acknowledged the challenge of keeping the spark alive in a relationship. We still like each other, she said, before adding, Were still attracted to each other. Sometimes were like, What? How? Its a miracle.Katya agreed, noting that lasting relationships are rare, and Rinnas 32-year marriage is nothing short of extraordinary. Its amazing, Katya remarked.Navigating Marriage: Keeping Things FreshRinna shared her thoughts on the secret to keeping her marriage alive and thriving, joking that good porn can sometimes help maintain a healthy dynamic. She emphasized the importance of maintaining attraction and mutual respect in long-term relationships, acknowledging the challenge of making it work despite external pressures.As the conversation continued, Rinna revealed that she has observed a troubling trend among couples who post excessively about their relationships on social media. I see it every daypeople posting all these lovey-dovey photos, she said. She noted that the public display of perfection often signals trouble ahead. I think its a setup for failure, she added, cautioning against oversharing on social media. Katya agreed, suggesting that keeping some parts of your life private is the best approach.Rinna also advised against renewing vows, a practice that some couples do after a significant milestone. Never renew your vows, she insisted. Its a kiss of death, honey. Katya quickly added, Dont renew your vows or youll get divorced, emphasizing Rinnas point.The post Lisa Rinna Wants Selena Gomez, Chlo Sevigny and Jenna Ortega to Star as Her in a Biopic appeared first on Gayety.

People wave signs to passing cars during a pro-transgender rights protest outside of Seattle Children's Hospital after the institution postponed some gender-affirming surgeries for minors following an executive order by President Donald Trump, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)2025-02-13T20:34:49Z Follow live updates on President Donald Trump and his new administration. BALTIMORE (AP) A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trumps recent executive order aimed at restricting gender-affirming health care for transgender people under age 19. The judges ruling came after a lawsuit was filed earlier this month on behalf of families with transgender or nonbinary children who allege their health care has already been compromised by the presidents order. A national group for family of LGBTQ+ people and a doctors organization are also plaintiffs in the court challenge, one of many lawsuits opposing a slew of executive orders Trump has issued as he seeks to reverse the policies of former President Joe Biden. Judge Brendan Hurson, who was nominated by Biden, granted the plaintiffs request for a temporary restraining order following a hearing in federal court in Baltimore. The ruling, in effect for 14 days, essentially puts Trumps directive on hold while the case proceeds. The restraining order could also be extended. Trumps executive order seems to deny that this population even exists, or deserves to exist, Hurson said. Shortly after taking office, Trump signed an executive order directing federally run insurance programs to exclude coverage for gender-affirming care. That includes Medicaid, which covers such services in some states, and TRICARE for military families. Trumps order also called on the Department of Justice to vigorously pursue litigation and legislation to oppose the practice. The lawsuit includes several accounts from families of appointments being canceled as medical institutions react to the new directive. Attorneys for the plaintiffs argue Trumps executive order is unlawful and unconstitutional because it seeks to withhold federal funds previously authorized by Congress and because it violates anti-discrimination laws while infringing on the rights of parents. Like legal challenges to state bans on gender-affirming care, the lawsuit also alleges the policy is discriminatory because it allows federal funds to cover the same treatments when theyre not used for gender transition.Some hospitals immediately paused gender-affirming care, including prescriptions for puberty blockers and hormone therapy, while they assess how the order affects them.Trumps approach on the issue represents an abrupt change from the Biden administration, which sought to explicitly extend civil rights protections to transgender people. Trump has used strong language in opposing gender-affirming care, asserting falsely that medical professionals are maiming and sterilizing a growing number of impressionable children under the radical and false claim that adults can change a childs sex.Major medical groups such as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics support access to gender-affirming care.Young people who persistently identify as a gender that differs from their sex assigned at birth are first evaluated by a team of professionals. Some may try a social transition, involving changing a hairstyle or pronouns. Some may later also receive puberty blockers or hormones. Surgery is extremely rare for minors.

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) stands with teammates before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Jan. 5, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)2025-02-13T16:26:59Z The New York Jets announced Thursday they told quarterback Aaron Rodgers they are moving on without him next season.While Rodgers hasnt said whether he intends to continue playing for a 21st NFL season, the Jets with new general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn in charge have officially ruled out a return to New York.In a joint statement issued by the team, Mougey and Glenn said they met with the 41-year-old quarterback last week and informed him of their plans.It was important to have this discussion now to provide clarity and enable each of us the proper time to plan for our respective futures, Mougey and Glenn said in the statement. We want to thank him for the leadership, passion, and dedication he brought to the organization and wish him success moving forward.The four-time MVP, whos the fifth player in NFL history to throw 500 touchdown passes in the regular season, has one year of non-guaranteed money left on his contract with the Jets. New York would absorb a $49 million dead money charge next season unless it designates Rodgers a post-June 1 cut and can spread out that charge over two years. In April 2023, Rodgers was traded to the Jets after 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers looking to help the franchise end a Super Bowl drought which dates to the glory days of Joe Namath and the 1968 season.Rodgers first season in New York ended just four snaps into his debut because of a torn left Achilles tendon that sank the Jets Super Bowl hopes that were stirred by the QBs arrival. He worked his way back to the field to start every game this past season, but he and the offense struggled with consistency and results and the Jets finished 5-12.I personally want to thank Aaron for his time at the New York Jets, owner Woody Johnson in a statement. His arrival in 2023 was met with unbridled excitement and I will forever be grateful that he chose to join us to continue his Hall of Fame career. From Day 1, he embodied all that it meant to be a New York Jet, embraced our fans and immersed himself in our city. That is what I will remember most when I look back at his time here. He will always be welcome, and I wish him only the best in whatever he chooses to do next.Rodgers 28 touchdown passes and 3,897 yards passing both rank third for a single season in franchise history. But he lacked some mobility early in his return and then dealt with a few additional leg injuries, including a significant hamstring ailment.The Jets offense with Rodgers struggled to produce, the defense was a shell of its formerly dominant self and it cost both general manager Joe Douglas and coach Robert Saleh their jobs in the middle of the season.In what turned out to be his final appearance with New York, Rodgers threw a season-high four touchdown passes in a win over Miami on Jan. 5.It was a vintage performance and a somewhat frustrating flash to fans of how things could have gone for Rodgers and the Jets.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL DENNIS WASZAK JR. Waszak is an NFL writer for The Associated Press who has covered the New York Jets as the beat writer since 2006. He also is an editor on the APs national sports desk and has worked in AP Sports since 1996. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi listens during the closing session of the Franco-Indian Economic Forum at the Quai d'Orsay on the sidelines of the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (Abdul Saboor, Pool Photo via AP)2025-02-13T05:02:26Z WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump met Thursday with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has heaped praise on him in hopes of avoiding the additional tariffs that the new administration has slapped on other countries in its opening weeks. Trump welcomed Modi to the Oval Office on Thursday afternoon, calling him a great friend, hours after the U.S. president signed increases on tariffs to match the tax rates that other countries charge on imports which affects American trading partners around the world, including India.We have great friendship, he and I and our countries, and I think its only going to get closer, Trump said.Modi is a nationalist and spent his time before arriving in Washington talking up his warm relationship with Trump during his first term while cheering his winning back the White House. The Indian leader was looking to improve relations with Washington and the West overall, which have been frosty lately after Modi refused to condemn Russia for its war on Ukraine. The world had this thinking that India somehow is a neutral country in this whole process, Modi said, praising Trump for speaking with Russia and Ukraines leaders on Wednesday. But this is not true. India has a side, and that side is of peace. The trip comes after Modis ruling Hindu nationalist partys victory during a high-stakes state legislature election last weekend in Indias federal territory, including New Delhi. The prime minister said before leaving for Washington that the visit was a chance to deepen our partnership in key areas such as technology, trade, defense and energy. The White House visit isnt likely to be all smiles, though. Trump, a Republican, previously imposed tariffs on China and says more are coming against the European Union, while threatening similar against Canada and Mexico and expanding tariffs on steel and aluminum he initially imposed during his first term. The White House insists that in signing Thursdays round of what Trump called reciprocal tariffs, he is leveling the playing field between U.S. manufacturers and foreign competitors though these new taxes would likely be paid by American consumers and businesses either directly or in the form of higher prices. Even prior to signing the new round of tariffs, however, Trump indicated that he was ready to object to Indian tariffs. He repeatedly dubbed Modis country a tariff king. In response, New Delhi showed willingness to buy more American oil and lower its own tariffs on U.S. goods, including on some Harley-Davidson motorcycles, from 50% to 40% moves it took prior to Modis coming to Washington. Also, India in 2023 dropped retaliatory tariffs on U.S. almonds, apples, chickpeas, lentils and walnuts. Then theres a recent deal allowing U.S.-based General Electric to partner with India-based Hindustan Aeronautics to produce jet engines for Indian aircraft in India, and the sale of U.S.-made armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones. Still, Trump has decried U.S. trade deficits around the world and said hell work to shrink them, including during his meetings at the White House last week with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The U.S. is Indias largest trade partner, but the two countries have a trade deficit of $50 billion in Indias favor. The Indo-U.S. goods and services trade totaled around $190.1 billion in 2023. According to Indias External Affairs Ministry, the U.S. exports to India were worth nearly $70 billion and imports $120 billion.A Trump administration official, on a phone call with reporters, said that India has made modest positive steps on trade. The official, who insisted on anonymity as a term of the call, said there is a goal of finalizing by the end of this year a trade arrangement with India that the United States would judge as fair to both sides.Modi is the fourth foreign leader to visit Trump since his inauguration last month, following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ishiba of Japan and Jordans King Abdullah II. Prior to meeting with Trump, Modi sat down with national security adviser Mike Waltz. He also met with billionaire SpaceX founder and top Trump administration official Elon Musk.In a photo posted to Modis account on X, the platform owned by Musk formerly known as Twitter, the prime minister, joined by his official delegation, was seen engaging warmly in conversation with Musk, who brought some of his children and an executive, Shivon Zilis, who is also the mother of three of his children.While signing the tariffs order in the Oval Office, Trump was asked if Musk spoke with Modi as a government worker or a tech magnate, amid concerns the meeting was related to the billionaires business dealings.India is a very hard place to do business because of the tariffs. They have the highest tariffs, just about in the world, and its a hard place to do business, Trump said. No, I would imagine he met possibly because, you know, hes running a company. Modi and Trump were also likely to use their upcoming discussions to talk about immigration. There, the prime minister can point to Indias having accepted the return of 104 migrants brought back on a U.S. military plane the first such flight to the country as part of the Trump administrations crackdown on immigration and the U.S.-Mexico border.For the Trump administration, meanwhile, India is seen as integral to the U.S. strategy of containing China in the Indo-Pacific. Modis country is hosting a summit of a group of countries known as the Quad made up of the U.S., India, Japan and Australia later this year. WILL WEISSERT Weissert covers national politics and the White House for The Associated Press. He is based in Washington. twitter mailto

This May 18, 1969 photo provided by NASA shows Earth from 36,000 nautical miles away as photographed from the Apollo 10 spacecraft during its trans-lunar journey toward the moon. (NASA via AP)2025-02-13T18:52:40Z CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) The threat of a newly discovered asteroid has risen slightly in the past few weeks, as the worlds telescopes rush to track its course. But the chance of an impact is still quite slim. New calculations suggest theres a 2% chance the space rock 2024 YR4 will smack Earth in 2032. This also means theres a 98% chance it will safely pass our planet. The odds of a strike will almost certainly continue to go up and down as the asteroids path around the sun is better understood, and astronomers said theres a good chance the risk likely will drop to zero. NASA and the European Space Agencys Webb Space Telescope will observe this near-Earth asteroid in March before the object disappears from view. Once that happens, scientists will have to wait until 2028 when it passes our way again.Whats an asteroid?Asteroids are space rocks orbiting the sun that are considerably smaller than planets. Scientists believe theyre the leftovers from the solar systems formation 4.6 billion years ago. There are so many asteroids orbiting between Mars and Jupiter millions of them that this region is known as the main asteroid belt. They sometimes get pushed out of the belt and can end up all over the place like this one. How do scientists track potentially dangerous asteroids? A telescope in Chile discovered the asteroid 2024 YR4 in December. Its estimated to be 130 feet to 300 feet (40 meters to 90 meters) across. Observations by the Webb telescope should provide a more precise measurement, according to NASA.NASA and the European Space Agency initially put the odds of a strike at just over 1%. By Thursday, it had risen to roughly 2%. NASA describes that as still extremely low. Until scientists have a better understanding of the asteroids path around the sun, they caution the odds will continue to fluctuate and quite possibly fall to zero.You dont have to be worried about anything. Its a curiosity, said Larry Denneau, senior software engineer with the University of Hawaiis asteroid impact alert system that first spotted the asteroid. Dont panic. Let the process play out, and well have a for-sure answer.In 2021, NASA gave the all-clear to another potentially worrisome asteroid, Apophis, after new telescope observations ruled out any chance of it hitting Earth in 2068. Should we worry about asteroid 2024 YR4?Its way too soon to fret over this asteroid, according to the experts. No one should be concerned that the impact probability is rising. This is the behavior our team expected, Paul Chodas, director of NASAs Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, said in an email. To be clear, we expect the impact probability to drop to zero at some point. Since the asteroids size and orbit are uncertain, its unclear where it might hit and what the possible impacts would be should it strike Earth. If the asteroid is on the smaller end, ESA said any potential impacts would be local similar to the Tunguska event that flattened thousands of square miles of forest in remote Siberia in 1908. But if its close to 330 feet (100 meters), the consequences would be significantly worse. Chodas said once Webb pinpoints the asteroids size, NASA can predict how serious an impact this asteroid could produce and how difficult a task it might be to deflect this asteroid.NASA already has some experience nudging an asteroid. The space agencys Dart spacecraft deliberately rammed a harmless asteroid in 2022 in the first planetary defense test of its kind, altering its orbit around its larger companion asteroid.___AP video journalist Mary Conlon contributed to this report. ___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.

As of Feb. 13, the word transgender has been removed from the Stonewall National Monument web page in Greenwich Village, New York. The site and monument, which are part of the National Park Service, also removed the T representing trans people, as well as the Q for queer.Screenshot taken from the Wayback Machine of the site as of yesterday, which still included trans and queer. The Stonewall National Monument honors the Stonewall Riots, which took place from June 28 to July 3, 1969, when transgender, bisexual, gay, and lesbian patrons of the Stonewall Inn pushed back against targeted harassment and police raids. The uprising has long been considered the beginning of the LGBTQ+ rights movement.Trans and gender-nonconforming people, butch lesbians, and gay men were among those who led the rebellion, calling for better treatment and an end to anti-LGBTQ+ abuse. Notable participants include Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Storm DeLarverie, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Mark Segal, and Virginia Apuzzo, among others.Screenshot taken from the Wayback Machine of the site as of yesterday, which still included T and Q.LGBTQ+ advocates are beginning to speak out against the removal of trans and queer from the site.Writer and Gender Liberation Movement co-founder Raquel Willis posted on X:The Stonewall Riots happened because of trans people, particularly of color, [who] rose up against state violence. You cant even begin to tell the story without our ancestors and elders.New York City Council member Erik Bottcher tweeted:The Trump administration has erased transgender people from the Stonewall National Monument website. We will not allow them to erase the very existence of our siblings. We are one community!!This is a developing story, and we will continue to provide updates.The post National Park Service removes Transgender and Queer from Stonewall Monument page appeared first on News Is Out.

Tomorrow the long, painful wait for the third season of Yellowjackets ends at last and with its return, Sapphic audiences will finally get a chance to see the next chapter, or rather chapters, of Van and Taissas love story.This season picks up in the aftermath of their past selves seeing the survivors shelter burn down before their eyes, and in the present the tragic and shocking loss of one of the group. In the past, winter has finally ended, but the cold, dark fingers of whatever else lurks in the woods still have them in its grips. Whether its something metaphysical or psychological, theyve all been changed by their experiences in the wilderness.

The first trailer for On Swift Horses has arrived, and it is delightfully queer.This 1950s-set film comes from director Daniel Minahan, who executive produced and directed two episodes of Fellow Travelers. It was adapted by Bryce Kass (Lizzie) from the novel of the same name by Shannon Pufahl. At first glance, it appears the story told here is going to be a love triangle between Lee (Will Poulter), his wife, Muriel (Daisy Edgar-Jones), and Lees brother, Julius (Jacob Elordi). Were treated to stolen glances and furtive hand-touching between Muriel and Julius until the latter leaves town.And thats when things start to get gay.In the trailer, Julius strikes up some sort of romance with Henry (Diego Calva) amidst poker games and explosions. Meanwhile, back in California, Muriel starts going to the racetrack to gamble on horses, and develops a new sapphic romance of her own with a neighbor, Sandra (Sasha Calle).On Swift Horses promises to be a sweeping romantic drama that Minahan calls a "re-imagining of the American dream." In other words, get seated, 'cause this one's going to be a fun ride.The film itself doesn't hit theaters until April 25, 2025, in the U.S. But in the meantime, let's check out some of the sapphic moments we were treated to in the trailer.Looks like a meet cute if you ask me!Muriel celebrating at the racetrack with a gal "pal."Ah, forbidden touches.Muriel and Sandra taking things to the next level.Who doesn't love a good underwear dance party?Get ready for April 25!