Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker divorced in 1992 after more than 30 years of marriage
She married longtime family friend Roe Messner in 1993 and remained with him until her death
Tammy became an LGBTQ+ advocate, wrote books and appeared on reality television before her death in 2007 at 65
Tammy Faye Bakker was known as the First Lady of Televangelism over the course of her decades-long career.
The outspoken television personality rose to fame in the 1970s alongside her former husband Jim Bakker as the hosts of their religious talk show, The PTL Club. Tammy, who was known for her extravagant makeup and tearful testimonies, became a symbol of empowerment for many fundamentalist women.

#tammy #television

This summer, we took a family vacation to Oregon to hike in the Pacific Northwest. Not surprisingly, we saw a bunch of people decked out in clothing made by Columbia, the huge sportswear company founded in Portland in 1938, and named for the nearby river.
We also saw a lot of people wearing Patagonia clothes. Named after the vast geographic region at the southern tip of South America, shared by Argentina and Chile, Patagonia was founded by climber Yvon Chouinard in 1973 to provide durable climbing equipment and outdoor wear. The company heavily supports environmental causes and donates profits from the sale of their jackets, fleeces and other gear to ecological protection. The company even sued President Trump in 2017, for shrinking federal lands protections.
In addition to environmental causes, Patagonia has also championed the LGBTQ community by partnering with the Human Rights Campaign to oppose state legislation targeting their rights. This summer, though, the company sued one member of that community.
Wyn Wiley is an activist from Bend, Oregon, who focuses on environmental and LGBTQ+ issues, promoting acceptance of queer identities in the environmentalist and outdoors communities, and promoting awareness of climate change and its effects.
In October of 2018, Wiley created the character Pattie Gonia and produced short-form outdoors activism content on Instagram and TikTok, while dressing in drag. The first posted video garnered more than 100 million views. Pattie Gonia has 1.8 million Instagram followers and claims to have raised $3.7 million for environmental causes, including $1 million raised last year on a 100-mile hike. In 2022, Pattie Gonia partnered with The North Face, another outdoor gear juggernaut, for their 2022 "Summer of Pride" series, which consisted of outdoor community-building events focused on local LGBTQ+ engagement and acceptance.

#lgbtq #summer

Prince William won't have to worry about ****** ping heads with his brother, Prince Harry, at Lady Amelia Windsor's upcoming wedding, as the latter and his wife, Meghan Markle, have reportedly been kept off the guest list. The news that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle won't attend one of the UK's most upscale wedding ceremonies comes weeks after the famous couple revealed they were moving back to the UK after years away.
Newspix International / MEGA
Lady Amelia Windsor, granddaughter of the Duke of Kent, is set to marry next May in one of the town's most-talked-about weddings. "Save the date" notes have already been sent out to the list of high-profile invitees. However, Prince Harry and his wife, the ****** ss of Sussex, weren't among them, per The Sun.
"Amelia has curated her guest list for her big day, and news of Harry and Meghan's arrival in the UK came after she had drafted her list," a source close to Lady Amelia revealed, adding that the environmentalist isn't particularly close with the couple. The source also shared that it's probably "for the best" that the headline-making pair doesn't attend, adding that it'll likely save "an awkward run-in between the brothers at an otherwise special day."
MEGA

#prince #lady #save #won 't

The International League T20 (ILT20) Season 5 was officially launched with a glittering event in Dubai, with fast-bowling legends Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar among the star attractions on an evening celebrating the league's rapid rise and growing influence across the Gulf region.

The event brought together leading figures from cricket, sport, business and government, with ILT20 chairman Khalid Al Zarooni and league commissioner, ICC board director and ECB general secretary Mubashshir Usmani highlighting the tournament's contribution to the development and expansion of cricket in the UAE and the wider region.

Al Zarooni reflected on the league's growth while thanking its stakeholders and partners.

"What began as a dream has grown into one of the world's leading cricket leagues, bringing together top players and major franchises, while helping grow cricket in the UAE, the region and beyond," he said.

He also acknowledged the support of franchise owners, commercial and strategic partners, with a special mention for Zee Network, while welcoming SPORTFIVE as a new commercial partner.
A special panel discussion hosted by former New Zealand international Simon Doull explored the changing landscape and future of cricket in the region and globally.

The panel featured Usmani, Dr Mohamed Abu Hamra, Eisa Sharif of the Dubai Sports Council, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Deputy CEO and CFO Mukund Galgali, SportFive President Venu Nair and Bisleri Global Director Sales & Marketing Tushar Malhotra.

Doull later brought Lee and Shoaib together for another engaging discussion, with the two legendary fast bowlers speaking about the ILT20's growing impact on UAE and regional cricket.

The pair also looked back on their playing careers, recalling an era in which their blistering pace made them two of the most feared fast bowlers in world cricket.

The evening also featured a spell-binding performance by celebrity mentalist Karan Singh Magic, while the league unveiled its new brand identity for Season 5.
Season 5 will be played in November and December across the UAE's three iconic venues — Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Dubai International Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Defending champions Desert Vipers will enter the fifth season aiming to retain their crown. Gulf Giants won the inaugural season, followed by MI Emirates in Season 2 and Dubai Capitals in Season 3.

#stadium

Kenneth Lonergan has taken a firm stand for Mark Ruffalo amid antisemitism accusations tied to his Israel-Gaza remarks. The Oscar-winning filmmaker and longtime friend of Ruffalo addressed the allegations in a letter to The Hollywood Reporter. He called the antisemitism accusation against Ruffalo "overtly preposterous" and said it was being used to silence his criticism of Israel.
Ruffalo's latest controversy followed his criticism of Oracle founder Larry Ellison and the company's reported ties to Israeli military technology. He also faced backlash from Paramount Skydance after criticizing the proposed Warner Bros. Discovery merger. The company accused him of using antisemitic tropes, but Ruffalo denied it and said he was criticizing political and corporate actions.
Lonergan's relationship with Ruffalo dates back to You Can Count on Me, his 2000 directorial debut starring Laura Linney and Ruffalo. The film was widely praised and marked the beginning of their friendship, which has continued for decades.
Their long friendship led Lonergan to publicly defend the actor. In his letter, he referred to Ruffalo as his "dear friend for thirty years." Lonergan called the antisemitism accusation "a cynical and disgusting lie" and questioned the motives behind it. He wants the Simon Wiesenthal Center to review its response and clarify where it detects any antisemitism.
Lonergan said that attacking Ruffalo personally helps critics avoid addressing his actual arguments. He also acknowledged that he "disagrees profoundly with many of his positions on the Middle East, Israel, Gaza, and Iran's constellation of fanatical Islamic fundamentalist proxies." However, Lonergan said people can disagree with Ruffalo's views without labeling his criticism of Israel as antisemitic.

#ruffalo #friend #letter #accusation

Oil prices have soared in recent months as a result of the almost complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key trade corridor connecting Asia and Europe. High fossil fuel prices have helped to drive up the profits of oil and gas companies around the globe, particularly in the United States and Europe. As a few companies boost production to fill the gap, some oil majors have seen record earnings in the first half of the year, a trend that is expected to continue for as long as Hormuz trade remains restricted.
Eight of the largest oil firms achieved combined profits of over $90 billion in the three months from April to June, following the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran and the subsequent war. Iran's decision to close the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway between Oman and Iran that connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, has led to the biggest disruption of fossil fuel supplies in the market's history. As a few oil majors from the United States, Europe, and the Middle East step in to fill the gap and oil prices are pushed higher, a few companies have come out on top.
The phenomenon has also demonstrated that the world remains overly dependent on fossil fuels, with countries willing to pay a premium to secure their oil and gas supplies in the face of major global shortages. Environmentalists are concerned about what this reliance means for climate change, as greenhouse emissions remain high. The lack of energy diversification and the heavy dependence on fossil fuels also poses a threat to energy security for many countries.
The eight companies ***** sed – Aramco, BP, Shell, Equinor, TotalEnergies, Eni, Chevron, and ExxonMobil – have almost doubled their combined profits, from just below $50 billion in the second quarter of 2025. The increase in oil prices has driven up consumer energy bills worldwide, while oil companies continue to profit. This has reignited the discussion around windfall tax, as governments call for oil companies to pay higher levies to subsidise energy bills and environmentalists believe extra taxes could help pay to address the environmental damage caused by oil operations.
The Brent Benchmark put oil prices at around $68 a barrel at the end of February, rising to highs of nearly $100 a barrel in May. Saudi Arabia's Aramco benefited the most from the price increase over the spring, reporting a 34 per cent rise in its quarterly net income, at over $33 billion. Aramco saw high profits even following damage to its infrastructure by drone and missile strikes from Iranian and Houthi forces. The company's record oil sales meant that it was responsible for more carbon emissions than any company in history, according to the database Carbon Majors.

#Companies #prices #hormuz #Europe

Ash Magic (ashmagic) is a mentalist with millions of online followers, which he has built largely by performing mind-bending bits on famous people. His latest was Dwayne Johnson.
The bit was framed around wayfinding, a nod to Johnson's role in Moana. Ash had him tap a random point in the air, pick a set of coordinates, and hold the digits in his head. Then Ash said them out loud: 87127.
Johnson called for tequila.
Next, Ash asked him to picture a character from the Moana world. Johnson settled on Te Kā, the lava demon, and spelled it out mentally. Ash named it.
"Man, I need a drink," Johnson said.

#johnson #next #mentalist #followers

PHOENIX (AP) — The Trump administration has ordered construction crews on a border wall to stop drilling wells in drought-stricken New Mexico after ranchers said pumping groundwater needed to make concrete could threaten their livestock.
The order comes as crews across the southern border race to complete one of President Donald Trump's highest domestic priorities — barriers that span four states and received over $46 billion in federal funding. Controversies have sprouted up in Texas and California, with border-town residents and environmentalists reporting a wide variety of issues with construction.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which oversees border wall construction, has said water is needed to make concrete for roads, wall construction and dust suppression. Cattle ranchers in the area say the drought has already forced them to reduce their herd size.
"It would put us in an immediate catastrophe and having to do something with our livestock. I mean, it could potentially put some people out of business, us included," said Russell Johnson, a cattle rancher whose property runs along the border.
Johnson raised the issue at a public meeting in July after noticing an industrial well, which drilling crews told him would pump 300 gallons a minute, on land he leases for grazing. Johnson has roughly 12 wells across his ranch, which pump between three and seven gallons a minute.

#wall #cattle

Prince William received support from Prince Albert of Monaco after both royals addressed Europe's devastating wildfires. Albert echoed William's environmentalist concerns while expressing solidarity with families affected by the dangerous fires. Their statements highlighted growing concerns about the extreme weather and the need for stronger environmental action.
Prince Albert released a statement supporting communities affected by wildfires across France, Spain, and the U.K. He shared the message alongside his wife, Princess Charlene, offering support to families forced to evacuate. Albert also praised firefighters and emergency workers protecting communities and threatened natural environments.
"Protecting our environment is an emergency that must bring us all together," Albert wrote. He connected the devastating fire to wider climate disruptions affecting natural environments and biodiversity. His comments closely echoed Prince William's recent warning about increasingly extreme climate conditions.
William previously shared a statement alongside his wife, Kate Middleton, addressing the ongoing wildfire crisis. "Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the devastating wildfires across France, Spain and the U.K," he wrote. He also thanked emergency workers and volunteers facing "extraordinarily difficult conditions."
William and Albert have previously worked together on environmental issues and commitment to conservation. In June 2025, William traveled to Monaco for the Blue Economy and Finance Forum.

#william #wildfires #emergency #monaco

The 2026 Tour de France will meet the famous 21 hairpins of Alpe d’Huez on Friday, in the first of two back-to-back days scaling the famous peak. But it is the second journey, up the lesser travelled Col de Sarenne, which has provoked protest, a petition and criticism of race organisers.
The route for this year’s Tour was announced at a Paris ceremony last October. Saturday’s stage 20 immediately stood out, partly as a rare double ascent of Alpe d’Huez, perhaps the most famous mountain in Tour de France lore; and partly because the stage is brutal in its own right. It features 5,000m of elevation gain over four Tour behemoths: the Croix de Fer, the Col du Telegraphe, Col du Galibier, and finally the Col de Sarenne – the eastern back road up the Alpe – before an undulating final 14km to the finish, via the final four hairpins of the traditional route.
The Col de Sarenne is an unusual pass for the Tour to tackle. This is the first time it has been used as an ascent, after it was used once as a descent in 2013. The debate back then was about rider safety, with sheer drops either side of the narrow, uneven path near the top, and hay bales were hastily planted along the road’s edge to protect a disgruntled peloton.
Ahead of this year’s return to the Col de Sarenne, environmentalists have led protests against race organiser ASO and its decision to send the world’s biggest bike race over the Sarenne pass in the Ferrand Valley, part of Ecrins National Park and an ecologically sensitive area.
A petition which garnered more than 15,000 signatures called for the stage to be re-routed away from the “beautiful and wild” area, which the petition stresses is home to numerous animals including stoats, marmots, foxes, chamois, eagles, bearded vultures, ptarmigan, rock partridges and the rare black grouse, whose chicks hatch in July.

#france #huez

As part of OneFootball's collaboration series with Shoot Music we're interviewing an artist about their love of football and, over the next few weeks, it will be all about the World Cup.
This week it's acclaimed singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and Australia fan, G Flip.
How have you enjoyed the World Cup so far?
Yeah I've loved it! I love sports so having matches on all day is really fun for me. I have it on in the background all day and I’m getting really into it.
How would you rate Australia's tournament up to this point?

As part of OneFootball's collaboration series with Shoot Music we're interviewing an artist about their love of football and, over the next few weeks, it will be all about the World Cup.
Today it's multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, producer and New Zealand fan Jordan Rakei.
How are you feeling after New Zealand's opening games against Iran & Egypt?
Mixed, honestly haha. Leading twice and coming away with a draw against Iran was a bit stinging. We could see the win right there and it slipped away, especially since we are lower ranked in the tournament. It's just frustrating we couldn't hold on!
Losing 3-1 to Egypt has maybe put us back into reality. We had a moment after that first game where there was a bit of hope and it's slipped away pretty quickly. So all we have to do is beat one of the tournament favourites now, and we’ll be good!!

An American college student who went missing during a family vacation in ***** an has been found dead by search-and-rescue volunteers, marking a tragic end to a frantic dayslong search across forested mountains.
James "Weston" Higginbotham, a 20-year-old junior at Auburn University and a passionate environmentalist, was traveling in the Kyoto area with his family when he vanished while exploring the city alone – shortly after having a disagreement with his mother over her use of AI to help with navigation, and the natural resources such a tool requires.
After authorities scaled back resources from the search, the family launched its own efforts to locate Weston with the help of local residents and a privately hired search-and-rescue group.
Here's a timeline of the events leading up to the discovery of Weston's body:
The family, hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, arrives in ***** an to celebrate the high school graduation of Weston's younger brother. They visit a number of cities, including Tokyo, Nikko and Takayama, before heading to Kyoto.

Known by friends and colleagues as a "planetary patriot," a "happy warrior" and the "Golden State Eco-Warrior," Rob Caughlan, a political operative, savvy public relations specialist and one of the early leaders of the Surfrider Foundation, died at his home in San Mateo, on Jan. 17. He was 82.
His wife of nearly 62 years, Diana, died four days earlier, from lung cancer.
Environmentalists, political operatives and friends responded to his death with grief but also joy as they recalled his passion, talent and sense of humor — and his drive not only to make the world a better place, but to have