MON SIX

Rick Kern/Getty; Alana Springsteen/Instagram

NEED TO KNOW

• James Van Der Beek's wife Kimberly reposted a cover of the Dawson's Creek theme song "I Don't Want To Wait" performed by country singer Alana Springsteen

• Springsteen shared the cover in support of the Van Der Beek family's GoFundMe amid James Van Der Beek's death

• Van Der Beek died at 48 from colorectal cancer on Wednesday, Feb. 11

James Van Der Beek's wife Kimberly reposted a cover of theDawson's Creektheme song "I Don't Want To Wait," originally by Paula Cole, in the wake of her husband's death.

Singer-songwriter Alana Springsteen shared an acoustic cover of the song alongside Sara Bares and Lauren LaRue in anInstagrampost on Thursday, Feb. 12.

"rip james van der beek 🙏🏻💔 this loss hit me hard today," Springsteen, 25, began in the caption. "So much girlhood was lived to the backdrop of his work. praying for his beautiful family. link to the gofundme that his friends started to help with their expenses is in my bio if you feel led to support."

Cole, 57, responded to the cover, writing in the comment section of Springsteen's post, "So beautiful. Tears and more tears. Thank you for honoring James and his family. ❤️."

Kimberly Van Der Beek, 44, reposted the cover to herInstagram Stories.

Friends of Kimberly created aGoFundMeto support the Van Der Beek family amid the loss of James. The fundraiser claims the family is out of money and struggling to stay in their home after James' death on Wednesday, Feb. 11.

"In the wake of this loss, Kimberly and the children are facing an uncertain future. The costs of James's medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds," a description on the fundraiser read.

"They are working hard to stay in their home and to ensure the children can continue their education and maintain some stability during this incredibly difficult time," it continued. "The support of friends, family, and the wider community will make a world of difference as they navigate the road ahead."

The post went on to say that funds will cover essential living expenses, bills and support the children's education.

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"Every donation, no matter the size, will help Kimberly and her family find hope and security as they rebuild their lives," read the post. "Thank you for considering a gift to support them."

The GoFundMe has raised over $2 million, including a $25,000 donation from Steven Spielberg, who was the favorite director of James'Dawson's Creekcharacter.

James shares six kids with his wife, Kimberly — daughters Olivia, 15, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 9½, and Gwendolyn, 7, and sons Joshua, 13, and Jeremiah, 4.

Alana Springsteen/Instagram

James died at 48 due to complications of stage 3 colorectal cancer on Wednesday, Feb. 11. His wifeannounced the news on Instagram.

"Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning," Kimberly wrote. "He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend."

The actor was first diagnosed in August 2023 and announced his diagnosis exclusively to PEOPLE in November 2024.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"I have colorectal cancer," he revealed at the time. "I've been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family."

Read the original article onPeople

Margot Robbiehas once again captured the fashion world's attention with a look that feels both historic and avant-garde. Attending her latest premiere, the actress stepped out in a stunning ensemble that looked like a piece of art recovered from a shipwreck.

Moving away from her usual polished aesthetic, she embraced a darker, more romantic vibe. The outfit perfectly balances the delicate nature of sheer fabric with a rugged, "distressed" finish that is making headlines everywhere.

Margot Robbie's sheer Ashi Studio corset gown is perfectly distressed and hand-painted

The centerpiece of Margot's look is a custom Ashi Studio gown that redefines red-carpet glamour. The dress features a strapless corset bodice that appears incredibly structured yet aged. Moreover, this corset is hand-painted with muted tones of rust and charcoal, giving it a weathered, vintage appearance. Adding to it, the colors bleed into the fabric, making the gown look as though it has been exposed to the elements for decades.

Designers crafted the skirt of the gown from fully sheer, ivory-toned silk and tulle. It clings to her frame before flowing into a dramatic, frayed mermaid train. The "distressed" theme continues throughout the bottom of the dress, with the hemline appearing artfully torn and unfinished. This creates a hauntingly beautiful silhouette that mimics the moody atmosphere of a classic novel.

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To complete the look, Margot wore matching off-the-shoulder sheer sleeves. These sleeves share the same "rusted" detailing as the bodice, wrapping around her arms in a delicate, gauzy layer. She accessorized the outfit with a bold, dark metal choker that added a touch of edge to the romantic gown.

Her styling was just as intentional as the dress. She wore her hair in loose, crimped waves that looked effortless and slightly windswept. Adding to it, her makeup was very natural and soft, allowing the intricate details of the hand-painted gown to take center stage. From the sheer layers to the "dirty" artistic stains on the fabric, Margot looked like a ghostly vision come to life.

Originally reported by Samridhi Goel onTheFashionSpot.

The postMargot Robbie's Sheer Ashi Studio Corset Gown Is Hand-Painted & Distressedappeared first onReality Tea.

Have you ever wished to meet a celebrity eye-to-eye? While we can't offer exactly that service, we're giving you the chance to stare right into their eyes – awkward silence and vulnerability excluded!

In this quiz, you'll be provided with 30 close-up shots of celebrity eyes, and your job will be to guess who those peepers belong to. Sounds easy? We'll see…

🚀 💡 Want more or looking for something else? Head over to theBored Panda Quizzesand explore our full collection of quizzes and trivia designed to test your knowledge, reveal hidden insights, and spark your curiosity.💡 🚀

Image credits:Beatrice Rossi Prudente

Whose eyes are these?

◯ Jude Law◯ Leonardo DiCaprio◯ Christian Slater◯ Edward Norton

Which celebrity's eyes are these?

◯ Avril Lavigne◯ Katy Perry◯ Gwen Stefani◯ Kelly Clarkson

Whose peepers are captured here?

◯ Paul McCartney◯ David Bowie◯ Mick Jagger◯ Rod Stewart

Who's staring at you here?

◯ Nicole Kidman◯ Jessica Chastain◯ Patricia Clarkson◯ Julianne Moore

Which celebrity is looking off into the distance?

◯ Brandon Lee◯ Jonny Lee Miller◯ Dev Patel◯ Keanu Reeves

Match the eyes to the name.

◯ Adele◯ Ellie Goulding◯ Paloma Faith◯ Florence Welch

Which celebrity is making eye contact with you?

Whose eyes are these?

◯ Justin Bieber◯ Justin Timberlake◯ Charlie Puth◯ Shawn Mendes

🧠 Curious to see the rest? Take the full quiz here 🧠

Feb 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. is sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East ‌amid tensions with Iran, U.S. media outlets ‌reported late on Thursday.

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and ​its escort ships will be sent to the Middle East from the Caribbean, the New York Times, which first reported the news, said, citing U.S. ‌officials.

The White House and ⁠the Pentagon did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside ⁠of regular business hours.

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump had said he was considering sending a second ​aircraft carrier ​to the Middle East ​if a deal is ‌not reached with Iran.

The first aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided-missile destroyers arrived in the Middle East in January.

Trump said on Thursday the United States has to make a deal ‌with Iran and suggested an ​agreement could be struck over ​the next month.

"We ​have to make a deal, otherwise it's ‌going to be very traumatic, ​very traumatic," ​Trump told reporters.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said he hoped that Trump was ​creating the conditions ‌to reach a deal with Iran that ​would avoid military action.

(Reporting by Hyunsu Yim in ​Barcelona;Editing by Shri Navaratnam)

MERAUX, La. (AP) — Across the calm waters behind a pumping station near Lake Borgne, hundreds of saplings stand out in the mist, wrapped in white plastic cylinders.

To get there and to other sites like it, organizers have ferried dozens of volunteers week after week in airboats. They have a trailer equipped with supplies. Rubber boots in all different sizes. Bins full of snacks for the end of a hard day's work.

One day, they hope to see 30,000 fully grown trees like bald cypress and water tupelo at this and other sites that restore the natural barrier ofwetlandsinto the protective forest it once was. The goal is for the roots of these native trees to hold the earth around New Orleans in place as it slips further below sea level, create habitat for wildlife and help shield the city from storms.

Much of that natural barrier was lost afterHurricane Katrina, which killed over 1,000 people and caused over $100 billion in damage in 2005. But many have been working since then to restore the land, and near the end of a long effort run by local environmental groups, organizers are reflecting on the roots they've helped put down — a more solid ecosystem, so different from the degraded marsh they started with.

"We're one part of a larger movement to resist this sort of 'doomerism' mindset, and to show that recovery is possible," said Christina Lehew, executive director ofCommon Ground Relief, one of the organizations working on the tree planting. "When we use our imaginations to envision the past and the vast amount of wetlands landscapes that we have lost, we know that likely we'll never return to that pristine image of the past. But we can gain something back."

Why organizations have joined forces to plant trees in wetlands

In other locations around New Orleans, cypress trees planted years ago tower over dense thickets rich with other native plants. They tell the story of what could have been, and what restorers are trying to bring back.Before the logging industry, before the oil and gas industry, before anyone built levees to contain the Mississippi River, the Delta naturally ebbed and flowed and flooded as the river deposited sediment on the Gulf Coast. The plants that thrived in that ecosystem formed protective estuaries.But then the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 burst through levees in dozens of places. Hundreds of people died and the water caused catastrophic damage across several states. After that, the government initiated a new era of levee building. By the mid-1960s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had also constructed a shipping channel called the Mississippi River—Gulf Outlet Canal (MRGO), which ultimately became a path for Katrina's storm surge into the city of New Orleans.Those engineering decisions worsenedKatrina's destruction. They allowed saltwater into freshwater ecosystems around the city, poisoning many of the trees. And so the city was exposed to future hurricanes, and lost the living guardians whose roots held the land in place.In 2009, the MRGO was shut down to cut off further saltwater intrusion, and environmental groups started reforesting. Eventually, about five years ago, several organizations came together as acollectiveto apply for federal and state funding for a bigger project. Spreading two large grants across different volunteer bases, planting in different areas and using different techniques, they're getting closer to that 30,000-tree goal. One of the largest groups, theCoalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, has planted about 10,000 of its 15,000-tree quota, said Andrew Ferris, senior coordinator for their native plants program. They'll finish by next year, he said."In our wildest dreams we never thought we'd be able to plant some of the areas that we are now planting," said Blaise Pezold, who started planting trees around 2009 and is now coastal and environmental program director for theMeraux Foundation, one of the partner organizations. "It was thought to be too low, too salty, Katrina messed it up too much, and we would have to focus on areas that were easier to get into."The closing of the MRGO and the drop in salinity levels changed all that. "The Central Wetlands Reforestation Collective has kind of allowed us to be very adventurous in the sites we choose," Pezold added.A way of processing grief, and rebuilding for the futureFor many of the organizers in Louisiana who have been helping with restoration and recovery efforts, the project has been a way to cope with living in the wake of a natural disaster.Katrina hit the day after Ashe Burke's 8th birthday. "It still affects everybody that went through it, and ... it changed us all. I mean, we had our lives ripped out from underneath us in a day," said Burke, the wetlands restoration specialist for Common Ground Relief, where Lehew also works. "It still does hurt in some ways, you know? But we gotta keep going on and the sun rises in the morning."That's also something important to teach the next generation, said Rollin Black, who works with theCenter for Sustainable Engagement and Development, one of the tree-planting partner organizations. He also has family in New Orleans, and he said restoring the environment has been a way to act on the problems he saw. Seeing kids participate helps."That brings a little bit of joy to my heart that they're actually inspired by what we're doing. So maybe they could come back or maybe they have some reason to live in New Orleans," he said.___Follow Melina Walling on X@MelinaWallingand Bluesky@melinawalling.bsky.social. Follow Joshua A. Bickel onInstagram,BlueskyandX@joshuabickel.___The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP'sstandardsfor working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas atAP.org.

In other locations around New Orleans, cypress trees planted years ago tower over dense thickets rich with other native plants. They tell the story of what could have been, and what restorers are trying to bring back.

Before the logging industry, before the oil and gas industry, before anyone built levees to contain the Mississippi River, the Delta naturally ebbed and flowed and flooded as the river deposited sediment on the Gulf Coast. The plants that thrived in that ecosystem formed protective estuaries.

But then the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 burst through levees in dozens of places. Hundreds of people died and the water caused catastrophic damage across several states. After that, the government initiated a new era of levee building. By the mid-1960s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had also constructed a shipping channel called the Mississippi River—Gulf Outlet Canal (MRGO), which ultimately became a path for Katrina's storm surge into the city of New Orleans.

Those engineering decisions worsenedKatrina's destruction. They allowed saltwater into freshwater ecosystems around the city, poisoning many of the trees. And so the city was exposed to future hurricanes, and lost the living guardians whose roots held the land in place.

In 2009, the MRGO was shut down to cut off further saltwater intrusion, and environmental groups started reforesting. Eventually, about five years ago, several organizations came together as acollectiveto apply for federal and state funding for a bigger project. Spreading two large grants across different volunteer bases, planting in different areas and using different techniques, they're getting closer to that 30,000-tree goal. One of the largest groups, theCoalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, has planted about 10,000 of its 15,000-tree quota, said Andrew Ferris, senior coordinator for their native plants program. They'll finish by next year, he said.

"In our wildest dreams we never thought we'd be able to plant some of the areas that we are now planting," said Blaise Pezold, who started planting trees around 2009 and is now coastal and environmental program director for theMeraux Foundation, one of the partner organizations. "It was thought to be too low, too salty, Katrina messed it up too much, and we would have to focus on areas that were easier to get into."

The closing of the MRGO and the drop in salinity levels changed all that. "The Central Wetlands Reforestation Collective has kind of allowed us to be very adventurous in the sites we choose," Pezold added.

A way of processing grief, and rebuilding for the future

For many of the organizers in Louisiana who have been helping with restoration and recovery efforts, the project has been a way to cope with living in the wake of a natural disaster.

Katrina hit the day after Ashe Burke's 8th birthday. "It still affects everybody that went through it, and ... it changed us all. I mean, we had our lives ripped out from underneath us in a day," said Burke, the wetlands restoration specialist for Common Ground Relief, where Lehew also works. "It still does hurt in some ways, you know? But we gotta keep going on and the sun rises in the morning."

That's also something important to teach the next generation, said Rollin Black, who works with theCenter for Sustainable Engagement and Development, one of the tree-planting partner organizations. He also has family in New Orleans, and he said restoring the environment has been a way to act on the problems he saw. Seeing kids participate helps.

"That brings a little bit of joy to my heart that they're actually inspired by what we're doing. So maybe they could come back or maybe they have some reason to live in New Orleans," he said.

Follow Melina Walling on X@MelinaWallingand Bluesky@melinawalling.bsky.social. Follow Joshua A. Bickel onInstagram,BlueskyandX@joshuabickel.

The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP'sstandardsfor working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas atAP.org.

By Ariba Shahid

KARACHI, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Under neon lights at an indoor sports club in Karachi, twenty-somethings drifted between glowing courts and a DJ booth, dancing with coffee cups and iced tea in hand.

No alcohol. No drugs. And the music ended promptly at 10 pm.

In Pakistan, a ‌growing number of Gen Z are opting for "sober socialising", joining a global trend as young people increasingly opt for healthier lifestyles.

Here, though, the shift carries ‌an added appeal: Drinking alcohol is illegal for Muslims, who make up the vast majority of Pakistan's population.

PARTYING WITHOUT THE POUR

They are increasingly turning their backs on the party scene of the past, which often ​involved underground venues because of the presence of alcohol and drugs, and the risk of running afoul of authorities.

"In Karachi, we don't have many places to just exist socially," said Zia Malik, a software entrepreneur attending the event. "This gives you that without having to hide."

"I have visited some underground parties," he added. "You cannot feel secure."

At the sports club, crowd numbers were capped. Between breaks in dancing, revellers played padel, a cross between squash and tennis popular in Pakistan.

The event's organiser, experiential platform 12xperience, had local government approval to host a public ‌party without alcohol.

CREATING A SAFE SPACE

Cameras - both wall-mounted and ⁠on drones - monitored the crowd to enforce the no-alcohol policy and to deter fights or harassment, organisers said.

"Without guardrails, you're just recreating the same risks people are trying to escape," said Mohammed Usman, founder of 12xperience.

"This is about creating a space where people feel safe," ⁠he said. "Without alcohol, without drugs, without chaos."

Events like this are popping up across the city of nearly 19 million in growing numbers, mainly at sports facilities and coffee shops, but also at venues such as art galleries and co-working spaces.

Euromonitor data shows Pakistan's soft drinks market grew more than 27% between 2020 and 2025, and hot drinks - a category that includes coffee - expanded ​by ​a similar margin.

While that mirrors a global trend in young people drinking less, Pakistan's shift has ​outpaced mature markets such as the United States and Britain, where ‌non-alcoholic beverage volumes have grown only modestly.

PARTYING WITHIN ISLAMIC BOUNDARIES

Sociologist Kausar Parveen said the change shows how young Pakistanis have put a modern spin on adapting to the country's Islamic norms, rather than being a sign they are rejecting them.

"They are not going beyond religion, but reframing how social life happens," said Parveen, an associate professor at the University of Karachi.

Women-only events are also increasing in popularity, in a country where gender mixing carries cultural stigmas.

"For a lot of women, nightlife comes with conditions of who's there, how late it runs, how visible it is," said comedian and influencer Amtul Bajwa, who was hosting the women-only desi music night at her cafe in Karachi, Third ‌Culture Coffee.

"This was about creating a space where women could relax without negotiating those things."

OPTIONS OPEN ​ONLY TO WOMEN

Pakistani and Indian music played as women danced without reservations to desi tracks, and ​the event ended at 9pm sharp.

"You don't have to worry about who's watching," ​said Fatima, who did not share her last name because her parents did not know she was attending. "Ending early makes it easier ‌to get home."

Bajwa has also hosted a number of coffee raves for ​both genders, and recently held a silent ​disco at her cafe, but said there is particular demand for women-only events.

Price is something of an issue: Tickets typically cost between 3,000 and 7,000 Pakistani rupees ($10.73 to $25.04) in a country where entry-level monthly salaries tend to be 30,000 to 40,000 rupees, making a single night out a significant expense.

Even so, sober ​raves have become a significant - and very visible - outlet for ‌Pakistan's youth.

At the sports club, well-dressed lifestyle bloggers and social media influencers posted photos and videos in real time, something unlikely at parties involving ​alcohol.

"It's more available to the masses," said Shah Zaib, a 27-year-old data analyst attending his third such event.

"I love the fact that it's not ​underground anymore."

($1 = 279.5000 Pakistani rupees)

(Reporting by Ariba Shahid in Karachi: Editing by Kevin Buckland)

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Captain Mitchell Marsh continued his recovery from a testicular injury as Australia won the toss and elected to field against Zimbabwe at the T20 World Cup on Friday.

Marsh sustained the injury in the nets on the eve of Australia's opening Group B game and missed Australia's67-run win against Ireland. Travis Head will continue to lead the side in Marsh's absence.

Tim David was one of the two changes Australia made from the first game as the middle-order batter returned for his first game since a hamstring injury ruled him out of the Big Bash League. David replaced Cooper Connolly with fast bowler Xavier Bartlett making way for Ben Dwarshuis.

It is the first T20 World Cup game between the two nations since Zimbabwe's stunning five-wicket win over Australia in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2007.

Zimbabwe, which started the tournament with aneight-wicket win over Oman, also made two changes with veteran Brendan Taylor, who retired hurt in the first game, replaced by wicketkeeper-batter Tadiwanashe Marumani.

Fast bowler Richard Ngarava was rested and Tony Munyonga made his way into the playing XI.

Later Friday

Four associate nations will be involved in the two other games on Friday. United Arab Emirates will be looking for its first win when it takes on Canada in a Group D game at New Delhi.

The United States, which has already lost to India andPakistanin Group A, will meet the Netherlands at Chennai, India.

Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (captain), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani.

Australia: Travis Head (captain), Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matt Renshaw, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Matt Kuhnemann, Adam Zampa.

AP cricket:https://apnews.com/hub/cricket