5 things you need to know Thursday

Rallies against racism expected across U.S.

More protests against racism are expected Thursday in wake of the deadly attack in Charlottesville, Va. Hundreds of people gathered at the University of Virginia for a peaceful candlelight vigil Wednesday night, just hours after a public memorial service for Heather Heyer — who was killed when a car plowed into a crowd of people — was held in Charlottesville. Protests erupted in the college town last weekend over the planned removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. As a result, cities and towns across the U.S. are now reconsidering their stance on Confederate statues being mounted on publicparks.

South Korea president open to sending a special envoy to North Korea

South Korea's President Moon Jae-in said Thursday that he would consider sending a special envoy to North Korea if the reclusive nation stops its missile and nuclear tests. Amid fears that President Trump's aggressive rhetoric could lead to real fighting, Moon declared that there would be no second war on the Korean Peninsula and that the U.S. had agreed to not take any military action without Seoul's consent. Moon’s comments follow a spike in animosity generated by North Korea’s warning that it might send missiles into waters near the U.S. territory ofGuam, and comes before next week’s start of U.S.-South Korean military exercises. Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, the U.S. military’s top officer, said Thursday that a military solution to the missile threat would be “horrific,” but allowing North Korea to develop the capability to launch a nuclear attack is “unimaginable."

'Project Runway' is breaking body barriers in new season

Tim Gunn for years has been pushing for Lifetime's Project Runway to include plus-size women. The fashion design show's mentor, formerly Liz Claiborne's chief creative officer, got his wish with Season 16, which debuts Thursday (8 ET/PT). The show includes models who range in size from 0 to 22 for the first time in its 13-year history. Models are assigned to contestants by judges and the production staff, and they're rotated frequently, so all are met with a variety of body types. Gunn says he hopes the show can sway the fashion industry to address the lingering disparity of designer garments in sizes above a 12.  

USA Gymnastics returns to competition floor 

The P&G Championships get underway Thursday after what has been a year of both triumph and tumult for USA Gymnastics. After the U.S. women won a record nine medals, four of them gold, at the Rio Olympics, the federation was rocked by a sexual abuse scandal centered around longtime team physician Larry Nassar, who pleaded guilty to federal child porn charges.

Man suspected of kidnapping British model appears in court

One of the men suspected of kidnapping a British model and threatening to sell her on the dark web is due to appear in a London court Thursday. Authorities arrested Michal Konrad Herba for allegedly abducting Chloe Ayling in Italy last month. Ayling says she was lured to Milan for a photo shoot, then drugged, stuffed into a suitcase and held at a rural house by criminals who threatened to auction her online.Italian police are also holding Michal Konrad Herba's brother, Lukasz Pawel Herba, on suspicion of abducting Ayling.  

Contributing: Associated Press