Nature, Published online: 03 September 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09577-9Cas9 senses CRISPR RNA abundance to regulate CRISPR spacer acquisition

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game will likely be a round-robin tournament consisting of three eight-player teams -- two USA teams and one World team -- sources told ESPN.

Giants third baseman Matt Chapman has been suspended one game for pushing Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland, while Freeland and San Francisco's Willy Adames and Rafael Devers also were fined.

Raiders receiver Jakobi Meyers, who is in the final year of his deal, is unsure if a new contract will get done with the organizatiion: "we're gonna see how it plays out."

President Trumps extraordinary summit with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia last month has yet to yield any concrete results on the war in Ukraine.

Jeffrey Epsteins accusers went to the Capitol to ask Congress to get behind their calls for more disclosures, but momentum for a bill demanding it appeared to stall.

The health secretary fired the original committee members in June, replacing them with some who have been critical of vaccines.

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Corey Fogelmanis has come a long way since Girl Meets World. The actor is carving out a career defined by bold choices, complex roles, and meaningful collaborations. With Netflixs My Life with the Walter Boys returning for a second season, a role in Tommy Dorfmans feature debut I Wish You All the Best, and recent work alongside his close friend Conan Gray, Fogelmanis is proving hes more than ready for life after Disney.He opened up to Teen Vogue about his evolution, his friendships, and what drives him to keep pushing for authentic storytelling.Finding His Voice After DisneyBreaking free from the Disney mold wasnt immediate.It felt like I had a lot to prove, Fogelmanis admits. It also felt like I had a lot to learn, too There was a long moment where it was like, Oh, you need to show people what else you can do before theyre going to let you do it.The patience paid off, as hes now starring in projects that spotlight stories often left untold.Playing Queer Characters With DepthFogelmanis has leaned into roles that showcase the nuances of queer identity.Its important to me that I am a part of things that are good for people, and are affirming, and also just help people see all the sides of something, he says. And so I love, as an artist, that Im doing these different things all the time, and that its not just this stereotype of gay best friend.Nathan in Walter Boys: Messy but HumanIn My Life with the Walter Boys, his character Nathan takes up more screen time this season, and makes a few questionable choices.Nathan is very much susceptible to the attention of others, Fogelmanis explains. It was hard to justify, actually, some of those things that I do But I like that we get to see someone thats not perfect because theres so many different types of gay people, and I think its important that you see them in happy relationships and see them love right and love wrong and make mistakes.Onscreen and Offscreen CollaborationsFogelmanis creative circle extends beyond acting. His longtime friend Conan Gray tapped him to appear in music videos, sparking rumors about their relationship.He was like, I had this idea, and if you want to do it, I would love to do it with you. I was like, Absolutely yes. I was such a big fan of him, Fogelmanis recalls. The music is just so great, exactly what I love from him, which is just so personal and vulnerable. I was very honored.Championing Sabrina Carpenters SuccessAnother close friend, former co-star Sabrina Carpenter, has been on a meteoric rise.Ive always just loved what she makes, he says. Im so happy that now shes in a place where she can do whatever she wants. Now she can make the videos she wants to make. She can make the live show that she envisions in her head a reality.Reflecting Through I Wish You All the BestHis role in Dorfmans adaptation of I Wish You All the Best struck a deeply personal chord.This experience of being scared to let someone in That feeling of putting someone on a pedestal and really admiring this person that youre with, and wanting to just feel different about yourself, Fogelmanis reflects. I feel like so much of the movie is about getting to a place where you feel sturdy enough to give back the love that youre receiving I couldnt believe that shed written those words. Because I felt like she was writing my life.With new projects across film, streaming, and music, Corey Fogelmanis is proving that post-Disney life isnt about reinvention, its about expanding into everything hes always wanted to do.Source

Fewer than two months ago, Swiatek bested Anisimova in the Wimbledon final 6-0, 6-0. On Wednesday, Ansimova got her revenge.

Angel Reese was critical of the state of the Sky amid another losing season, telling the Chicago Tribune that improving the team's roster is "a non-negotiable" for her.

Allen was asked about the movie in the spring and attended some events with his wife for the film.

A federal judge ended the monitoring imposed after allegations of excessive force and racial bias. The city pointed to progress in improving officer accountability and training.

Texas state Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, left, Adam Hinojosa, R-Corpus Christi, center, and Brent Hagenbuch, R-Denton, right, pray with other senators as they prepare to debate a bills including one that would add new abortion restrictions, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)2025-09-04T00:47:29Z AUSTIN, Texas (AP) A measure that would allow Texas residents to sue out-of-state abortion pill providers advanced to the desk of Gov. Greg Abbott Wednesday, setting the state up to be the first to try to crack down on the most common abortion method.Supporters say its a key tool to enforce the states abortion ban, protecting women and fetuses.Opponents see it not only as another way to rein in abortion but as an effort to intimidate abortion providers outside Texas who are complying with the laws in their states and to encourage a form of vigilantism.If the measure becomes law, its nearly certain to spark legal challenges from abortion rights supporters. The measure would empower citizens to provide enforcementUnder the measure, Texas residents could sue those who manufacture, transport or provide abortion-inducing drugs to anyone in Texas for up to $100,000. Women who receive the pills for their own use would not be liable.Under the bill, providers could be ordered to pay $100,000. But only the pregnant woman, the man who impregnated her or other close relatives could collect the entire amount. Anyone else who sues could receive only $10,000, with the remaining $90,000 going to charity.Lawmakers also added language to address worries that women would be turned in for seeking to end pregnancies by men who raped them or abusive partners. For instance, a man who impregnated a woman through sexual assault would not be eligible. Stay up to date with the latest U.S. news by signing up to our WhatsApp channel. The measure has provisions that bar making public the identity or medical details about a woman who receives the pills. It wasnt until those provisions were added, along with the limit of a $10,000 payment for people who arent themselves injured by the abortion, that several major Texas anti-abortion groups backed the bill.The idea of using citizens rather than government officials to enforce abortion bans is not new in Texas. It was at the heart of 2021 law that curtailed abortion there months before the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for other state bans to take effect.In the earlier law, citizens could collect $10,000 for bringing a successful lawsuit against a provider or anyone who helps someone obtain an abortion. But that measure didnt explicitly seek to go after out-of-state providers. Abortion pills have proliferated, even where theyre bannedPills are a tricky topic for abortion opponents. They were the most common abortion method in the U.S. even before the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed states to enforce abortion bans.Theyve become even more widely used since then. Their availability is a key reason that the number of abortions has risen nationally, even though Texas and 11 other states are enforcing bans on abortion in all stages of pregnancy.The pills have continued to flow partly because at least eight Democratic-led states have enacted laws that seek to protect medical providers from legal consequences when they use telehealth to prescribe the pills to women who are in states where abortion is illegal.Anna Rupani, executive director of Fund Texas Choice, said the measure is intended to threaten those out-of-state providers and women in Texas.This is about the chilling effect, she said. This is yet another abortion ban that is allowing the state to control peoples health care lives and reproductive decisions. Texas is already in legal fights over shield laws and abortion pillsEarlier this year a Texas judge ordered a New York doctor to pay more than $100,000 in penalties for providing abortion pills to a Dallas-area woman.The same provider, Dr. Maggie Carpenter, faces criminal charges from a Louisiana prosecutor for similar allegations.New York officials are invoking their states shield laws to block extradition of Carpenter and to refuse to file the civil judgment.If higher courts side with Louisiana or Texas officials, it could damage the shield laws.Meanwhile the attorneys general of Texas and Florida are seeking to join Idaho, Kansas and Missouri in an effort to get courts to roll back U.S. Food and Drug Administration approvals for mifepristone, one of the drugs usually used in combination for medication abortions, contending that there are safety concerns. They say it needs tighter controls because of those concerns. If the states are successful, its possible the drug could be distributed only in-person and not by telehealth.Major medical organizations including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists say the drug is safe.

Wicked: For Good, the much-anticipated second chapter of the musical adaptation, soars into theaters this November. And yes, were already counting down: just 82 days, 17 hours, and 54 minutes to go!To tide fans over, Universal Pictures dropped a fresh teaser showcasing our favorites, Glinda (Ariana Grande), Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), and, of course, Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey).In the teaser, Glinda the Good has stepped into power after rejecting Elphabas offer to escape the corruption of Oz together. Instead, she remains behind, floating through the city in her signature bubble. But all is not rosy as tensions flare with her beau Fiyero, who pointedly tells the pink-clad witch, You cant resist this.Who could? she fires back. You know who could. Indeed we do! Elphaba has already refused the Wizards offer to rule at his side, leaving her exiled and branded as the Wicked Witch. We also get a look at what Elphie is up to, mainly teaching everyone a lesson on goodness. We cant let good be just a word. It has to mean something. Not to mention, the entire trailer is once again backed by a rendition of For Good. This movie is going to destroy us. How can this look somehow better than part 1 when part 1 is the best movie ever made, one user commented on the official Instagram. They need to get those awards ready for my girls. Yet another iconic movie, another user wrote. We concur. Following the record-breaking run of Wicked: Part One, the story now heads into its grand finale. Director Jon M. Chu returns to close out the saga, with the sequel set to deliver the kind of spectacle that could make Wicked the defining blockbuster of the holiday season.The sequel brings back Erivo as Elphaba and Grande as Glinda, with Michelle Yeoh returning as Madame Morrible and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard. Fans can expect jaw-dropping musical numbers, dazzling production design, and the emotional payoff of Elphaba and Glindas journey as their friendship and rivalry reaches its dramatic end.Wicked is based on Gregory Maguires 1995 novel, which retells The Wizard of Oz from Elphabas point of view. That book inspired the hit Broadway musical in 2003, featuring music by Stephen Schwartz and a script by Winnie Holzman. The stage show became a global sensation, and now the movies are bringing the story to life on an even bigger scale. Source

Naomi Osaka kept up her resurgent run at the US Open, eliminating No. 11 Karolina Muchova 6-4, 7-6 (3) on Wednesday night to return to the semifinals at Flushing Meadows for the first time since winning the title five years ago.

Angel City FC forward Alyssa Thompson boarded a London-bound plane from Los Angeles on Wednesday as six-time reigning English champions Chelsea attempt to finalize a deal for the American, multiple sources confirmed to ESPN.

The proposed 211-mile industrial road over pristine land would allow a mining company to reach a copper deposit. Critics say it would destroy a fragile environment.

A federal appeals court had invalidated a centerpiece of President Trumps economic strategy, finding that a 1977 law did not authorize the tariffs.

The 49ers and Jauan Jennings have agreed to add $3 million in play-time incentives to his contract for this season.

The man, Vadim Kruglov, 37, was found lying in a pool of blood, the authorities said. Officials are investigating his death as a possible homicide.

The Koch family has agreed to purchase a 10% stake of the New York Giants, as first reported by Bloomberg on Wednesday.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner needed just 2 hours to defeat Lorenzo Musetti 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 at the US Open and advance to his fifth straight Grand Slam semifinal.

President Emmanuel Macron of France is expected to host a meeting of leaders who will review options for protecting any peace with Russia.

When world leaders meet in New York this month, several plan to recognize a Palestinian state, but Palestinian leaders may not be there to revel in the moment.

President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with Polish President Karol Nawrocki in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)2025-09-04T02:11:18Z WASHINGTON (AP) The Trump administration took the fight over tariffs to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, asking the justices to rule quickly that the president has the power to impose sweeping import taxes under federal law. The government called on the court to reverse an appeals court ruling that found most of President Donald Trumps tariffs are an illegal use of an emergency powers law. Its the latest in a series of Trump administration appeals to a Supreme Court he helped shape, and one that is expected to put a centerpiece of the presidents trade policy before the justices. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit left the tariffs in place for now, but the administration nevertheless called on the high court to intervene quickly in a petition filed electronically late Wednesday and provided to The Associated Press. It was expected to be formally docketed on Thursday. Solicitor General D. John Sauer asked the justices to take up the case and hear arguments in early November. That decision casts a pall of uncertainty upon ongoing foreign negotiations that the President has been pursuing through tariffs over the past five months, jeopardizing both already negotiated framework deals and ongoing negotiations, he wrote. The stakes in this case could not be higher. But the stakes are also high for small businesses battered by tariffs and uncertainty, said Jeffrey Schwab, senior counsel and director of litigation at the Liberty Justice Center. These unlawful tariffs are inflicting serious harm on small businesses and jeopardizing their survival. We hope for a prompt resolution of this case for our clients, he said.The businesses have twice prevailed, once at a federal court focused on trade and again with the appeals courts 7-4 ruling. Their lawsuit is one of several challenging the tariffs and erratic rollout that have shaken global markets, alienated U.S. trading partners and allies and raised fears of higher prices and slower economic growth. But Trump has also used the levies to pressure the European Union, Japan and other countries into accepting new trade deals. Revenue from tariffs totaled $159 billion by late August, more than double what it was at the same point the year before.Most judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit found the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, did not let Trump usurp congressional power to set tariffs. The dissenters, though, said the law does allow the president to regulate importation during emergencies without explicit limitations.The ruling involves two sets of import taxes, both of which Trump justified by declaring a national emergency: the tariffs first announced in April and the ones from February on imports from Canada, China and Mexico.The Constitution gives Congress the power to impose taxes, including tariffs. But over the decades, lawmakers have ceded authority to the president, and Trump has made the most of the power vacuum.Some Trump tariffs, including levies on foreign steel, aluminum and autos, werent covered by the appeals court ruling. It also does not include tariffs Trump imposed on China in his first term that were kept by Democratic President Joe Biden. Trump can impose tariffs under other laws, but those have more limitations on the speed and severity with which he could act.The government has argued that if the tariffs are struck down, it might have to refund some of the import taxes that its collected, delivering a financial blow to the U.S. Treasury. LINDSAY WHITEHURST Whitehurst covers the Supreme Court and legal affairs for The Associated Press. Shes won multiple journalism awards in a career thats spanned two decades. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

President Donald Trump walks to sign executive orders during an artificial intelligence summit at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, July 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)2025-09-04T04:02:22Z Artificial intelligence, apparently, is the new fake news.Blaming AI is an increasingly popular strategy for politicians seeking to dodge responsibility for something embarrassing among others. AI isnt a person, after all. It cant leak or file suit. It does make mistakes, a credibility problem that makes it hard to determine fact from fiction in the age of mis- and disinformation. And when truth is hard to discern, the untruthful benefit, analysts say. The phenomenon is widely known as the liars dividend. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump endorsed the practice. Asked about viral footage showing someone tossing something out an upper-story White House window, the president replied, No, thats probably AI after his press team had indicated to reporters that the video was real. But Trump, known for insisting the truth is what he says it is, declared himself all in on the AI-blaming phenomenon. If something happens thats really bad, he told reporters, maybe Ill have to just blame AI.Hes not alone.AI is getting blamed sometimes fairly, sometimes not On the same day in Caracas, Venezuelan Communications Minister Freddy ez questioned the veracity of a Trump administration video it said showed a U.S. strike on a vessel in Caribbean that targeted Venezuelas Tren de Aragua gang and killed 11. A video of the strike posted to Truth Social shows a long, multi-engine speedboat at sea when a bright flash of light bursts over it. The boat is then briefly seen covered in flames. Based on the video provided, it is very likely that it was created using Artificial Intelligence, ez said on his Telegram account, describing almost cartoonish animation. Blaming AI can at times be a compliment. (Hes like an AI-generated player, tennis player Alexander Bublik said of his U.S. Open opponent Jannik Sinners talent on ESPN ). But when used by the powerful, the practice, experts say, can be dangerous. Digital forensics expert Hany Farid warned for years about the growing capabilities of AI deepfake images, voices and video to aid in fraud or political disinformation campaigns, but there was always a deeper problem.Ive always contended that the larger issue is that when you enter this world where anything can be fake, then nothing has to be real, said Farid, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. You get to deny any reality because all you have to say is, Its a deepfake.That wasnt so a decade or two ago, he noted. Trump issued a rare apology (if anyone was offended) in 2016 for his comments about touching women without their consent on the notorious Access Hollywood tape. His opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, said she was wrong to call some of his supporters a basket of deplorables.Toby Walsh, chief scientist and professor of AI at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, said blaming AI leads to problems not just in the digital world but the real world as well. It leads to a dark future where we no longer hold politicians (or anyone else) accountable, Walsh said in an email. It used to be that if you were caught on tape saying something, you had to own it. This is no longer the case. Contemplating the liars dividendDanielle K. Citron of the Boston University School of Law and Robert Chesney of the University of Texas foresaw the issue in research published in 2019. In it, they describe what they called the liars dividend.If the public loses faith in what they hear and see and truth becomes a matter of opinion, then power flows to those whose opinions are most prominentempowering authorities along the way, they wrote in the California Law Review. A skeptical public will be primed to doubt the authenticity of real audio and video evidence.Polling suggests many Americans are wary about AI. About half of U.S. adults said the increased use of AI in daily life made them feel more concerned than excited, according to a Pew Research Center poll from August 2024. Pews polling indicates that people have become more concerned about the increased use of AI in recent years. Most U.S. adults appear to distrust AI-generated information when they know thats the source, according to a Quinnipiac poll from April. About three-quarters said they could only trust the information generated by AI some of the time or hardly ever. In that poll, about 6 in 10 U.S. adults said they were very concerned about political leaders using AI to distribute fake or misleading information.They have reason, and Trump has played a sizable role in muddying trust and truth. Trumps history of misinformation and even lies to suit his narrative predates AI. Hes famous for the use of fake news, a buzz term now widely known to denote skepticism about media reports. Leslie Stahl of CBS 60 Minutes has said that Trump told her off camera in 2016 that he tries to discredit journalists so that when they report negative stories, they wont be believed. Trumps claim on Tuesday that AI was behind the White House window video wasnt his first attempt to blame AI. In 2023, he insisted that the anti-Trump Lincoln Project used AI in a video to make him look bad.In the spot titled Feeble, a female narrator taunts Trump. Hey Donald ... youre weak. You seem unsteady. You need help getting around. She questions his manhood, accompanied by an image of two blue pills. The video continues with footage of Trump stumbling over words. The perverts and losers at the failed and once-disbanded Lincoln Project, and others, are using A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) in their Fake television commercials in order to make me look as bad and pathetic as Crooked Joe Biden, Trump posted on Truth Social.The Lincoln Project told The Associated Press at the time that AI was not used in the spot.___Associated Press writers Ali Swenson in New York, Matt OBrien in Providence, Rhode Island, Linley Sanders in Washington and Jorge Rueda in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report. LAURIE KELLMAN Kellman has covered U.S. politics and foreign affairs for the Associated Press, including 23 years reporting from Washington and three from Jerusalem. She is based in London. twitter facebook mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Angel Reese said Wednesday night she apologized to her Sky teammates for remarks she made to the Chicago Tribune.

Teenagers are being recruited for one-off covert attacks behind enemy lines.

At least 15 people were killed after the Glria funicular, one of the citys most popular tourist attractions, derailed and crashed.

Takeshi Niinami said he never used the products in Japan, where officials are investigating whether they are banned under the countrys strict drug laws.

View of the site of a derailed electric streetcar in Lisbon, Portugal, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)2025-09-04T07:09:31Z LISBON, Portugal (AP) Portugal observed a national day of mourning Thursday, a day after a famous Lisbon streetcar derailed and killed 15 people in the capitals worst accident in recent history.Authorities have given no information about those killed or the 23 that police said were injured in the accident, raising the initial casualty toll. The 19th-century streetcar is one of Lisbons big tourist attractions and is usually packed with foreigners at this time of year for its short and picturesque trip up and down one of the citys steep hills.Teams of pathologists at the National Forensics Institute, reinforced by colleagues from three other Portuguese cities, worked through the night on autopsies, officials said. The injured were admitted to several hospitals in the Lisbon region.The streetcars crumpled wreckage was still on the downtown road where it crashed Thursday, cordoned off by police. Accident investigators were due at the scene. Officials declined to speculate on whether a faulty brake or a snapped cable may have caused the accident. The yellow-and-white streetcar, known as Elevador da Gloria, was lying on its side on the narrow road that it travels on, its sides and top crumpled. It crashed into a building where the road bends, leaving parts of the mostly metal vehicle crushed. It hit the building with brutal force and fell apart like a cardboard box, Teresa dAv told Portuguese TV channel SIC. She described the streetcar as out of control and seeming to have no brakes, and said she watched passersby run into the middle of the nearby Avenida da Liberdade, or Freedom Avenue, the citys main thoroughfare. The accident occurred at the start of the evening rush hour, around 6 p.m. local time. Emergency officials said all victims were pulled out of the wreckage in just over two hours.The streetcar, technically called a funicular, is harnessed by steel cables and can carry more than 40 people, seated and standing. It is also commonly used by Lisbon residents. The service, inaugurated in 1885, goes up and down a few hundred meters (yards) of a hill on a curved, traffic-free road in tandem with one going the opposite way.Lisbons City Council halted operations of three other famous funicular streetcars in the city while immediate inspections were carried out.The Elevador da Gloria is classified as a national monument.Lisbon hosted around 8.5 million tourists last year, and long lines of people typically form for the brief rides on the popular streetcar.Carris, the company that operates the streetcar, said scheduled maintenance had been carried out. It offered its deepest condolences to the victims and their families in a social media post, and promised that all due diligence would be taken in finding the causes of the accident.Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa offered his condolences to affected families, and Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas said the city was in mourning. Its a tragedy of the like weve never seen, Moedas said.Portugals government announced that a day of national mourning would be observed Thursday. A tragic accident caused the irreparable loss of human life, which left in mourning their families and dismayed the whole country, it said in a statement.

Villagers wade through a flooded area, in Tiba Gheal village, in Jhang district, Pakistan, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jahan Zeb)2025-09-03T10:53:42Z SHER SHAH, Pakistan (AP) Officials say nearly 300,000 people have been evacuated in the past 48 hours from flood-hit areas of Pakistans Punjab province following the latest flood alerts by India, officials said Wednesday.The evacuations bring the total number of people displaced since last month to 1.3 million.Floodwaters have submerged dozens of villages in Punjabs Muzaffargarh district, after earlier inundating Narowal and Sialkot, both near the border with India.Authorities are also struggling to divert overflowing rivers onto farmlands to protect major cities, as part of one of the largest rescue and relief operations in the history of Punjab, which straddles eastern Pakistan and northwestern India. Thousand of rescuers using boats are taking part in the relief and rescue operations, while the military has also been deployed to transport people and animals from inundated villages, said Arfan Ali Kathia, director-general of Punjabs Provincial Disaster Management Authority. A new flood alert was shared with Pakistan by neighboring India through diplomatic channels early Wednesday, Kathia said. It was the second such alert in 24 hours following heavy rains and water releases from dams in India. Kathia said the Ravi, Chenab and Sutlej rivers are all in high flood following torrential rains and upstream discharges. Stay up to date with similar stories by signing up to our WhatsApp channel. Rescuers are also using drones to find people stranded on rooftops in the flood-hit areas. Kathia said more than 3.3 million people across 33,000 villages in the province have been affected so far. Damages are still being assessed and all those who lost homes and crops would be compensated by the Punjab government, he said. Landslides and flooding have killed at least 29 people in Indias Punjab state, home to more than 30 million people.Tent villages are being set up and food and other essential items are being supplied to the flood-affected people, he said, though many survivors complained about a lack of government aid. There are about 40,000 people in the relief camps, according to the National Disaster Management Authority. It remains unclear where the rest are sheltering. Noor Mohammad, a 54-year-old farmer in Sher Shah village near Muzaffargarh district, said he hasnt received any help. Frustrated over this dayslong situation, I sent my family members to stay with relatives in the nearby area, he said, standing on higher ground overlooking his flooded village.Malik Ramzan, another displaced resident, said he chose to stay near his inundated home rather than enter a relief camp. There are no livable facilities in the camps, he said. Food isnt delivered on time, and we are treated like beggars, he said.However, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif visited flood-hit areas in Muzaffargarh on Wednesday, meeting with displaced families at relief camps. Her visit came just hours after India issued the latest cross-border flood alert. Last weeks flooding mainly hit districts in Kasur, Bahawalpur and Narowal, where the deluge also submerged the shrine of Guru Nanak, located near the Indian border. However, authorities said the shrine is being reopened for pilgrims after water receded and the building was cleaned and restored. Pakistan began mass evacuations last month after India released water from overflowing dams into low-lying border regions. The latest floods are the worst since 2022 when climate-induced flooding killed nearly 1,700 people in Pakistan. ___Associated Press writers Dogar in Lahore, Pakistan and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, contributed to this story. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

President Donald Trump, left, and Russia's President Vladimir Putin arrive for a joint press conference at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)2025-09-04T05:20:01Z LONDON (AP) European countries are stuck between a rock and a hard place as a coalition of countries meets in Paris on Thursday to discuss security guarantees for a postwar Ukraine.The war is raging unabated, with no ceasefire in sight and the crucial question of American involvement in ensuring Ukraines future security remains unresolved.For months, the so-called coalition of the willing has been meeting to discuss aid for Ukraine, including sketching out plans for military support in the event of a ceasefire to deter future Russian aggression.The coalition leaders French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K.Prime Minister Keir Starmer have insisted that any European reassurance force in Ukraine needs the backing of the United States. But while U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted his country will be involved, he has moved away from calling for a ceasefire in Ukraine and refrained from implementing tough additional economic measures to punish Moscow. Although Trump said he is disappointed in Russian President Vladimir Putin and issued several threats to try to cajole him into negotiating an end to hostilities, none has worked. At a meeting with Putin in Alaska in August, Trump failed to persuade the Russian leader to stop fighting and has not yet managed to broker talks between Putin and Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. While Trump and European leaders met in Washington after the Alaska summit and U.S., European and NATO military chiefs held discussions on support for Ukraine little concrete detail has emerged on the security guarantees to deter Moscow from a future conflict. Former military generals and experts suggest Europe is in a bind not knowing the level of support the U.S. is prepared to provide the coalition, the nature of any ceasefire or if the U.S. will abide by commitments made. Its also far from certain that Putin would agree to a cessation of hostilities, something Russian officials have invariably dismissed.Talking about detailed operational planning when you dont actually have your mission is, quite frankly, impossible, said Ed Arnold, an expert in European Security at the Royal United Services Institute in London and a former military planner. Why Europeans believe a ceasefire is necessaryThe coalition of the willing is a broad term for about 30 nations supporting Ukraine, but the so-called reassurance force that would provide security guarantees to Kyiv is a subset of that group.The U.K., France and Estonia have all suggested they are ready to deploy troops to Ukraine to deter Putin from attacking again, while officials in Poland said Warsaw will not take part and will instead focus on bolstering NATO security in the east of Europe.There is no suggestion that any troops will be deployed without a ceasefire because its too risky, said Franois Heisbourg, special adviser at the Foundation for Strategic Research in Paris.Despite Zelenskyy signaling his willingness to talk, a ceasefire agreement is not currently in the cards not least because of the positions of the U.S. and Russian presidents. At his Aug. 18 meeting with European leaders at the White House three days after meeting Putin Trump walked back his previous demands for a ceasefire in Ukraine and said he thought a peace agreement was preferable.The comments marked a shift toward the Russian position from Trump and would allow Moscow to fight on in Ukraine while peace negotiations are underway. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov later suggested an end to hostilities was even further away, stating that Moscow will not accept Zelenskyys signature on any peace agreement as Russia considers him to be an illegitimate president.If Putin doesnt want a ceasefire and if Trump doesnt call for a ceasefire what are the chances of a ceasefire happening? asked Heisbourg. What a European security guarantee for Ukraine could look likeEven if a ceasefire or peace agreement for Ukraine were implemented, its not clear it would be a sufficient deterrent to Putin and would be very, very risky for European nations, said Arnold at RUSI.Such an operation hinges on the U.S. providing intelligence support and the deterrent effect of U.S. airpower in countries outside Ukraine.The Western appetite to potentially shoot down Russian missiles violating a ceasefire or target launchers firing them from within Russia is close to zero, said Heisbourg.Any response to a ceasefire violation, he said, would likely depend on how many Western soldiers the Russians would have actually killed...and nobody wants to think about that too much in advance.In March, Starmer told allies that a force for Ukraine would need at least 10,000 troops, but that would potentially require around 30,000 troops when taking into account those on rotation and rest.As a coalition leader, the U.K. should look at contributing a brigade of 5,000 soldiers which would become 15,000 when taking into account rest and rotation, said Arnold. That figure would account for about 30% of the deployable capacity of the British Army, he said, and potentially create a tricky problem whereby the U.K. deploys more forces on behalf of non-NATO ally Ukraine than it does for NATO allies such as Estonia. European officials have indicated that the troops could be involved in training Ukrainian soldiers and likely based away from the frontlines although the risk of Russian missile and drone strikes would remain high.But there would be zero credibility if Western troops were put in various Ukrainian towns without a clear mission or purpose, said Ben Hodges, former commanding general of the U.S. Army in Europe.That will not impress the Russians at all, he added. US as a reliable partnerEuropean leaders are also grappling with the question of whether to take Trump and his officials at their word while also eyeing the rise of populist parties particularly in the U.K., France and Germany which may not share the same commitment to Ukraine as current political leadership.That means the future of any security guarantees for Kyiv could be extremely fragile.There is absolutely no guarantee that Trump will abide by commitments made to European nations over Ukraine, said Arnold, pointing to Trumps withdrawal from previous agreements, including the Paris climate agreement and Irans nuclear deal.That means European nations cannot rely on him ordering U.S. jets into action in the event of a ceasefire violation because at one time he may say yes, at another time he may say no, Arnold said. With NATO membership for Kyiv ruled out by Trump and a host of hurdles to overcome to implement security guarantees for Ukraine, European leaders may decide to navigate the situation by spending a lot more money on weapons for Kyiv, said Heisbourg.Arnold agreed, adding that the best option could be to give Kyiv loads of guns and loads of ammo.Theres no easy way out, he said. None of the options, especially for the Europeans, are good.___This version has corrected the European leaders meeting was three days after the Trump-Putin summit, not one day. EMMA BURROWS Burrows covers security, defense and intelligence for The Associated Press in Europe. She is based in London. twitter

The authorities are investigating an accident that killed 17 people and working to identify victims, which they said included Portuguese and foreigners.

It does seem that our entire democracy may be riding on whether the party can find the right leader.

Our biggest adversary is waiting for the West to collapse.

It sounds like somebodys bummed he wasnt invited to the supervillain sleepover, Jimmy Kimmel said of the presidents reaction to Chinas big military parade.

Powerball play slips are seen Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)2025-09-03T14:16:32Z DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) The Powerball jackpot has jumped to an eye-popping $1.7 billion, after yet another drawing passed without a big winner Wednesday. The numbers selected were: 3, 16, 29, 61 and 69, with the Powerball number being 22.Since May 31, there have been 41 straight drawings without a big winner. The next drawing will be Saturday night, with the prize expected to be the third-largest in U.S. lottery history.Powerballs terrible odds of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to generate big jackpots, with prizes becoming ever larger as they repeatedly roll over when no one wins. Lottery officials note that the odds are far better for the games many smaller prizes. There are three drawings each week.The estimated $1.4 billion jackpot from Wednesday nights drawing would have been for a winner who had opted to receive 30 payments over 29 years through an annuity. Winners almost always choose the games cash option, which would have been an estimated $634.3 million.Powerball tickets cost $2 and the game is offered in 45 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

A fire officer works at the site of the Sky Villa, a 10-story condo that collapsed during the March 28 earthquake, in Mandalay, Myanmar, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)2025-09-04T09:11:15Z MANDALAY, Myanmar (AP) Thae Mama Swe stood atop a pile of earthquake rubble in the monsoon rain as she watched an excavator below tear away at the concrete and rebar, while a second machine scooped the wreckage away.It has been a daily ritual for the 47-year-old seamstress for five months, ever since a 7.7-magnitude earthquake centered in Myanmar brought down a 10-story condo and office building with her son inside. Nearly 200 bodies have been recovered from the site, including seven in the past week, but not his. If it were possible, I would exchange my life for his, she said, her glasses wet with rain and her eyes swollen with tears. Thae Mama Swe stands at the site of Sky Villa, a 10-story condo that collapsed during the March 28 earthquake, in Mandalay, Myanmar, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo) Thae Mama Swe stands at the site of Sky Villa, a 10-story condo that collapsed during the March 28 earthquake, in Mandalay, Myanmar, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The March 28 disaster that killed more than 3,800 people unfolded as Myanmar was already mired in a civil war, in which armed militias and pro-democracy forces are fighting the military-led government that seized power from the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021.During a rare trip into the disaster zone, The Associated Press recently witnessed a country laboring to rebuild the roads, temples, hospitals, schools and government buildings needed for a society to function, while still grappling with the deadly divisions that have torn the nation apart.The military allowed AP to report on the quake damage in the capital, Naypyitaw, and in the countrys second-largest city, Mandalay both areas firmly under its control. Official representatives accompanied the team to all sites. A ceasefire was declared after the quake, but strikes go onAll sides declared a ceasefire immediately after the earthquake, but the fighting never really stopped. Military airstrikes and artillery attacks have continued, including on civilian targets and in areas affected by the earthquake, said Tom Andrews, the U.N.-appointed human rights expert for Myanmar. The attacks have slowed or halted the delivery of humanitarian aid to many areas. Meanwhile, insurgents have also attacked the military. Even before the quake, the United Nations estimated that more than 3.5 million people had been displaced from their homes due to the fighting, and some 20 million were in need of assistance. Now, five months on, the military continues to restrict aid to areas outside its control, the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a report this week.The junta has to stop killing people, its as simple as that, Andrews said. And they need to stop obstructing aid.Authorities deny that the military, known as the Tatmadaw, is holding up any aid and maintain that any airstrikes are in response to attacks on them from militia groups.We are only doing it in self-defense when the enemy comes and attacks us, Zaw Tun Oo, the head of the protocol department of the Myanmar Foreign Ministry, told AP outside the ministry building, which itself was badly damaged by the earthquake.Several aid organizations operating inside Myanmar that need the regimes permission to be there declined to comment on the situation.Quake damage, sanctions and budget cuts impede recovery A broken bridge stands on Dokhtawaddy River after the March 28 earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo) A broken bridge stands on Dokhtawaddy River after the March 28 earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The destruction of infrastructure such as roads and bridges has added to the challenge of bringing aid to the worst-hit areas. Hospitals, schools, places of worship and other community buildings have been damaged or destroyed, leaving few places where people can seek shelter or care. Along the main highway from the countrys largest city, Yangon, to Mandalay, toppled temples and buckled sections of pavement serve as a constant reminder of the quakes destructive power. Military engineers have erected temporary bridges to allow traffic to pass over rivers where spans have been destroyed. Damaged bridges that remain standing are being repaired.Violence is never far away, with pro-democracy forces attacking along the road even after the earthquake.Across the Mandalay region, nearly 29,000 homes, 5,000 Buddhist pagodas and 43 bridges were either completely or partially destroyed, according to official statistics.Myanmar continues to trade with China, Russia and others, but Western sanctions have hurt an already struggling economy. That means authorities have fewer means at their disposal to rebuild while also enduring shortages of supplies and equipment. Recent cuts to foreign aid by U.S. President Donald Trumps administration have also left both U.N. organizations and other groups operating inside Myanmar struggling to meet humanitarian needs.The lack of American logistical help has been especially acute, including the transport of aid and heavy equipment to remote areas, Andrews said. In the past, such assistance was routine.Crews race to rebuild parliament before election A backhoe clears an area near the parliament building that was damaged in the March 28 earthquake in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo) A backhoe clears an area near the parliament building that was damaged in the March 28 earthquake in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More At the parliament complex in Naypyitaw, up to 500 people are working day and night, seven days a week, on the five most important buildings that were damaged. Crews are repairing collapsed ceilings and walls and shoring up foundations so they will be usable in time for elections scheduled for the end of December. Scaffolding fills entire chambers. Its seen as symbolically important to have the main parliament buildings ready for new lawmakers to gather in their first session. Critics say the elections are a sham to normalize the military takeover, and several opposition organizations, including armed resistance groups, have said they will try to derail them.Following the dissolution of Suu Kyis National League for Democracy party, which won a landslide victory in 2020, the opposition maintains elections cannot be considered fair or representative. The military seized power before the NLD could begin its second five-year term.The National Unity Government, established by elected lawmakers who were barred from taking their seats, did not respond to a request for comment.Elsewhere in the capital, teams of about 40 workers, primarily women, toil largely by hand to repair roads at about a dozen sites. The laborers carry baskets of large stones on their heads and shoulders and dump them to form the foundation, followed by loads of gravel that are topped with asphalt. Laborers work to repair a road that was damaged in the March 28 earthquake in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo) Laborers work to repair a road that was damaged in the March 28 earthquake in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More As the reconstruction progresses, officials say Myanmar needs help from other countries that have experience constructing earthquake-resistant buildings.Aye Min Thu, the chief of the Mandalay division of Myanmars disaster management agency, said with that assistance, the country could build a resilient society so that future generations will not be easily destroyed.At the site of one of the capitals largest hospitals, nothing remains but rusted rebar, plastic pipes and concrete, sorted into piles to be taken away. Hospital beds and furniture are stacked under a shelter for possible reuse, but the engineer in charge of the project, Thin Thin Swe, said its not yet clear whether Ottara Thiri Hospital will be rebuilt.The 47-year-old lost two friends the hospitals accountant and its pharmacist when the main lobby caved in.I still pray for them every day, she said. Birds sit on debris of Ottara Thiri Hospital that was damaged in the March 28 earthquake in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo) Birds sit on debris of Ottara Thiri Hospital that was damaged in the March 28 earthquake in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More At the site where Thae Mama Swes son worked, Mandalays fire chief Kyaw Ko Ko said the recovery work has been difficult on his teams, especially when they come across the bodies of children, who could easily be my own relatives or family members.As she watched the slow recovery effort continue, Thae Mama Swe talked about the guilt she feels over her sons death since he was only working in the building that collapsed because she encouraged him to return to Mandalay. Her greatest hope is to recover his body, an essential part of Buddhist religious rites. I will never give up hope for that, she said. Then his soul will be free, and I can live peacefully. DAVID RISING Rising covers regional Asia-Pacific stories for The Associated Press. He has worked around the world, including covering the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Ukraine, and was based for nearly 20 years in Berlin before moving to Bangkok. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, from second left in front, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrive for a reception marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)2025-09-04T08:18:46Z BEIJING (AP) Chinas Foreign Ministry said Thursday that visiting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.There were no immediate details on when they would meet.Kim attended a Chinese military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, alongside other foreign leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kim is making a rare trip outside North Korea.Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that the two leaders would conduct in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern.He said that Kims attendance at the parade and the talks with Xi carry great significance.The North Korean leader, who arrived in Beijing by train on Tuesday, was among 26 foreign leaders who watched the parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. It was the first time that he joined an event with a large group of world leaders since taking office in late 2011. Kim, on his first visit to China in six years, brought his young daughter, adding to speculation that shes being primed as the countrys next leader.Experts say Kim likely hopes to restore ties with China, North Koreas biggest trading partner and aid provider, as there have been questions about the bilateral relationship. In recent years, Kims foreign policy has focused heavily on Russia. He has sent combat troops and ammunition to back Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in return for economic and military assistance. At a meeting with Kim in Beijing after the parade, Putin praised the bravery of North Korean soldiers in the fighting. Stay up to date with similar stories by signing up to our WhatsApp channel. But experts say that Kim would feel the need to prepare for the possible end of the Russia-Ukraine war. Some observers say Kims trip could also be meant to increase leverage in potential talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his hopes to resume diplomacy between the two countries. China, which is North Koreas biggest trading partner and main provider of aid, wants its neighbor to return to negotiation and give up its nuclear weapons development.North Korea has reached out to Russia, raising some concern in Beijing, which has long been North Koreas most important ally. At a meeting with Kim in Beijing after the parade, Putin praised the bravery of North Korean soldiers that Kim has sent to help Russia in its war against Ukraine.The joint appearance of Kim, Xi and Putin at the parade has sparked speculation about a joint effort to push back at U.S. pressure on their three countries. Trump said as much in a social media post, telling Xi to give his warmest regards to Putin and Kim as you conspire against The United States of America.Putin dismissed that idea at a news conference in Beijing on Wednesday, saying no one has expressed anything negative about the Trump administration during his trip to China.The President of the United States is not without a sense of humor, he said.Though China, North Korea and Russia are embroiled in separate confrontations with the U.S., they havent formed a clear three-way alliance so far. Zhu Feng, the dean of Nanjing Universitys School of International Relations, said that ganging up with North Korea would damage Chinas image, because the former is the most closed and authoritarian country in the world.It should not be overinterpreted that China-North Korea-Russia relations would see reinforcement, he said.___Hyung-jin Kim contributed to this report from Seoul, South Korea. KEN MORITSUGU Moritsugu covers political, economic and social issues from Beijing for The Associated Press. He has also reported from New Delhi, Bangkok and Tokyo and is the APs former news director for Greater China and for Japan and the Koreas. twitter

Residents watch a Kenyan police armored vehicle patrolling in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)2025-09-04T00:02:57Z UNITED NATIONS (AP) The United States and Panama are urging the U.N. Security Council to authorize a 5,550-member force with the power to detain gang members in Haiti to help stop the escalating violence. The two countries outlined their proposal to transform the Kenya-led multinational force now deployed in the Caribbean nation into a much larger force in a draft resolution to the U.N. Security Council obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press.The first Kenyans arrived in Haiti in June 2024 and the force was supposed to have 2,500 troops, but it has been plagued by a lack of funding and its current strength is below 1,000.Gangs have grown in power since the assassination of President Jovenel Mose in 2021. They now control 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and have expanded their activities, including looting, kidnapping, sexual assaults and rape, into the countryside. Haiti has not had a president since the assassination. The six-page draft resolution expresses appreciation to Kenya for leading the multinational force but reaffirms Secretary-General Antonio Guterres finding in February that it hasnt been able to keep pace with the dramatic expansion of the gangs and needed to be scaled up. Acting U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea had announced on Aug. 28 that the U.S. was seeking U.N. authorization for a new Gang Suppression Force.The draft resolution would authorize U.N. member nations to transition the mission into such a force in cooperation with Haitis government for an initial period of 12 months. The force would be able to detain and arrest Haitians. It states that the force would consist of 5,500 uniformed personnel and 50 civilians who would be paid from voluntary contributions. But it does not specify whether Kenya or any other country would contribute troops or police.The resolution would authorize participants in the new force to conduct independent, intelligence-led targeted counter-gang operations to neutralize, isolate, and deter gangs that continue to threaten the civilian population, abuse human rights and undermine Haitian institutions. The new force would also provide security for critical infrastructure, including the airport and ports, schools and hospitals, along with the Haitian police and armed forces. And it would support Haitian efforts to combat illicit trafficking and diversion of arms and related materiel.The Security Council mandate for the Kenya-led multinational force ends Oct. 2 and council members are expected to vote at the end of the month on the U.S. and Panama draft resolution.

Subscribe nowYesterday was Uncloseted Medias one-year anniversary. If you told me a year ago how far we would have come, I wouldve called your bluff. About 100 original stories, including 60+ pieces of investigative journalism Content partnerships with big LGBTQ brands like Gay Times, LGBTQ Nation and Them Breaking out of the queer echo chamber by landing on the cover of The Idaho Statesman and The Chicago Sun-Times and getting our work republished by dozens of other outlets Award-winning investigations, including a prestigious NLGJA award and National Institute for Health Care Management award LGBTQ stories that lawyers, politicians and other influential figures have used in their work to move the needle on important issues at a time when the queer community and the freedom of the press is under attack. I am so SO proud of what my team of journalists and my board have accomplished in such a short amount of time. The work is even more critical now than when we started, as LGBTQ rights in the U.S. are under an unprecedented attack. Since we launchedDonald Trump spent more money on ads targeting transgender people than on those covering any other topic.The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming health care for minors, threatening the health care of thousands of trans youth nationwide.Attacks on gay marriage have slowly crept their way back into the mainstream, with some states introducing resolutions calling on the Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell.The Trump administration has cut billions of dollars in funding to various programs that impact the LGBTQ community, from HIV programs to the LGBTQ suicide hotline to research in notoriously underserved areas of LGBTQ health.Many federal departments have come under the leadership of individuals with histories of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and policy.Our sleeves are rolled up and were just getting started. As a nonprofit newsroom, we can use all the help we can get. If you want to get involved, feel free to reach out directly. And if youd like to support Uncloseted Media, consider upgrading to a paid or founding subscriber here:Subscribe nowOr you can submit a tax-deductible donation here:Donate to Uncloseted MediaThank you for your support and engagement. Because of you, the work continues on!Subscribe for LGBTQ-focused, accountability journalism.Subscribe nowJoin us to celebrate our one-year anniversary at The Stonewall Inn on Sept. 17th. We would love to meet you in person and reflect on a remarkable year of journalism.RSVP HereCelebrities and a #CutsKill Quilt Join AIDS Advocates in DC to #SaveHIVFunding (Hep)As the U.S. Conference on HIV/AIDS (USCHA) takes place this week, GOP lawmakers propose massive HIV funding cuts.Burkina Faso parliament passes law outlawing LGBTQ practices (Reuters)Burkina Faso's transitional parliament passed legislation outlawing conduct deemed to promote LGBTQ practices, introducing fines, prison sentences and sanctions for persons convicted, its justice minister said.Pope Leo meets LGBTQ+ Catholic advocate and vows continuity with Pope Francis legacy of welcome (The Associated Press)Pope Leo XIV met Monday with one of the most prominent advocates for greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Catholic Church and encouraged his ministry, sending a strong signal of welcome in the early months of his pontificate.Illinois launches LGBTQ+ legal hotline amid Trump-led onslaught (The Guardian)Governor JB Pritzkers promotion of phone line comes as other US states have faced rollbacks of LGBTQ+ initiatives.CNN anchor embarrasses White House counterterrorism chief over false transgender mass shooter stats (The Advocate)We cant stick with your facts because theyre not accurate, Brianna Keilar told Sebastian Gorka.Over the next week, be on the lookout for new Uncloseted reporting: Liberty Counsel, a far-right Christian legal group, made the news last month when the Supreme Court announced that theyd be formally considering their petition for a case to overturn legal gay marriage. But this isnt their first rodeowe dug into their decades-long history as some of the most fervent opponents of LGBTQ rights. A major figure from far-right parent organization Moms for Liberty and an influential figure in Florida politics has been claiming for years to be an operating room nurse, using that credential to spread medical misinformation. But is she really a nurse? We investigate.Thanks for reading! Feel free to email me with questions, complaints and story ideas! Spencer Macnaughton, Editor-In-Chief spencer@unclosetedmedia.comIf objective, nonpartisan, rigorous, LGBTQ-focused journalism is important to you, please consider making a tax-deductible donation through our fiscal sponsor, Resource Impact, by clicking this button:Donate to Uncloseted Media

Transitioning can be a long and difficult process, with judgment from family and society and decisions about surgery and hormone therapy complicating everything, but its all worth it when you can come out on the other side and experience gender euphoria and trans joy.But for many trans people, speaking in a voice that doesnt match their gender identity can be a stumbling block to feeling comfortable in their own skin.While there is vocal feminization or masculinization surgery, it doesnt always give you the results you want and sometimes has to be repeated. Thats where voice transitioning comes in. Its a series of techniques and behavior modifications that can help you sound more like your authentic self.To find out more about voice transitioning, how effective it is, and if there are any downsides, we talked to speech-language pathologist and transgender voice expert Nicole Gress, who founded Undead Voice, the first and only scalable trans voice training program.What is voice transitioning? What is its purpose?Voice transitioning is a way for trans people to train their physical voice so it aligns with your identity, so you have control over how you sound and you can feel safer and more authentic, Guess tells PRIDE.Its a guided way to change your behavior and train your vocal instrument through a set of exercises that requires months or even years of training.If youre a cis ally wondering why someone would go through months of exercises and behavior modification in order to change your voice, Gress has the perfect analogy:Think of a time when you heard yourself on a voicemail or (old school) answering machine, she explains. Did you cringe at the sound? Most people say, No way thats what I sound like? or, I absolutely do NOT identify with that voice. Now, imagine that happening every time you open your mouth to speak, whether its on Zoom, at work, with family, or ordering a coffee, and you dont have a reliable way to change it.Many people talk about vocal training for trans folks in terms of feminizing or masculinizing, but Gress and Undead Voice prefer to be more inclusive and instead talk about making your voice sound more like brighter, higher, lighter, thinner or darker, deeper, thicker, lower.How did it originate?According to Gress, the history of voice transitioning is hard to pin down, but it isnt new. For a long time, being visibly trans wasnt safe, and many people had to be stealth, so a lot of this knowledge has lived off the record, she says. Voice training itself isnt new. People have been figuring out how to sound like themselves for decades. Whats new is our ability to talk about it openly, and the access to resources has evolved as weve moved online.Back in the 90s, there was a set of VHS tapes called Melanie Speaks that was passed among people in the community, and in the 2010s, there was an explosion of community-led resources such as Reddit threads, YouTube channels, DIY guides, and online coaches. It was empowering, but also chaotic: tons of competing advice, no shared structure, and no built-in feedback loop, Gress explains.Gress got into the field more than a decade ago and started Undead Voice six years ago, so that no trans or gender-diverse person would ever feel like they had to silence themselves for fear of harassment or discrimination. Undead Voice offers affirming, community-centered virtual voice transition training without gendered language, which Gress created based on their own queer, gender-fluid lived experience.Who can benefit from voice transitioning?Any trans or gender diverse person who wants a more affirming voice, no matter their age, identity, or where theyre at in their transition timeline, can benefit from voice transitioning, Guess explains. No one is obligated to change their voice, but for those who want to, the goal isnt to meet a societal expectation or ideal of what their voice should sound like, but instead to find the sound that communicates who they truly are to the world.According to a recent community survey conducted by Undead Voice, only 7% of respondents report access to gender-affirming voice care, while 85% report experiencing voice dysphoria, which Gress defines as that stomach-dropping feeling when the sound coming out does not match who you are.How does it work? What techniques are used?Undead Voice has created methodology for mastering voice transition, called the 5 Pillars of Voice which includes learning how to alter your vocal weight, vocal tilt, resonance, pitch and dynamics that you need to master to gain full control over your voice.Vocal weight is all about controlling the bass in your voice and vocal tilt is about expressing emotion with your voice, but Gress calls vocal resonance the most important part of voice training because its the number one way that society codes gender in the voice. Resonance can take the longest to master and is the trickiest because its dependent on learning how to make physical changes to your vocal tract to make your voice sound darker or brighter.Pitch is probably the part of your voice that people are the most familiar with, because our ears are most tuned in to hearing and its the main thing we control when we sing, and most trans people looking to change their voices start by exploring their pitch.Once youve mastered the first four pillars, Guess says that dynamics is where you get to play with all of the options of how your voice can sound, That makes YOU sound like YOU, and ensures that your culture and personality stay intact while allowing you to express the full range of emotions and communicate who you are to the world.What is the impact on the lives and well-being of people who go on this voice journey?Vocal transition can help improve mental health, and Gress says voice consistently ranks in the top three most important parts of transition.Here are words from people who have undergone vocal transition with the help of Undead Voice:Luke, a 26-year-old trans man from Atlanta, said:I finally feel safe. Not just in my own body, but also in the world. My voice consistently outed me, and changing it let me set aside the fear and anxiety that weighed on my shoulders. I can finally just be me.Zephyr, a 17-year-old non-binary person from the United Kingdom, said:When my voice started to change when I was 13 and I had no control over it getting deeper, it was really hard for me. I decided to stop talking and became selectively mute for 3 years. My therapist and my parents enrolled me in Undead Voice Lab last year, and now Im using my voice again at school and with my friends.Emily, a 32-year-old trans woman from Arizona, said about using her voice at work:I work at a call center, and before training my voice, I struggled with being misgendered on the phone over and over again every day. Transitioning my voice is the most important thing I did for my confidence, and I can focus on helping my customers instead of feeling in pain every time I had to answer the phone.Willow, a 52-year-old trans woman in Florida, said about using her voice safely:I recently started my medical transition in November with HRT, but living in Florida, I was concerned about being able to pass publicly as my body started to change. I decided to transition my voice alongside HRT to protect myself during my journey. I was skeptical I would be able to sound like the woman I am since Ive talked the same way for 50 years, but I was tired of living in fear and cringing every time I heard my voice. Im now so much more confident when talking to people as Willow, and love the sound of my voice."What is vocal allyship training?Once someone has undergone this kind of vocal training, they still might not feel comfortable using their new voice for fear of peoples reactions, especially around people who know what their dead voice sounds like.To bridge this gap, Undead Voice also offers a vocal allyship training tool to help educate employers, parents and caregivers, and community organizations. It is not enough to help someone build an affirming voice if they do not feel safe and comfortable using it, Guess explains.How effective is it? How quickly do changes happen? Is it permanent?How effective voice transition is and how quickly the changes to your voice happens is dependent on the program you use and how committed you are to the exercises. You can choose between a traditional weekly voice lesson model, or a community-centered virtual program like Undead Voice Lab, Guess explains. Traditional weekly lessons take an average of 18-36 months whereas our program takes about 6 months to complete, with the biggest impact happening in the first 4 months.Unlike with vocal surgeries, with vocal transition you arent physically altering your vocal chords, which means that youll be able to switch back and forth between your new voice and your dead voice, but over time your new voice will become the one you automatically use without thinking about it. Your current default voice is your home base. As you practice your transitioning voice, that becomes your new home base, similar to bilingual speakers, they say. You do not lose the old voice. You can still switch into it on purpose. If you use the new one more, it becomes the automatic one.Are there any side effects or downsides to voice transitioning?Absolutely not. Unless you consider pure ecstatic joy a side effect! Done well, voice transition is a safe, effective, immediate way that a trans person can start feeling more like themself and alleviate dysphoria without requiring a diagnosis, doctor referral, or outing yourself before youre ready, Guess says.How can Undead Voice help?Undead Voice is a trans-owned and operated virtual voice training company focused solely on trans and gender-diverse people. The organization has worked with over 100,000 voices across more than 20 countries through its flagship Undead Voice Lab, which provides unlimited voice coaching, community support, and virtual course. But because access to gender-affirming care is rapidly disappearing, Undead Voice created Jumpstart, which is a three-week virtual masterclass series designed to help trans and gender-diverse people begin or deepen their voice transition journey that they are offering at no cost to any trans or gender-diverse person who needs it for at least the next 5 years. All participants are also granted $1,000 in tuition assistance to continue their voice training journey with the full program.According to Gress, Undead Voice has already awarded 1.4 million dollars in need-based scholarships, At Undead Voice, we believe in economic justice and community care. We understand that financial security varies, and we want everyone to have access to voice training, regardless of their ability to pay.Individuals who are interested in enrolling in Jumpstart can also learn more and register here.Source cited:Nicole Gress, a speech-language pathologist and transgender voice expert, who founded Undead Voice, the first and only scalable trans voice training program.

The relationship landscape is shifting dramatically, particularly as conservative ideologies continue to thrive in the U.S. and around the world. Many women are now expressing a desire to stop interacting with men altogether (and it's understandable), primarily viewing them as the key force behind the election of right-wing politicians. While straight women are joining the 4B movement, I'm reminded of the ideas behind lesbian separatism from earlier times. I'm not here to change anyone's sexuality, but for bi, pan, queer, or questioning women, transitioning to queer dating can be a real safe haven. If you've ever felt hesitant to approach women and ended up in relationships with men because of it, now the world is your oyster.While women are embracing this shift, a similar phenomenon is occurring within the trans community. For many trans folks who've struggled with cisnormative dating and risks of transphobic violence, T4T relationships are becoming a way to find love where shared experiences create more profound understanding and support.No Chasers, No Heteronormative Gaze, No Cisgender DramaWith the rise of anti-trans rhetoric and conservative influencers mocking our experiences, exploring trans-for-trans love feels safer. Trans people, like anyone else, can be gay, straight, bi, pan, ace/aro, and more the options are endless. According to data from the Taimi LGBTQIA+ dating app, the number of T4T mutual connections in the U.S. rose by 28% in 2025 compared to 2024. T4T connections are growing across all states, with the largest numbers found in California, New York City, Florida, and Texas. While the first two are no surprise, given the high concentration of queer individuals, the latter two were a revelation to me. The Trans Legislation project tracked 128 anti-trans bills in Texas this year, including measures restricting birth certificate changes, healthcare access, participation in sports, bathroom access, and more. Florida introduced 13 bills in 2025, but in 2024, the state saw 19 such bills, showing that the effort to target trans rights is growing. In the bigger picture, more and more trans people are seeking love and joy within their own community, finding better outcomes in the dark times.While love is blind, personally, I've always felt that T4T is the best fit for me. I'm transmasc genderqueer, and this March I celebrated the second anniversary of my T4T relationship with my partner, who is a trans man. He gets me his experiences mirror mine, and because of his background with chronic illness, he's also skilled with injections. It's a comforting connection that only someone who shares similar struggles can truly understand.For straight trans couples, there's room for playful jokes about being queer and heterosexual at the same time. Many trans folks express that dating while straight can be particularly challenging. On dating apps, cis people often display toxic chaser behavior or outright transphobia and aggression. Even queer-specific dating spaces aren't immune to this issue. However, platforms like Taimi and other LGBTQIA+ dating apps often provide more support and understanding from their app teams and communities. When you opt for T4T, you avoid the need to constantly educate, act as an activist, or answer frustrating questions like, "If I'm with you, should I consider myself bisexual now?"From Love to Activism: T4T as a Revolution and HealingWhen the fight for trans rights inevitably heats up again, being in a T4T relationship means you already have a built-in activist squad. Your home can become an organizing hub or even the headquarters of a grassroots initiative or non-profit, especially if you invite other trans couples over for tea.Many trans lesbians and gay men share that being in T4T relationships has helped alleviate their dysphoria, at least partially. The simple act of loving our partners and seeing their bodies as beautiful allows us to start seeing ourselves in the same way, too. When we see someone we love embrace their body with pride, it becomes easier to do the same for our own.People in trans couples often share so many of the same struggles, which creates a sense of unity that's hard to find with cis partners. In relationships with cis people, we often find ourselves in a position where we have to explain our experiences or be on guard about how our partners perceive us. But in T4T relationships, that weight is lifted. Understanding and validation are already in place.When we love someone who has lived through the same body-related struggles, it offers a form of validation that can be incredibly healing for trans folks. The ability to tell your partner, "I love you just as you are, and I see you as beautiful," becomes a reflection of how we can begin to feel that way about ourselves, too.T4T relationships are often free from the societal pressures that cisnormativity places on us. Instead of conforming to traditional gender roles or superficial appearances, love in a T4T relationship is grounded in the simple, powerful truth that both partners are worthy of love simply because they exist.The Cultural Shift and Visibility of T4T RelationshipsAs T4T relationships continue to gain visibility, they are driving conversations about trans love and dating to new heights. These relationships, with their diversity and nuance, reflect the complexity of love in a trans body. In 2025, T4T relationships are no longer just a niche they are an affirmation of trans resilience, pride, and empowerment.Looking ahead, many within the trans community are optimistic about greater acceptance and recognition of T4T relationships. We see the growing popularity of T4T love as a shift, a cultural change, and it's exciting to witness. The visibility of T4T couples in media both in the mainstream and online is opening doors for younger trans people to explore relationships that feel authentic to them without the pressure to fit into mainstream norms.T4T Relationships are a Path to EmpowermentUltimately, T4T relationships are about more than just romantic love they're about carving out spaces where trans people can heal from collective trauma and build communities that honor their experiences, their bodies, and their identities. As more trans people embrace the possibility of love and connection within their own community, these relationships serve as influential acts of self-love and solidarity.Through mutual understanding and respect, T4T relationships provide us with the opportunity to heal from past hurts and form new, meaningful connections that transcend the limitations imposed by mainstream society. They aren't just a romantic choice they're a form of resistance, empowerment, and collective healing.Perspectives is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Visit Pride.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. Views expressed in Perspectives stories are those of the guest writers, columnists, and editors, and do not directly represent the views of PRIDE or our parent company, equalpride.

Tristan Schukraft's empire is growing by the day!The sexy gay CEO has already had quite the year as The Tryst Puerto Vallarta had a phenomenal grand opening back in April with tons of celebrities in attendance. Plus, The Tryst Fire Island broke ground over the summer and the property is slated to fully open next season.As if two major hotel openings weren't enough, the entrepreneur just announced Rio de Janeiro as the latest location to welcome a Tryst Hotel in 2026."Who knew Brazil could get gayer?! This is our biggest hotel yet. We're going to have a rooftop pool, drag brunch, a huge gym, a bathhouse, and top floor restaurant. You won't have to leave the hotel if you don't want to, but we hope you do. There's a lot of reasons, starting with the hot men, to go to Brazil," Schukraft tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Schukraft's entire brand is designed to create a safe space for everyone in the LGBTQ+ community. Besides his growing empire for Tryst Hotels, he's also the CEO of MISTR the largest telemedicine platform dedicated to HIV prevention and long-term HIV care.The motto for Tryst Hotels is for guests to embrace their worst behavior, and Schukraft is living up to that mantra. The Tryst Fire Island recently teamed up with Sniffies for a slew of activations throughout the summer to celebrate sex-positivity."We are gay. We are not hetero-friendly. We're not gay-friendly. We're gay! Come as you are. Everyone's welcome, of course, but if you're not going to feel uncomfortable being around drag queens or guys holding hands and kissing wearing thongs, then maybe The Tryst is not for you."Learn more about Tryst Hotels by visiting the official website here. To see the full interview, check out the video at the top of the page.

The Kremlins vision of national security comes at the expense of Ukrainian sovereignty, underlining the challenges of striking a peace deal.

Plus, a Chinese coffee giant comes to America.

Hes exploiting a diabolical problem in our legal system to expand presidential power.

U.S. farmers need to sell their incoming crop, and China needs to buy it in case its main alternative, Brazil, has a flood or drought. But their trade war prevents a deal.