Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis self-declared war on rainbow crosswalks reached its latest stop in the Florida Keys on Tuesday when the Florida Department of Transportation painted over gay mecca Key Wests Pride display in the dead of night.The erasure of the tiny crosswalk, measuring just six feet deep at the intersection of Duval and Petronia Streets, gave the lie to DeSantis claim that such street art is a traffic hazard in search of fatalities. Bikers and pedestrians at the narrow intersection regularly move faster than motorized traffic in the slow-paced resorts gayborhood. Related Protestors across Florida rally against rainbow crosswalk removals: We will not be erased The overnight erasure was met with an outpouring of emotion from our community, said the Key West Business Guild, which was deeply disheartened by the removal of the Rainbow Crosswalk in the middle of the night.While this action has caused pain and disappointment, we are not deterred, the group said in a statement posted on social media. The Guilds board and staff remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that the LGBTQ+ community is visibly represented in our Historic Gayborhood.We encourage everyone to make their voices heard by reaching out directly to the Key West City Commission tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM, the Guild said. Together, we will move forward, stronger, prouder, and more united than ever. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today They destroyed the rainbow crosswalks in Key West overnight by order of the Orange felon but they ll never destroy their spirit. pic.twitter.com/YuOhQccGU4 Karen Tennents girl (@karen_flynn) September 9, 2025DeSantis obsession with the crosswalks resulted in multiple orders for Key West to remove the rainbow art. The final order, arriving on Monday, proved disingenuous; the FDOT erased the art before the city commission could act.Youre always gonna have the Key Wests of the world that are going to virtue signal, DeSantis raged about the LGBTQ+ bastion and other cities protesting the state governments unilateral removal orders two weeks ago. Thats just what they do.DeSantis employed the same duplicitous tactics north of Key West in Delray Beach near Fort Lauderdale on the very same night.Before dawn on September 9, 2025, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) unilaterally removed the Delray Beach Pride Intersection, the city posted to Facebook today.Less than 12 hours before, the City of Delray Beach received an order directing the CITY to remove this symbol of inclusion. This immediate action by FDOT did not allow the city commission the opportunity to review the order as an elected government body and decide how to move forward.By acting outside of its process, FDOT disregarded the Citys good-faith efforts to follow established procedures, the statement reads. While FDOTs action cannot be undone, Delray Beach remains steadfast in its commitment to unity, respect, and the fundamental human rights that belong to every member of our community. Lets be honest. We all know this is not about traffic safety. This is political, said Delray Beach Vice Mayor Rob Long last week.In July, DeSantis signed a law effectively banning all pavement art and murals like rainbow crosswalks, regardless of their political message, in collusion with Transportation Secretary and former Road Rules contestantSean Duffy, who directed all state governors to keep intersections and crosswalks free from distractions.In a subsequentX post, Duffy said that Taxpayers expect their dollars to fund safe streets, not rainbow crosswalks. Duffy also referred to nonexistent data implying the crosswalks cause traffic fatalities, a ruse deployed to serve the Trump administrations erasure of LGBTQ+ identity. DeSantis has promoted this untrue implication.Protests have erupted in several cities subject to the rainbow crosswalk ban, with activists and allies replacing the street art soon after its erasure. DeSantis deployed the Florida Highway Patrol to monitor the intersection in front of the Pulse Nightclub Memorial in Orlando after protesters chalked and then painted a new rainbow crosswalk for a third time.Last week, a 29-year-old man was arrested at the same intersection for rubbing chalk on his shoes and walking over the crosswalk, in defiance of a new sign reading, Defacing Roadway Prohibited. A judge released him the following day, finding no probable cause.Returning triumphantly on a rain-soaked day to the scene of his crime, the man danced and clapped his way across the intersection as supporters cheered him on.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The president of Texas A&M University removed the dean and department head of the schools College of Arts and Sciences on Monday after anti-LGBTQ+ Texas State Rep. Brian Harrison (R) shared a video of a literature student complaining about a professor mentioning gender identity. On Monday, Harrison wrote the Trump administration and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), demanding immediate action to end LGBTQ indoctrination in taxpayer-funded universities.In the video, shared by anti-LGBTQ+ Texas Rep. Brian Harrison, a student tells the professor that its not legal to teach about gender ideology because according to our president, theres only two genders. The student mentioned that the president has frozen federal funds from organizations that acknowledge the existence of transgender people. Related Brown University agrees to Trumps anti-trans demands as part of deal to restore funding This also goes very much against, not only myself, but a lot of peoples religious beliefs, the student continued. So I am not going to participate in this because its not legal, and I dont want to promote something that is against our presidents laws, as well as against my own religious beliefs.The president hasnt signed any laws forbidding professors from discussing trans issues in university classrooms. Also, many religions recognize and affirm the existence and divinity of trans people. 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 The professor told the student that if they were uncomfortable, they had the right to leave and to discuss their complaint with the department head. The student then said that they had a meeting with the university president to discuss all of their documentation.Im not sure that your proposal will be effective in stopping me from teaching things that are biologically true because I do have the legal and ethical authority and, moreover, the professional authority in this classroom, the professor tells the student, before adding, Its time for you to leave now.Reposting the students video to X, state Rep. Harrison wrote, Im referring [Texas A&M University] to the Trump Administration for investigation and asking Gov. @GregAbbott_TX to fire the A&M officials involved and to instruct his Regents at all public universities to immediately end all DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion] and LGBTQ indoctrination. CAUGHT ON TAPE: TEXAS A&M STUDENT KICKED OUT OF CLASS AFTER OBJECTING TO TRANSGENDER INDOCTRINATION and A&M President defends "LGBTQ Studies."I'm referring @TAMU to the Trump Administration for investigation and asking Gov @GregAbbott_TX to fire the A&M officials pic.twitter.com/J6IWsfw62I Brian Harrison (@brianeharrison) September 8, 2025 Harrison also posted an audio clip of the student allegedly talking with Texas A&M President Mark A. Welsh III. In the clip, Welsh accuses the student of picking a fight and asks the student what she wants, asking, What do you expect us to do? Fire her?The student replies, Yes, absolutely. Welsh says, Well, thats not happening. In an additional clip, Welsh explains that there are professional reasons that the universitys courses include LGBTQ+ content, particularly because school educators and counselors cant always choose the kinds of people theyll be serving. Harrison then shared numerous images, allegedly of the class materials, that discuss LGBTQ+ issues, queer theory, childhood gender identity, intersectionality and other concepts that have been banned from federal websites by the current U.S. presidents administration. Harrison then shared his letter to Gov. Abbott, sent via email on Monday, asking him to have his politically appointed regents at the university to fire the professor and Welsh, to have Abbotts regents at other state schools take all necessary action necessary to rid all DEI and LGBTQ activity and instruction, and to call a special legislative session to finally pass a total ban on taxpayer funded DEI and LGBTQ indoctrination.Harrison also sent a similar letter to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy and Education Secretary Linda McMahon, asking the departmental heads to investigate the incident and to ensure that Texas universities recieving federal funds are complying with the presidents anti-trans executive orders.In a statement issued on Monday night, Welsh wrote, Key leaders in the College of Arts and Sciences approved plans to continue teaching course content that was not consistent with the courses published description. As a result, I directed the provost to remove the dean and department head from their administrative positions, effective immediately.Our students use the published information in the course catalog to make important decisions about the courses they take in pursuit of their degrees, Welsh added. If we allow different course content to be taught from what is advertised, we let our students down. When it comes to our academic offerings, we must keep our word to our students and to the state of Texas. A statement from Texas A&M University President Mark A. Welsh III:I learned this afternoon that key leaders in the College of Arts and Sciences approved plans to continue teaching course content that was not consistent with the courses published description. As a result, I pic.twitter.com/jj9sk0e0ni Texas A&M University (@TAMU) September 9, 2025 Responding to the incident, Texas A&M System Chancellor Glenn Hegar issued an August 8 statementwhich said the professor failed to comply with clear instructions to align course descriptions with course materials.This failure continues to be an issue with this professor, Hegar wrote. I will work with the Board of Regents to make certain that the A&M system takes the disciplinary action necessary to ensure this does not happen again at one of our campuses.It is unacceptable for A&M System faculty to push a personal political agenda, Hegar added. We have been tasked with training the next generation of teachers and childcare professionals. That responsibility should prioritize protecting children, not engaging in indoctrination.A recent survey by the American Association of University Professors found that 25% of Texas professors are seeking out-of-state positions, with many citing the states tense and anti-academic political climate.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

CNN reporter Matt Egan said earlier today that new data proves that the presidents tariff policies are backfiring completely against the administrations stated goals of creating more jobs and an American manufacturing renaissance.The president imposed a universal 10% tariff on all foreign goods that went into effect on April 5. In August, he implemented various tariffs ranging from 15% to 50% on different countries. Related Presidents labor statistics nominee ran an anti-LGBTQ+ Twitter account Recent government statistics show that the economy only added an estimated 22,000 jobs in August, the unemployment rate rose to 4.3% (the highest level in four years), and the manufacturing industries that are most exposed to tariffs from imported resources and machinery like mining, logging, construction, and manufacturing are losing jobs, CNN reported.If you look at those tariff-exposed industries, they started losing jobs shortly after this trade war started, and its continuing, Egan said.This is the exact opposite of what the White House is looking for, Egan continued. Theyre trying to engineer this American manufacturing renaissance, theyre trying to cause a jobs boom that has not happened. Economists say, at best, that effort is off to a slow start, but at worse, its actually backfiring completely, that its been counterproductive because youre causing a lot of uncertainty. Egan noted that companies are hiring less, laying off workers, and purchasing fewer goods because theyre still waiting to understand all of the new tariffs economic consequences.

The out lesbian niece of Donald Trump has no doubts that it's his signature on an alleged raunchy birthday card sent to Jeffrey Epstein.Democrats recently revealed the card, which the Wall Street Journal first reported on in July but did not show, after Trump and officials in his administration continually called it a "hoax." Mary Trump has since weighed in, stating she believes the card to be authentic. Thats definitely his signature, she wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Just saying. (@) Trump allegedly sent the card to Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003, according to the WSJ report. It includes a hand-drawn sketch of a naked woman with Trumps signature placed along her pubic area to mimic hair, with text stating that the two share certain things in common" and wishing Epstein another wonderful secret."The card features an imaginary conversation between the two men written in third person. It reads as such:Voice Over: There must be more to life than having everything, the note began.Donald: Yes, there is, but I wont tell you what it is.Jeffrey: Nor will I, since I also know what it is.Donald: We have certain things in common, Jeffrey.Jeffrey: Yes, we do, come to think of it.Donald: Enigmas never age, have you noticed that?Jeffrey: As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you.Trump: A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday and may every day be another wonderful secret."Trump filed a lawsuit against WSJ, as well as its parent company News Corp and owner Rupert Murdoch who also owns Fox News after the outlet published the article. The lawsuit, filed in southern Florida, seeks more than $20 billion in damages for defamation.The White House has repeatedly denied the card's authenticity, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt most recently saying that "its very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it."Epstein died in jail in 2019 after being charged with sex trafficking conspiracy. He had long been accused of sexually abusing underage girls, with allegations that his prominent friends had been involved as well. His longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for her complicity in child sex trafficking. Even though Trump has claimed to be not a fan of Epstein, the two men with frequently photographed together in the 1980s and 90s. Trump told New York Magazine in 2002, Ive known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. Hes a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side."

LGBTQ+ billionaires.It's only been a couple of decades since media outlets have started to keep track of out LGBTQ+ people who are, in the modern sense, reportedly among the richest individuals around the globe.In a world now governed by billionaires, it will come as no surprise that everyone featured on this ranking has a net worth above $2 billion. And yet, this list has quite a range of people with a net worth anywhere between $2 billion and more than $20 billion according to estimates.Discover below the top 10 richest LGBTQ+ people in the world.9-10. (tie) Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana $2.5 billionDomenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana founded the luxury fashion house Dolce & Gabbana in 1985 and, together, have successfully run the brand for the past 40 years. Beyond business partners, Dolce and Gabbana were also romantic partners until 2004. As reported by The Guardian, they continued to act as partners despite going their separate ways as spouses.Both Dolce and Gabbana have a net worth of $2.5 billion and are tied according to Forbes estimates.Overall placement in the Forbes ranking 'Real-Time Billionaires List': No. 1,575 (tie)8. Tim Cook $2.5 billionApple CEO Tim Cook has a net worth of $2.5 billion per Forbes. Due to his role at Apple and reputation as the successor to Steve Jobs picked by Jobs himself Cook is arguably the best known person on this list of wealthiest LGBTQ+ public figures.Overall placement in the Forbes ranking 'Real-Time Billionaires List': No. 1,5567. Jennifer Pritzker $2.5 billionJennifer Pritzker's net worth is also an estimated $2.5 billion according to Forbes. Yet, as of this writing, she ranks slightly above Cook, Dolce, and Gabbana, evidenced by her overall placement in the "real-time billionaires list" updated by the publication.Jennifer Pritzker is one of 13 heirs to the Pritzker family fortune which has, over time, included various businesses such as the Hyatt Hotel chain, the Marmon Group, Reynolds American Inc., Braniff Airlines, and a stake in the credit reporting company TransUnion.In September 2013, Forbes reported that Jennifer Pritzker became the "first transgender billionaire."Overall placement in the Forbes ranking 'Real-Time Billionaires List': No. 1,5536. Stein Erik Hagen $2.7 billionStein Erik Hagen founded his family business a discount supermarket chain, RIMI, established in Norway alongside his father in the 1970s. After selling the business, Hagen's fortune was consolidated into an European conglomerate of consumer goods knowns as Orkla.Hagen publicly came out as bisexual in a talk show interview from October 2015. Hagen's current net worth is an estimated $2.7 billion according to Forbes.Overall placement in the Forbes ranking 'Real-Time Billionaires List': No. 1,4705. Barry Diller $5 billionBarry Diller, a self-made executive and chairman of the IAC Inc. media and tech conglomerate, has an estimated net worth of $5 billion according to Forbes. Even though Diller's sexuality has been a topic of discussion for a few decades, he discussed it for the first time at length in his memoir, Who Knew, published in May 2025.In the memoir as evidenced in an except published on New York Magazine Diller wrote that he "never questioned my sexuality's basic authority over my life (I was only afraid of the reaction of others)." The billionaire added that "today, sexual identities are much more fluid and natural," which he seems to relate to.Overall placement in the Forbes ranking 'Real-Time Billionaires List': No. 7944. Jon Stryker $5.7 billionJon Stryker is one of the heirs to Stryker Corporation, an industry leader for medical equipment and services around the world. Forbes estimates his net worth to be $5.7 billion. Family members that also appear on the list are Ronda Stryker (net worth estimate: $8.6 billion) and Pat Stryker (net worth estimate: $4.1 billion).Overall placement in the Forbes ranking 'Real-Time Billionaires List': No. 6823. David Geffen $8.9 billionBetween cofounding Asylum Records, Geffen Records, and a movie studio that would eventually become DreamWorks, David Geffen has a net worth of $8.9 billion per the latest Forbes estimates.In the past few years, Geffen made headlines for marrying and subsequently divorcing his partner of two years, David Armstrong (otherwise known as Donovan Michaels).Overall placement in the Forbes ranking 'Real-Time Billionaires List': No. 3782. Giorgio Armani $12.1 billionGiorgio Armani's net worth is no longer being indexed in the Forbes real-time ranking since the legendary designer passed away on Thursday at 91 years old. Nonetheless, a Forbes report estimates that Armani was "worth roughly $12.1 billion at the time of his death," which puts him in second place on this list.Overall placement in the Forbes ranking 'Real-Time Billionaires List': N/A1. Peter Thiel $23.5 billionPeter Thiel an early Facebook investor and cofounder of PayPal is estimated to be the richest out gay person in the world according to Forbes. As of this writing, the tech executive's reported net worth amounts to $23.5 billion.Overall placement in the Forbes ranking 'Real-Time Billionaires List': No. 94

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)2025-09-10T06:50:29Z DOHA, Qatar (AP) Qatari security forces and emergency fire personnel deployed Wednesday around the site of an Israeli attack the previous day on Hamas political leaders who had gathered in the capital of the energy-rich Middle East country to consider a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.Tuesdays strike on a building in Doha killed at least six people in a neighborhood that is home to foreign embassies and schools. The strike on the territory of a U.S. ally drew widespread condemnation from countries in the Mideast and beyond. It also marked a dramatic escalation in the region and risked upending talks aimed at ending the war and freeing hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza. Buildings still standingFrom a distance beyond the security cordon, the buildings that had housed the Hamas leadership in Doha could be seen still standing. But one room in particular appeared to have been the target of the strike its walls were collapsed, and gray rubble could be seen inside. Security forces and emergency personnel surrounded the site and blocked traffic as additional civil defense vehicles arrived.A gas station to the side of the building, directly abutting the premises, did not appear to have suffered any fire damage. The windows of the building next to the one targeted remained intact, suggesting that whatever munitions the Israeli military used was a low yield weapon designed only to hit the building they suspected the Hamas leaders were meeting in. Israel hasnt specified what it used to carry out the strike, beyond saying it employed precision-guided weapons meant to minimize collateral damage. Hamas said in a statement Tuesday that its top leaders survived the strike but that five lower-level members were killed, including the son of Khalil al-Hayya Hamas leader for Gaza and its top negotiator as well as three bodyguards and the head of al-Hayyas office. Hamas, which has sometimes only confirmed the assassination of its leaders months later, offered no immediate proof that al-Hayya and other senior figures had survived. Hitting an American allyQatar maintains a major arsenal of air defense systems, including both American-made Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD batteries.However, it doesnt immediately appear that Qatari air defenses engaged during the attack, which occurred just before 4 p.m. on Tuesday.Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatars prime minister and foreign minister, said Tuesday night that the Israeli enemy used weapons that were not detected by radar.He did not elaborate but the statement suggests Israeli fighter jets could have launched so-called stand-off missiles at a distance to strike the site without actually entering Qatari airspace -- possible over the Persian Gulf.The United States has said it warned Qatar before the strike. Qatar disputes that, with Sheikh Mohammed saying that the Americans sent a message 10 minutes after the attacks took place, saying they were informed that there was going to be a missile attack on the state of Qatar.Qatar is also home to the U.S. militarys forward headquarters for its Mideast-based Central Command. The headquarters, located at the sprawling Al-Udeid Air Base, also has American-run radars and defense systems and recently hosted U.S. President Donald Trump on his tour of the region in May. Stalled Gaza talksIsraels attack in Qatar threatens to upend both negotiations over a ceasefire in Gaza and Israels efforts to reach out to Gulf Arab states, New York-based think tank The Soufan Center said in an analysis Wednesday.The attack has profound strategic implications because by striking a Gulf Cooperation Council state, Israel risks undermining the Abraham Accords and unraveling the fragile normalization framework with Arab partners, the center said, referring to the 2020 diplomatic recognition deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.Israels strike on Qatar raises the uncomfortable question: if a state like Qatar, with its carefully cultivated neutrality and commitment to peacemaking, is punished for its role, who will dare step into the vacuum of mediation in the future? the center asked. Qatars local media hewed tightly to government statements issued after the attack. Qatar is ruled by a hereditary emir and tightly restricts speech like other Gulf Arab nations.Al Jazeera, the outspoken satellite news network funded by Qatars government, described the attack in its headlines as a brutal aggression. The Israeli government has banned Al Jazeera from operating in Israel or the West Bank amid the Israel-Hamas war, though its journalists still broadcast from the Gaza Strip.The state-run Qatar News Agency noted that the countrys ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, held a series of calls with world leaders, including Trump.Sheikh Tamim condemned the attack and according to a readout of the call, said that Qatar holds Israel responsible for its repercussions, in light of the policy of aggression they adopt that threatens the regions stability and obstructs efforts to de-escalate and reach sustainable diplomatic solutions. Qatar Airways, a major East-West airline that operates out of the countrys massive Hamad International Airport, sought to assure passengers their flights were safe and would not be interrupted.___Associated Press writer Elena Becatoros in Athens contributed to this report. JON GAMBRELL Gambrell is the news director for the Gulf and Iran for The Associated Press. He has reported from each of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Iran and other locations across the world since joining the AP in 2006. twitter instagram mailto

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gestures as she delivers a major state of the union speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Pascal Bastien)2025-09-10T08:13:16Z STRASBOURG, France (AP) The European Commission president said Wednesday she would seek sanctions and a partial trade suspension against Israel over the war in Gaza, an announcement that marked a sharp turnaround for Ursula von der Leyen, a longtime supporter of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The 27-nation EU is deeply divided in its approach to Israel and the Palestinians, and its unclear whether a majority will be found to endorse the sanctions and trade measures.Von der Leyen added that the commission will set up a Palestine donor group next month, part of which will focus on Gazas future reconstruction. She said the events in Gaza and the suffering of children and families has shaken the conscience of the world.The Gaza Health Ministry says 126 Palestinians, including 26 children, have died of causes related to malnutrition since international experts announced famine in Gaza City on Aug. 22. Man-made famine can never be a weapon of war. For the sake of the children, for the sake of humanity. This must stop, Von der Leyen said Wednesday, to applause in the European Parliament at its meeting in Strasbourg, France.Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, in a social media post, said Von der Leyen had succumbed to pressures that undermine Israel-Europe relations. He said her actions will embolden Hamas. Warning Gaza City residents to evacuateVon der Leyens comments followed Israels military warning on Tuesday to Gaza City residents to evacuate ahead of its plans to take control of what it portrays as Hamas last remaining stronghold and where hundreds of thousands of people remain under conditions of famine. An estimated 1 million Palestinians around half of Gazas overall population live in the area of north Gaza around Gaza City, according to the Israeli military and the United Nations. Many are exhausted from moving multiple times and unsure if traveling south will be safer.The warning came on Tuesday ahead of an Israeli strike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar, where negotiations over ending the war in Gaza appeared at a standstill. The warnings directed at Gaza City are the first calling for a full evacuation. EU Commission plans to freeze Israel supportVon der Leyen also said she plans to freeze support to Israel given by the European Unions executive branch, which would not require the approval of the 27 member countries.It was not immediately clear how much financial support the executive branch, known as the European Commission, provides to Israel and what it is used for.We will put our bilateral support to Israel on hold. We will stop all payments in these areas, without affecting our work with Israeli civil society or Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial, von der Leyen told EU lawmakers.The commission also gives support to the Palestinian Authority. War nears its 2-year anniversaryThe war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people on Oct. 7, 2023, and killed some 1,200 people, mostly Israeli civilians. Forty-eight hostages are still held inside Gaza, around 20 of them believed to be alive.Israels retaliatory offensive has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry. The ministry, which is under Gazas Hamas government, does not differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half of those killed were women and children. The U.N. and other international organizations see its figures as the most reliable statistics on war casualties.Large parts of major cities in Gaza have been completely destroyed and around 90% of some 2 million Palestinians have been displaced.

2025-09-10T05:20:50Z WARSAW, Poland (AP) Poland said early Wednesday that it and its NATO allies had shot down Russian drones that violated Polish airspace in what it called an act of aggression as Russia launched aerial attacks on Ukraine.Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on social media that Last night the Polish airspace was violated by a large number of Russian drones. Those drones that posed a direct threat were shot down.Polands armed forces were on a heightened state of alert overnight Tuesday and early Wednesday because of what they described as further massive airstrikes against targets located in Ukraine.Defense Minister Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote on X that more than 10 objects crossed into Polish air space and those that constituted a risk to Polands security were neutralized. He thanked NATO Air Command and The Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force for supporting the action with F-35 fighter jets. Bernard Blaszczuk, mayor of the village of Wyryki in Lublin region, told TVP Info that a house was hit by either a missile or a drone, we dont know yet. He said people were inside the building but nobody was hurt. The Polish armed forces said Wednesday morning that a search for possible crash sites is ongoing and urged people not to approach, touch or move any objects they see, warning that they may pose a threat and could contain hazardous material.Warsaws Chopin Airport suspended flights for several hours, citing the closure of airspace due to military operations. EU says drones may have been intentionally flown into Poland European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that early indications suggest the drone incident was intentional.Last night in Poland we saw the most serious European airspace violation by Russia since the war began, and indications suggest it was intentional, not accidental, Kallas said in a statement.The EUs top diplomat said that she is in contact with NATO and Polands foreign minister and following developments. The EU stands in full solidarity with Poland. Russias war is escalating, not ending. We must raise the cost to Moscow, strengthen support for Ukraine, and invest in Europes defense, she said.In a post on social media, NATO chief spokesperson Allison Hart said that numerous drones entered Polish airspace overnight and were met with Polish and NATO air defenses. Hart said later that the military organizations 32 national envoys will discuss how NATO at a pre-planned meeting.Poland says Russian objects have entered its airspace beforePoland has complained about Russian objects entering its airspace during attacks on Ukraine before. In August, Polands defense minister said that a flying object that crashed and exploded in a cornfield in eastern Poland was identified as a Russian drone, and called it a provocation by Russia. In March, Poland scrambled jets after a Russian missile briefly passed through Polish air space on its way to a target in western Ukraine, and in 2022, a missile that was likely fired by Ukraine to intercept a Russian attack landed in Poland, killing two people. Russian attacks hit central and western UkraineUkraines Air Force says Russia fired 415 strike and decoy drones, as well as 42 cruise missiles and one ballistic missiles last night.Ukrainian air defences intercepted or jammed 386 drones and 27 cruise missiles, according to the report.At least eight enemy UAVs crossed Ukraines state border in the direction of the Republic of Poland, the Air Force message said.Russian drones injured three people in Ukraines western Khmelnytskyi region, its head Serhii Tiurin wrote on Telegram early Wednesday morning. He said a sewing factory was destroyed, a gas station and vehicles were damaged, and windows in several houses were blown out.One person was killed and one injured in Zhytomyr region overnight, regional administration head Vitalii Bunechko wrote on Telegram, while homes and businesses suffered damage.In Vinnytsia region, Russian drones damaged civilian and industrial infrastructure, according to regional head Natalia Zabolotna. Nearly 30 residential buildings were damaged and one person was injured.In Cherkasy region, several houses and a power grid were damaged in a Russian attack. In Zolotonosha district, a shock wave destroyed a barn killing two cows, regional head Ihor Taburets wrote on Telegram.The Russian Defense Ministry said in its morning report on Wednesday that it had destroyed 122 Ukrainian drones over various Russian regions overnight, including over the illegally annexed Crimea and areas of the Black Sea. Kyiv anxious over Russia-Belarus military drillsJoint military drills involving Russian and Belarusian troops are due to take place in Belarus starting Friday and will last until Sept. 16.Troops from both countries will simulate repelling an attack, including airstrikes and sabotage, according to official reports of the games, dubbed Zapad 2025, or West 2025.The aim is to showcase the close links between Moscow and Minsk, as well as Russian military might, amid its 3-year-old war in neighboring Ukraine. The war games have drawn concerns in Kyiv and its Western allies of Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, which border Belarus. When Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops rolling into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, many of them crossed from Belarus.___Novikov reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. AP writers Lorne Cook in Brussels and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.

Protesters take selfies and celebrate at the Singha Durbar, the seat of Nepal's government's various ministries and offices, after it was set on fire during a protest against social media ban and corruption in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)2025-09-10T04:09:22Z KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) Armed soldiers guarded the streets of Nepals capital Wednesday, ordering people to stay home in an attempt to restore order after tens of thousands of protesters stormed and set fire to government buildings and attacked politicians.Soldiers with weapons guarding the main areas of Kathmandu appeared to give some sense of control returning to the city that was overtaken by violence and chaos in previous days. The army warned in an announcement late Tuesday that the security forces were committed to preserving law and order. The army is rarely mobilized and so far had stayed in its barracks, but police have failed to control the situation.Soldiers told people in Kathmandu that the curfew was valid and checked vehicles and people. The army in a statement said 21 suspected looters had been arrested.The protests had grown increasingly violent Tuesday as demonstrators set fire to government buildings and politicians homes and attacked some leaders. The prime minister resigned amid widening criticism of the countrys political elite, though it appeared to have little effect on the unrest. Tens of thousands of protesters remained on the streets late in the day, blocking roads and storming government facilities. Army helicopters ferried some ministers to safe places. Anger over social media ban was just the beginningOn Monday, demonstrations led by young people angry about the blocking of several social media sites gripped the capital, and police opened fire on the crowds, killing 19 people.The social media ban was lifted Tuesday, but the protests continued, fueled by rage over the deaths and accusations of political corruption. President Ram Chandra Poudel, the ceremonial head of state, appealed to the protesters to pursue a peaceful resolution and stop further escalation. He accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli and appointed Oli to lead a caretaker government until a new one is in place though it was unclear what power he would wield or even where he was. The demonstrations called the protest of Gen Z began after the government blocked social media platforms, including Facebook, X and YouTube, saying the companies had failed to register and submit to government oversight.But the protests spiraled to reflect broader discontent. In particular, many young people are angry that the children of political leaders so-called nepo kids seem to enjoy luxury lifestyles and numerous advantages while most youth struggle to find work. With youth unemployment running at about 20% last year, according to the World Bank, the government estimates that more than 2,000 young people leave the country every day to seek work in the Middle East or Southeast Asia. Political leaders, buildings and homes were targetedVideos shared on social media showed protesters beating up Nepali Congress party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, Arzu Rana Deuba, the current foreign minister. Both appeared to be bleeding, while one video showed the party leader being helped to safety. The party is the countrys largest and is part of the governing coalition. Smoke was still coming out of the parliament building, presidential house, the central secretariat that has the offices of the prime minister and key ministries, and the prime ministers official residence Wednesday.The building of Kantipur publication, the biggest media outlet in Nepal, was torched and damaged. Car showrooms were also torched. Burned-out vehicles dotted the streets. Protesters had attacked government buildings and the residences of the top political leaders throughout Tuesday, blaming the government for the police opening fire on the protesters.In addition to the 19 fatalities, scores of people were wounded. Oli has ordered an investigation report on the shootings and promised compensation to the families. The government is seeking to regulate social mediaThe violence unfolded as Nepals government pursues a broader attempt to regulate social media with a bill aimed at ensuring the platforms are properly managed, responsible and accountable. The proposal has been widely criticized as a tool for censorship and for punishing government opponents who voice their protests online.The bill would require companies to appoint a liaison office or a point of contact in the country. Rights groups have called it an attempt by the government to curb freedom of expression and fundamental rights.The registration requirement applied to about two dozen social networks widely used in Nepal. Those that didnt comply were blocked last week, though TikTok, Viber and three other platforms that registered were operating without interruption.

A Korean Air chartered plane takes off to bring back Korean workers detained in an immigration raid in Georgia, at Incheon International Airport, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (Yonhap via AP)2025-09-10T02:11:24Z SEOUL, South Korea (AP) A South Korean charter plane left for the U.S. on Wednesday to bring back Korean workers detained in an immigration raid in Georgia last week.A total of 475 workers, more than 300 of them South Koreans, were rounded up in the Sept. 4 raid at the battery factory under construction at Hyundais sprawling auto plant. U.S. authorities released video showing some being shackled with chains around their hands, ankles and waists, causing shock and a sense of betrayal among many in South Korea, a key U.S. ally.South Koreas government later said it reached an agreement with the U.S. for the release of the workers. Korean workers will likely brought back home Thursday South Korean TV footage showed the charter plane, a Boeing 747-8i from Korean Air, taking off at Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul. South Koreas Foreign Ministry earlier said it was pushing to have the charter plane depart from the U.S. as early as Wednesday U.S. time.The Korean workers are currently being held at an immigration detention center in Folkston in southeast Georgia. South Korean media reported that they will be freed and moved to Atlanta to take the charter plane that will bring them back home on Thursday evening.South Korean officials said theyve been negotiating with the U.S. to win voluntary departures of the workers, rather than deportations that could result in making them ineligible to return to the U.S. for up to 10 years. Stay up to date with similar stories by signing up to our WhatsApp channel. The workplace raid by the U.S. Homeland Security agency was its largest yet as it pursues its mass deportation agenda. The Georgia battery plant, a joint venture between Hyundai and LG Energy Solution, is one of more than 20 major industrial sites that South Korean companies are currently building in the United States. Many South Koreans view the Georgia raid as a source of national disgrace and remain stunned over it. Only 10 days earlier, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump held their first summit in Washington on Aug. 25. In late July, South Korea also promised hundreds of billions of dollars in U.S. investments to reach a tariff deal.Experts say South Korea wont likely take any major retaliatory steps against the U.S., but the Georgia raid could become a source of tensions between the allies as the Trump administration intensifies immigration raids. South Korea calls for improvement in U.S. visa systemsU.S. authorities said some of the detained workers had illegally crossed the U.S. border, while others had entered the country legally but had expired visas or entered on a visa waiver that prohibited them from working. But South Korean experts and officials said Washington has yet to act on Seouls yearslong demand to ensure a visa system to accommodate skilled Korean workers needed to build facilities, though it has been pressing South Korea to expand industrial investments in the U.S.South Korean companies have been relying on short-term visitor visas or Electronic System for Travel Authorization to send workers needed to launch manufacturing sites and handle other setup tasks, a practice that had been largely tolerated for years.LG Energy Solution, which employed most of the detained workers, instructed its South Korean employees in the U.S. on B-1 or B-2 short-term visit visas not to report to work until further notice, and told those with ESTAs to return home immediately.During his visit to Washington, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met representatives of major Korean companies operating in the U.S. including Hyundai, LG and Samsung on Tuesday. Cho told them that South Korean officials are in active discussions with U.S. officials and lawmakers about possible legislation to create a separate visa quota for South Korean professionals operating in the U.S., according to Chos ministry.Trump said this week the workers were here illegally, and that the U.S. needs to work with other countries to have their experts train U.S. citizens to do specialized work such as battery and computer manufacturing.Atlanta immigration attorney Charles Kuck, who represents four of the detained South Korean nationals, told The Associated Press on Monday that no company in the U.S. makes the machines used in the Georgia battery plant. So they had to come from abroad to install or repair equipment on-site work that would take about three to five years to train someone in the U.S. to do, he said. The South Korea-U.S. military alliance, forged in blood during the 1950-53 Korean War, has experienced ups and downs over the decades. But surveys have shown a majority of South Koreans support the two countries alliance, as the U.S. deployment of 28,500 troops in South Korea and 50,000 others in Japan has served as the backbone of the American military presence in the Asia-Pacific region.During a Cabinet Council meeting on Tuesday, Lee said he felt big responsibility over the raid and expressed hopes that the operations of South Korean businesses wont be infringed upon unfairly again. He said his government will push to improve systems to prevent recurrences of similar incidents in close consultations with the U.S. HYUNG-JIN KIM Hyung-jin is an Associated Press reporter in Seoul, South Korea. He reports on security, political and other general news on the Korean Peninsula. twitter mailto KIM TONG-HYUNG Kim has been covering the Koreas for the AP since 2014. He has published widely read stories on North Koreas nuclear ambitions, the dark side of South Koreas economic rise and international adoptions of Korean children. twitter mailto