An estimated half a trillion dollars was wiped out from the financial markets this week, as some of the biggest tech companies, including Nvidia, Microsoft, and Palantir Technologies saw a temporary but sizeable drop in their share prices on Tuesday. It may have been just a short-lived correction, but experts warn of mounting signs of a financial market crash, which could cost several times this amount.
With dependence on tech and AI growing, critics argue that betting on these profits is a gamble, stressing that the future remains uncertain.
Singapore’s central bank joined a global chorus of warnings from the IMF, Fed Chair Jerome Powell, and Andrew Bailey about overvalued stocks.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore said on Wednesday that such a trend is fuelled by “optimism in AI’s ability to generate sufficient future returns”, which could trigger sharp corrections in the broader stock market.
Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley predict a 10–20% decline in equities over the next one to two years, their CEOs told the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit in Hong Kong, CNBC reported.
Experts interviewed by Euronews Business also agree that a sizeable correction could be on the way.
In a worst-case scenario, a market crash could wipe out trillions of dollars from the financial markets.
According to Mathieu Savary, chief European strategist at BCA Research, Big Tech companies, including Nvidia and Alphabet, would cause a $4.4 trillion (€3.8tn) market wipeout if they were to lose just 20% of their stock value.
“If they go down 50%, you’re talking about an $11tr (€9.6tr) haircut,” he said.
AI rally: Bubble or boom?
The US stock market has defied expectations this year. The S&P 500 is up nearly 20% over the past 12 months, despite geopolitical tensions and global trade uncertainty driven by Washington’s tariff policies. Gains have been strongest in tech, buoyed by optimism over future AI profits.
While Big Tech continues to deliver, with multibillion-dollar AI investments and massive infrastructure buildouts now routine, concerns are growing over a slowing US economy, compounded by limited data during the government shutdown. Once fresh figures emerge, they could rattle investors.
AI enthusiasm is most evident in Nvidia’s extraordinary stock gains and soaring valuation. The company is central to the tech revolution as its graphics processing units (GPUs) are essential for AI computing.
Nvidia’s shares have surged over 3,000% since early 2020, recently making it the world’s most valuable public company. Between July and October alone, it gained $1tr (€870bn) in market capitalisation — roughly equal to Switzerland’s annual GDP. Its stock trades at around 45 times projected earnings for the current fiscal year.
Derren Nathan, head of equity research at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Much of this growth is backed by real financial progress, and despite the massive nominal increase in value, relative valuations don’t look overstretched.”
Analysts debate whether the current market mirrors the dot-com bubble of 2000. Nathan notes that many tech companies that failed back then never reached profitability, unlike today’s giants, which generate strong revenues and profits, with robust demand for their products.
Ben Barringer, global head of technology research at Quilter Cheviot, added: “With governments investing heavily in AI infrastructure and rate cuts likely on the horizon, the sector has solid foundations. It is an expensive market, but not necessarily a screaming bubble. Momentum is hard to sustain, and not every company will thrive.”
BCA Research sees a bubble forming, though not set to burst immediately. Chief European strategist Mathieu Savary said such bubbles historically peak when firms begin relying on external financing for large projects.
Investments in assets for future growth, or capital expenditures, as a share of operating cash flow, have jumped from 35% to 70% for hyperscalers, according to Savary. Hyperscalers are tech firms such as Microsoft, Google, and Meta that run massive cloud computing networks.
“The share of operating earnings is likely to move above 100% before we hit the peak,” Savary added. This means that they may soon be investing more than they earn from operations.
Recent examples of Big Tech firms turning to external financing for such moves include Meta’s Hyperion project with Blue Owl Capital and Alphabet’s €3 billion bond issue for AI and cloud expansion.
While AI investment growth is hard to sustain, Quilter’s Barringer told Euronews: “If CapEx starts to moderate later this year, markets may start to get nervous.”
Other factors to watch include return on invested capital and rising yields and inflation pressures, which could signal a higher cost of capital and a bubble approaching its end.
“But we’re not there yet,” said Savary.
Further concerns and how to hedge against market turbulence
Even as tech companies ride the AI wave, inflated expectations for future profits may prove difficult to meet.
“The sceptics’ main problem may not be with AI’s potential itself, but with the valuations investors are paying for that potential and the speed at which they expect it to materialise,” said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.
A recent report by BCA reflects the mounting reasons to question the AI narrative, but the technology “remains a potent force”, said the group.
If investor optimism does slow, “a sharp correction in tech could still have ripple effects across broader markets, given the sector’s dominant weight in global indices,” Barringer said. He added that other regions and asset classes, such as bonds and commodities, would be less directly affected and could provide an important balance during a downturn.
According to Emma Wall, chief investment strategist at Hargreaves Lansdown, “investors should use this opportunity to crystallise impressive gains and diversify their portfolios to include a range of sectors, geographies and asset classes — adding resilience to portfolios. The gold price tipping up is screaming a warning again — a siren that this rally will not last.”
The celebration had hardly begun, when Shohei Ohtani first voiced the theme of the day.
“I’m already thinking about the third time,” he said in Japanese, standing atop a double-decker bus in downtown Los Angeles with of thousands of blue-clad, flag-waving, championship-celebrating Dodgers fans lining the streets around him for the team’s 2025 World Series parade.
Turns out, he wasn’t alone.
Two days removed from a dramatic Game 7 victory that made the Dodgers baseball’s first repeat champion in 25 years, the team rolled through the streets of downtown and into a sold-out rally at Dodger Stadium on Monday already thinking about what lies ahead in 2026.
With three titles in the last six seasons, their modern-day dynasty might now be cemented.
But their goal of adding to this “golden era of Dodger baseball,” as top executive Andrew Friedman has repeatedly called it, is far from over.
“All I have to say to you,” owner and chairman Mark Walter told the 52,703 fans at the team’s stadium rally, “is we’ll be back next year.”
“I have a crazy idea for you,” Friedman echoed. “How about we do it again?”
When manager Dave Roberts took the mic, he tripled down on that objective: “What’s better than two? Three! Three-peat! Three-peat! Let’s go.”
When shortstop Mookie Betts, the only active player with four World Series rings, followed him, he quadrupled the expectation: “I got four. Now it’s time to fill the hand all the way up, baby. ‘Three-peat’ ain’t never sounded so sweet. Somebody make that a T-shirt.”
For these history-achieving, legacy-sealing Dodgers, Monday was a reminder of the ultimate end goal — the kind of scene that, as they embark on another short winter, will soon fuel their motivations for another confetti-filled parade this time next year.
“For me, winning a championship, the seminal moment of that is the parade,” Friedman said. “The jubilation of doing it, when you get the final out, whatever game you win it in, is special. That night is special. But to be able to take a breath and then experience a parade, in my mind, that is what has always driven me to want to win.”
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“[To] do this for the city, that’s what it’s all about,” first baseman Freddie Freeman added. “There’s nothing that feels as important as winning a championship. And if so happens to be three in a row, that’s what it is. But that’s what’s gonna drive us to keep going.”
Much of the group had been part of the 2020 title team that was denied such a serenade following that pandemic-altered campaign. They had waited four long years to experience a city-wide celebration. The reception they received was sentimental and unique.
Now, as third baseman Max Muncy said with a devious grin from atop a makeshift stage in the Dodger Stadium outfield, “it’s starting to get a little bit comfortable up here. Let’s keep it going.”
“Losing,” star pitcher and World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto added, in English, in a callback to one of his memorable quotes from this past October, “isn’t an option.”
Doing it won’t be easy.
This year, the Dodgers’ win total went down to 93 in an inconsistent regular season. They had to play in the wild-card round for the first time since the playoffs expanded in 2022. And in the World Series, they faced elimination in Games 6 and 7, narrowly winning both to complete their quest to repeat.
“I borderline still can’t believe we won Game 7,” fan favorite Kiké Hernández said in a bus-top interview.
But, he quickly added, “We’re all winners. Winners win.”
Thus, they also get celebrations like Monday’s.
As it was 367 days earlier, the Dodgers winded down a parade route in front of tens of thousands of fans from Temple Street to Grand Avenue to 7th Street to Figueroa. Both on board the double-decker buses and in the frenzied masses below, elation swirled and beverages flowed.
Once the team arrived at Dodger Stadium, it climbed atop a blue circular riser in the middle of the field — the final symbolic steps of their ascent back to the mountaintop of the sport.
Anthony Anderson introduced them to the crowd, while Ice Cube delivered the trophy in a blue 1957 Chevy Bel-Air.
Familiar scenes, they are hoping become an annual tradition.
“Job in 2024, done. Job in 2025, done,” Freeman said. “Job in 2026? Starts now.”
The Dodgers did take time to recognize their newfound place in baseball history, having become just the sixth MLB franchise to win three titles in the span of six years and the first since the New York Yankees of 1998 to 2000 to win in consecutive years.
Where last year’s parade day felt more like an overdue coronation, this one served to crystallize their legacy.
“Everybody’s been asking questions about a dynasty,” Hernández said. “How about three in six years? How about a back-to-back?”
And, on Monday, all the main characters of this storybook accomplishment got their moment in the sun.
There was, as team broadcaster and rally emcee Joe Davis described him, “the Hall of Fame-bound” Roberts, who now only trails Walter Alston in team history with three World Series rings.
“We talked about last year, wanting to run it back,” he said. “And I’ll tell you right now, this group of guys was never gonna be denied to bring this city another championship.”
There was Game 7 hero Miguel Rojas calling up surprise October closer Roki Sasaki, on his birthday, to dance to his “Bailalo Rocky” entrance song; a request Sasaki sheepishly obliged by pumping his fist to the beat.
Yamamoto, coming off his heroic pitching victories in Games 6 and 7, received some of the day’s loudest ovations.
“We did it together,” he said. “I love the Dodgers. I love Los Angeles.”
Muncy, Ohtani and Blake Snell also all addressed the crowd.
“I’m trying to get used to this,” Snell said.
“I’m ready to get another ring next year,” Ohtani reiterated.
One franchise face who won’t be back for that chase: Clayton Kershaw, who rode into the sunset of retirement by getting one last day at Dodger Stadium, fighting back tears as he thanked the crowd at the end of his illustrious (and also Hall of Fame-bound) 18-year career.
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“Last year, I said I was a Dodger for life. And today, that’s true,” Kershaw said. “And today, I get to say that I’m a champion for life. And that’s never going away.”
Kershaw, of course, is one of the few still around from the club’s dark days of the early 2010s, when money was scarce and playoff appearances were uncertain and parades were only things to dream about — not expect.
As he walks away, however, the team has been totally transformed.
Now, the Dodgers have been to 13 straight postseasons. They’ve set payroll records and bolstered their roster with a wave of star signings. They’ve turned the pursuit of championships into a yearly expectation, proud but unsatisfied with what they’ve achieved to this point.
“I think, definitionally, it’s a dynasty,” said Friedman, the architect of this run with the help of Walter’s deep-pocketed Guggenheim ownership group. “But that to me, in a lot of ways, that kind of caps it if you say, ‘OK, this is what it is.’ For me, it’s still evolving and growing. We want to add to it. We want to continue it, and do everything we can to put it at a level where people after us have a hard time reaching.”
On Monday, they raised that bar another notch higher.
“This parade was the most insane thing I’ve ever witnessed, been a part of,” Kershaw said. “It truly is the most incredible day ever to be able to end your career on.”
On Tuesday, the Dodgers’ long road toward holding another one begins.
“I know they’re gonna get one more next year,” Kershaw told the crowd. “And I’m gonna watch, just like all of you.”
The former Seat and Ford driver is part of a Toyota team that have already won the Manufacturers’ World Championship for the fifth year in a row.
And as so often happens in motorsport, Evans’ team-mates are also his closest rivals.
Rovanpera is the youngest ever world champion after winning back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023.
Now 25 and in his final season before leaving WRC for new challenges, the Finnish driver has already won three rallies this year and will be ready to pounce on any mistakes from his team-mate.
Ogier, 41, is looking to tie Sebastien Loeb’s record of nine WRC titles. The Frenchman has won five rallies this season and led the championship before a crash at last month’s Central European Rally handed the advantage back to the Welshman.
Despite the competition, Evans says relationships are good.
“We all get on fairly well in the team,” he explained.
“Rallying is quite unique in that we’re racing against the clock rather than physically against each other on track.
“That normally means we get on a bit better in the background and the team has a very good atmosphere on the whole.
“Everything is shared among the drivers, so everything is very open and we tend to try and race it out on the stages, so normally we get on pretty well.”
Evans has been competing against the best of the best for years. If he is able to join his team-mates as a world champion the achievement will be monumental.
Fourteen years after his first WRC race he is as close as he has ever been to glory.
Evans will be hoping a journey that started in Dolgellau could have the greatest of endings in Jeddah via Japan.
On Monday, in celebration of the Dodgers becoming baseball’s first back-to-back champion in 25 years, Los Angeles will throw another party for the Dodgers.
The Dodgers’ 2025 championship parade starts Monday at 11 a.m. and runs through downtown, followed by a rally at Dodger Stadium. The rally requires a ticket, which can be obtained starting at noon Sunday at dodgers.com/postseason.
For fans with rally tickets, parking lot gates will open at 8:30 a.m. and stadium gates at 9 a.m. The event is expected to start at about 12:15 p.m.
The parade and rally will be aired live on Channels 2, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 11 as well as SportsNet LA and AM 570, the team said.
In last year’s rally, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and Ice Cube performed next to one another, with Roberts dancing and Ice Cube singing.
At one point, future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw took his turn at the microphone and hollered, “Dodger for life!”
In September, Kershaw announced he would retire at the end of the season. In his only World Series appearance, he got a critical out in the Dodgers’ 18-inning victory in Game 3.
He’ll make his final Dodger Stadium appearance as a player as part of a second consecutive championship rally. He’ll be back: The Dodgers will retire his No. 22 — they retire the number of all their Hall of Famers — and he’d certainly be in line to throw ceremonial first pitches in the Dodgers’ future postseason runs.
For now, though: Three-time champion Dodger for life.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris and a slew of other national and California Democrats on Saturday rallied supporters to stay fired up in seeking passage of a ballot measure to redraw the state’s congressional districts ahead of the midterm elections.
While polling suggests Proposition 50 is likely to pass Tuesday, volunteers must continue knocking on doors, phone banking and motivating voters through Election Day, they said. Newsom told volunteers they ought to follow the model of sprinters, leaving it all on the field.
“We cannot afford to run the 90-yard dash. You Angelenos, you’ve got the Olympics coming in 2028. They do not run the 90-yard dash. They run the 110-yard dash. We have got to be at peak on Election Day,” Newsom told hundreds of supporters at the Convention Center in downtown Los Angeles. “We cannot take anything for granted.”
Hours earlier, Republican spoke out against the ballot measure at John Wayne Park in Newport Beach, before sending teams into neighborhoods to drum up votes for their side.
“What Proposition 50 will do is disenfranchise, meaning, disregard all Republicans in the state of California,” said state Assembly member Diane Dixon (R-Newport Beach). “Ninety percent of 6 million [Californian Republicans] will be disenfranchised.”
Proposition 50 would redraw California’s congressional districts in an attempt to boost the number of Democrats in Congress. The effort was proposed by Newsom and other California Democrats in hope of blunting President Trump’s push in Texas and other GOP-led states to increase the number of Republicans elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in next year’s midterm election. But even if voters approve the ballot measure that could flip five California districts currently represented by Republicans, it’s unclear whether that will be enough to shift control of the House unless there is a blue wave in the 2026 election.
The party that wins control of the House will shape Trump’s final two years in the White House — whether he is able to continue enacting his agenda or faces a spate of investigations and possibly another impeachment attempt.
The special election is among the costliest ballot measures in state history. More than $192 million has flowed into various campaign committees since state lawmakers voted in August to put the proposition on the ballot. Supporters of the redistricting effort have raised exponentially more money than opponents, and polling shows the proposition is likely to pass.
As of Friday, more than a quarter of the state’s 23 million registered voters had cast ballots, with Democrats outpacing Republicans.
Newsom was joined Saturday by Harris, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla of California and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, other Democrats and labor leaders.
Harris, in a surprise appearance at the gathering, argued that the Trump administration is implementing long-sought GOP goals such as voter suppression.
“This fight is not about sitting by and complaining, ‘Oh, they’re cheating,’” the former vice president said. “It’s about recognizing what they are up to. There is an agenda that we are witnessing which feels chaotic, I know, but in fact, we are witnessing a high velocity event that is about the swift implementation of a plan that has been decades in the making.”
Several of the speakers referred to the immigration raids that started in Los Angeles in June and deep cuts to federal safety nets, including the nutrition assistance program for low-income families and a health coverage for seniors and the disabled.
“We know there’s so much on the line this Tuesday. And a reminder, Tuesday is not Election Day — it’s the last day to vote,” Padilla said. “Don’t wait till Tuesday. Get your ballots in folks…. As good as the polls look, we need to run up the score on this because the eyes of the country are going to be on California on Tuesday. And we need to win and we need to win big.”
Padilla, a typically staid legislator, then offered a modified riff of a lyric by rapper Ice Cube, who grew up in South Los Angeles.
“Donald Trump — you better check yourself before you wreck America,” said Padilla, who is considering running for governor next year.
Nearly 50 miles southeast, about 50 Republican canvassers fueled up on coffee and donuts, united over the brisk weather and annoyance about Newsom’s attempt to redraw California’s congressional districts.
Will O’Neill, chairman of the Orange County Republican Party, equated this final push against Proposition 50 as the California GOP’s game 7 — a nod to tonight’s World Series battle between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays.
“Orange County right now is the only county in Southern California that has a shot of having more Republicans than Democrats voting,” said O’Neill. “We expect that over the next three days, around 70% of everyone who votes is gonna vote ‘no’ on 50. But we need them to vote.”
Ariana Assenmacher, of California Young Republicans, center, organizes during a gathering of Republican Party members pressing to vote no on Proposition 50 in the upcoming California Statewide Special Election at John Wayne Park in Newport Beach on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
O’Neill labeled the measure a “hyper-partisan power grab.” If Proposition 50 passes, it will dilute Republican power in Orange County by splitting communities and roping some residents into districts represented by Los Angeles County politicians.
Dixon also rallied volunteers — which included a handful of college students from across the state: “Be polite. Just say thank you very much. Just like Charlie Kirk would. Don’t [stimulate] an argument. Just be friendly.”
“They’re squeezing out what very little representation Republicans have in the state,” said Kristen Nicole Valle, president of the Orange County Young Republicans.
“We will not be hearing from 40% of Californians if Prop. 50 passes.”
Randall Avila, executive director of the Orange County GOP, said the measure disenfranchises Latino GOP voters like himself.
Nationally, Trump managed to gain 48% of the Latino vote, a Pew Research study showed, which proved crucial to his second presidential victory.
“Obviously our community has kind of shown we’re willing to switch parties and go another direction if that elected official or that party isn’t serving us,” said Avila. “So it’s unfortunate that some of those voices are now gonna be silenced with a predetermined winner in their district.”
Not all hope is lost for Republicans if Proposition 50 is approved, Avila said. A handful of seats could be snagged by Republicans, including the districts held by Reps. Dave Min (D-Irvine) and Derek Tran (D-Orange).
“If the lines do change, that doesn’t mean we pack up and go home,” he said. “Just means we reorganize, we reconfigure things, and then we keep fighting.”
SAN JOSÉ — Brandt Clarke scored the tiebreaking goal from the right circle with 6:40 left and the Kings beat the San Jose Sharks 4-3 on Tuesday night after blowing a three-goal lead.
Corey Perry got his third goal in four games for the Kings. Jeff Malott and Drew Doughty also scored, and Darcy Kuemper made 37 saves.
It was the Kings’ second consecutive victory in regulation after going to overtime in their previous four games.
Will Smith, Philipp Kurashev and Alexander Wennberg each had a goal for the Sharks, the only NHL team without a win in regulation. During a 57-second span in the first period, San Jose missed four clean looks.
Things got dicey for the Kings near the end. The Kings played the final 76 seconds short-handed after Joel Edmundson was whistled for delay of game after flipping the puck over the glass into the crowd.
San Jose took six shots during that stretch but failed to score.
Perry scored on a putback midway through the first after Adrian Kempe’s shot deflected off Collin Graf’s stick, hit the right post and landed in front of the net.
Malott got his second goal of the season on a breakaway, assisted by Perry and Edmundson.
Three minutes later, Doughty made it 3-0 with his first goal of the season on a shot from the right circle.
The Sharks broke through late in the second with two goals in less than two minutes. Smith scored off a cross-ice pass from Macklin Celebrini, then Kurashev slapped in a wraparound pass from Wennberg.
Less than five minutes into the third, Wennberg tied it at 3.
Hi, and welcome to another edition of Prep Rally. I’m Eric Sondheimer. It’s Mater Dei at St. John Bosco week. With one week to go in the football regular season, here’s the unbeaten teams: Westlake (9-0), Laguna Beach (9-0), St. John Bosco (9-0), Sierra Canyon (9-0), Crean Lutheran (9-0), Corona del Mar (9-0), Oxnard Paciifica (9-0), Crespi (9-0), Rio Hondo Prep (9-0), Rowland (9-0) and Palisades (9-0).
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Receiver Madden Williams will be a key player for St. John Bosco.
(Craig Weston)
The Trinity League championship will be decided Friday night when St. John Bosco hosts Mater Dei. St. John Bosco will either win the title outright with a victory or there will likely be a three-way tie among the Braves, Mater Dei and Santa Margarita. Then it will be up to the computer to decide playoff seedings.
St. John Bosco needs a win to stay ahead of unbeaten Sierra Canyon for the No. 1 seed in Division 1. The top six teams look clear: 1. St. John Bosco, 2. Sierra Canyon, 3. Corona Centennial, 4. Santa Margarita, 5. Mater Dei, 6. Mission Viejo. The last two spots of an eight-team bracket might go to Servite and Orange Lutheran, which play each other Friday. Pairings will be announced Sunday at 10 a.m.
One of the best games of last week was the battle of the unbeatens, Laguna Beach at Dana Hills, before a packed crowd. Laguna Beach prevailed 49-40 with quarterback Jack Hurst throwing five touchdown passes and 387 yards passing.
Norco gave Corona Centennial all it could handle in a 59-49 loss. The Cougars attempted six consecutive onside kicks and recovered two. Receiver Blake Wong had 14 catches for 214 yards and three touchdowns.
St. John Bosco vs. Sierra Canyon defenses. DL: Edge Sierra Canyon. LB: Edge SJB. Secondary: Tie. Offense. QB: Edge SJB. RB: Edge SC. OL: Edge SJB. Receivers: Edge SJB. Kickers: Tie.
Bishop Diego defeated St. Bonaventure 35-27 to improve to 8-1. Behind the scenes, former St. Bonaventure coach Joe Goyeneche is now an assistant at Bishop Diego, so that game had special meaning.
San Clemente handed Los Alamitos its first defeat, 28-9. Los Alamitos has another tough matchup Thursday night, hosting 8-1 Mission Viejo at Artesia High.
Quarterback Colin Creason has led Los Alamitos to an 8-0 record.
Fillmore coach Charlie Weis and Santa Paula coach Myke Montoya talk about the 101st year for a rivalry that’s among the best in California. pic.twitter.com/9M87Bpet80
It’s time for the 101st meeting between Fillmore and Santa Paula. It will be played Thursday night at Larrabee Stadium in Ventura to take care of the large fan bases.
It’s Riordan vs. Riordan on Friday. Jordan Riordan is now a coach at Loyola. Madden Riordan is off crutches and star DB for Sierra Canyon. Dad is rooting for . . . pic.twitter.com/YksfDcPbse
The Loyola-Sierra Canyon game Friday night has the Riordan family split. Brothers Madden and Jordan are on different sides. Madden is the star defensive back for Sierra Canyon. Jordan is secondary coach for Loyola. Madden used to be a ball boy for Loyola when Jordan played for the Cubs.
All I have to say is “wow.” Watch this pass from sophomore QB Chase Curren of Crespi at SoFi Stadium to sophomore receiver Blue McFarland vs. Harvard-Westlake on Saturday night. pic.twitter.com/jrtDQ58uY7
Somto Nwude of Crespi did something at SoFi Stadium that not even future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald achieved. He had six sacks in a win over Harvard-Westlake. That’s a school record.
Newbury Park quarterback Brady Smigiel has had surgery on his knee for a torn ACL.
The 90th edition of the East L.A. Classic on Friday night drew a crowd estimated at 14,000 at East L.A. College.
(Craig Weston)
The 90th edition of the Garfield vs. Roosevelt East L.A. Classic drew a crowd estimated at 14,000 at East Los Angeles College. Garfield won 37-30 to wrap up the Eastern League championship. Here’s the report.
Crenshaw defeated King/Drew 6-2 to win the Coliseum League championship and improve to 8-1. Here’s the report.
Crenshaw football coach Robert Garrett.
(Robert S. Helfman)
One interesting aspect is that Crenshaw coach Robert Garrett has been on administrative leave. He started the season with 290 wins and will get credit for every Cougar victory as long as he’s eventually reinstated, so he may reach the historic figure of 300 wins without being allowed to be on the field this season. Garrett would be the 16th coach in state history to be at 300 wins, according to CalHiSports.com.
Senior running back Darnell Miller of Santee broke the City Section rushing record with 502 yards against Jefferson. He had 33 carries and scored five touchdowns. The state record is 619 yards held by Ronnie Jenkins of Hueneme.
South Gate junior quarterback Michael Gonzalez is showing he’s one of the best in the City Section. Here’s the report.
Birmingham has won 53 consecutive games against City Section opponents.
The big game of the week is Thursday. San Pedro is hosting Carson to decide the Marine League championship. Playoff pairings will be announced Saturday after 5 p.m. It’s going to be a close call whether Birmingham or Carson will be the No. 1 seed depending on the outcome of San Pedro vs. Carson.
The Southern Section Division 1 flag football quarterfinals are set for Monday, and there’s should be some terrific games.
Top seeded JSerra plays at Santa Margarita. Dos Pueblos is at Edison. Huntington Beach will travel to Camarillo for a 7 p.m. showdown. Orange Lutheran is at San Marcos. The semifinals at Saturday.
Highlights from Camarillo’s flag football playoff win over Oxnard. Let’s just say Mya Rei Smith is pretty impressive. Courtesy Interscholastic Films. pic.twitter.com/0u7KSNDubW
In the Southern Section, a key Division 1 playoff match as Mira Costa at Marymount on Tuesday. Here are the complete pairings.
Cross-country
At the Mt. SAC Invitational,Braelyn Combe of Corona Santiago ran a meet course-record time of 16:53.
Mira Costa finished first in the girls team competition. Great Oak was second.
San Clemente topped the boys team competition. Redondo Union was second.
Top girls’ players staying home
McDonald’s All-American Kennedy Smith of Etiwanda.
(Greg Stein)
There’s rising talent in girls’ basketball in Southern California, and the coaches at UCLA and USC agree that the big change is keeping the talent in Los Angeles.
In the old days, top players would look to leave for national powers back east to receive TV exposure. UCLA and USC have become a first option as their programs rise nationally.
In case schools in the Southern Section haven’t noticed, just because a school sends in transfer paperwork and approves a valid change of residence or even a sit-out period transfer doesn’t mean it can’t be switched to ineligible when additional information is provided.
That happened again last week when Orange Lutheran’s football team forfeited two wins at the start of the season after an investigation determined that a previously approved student who submitted valid change of residence paperwork had not moved.
Jared Grindlinger of Huntington Beach has now been named to USA Baseball national teams in three different age groups.
(Nick Koza)
Shohei Ohtani is inspiring a generation of high school baseball players to try pitching and hitting at the same time like he does for the Dodgers.
One of those players is junior Jared Grindlinger of Huntington Beach, an outstanding outfielder and pitcher. He and others discussed the challenge at practices and their admiration for what Ohtani keeps accomplishing.
St. John Bosco coach Jason Negro, left, shakes hands with Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson in 2022 at the Rose Bowl. Bosco won 24-22.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
The Rose Bowl will be the site for the Southern Section Division 1 football championship game on Friday, Nov. 28. It will be the first time for the Pasadena stadium to host the final since nearly 16,000 fans showed up for St. John Bosco vs. Mater Dei in 2022. The girls flag football final is at El Modena. . . .
L.A. Southwest College will host the City Section Open Division championship football game on Saturday, Nov. 29. . . .
Sierra Canyon’s boys and girls basketball teams will compete in the Hoophall Classic in January. Also making the trip back east are Ontario Christian girls and boys teams from Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, St. John Bosco, Mater Dei and Inglewood. Here’s the schedule. . . .
Cornerback CJ Lavender of Mater Dei, having the best season of any Monarch defensive back, has committed to UCLA after previously being committed to Washington. . . .
Offensive lineman Andre White from Rancho Cucamonga has committed to UNLV. . . .
Distance runner Millie Bayles from Trabuco Hills has committed to Brigham Young. . . .
Jacob Webster, a 6-foot-4 quarterback at Oak Hills, has committed to Loyola Marymount for baseball. . . .
Jaylin Conard, a junior guard who played at DNA Prep, has transferred to St. Francis. . . .
Barron Linnekens, a senior center for Harvard-Westlake, has committed to Washington University in Missouri. . . .
Kobee Finnikin, a senior first baeman from Rancho Mirage who is committed to Cal Baptist, has transferred to Corona. He was the Desert Sun athlete of the year in 2024. . . .
Josh Irving, a 6-foot-11 center at Pasadena, has committed to Texas A&M. . . .
Luke Barnett, a top shooting guard at Mater Dei, has committed to Kansas. . . .
L.A. Jordan officially canceled its football season last month for lack of players. The school had a successful coach last season in Derek Benton, who moved to Fremont. First-year coach James Boyd was let go in the middle of this season. . . .
From the archives: Bear Bachmeier
Quarterback Bear Bachmeier poses for a photo on his family’s three-acre plot of land while attending Murrieta Valley.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
There’s a bear on the loose in Provo, Utah. Bear Bachmeier, a freshman quarterback from Murrieta Valley, has led Brigham Young to an 8-0 record. He originally attended Stanford, then transferred to BYU. His brother, Hank, is a former college quarterback and brother Tiger transferred from Stanford to BYU with him.
Bachmeier wore No. 47 in high school and sometimes ran as if he were a fullback. His toughness and intelligence are two qualities he showed throughout high school.
There’s a Bear on the loose in Utah and everyone wants to be his friend. Freshman Bear Bachmeier, the former Murrieta Valley QB, has BYU at 8-0.https://t.co/gWkbRa3ZI7
From Elisportsnetwork.com, a story on a football coach being suspended in Washington and his staff refusing to coach. He has since been reinstated.
From MaxPreps.com, a story on a high school football team in Minnesota that keeps losing and losing (150 straight losses) but won’t quit.
From the Daily Pilot, a story on a student at Corona del Mar writing a book on flag football.
Tweets you might have missed
Don’t forget when you visit the Rose Bowl, you can see the California High School Football Hall of Fame, home to John Elway, Ron Lott, Warren Moon and many others. https://t.co/KWT7wJtqay
The use of profanity in a public setting is getting out of control. Maybe few care anymore. I think it’s used to take attention away from failure and a sign of weakness. Whatever. Carry on. There are still parents who don’t let their kids swear.
BREAKING: This week’s “expanded” @CIFSS XC Rankings (13 deep per division) are up. Any team that does not advance into postseason from its final league standings but is ranked in 2 of the last 4 rankings is invited to postseason as an at-large qualifier. https://t.co/bzG9l34mWHpic.twitter.com/qAXRdlWv6P
This is statement from L.A. Archdiocese regarding a physical scuffle after JV football game between Bishop Montgomery and Mary Star. Administrators from Mary Star may have been struck. pic.twitter.com/pQp5LITFZD
The brand new 62 million dollar HIGH SCHOOL stadium in Georgia 👀😲
📍 Buford, Georgia 🏟️ Phillip Beard Stadium 🏠 Buford High School 🆚 Mountain View High School pic.twitter.com/9EbYXPdR7q
— College Football Campus Tour (@cfbcampustour) October 24, 2025
Until next time….
Have a question, comment or something you’d like to see in a future Prep Rally newsletter? Email me at [email protected], and follow me on Twitter at @latsondheimer.
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Coming off a 5-4 shootout loss Saturday night in Nashville, the Kings ended a string of four extra-time games to improve to 4-3-3. They have a game left on a five-game trip that opened with overtime victories in St. Louis and Dallas.
Laferriere tied it 1-1 at 3:29 of the second with a wrist shot off a two-on-one break, and Fiala scored at 4:54 on a wraparound off a breakaway. Joel Armia added a short-handed empty-netter with 1:08 left.
Connor Bedard scored for rested Chicago, and Arvid Soderblom made 19 saves. The Blackhawks dropped to 4-3-2. They had won two in a row and had a five-game points streak.
Bedard opened the scoring on a tip at 7:04 of the first period, with the puck hitting the post and going in off Forsberg’s skate.
Up next for the Kings: at San José on Tuesday night.
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters rallied in the Malaysian capital against the visit of US President Donald Trump. They accuse him of complicity in genocide over the Gaza war.
Hi, and welcome to another edition of Prep Rally. I’m Eric Sondheimer. With two weeks left in the football regular season, teams are trying to wrap up league titles. But one thing we’ve already learned: St. John Bosco’s collection of receivers are second to none.
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Carson Clark of St. John Bosco catches 62-yard touchdown pass and leaves Logan Hirou of Santa Margarita chasing him.
(Craig Weston)
When you have four top receivers and spread the ball to each, you are close to unbeatable. That’s what St. John Bosco has with receivers Madden Williams, Carson Clark, Daniel Odom and DJ Tubbs. Each caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Koa Malau’ulu in a 27-14 win over Santa Margarita last week. Here’s the report.
Upon further reflection, this has to be the best receiving group ever for St. John Bosco, which is 8-0. When Malau’ulu has time to throw and the Braves mix in a little running, their offense is something else. Williams, a Texas A&M commit, has improved every season. Odom, an Oklahoma commit, and Clark, a San Jose State commit, patiently waited their turns. And Tubbs, only a sophomore, is a future college commit.
The player drawing rave reviews is running back/defensive back/punter Lenny Ibarra, who’s committed to Army and rushed for 216 yards and two touchdowns while repeatedly refusing to go down unless tackled by multiple players. One opposing coach sent me a text: “Ibarra=Skattebo,” referring to the former Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo, known for his punishing running.
Los Alamitos closes the regular season with games against San Clemente this week and a showdown against Mission Viejo on Oct. 30.
Caden Jones of Crean Lutheran continues to be one of the best athletes in Southern California. The starting point guard for the basketball team, he’s also a terrific quarterback. He passed for 314 yards and five touchdowns in a win over La Habra.
Big high school games next week: Hart at Valencia, King/Drew at Crenshaw, Huntington Beach at Crean Lutheran, Laguna Beach at Dana Hills (battle of unbeatens), Los Alamitos at San Clemente, Murrieta Valley at Vista Murrieta, Roosevelt vs. Garfield at East LA College.
Crespi took control of the Del Rey League race with a 31-16 comeback win over Salesian. Somto Nwute had three sacks for the unbeaten Celts (8-0).
It was a big week for freshman quarterbacks. Ezrah Brown of Orange Lutheran was 17 for 17 passing for 368 yards and three touchdowns in a win over JSerra. Ford Green of Westlake passed for 287 yards and three touchdowns in a double overtime win over Newbury Park. Westlake, 0-10 last season, is 8-0. Marcus Washington of Cajon passed for 238 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Redlands East Valley.
Garfield running back Ceasar Reyes set a school record with 420 yards rushing and four touchdowns in win over South Gate
(Nick Koza)
Ceasar Reyes of Garfield turned in the greatest performance by a running back in Bulldogs history, rushing for 420 yards in 42 carries and scoring four touchdowns in a 39-28 win over South Gate that clinched at least a share of the Eastern League title. Here’s the report. It’s now time for the game that draws the largest regular season crowd: the East Los Angeles Classic. Garfield faces Roosevelt on Friday at East Los Angeles College.
Palisades improved to 8-0 and clinched at least a share of the Western League championship by holding off University 19-17. University had the ball on the Palisades eight-yard line with 49 seconds left when a lost fumble cost the Warriors a potential huge upset victory.
King/Drew defeated Dorsey 17-16 to set up a Coliseum League title decider on Friday night at Crenshaw.
Eagle Rock is going to be the Northern League champion after defeating Franklin 42-28. Quarterback Liam Pasten passed for 290 yards and four touchdowns and Melion Busano rushed for 92 yards and one touchdown, caught a touchdown pass and had an 81-yard kickoff return.
Senior Melion Busano of Eagle Rock has become one of the best running backs in the City Section after never playing football until sophomore year.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)
Melion Busano has become one of the best City Section running backs at Eagle Rock in his senior season, and how he even started playing football in his sophomore year is a story itself.
Loyola’s Max Meier (97) rushes against Gardena Serra at SoFi Stadium.
(Craig Weston)
Stanford-bound Max Meier of Loyola lost his home to the Palisades fire and lost his best friend, Braun Levi, to a suspected drunk driver. The lessons he has learned this year alone and his attitude of giving his all every day is something inspirational.
JSerra owns two wins over No. 2-seeded Orange Lutheran, the defending Division 1 champion. This is a much more balanced Division 1 bracket, with lots of challenges ahead for all 16 teams. JSerra hosts Trabuco Hills on Thursday and Orange Lutheran hosts Redondo Union. Nine of the 16 teams are from Orange County.
Dos Pueblos quarterback Kacey Hurley.
(Michael Owen Baker/For The Times)
Ventura County is represented by a top opener, with Oxnard playing at Camarillo. Dos Pueblos is another title contender, hosting Etiwanda.
Girls volleyball
Sierra Canyon is seeded No. 1 for the Southern Section Division 1 girls volleyball playoffs.
Newport Harbor’s water polo team won the North-South challenge championship, defeating Cathedral Catholic 15-11 in the final, avenging its only defeat during a 25-1 regular season. . . .
Wrestler Michael Kase from Chaminade has committed to Cal Poly. . . .
Kicker AJ Salo of Chaminade has committed to the University of Chicago. . . .
Junior swimmer Chloe Teger of Villa Park has committed to North Carolina State. . . .
Redondo Union will be hosting a terrific group of girls basketball teams Nov. 24-29, including defending state champion Etiwanda. . . .
Tajh Ariza (right) and Malachi Harris of Westchester celebrate after winning the City Section Open Division title on Friday night.
(Nick Koza)
Tajh Ariza, the 6-foot-9 senior who had transferred from Westchester to St. John Bosco, has now left St. John Bosco and will enroll at a prep school. Ariza is committed to Oregon and was the co-City Section player of the year last season at Westchester. . . .
Southern Section spokesman Thom Simmons has confirmed there will be new divisions for boys and girls basketball playoffs. Open, D1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. No more A or AA.
Junior infielder Sam Pink of Great Oak has committed to San Diego State for baseball. . . .
Cornerback Jayden Crowder from Santa Margarita has committed to USC. . . .
🔥ORANGE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS!🔥 Woodbridge junior Aidan Antonio (13:56) breaks the course record held by Dana Hills alum Evan Noonan and he also leads the Warriors to the team title! What a season already for Aidan and his team! Could NXN become a reality? pic.twitter.com/POg2YhYutq
At the Orange County cross-country championship, Woodbridge junior Aidan Antonio set a course record at 13:56. Irvine senior Summer Wilson won the girls sweepstakes race in 15:47.3.
From the archives: Miller Moss
Former Bishop Alemany quarterback Miller Moss in 2019. He led Louisville to an upset of No. 2 Miami.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)
It’s been a long journey for former Bishop Alemany and USC quarterback Miller Moss. Last week, he helped Louisville upset No. 2 Miami.
Good grades and good patience have always been the impressive qualities displayed by Moss. He missed his senior year in 2020, which was the COVID season. He spent 2021 through 2024 at USC. After leaving USC, there was little doubt he’d have success wherever he ended up. Louisville offered a new beginning.
From Nebraska, a story on how transfers are changing high school sports.
From ESPN, a story about a lawsuit in Ohio trying to allow high school athletes to profit off NIL.
From Footballscoop.com, a story on a coach in Pennsylvania having to resign under parental pressure after disciplining players.
From the Los Angeles Times, a story on former Loyola and UCLA quarterback Jerry Neuheisel.
Tweets you might have missed
I have to admit something. One part of my job is to point out players making a difference but each time I mention a freshman, I fear it opens the door for someone in high school to recruit them illegally. That’s world we have now. I wish it wasn’t.
Congratulations to SR QB Diego Montes on reaching the 100 total touchdowns milestone for his career! It’s been fun to watch Diego and his teammates accomplish so much on this journey!
— JFK Golden Cougars Football (@GoldenCougarsFB) October 13, 2025
Rolling Hills Prep girls coach Monique Alexander, a former UCLA player, meets with UCLA coach Cori Close. At LA Athletic Club for basketball kickoff breakfast. pic.twitter.com/W75NK11NsR
** BREAKING!** New CIF-STATE RANKINGS have dropped! The updated CIF-State Rankings are now out for this week after the big Clovis Invitational clash! There were two big upward movers as Beckman’s D1 boys and Laguna Beach’s D4 girls each improved five spots!… pic.twitter.com/SiVZhhV0k9
I’m throwing out a theory that may or may not be true: There’s lots of high school football players set to head off to college with their NIL deals and scholarships assured. Maybe they’re not as hungry as opponents who don’t have a scholarship. It’s reflective in their effort.
Have a question, comment or something you’d like to see in a future Prep Rally newsletter? Email me at [email protected], and follow me on Twitter at @latsondheimer.
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Global stock markets kicked off the week on a strong note after data showed China’s economy performing better than expected despite ongoing trade tensions with the United States. Investor optimism was also buoyed by expectations of Japanese stimulus and a strong outlook for artificial intelligence (AI) companies during the U.S. earnings season.
Why It Matters
China’s stronger-than-forecast GDP growth (1.1% in Q3) and industrial output gains (6.5%) helped calm fears about a global slowdown triggered by U.S.-China trade frictions. Meanwhile, optimism surrounding AI-driven tech earnings particularly Nvidia continued to lift global equities, reinforcing investor belief in the sector’s long-term profitability. At the same time, expectations of further U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts kept global borrowing costs lower and strengthened risk appetite.
Asia: Japan’s Nikkei surged 2.8% to a record high amid hopes of stimulus under likely new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Europe: The Stoxx 600 rose 0.7% in early trade.
U.S.: Futures pointed to gains of 0.4–0.5% for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq.
Bonds & FX: Treasury yields dipped to 4.02%, while the euro climbed to $1.1662 on a softer dollar.
Commodities: Gold stayed elevated around $4,266/oz, reflecting persistent geopolitical caution, while Brent crude slipped 0.4% to $61.02 on OPEC+ supply signals.
Jason da Silva (Arbuthnot Latham): “There’s still enough scope for healthy returns from big tech; I’m not selling the AI theme yet.”
Kevin Thozet (Carmignac): Warned of “froth” in some AI stocks but said it’s too soon to exit the trade.
Lorenzo Portelli (Amundi): Predicted gold could rise to $5,000 as central banks diversify reserves and the dollar weakens.
What’s Next
Looking ahead, investor attention will pivot to major U.S. corporate earnings that could shape the market’s next moves. Reports from Tesla, Netflix, Procter & Gamble, and Coca-Cola will offer a clearer picture of consumer demand and how well companies are weathering tariffs and inflation pressures. On the policy front, traders expect the Federal Reserve to deliver two more rate cuts by December, a move that could further support equities, weaken the dollar, and sustain global liquidity. However, the upcoming U.S.–China tariff truce deadline on November 10 looms large, and any breakdown in talks could quickly reverse market optimism. Investors will also watch for fresh data on inflation and labor markets to gauge how long central banks can maintain their dovish stance.
Quantum computing is the latest technology hype cycle.
With shares up by a jaw-dropping 5,100% over the last 12 months, Rigetti Computing(RGTI -3.01%) exemplifies the life-changing potential of stock investing. If you bought $10,000 worth of shares of this speculative tech company last October, your position would now be worth over half a million dollars.
After a rise of that magnitude, potential new investors must be left wondering if they should jump on Rigetti’s hype train or wait for a dip. Let’s dig into the company’s fundamentals to decide what the near future might bring.
Is quantum computing ready for prime time?
Quantum computing promises to radically expand the reach of digital technology. When it works accurately, it can solve certain types of unusual, but extraordinarily difficult, problems that would take even a classical supercomputer an impossible amount of time. And while the technology has seemed “just around the corner” for decades, some recent breakthroughs have ignited optimism.
For example, one of the chief challenges in developing a useful quantum computer is that they are vastly more prone to errors than classical machines. But late last year, Alphabet subsidiary Google revealed its Willow chip, a state-of-the-art quantum computing chip that does a progressively better job of correcting its own mistakes the more computing power it uses. Perhaps more remarkably, on one of the benchmark computational problems that is used to test the abilities of quantum machines, Willow delivered the answer in about five minutes. For a traditional supercomputer to solve it would have taken 10 septillion years.
If they can be made reliable and cost effective enough to commercialize, such machines could drive revolutionary advances in areas ranging from drug discovery to material science. Quantum computers could also play a role in artificial intelligence by assisting with model training and optimization, which involves finding the most efficient use of resources to achieve a task.
Where does Rigetti fit in?
While Google looks like the leader in quantum computing technology, a rising tide lifts all boats, and investors are pouring capital into the entire industry. Rigetti’s compelling business model has also likely played a role in its explosive rally.
Rigetti takes a comprehensive picks-and-shovels approach to the quantum computing industry. It designs and builds its own chips, called quantum processing units (QPUs), at its California-based foundry. And it created its own programming language called Quil alongside a platform called Quantum Cloud Services (QCS), which is designed to allow clients to access its quantum processing power through the cloud.
The company is in the early stages of commercialization: It recently announced a $5.7 million purchase order for two of its Novera quantum computing systems, which it expects to deliver in 2026. But while these deals are a good sign, investors shouldn’t expect those purchases to necessarily mark the start of mass quantum computing adoption or sustainable growth.
While nonprofit research institutions and early adopters will continue to experiment with quantum computing, analysts at McKinsey and Company believe scalable quantum devices might not be commercially viable before 2040 at the earliest. In the meantime, Rigetti’s financial condition is alarming.
Massive cash burn
Image source: Getty Images.
For better or worse, public companies exist to generate profits for their shareholders. Technological prowess comes second, and arguably doesn’t matter at all if it doesn’t eventually benefit the bottom line. Rigetti’s shareholders may soon have to reckon with this fact.
In the second quarter, its operating losses grew 24% year over year to $19.8 million (compared to revenue of $1.8 million). Meanwhile, the number of shares outstanding jumped by 74% to almost 300 million. Rigetti is still sitting on a mountain of cash from a $350 million stock offering in June. But that money won’t last forever, and investors should expect the company to continue relying on equity financing to fund operations until it can achieve profitability.
With viable quantum computers potentially over a decade away, Rigetti’s management team will likely need to substantially dilute the positions of current shareholders in their efforts to get the company across the finish line. Yet even with this in mind, it’s not too late to buy the stock. If anything, it’s too early. But it may make sense to wait for a correction or another technological breakthrough before you consider opening a position in the stock.
Will Ebiefung has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Crowds packed the US capital on Saturday, part of nationwide ‘No Kings’ protests against President Donald Trump’s policies on immigration, education, and security. Al Jazeera’s Shihab Rattansi reports from the scene.
WASHINGTON — Protesting the direction of the country under President Trump, people gathered Saturday in the nation’s capital and hundreds of communities across the U.S. for “ No Kings ” demonstrations.
This is the third mass mobilization since Trump’s return to the White House and comes against the backdrop of a government shutdown that not only has closed federal programs and services, but is testing the core balance of power as an aggressive executive confronts Congress and the courts in ways that organizers warn are a slide toward American authoritarianism.
Trump himself is away from Washington at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.
“They say they’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,” Trump said in a Fox News interview airing early Friday, before he departed for a $1-million-per-plate MAGA Inc. super PAC fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago. Protests were expected nearby Saturday.
More than 2,600 rallies are planned Saturday in cities large and small, organized by hundreds of coalition partners.
Republicans are countering the nationwide street demonstrations by calling them “hate America” protests.
A growing opposition movement
While the earlier protests this year — against Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts in spring, then to counter Trump’s military parade in June — drew crowds, organizers say this one is building a more unified opposition movement. Top Democrats such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and progressive leader Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) are joining in what organizers view as an antidote to Trump’s actions, including the administration’s clampdown on free speech and its military-style immigration raids in American cities.
“There is no greater threat to an authoritarian regime than patriotic people-power,” said Ezra Levin, a co-founder of Indivisible, among the key organizers.
As Republicans and the White House try to characterize the mass protests as a rally of radicals, Levin said the sign-up numbers are growing. Organizers said rallies are being planned within a one-hour drive for most Americans.
Rallies were also held in major European cities, where gatherings of a few hundred Americans chanted slogans and held signs and U.S. flags.
‘Crooks and con men’ and fears of police response
Retired family doctor Terence McCormally was heading to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia to join up with others Saturday morning and walk across the Memorial Bridge that enters Washington directly in front of the Lincoln Memorial. He thought the protests would be peaceful but said the recent deployment of the National Guard makes him more leery about the police than he used to be.
“I really don’t like the crooks and con men and religious zealots who are trying to use the country” for personal gain, McCormally said, “while they are killing and hurting millions of people with bombs.”
Republicans denounce rallies
Republicans have sought to portray participants in Saturday’s rallies as far outside the mainstream of American politics, and a main reason for the prolonged government shutdown, now in its 18th day.
From the White House to Capitol Hill, GOP leaders disparaged the rallygoers as “communists” and “Marxists.”
They say Democratic leaders, including Schumer, are beholden to the far-left flank and willing to keep the government shut down to appease those liberal forces.
“I encourage you to watch — we call it the ‘Hate America’ rally — that will happen Saturday,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
“Let’s see who shows up for that,” Johnson said, saying he expected attendees to include “antifa types,” people who “hate capitalism” and “Marxists in full display.”
In a Facebook post, Sanders said, “It’s a love America rally.”
“It’s a rally of millions of people all over this country who believe in our Constitution, who believe in American freedom and,” he said, pointing at the GOP leadership, “are not going to let you and Donald Trump turn this country into an authoritarian society.”
Democrats in Congress have refused to vote on legislation that would reopen the government as they demand funding for healthcare, which has been imperiled by the massive GOP spending bill passed this summer. Republicans say they are willing to discuss the issue only after the government reopens.
But for many Democrats, the government closure is also a way to stand up to Trump and try to push the presidency back to its place in the U.S. system as a coequal branch of government.
The situation is a potential turnaround from just six months ago, when Democrats and their allies were divided and despondent, unsure about how best to respond to Trump’s return to the White House. Schumer in particular was sharply criticized by many in his party for allowing an earlier government funding bill to sail through the Senate without using it to challenge Trump.
In April, the national march against Trump and Musk — who was then leading the White House government-slashing group known as the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE — had 1,300 registered locations. In June, for the first “No Kings” day, there were 2,100 registered locations.
“What we are seeing from the Democrats is some spine,” Levin said. “The worst thing the Democrats could do right now is surrender.”
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said he wasn’t sure if he would join the rallygoers Saturday, but he took issue with the Republicans’ characterization of the events.
“What’s hateful is what happened on Jan. 6,” he said, referring to the 2021 Capitol attack, in which a violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the building in an attempt to overturn his election loss to Joe Biden. “What you’ll see this weekend is what patriotism looks like.”
Mascaro, Riddle and Freking write for the Associated Press. Riddle reported from Montgomery, Ala. AP writer Chris Megerian in Washington contributed to this report.
Flights grounded, public transport disrupted as 80,000 people take to the streets of the Belgian capital.
Published On 14 Oct 202514 Oct 2025
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A general strike against proposed austerity measures in Belgium has grounded flights and halted public transport networks.
Approximately 80,000 people took to the streets in Brussels’s city centre on Tuesday, police said, denouncing potential cuts to social welfare programmes.
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Some of the protests devolved into scuffles, as police used tear gas and protesters set off flares and smoke bombs, according to The Associated Press news agency. Several dozen protesters were detained, AP reported.
Some demonstrators carried red prohibition signs with the number 67 on them, in reference to a planned increase in the retirement age. “Right to a pension at 65,” the signs read.
Others sported a picture of conservative Prime Minister Bart De Wever with the caption “wanted for pension theft”.
Riot police arrest a protester on the sidelines of a demonstration in Brussels, Belgium, October 14 [Nicolas Tucat/AFP]
“We are heading towards a future that doesn’t look good,” one protester, 59-year-old Chantal Desmet, told the AFP news agency. “The government has to take notice.”
Flights cancelled at Brussels International
Walkouts from airport security staff caused all departing flights to be cancelled at the country’s main airport – Brussels International Airport – the facility said, while protests forced cuts on most of Brussels’s underground train, bus and tram lines, according to public transport operator STIB.
The protest is the latest this year against a push by De Wever’s coalition government – which faces a budget deficit that violates EU rules and is trying to find some $12bn in savings – to introduce cuts to pensions and healthcare systems.
But the prime minister’s plans have infuriated the country’s powerful trade unions, which are leading the protest and nationwide strikes.
A protester with a sign depicting Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and politician Conner Rousseau that reads, ‘Wanted for pension theft’ attends a demonstration in Brussels, Belgium, October 14 [Omar Havana/Reuters]
“What really mobilises people are pensions,” Thierry Bodson, leader of the 1.5 million-member-strong FGTB union, said on the French-language state radio station RTBF.
“This government promised more sustainable jobs and increased purchasing power. Hot air! And once again, everyone is paying, except the rich,” said trade union CSC, as it urged people to join Tuesday’s protest.
The action is ramping up pressure on De Wever, who has pledged to cut deficits without raising taxes but is struggling to finalise next year’s budget.
On Monday, De Wever’s coalition failed to agree on a budget, forcing the prime minister to postpone a key speech to parliament that had been scheduled for Tuesday.
BALTIMORE — Rams receiver Puka Nacua fell off his record-setting pace.
But that was fine with the Rams.
They were just happy their star receiver returned to the field after suffering a foot injury in the first half of Sunday’s 17-3 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
Matthew Stafford passed for a touchdown, Kyren Williams ran for another and Jared Verse and safety Quentin Lake led a defense that shut down the Lamar Jackson-less Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.
The Rams bounced back from their overtime defeat by the San Francisco 49ers and improved their record to 4-2. They will remain in Baltimore this week to prepare for next Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London.
The Rams overcame untimely penalties, dropped passes, special teams errors and Nacua’s scare that left them in a 3-3 tie at halftime.
But the Rams scored two touchdowns in the first five minutes of the second half on a short run by Williams and — after Verse forced a fumble that was recovered by Lake — a short touchdown pass from Stafford to tight end Tyler Higbee.
Nacua, who entered the game with an NFL leading 52 receptions and 588 yards receiving, had only two catches for 28 yards. That proved more than enough against a Ravens team that fell to 1-5.
Nacua was assisted off the field by trainers with about 10 minutes left in the second quarter after attempting to catch a pass in the end zone.
Nacua had run along the right sideline with Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey in tight coverage. Both players leaped for the ball and came down hard on the turf.
Nacua got up gingerly in apparent pain, and then took a few steps and went back to the ground.
Moments later, running back Blake Corum also went to the locker room because of an ankle. Like Nacua, he returned in the second half.
Lake intercepted a pass — the first interception of the fourth-year pro’s career — and also recovered a fumble.
Verse forced a fumble and stopped star running back Derek Henry on a fourth-and-one play at the goal line at the end of the first half.
Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters have marched in London, expressing scepticism and cautious hope as a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has entered its second day.
“We’re … sharing the relief of the Palestinian people,” said Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which has organised mass monthly pro-Palestinian rallies in London since the start of the war on October 7, 2023.
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“But we also come here sharing their trepidation that this ceasefire will not hold, rooted in the knowledge that Israel has violated every ceasefire agreement it’s ever signed,” Jamal told the AFP news agency on Saturday.
Despite concerns about United States President Donald Trump’s proposed plan to end the war on Gaza, which calls for a transitional authority ultimately headed by the US leader, Jamal said there was an “immense sense of relief”.
A sea of red and green, the colours of the Palestinian flag, formed along the embankment of the River Thames in central London, where the largely peaceful march began.
Police officers remove pro-Israel protesters from a London rally in support of Palestinians [Jaimi Joy/Reuters]
Protesters donned black and white keffiyeh scarves, carried signs saying “Stop Starving Gaza” and “Stop the genocide”, and chanted “Free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
Police removed several pro-Israel protesters from the crowd.
Al Jazeera’s Rory Challands, reporting from the rally in London, said there has been “no cease to the demonstrations … in the UK expressing solidarity with Palestine”.
Challands said that while 32 such protests have been held so far, Saturday’s was a “huge one” as protesters came from all over the country.
People travelled to the capital on buses and trains from cities including Bristol, Cambridge and Sheffield.
The government in the UK has been making it increasingly difficult for pro-Palestine demonstrations to take place and wants the police to have more power to restrict such gatherings, Challands noted.
Last weekend, London police arrested at least 442 people at a rally in support of the proscribed group Palestine Action in central London.
Israel’s two-year war on Gaza has killed more than 67,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities, and caused a humanitarian crisis. Famine conditions were declared in some parts of the besieged territory last month, and a UN commission has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
Challands said people were sceptical that the latest ceasefire would hold for a “significant amount of time”.
“They are worried about the perseverance of US President Donald Trump,” he said.
Katrina Scales, a 23-year-old sociology and psychology student attending the rally, said the ceasefire was “not enough” and she planned to keep attending marches.
“I’m here with my friends to help show that there is continuously eyes on Gaza, even considering the current ceasefire,” she said.
Trade unionist Steve Headley, in his 50s, said he is also unconvinced.
“Hopefully now we’ve got the first steps towards peace, but we’ve been here before,” Headley told AFP. He questioned Trump’s “plans for a ‘Riviera’ in Gaza” that the US president touted this year.
Many of the demonstrators in London are sceptical US President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza will hold [Jaimi Joy/Reuters]
For 74-year-old Miranda Finch, part of a group marching under the banner “descendants of Holocaust survivors against Gaza genocide”, the ceasefire was “very little”.
“The Palestinians are not going back to nothing. They’re going back to less than nothing. Rubble on top of bodies on top of sewage.”
Fabio Capogreco, 42, who was attending his fifth demonstration with his two children and wife, said the ceasefire was “too little, too late”, adding that those complicit in the war need to be held accountable.
“Hopefully it’s one of the last times we need to come here to manifest,” the bar manager said. “But I think it’s too early to say everything is OK.”
Protests were also planned later on Saturday in other European cities, including Berlin. A march is also expected on Sunday in Sydney, Australia, where pro-Palestine demonstrations have filled streets in recent weeks.
Gold prices continue to climb as investors look for a safe place to park their capital during a moment of geopolitical uncertainty, with the US government shutdown entering its second week.
The precious metal has gained more than 55% this year, and market analysts say investors aren’t solely focused on its ability to protect against inflation.
“While stock markets have generally done well this year, gold has been a superstar,” said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
“Traditionally, investors would load up on the shiny stuff when markets look gloomy, not when they’re motoring ahead. It shows that investors are hedging their bets, particularly as there are growing concerns that euphoria around AI has gone too far and the bubble could burst at some point.”
Gold sales often rise sharply when investors seek secure investments for their money and can’t find viable options in the stock market.
Even before the government shutdown in the US, gold saw dramatic gains as President Donald Trump’s barrage of tariffs threw the global economy into limbo.
More recently, falling interest rates have further boosted gold’s attractiveness, as interest-bearing investments promise lower returns.
Other precious metals have also risen in value amid the uncertainty. Silver futures are up over 65% since January, trading above $48 per ounce on Wednesday morning in Europe.
Why are prices going up?
Much of the recent economic turmoil stems from Trump’s trade wars.
Since the start of 2025, steep new duties imposed on goods coming into the US from around the world have strained businesses and consumers alike — inflating costs and weakening the job market. Due to higher costs and an uncertain outlook, hiring has plunged, and an increasing number of consumers are expressing pessimism about the US’ economic outlook.
A government shutdown in Washington has added to those anxieties. Key economic data has been delayed, leaving investors in the dark about the true state of the US economy.
Giovanni Staunovo, commodity analyst at UBS Global Wealth Management, also explained gold’s rise by pointing to the continued weakness of the US dollar and renewed rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. Last month, the Fed cut its key interest rate by a quarter-point — and projected it would do so twice more this year.
Gold is priced in US dollars, meaning that when the currency drops in value, the metal becomes relatively cheaper for foreign buyers.
What about jewellery?
Many jewellery merchants and dealers have increasingly reported surges in customers looking to check the value of gold they own — sometimes opting to melt or sell family heirlooms to cash in on the precious metal’s rising price.
At the same time, those in the market for gold jewellery may be feeling “sticker shock” if they can’t afford certain products anymore.
Larger retailers like Pandora and Signet, whose brands include Zales and Kay Jewelers, have acknowledged these headwinds in recent earnings calls.
“If I’m a guessing man here, we will see a general price rise for the category,” Pandora CEO Alexander Lacik said in an August earnings call, pointing to rising costs of gold and silver, as well as tariffs.
Is gold worth the investment?
Advocates of investing in gold call it a “safe haven” — arguing the commodity can serve to diversify and balance your investment portfolio, as well as mitigate possible risks down the road as a hedge against rising inflation. Some also take comfort in buying something tangible that has the potential to increase in value over time.
With high investment demand, Goldman Sachs has raised its forecast for precious metals from €4,300 to €4,900 per ounce by the end of 2026.
“There is a growing trend away from the classic portfolio structure with 60% in stocks and 40% in bonds. In the current environment, it is recommended to invest about 20% in alternatives such as precious metals and cryptos,” said Alex Kuptsikevich, FxPro chief market analyst.
Still, experts caution against putting all your eggs in one basket. And not everyone agrees that gold is a good investment. Critics say gold isn’t always the inflation hedge many claim, and that there are more efficient ways to protect against potential loss of capital, such as derivative-based investments.
“Gold is perceived by many market participants as a safe-haven asset. But investors need to be aware it has a volatility of 10-15%,” Staunovo noted. He added that smaller amounts of physical gold, such as gold coins or 1-gram bars, have larger ranges between buying and selling prices.
The Commodity Futures Trade Commission has also previously warned people to be wary of investing in gold. Precious metals can be highly volatile, the commission said, and prices rise as demand goes up. This means “when economic anxiety or instability is high, the people who typically profit from precious metals are the sellers”.
The commission added that it’s also important to be cautious of potential scams and counterfeits on the market.
More than a thousand chanting healthcare workers, activists and local officials filled the Los Angeles Convention Center on Thursday afternoon to protest pending trillion-dollar healthcare cuts contained in Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”
“Healthcare right now in America is bad,” said Romond Phillips, a mobile clinic driver, who attended the rally. “I’m out on the front lines, so I see the need for it.”
David Rolas, a community advocate from South L.A., came out to the rally to show his support. He says, growing up, he remembers how hard it was to get access to healthcare and how many people died because of it. He was diagnosed with diabetes over 20 years ago, and today, he gets healthcare through Covered California.
“It’s helped me get the medicine I need, like my insulin,” said Rolas. “As I get older, I want to make sure I’m around for my kids. But my insulin isn’t cheap, so thankfully, I have affordable healthcare right now, but I will be affected by these changes.”
Earlier this week, Democrats in the Senate refused to vote for a Republican short-term funding bill, which excluded an extension of enhanced premium tax credits. These credits, enacted in 2021, helped healthcare plans offered through the Affordable Health Care Act (known as Obamacare) to remain affordable. Without an extension, the credits will expire.
Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which was passed earlier this year, proposes nearly a trillion dollars in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. With these changes, millions of Americans will face higher insurance premiums and possibly lose coverage. Democrats are fighting to get the subsidies extended and are demanding that Republicans reverse the Medicaid cuts.
At the rally, Holly Mitchell, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors who represents the city’s 2nd District, says she’s fearful of going back to the days before Obamacare. Her district is made up of 2 million Angelenos, with 850,000 enrolled in MediCal.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m not going back there,” Mitchell said. “Those are horrible, inhumane, dangerous times. Black, brown and poor people die at a higher rate than they should have because they didn’t have access to healthcare.”
The rally was organized by St. John’s Community Health, a nonprofit aimed at providing healthcare to underserved communities.
Jim Mangia, president of the organization, announced that St. John’s plans to build a coalition of community-based organizations, labor unions, clinics and hospitals that would get an affordable healthcare measure on next year’s county voting ballot.
“It would go directly to voters and raise hundreds of millions of dollars to save healthcare for our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Mangia. “It would build a national example that can be replicated across the country, to undermine Trump’s billionaire tax cuts, and restore the programs and healthcare our communities need so desperately.”
The working title for the initiative is the Los Angeles County Emergency and Essential Healthcare Restoration Measure. It’s still in its early stages, with ballot language being drafted. Mangia expects that the county would need to gather around $500 million to fill the new gaps Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” will leave in residents’ healthcare plans.
Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove, who represents California’s 37th District, said cuts will hit her constituents hard, noting that there are 400,000 people who rely on Medicaid. About 3.5 million people in the state could lose their health insurance, she said.
“It’s about kicking people off of their healthcare benefits,” said Kamlager-Dove.
She blames the Republican party for the government shutdown, saying, “If they want to keep the government open, they would have, they would have negotiated with Democrats, but they chose not to.”
Republicans have, in turn, blamed Democrats for the closure and have said they are open to making changes to healthcare policy later.
Gogglebox pals Danielle and Daniella are firm favourites on the Channel 4 show
Joe Crutchley Screen Time Reporter
08:22, 02 Oct 2025
Gogglebox’s Danielle and Daniella share huge show announcement as fans rally round(Image: C4)
Gogglebox stars Danielle and Daniella have been supported by fans after the pair issued a major announcement.
The best pals first joined the long-running Channel 4 show back in 2022 – and it’s fair to say it didn’t take them long to become a hit with the programme’s loyal viewers.
Over the years, Danielle and Daniella – who live in Leeds – have had fans in stitches thanks to their hilarious one-liners and comical takes on the telly highlights.
What’s more, the pair have returned for new series too, which kicked off last month, along with co-stars Pete and Sophie Sandiford in Blackpool and Giles Wood and Mary Killen in Wiltshire.
Away from the show, Danielle and Daniella regularly keep their fans updated on their everyday lives on their shared Instagram account. And recently, the pair made a big announcement.
Taking to the platform, Danielle and Daniella shared a slew of snaps from their time on the show, as they celebrated three years of being on Gogglebox. In the caption, they wrote: “Meanwhile in Leeds, Daniella & Danielle are celebrating 3 years of professional sofa surveillance on @c4gogglebox.
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“That’s 3 years of snacks, sass, and pure cut eye, kiss teet and belly laughs. 2 @officiantas later (we’re taking that as Olympic podium wins, medals and ting). They say “time flies when you’re having fun”. Big up @channel4@studiolambert for making us family.”
Fans rushed to the comments to share their delight and send their congratulations to the pair. One person wrote: “3 years already congratulations I couldn’t be any more prouder.”
Another added: “Congratulations to both of you.” The pair’s Gogglebox co-star Ellie Warner also wrote: “Happy 3 years ladies.”
Much to the delight of fans, Danielle and Daniella have returned for the new Gogglebox series – which started earlier this year. However, it is looking a little different, as it was announced in July that beloved stars Roisin Kelly and Joe Kyle would not be returning.
The couple became a part of Gogglebox history as the first Scottish pair to join the programme in February 2022. Announcing their departure from the Channel 4 show, Roisin took to TikTok to share the unfortunate update.
They wrote: “After three and a half years of sitting on the sofa Channel 4 have decided it’s time for Joe and I to stretch our legs and have not asked us back for season 26.”
Gogglebox continues every Friday at 9pm on Channel 4.
