Ms. Lauryn Hill and Fugees' bandmate Wyclef Jean will headline Global Citizen's antipoverty festival

NEW YORK (AP) — Ms. Lauryn Hill and her Fugees' bandmate Wyclef Jean will bring their pointed and political music to Global Citizen Festival this fall.

The headliners, announced Thursday, are a fitting choice. The annual gathering in New York's Central Park rallies attendees to pressure world leaders to fund a range of antipoverty initiatives at the end of the United Nations General Assembly 's yearly high-level meetings. Joining them on Sept. 26 are rocker Lenny Kravitz, R&B-pop singer John Legend, country music star Lainey Wilson, chart-topping Grammy winner Shaboozey and K-pop group TOMORROW X TOGETHER.

The two Fugees are fresh off several performances marking the 30th anniversary of their landmark album, “The Score." They were in London, where Hill also brought her music festival celebrating the sounds of the African diaspora, and Rio de Janeiro, where they closed out Global Citizen's weeklong climate programming.

It's also the first festival since Global Citizen produced the World Cup's first halftime show. That collaboration helped raise more than $60 million for the education fund launched with FIFA. Global Citizen co-founder Hugh Evans hopes to leverage next month's gathering to shore up some outstanding commitments.

Festivalgoers gain entry by taking actions such as petitioning countries to dip into their international development budgets. This year's priorities include mobilizing $100 million to provide 2 million children with access to education, nutritious food and healthcare; gathering $100 million to improve food security for 1.5 million smallholder farmers; and moving $1.5 billion to expand clean energy in the Indo-Pacific region.

The countries facing asks this year include Spain, Norway, Ireland, Kenya, Japan, Denmark and Australia. Evans specifically called on France to support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, Gavi, Education Cannot Wait, or any of their other education partners. “Macron will often talk a lot about their leadership on issues of education,” Evans said of the French president. "But I think, when the rubber hits the road, are they actually stepping up?”

One country that isn't on the list? The United States. Once the world's single largest aid donor, the U.S. now provides for Evans “an example of a country that should be a leader on the global stage that is such an incredible laggard at this point.” The U.S. wasn't worth targeting, according to Evans, given that the administration "butchered its entire foreign aid budget" and “dismantled the entire apparatus” of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Still, while acknowledging a “world of shrinking foreign aid,” Evans expressed optimism that the pendulum will shift.

“I believe that the future belongs to political leaders who are willing to understand the nuance of how power works," Evans said. "Power doesn’t have to be a negative thing. It can be a very positive thing if you’re wielding it for good. As Spider-Man taught us: with great power comes great responsibility.”

This year's festival offers a new way for people to gain admission. Fans can still enter the free ticket lottery by completing calls to action on the Global Citizen app. But they can also get automatic entry by making a $25 charitable donation. The funds raised will go toward New York's City Parks Foundation and organizations that serve those experiencing homelessness.

Evans hopes that artists such as Wilson and Shaboozey, both country music acts, can bring a new audience to his movement. He noted that Wilson, who expressed interest in the festival's support of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, comes from a family of farmers.

“It’s been quite some time I’d say since we had this level of a country presence in our lineup," Evans said. “So, I’m super excited about that. I’m hoping that the fans are, too.”

Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.

FILE - Wyclef Jean attends the Music Will Benefit at Gotham Hall, April 9, 2025, in New York. (Photo by CJ Rivera/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - John Legend performs 'Hero' during MusiCares Person of the Year honoring Mariah Carey on Jan. 30, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

FILE - Lenny Kravitz poses for photographers upon arrival at the Brit Awards 2025 in London, March. 1, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Singer Lauryn Hill performs during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Crown Prince Akishino, the younger brother of Emperor Naruhito, on Thursday said he has “mixed feelings” about the government's revision to the Imperial House Law that reinforces a rule dictating only men can become emperor.

“I believe there is no difference between men and women” in serving the roles of the imperial family to respond to social needs, Akishino said at a news conference ahead of a trip to Paraguay later this month to mark the 90th anniversary of Japanese emigration to the South American country.

The comments by Akishino, the next in line for the throne, come just weeks after a historic revision to the Imperial House Law by the conservative government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that insists only paternal-lineage men can become emperor.

The law has been criticized as anachronistic and sexist, and the revision sparked outrage and concern that the measure could doom the already shrinking imperial family.

Critics say the government’s insistence on the male-only succession imposes an inhumane system on the royals without taking into consideration their perspective.

As an imperial family member who is not supposed to make political statements, Akishino was nuanced in his comments.

“I have mixed feelings about it, and it's rather strange if I don't,” Akishino said when asked about the government’s decision. He added that it “is a difficult question, and the reality is that I can't talk about it.”

“Society needs to keep making progress, and I believe it is important for people with different views to keep thinking what's best,” Akishino said.

Naruhito’s 24-year-old daughter, Princess Aiko, is hugely popular and many Japanese want her to be his successor, but as a woman she is ineligible. The male-only succession rule means the throne must go to Akishino, then to his 19-year-old nephew Prince Hisahito. Next in line after him is the emperor’s 90-year-old uncle.

The revisions by Takaichi's government to the antiquated law is meant to solidify the principle of the imperial bloodline, but pushes aside the emperor’s daughter.

The revision allows princesses to keep their status and perform royal duties if they marry a commoner, but their husbands and children will remain non-royals.

A more controversial change allows unmarried male descendants aged 15 or older of very distant imperial male relatives to be adopted into the immediate royal family to father heirs. Only those of paternal lineage can be chosen for adoption.

The revisions have led to protests from Japanese who see the government efforts as an attempt to eliminate Princess Aiko from ruling and justify discrimination against women and a patriarchal system.

Akishino's popular younger daughter, Princess Kako, has taken on official duties in recent years, including overseas trips. His elder daughter, former Princess Mako, renounced her royal status in 2021 when she married her college boyfriend and moved to the U.S. where he now is a lawyer. Under the revised law, Kako gets to choose whether to keep her status if she marries, though her intention is unknown.

Akishino said he hopes Kako and his son Hisahito cherish each official duty when they serve their roles. “As a parent ... I just hope they will find their way to happiness.”

There have been eight female monarchs in Japan. The last was Empress Gosakuramachi, who ruled from 1762 to 1770.

The paternal-line male succession was stipulated for the first time in the 1890 Imperial House Law, when Japan promoted patriarchal systems. That law was largely carried over to the current 1947 version.

There is also worry that the government’s push will upset the legacy of former Emperor Akihito, including making amends for the victims of World War II, which was fought in his father’s name.

Akihito, who abdicated in 2019, tried to bring what was seen as an aloof monarchy closer to the people, an example followed by his son, Naruhito, and his family.

Japan's Crown Prince Akishino attends a news conference in Tokyo, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, ahead of his visit to Paraguay. (Japan Pool/Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko attend a news conference in Tokyo, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, ahead of their visit to Paraguay. (Japan Pool/Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko attend a news conference in Tokyo, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, ahead of their visit to Paraguay. (Japan Pool/Kyodo News via AP)