In 1872, a fire which began in the basement of a warehouse in downtown Boston raged for 12 hours, consuming 65 acres and leaving 776 buildings in ruins. The Great Boston Fire killed at least 30 people.
In 1906, Theodore Roosevelt traveled to Panama to observe the progress being made on the construction of the canal. He was the first sitting president of the United States to embark on an official trip outside the country. The canal opened in 1914 under operation by the U.S. War Department.
In 1918, Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated as World War I drew to a close.
In 1953, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Major League Baseball isn’t within the scope of federal antitrust laws.
File Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI
In 1965, a massive power failure left more than 30 million people in the dark in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada.
In 1985, Gary Kasparov, 22, became the youngest world chess champion, ending the 10-year reign of Anatoly Karpov in Moscow.
In 1989, East Germany announced free passage for its citizens through border checkpoints. The announcement rendered the Berlin Wall, the most reviled symbol of the Cold War, virtually irrelevant 28 years after its construction.
In 1995, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat visited Israel for the first time to offer personal condolences to the wife of slain Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
In 2008, three men were executed by firing squad for 2002 bombings in Bali that killed 202 people, mostly tourists.
File Photo by Brian Richards/UPI
In 2011, a burgeoning child sexual-abuse scandal at Penn State University involving former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky claimed its legendary football coach when the school’s board of trustees fired Joe Paterno.
In 2015, the World Anti-Doping Agency recommended that Russia be banned from international sporting events due to systematic doping by athletes. Of the 389 athletes submitted for competition in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, 111 were prohibited in stringent doping tests required of all Russian athletes.
In 2021, Arlington National Cemetery opened the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Plaza to the public for the first time in nearly 100 years.
In 2023, the Screen Actors Guilt and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists reached a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture Television Producers, ending a 118-day strike that brought Hollywood to a halt.
In 2024, Beyoncé earned 11 nominations for the 67th annual Grammy Awards, making her the most nominated artist in Grammy history, with a lifetime total of 99 nods. As of 2025, she has won 35 of the awards.
Nearly 1.3 million members of the security forces and more than 26,500 internally displaced people are eligible to vote ahead of Tuesday’s polls.
Members of Iraq’s security forces and its internally displaced population have begun casting their ballots in the parliamentary elections – the sixth since a United States-led invasion toppled longtime ruler Saddam Hussein in 2003.
Polls opened at 7am (04:00 GMT) on Sunday for 1.3 million members of the security forces at 809 polling centres and will close at 6pm (15:00 GMT) before they are deployed for security purposes on the election day on Tuesday.
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More than 26,500 internally displaced people are also eligible for early voting on Sunday across 97 polling stations at 27 places in Iraq, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) said.
Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari told INA that the special voting process is advancing “smoothly and in an organised manner”.
Nearly 21 million Iraqis are eligible to vote on Tuesday across 4,501 polling stations nationwide, the INA said.
More than 7,750 candidates, nearly a third of them women, are running for the 329-seat parliament. Under the law, 25 percent of the seats are reserved for women, while nine are allocated for religious minorities.
The current parliament began its term on January 9, 2022, and will last four years, ending on January 8, 2026.
An old electoral law, revived in 2023, will apply to the ongoing elections, with many seeing it as favouring larger parties. While about 70 independents won in the 2021 vote, only 75 independents are contesting this year.
Observers also fear that turnout might dip below the record low of 41 percent in 2021, reflecting voters’ apathy and scepticism in a country marked by entrenched leadership and allegations of mismanagement and endemic corruption.
There were widespread accusations of corruption and vote-buying before the elections, and 848 candidates were disqualified by election officials, sometimes for obscure reasons, including insulting religious rituals or members of the armed forces.
Past elections in Iraq have been marred by violence, including assassinations of candidates, attacks on polling stations, and clashes between the supporters of different blocs. While overall levels of violence have subsided, a candidate was assassinated in the run-up to this year’s election.
Influential Shia leader Moqtada Sadr urged his followers to boycott what he described as a “flawed election”.
Al-Sadr’s bloc won the largest number of seats in 2021, but later withdrew after failed negotiations over forming the government amid a standoff with rival Shia parties. He has since boycotted the political system.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, elected in 2022 with the backing of pro-Iran parties, is seeking a second term and is expected to secure a sizeable bloc.
Among the other frontrunners are influential Shia figures, including former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Muslim scholar Ammar al-Hakim.
By convention in post-invasion Iraq, a Shia Muslim holds the powerful post of the prime minister and a Sunni of the parliament’s speaker, while the largely ceremonial presidency goes to a Kurd.
Since her breakout into the mainstream last year for her scorched-Earth set on “The Roast of Tom Brady” and a top-notch comedy special “Someday You’ll Die,” Nikki Glaser has become an A-lister in the stand-up comedy world. But did that success translate for her first time as “Saturday Night Live” host?
Not too surprisingly, Glaser did well given that her best qualifications for the gig are that she’s very good at delivering jokes for a living and that she’s not shy about pushing the boundaries of taste in her comedy. That’s a good fit for the current incarnation of “SNL,” which tends to have at least one gross-out scatological sketch per episode and lots of “Weekend Update” segments and jokes that either land in the “just dirty enough” or “way over the line” camp.
A sketch about a stalled plane and a chatty pilot (James Austin Johnson) was good, but only because of Johnson’s perfect impression of flight intercom chatter.
Less successful were a half-baked mashup, “Beauty and Mr. Beast,” about the popular YouTuber, and a sorority sketch with Mikey Day as an interloping man wearing a bad facial disguise.
Glaser’s lengthy monologue may not have been as perfect a fit as it should have been, but her sketch performances were spot-on.
Musical guest Sombr performed “12 to 12” and “Back to Friends.” There was also a sweet and funny animated short, “Brad and His Dad,” about a divorced father trying to connect with his video game-obsessed 11-year-old.
In this week’s cold open, President Trump (James Austin Johnson) commented on the bizarre White House incident where a pharmaceutical representative (Jeremy Culhane) collapsed in the Oval Office while Trump was captured on camera looking away. As Trump put it in the sketch, “Someone dying in my office, I stand there and stare like a sociopath.” “Each week I try to create a visual,” he said, that represents what’s going on in the country like last week’s White House demolition. Trump walked over the fallen man to deliver a monologue on the week’s events, starting with the New York City mayoral election and concluding with SNAP benefit cuts and rising food prices. He offered that the cancellation of flights caused by the government shutdown will help by keeping families apart for Thanksgiving. “Killing two birds with one bird. Can’t afford food? Have some cheap Ozempic,” he said. Next up: stealing Christmas. “We’re doing Grinch!” Trump said.
Like a lot of “SNL” monologues from stand-up comics, Glaser’s was a microdose of her comedy act. As such, it was full of jokes about race, politics, sex acts and, for one uncomfortable stretch, the idea that someone (not Glaser, but maybe!) might suddenly realize they’re a pedophile. Glaser began by calling New York City “Epstein’s original island” before discussing white women being cultural appropriators by spray tanning, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (“I’m no health expert, but neither is he”), dating a short man with anger issues and PSAs in public bathrooms about human trafficking. In her 20s, Glaser joked, the only fear she had was “good old-fashioned rape.” The barrage of jokes was exactly what you expect from Glaser, but some of the jokes didn’t seem to land as well on the “SNL” stage as they typically would on roasts or in her own comedy specials.
Best sketch of the night: When declining a Jennifer Hudson spirit tunnel invite is the only option
“The Jennifer Hudson Show’s” signature bit, in which guests dance through a hallway while staffers clap and cheer them on, has become such a big deal that celebrities like Glaser, playing herself in this commercial, have major anxiety about their dancing. Glaser, a self-described “uncoordinated white woman” claims her dance moves are so bad they’re potentially career-ending. “I even tried to put my ass into it. But I don’t have one,” she laments. But luckily there’s a drug, Hudsacillin, that makes you so violently ill that the celebrity in question has to cancel their appearance. “What’s the alternative?” the ad asks, “lightening up and being fun?”
Also good: Maybe this pilot shouldn’t be texting, even on the tarmac
With all the flight delays and cancellations happening, this topical sketch was about a couple (Sherman and Andrew Dismukes) sitting on an airport runway waiting for their flight to take off while their pilot (Johnson) announces delays and also shares updates about a woman he’s texting that he met on a dating app. What really sells the piece is Johnson’s delivery as the pilot, but also the funny interactions he has with the co-pilot (Kam Patterson), Glaser as the disaffected flight attendant and a set of passengers who argue nonverbally about whether or not to get involved (Kenan Thompson and Bowen Yang).
‘Weekend Update’ winner: A way to visit Staten Island without going to Staten Island
As the only guest segment on “Weekend Update” this week, Pete Davidson’s check-in on the Staten Island Ferry he purchased a few years ago with Colin Jost wins by default. Davidson referenced a New York Times article about trouble with their business venture, but said, “I cant spend $5 on a paywall when I have a kid on the way.” He promised to give parenting, “all the enthusiasm I never had for this show.” Davidson revealed that the new plan for the ferry is to convert it to a city on the water, New Staten Island, with all the things that make Staten Island great: pizza (it turns out it’s just one thing). Davidson couldn’t resist getting in a dig at his old boss after saying he’s not giving up on the ferry. “If Lorne Michaels has taught us anything, it’s never give up even if everyone says the time has come and Tina Fey is ready to take over.”
In peak summer it can be as much as £380 per night.
If you want to simply explore, then jump on a ferry and take a daytrip from Dubrovnik.
To get to Šipan, holidaymakers need to take the ferry from Dubrovnik.
There’s one ferry a day, and the trip takes around 45 minutes with a one-way ticket costing £3.63pp.
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Once you get to the island, you’ll find a mass of olive groves – as it holds a Guinness World Record for the highest density of olive trees per square meter.
This is also why it’s called ‘golden island’, thanks to its rich land which produces quality olive oil.
It is inhabited by around 480 residents who live between the two main villages, Šipanska Luka on the western side and Suđurađ on the southeastern tip.
You’ll also spot some ruins that used to be Roman villas and summer residences of Dubrovnik nobility.
Thanks to its proximity to the city, Šipan Island used to be the holiday spot for rich and noble Croatian families from Dubrovnik.
One of those is Vice Stjepović-Skočibuha in the village of Suđurađ, the most famous one among them.
Of the 13 Elaphiti Islands, only three are inhabited; Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan.
Koločep is the island nearest to Dubrovnik, and it has two villages, plenty of hiking trails, and the Modra šilja, known as The Blue Cave.
On Lopud, visitors will find the very pretty Šunj beach and a historic monastery.
The houses have terracotta rooftops and there are two hotels on the island tooCredit: Alamy
Much further up the coast, nearer to Zagreb, Krk is Croatia’s largest island, and unlike Šipan, it can be accessed via a bridge, so there’s no need to take the ferry.
As it’s one of the larger Croatian islands, which has a number of resorts, hotels, holiday homes and campsites.
There are over 68 towns and villages on the island, and a popular spot is Beach Kozica, also known as the silent beach, which has been described as “dream bay” by visitors thanks to its clear waters.
Evans held a 13-point lead over both Ogier and Rovanpera going into the Toyota City-based event.
However, the Finn’s hopes took an early blow, dropping more than five minutes on Friday after damaging his rear suspension in a collision with a barrier.
Evans began slowly, placing sixth on the opening stage, but put together back-to-back stage wins on Friday and a strong Saturday morning sequence to rise up to second just 1.4secs behind leader Ogier.
The Frenchman responded with a dominant performance on Saturday afternoon, which continued as he was also the quickest driver across the final day’s six stages – including adding a further additional five points with victory in the final bonus power stage.
“It’s obviously a perfect result,” said Ogier, who is looking to equal Sebastien Loeb’s record nine world titles.
“It’s been a challenging weekend because after the rain today nothing was certain, it was the start of a new rally this morning.
“Now, let’s go to the next one. This was a perfect weekend for us to come back so close [to Evans] and let’s hope the last one is not a lottery.”
Toyota Gazoo Racing have already secured their fifth consecutive WRC manufacturers’ title and are now guaranteed to take the top three places in the drivers’ championship.
Rovanpera, though, looks destined to finish third in his final rally season before switching to a career in circuit racing.
“Definitely not the weekend we wanted to have but sometimes it’s like this,” said the 25-year-old Finn.
“Just a bit too inconsistent with results this year.”
Authorities say rescue operations are under way to locate survivors on a boat that sunk, with two others missing.
Published On 9 Nov 20259 Nov 2025
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One body has been found and dozens of others are missing after a boat carrying about 90 undocumented migrants sank near the Thailand-Malaysia border, officials said.
The Malaysian maritime authority on Sunday said at least 10 survivors were found, while the status of two other boats carrying a similar number of people remains unknown.
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The incident is believed to have happened near Tarutao Island, just north of the popular Malaysian resort island of Langkawi.
“A boat carrying 90 people is believed to have capsized” three days ago, local police chief Adzli Abu Shah told reporters, adding that rescue operations were under way to locate the survivors.
Among the survivors found in the waters were three Myanmar nationals, two Rohingya refugees, and a Bangladeshi man, while the body was that of a Rohingya woman, state media agency Bernama reported, quoting Abu Shah.
The Malaysia-bound people initially boarded a large vessel, but, as they neared the border, they were instructed to transfer onto three smaller boats, each carrying about 100 people, to avoid detection by the authorities, the police chief was quoted as saying.
Dangerous crossings
Malaysia is home to millions of migrants and refugees from other parts of Asia – many of them undocumented, working in industries including construction and agriculture.
Members of the mainly Muslim Rohingya minority periodically flee predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, where they are seen as foreign interlopers from South Asia, denied citizenship, and subjected to abuse. Nearly a million Rohingya refugees live in cramped camps across southern Bangladesh.
Many of these refugees attempt maritime crossings to relatively affluent regional countries such as Malaysia and Thailand, facilitated by human trafficking syndicates. But the trips often turn hazardous, leading to frequent capsizing.
In one of the worst incidents in December 2021, more than 20 people drowned in several capsizing incidents off the Malaysian coastline.
Nearly a million people have evacuated their homes in the Philippines as the country braced for another powerful storm, days after a typhoon killed at least 224 people.
The storm, named Fung-wong, started battering northeastern Philippines on Sunday before its expected landfall, knocking down power and prompting warnings from the weather bureau of a “high risk of life-threatening conditions” in parts of the country.
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The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Fung-wong, locally known as Uwan, is forecast to make landfall in Aurora province as early as Sunday night with maximum sustained winds of up to 185 kilometres per hour (115 miles per hour) and gusts of up to 230km/h (143mph).
It raised the highest alert level, Signal No 5, for southeastern and central areas, including Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, and Aurora province, while Metro Manila and nearby provinces were under Signal No 3.
Fung-wong, which could cover two-thirds of the Southeast Asian archipelago with its 1,600km (994-mile-) wide rain and wind band, was approaching from the Pacific while the Philippines was still dealing with the devastation wrought by Typhoon Kalmaegi, which left at least 224 people dead in central island provinces on Tuesday before pummeling Vietnam, where at least five were killed.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has declared a state of emergency due to the extensive devastation caused by Kalmaegi and the expected calamity from Fung-wong, which is called Uwan in the Philippines.
Tropical cyclones with sustained winds of 185km/h (115mph) or higher are categorised in the Philippines as a super typhoon, a designation adopted years ago to underscore the urgency tied to more extreme weather disturbances.
More than 916,860 people were evacuated from high-risk villages in northeastern provinces, including in Bicol, a coastal region vulnerable to Pacific cyclones and mudflows from Mayon, one of the country’s most active volcanoes.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr, who oversees the country’s disaster response agencies and the military, warned about the potentially catastrophic effect of Fung-wong in televised remarks on Saturday.
“We ask that people preemptively evacuate so that we don’t end up having to conduct rescues at the last minute, which could put the lives of police, soldiers, firefighters and coastguard personnel at risk,” he said in a public address.
“We need to do this because when it’s already raining or the typhoon has hit and flooding has started, it’s hard to rescue people,” he added.
Teodoro said the storm could affect a vast expanse of the country, including Cebu, the central province hit hardest by Typhoon Kalmaegi, and metropolitan Manila, the densely populated capital region, which is the seat of power and the country’s financial centre.
More than 30 million people could be exposed to hazards posed by Fung-wong, the Office of Civil Defense said.
In Isabela in northern Luzon, dozens of families were sheltering in a basketball court repurposed as an evacuation centre.
“We heard on the news that the typhoon is very strong, so we evacuated early,” said Christopher Sanchez, 50, who fled with his family.
“We left our things on the roofs of our house since every time there’s a storm, we come here because we live right next to the river,” he told the Reuters news agency. “In previous storms, the floodwaters rose above human height.
“We’re scared,” he said. “We’re here with our grandchildren and our kids. The whole family is in the evacuation area.”
Authorities in northern provinces to be hit or sideswiped by Fung-wong have meanwhile preemptively declared the shutdown of schools and most government offices on Monday and Tuesday. At least 325 domestic and 61 international flights have been cancelled over the weekend and into Monday, and more than 6,600 commuters and cargo workers were stranded in at least 109 seaports, where the coastguard prohibited ships from venturing into rough seas.
Authorities warned of a “high risk of life-threatening and damaging storm surge” of more than 3 metres (10 feet) along the coasts of more than 20 provinces and regions, including metropolitan Manila.
The Philippines is battered by about 20 typhoons and storms each year. The country is also often hit by earthquakes and has more than a dozen active volcanoes, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.
They called him a “national treasure” and “true consumer champion”, stating: “Quentin brought the joy of motoring, from combustion to electric, into our living rooms.”
The statement added: “The void he has left can never be filled. His knowledge was not just learned but lived; a library of experience now beyond our reach,” reports the Express.
Besides serving as Top Gear’s used car specialist, and working as an campaigner and electric vehicle supporter, Willson appeared on Strictly in 2004.
He created history on the programme when his Cha Cha Cha with partner Hazel Newberry received the lowest score ever awarded by judges on the show, at just eight points.
He subsequently remarked he was “very proud” of it, acknowledging his poor dancing ability and saying: “I ‘m very proud to have the lowest recorded score on Strictly Come Dancing. Builders ran up to me to shake my hand because I failed so badly. I tried, but I was the dancing equivalent of a JCB.”
BBC Breakfast presenters paid tribute to Willson this morning, with Roger stating: “Jeremy Clarkson and James May have lead tributes to the former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson, who has died from lung cancer at the age of 68. His family said that he brought the joy of motoring into people’s living rooms.”
Reporter Graham Satchell said: “Quentin Willson’s presenting style on Top Gear was unforgettable. Direct, forthright, with a wry sense of humour.
“After Top Gear, Willson began campaigning to reduce the amount of tax that motorists paid on fuel, and then to try and make electric cars more affordable.
“He holds the ignominious record of having the lowest ever score on Strictly, 8 out of 40, his performance described as a Robin Reliant trying to make love to a Ferrari.
“Willson loved it, it was important, he said, for people in the public eye to make fun of themselves.
“The car was his first and last love, he named his daughters Mercedes and Mini.”
Satchell continued: “Tonight Quentin Willson’s family said the void he left can never be filled. His knowledge was not just learned but lived, a library of experience, now beyond our reach.”
The tributes follow heartfelt words from James May and Jeremy Clarkson, who wrote: ” I’m far away so I’ve only just heard that Quentin Willson has died. We had some laughs over the years. Properly funny man.”
May commented on X: “Quentin Wilson gave me proper advice and encouragement during my earliest attempts at TV, back in the late 90s. I’ve never forgotten it. Great bloke.”
BBC Breakfast airs from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer.
The wild swimming spot is popular with reviewers, who praised the ‘stunning’ views
The tidal pool’s ‘stunning’ views impressed reviewers (Image: Getty)
A ‘magical’ tidal pool that’s popular with wild swimmers has been praised as the ‘perfect’ spot for a winter swim. Found in Cornwall, the ‘stunning’ pool could be especially attractive to people who like to swim year-round, but who don’t always get the chance due to rough seas.
While it’s always important to follow water safety guidelines, swimming in the winter can be more dangerous due to unpredictable conditions and stronger currents. Bude Sea Pool often goes viral on social media and is highly rated by TripAdvisor reviewers. It’s also free to visit.
Friends of Bude Sea Pool, the charity that maintains the pool, explains: “Bude Sea Pool is a semi-natural tidal pool and is a safe haven for wild swimming on the edges of the Atlantic Ocean. There is no cost, no booking nor any other imposed restriction. Bude Sea Pool is for everyone to enjoy for free.”
The sea pool is open throughout the year, and the temperature typically ranges between 11°C and 18°C. The website advises unseasoned swimmers to consider wearing a wetsuit. It is also recommended to always swim at low tide.
On TripAdvisor, the tidal pool has an average rating of 4.7 out of five, and it earned a 2025 Travellers’ Choice Award. The description for the attraction reads: “Bude Sea Pool is a part-natural, part man-made tidal pool on Summerleaze Beach in the popular seaside town of Bude, North Cornwall.
“Built in the 1930s under the cliffs, it provides a safe swimming area away from the dangerous Atlantic currents. Measuring approximately 91m by 45m, the pool is naturally replenished by the Atlantic Ocean at high tide.”
One previous visitor said: “Bude sea pool is my favourite place in the world. I have visited it many times, in all months and seasons. It is never the same, but always magical and I am so happy that it continues to be free for everyone to enjoy. Wonderful place.”
Another visitor wrote: “A lovely spot. Perfect, safe place for a winter swim. A lovely spot.
“Perfect, safe place for a winter swim when the sea is rough. An amazing facility. Volunteer run and charity so pop in the ‘friends of’ shop for some swim-supplies or gifts to show support. Parking & toilets nearby.”
Someone else praised: “Awesome! What a stunning place for a swim! The Bude sea pool is a wonderful thing. It is backed by cliffs creating stunning views while you can swim in calm but fresh sea water. I recommend a wetsuit in winter unless you’re seriously hardy!
“But it is open and beautiful all year round whatever the weather. If you do swim please do donate to keep this wonderful resource going. Go there and enjoy!”
When the ball was thrown in her direction with the championship on the line, Avery Olson was ready. There was no time on the clock when the JSerra junior defender ran step for step with Orange Lutheran receiver Josie Anderson, who dove but could not reach it in the end zone — an exciting finish to the Southern Section Division 1 girls’ flag football final Saturday night at Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange.
The top-seeded Lions capped off a perfect season by forcing two incompletions from the two-yard line in the last six seconds — a goal-line stand that summarized everything the team has been about since the start of the season: defense first — to prevail 25-20 over their Trinity League rivals, who captured the inaugural Division 1 championship last fall.
JSerra’s pass rush forced quarterback Makena Cook to hurry a throw to the corner of the end zone that fell incomplete on third down and the Lions began celebrating, thinking the game was over. However, the referee quickly held up two fingers to signal there were two seconds remaining.
Ava Irwin (2) celebrates with her teammates after catching two touchdown passes in JSerra’s 25-20 victory over Orange Lutheran for the Division 1 title on Saturday.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)
“That was the hardest part, realizing they were so close to the goal line and we had to go out there one last time with everything on the line,” Olson said. “We were anticipating a jump ball to Happy [Dubois] or someone who could can go up and get it but they came up with a whip route, something shorter and I wasn’t expecting that. I saw her hips turning and said to myself ‘I gotta get my hands on it.’ We knew it would be a dogfight. O Lu is a great team!”
While the Lions’ defense saved the game, the offense won it. When freshman quarterback Kate Meier could not find anyone open, she took off for the goal line and scooted just inside the pylon from six yards out to put JSerra in front with exactly one minute to go.
“I just took what they gave me,” said Meier, who is known as the team’s Brett Favre and scored the winning touchdown on a similar scramble in the teams’ first league meeting. “There was a huge opening. I saw a large gap opened up and I think I got in.”
JSerra quarterback Kate Meier leaps into the arms of teammate Kai Beary after running for the winning touchdown against Orange Lutheran with one minute left.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)
However, Orange Lutheran marched from its own 14 to the Lions’ two to set up the frantic finish.
Cook used her legs to buy time in the pocket before finding Capri Cuneo in the middle of the end zone for a touchdown that tied it with 6:53 left, then threw to Ruby Fuamatu for the one-point conversion that pushed Orange Lutheran into the lead, 20-19.
JSerra intercepted four passes by Cook to win that Sept. 30 showdown 18-7 and held on for a 21-20 home win to clinch the league crown nine days later. They intercepted three more Cook passes Saturday, two of them by Kai Beary, including the most critical with 27 seconds left in the first half and the Lancers inside the JSerra 10.
“I was rushing with GG Szczuka, we got pressure and was able to pick it off,” said Beary, who also caught a touchdown pass from Meier. “It’s been such a fun season. It’s sad that it’s over.”
JSerra (28-0) entered the game ranked No. 1 in California and second in the country by MaxPreps. The Lions blanked 12 opponents and dealt the No. 2 team in the state, Orange Lutheran, its only three defeats. Asked if his team deserved to be No. 1 in the nation, JSerra coach Brian Ong did not seem to care.
“We beat all the teams we played and no one’s gone undefeated to win CIF — these girls are the first to accomplish that,” Ong said. “I don’t think there’s another team in the country that could beat Orange Lutheran three times in a row.”
Nov. 8 (UPI) — Federal officials on Saturday canceled more than 800 flights at airports across the United States as the federal government shutdown entered its record-long 39th day on Saturday.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford jointly announced a temporary 10% reduction in flights at 40 high-traffic airports.
They said the reduction in flights is necessary to ensure safety and ease the strain on air traffic controllers, who are working without pay.
“My department has many responsibilities, but our number one job is safety,” Duffy said.
“It’s safe to fly today, and it will continue to be safe to fly next week because of the proactive actions we are taking.”
More than 1,700 flights have been canceled through Sunday — and more than 800 were cancelled on Saturday alone — as commercial airlines reduced their respective flights by 4% at the nation’s busiest airports, according to CNN.
Washington’s Reagan National Airport is affected the most by the flight reductions, with 151 flights canceled among 869 initially scheduled there for a reduction of 17.4%, The New York Times reported.
Louisville, Ky., has an 8% reduction with 12 canceled among 150 flights, followed by Cincinnati, 7.2% and 18 canceled flights among 250 scheduled.
Houston Hobby has 20 of 336 flights canceled for a 6% reduction, followed by Indianapolis, with 17 of 297 flights canceled for a 5.7% reduction, to round out the five most impacted airports.
The flight reductions come after many air traffic controllers and other essential airport staff have called in sick due to increased stress, to work other jobs and to care for their children, among other reasons.
They have missed one paycheck and will again next week if the federal government is not funded and reopened by then, according to CNBC.
The reduced staffing levels are putting more pressure on commercial air operations, especially at the nation’s busiest airports.
“We are seeing signs of stress in the system, so we are proactively reducing the number of flights to make sure the American people continue to fly safely,” Bedford said.
“The FAA will continue to closely monitor operations, and we will not hesitate to take further action to make sure air travel remains safe.”
King Charles at last year’s service at the Cenotaph in London
King Charles III will lead the nation in a two-minute silence at 11:00 GMT on Sunday during the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph.
He is set to lay a wreath at the monument in central London as part of the service to remember those who died in conflict.
The King will be joined by other senior royals and political leaders, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, at the London ceremony.
Services will also take place in communities across the UK, including in Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff.
Some 10,000 armed forces veterans will take part in the Royal British Legion’s march-past through Whitehall, alongside around 20 World War Two veterans.
Events will take place around the country to mark Remembrance Sunday, which is observed on the closest Sunday to Armistice Day on 11 November – when World War One ended in 1918.
The prime minister said the nation would pause “to honour all those who have served our country”.
“We reflect on the extraordinary courage of our armed forces in the world wars and subsequent conflicts, whose service secured the freedoms we cherish today.”
Donald Poole, a 101-year-old who is a veteran of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, will march at the Cenotaph service with the Burma Star Memorial Fund.
“It is a great honour to be able to pay tribute to the poor souls who have died in all conflicts, and I know how lucky I am to still be here thanks to all those who have fought and served, past and present,” he said.
The service will be broadcast live on BBC One and iPlayer from 10:15 GMT.
The senior royals attended the annual event organised by the Royal British Legion
The audience stood and a fanfare played as the royals entered the concert hall to commemorate those who lost their lives in service, on the eve of Remembrance Sunday.
Sir Keir andhis wife Victoria also attended the annual event, which this year marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two.
It also came 25 years after the end of a decades-long ban on gay people serving in the armed forces, and the event reflected on the discrimination faced by LGBT personnel.
It was believed to be 12-year-old George’s first time attending the annual concert. He sat next to his mother, Catherine, whowore a handmade poppy made of silk, glass and other natural materials.
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Princess Catherine was joined by her eldest son George, 12
At the Festival of Remembrance, the Royal Family stood and applauded as the Chelsea Pensioners – retired British Army veterans – entered the auditorium and marched across the stage, while an orchestra performed the Boys Of The Old Brigade.
HER face is her fortune, but Sydney Sweeney told co-stars not to hold back from punching it during her new boxing biopic.
The scenes for her role as US fighter Christy Martin may have been carefully choreographed, but they were so ferocious she suffered a bloodied nose and concussion.
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Sydney Sweeney told co-stars not to hold back during fight scenes for her new boxing biopicCredit: SplashSydney shows off the results of her intense trainingCredit: instagram/sydney_sweeneySydney in her role as US fighter Christy MartinCredit: Alamy
The 28-year-old actress said: “The girls and all the fights you see are real. When I walked in and I met with everyone, I said, ‘I want you to hit me. And I want you to hit me hard. And can I hit you?’.
“So when you watch all those fights, we’re actually hitting each other. We were knocking each other out, we were getting bloody noses. I got concussion. We were actually fighting.”
Sydney added of co-star Katy O’Brian, who plays ring rival Lisa Holewyne: “Katy is a badass. I mean, she is strong.
“Katy’s only request was, ‘Please don’t break my nose’.”
Sydney’s childhood in Idaho saw her “kickboxing and grappling” from the age of nine to 19, which helped with the fight scenes.
But her astonishing physical transformation — putting on more than 2st of muscle over three months — was hard-earned, with up to five hours of training a day and countless protein shakes chugged.
She said: “I built my own ‘Rocky’ gym in my grandma’s shed and I trained back home in Idaho.
“I worked with my weight trainer in the morning and night, and then I had a boxing coach I worked with every day for two to three hours.
“I put on 35 pounds during that time.”
The movie, called Christy, which opens in cinemas on November 28, tells the story of WBC female super welterweight champion Christy, now 57, who was a trailblazer in the 1990s and put women’s boxing on the map.
But her biggest battle was behind closed doors, as her marriage to her older manager Jim Martin descended into violence.
When she tried to leave him in 2010, he shot and stabbed her. He was found guilty of attempted murder and died in prison last year.
But for Sydney, it was the strained scenes between Christy and her mum that she found the hardest to film.
She said: “Everything that happens within the house towards the end of the story of her life in the film weighed on me emotionally. But the one I had the hardest time doing and just processing was when she asked for her mum’s help.
“I have such amazing parents and I can go to them for anything. And I couldn’t imagine how hard it was for Christy and for others that deal with that as well.
“And it broke my heart while I was making that scene.”
Christy Martin and Sydney Sweeney at the film’s premiereCredit: GettyReal-life champ Christy winning bout in 1997Credit: Reuters
As soon as Sydney heard Christy’s story, she told her team she had to have a part.
She said: “When I first read the script, I was completely blown away that I didn’t know who this woman was. She is one of the most inspiring women I’ve met in my life.”
For her part, Sydney’s grit and determination to succeed began at the age of ten, when she made a “five-year business plan presentation” to persuade her parents to let her try to become a movie star.
When they realised she was serious at 13, they made 38-hour round trips for auditions before relocating to Los Angeles to give her a better shot at stardom.
Sydney said: “It’s not easy. I didn’t get a project that helped open more doors until I was, like, 19, 20. And you get told ‘no’ endlessly by everyone.”
Sadly, her parents’ decision to relocate was a catalyst for them going bankrupt and they divorced in 2016.
But that setback only served to fuel Sydney’s drive.
She worked as a cleaner and babysitter before her break came in 2018, with roles in three big TV shows — The Handmaid’s Tale, Sharp Objects and Everything Sucks!.
A year later, she was cast as Cassie Howard in global hit Euphoria, and The White Lotus followed in 2021.
‘Really scary’
Movie hits also came with 2019’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, 2023’s Anyone But You and last year’s Madame Web and Immaculate.
In her love life, she has been linked to 44-year-old US record executive Scooter Braun, who she met at Amazon boss Jeff Bezos’ wedding to Lauren Sanchez in the summer.
But she has insisted: “I’m single.”
She was previously engaged to movie producer Jonathan Davino, but they split in March.
For now, she’s firmly focused on her career as it goes stratospheric.
Speculation has also been rife that, with Amazon now owning the James Bond franchise, Bezos wanted her to be a Bond Girl in the next movie.
She responded that it would depend on the script and that she would have “more fun” playing 007.
She said of her upcoming roles: “Of course I have projects that I’m working on and I’m developing and I can’t wait to do. It’s kind of like this crazy rollercoaster.
“You’re never sure if it’s going to go up or down or upside down.”
Her path to success, Sydney admits, has been a battle at times.
I was so nervous. It’s so weird when you’re playing somebody and then you meet them.
Sydney Sweeney
She said: “I know what it feels like to be underestimated, to have people define you before you have a chance to define yourself.
“I know what it feels like to have to prove that you deserve to be here, to be seen, to be taken seriously.”
During filming of the boxing biopic, Christy herself turned up every day on set with her Pomeranian emotional support dog Champ.
And Sydney has since formed a friendship with her, with the pair going to a Nascar event in Phoenix together last week.
It is a leap forward from their first meeting.
Sydney recalled: “I was so nervous. It’s so weird when you’re playing somebody and then you meet them.
“You’re like, ‘Do you like me? Are you going to like what I do?’. It’s really scary.”
And the star admits the role has made her see life differently.
She said: “I think Christy has changed me. I’m a huge believer in separating yourself as much as possible from your character.
A city as celebrated for its quirkiness as Berlin is almost duty-bound to deliver on the flea market front – plus, many of its shops close on Sundays, making market browsing the natural retail fix.
Although Mauerparkin the Prenzlauer Bergdistrict is well known for its flea market and sells good stuff, if you have the patience to rummage through the inevitable piles of tat, smaller markets tend to have more interesting one-off finds. A favourite is Arkonaplatz in the Mitte district, which is especially alluring in autumn when the light and surrounding trees take on golden shades. There’s old film and camera equipment to be had here, as well as industrial furniture. My favourite buy is a huge, hand-crocheted blanket in shades of lapis and rust.
The Rathaus Schöneberg flea market in Tempelhof-Schöneberg is one of Berlin’s oldest, and is located where John F Kennedy made his famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech. It’s mostly the wares of people having a clear-out, as opposed to professional dealers, and is affordable.
Lesser known to non-Berliners, Neukölln’s Kranoldplatz Flohmarkt – in one of the city’s most vibrant alternative neighbourhoods – is a good choice for cool castoffs. Strict regulations limit what vendors can sell, too, so you’re spared much of the new, mass-produced junk you might find elsewhere.
For the most beautiful setting, though, the Bode antique and book market on Museum Island is pure romance. I can’t read any of the books I’ve bought there, nor have I ever served cake with the silver-plated slice I found there, but who cares?
Secondhand stores can be found all over the city – but it’s worth homing in on Friedrichshain. It’s home to Europe’s biggest Humana store (five floors of vintage treasure, including a selection of lederhosen) and there are several smaller outfits here, too. V Vintage (Kopernikusstraße 18 and Grünberger Straße 50) has a great range of pieces, from vintage denim to retro après-ski, while Soul and Style (Krossener Straße 24 and Frankfurter Allee 35-37) serves up fashion with a distinctly 80s flair, complete with band T-shirts, glitter and lurid shell suits. For more insider tips, check out @ezcape, @jessica.miusha
Athens
Antique objects for sale at a shop in Monastiraki, central Athens. Photograph: Simon RB Brown/Alamy
Who wouldn’t have old things on their mind when visiting the cradle of western civilisation? Once you’ve taken in the Acropolis and Parthenon, swerve the stalls selling fridge magnets of ancient ruins and head to the port city of Piraeus. About 5 miles south-west of Athens, it’s where the ferries depart for hundreds of Greek islands and a Sunday flea market takes place, alongside the railway tracks, until 2pm-ish. There’s often good retro clothing and vintage homewares – be prepared to rummage, sometimes at ground level, as not all vendors set up on tables. Then head for lunch at one of the many waterfront restaurants.
Another Sunday option is Pazari Rakosyllekton, or Scavengers’ Fleamarket (the name alone gets my treasure-hunt heart racing), a few minutes’ walk from Eleonas station, selling everything from furniture and homewares to books and records. Having found Olivia Newton-John’s Xanadu here, I feel I’ve peaked.
Elsewhere, curated vintage stores include Kilo Shop (Ermou 120), where finds are charged by weight and rails restocked every second day. Higher-end options include Anthophile Vintage(Zoodochou Pigis 55), where florals and whimsy reign, and Handpicked Cherries(Frinis 51) for vintage leather and Y2K treats. For more insider tips, check out@athens_thrifts, @posh.vintage
Stockholm
A loppis is a ‘particularly Swedish experience – not quite a garage sale, not quite a flea market’ Photograph: Berndt-Joel Gunnarsson/Alamy
Sweden and its Scandi neighbours are known for being savagely pricey, so balance the books with a touch of secondhand shopping. Stockholm has two stores from the popular European chain Humana – one in the Norrmalm district and another in Södermalm – good for clothing and accessories. With several locations around the city, Myrorna – owned by the Swedish arm of the Salvation Army – is more for your home than wardrobe. Gustavsberg porcelain and stylish glassware by Kosta Boda pop up frequently, as do pieces by other Nordic brands, such as Marimekko.
Södermalm is also home to a branch of the UK chain Beyond Retro and Judits Second Hand (Hornsgatan 75), which operates partly on a consignment basis, selling unwanted garments of local people for a split.
For a particularly Swedish experience, seek out a loppis. Not quite a garage sale, not quite a flea market, it’s an immensely popular way to socialise on a weekend, while unearthing the treasure that is someone else’s trash. Some are spontaneous, others semi-permanent with on-site refreshment and music. Spring and summer are prime times for loppisrunda (loppis-hopping), especially in the countryside, but they can be found year-round (check loppiskartan.se). A vintage Swedish Christmas tablecloth with matching fabric napkins and a pair of sleek brass reindeer, all from Uppsala, a 40-minute train journey north of Stockholm, remain beloved finds. For more insider tips, check out@modernretrostockholm, @vintageretrosimonand @myrornaopsten
On Sundays, Madrid’s El Rastro market bursts into life. Photograph: Peter Eastland/Alamy
Fast-fashion behemoth Zara was born in Spain, and although its largest retail store worldwide is in Madrid, the capital isn’t enslaved to high-street dressing. As well as its 29 Humana shops, where you might stumble upon anything from 90s streetwear to 50s corsetry, those with a yen for designer labels should check out the city’s many upmarket secondhand boutiques, which are more akin to concept stores than thrift shops.
Try Second Chancein the city centre (Calle de la Virgen de los Peligros 11) for lightly used clothes by names such as Loewe, Dolce & Gabbana and Yves Saint Laurent. While not exactly bargains, they are far more affordable than they would be new.
Denim is the staple at Friperie(Calle Rodriguez San Pedro 2), which has been name-checked by Vogue; and for those who consider Y2K to be vintage (rude) then Nearein the centre(Corre Alta de San Pablo 21)has a varied selection of clothing and accessories.
At Piel de Mariposa (Calle Embajadores 35)there are books, vinyl and homewares, as well as a good range of fashion and accessories, many for under €10 apiece.
The traditional flea market experience is also readily available in Madrid: El Rastro, home to many restaurants and bars, bursts into life on Sundays, when the flea market takes over the neighbourhood. Be prepared to wade through lots of rubbish, but when you do strike gold (for me, the vintage ceramics are particularly beguiling) it glitters for real. For more insider tips, check out @rastro_madrid, @matiz.life
Amiens
A makeshift stall at Amiens’ biannual market. Photograph: Clémence Millet
There are plenty of reasons to visit Amiens, the capital of the Picardy region: France’s largest Gothic cathedral, the country’s first purpose-built museum (with displays covering everything from Egyptian artefacts to Francis Bacon), and for Channel-hoppers it’s only a 90-minute drive from Calais. Plus, twice a year it hosts the Réderie, one of the largest flea markets in France. On the second last Sunday in April and the first Sunday in October, 2,000-plus vendors spread over 50-odd streets in the town centre.
Aim to arrive on the Saturday, as many of the vendors start setting up the night before. So wrap up warmly, wear comfortable shoes and a head torch, and maybe you’ll bag an early bargain. Take a camping trolley for your finds: some of my favourites have included framed floral needlepoints, heavy brass swans and acrylic candleholders.
While the biannual market is the big draw, the town has plenty to keep vintage lovers happy year-round. Fripes et Merveilles (151 Rue Gaulthier de Rumilly) is a time capsule of well-priced finds, from bric-a-brac to jewellery. Prices are far higher at Silk & Roses (18 Rue Saint-Martin aux Waides), but expect to find the likes of Kenzo, Moschino and Yves Saint Laurent. Meanwhile, Icône Friperie (21 Rue du Général Leclerc) charges by the kilo – €30 a haul. For more insider tips, check out #grandrederieamiens, @se_souvenir_des_belles_choses
Wales are hoping to turn the Principality Stadium back into a home fortress, having not won an international in Cardiff for 27 months.
Since beating England in a World Cup warm-up match in August 2023, Wales have suffered nine straight home Test defeats, a losing record which has stretched back 827 days.
The most recent Wales game in Cardiff was eight months ago – the horrific 68-14 home Six Nations defeat inflicted by England.
That was a record loss for the hosts in the Welsh capital, the most points they have conceded at the Principality Stadium, their heaviest Six Nations defeat, a record loss in the tournament and most points conceded against England.
So Wales have to make amends in a ground that is no longer a fortress. Tandy’s side face Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa in November, before home 2026 Six Nations matches against France, Scotland and Italy, in a tournament where Wales last won a home match in February 2022.
How many fans will turn up to watch Tandy’s side this month remains to be seen with the current discontent surrounding the Welsh game.
The Principality Stadium’s capacity is 74,500, meaning the four matches could attract a maximum of 298,000 supporters in November.
Wales’ clash against the All Blacks is currently the only game close to being a sellout.
There have been numerous anecdotal stories about some tickets now being available at a discounted rate and even being given away for free.
It is the WRU’s responsibility to try and attract back the fans who have drifted away disillusioned with what they have witnessed on the field and read about off it.
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
The U.K. Royal Navy flagship, HMS Prince of Wales, is now carrying 24 F-35B fighters — the largest number of the jets to go aboard either of the U.K.’s two aircraft carriers, or any ship, for that matter. All 24 of the jets are British, a significant achievement for the British F-35 force, which has long faced questions about the feasibility of deploying a meaningful number of the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) jets at sea, without U.S. Marine Corps aircraft making up the numbers.
The Royal Navy announced today that the 24 British F-35Bs were aboard HMS Prince of Walesfor planned multinational maneuvers in the Mediterranean, called Exercise Falcon Strike. The service has not so far published photos showing all the jets on deck, instead posting imagery from Operation Highmast, the eight-month cruise that took the carrier to the Indo-Pacific region.
HMS Prince of Wales entered the Mediterranean, via the Suez Canal, around a week ago. Six additional British F-35Bs embarked in the carrier once it had arrived in the Med, flying from their base at RAF Marham in England.
A pair of F-35Bs landing on board HMS Prince of Wales during Operation Highmast in May 2025. Crown Copyright
As part of the U.K. Carrier Strike Group, the conventionally powered HMS Prince of Wales is accompanied by the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless, the Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond, the replenishment tanker RFA Tidespring, and several allied ships. A Royal Navy Astute class nuclear-powered attack submarine is normally also part of the Carrier Strike Group.
For Exercise Falcon Strike, the U.K. Carrier Strike Group is joined by the Italian frigate Luigi Rizzo, as well as Norwegian warships, for what are Italian Navy-led air and maritime maneuvers.
Commodore James Blackmore, commander of the U.K. Carrier Strike Group, said that Falcon Strike is “a real demonstration of the warfighting readiness” of the group.
The British F-35Bs on the carrier are from the two frontline units, the Royal Air Force’s No. 617 Squadron and the Royal Navy’s 809 Naval Air Squadron, as well as from the training unit, No. 207 Squadron, RAF, which serves as the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU).
Well done to everyone at Marham for making this happen. Whilst it did require the rather unprecedented deployment of the OCU to achieve a totemic milestone, it has readily demonstrated that our Carriers can be reinforced anywhere in the NATO region in a matter of hours. https://t.co/eIWNIyKkLX
It’s notable that, in the past, larger F-35B complements on U.K. carriers were assisted by detaching U.S. Marine Corps aircraft during these cruises.
For example, in 2021, HMS Queen Elizabeth deployed with a Marine Corps-augmented air wing. On that occasion, eight F-35Bs from No. 617 Squadron were joined by 10 from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, the “long.” This total is still smaller than the current F-35B complement for Exercise Falcon Strike.
A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B operates from HMS Queen Elizabeth during the U.K. Carrier Strike Group 21 deployment. Crown Copyright POPhot Jay Allen
The number of F-35Bs now on HMS Prince of Wales is also bigger than has been deployed aboard any amphibious assault ship by the Marine Corps. Back in 2022, the USS Tripoli (LHA-7) hosted 20 of the jets during a test of the “Lightning Carrier” concept. This is based upon essentially turning a big-deck “Gator Navy” amphibious assault ship into a light aircraft carrier, packed with F-35Bs.
A J-35 launches from the Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian. PLAN
Having a larger number of F-35Bs on board the British carrier means that HMS Prince of Wales can contribute more to Falcon Strike, which also involves air assets from France, Greece, Italy, and the United States.
More importantly, a carrier deployment with 24 British F-35Bs is a major requirement for the declaration of full operating capability for the U.K. Carrier Strike capability, once planned for 2023, then delayed to the end of this year. A 24-aircraft total is the minimum required for this declaration, with the Queen Elizabeth class having the capacity to embark more jets, if required.
The move toward full operating capability is also welcome, considering recent criticism of the British F-35 program.
Last week, the U.K.’s Public Accounts Committee released its latest report on the program. Among others, this highlighted the effects of a lack of overall investment in the program. According to the report, cost-cutting measures have had an adverse impact on the F-35B’s capability, availability to fly, and value for money.
To date, the United Kingdom has only placed firm orders for 48 F-35Bs. The previous Conservative government confirmed it was negotiating to buy another 27 F-35Bs for delivery by 2033. However, this batch of 27 jets will now be divided between F-35As (12) and F-35Bs (15). The conventional takeoff and landing F-35A offers a number of advantages, including being cheaper, possessing a bigger weapons bay, having a nuclear capability, and improved performance in many scenarios. However, it cannot embark on a carrier.
Most analysts consider that many more than 48 F-35Bs would be required to meet the ambition of 24 jets available for the baseline Carrier Strike mission, across two carriers, as opposed to just one. Considering training and other demands, a figure of 60-70 jets is generally thought to be reasonable. It is for this reason that U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs have been relied upon to make up the required aircraft numbers during carrier cruises.
Officially, at least, the U.K. Ministry of Defense says that it still expects to procure 138 F-35s over the lifetime of the program. However, this total now includes at least 12 F-35As. Having a smaller pool of F-35Bs will also put more strain on the fleet of STOVL jets that are required for missions aboard the carriers.
“The new fast jets will be based at RAF Marham, with the Government expected to procure 138 F35s over the lifetime of the programme.” Everything else aside, this is about as clear a commitment to the UK’s full programme of record as you’re ever going to get……
Whatever the final F-35B numbers, the Royal Navy is increasingly looking to the potential of uncrewed aircraft to bolster its carrier air wings. The Royal Navy hopes that a combination of drones and long-range weapons will help to make a more balanced ‘hybrid carrier air wing,’ as you can read about here.
In 2023, the Royal Navy revealed details of its plan to fit its two carriers with assisted launch systems and recovery gear, enabling operations by a variety of fixed-wing uncrewed aircraft and, potentially, also conventional takeoff and landing crewed types.
“We are looking to move from STOVL to STOL, then to STOBAR [short takeoff but arrested recovery], and then to CATOBAR [catapult assisted takeoff but arrested recovery],” Col. Phil Kelly, the Royal Navy’s Head of Carrier Strike and Maritime Aviation, told the Combined Naval Event conference in 2023. “We are looking at a demonstrable progression that spreads out the financial cost and incrementally improves capability.”
A General Atomics rendering of a catapult-equipped HMS Prince of Wales with a Gambit-series drone ready to launch. The rendering also depicts an air wing that includes carrier-capable MQ-9B drones fitted with a STOL kit, as well as F-35Bs. GA-ASI
By the time a British carrier makes its next scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific, planned for 2029, the Ministry of Defense hopes that it will include some kind of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). This aspiration was laid out by First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins earlier this year, when he said he wanted to “launch the first jet-powered collaborative platform drone as a concept demonstrator off a Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier” before the end of 2026.
Nevertheless, for the foreseeable future, the F-35B remains the cornerstone of the carrier air wing’s strike capability. Putting the largest number of the stealth jets on a Royal Navy carrier is a visible demonstration of the aircraft’s central role and underscores the British F-35Bs’ progress, despite lingering concerns over final aircraft numbers and other criticisms of the program.
ATLANTA — With the Lakers down by 20 in the third quarter at Atlanta, the only sound coming from their bench was Nick Smith Jr.’s hollow claps of encouragement. The rest of the Lakers sat with slumped shoulders on the bench or loitered with blank faces in a semicircle waiting for their coaches to join.
There wasn’t much that could be said.
The Lakers’ five-game winning streak ended in a blowout as the Hawks dominated 122-102 on Saturday at State Farm Arena.
Playing a third consecutive game without Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic tried to keep the Lakers (7-3) in it with 22 points, 11 assists and five rebounds, but all his points came in the first half and he came out after only 27 minutes as the Hawks built a 25-point lead by the middle of the third quarter. Forward Jake LaRavia had 13 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals, and Jarred Vanderbilt had 18 rebounds, one shy of his career high.
“This isn’t the identity of this team,” LaRavia said. “This game was an outlier of the first 10 games that we played. [We have to] just not let it break us and be ready to play the next game.”
The Lakers, who won their first four road games, started their five-game trip on a sour note and now need to bounce back when play Charlotte on Monday.
The Hawks (5-5) were playing the second game of a home back-to-back after losing to the Toronto Raptors on Friday. They had four of five starters sidelined, including Trae Young (knee), Kristaps Porzingis (rest) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (back).
The Lakers should know the dangers of a desperate, shorthanded team. Only five days ago they ended Portland’s three-game winning streak without Reaves, Doncic or LeBron James. Coach JJ Redick said he would reiterate the lesson before Saturday’s game to avoid a letdown.
Then the Lakers fell behind by 13 in the first quarter. Their deficit ballooned to 26 after three quarters. Redick began sitting his starters by the middle of the third.
“Just not a lot to like tonight,” Redick said matter-of-factly.
Facing a cross-country trip, the Lakers arrived in Atlanta on Thursday and scheduled a practice Friday with a team-bonding activity that night. They held a shootaround in the arena Saturday morning.
Yet even with the extra time to prepare, Redick could tell within the first two minutes that the team didn’t have the necessary energy to win. What did the coach see during that fateful stretch?
“Nothing,” Redick said.
Atlanta Hawks guard Vit Krejci shoots between Lakers center Deandre Ayton and forward Rui Hachimura in the first half Saturday.
(Mike Stewart / Associated Press)
It was the final word of his news conference, which lasted 100 seconds.
Doncic helped lead a quick third-quarter surge, assisting on three consecutive baskets in a 7-0 run that cut the lead to nine, but the Hawks responded by scoring seven unanswered points and forcing two turnovers. Center Deandre Ayton subbed out for the last time with 8:49 to go in the third.
“They played phenomenal,” said Ayton, who had 11 points on five-for-five shooting and five rebounds. “But us not even damn near competing in a sense, it looks bad on paper and it looks bad on film. This is one of them games where yeah, food’s going to taste bad tonight.”
Doncic and Marcus Smart, another veteran leader, were not made available to reporters after the game.
Atlanta’s Mouhamed Gueye torched the Lakers for 21 points on eight-for-12 shooting and made four three-pointers. The Lakers, who had credited their connection and chemistry for carrying them through long stints without their stars, suddenly fell silent when faced with a large deficit in front of a rowdy crowd.
With most of Atlanta’s fans streaming toward the exits in the final two minutes, the Hawks’ most dedicated fan group, the “404 Crew,” echoed through the mostly empty arena with a final chant: “Where is LeBron?”
The superstar has yet to play a single minute this season because of a bout with sciatica.
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