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A disabled and nonbinary wildlife biology researcher is considering filing a wrongful termination lawsuit against the National Park Service (NPS) after the federal agency recently fired them for hanging a large transgender Pride flag from the El Capitan rock formation in Californias Yosemite National Park last May. The hanging wasnt illegal and didnt break any park rules at the time, though the parks superintendent has since forbidden such displays.SJ Joslin, the 35-year-old lead organizer of the May action, was fired through an August 12 letter from acting Yosemite Deputy Superintendent Danika Globokar for failing to demonstrate acceptable conduct during Joslins two-year probationary period as an NPS worker. Globokars letter said that Joslin had held a small group demonstration in an area outside of the designated protest and demonstration area without a permit, Joslin told Them. Related Drag activist & trans allies fly largest trans flag ever displayed in national park However, the aforementioned publication noted that NPS rules allow demonstrations of fewer than 25 people to take place anywhere in a park without a permit, unless otherwise noted in a parks Superintendents Compendium. Joslin requested evidence that May 20 action was a demonstration, but park leadership reportedly failed to provide any such proof, NBC News reported.Joslin and their cohorts displayed a 55 x 35 foot trans Pride flag about 500 feet high on El Capitans Heart Ledges area between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. PST on May 20. Joslin told Them they didnt view the flags display as a demonstration, but rather a celebration of my identity and just trans identity in general. Joslin also told NBC News that the flag was meant to show that everyone is welcome in the nations park. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today NBC News wrote that Joslin came up with the idea of hanging the flag after the nations president signed various executive orders seeking to deny the existence of trans people, restrict their access to gender-affirming care, and ban trans women from playing sports.A week after the May 20 action, the parks leadership informed Joslin that they and two other NPS employees were under criminal investigation for hanging the flag. Joslin said that the hanging of the flag didnt occur during their work hours and said that their colleagues have never made any negative comments about their conduct.The day after the action, Yosemite acting supervisor Ray McPadden updated the parks compendium to forbid the display of any banner, flag, or sign larger than fifteen square feet from any of the parks natural or cultural feature[s] without a permit. However, this rule wasnt in place on the day that Joslin and their group displayed the flag. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SJ / Shannon Joslin (@shannonekj)Hanging flags has been a tradition that climbers have done on El Cap for decades, and thats both individuals who are visiting the park, but also employees that are on their off time, Joslin said. Theres never been any kind of ramifications to any of those flag hanging activities. Im the only one whos been fired for it.Joslin told Them that theyre consulting with Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), a nonprofit group advocating for environmental workers, and may file a wrongful termination lawsuit. Joslin had been managing a park research project examining how rock climbers may contribute to the spread of white-nose syndrome, a disease thats lethal to local bat populations.Regarding their firing, Joslin told Them, Im going to fight this as hard as I can, because to me, this isnt a matter of politics. This is a matter of fundamental rights and the rights that were given through the Constitution those rights have been taken away from me because they dont support the current administrations ideology.I think that everyone as Americans should be upset about this, they added. It doesnt matter who I am or what my identity is, this is a matter of free speech.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A new LGBTQ+ coming-of-age series, The Nature of Us, recently premiered on YouTube, and we were immediately hooked. The show follows 18-year-olds Elly and Yona as they navigate the complex emotions that accompany first love, self-discovery, and the often complex transition from adolescence to adulthood. The six-part series is equal parts intimate and honest. A portrayal of queer youth thats raw and tender, all in under 15 minutes per episode.A Story Rooted in ExperienceFor creator Josh Cox, The Nature of Us isnt just another fictional coming-of-age tale its a reflection of his own lived experiences. Elly is me in so many ways, Cox says. Rowen and Yona are the idyllic support system I never had. I felt really lost throughout school, and especially after. I didnt see a future for myself. All I knew was that I loved to make art; in my case, film. Writing this story came very naturally.Cox drew inspiration from other queer series and characters like Nick and Charlie from Heartstopper, as well as shows that explored mental health with nuance, like Ian and Mickey from Shameless. But more than homage, The Nature of Us is about authenticity; allowing silence, awkwardness, and unspoken emotion to evoke a feeling.Instead of heavy exposition, Cox trusted audiences to infer, feel, and connect. Lack of exposition was very intentional, he explains. I trust audiences are smart and empathically attuned enough to understand or infer what these characters are going through.That trust extends to the cast. Much of the dialogue was improvised, giving the actors permission to bring their unique voices to the story. While these are characters, they are still bringing 99% of themselves to the role, Cox says, which is evident on screen, where moments of vulnerability feel rooted in realism, rather than performance.Bringing Elly, Yona, and Rowen to LifeThe shows emotional anchor is tied to its trio of leads: Elly, Yona, and Rowen. Benjamin Piers, who plays Elly, spoke about the weight of portraying a queer teen navigating depression and longing. The depression, anxiety, and deep sadness that Elly deals with are something so many real people deal with every day of their lives. I wanted to give it the weight it deserves, he says.Opposite Benjamin, Sean Manucha brings Yona to life with a quiet vulnerability. If Elly is the person that floods Yonas universe with color, light, and joy, then I had to let Elly/Ben be that person for me, Manucha reflects. Their chemistry shines not only in dialogue but also in unscripted moments playful montage scenes where their real-life friendship blends seamlessly into the story.And then theres Rowen, Ellys steadfast best friend, played by Alison Newton who just might be my favorite character. For many who watch the series, I think youll see that Rowen embodies a grounding force so many queer kids rely on during their formative years. My Rowen was a girl named Katy. Hi Katy!When I call out that most gay guys have a Rowen, Alison replies, Ben and I have been friends since college, so our chemistry on screen is very real. All the encouragement and love yous felt more real for sure.Allisons character may have a supporting role, but Rowen has a subplot that audiences will appreciate. Allison says, Although our main focus is Elly and Yona, Im glad Rowen gets to have her own storyline. Its important shes just as independent and confident in who she is.Why The Nature of Us MattersWhile queer coming-of-age stories are becoming more common, The Nature of Us approaches the genre with an honesty that, at times, is uncomfortable. Its so real and awkward, and beautiful.It doesnt shy away from the struggles of mental health, but it also doesnt wallow in despair. Instead, it offers something many young queer people long for and need now, more than ever: hope. Hopefully its empowering representation, Cox says. Stories of mental health and queerness being told in ways that arent extremely depressing are important.The series has already found a passionate audience online, with fans praising its sincerity. For Cox, the goal is simply to connect. I just hope people connect with it and find the reality within it. To me, its a very real story grounded in emotion and our own strengths.Where to WatchThe Nature of Us is now streaming for free on YouTube with new episodes releasing on Fridays. Follow the cast and creator on Instagram for behind-the-scenes content and updates!Josh CoxBenjamin PiersSean ManuchaAlison NewtonFor more from Josh and the cast of The Nature of Us, check out our exclusive interview below! Some spoilers ahead.Gayety: Josh, its so nice to chat and hear more about The Nature of Us. Ive loved the series so far! Id love to start with the inception of the series. Can you tell me a little about who these characters are to you?Josh Cox: Firstly, thank you so much for watching the show. Im so pleased youre enjoying it. I think the next two episodes are really going to surprise you. Id love a follow-up with your thoughts. I began developing the project when I had the realization I likely wasnt alone in my feelings of depression, anxiety, and unworthiness. Also, seeing positive queer experiences play out on screen, like in Heartstopper, made me want to tell a story that showed people they werent alone and could help them in any capacity by mirroring or comforting them.I love that it is such a personal project. What about the title? How did you land on The Nature of Us?I remember I was going to first call it The Perfect Nature of Everything. It was a story that, despite covering topics like depression, was still rooted in the beauty of everything life has to offer. Even in the chaos and the sadness, theres still something so perfect about each of our journeys in life, in that it is unique and personal to us; theres always so much to learn and grow from. Ultimately, I thought of the story more between the main love interests and renaming it The Nature of Us felt more intimate, but still encompassing of how complex life and relationships are, yet how grounding and beautiful they can be as well. Theres a frame in episode 5 where we see Ellys artist proposal for his residency, which reads something along the lines of using art to peel back the layers of who we are at our core. Thats what this story really is; it truly reveals our nature.Part of that complexity the show does so well is building tension. Tension internally for Elly, between Elly and Yona, and even potential tension with Elly and Rowen. How do you approach writing and directing that tension so it feels authentic?Whenever I write a story, it surprisingly just falls out of me (tension and all), and I dont stop writing until the story resolves itself. Even when Im having a mental block partway through the process, Im constantly thinking about the characters, and resolution comes to me at somepoint. I think being an admittedly empathic person helps me relate to each character, even one who is experiencing things I havent, because I have a deep understanding of their human nature, which also serves me when directing.The shooting style feels very fly-on-the-wall and intimate. How would you describe the style of the series, and what choices went into achieving that?I come from a theater background as a kid, so observational styles of shooting come naturally for me, as if Im framing everything in front of the fourth wall. I shoot in such a way that I want to disappear, helping the actors performance, yet still capture their nuances for the screen.Undisturbing, yet intimate, is how I approach my work.Well, you achieve it perfectly. Something else you achieve so well is exposition, or lack thereof, really. It feels authentic and lets the storyunfold naturally. Most modern series cram in details so the audience doesnt have to think for themselves. Was this intentional?Lack of exposition was very intentional. I trust audiences are smart and empathically attuned enough to understand or infer what these characters are going through. I always knew where I wanted the story to begin, with Elly being released from the mental hospital and being throwntogether with Yona as soon as he could. That way, we can learn about these characters at the same time theyre learning about each other. Also, this story takes time to tell, and slowly well unearth all the exposition we need to better understand everything, rather than give it to you allupfront.I also love the dialogue. Usually, in coming-of-age shows, you can tell characters were written by adults, almost in a caricature style. How much of the dialogue was scripted, and how much was improvised?For the most part, there werent scripted lines. Before we shot every scene, we would have a conversation about where we were in the story and what the characters were thinking and feeling in a particular moment. This offered a real freedom to the actors to speak from a moreauthentic place. Alternatively, there were times that I did have exact lines in mind for them to hit at a certain point in the scene, but I always made sure they were comfortable with speaking that planned dialogue naturally, or else we could tweak the phrasing so it could sound and feelmore personal to them and their own style. I really instill in every actor I work with that while these are characters, they are still bringing 99% of themselves to the role.Okay, then you might not have an answer for this question, but theres a moment when Yona tells Elly, I want to be with every version of you, and I melted. Did you write that line or was that improvised?This is an instance of having lines in mind for the actors to say. This was a really pivotal and delicate moment in the story. I just thought: what would I have to hear to really believe that somebody was going to be there for me through the good, the bad, all of it? How could I come out of my shell and begin to look at myself through their forgiving eyes, and not my own, which are much harsher? It was this idea of a character almost pleading to stay with someone and vulnerably expressing their desire to be with every single version of that human. Its evocative of the title, the multi-faced nature of our identities that we bring to relationships, andIt really speaks to the entire theme of the show: accepting every part of somebody.Speaking of acceptance, theres a theme emerging around the complexities of queer kids and their families. How did you decide which family dynamics to focus on, and what do you hope audiences take away from those portrayals?In the final episode of the series, we get a clearer portrait of the struggling relationship Elly has with his mother. Its not uncommon for queer kids to have estranged relationships with their parents due to their identity, but it can also be for a myriad of other reasons as well. I leaned into the idea that Elly is someone generally accepted for who he is all his life, and his differences with his mother stem from similar mental health struggles, not queer acceptance. We can glean in episode 3, after Elly asks about Yonas parents, that he has always been apprehensive of his family knowing his sexuality. Yet, we learn that Yona was embraced by them after coming out. Its these smaller details about a characters background that help make them more real to audiences, and even inform their actions throughout the show. I think these parental relationships just offer audiences something different from the troupe, despite being unfortunately common, of a sadder reality about estrangement stemming from acceptance. I wasnt trying to play into that specific narrative with this story.This series shows the complexities of learning about yourself through someone else, especially in our early, formative relationships. So much of what we know about ourselves, or what we want, comes from our relationships with other people.I think this is definitely true for Yona. Yona has a real journey of getting to know what its like to be the most honest version of himself through his relationship with Elly someone whos always been himself, someone who has talent just like Yona has talent, and is picking up the pieces of his life to try to do something meaningful with it. Yona even tells Elly hes taught him so much in that same scene when he tells him he wants every version of him. And especially in the last two episodes (5 & 6), well see the real impact Yona has made on Elly. They both offer each other so much room to grow and find themselves, which is the heart of the story for me.Each new episode feels more fully formed than the last, which is a real feat in short-form content. How do you make the story feel complete in under 15 minutes?It actually didnt play out like that at all on the shoot. We shot this as a feature film, and it took me over a year and a half in post-production to finally pinpoint what felt off about the project it was never meant to be a film. I recall falling asleep one night, having that epiphany, andwondering what the story would look like episodically. Suddenly, the clear breaks between episodes appeared in my head very naturally. Im grateful it translated so easily.Small spoiler: Who chose to make Rowen queer? I loved that twist.I always sought to make Rowen a more dimensional character. Obviously, when telling a story like this, you have a lot of focus on the central romance, but I resented the idea that any secondary character would fall victim to the notion that their story was less important. Especiallybecause Rowen is extremely crucial to the entire storyline. Without her, there wouldnt be one. I wanted Rowens journey to her identity to be even more forefront, but a scene got cut from the series due to some technical issues during the shoot. I still plan to release the scenewhere she comes out as more fluid in her sexuality to Elly; its a really sweet moment. Making her queer made her feel a lot more real to me. And its nice to see her depend on Elly to push her into going after what she wants as she explores that queerness, opposed to typically seeing the opposite play out between them, adding a beautiful layer to their friendship.Benjamin and Sean, youre fantastic in the show! I spoke to Josh about the shows incredible use of tension as the episodes build. Much of the tension stems from new love, especially young love. Do you remember the first person who gave you that feeling, and if so, did it inform your performance?Benjamin: Ah, great question. I cant say that any one person or experience comes to mind, but what I do know is that when I was younger, I would get quite enamored by some boy and then fall very quickly, thinking it was love, but really it was just infatuation. A little crush Ive grown from that, and Im definitely more reserved with my feelings now; I hold back. A part of that is how I imagine Elly to be. He cares, or at least he would like to, but theres always that voice in his head that tells him to not give all of himself to Yona. Just so that he wont get hurt again. Hes struggled so much with relationships that were supposed to mean everything to him, so holding back is the only way to preserve whats left of that sort of him. So I took both of those experiences and gave them to Elly.Sean: I do remember that first-time feeling! It is unlike anything else it fills your world with so much color and light and its hard to capture what that feels like in an acting performance. But what was important was taking this project/character moment-to-moment, from scene toscene. The foundation of it is remembering who these characters are to each other.Benjamin, in the first couple of episodes, we see Ellys pain in learning to love and the courage it takes to let someone in. A collective experience for many queer people. How did you approach that vulnerability?Benjamin: I think this was really important for us to depict these topics correctly in this series. Josh and I spoke a lot, prior to filming, about how I would accurately portray someone who deals with everything Elly has going on in his life. The depression, anxiety, and deep sadness that Elly deals with are something so many real people deal with every day of their lives. I wanted to give it the weight it deserves. Being a young person right out of high school, you are met with so many weird turns, and add being queer on top of that, and it is just a whole guessing game. I just hope I was able to accurately depict someone with layered emotions.What do each of you connect to most in your characters?Benjamin: I love the way Elly believes in his art. Being creative is a major part of my life, and we both share that love for all things creative. But I think what I was able to really connect with the most is how openly Elly is able to hurt. Its so important to not hold your pain in, which I tend to do, so being able to live through someone who doesnt see that as a downside was an incredible opportunity for me. I learned a lot from him.Sean: I connect most to Yonas tentative exploration of his new world. He is receiving so much information at one time (what its like to have a romantic experience a seuxal experience to make new friends with a different background than the friends hes presumably had his wholelife up until now), and I can relate to the sense of trying to keep your feet on the ground when your new world sweeps you off your feet. Its really a big sense of push and pullBenjamin, I have to ask the grey shorts. Who is behind that costume choice? Theyre almost a supporting character themselves. Elly is showing a lot of leg!Benjamin: Wow, I didnt know this would ever be a point of discussion, but I guess my legs are that eye-catching! To be honest, I wanted everything Elly wore to be comfortable. When hes dealing with his sadness and just wants to feel safe and at peace, this is what I imagine hed be wearing. All of Ellys clothes were my own, and Josh gave me the liberty to just bring a bunch of what I think would work, and we would play around on days wed shoot certain scenes. Regarding these shorts, theyre sweat-pant cut-offs that Ive had for years. I just thought, when hes feeling down, what would be the clothes hed grab first a pair of sweatpants that hes had for years that maybe got too short, so he cut them into shorts, maybe a little too short, but he couldnt care less. I just think he isnt trying to impress anyone; he just wants to do what might make him feel at ease. And maybe thats just a bit of thigh!That makes total sense for his character. We love Ellys emotional support shorts! Other than clothing, how do your characters use body language and subtle gestures to convey their emotional state? With the runtime being so short, I imagine you have to make really intentional choices for your characters.Benjamin: Love this question! Its my favorite part about acting or filmmaking. The little moments where a character self-soothes by twisting the drawstrings of their hoodie, or avoiding eye contact with someone until the last second. I think that first, making sure we (Sean, Alison, and I) had a relationship outside of shooting helped make our more intimate/quieter scenes more meaningful. So much of this series dialogue happens in silence. Small glances or sweet forehead nudges on a shoulder. These little moments just made it all feel real, because well if I was 18 again and with a boy for the first time Id be awkward, nervous, excitedSean: It really comes down to the given circumstances in the story, and how we used the characters objectives, as well as their obstacles, as tools in the scenes. It was also crucial for us to use our real-life chemistry as the foundation of the relationship between these two fictitious characters.Alison, I love your character and your portrayal of Rowen. Most gay guys have a Rowen, and Im curious if you have a relationship you were able to pull from to help root Rowens relationship with Elly in something real.Alison: First of all, thank you. Im so glad I got to be a part of this amazing project and wonderful story. And yes, I would say Im pulling from a few personal relationships, not just because of the gay best friend narrative, but especially when it comes to helping Elly with his mental health struggles. This story doesnt feel very far from home when it comes to a couple of people in my life.I spoke to Josh about the choice to make Rowen queer. While her sexuality might seem like a small detail at first, it changes the dynamic from the typical female best friend as savior we usually see. Theres a sense of shared experience and equality in the relationship like she can understand his journey on a deeper level, which adds depth to the story.Alison: I agree. Although we might not get all the details of Rowen and Elenas relationship, we get enough to keep audiences satisfied that Elly isnt the only one coming into himself this summer. I feel Rowen and Elly are both trying to figure it all out and are happy to be able to lean on each other when it counts.What do you connect to most about Rowen?Alison: I would say I connect most to her understanding. I feel like she obviously wants the best for her friend and looks to push him outside of his comfort zone at times, but she always knows when its too much for him. She wants to still make sure hes comfortable. As we said before, she relates to new beginnings and relationships, but not everything hes going through with his mother. And where she cant empathize, she allows him to deal with it in his own way. And she will be his comfort when he needs. I always look to be that for my friends. The listening ear, the cuddle, whatever they need in that moment I want to understand and help in the best way I am able. It might not always be easy, but I try, and so does Rowen.Source

In Splitsville, a dramedy that strips relationships down to their rawest and most ridiculous moments, the cast does not hold back literally. From emotionally charged brawls to moments of full frontal vulnerability, actors Kyle Marvin and Michael Angelo Covino are baring more than just their characters insecurities on screen.Speaking with Gayety, the duo behind the film opened up about the creative and physical challenges of shooting one of Splitsvilles most unforgettable sequences, a messy, cathartic fight between their two characters, sparked in part by unresolved tension over, yes, Dakota Johnson.The film, which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, is a comedic yet poignant exploration of love, jealousy, and personal unraveling. Co-written and co-directed by Covino and Marvin, Splitsville follows the fallout of a fractured marriage and the chaos that ensues when two former friends are forced back into each others lives. The twist? They are both in love with the same woman played by Dakota Johnson.We were writing the movie, and I said, Kyle, your character goes through a table, recalled Covino. And he just looked at me like, No way. But then we just kept pushing it, and it got more and more intense.What began as a joke between writers turned into a four and a half minute physically demanding sequence that was shot in one continuous take. Though edited into separate shots for the final cut, the scene was rehearsed and performed in full to capture the authentic exhaustion and emotional escalation.When we are out of breath, it is because we were three minutes into flipping each other and throwing punches, Covino said. We were beat up and completely out of breath and that is what made it real.The scene, which visually and emotionally centers around the simmering rivalry between their characters, gains added weight thanks to one major factor: Dakota Johnson.She was there for some of the shooting days, Covino said with a laugh. We were definitely laughing behind the scenes, but yeah, maybe she was kind of in our heads. We were not literally fighting over Dakota, but in the story, her character definitely plays a role in the tension.While Johnson was not required to be present during the knockdown drag out sequences, her characters presence lingers in the subtext and perhaps in the bruises.But it is not just fight choreography that left the actors exposed. Splitsville also opens with a jarring yet symbolic moment: full nudity.I think it taps into something primal, Marvin said. It is like that dream you wake up and you are naked on stage in front of everyone. That is a universal fear, right? So when an audience sees someone completely exposed like that, it creates this weird vulnerability and empathy.According to Marvin and Covino, that vulnerability was intentional. The film follows a man whose world is falling apart emotionally, financially, and romantically. The nudity was not just shock value, but a storytelling tool.It is stripping the character down, Covino explained. Literally and figuratively. The whole framework of the film is that this guy is losing everything, and the visual metaphor in the opening scene makes that crystal clear. He is being reduced to nothing.For Marvin, throwing himself and his clothes into the role was part of the process.We said, Let us put our characters through the ringer, he said. And that is what we did. I just thought, okay, this is the experience. I am here to feel it all and go all the way. It was not about being comfortable, it was about being honest.While Splitsville may not be your typical relationship comedy, it is exactly that tension between absurdity and emotional truth that gives the film its edge. Whether it is a punch thrown over jealousy or an awkward moment of naked confrontation, the casts willingness to lay it all out is what makes the story hit home.And if Dakota Johnson happens to be at the center of that chaos? Well, she seems to be just fine with it.She was laughing through it all, Covino said. I think that is the key. This whole thing is intense, but it is also ridiculous. That is life.Source

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The Dolphins agreed to a one-year contract with outside linebacker Matthew Judon, a source confirmed to ESPN.

By putting the interests of what Trump calls peace ahead of the interests of freedom, we are all-but guaranteeing that Ukraine will lose both.

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The contract, which will award nearly $2 billion to construction firms, funds crucial aspects of the latest phase of the long-awaited subway expansion into East Harlem.

President Trump has not committed to adding American forces to the mix in Ukraine. No one has detailed publicly what form defenses would take, but there are several options.

Also, Texas Democrats ended their walkout over redistricting. Heres the latest at the end of Monday.

Hello, color! READ MORE...

In an era dominated by digital scrolls and fleeting timelines, a new project is resurrecting the power of queer print. Photographer Austin Ruffer and Brazilian singer Yann, known for his music project IGUAL, have joined forces to launch The Queer Magazine Series: a visual homage to the groundbreaking LGBTQ+ magazines that once defined identity, desire, and resistance.Breathing Life Into Forgotten IconsThe series restages covers from cult favorites like XY, BUTT, Drummer, Honcho, Playguy, and Blueboy. Each image is styled and photographed to capture the essence of the original publications, which offered representation and community long before queer visibility reached mainstream media.As I began researching the history of queer print media, I was struck by how much of it has disappeared and how easily these cultural landmarks could be forgotten, Yann told Gayety. Each publication had its own unique voice, whether it was celebrating queer joy, pushing the boundaries of art and sexuality, or creating a safe space for expression at times when mainstream culture gave us nothing.Yann added that these covers werent just glossy pages. They were lifelines, sources of visibility, and platforms for liberation. By reimagining them, Im hoping we both honor their legacy and spark new conversations about how vital queer media has always been, and continues to be.A Creative PartnershipRuffer, known for capturing the subtleties of queer identity through his lens, said Yanns vision instantly grabbed him. I love when people come to me with strong concepts for a photoshoot, particularly when theyre referencing specific queer work from the past. So when Yann pitched this, I was thrilled, Ruffer said.Not everything was serious, though. The challenge of imitating these images, some decades old, was fun in and of itself, he said with a laugh. The most difficult part was giving him an era-appropriate spray tan in Photoshop.The collaboration blends historical reverence with playful reinvention, reminding audiences that queer creativity has always thrived in spaces both radical and camp.Why It Matters NowThe project arrives at a moment when independent queer media is under threat, and younger generations risk losing touch with the bold publications that shaped community culture. By resurrecting these covers for Instagram and beyond, Ruffer and Yann are not only preserving history but also inviting new audiences to discover it.Queer media has always been essential, Yann said. This is about making sure people know that, and making sure it isnt erased.The Queer Magazine Series serves as a reminder that visibility is both cultural memory and political act, something as true today as it was when those magazines first hit the stands.Source

The Cubs plan to give struggling outfielder Kyle Tucker some days off to reset him, manager Craig Counsell said Monday. Tucker hasn't homered since mid-July and has no extra-base hits in August.

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CORRECTS LOCATION: In this image taken from the North Carolina Department of Transportation camera, cars are lined up to evacuate via ferry from Ocracoke Island to Hatteras Island, N.C., Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, due to the expected impact of Hurricane Erin. (North Carolina Department of Transportation via AP)2025-08-18T16:44:02Z Island communities off the coast of North Carolina are bracing for flooding ahead of the years first Atlantic hurricane, Hurricane Erin.Although forecasters are confident that the storm wont make direct landfall in the United States, authorities on a few islands along North Carolinas Outer Banks issued evacuation orders and warned that some roads could be swamped by waves of 15 feet (4.6 meters). By Monday night the storms top sustained winds had dropped to 130 mph (210 kph) but its still a major, dangerous hurricane.Tropical storm warnings were in effect for the southeast Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.Here is what to know about Hurricane Erin. Storm surge, high winds expected along North Carolinas coast Forecasters say Erin will turn northeast and away from the eastern U.S. Still, the storm is expected to bring tropical storm force winds, dangerous waves and rip currents to North Carolinas coast. That is according to Dave Roberts of the National Hurricane Center. Coastal flooding in North Carolina is expected to begin Tuesday. In this image taken from the North Carolina Department of Transportation camera, cars are lined up to evacuate via ferry from Ocracoke Island to Hatteras Island, N.C., Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, due to the expected impact of Hurricane Erin. (North Carolina Department of Transportation via AP) In this image taken from the North Carolina Department of Transportation camera, cars are lined up to evacuate via ferry from Ocracoke Island to Hatteras Island, N.C., Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, due to the expected impact of Hurricane Erin. (North Carolina Department of Transportation via AP) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Evacuations were being ordered on Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island along North Carolinas Outer Banks even though the storm is unlikely to make direct landfall. Authorities warned that some roads could be swamped by waves of 15 feet (4.6 meters).The orders come at the height of tourist season on the thin stretch of low-lying barrier islands that juts far into the Atlantic Ocean. There are concerns that several days of heavy surf, high winds and waves could wash out parts of the main highway running along the barrier islands, the National Weather Service said. Some routes could be impassible for several days.Portions of Highway 12 on Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands are most at risk for storm surge, National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan said.Erins outer edges hit parts of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands with heavy rains and tropical-storm winds on Sunday, knocking out power for thousands. Potentially devastating impactsStorm surge is the level at which sea water rises above its normal level.Much like the way a storms sustained winds do not include the potential for even stronger gusts, storm surge doesnt include the wave height above the mean water level.Surge is also the amount above what the normal tide is at a time, so a 15-foot storm surge at high tide can be far more devastating than the same surge at low tide. Government officials in the Turks and Caicos Islands, which has a population of just over 46,000, said all services were suspended on three of its islands and ordered residents there to stay home. Water floods a road in Naguabo, Puerto Rico, as Hurricane Erin brings rain to the island, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo) Water floods a road in Naguabo, Puerto Rico, as Hurricane Erin brings rain to the island, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The easternmost islands of the British territory have been most impacted by heavy rainfall and powerful winds.Bermuda wont feel the full intensity of the storm until Thursday evening, acting Minister of National Security Jache Adams said, and services on the island were still open for business on Monday afternoon.But Adams issued a stark warning that storm surge, which could reach up to 24 feet (7.3 meters) by Thursday, would make waters too dangerous to swim, surf or boat in. A year ago, Hurricane Ernesto stayed hundreds of miles offshore from the U.S. Eastern seaboard yet still produced high surf and swells that caused coastal damage.Fluctuating strengthErins strength has fluctuated significantly over the past week. The most common way to measure a hurricanes strength is the Saffir-Simpson Scale that assigns a category from 1 to 5 based on a storms sustained wind speed at its center, with 5 being the strongest.Erin reached a dangerous Category 5 status Saturday with 160 mph (260 kph) winds before weakening. It is expected to remain a large, major hurricane into midweek.Youre dealing with a major hurricane. The intensity is fluctuating. Its a dangerous hurricane in any event, the hurricane centers Richard Pasch said.Lethal summer of floodsAlthough Erin is the first Atlantic hurricane of the year, there have been four tropical storms this hurricane season already. Tropical Storm Chantal made the first U.S. landfall of the season in early July, and its remnants caused flooding in North Carolina that killed an 83-year-old woman when her car was swept off a rural road. And at least 132 people were killed in floodwaters that overwhelmed Texas Hill Country on the Fourth of July.Just over a week later, flash floods inundated New York City and parts of New Jersey, claiming two lives. SAFIYAH RIDDLE Riddle covers the Alabama statehouse with a focus on law enforcement. She is based in Montgomery, Alabama. mailto

Matthew Perry poses for a portrait on Feb. 17, 2015, in New York. (Photo by Brian Ach/Invision/AP, File)2025-08-19T00:15:35Z LOS ANGELES (AP) One year ago, federal authorities announced that five people had been charged in connection with the ketamine overdose death of Matthew Perry.All five have now agreed to plead guilty, including the personal assistant of the Friends star, an old acquaintance and two doctors.On Monday, Jasveen Sangha, who prosecutors say was a dealer known as the Ketamine Queen, became the fifth and final defendant to reach a deal and avoid trial.Here is a look at each of the defendants.Jasveen SanghaSangha admitted in her plea agreement that she sold Perry the lethal dose of ketamine in the days before his death on Oct. 23, 2023.A 42-year-old who was born in Britain, raised in the United States and has dual citizenship, Sanghas social media accounts before her indictment last year showed a jet-setting lifestyle, with photos of herself in posh spaces alongside rich-and-famous faces in Spain, Japan and Dubai along with her dual homes of London and Los Angeles. Prosecutors say that lifestyle was funded by a drug business she ran for at least five years from her apartment in LAs San Fernando Valley. They say she presented herself as a celebrity drug dealer with high quality goods and missed no opportunity to promote the idea that she was known to customers and others as the Ketamine Queen. Her lawyers have derided the title as a media-friendly moniker.Sangha went to high school in Calabasas, California perhaps best known as home to the Kardashians and went to college at the University of California, Irvine, graduating in 2005 and going on to work at Merrill Lynch. She later got an MBA from the Hult International Business School in London. She was connected to Perry through his acquaintance and her co-defendant, Erik Fleming.In a raid of her apartment in March 2024, authorities said they found large amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine and ketamine. She was arrested and released on bond. In August 2024, she was indicted again with charges that tied her to Perrys death, and has been held without bail ever since.CHARGES: Three counts of distribution of ketamine, one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises.SENTENCING: A judge will set her sentencing in the coming months after she appears in court to officially change her plea. She could get up to 45 years in prison.WHAT THEY SAID: Sanghas lawyer Mark Geragos says Shes taking responsibility for her actions. Kenneth IwamasaIwamasa, Perrys live-in personal assistant, was intimately involved in the actors illegal ketamine use, acting as his drug messenger and personally giving injections, according to his plea agreement. It was the 60-year-old Iwamasa who found Perry dead in the hot tub of his Pacific Palisades home on a day when hed given him several injections.He would become the first to reach a deal with prosecutors as they sought to use him as an essential witness against other defendants.Iwamasa said he worked with co-defendants to get ketamine on Perrys behalf, including Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who taught him how to give Perry the injections.Found the sweet spot but trying different places led to running out, Iwamasa told Plasencia in one text message.Iwamasa said in his plea deal that he injected Perry six to eight times per day in the last few days of his life.CHARGE: One count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death.SENTENCING: Hes scheduled to be sentenced November 19 and could get up to 15 years in prison.WHAT THEY SAID: Iwamasas attorneys have not responded to requests for comment.Dr. Salvador PlasenciaI wonder how much this moron will pay?That was a text message Plasencia sent to a fellow doctor when he learned Perry wanted to be illegally provided with ketamine, according to a plea agreement where the doctor admitted to selling 20 vials of the drug to the actor in the weeks before his death.Plasencia, a 43-year-old Los Angeles-area doctor known to patients as Dr. P, was one of the two main targets of the prosecution and had been headed for a joint trial with Sangha when he reached the plea agreement in June. According to court records, Perry was connected to Plasencia through another patient. Perry had been getting ketamine legally from his regular doctor as treatment for depression, an off-label but increasingly common use of the surgical anesthetic. But the actor wanted more.Plasencia admitted to personally injecting Perry with some of the initial vials he provided, and left more for Iwamasa to inject, despite the fact that Perry froze up and his blood pressure spiked, after one dose.Plasencia graduated from UCLAs medical school in 2010 and had not been subject to any medical disciplinary actions before the Perry case.He has been free on bond since his indictment. His lawyers said he is caregiver for a toddler child. Plasencia even got to keep practicing medicine after his indictment, but had to inform patients of the charges against him and couldnt prescribe dangerous drugs. He now intends to voluntarily surrender his license to practice, according to his lawyers.CHARGES: Four counts of distribution of ketamine.SENTENCING: Hes scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 3 and could get up to 40 years in prison.WHAT THEY SAID: His lawyers say hes profoundly remorseful for the treatment decisions he made while providing ketamine to Matthew Perry.Erik FlemingFleming, 55, was an acquaintance of Perrys who learned through a mutual friend that the actor was seeking ketamine, according to his plea agreement.He told Iwamasa in text messages that he had a source known as the Ketamine Queen whose product was amazing, saying she only deals with high end and celebs.In all, prosecutors say, Fleming delivered 50 vials of Sanghas ketamine for Perrys use, including 25 sold for a total of $6,000 to the actor four days before his death.CHARGE: One count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death.SENTENCING: He is scheduled to be sentenced November 12 and could get up to 25 years in prison.WHAT THEY SAID: Flemings lawyers have declined comment.Dr. Mark ChavezChavez, a San Diego doctor who ran a ketamine clinic, was the source of the doses that Plasencia sold to Perry, according to their plea agreements.Chavez admitted to obtaining the ketamine from a wholesale distributor on false pretenses.Chavez, 55, graduated from UCLAs medical school in 2004. He has surrendered his medical license.CHARGE: One count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.SENTENCING: He is scheduled to become the first defendant sentenced, on Sept. 17. He could get 10 years in prison.WHAT THEY SAID: His lawyer says hes incredibly remorseful, has accepted responsibility and has been trying to do everything in his power to right the wrong.___Former Associated Press journalist Kaitlyn Huamani contributed reporting.___A version of this story first ran on Aug. 15, 2024. ANDREW DALTON Dalton covers entertainment for The Associated Press, with an emphasis on crime, courts and obituaries. He has worked for the AP for 20 years and is based in Los Angeles. mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Ketel Marte explained he was "frustrated" and "in a bad spot" after his home was burglarized during the All-Star break, leading him to miss games.

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson remains entrenched in his position on not playing in the upcoming season.

The move appears to diminish the authority of the current deputy director, Dan Bongino, whose tumultuous tenure has included a pitched argument over files related to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

President Trump has offered only vague assurances of security guarantees for Ukraine if President Volodymyr Zelensky agrees to cut a deal with Russia.

He helped redefine male beauty, ushering in the era of the cinematic bad boy.

The leaders presented a relatively united front and appeared to agree on the next steps in the effort to halt the fighting between Ukraine and Russia. But much remained unresolved.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and other European leaders have learned a thing or two about negotiating, Trump-style. So has Vladimir Putin.

Alice Oseman confirmed that Heartstopper Forever, the upcoming film based on her beloved graphic novels, will diverge from the events of Heartstopper Volume Six. Speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Oseman revealed that the adaptation draws from both Volume Six and the novella Nick and Charlie, but takes a slightly different path for the ending.While Volume Six and the novella both explore Nick and Charlies relationship as they transition into adulthood and navigate Nick leaving for university, Oseman said the film needed a unique approach. Ive talked a little bit about how it has been very difficult to implement the events of the novella in Volume Six. In the film, I have found a different way to approach this problem. They teased that fans can expect quite a few surprises even after reading the final book.There is a point in the movie where we slightly diverge from Volume Six and it takes a slightly different path to get to the ending. So even once you read Volume Six, there will still be quite a few surprises in the movie waiting for you. According to Netflix, the film will wrap up Nick and Charlies journey. After Season 3, the couple is inseparable. But, with Nick preparing to leave for university and Charlie finding new independence at school, the reality of a long-distance relationship begins to weigh on them. Doubts take hold, and their relationship faces its biggest challenge yet.Meanwhile, Nick and Charlies friends are also navigating the ups and downs of love and friendship, confronting the bittersweet challenges of growing up and moving on.Heartstopper Forever officially wrapped filming in July and is set for release in 2026.Source

Xander Bogaerts of the San Diego Padres had a home run overturned due to fan interference leading manager Mike Shildt to be tossed for coming out of the dugout .

UFC Hall of Famer Frankie Edgar is poised to come out of retirement for a bare-knuckle boxing contest.

No one was injured in the explosion, which occurred aboard a bulk carrier ship near the site of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in 2024.

A bulldozer pushes sand along NC highway 12 in the Pea island National Wildlife Refuge, on North Carolina's Outer Banks, near Nags Head, N.C., Dec. 18, 2003, as workers rebuild dunes that were destroyed by Hurricane Isabel. (AP Photo/Bob Jordan, File)2025-08-19T04:08:18Z Theres a popular T-shirt on Hatteras Island on the North Carolina Outer Banks that says: One road on. One road off (sometimes) poking fun at the constant battle between Mother Nature and a thin ribbon of pavement connecting the narrow barrier island to the rest of the world.Mother Nature is probably going to win this week. Hurricane Erin is forecast to move hundreds of miles offshore from the islands but the massive storm is still sending waves 20 feet (6 meters) or greater crashing over vulnerable sand dunes.Officials have ordered evacuations of Hatteras and Ocracoke islands even without a hurricane warning because that tiny ribbon of highway called NC 12 will likely be torn up and washed out in several places, isolating villages for days or weeks.The 3,500 or so Outer Bankers who live there have handled isolation before. But most of the tens of thousands of vacationers have not.We havent seen waves of that size in a while and the vulnerable spots have only gotten weaker in the past five years, said Reide Corbett, executive director of the Coastal Studies Institute, a group of several universities that study the Outer Banks. What are the Outer Banks?In a basic sense, they are sand dunes that were tall enough to stay above the ocean level when many of the Earths glaciers melted 20,000 years ago.The barrier islands in some places are as far as 30 miles (48 kilometers) off mainland North Carolina. To the east is the vast Atlantic Ocean. To the west is the Pamlico Sound.Water, water everywhere. That really resonates on the Outer Banks, Corbett said.The most built up and populated part of the Outer Banks are in the north around Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills, which arent under the evacuation order. South of the Oregon Inlet, scoured out by a 1846 hurricane, is Hatteras Island, where the only connection to the mainland is the NC 12 highway. South of there is Ocracoke Island, accessible only by boat or plane.The first highways to reach the area were built more than 60 years ago. And the Outer Banks started booming, as it went from quaint fishing villages to what it is now, dotted with 6,000-square foot vacation homes on stilts. How do they maintain the highway?On a nice day, what look like snowplows and street sweeper brushes wait on the side of NC 12 to scoop and sweep away the constantly blowing sand.When the storms come, water from the ocean or the sound punch through the sand dunes and wash tons of sand and debris on the road. In more extreme cases, storms can break up the pavement or even create new inlets that require temporary bridges.It cost the North Carolina Department of Transportation more than $1 million a year in regular maintenance to keep NC 12 open during the 2010s. They also spent about $50 million over the decade on repairs after storms.But the state estimates Dare County, which includes most of the Outer Banks, brings in $2 billion in tourism revenue a year. So the cycle of clean up and repair continues.It can take time to fix things. Hurricane Isabel in 2003 and Hurricane Irene in 2011 both cut inlets into Hatteras Island and ferries were needed for two months. It can still take days to get NC 12 back open even after more routine Noreasters. What about erosion in general?Its not just storms that impact the island. As the planet warms and polar ice melts, rising ocean levels threaten the Outer Banks. In a place where most of the land is only a few feet above sea level, every inch of sand counts.In Rodanthe, which sticks the farthest out into the Atlantic, the churning ocean has swallowed up more than a dozen homes since 2020. Officials think at least two unoccupied homes are likely to be lost if the waves from Erin are as strong as predicted. So why do people live on the Outer Banks?Shelli Miller Gates waited tables on the Outer Banks to earn money as a college student in the late 1970s. She remembers houses with no air conditioning, televisions or phones. And she adored it.I love the water. I love the wildness of it. Its the way I want to live my life, the respiratory therapist said.Its a lifestyle embraced by many. The areas shorthand OBX shows up in many places as a source of pride, including the first three letters on license plates issued by the state.The isolation contributes to a sense of community. Gates has seen people band together countless times when their connection to the outside world is severed. And there is always the allure of getting to live someplace where others just get to visit.Theres things everywhere. Theres earthquakes and lizards and floods. Looks at the poor people out in western North Carolina, Gates said. There are so many things that can happen to you. I feel like you have to find the place that feels like home.___Associated Press Journalist Ben Finley contributed to this report. JEFFREY COLLINS Collins covers South Carolina from Columbia for The Associated Press. He has been with the AP since 2000. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Jalal Uddin, electrical and technology officer aboard a Panamanian-flagged ship watches as containers filled with humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza are being loaded aboard the vessel at Cyprus' main port in Limassol, on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)2025-08-19T04:07:28Z LIMASSOL, Cyprus (AP) After setting off from Cyprus, a ship loaded with 1,200 tons of food supplies for the Gaza Strip was approaching the Israeli port of Ashdod on Tuesday in a renewed effort to alleviate the worsening crisis as famine threatens the Palestinian territory.The Panamanian-flagged vessel is loaded with 52 containers carrying food aid such as pasta, rice, baby food and canned goods. Israeli customs officials had screened the aid at the Cypriot port of Limassol from where the ship departed on Monday.Some 700 tons of the aid is from Cyprus, purchased with money donated by the United Arab Emirates to the so-called Amalthea Fund, set up last year for donors to help with seaborne aid. The rest comes from Italy, the Maltese government, a Catholic religious order in Malta and the Kuwaiti nongovernmental organization Al Salam Association. The situation is beyond dire, Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos told The Associated Press. Cyprus was the staging area last year for 22,000 tons of aid deliveries by ship directly to Gaza through a pier operated by the international charity World Central Kitchen and a U.S. military-run docking facility known as the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore system. By late July 2024, aid groups pulled out of the project, ending a mission plagued by repeated weather and security problems that limited how much food and other emergency supplies could get to those in need. Cypriot Foreign Ministry said Tuesdays mission is led by the United Nations but is a coordinated effort once offloaded at Ashdod, U.N. aid employees would arrange for the aid to be trucked to storage areas and food stations operated by the World Central Kitchen.The charity, which was behind the first aid shipment to Gaza from Cyprus last year aboard a tug-towed barge, is widely trusted in the battered territory.The contribution of everyone involved is crucial and their commitment incredible, Kombos said. Shipborne deliveries can bring much larger quantities of aid than the air drops that several nations have recently made in Gaza.The latest shipment comes a day after Hamas said it has accepted a new proposal from Arab mediators for a ceasefire. Israel has not approved the latest proposal so far.Israel announced plans to reoccupy Gaza City and other heavily populated areas after ceasefire talks stalled last month, raising the possibility of a worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, which experts say is sliding into famine. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin has dismissed reports of starvation in Gaza are lies promoted by Hamas. But the U.N. last week warned that starvation and malnutrition in the Palestinian territory are at their highest levels since since the war began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 in which the militants abducted 251 people and killed around 1,200, mostly civilians.Gazas Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, said the Palestinian death toll from from 22 months of war has passed 62,000. It does not say how many were civilians or combatants, but says women and children make up around half the dead. MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS Hadjicostis covers a challenging and ever-evolving region where the interests of Europe and the Middle East, West and East intersect with consequences that reverberate globally. He is based in Cyprus. twitter instagram mailto

Chikungunya, which can disable victims for years, is spreading rapidly, including in China and other places that have not seen it before.

Gen. David Allvin, the chief of staff of the Air Force, is the latest high-ranking general to exit following President Trumps purge of Pentagon leadership.

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. left Monday night's 5-2 loss to Pittsburgh because of hamstring tightness.

Several beaches in New Jersey and Delaware were closed on Monday as the powerful storm churned in the Atlantic. Rip currents have been blamed for at least one death.

As the worlds powers turn away from the continent, Kwame Nkrumahs vision for Africa may hold the key to realizing its potential today.

President Volodymyr Zelensky emerged upbeat, but repeated that Ukraine will not cede land to Russia. There were few tangible signs of progress toward a peace deal.

The Chow's Gymnastics & Dance Institute is seen Aug. 4, 2025, in West Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Scott McFetridge)2025-08-19T04:07:22Z IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) The U.S. gymnastics world was only just recovering from a devastating sexual abuse scandal when a promising young coach moved from Mississippi to Iowa to take a job in 2018 at an elite academy known for training Olympic champions.Liang Chow Qiao, the owner of Chows Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, thought highly enough of his new hire, Sean Gardner, to put him in charge of the clubs premier junior event and to coach some of its most promising girls.But four years later, Gardner was gone from Chows with little notice.USA Gymnastics, the organization rocked by the Larry Nassar sex-abuse crisis that led to the creation of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, had been informed by the watchdog group that Gardner was suspended from all contact with gymnasts.The reason for Gardners removal wasnt disclosed. But court records obtained exclusively by The Associated Press show the coach was accused of sexually abusing at least three young gymnasts at Chows and secretly recording others undressing in a gym bathroom at his prior job in Mississippi. Last week, more than three years after being suspended from coaching, the FBI arrested Gardner, 38, on a federal child pornography charge. But his disciplinary case has still not been resolved by SafeSport, which handles sex-abuse cases in Olympic sports. In cases like Gardners, the public can be in the dark for years while SafeSport investigates and sanctions coaches. SafeSport requires that allegations be reported to police to ensure abusers dont run unchecked outside of sports, but critics say the system is a slow, murky process. Stay up to date with the latest U.S. news by signing up to our WhatsApp channel. From an outward operational view, it seems that if SafeSport is involved in any way, the situation turns glow-in-the-dark toxic, said attorney Steve Silvey, a longtime SafeSport critic who has represented people in cases involving the center. While acknowledging there can be delays as its investigations unfold, SafeSport defended its temporary suspensions in a statement as a unique and valuable intervention when there are concerns of a risk to others. Nevertheless, in 2024, Gardner was able to land a job helping care for surgical patients at an Iowa hospital two years after the abuse allegations against him were reported to SafeSport and the police.And it was not until late May that West Des Moines police executed a search warrant at his home, eventually leading to the recovery of a trove of photos and videos on his computer and cellphone of nude young girls, court records show.Authorities in Iowa sealed the court documents after the AP asked about the investigation earlier this month, before details of the federal charge were made public Friday. Gardner, Qiao and Gardners former employer in Mississippi did not respond to AP requests for comment. The job that Ive always wantedChows Gymnastics is best known as the academy where U.S. gymnasts Shawn Johnson and Gabby Douglas trained before becoming gold medalists at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.Qiao opened the gym in 1998 after starring on the Chinese national team and moving to the United States to coach at the University of Iowa. The gym became a draw for top youth gymnasts, with some families moving to Iowa to train there. Gardner moved to Iowa in September 2018, jumping at the opportunity to coach under Qiao.This is the job that Ive always wanted. Chow is really someone I have looked up to since Ive been coaching, Gardner told the ABC affiliate WOI-TV in 2019. And you can tell when you step foot in the gym, just even from coaching the girls, the culture that hes built. Its amazing. Its beautiful.A year later, Gardner was promoted to director of Chows Winter Classic, an annual meet that draws more than 1,000 gymnasts to Iowa. He also coached a junior Olympics team during his four-year tenure at Chows.Several of his students earned college gymnastics scholarships, but Gardner said he had bigger goals.You want to leave a thumbprint on their life, so when they go off hopefully to school, to bigger and better things, that they remember Chows as family, he said in a 2020 interview with WOI-TV. Coach accused of sexual misconduct in Iowa and MississippiGardner is accused of abusing his position at Chows and his former job at JumpIn Gymnastics in Mississippi to prey on girls under his tutelage, according to a nine-page FBI affidavit released Friday that summarizes the allegations against him.A girl reported to SafeSport in March 2022 that Gardner used inappropriate spotting techniques in which he would put his hands between her legs and touch her vagina, the affidavit said. It said she alleged Gardner would ask girls if they were sexually active and call them idiots, sluts, and whores. She said this behavior began after his hiring in 2018 and continued until she left the gym in 2020 and provided the names of six other potential victims. SafeSport suspended Gardner in July 2022 four months after the girls report a provisional step it can take in severe cases with sufficient evidentiary support as investigations proceed. A month after that, the center received a report from another girl alleging additional sexual contact and physical abuse, including that Gardner similarly fondled her during workouts, the FBI affidavit said. The girl said that he once dragged her across the carpet so hard that it burned her buttocks, the affidavit said.SafeSport shared the reports with West Des Moines police, in line with its policy requiring adults who interact with youth athletes to disclose potential criminal cases to law enforcement. While SafeSports suspension took Gardner out of gymnastics, the criminal investigation quickly hit a roadblock.Police records show a detective told SafeSport to urge the alleged victims to file criminal complaints, but only one of their mothers contacted police in 2022. That woman said her daughter did not want to pursue criminal charges, and police suspended the investigation.Victims of abuse are often reluctant to cooperate with police, said Ken Lang, a retired detective and associate professor of criminal justice at Milligan University.In this case you have the prestige of this facility, he said. Do they want to associate their name with that, in that way, when their aspirations were to succeed in gymnastics?Police suspended the investigation, even as Gardner was on probation for his second-offense of driving while intoxicated.A dormant case reopened, and a year later, an arrestThe case stayed dormant until April 2024 when another former Chows student came forward to the West Des Moines Police Department to report abuse allegations, according to a now-sealed affidavit signed by police detective Jeff Lyon. The AP is not identifying the student in line with its policy of not naming victims of alleged sexual abuse.The now 18-year-old told police she began taking lessons from Gardner when she was 11 or 12 in 2019, initially seeing him as a father figure who tried to help her get through her parents divorce. He told her she could tell him anything, the affidavit said.When she moved in 2021, she told police, he gave her a hug and said she could text and follow him on Instagram and other social media sites, where he went by the nickname Coach Seanie, because gym policy barring such contact no longer applied. According to a summary of her statement provided in Lyons affidavit, she said Gardner fondled her during exercises, repeatedly touching her vagina; rubbed her back and butt and discussed his sex life; and made her do inappropriate stretches that exposed her privates. She told police she suspected he used his cellphone to film her in that position.Reached by the AP, the teens mother declined comment. The mother told police she was interested in a monetary settlement with Chows because the gym had been made aware of the complaints and they did nothing to stop them, according to Lyons affidavit. The gym didnt return AP messages seeking comment.It took 16 months after the teens 2024 report for the FBI to arrest Gardner, who made an initial court appearance in Des Moines on Friday on a charge of producing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, which can carry up to 30 years in prison. A public defender assigned to represent him didnt return AP messages seeking comment.Its unclear why the case took so long to investigate and also when the FBI, which had to pay $138 million to Nassars victims for botching that investigation, got involved in the case.Among evidence seized by investigators in late May were a cellphone, laptop and a desktop computer along with handwritten notes between Gardner and his former pupils, according to the sealed court documents.They found images of girls, approximately 6 to 14 years in age, who were nude, using the toilet or changing into leotards, those documents show. Those images appear to have come from a hidden camera in a restroom.They also uncovered 50 video files and 400 photos, including some that appeared to be child pornography, according to the FBI affidavit. One video allegedly shows Gardner entering the bathroom and turning off the camera.Investigators also found images of an adult woman secretly filmed entering and exiting a bathtub, and identified her as Gardners ex-girlfriend. That woman as well as the gyms owner, Candi Workman, told investigators the images appeared to come from JumpIn Gymnastics facility in Purvis, Mississippi, which has since been closed.SafeSports power has limitsSafeSport has long touted that it can deliver sanctions in cases where criminal charges are not pursued as key to its mission. However, Gardners ability to land a job in health care illustrates the limits of that power: It can ban people from sports but that sanction is not guaranteed to reach the general public.While not commenting about Gardners case directly, it said in a statement provided to AP that a number of issues factor into why cases can take so long to close, including the 8,000 reports it receives a year with only around 30 full-time investigators. It has revamped some procedures, it said, in an attempt to become more efficient.While the Center is able and often does cooperate in law enforcement investigations, it said, law enforcement is not required to share information, updates, or even confirm an investigation is ongoing.USA Gymnastics President Li Li Leung called the centers task really tough, difficult to navigate.I would like to see more consistency with their outcomes and sanctions, Leung said. I would like to see more standardization on things. I would like to see more communication, more transparency from their side.A case that lingers, even after the SafeSport banAs the investigation proceeded, Gardner said on his Facebook page he had landed a new job in May 2024 as a surgical technologist at MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center. Its a role that calls for positioning patients on the operating room table, and assisting with procedures and post-surgery care. Asked about Gardners employment, hospital spokesman Todd Mizener told the AP: The only information I can provide is that he is no longer at the hospital.Meanwhile, the case lingers, leaving lives in limbo more than three years after the SafeSport Center and police first learned of it. SafeSport is now part of a larger problem rather than a solution, if it was ever a solution, said attorney Silvey. The most fundamental professional task such as coordination with local or federal law enforcement gets botched on a daily basis, hundreds of times a year now.___Pells reported from Denver. AP National Writer Will Graves contributed. RYAN J. FOLEY Foley covers national news for The Associated Press and is based in Iowa City, Iowa. A 21-year AP veteran, he was part of the AP team honored as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in investigative reporting for the 2024 series, Lethal Restraint. twitter mailto

Manchester United could look to Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens as Inter Milan consider a reunion with Andr Onana. Transfer Talk has the latest news, gossip and rumors.

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Women do laundry at the Renk transit center, which hosts more than 12,000 people fleeing the war in Sudan, in Renk, South Sudan, Saturday, Aug 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Adlai Coleman)2025-08-19T04:03:29Z RENK, South Sudan (AP) As a young man in the mid-1980s, Daud Mahmoud Abdullah left his home in Aweil in South Sudan and headed north. It was a time of war. South Sudan was still part of Sudan and was fighting for independence, in a conflict that would claim about 2 million lives. He never went back. But now at 60 and after six months in a Sudanese prison, he is closer to home than hes been in 40 years. This July, he finally crossed the border back into his native South Sudan, taking a deep breath and reminding himself, I am alive.After everything that has happened to him, it feels like a miracle. Sudan once his place of refuge has been embroiled in a brutal civil war since April 2023 that has killed 40,000 people and displaced nearly 13 million more, according to U.N. agencies. Daud Mahmoud Abdullah, 60, who says he spent six months in prison after being accused of cooperating with the Rapid Support Forces, sits with his wife and brother, whom he was reunited with at the Renk transit center, South Sudan, Saturday, Aug 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Adlai Coleman) Daud Mahmoud Abdullah, 60, who says he spent six months in prison after being accused of cooperating with the Rapid Support Forces, sits with his wife and brother, whom he was reunited with at the Renk transit center, South Sudan, Saturday, Aug 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Adlai Coleman) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Abdullah lived in Wad Madani, the capital of Al Jazirah state, about 135 kilometers (85 miles) south of Khartoum. There had been incursions into the area by the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary force once known as the Janjaweed who were notorious for mass killings, rapes and other atrocities in Darfur two decades ago. More recently, the RSF have again been accused of by the International Criminal Court of committing war crimes, including the attacks on famine-hit Zamzam and other camps in North Darfur.In January, the Sudanese armed forces began recapturing parts of Al Jazirah state from the RSF and making sweeping arrests. Abdullah got caught up in the incursions on his way home from the market: He was picked up by SAF soldiers and accused of cooperating with the RSF. Abdullah says that he was beaten, tortured and burned with cigarettes to make him confess. Although he never made a confession, he was thrown in prison. Held without charge and tortured in prisonIn a report released in March, the top U.N. human rights body detailed how both the SAF and the RSF have detained tens of thousands of people without charge, with limited or no contact with their families, in squalid and overcrowded facilities in a widespread pattern of arbitrary detention, torture, and ill-treatment.Abdullah can attest to this. He remembers inmates dying from starvation, beatings or illnesses like cholera daily. One morning, he discovered 28 of his fellow inmates had died in the night. For the next three days the bodies lay inside his cell, and the soldiers refused to remove them. Even when you shouted to them, they would tell you, If you want to die also, you can die with them, Abdullah said.The Associated Press spoke to eight men in total, some of whom were detained in other prisons in Al Jazirah state and Khartoum. All recounted nightmarish conditions during their incarceration. They described being crammed into cells alongside hundreds of other prisoners. Cells were so crowded that they were forced to sleep with their knees tucked under their chin. Beatings occurred regularly; one said he lost the use of his right eye as a result.Michael Deng Dut, 29, said he had been tortured with electricity more than 18 times. Simon Tong, 39, said that he was tortured with a knife during an interrogation, and rolled up his sleeve to expose the scars on his arm. Many of the men said they were given only a handful of food and a small cup of water once a day. This is the reason many of us passed away, because of the lack of food and water, Tong said. Michael Deng Dut, 29 years-old, who says he was electrocuted more than 18 times after his arrest by the Sudanese Armed Forces, poses for a photo during an interview with The Associated Press in Renk, South Sudan, Thursday, Aug 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Adlai Coleman) Michael Deng Dut, 29 years-old, who says he was electrocuted more than 18 times after his arrest by the Sudanese Armed Forces, poses for a photo during an interview with The Associated Press in Renk, South Sudan, Thursday, Aug 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Adlai Coleman) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A place between north and south In July, 99 South Sudanese prisoners were separated from the other inmates. As the men awaited their fate, one died, reducing their number to 98. On July 28, they were bundled into a bus and driven away, not knowing where they were going. They did not tell us they were going to release us, Abdullah said.He didnt realize where he was until they reached the South Sudanese border and were taken to Renk, the countrys northernmost town, by South Sudanese officials. Though still far from home, Abdullah was in his own country for the first time in 40 years. The border town of Renk has become a hub for South Sudanese nationals trying to get home. When the Sudanese civil war broke out in 2023, UN agencies and the South Sudanese government established an onward transportation program which has moved more than 250,000 people, according to the U.N.s International Office of Migration. On June 1, the program was suspended due to global cuts to humanitarian funding. The number of people living in and around a transit center in Renk has since swelled to 12,000, roughly six times its intended capacity. Thousands are living in makeshift shelters made of sticks and cloth. Children gather at the Renk transit center, which hosts people fleeing the war in Sudan, in Renk, South Sudan, Saturday, Aug 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Joseph Falzetta) Children gather at the Renk transit center, which hosts people fleeing the war in Sudan, in Renk, South Sudan, Saturday, Aug 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Joseph Falzetta) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Reunited but strandedBut for Abdullah, arriving in Renk was a moment of overwhelming joy after months of torture and uncertainty. He was overcome to see his wife, daughter, and younger brother waiting for him. His wife had decided to take his family south after his younger brother had been arrested and released by SAF for the third time. When I saw Abdullah, I thanked God, she said. We did not expect to see him alive again.Abdullah now hopes to return to Aweil, the town where he was born. He still has family in Sudan, and is trying to contact them so that they might join him in Renk.If they come back safely, then we plan to go to Aweil, he said. All of us, together.___For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulseThe Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The 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.

This combination of file photos show, on left, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi briefing the media in Berlin, Germany, on July 3, 2025 and on right,Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi waving to journalists in Buenos Aires, Argentina,on July 5, 2025. (AP Photos/Markus Schreiber and Rodrigo Abd, File)2025-08-19T04:12:57Z NEW DELHI (AP) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet with Chinas top diplomat on Tuesday in a sign of easing tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors after a yearslong standoff between the Asian powers.Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who arrived in India on Monday, is scheduled to hold talks with Modi and other leaders about the disputed border in the Himalayan mountains. Reducing the number of troops on the border and possibly resuming trade in the contested region are expected to be on the agenda.The rebuilding of ties coincides with friction between New Delhi and Washington after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on India, a longtime ally seen as a counterbalance against Chinas influence in Asia. India is part of the Quad security alliance with the U.S., along with Australia and Japan. Stay up to date with similar stories by signing up to our WhatsApp channel. Compromise at the highest political levelIndia and Chinas decades-old border dispute worsened in 2020 after a deadly clash between their troops in the Ladakh region. The chill in relations affected trade, diplomacy and air travel as both sides deployed tens of thousands of security forces in border areas.Some progress has been made since then.Last year, India and China agreed to a pact on border patrols and withdrew additional forces along some border areas. Both countries continue to fortify their border by building roads and rail networks.In recent months, the countries have increased official visits and discussed easing some trade restrictions, movement of citizens and visas for businesspeople. In June, Beijing allowed pilgrims from India to visit holy sites in Tibet. Both sides are working to restore direct flights. Last week, the spokesman for Indias foreign ministry, Randhir Jaiswal, said India and China were in discussions to restart trade through three points along their 3,488-kilometer (2,167-mile) border.Manoj Joshi, a fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, a New Delhi-based think tank, said relations are still at an uneasy level of normalization. Settling the boundary issue between the two countries requires political compromise at the highest political level, said Joshi, who also served as a member of the advisory board for Indias National Security Council. He asserted that the countries are still talking past each other when it comes to the border dispute and issues surrounding it.Ahead of his meeting with Modi, Wang met Indias National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and discussed the way forward to bolster the relationship. The setbacks we experienced in the past few years were not in the interest of the people of our two countries. We are heartened to see the stability that is now restored in the borders, Wang said.On Monday, Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing is willing to take Wangs India visit as an opportunity to work with the Indian side to properly handle differences and promote the sustained, sound and stable development of China-India relations.Mao said Wangs meeting with Modis national security adviser will continue in-depth communication to jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border areas. Modi plans to visit China soonThe thaw between Beijing and New Delhi began last October when Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at a summit of emerging economies in Russia. It was the first time the leaders had spoken in person since 2019.Modi is set to meet Xi when he travels to China late this month his first visit in seven years to attend the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional grouping formed by China, Russia and others to counter U.S. influence in Asia.Earlier this year, Xi called for India and Chinas relations to take the form of a dragon-elephant tango a dance between the emblematic animals of the countries.Last month, Indias external affairs minister visited Beijing in his first trip to China since 2020. The US and Pakistan play roles in the thawThe renewed engagement comes as New Delhis ties with Trump are fraying. Washington has imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods, which includes a penalty of 25% for purchasing Russian crude oil. The tariffs take effect Aug. 27.India has shown no sign of backing down, instead signing more agreements with Russia to deepen economic cooperation.Trumps renewed engagement with Indias arch rival, Pakistan, has also encouraged New Delhis overtures to China, said Lt. Gen. D.S. Hooda, who led the Indian militarys Northern Command from 2014 to 2016.In June, Trump hosted Pakistans army chief for a White House lunch and later announced an energy deal with Islamabad to jointly develop the countrys oil reserves. Both followed Trumps claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after the two sides traded military strikes in May.That clash saw Pakistan use Chinese-made military jets and missiles against India.China is heavily invested in Pakistan and, practically speaking, you cant have any expectation that Beijing will hold back support to Islamabad, Hooda said. But you cant have two hostile neighbors on your borders and simultaneously deal with them also.___Associated Press writer Aijaz Hussain in Srinagar, India, and video producer Liu Zheng in Beijing contributed to this report. SHEIKH SAALIQ Saaliq covers news across India and the South Asia region for The Associated Press, often focusing on politics, democracy, conflict and religion. He is based in New Delhi. twitter mailto RAJESH ROY Roy brings over two decades of journalistic experience in covering a spectrum of big stories spanned across defense, geopolitics, business and local politics. Mostly found in the corridors of power: talking, scooping and writing. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli army airstrike in Khan Younis, in the Gaza Strip, Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Mariam Dagga)2025-08-19T04:02:07Z UNITED NATIONS (AP) A record 383 aid workers were killed in global hotspots in 2024, nearly half of them in Gaza during the war between Israel and Hamas, the U.N. humanitarian office said Tuesday on the annual day honoring the thousands of people who step into crises to help others.U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said the record number of killings must be a wake-up call to protect civilians caught in conflict and all those trying to help them.Attacks on this scale, with zero accountability, are a shameful indictment of international inaction and apathy, Fletcher said in a statement on World Humanitarian Day. As the humanitarian community, we demand again that those with power and influence act for humanity, protect civilians and aid workers and hold perpetrators to account. The Aid Worker Security Database, which has compiled reports since 1997, said the number of killings rose from 293 in 2023 to 383 in 2024, including over 180 in Gaza. Most of the aid workers killed were national staff serving their communities who were attacked while on the job or in their homes, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, known as OCHA. So far this year, the figures show no sign of a reversal of the upward trend, OCHA said.There were 599 major attacks affecting aid workers last year, a sharp increase from the 420 in 2023, the databases figures show. The attacks in 2024 also wounded 308 aid workers and saw 125 kidnapped and 45 detained. There have been 245 major attacks in the past seven plus months, and 265 aid workers have been killed, according to the database.One of the deadliest and most horrifying attacks this year took place in the southern Gaza city of Rafah when Israeli troops opened fire before dawn on March 23, killing 15 medics and emergency responders in clearly marked vehicles. Troops bulldozed over the bodies along with their mangled vehicles, burying them in a mass grave. U.N. and rescue workers were only able to reach the site a week later. Even one attack against a humanitarian colleague is an attack on all of us and on the people we serve, the U.N.s Fletcher said. Violence against aid workers is not inevitable. It must end.According to the database, violence against aid workers increased in 21 countries in 2024 compared with the previous year, with government forces and affiliates the most common perpetrators.The highest number of major attacks last year were in the Palestinian territories with 194, followed by Sudan with 64, South Sudan with 47, Nigeria with 31 and Congo with 27, the database reported.As for killings, Sudan, where civil war is still raging, was second to Gaza and the West Bank with 60 aid workers losing their lives in 2024. That was more than double the 25 aid worker deaths in 2023.Lebanon, where Israel and Hezbollah militants fought a war last year, saw 20 aid workers killed compared with none in 2023. Ethiopia and Syria each had 14 killings, about double the number in 2023, and Ukraine had 13 aid workers killed in 2024, up from 6 in 2023, according to the database.

In this aerial image taken from video provided by WVEC-TV, homes along the Atlantic Coast in Dare County, N.C., are seen, Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, ahead of expected impacts from Hurricane Erin. (WVEC-TV via AP)2025-08-19T05:23:52Z Holly Andrzejewski hadnt yet welcomed her and her familys first guests to the Atlantic Inn on Hatteras Island when she had to start rescheduling them, as Hurricane Erin neared North Carolinas Outer Banks on Tuesday and threatened to whip up wild waves and tropical force winds.Although the monster storm is expected to stay offshore, evacuations were ordered on such barrier islands along the Carolina coast as Hatteras as authorities warned the storm could churn up dangerous rip currents and swamp roads with waves of 15 feet (4.6 meters). Watch live view of a weather map tracking Hurricane Erin. Andrzejewski and her husband purchased the bed-and-breakfast, known as the oldest inn on the island, less than a week ago. By Monday they had brought in all the outdoor furniture and made sure their daughter and her boyfriend, who are the innkeepers, had generators, extra water and flashlights as they stayed behind to keep an eye on the property. Its just one of those things where you know this is always a possibility and it could happen, and you just make the best out of it. Otherwise you wouldnt live at the beach, said Andrzejewski, who will also remain on the island, at her home about a 15 minutes drive away. Erin lashed part of the Caribbean with rain and wind Monday. Forecasters are confident it will curl north and away from the eastern U.S., but tropical storm and surge watches were issued for much of the Outer Banks. Officials at the Wrightsville Beach, near Wilmington, North Carolina, reported to the National Weather Service rescuing at least 60 swimmers from rip currents Monday.By early Tuesday, Erin had lost some strength from previous days and had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 kph), the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. It was about 685 miles (1,105 kilometers) southwest of Bermuda and 770 miles (1,240 kilometers) south-southeast of Cape Hatteras and was moving northwest at a slower 7 mph (11 kph). A tropical storm warning remained in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands, where government services were suspended, some ports were closed and residents were ordered to stay home. On North Carolinas Outer Banks, coastal flooding was expected to begin Tuesday and continue through Thursday.The evacuations on Hatteras Island and Ocracoke came at the height of tourist season on the thin stretch of low-lying barrier islands that jut into the Atlantic Ocean and are increasingly vulnerable to storm surges.A year ago, Hurricane Ernesto stayed hundreds of miles offshore yet still produced high surf and swells that caused coastal damage. This time there are concerns that several days of heavy surf, high winds and waves could wash out parts of the main highway. Some routes could be impassible for days.This is the first evacuation for Ocracoke since Hurricane Dorian in 2019 caused the most damage in the islands recorded history.Tommy Hutcherson, who owns the communitys only grocery store, said the island has mostly bounced back. Hes optimistic this storm wont be as destructive. But you just never know. I felt the same way about Dorian and we really got smacked, he said. Scientists have linked the rapid intensification of hurricanes in the Atlantic to climate change. Global warming is causing the atmosphere to hold more water vapor and is spiking ocean temperatures, and warmer waters give hurricanes fuel to unleash more rain and strengthen more quickly.Bermuda will experience the most severe threat Thursday evening, said Phil Rogers, director of the Bermuda Weather Service. By then, waters could swell up to 24 feet (7 meters).Surfers, swimmers and boaters must resist the temptation to go out. The waters will be very dangerous and lives will be placed at risk, acting Minister of National Security Jache Adams said. ___Associated Press journalists Safiyah Riddle in Montgomery, Alabama, and Julie Walker in New York contributed to this report. JOHN SEEWER Seewer covers state and national news for The Associated Press and is based in Toledo, Ohio. twitter mailto

An Intel sign is shown at the chipmaker's global headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif. on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Terry Chea2025-08-19T05:15:02Z BANGKOK (AP) Japanese technology giant SoftBank Group plans to take a $2 billion stake in computer chip maker Intel as it deepens its involvement in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and other advanced technology in the United States, the companies said Monday. Shares in SoftBank fell 4% Tuesday in Tokyo following the announcement, which coincided with unconfirmed reports that President Donald Trump is considering having the U.S. government buy a stake in the chip maker. SoftBank invests in an array of companies that it sees as holding long-term potential. It has been stepping up investments in the United States since Trump returned to the White House. In February, its chairman Masayoshi Son joined Trump, Sam Altman of OpenAI and Larry Ellison of Oracle in announcing a major investment of up to $500 billion in a project to develop artificial intelligence called Stargate. SoftBank plans to buy $2 billion of Intels common stock, paying $23 per share. That would be about a 2% stake. Intels shares closed at $23.66 on Monday. Semiconductors are the foundation of every industry, Son said in a statement. This strategic investment reflects our belief that advanced semiconductor manufacturing and supply will further expand in the United States, with Intel playing a critical role. SoftBank posted its first profit in four years in the April-June quarter as it raked in gains from its investment portfolios. It is a major shareholder in Arm Holdings, a British semiconductor and software design company. Stay up to date with similar stories by signing up to our WhatsApp channel. Intel helped launch Silicon Valley but has fallen behind rivals like Nvidia Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and is shedding thousands of workers and slashing costs under its new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan. In the last quarter, the company reported a loss of $2.9 billion. Intel plans to end the year with 75,000 core workers excluding subsidiaries, through layoffs and attrition, down from 99,500 core employees at the end of 2024. The company previously announced a 15% workforce reduction.Trump recently said Tan, who was made CEO in March, should resign. But after meeting with him last week Trump relented, saying Tan had an amazing story. Intels rose 5.4% early Tuesday in pre-market trading. ELAINE KURTENBACH Based in Bangkok, Kurtenbach is the APs business editor for Asia, helping to improve and expand our coverage of regional economies, climate change and the transition toward carbon-free energy. She has been covering economic, social, environmental and political trends in China, Japan and Southeast Asia throughout her career. twitter mailto

And while were at it, lets think about the phrase land swap.