New York’s new Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani won amid Islamophobic attacks, and is set to become the city’s first Muslim mayor. He pledged to serve all communities and to challenge United States President Trump’s policies. His win is being compared to that of London’s Muslim Mayor Sadiq Khan, a counterweight to then-United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Are city mayors the new resistance to right-wing governments?
At his final rally on Monday New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani vowed to resist US President Donald Trump’s threat to withhold federal funds if the 34-year-old wins, framing the vote as a stand against intimidation and political bullying.
Hi, everyone, welcome back to Lakers newsletter. This is Thuc Nhi Nguyen, The Times’ Lakers beat writer. Thank you for your warm welcome into this space (and your food recommendations). We’re now halfway through the preseason, and let me tell you: I can’t wait until we get real basketball back again.
All things Lakers, all the time.
We are at least one step closer to seeing what this Lakers team really looks like as Luka Doncic is expected to make his preseason debut against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. He is expected to play in two of the final three preseason games and, with a back-to-back coming, it’s most likely that Doncic will finish his preseason play on Friday at Crypto.com Arena against the Sacramento Kings instead of in Las Vegas against his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, on Wednesday.
Doncic’s return can help answer some questions about the Lakers, but there is still plenty to address with one week until the season opener.
The LeBron James decision
If you didn’t hear, LeBron James was at the center of a major announcement last week.
No, it’s not that the Lakers star and my dad share an affinity for Hennessy.
It’s that James will be sidelined for three to four weeks as he manages sciatica in his right side. The timeline announced by the team last Thursday means James will miss the regular season opener on Oct. 21 against the Golden State Warriors. As he enters Year 23, James still has room for more firsts: This will be the first time in his NBA career that he doesn’t play in a season opener.
While coach JJ Redick has tried to downplay preseason decisions about the starting lineup, he admitted Monday that James’ prolonged absence “complicates things a little bit.” With every group, Redick said, it’s about finding balance: ensuring there’s enough shooting, facilitating and defense to go around while also managing each player’s own temperament.
“We have a week to figure that out,” Redick said Monday, “and I think it will reveal itself to us.”
The Lakers’ next decision
Marcus Smart
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
So who will be up for the role?
Marcus Smart, who figured to be a potential starting candidate even when James was healthy, will make his preseason debut on Tuesday. He was battling Achilles tendinopathy to begin the preseason.
Smart returned to practice last week, working up to being a full participant during practices Thursday and Saturday, and impressed Redick with the classic Marcus Smart hustle and defense. Even while sidelined, Smart was lauded for his communication and leadership style.
Smart was already considered as a potential starting option over returner Rui Hachimura because the Lakers were looking for a stronger defender at the point of attack. They may have rediscovered another option in Jarred Vanderbilt.
Finally healthy from a lingering foot injury, Vanderbilt has earned rave reviews for his defensive resurgence during training camp. The 6-foot-8 forward has 13 rebounds, four steals and one block in three preseason games. He even turned heads with tweaked shooting mechanics to potentially increase his influence as a potential three-and-D option.
But Vanderbilt is one for 10 from three-point range in three preseason games.
The offensive load during James’ absence will likely fall more toward Hachimura or free agent addition Jake LaRavia.
Second-year guard Dalton Knecht could provide a scoring punch off the bench, especially after Redick said Knecht was the team’s best offensive player in training camp. Knecht, who struggled during summer league because he over-trained during the offseason, was outscoring his teammates by 42 points during live practice periods by Sunday. Redick rewarded him with a starting spot in the home preseason game against the Warriors and he responded with 16 points on four-of-nine shooting from the field and was six of eight from the free throw line.
But the 24-year-old who was briefly traded last year to return only when the deal fell through needs to earn his playing time by showing other skills.
“His ceiling is going to be based on his improvement this season as a defender,” Redick said.
Austin Reaves has already carried the heaviest workload of the preseason, especially as Doncic and James were out. Reaves delivered with 41 points in 44 minutes in two games, but knows any single Herculean effort won’t be enough to replace James long-term.
“It’s a next-man-up mentality,” Reaves said, echoing a similar message from Doncic. “Nobody is going to fill what he does with one person. I can’t go be LeBron. I wish I could. But I think you got to do it as a collective group. And that’s what we’ll do.”
Favorite thing I ate this week
Clockwise from top left: Shrimp shumai, fried shrimp ball, baked BBQ pork bun, steam pork bun and shrimp noodle rolls.
(Thuc Nhi Nguyen / Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers got a valuable week at home, but I stayed on the road for a friend’s wedding in Brooklyn. To me, there’s no better way to celebrate than with dim sum.
We schlepped from Brooklyn to Manhattan’s Golden Unicorn, where I was too impatient to take a picture of everything, but the first wave included baked BBQ pork buns, steamed pork buns, shrimp noodle rolls, shrimp shumai and fried shrimp balls.
My dim sum staples are har gow and the classic pork and shrimp shumai, but my favorite dish this time was mango pudding (unfortunately not pictured). Loaded with chunks of fresh mango, it was the perfect sweet treat before I spent the next few hours in food coma mode.
A Place in the Sun host Laura Hamilton has been at the helm of the Channel 4 programme for more than a decade and has visited some breathtaking locations over the years
Laura Hamilton has reflected on her 13-year career as the host of A Place in the Sun(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Laura Hamilton has looked back on her 13-year stint presenting A Place in the Sun and revealed her three top destinations. It’s fair to say that Laura, having hosted the sun-soaked Channel 4 property-hunting show for over a decade, has clocked up some serious air miles.
You would also expect that, after more than ten years of globetrotting, picking a favourite spot would prove tricky. But thankfully, for curious fans, Laura has whittled it down to just three choices.
She told Woman magazine how the first holds special family significance.
South Africa
“I loved filming in South Africa,” Laura revealed. “My dad was born there. It was great to get to see that.” South Africa, perched at the southern tip of the African continent, boasts one of Africa’s largest and most developed economies.
The nation has 12 official languages, encompassing Afrikaans, isiZulu, isiXhosa, and IsiNdebele. It’s also renowned as a wildlife paradise, home to everything from lions and elephants to vervet monkeys and baboons.
Meanwhile, along the coastline, adventurous tourists might even glimpse great white sharks and dolphins.
Morzine, France
Laura’s second choice was considerably nearer to home. She revealed: “I also loved filming in Morzine, in the mountains of France. I’m a big skier and it was great to see it in the summer months.
Morzine is an alpine village nestled within the Chablais mountain range, positioned between the towering 4,800-metre Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva. This bustling ski resort boasts a rich history spanning more than 1,000 years.
In earlier centuries, monks and miners made Morzine their home. However, by the 1800s, with advancing technology, the area became renowned for its slate mining operations, an industry that brought wealth to the town.
Granada, Spain
Lastly, Laura selected Spain’s stunning city of Granada and its encompassing mountain range. She went on: “Granada, Sierra Nevada, was amazing. Being on the beach in the morning and the slopes in the afternoon – that’s amazing. There are places I’ve seen that I would probably not have got to go to.”
Sierra Nevada describes a mountain range in Spain, located in the Andalusian province of Granada. It’s reportedly also the location of Europe’s most southerly ski resort, providing spectacular views across the Mediterranean.
This comes after reports revealed how Laura admitted to occasionally feeling exasperated by some “crazy” buyers on the programme. Speaking in the same interview, she was questioned whether people ever participate in the show simply to secure a free trip.
She dismissed this idea, explaining how it’s a “week’s work” and a massive decision for those taking part. Nevertheless, she also described how she has presented properties to people and thought “you’re crazy” when they choose not to purchase them.
FIA statutes state that the body will “respect the highest standards of governance, transparency and democracy, including anti-corruption functions and procedures”.
FIA rules require it to be neutral in the election process and that it has an obligation to provide “equal treatment between candidates for the FIA’s presidency”.
Mayer declined to comment, while the FIA has not responded to a series of questions from BBC Sport on the matter.
Robert Reid – who resigned as Ben Sulayem’s vice-president of sport in April, citing “a fundamental breakdown in governance standards within motorsport’s global governing body” – wrote earlier this week in a post on LinkedIn, external: “Each presidential candidate must present a full slate, including seven vice-presidents drawn from list of World Council nominees.
“If the incumbent already controls those names in any region through persuasion, pressure or promise, then no challenger can form.
“The process looks democratic, but in practice it locks the door from the inside. It isn’t democracy. It isn’t even unusual. But that doesn’t make it right.”
There is also doubt surrounding the eligibility of Daniel Coen from Costa Rica for the list of world motorsport council nominees, given that members must come from countries that host international motorsport events, which Costa Rica does not.
Coen is Ben Sulayem’s nominee for vice-president for sport representing North America.
BRITAIN must join the fight against Hamas and not reward terror by recognising a Palestinian state, the former chief of Mossad has said.
Veteran Israeli spy Yossi Cohen vowed to eradicate every last enemy fighter in Gaza – as he fumed that Israel is “doing the world’s job alone”.
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Yossi Cohen, former director of Mossad, during an interview with The SunCredit: Ian Whittaker
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Hamas fighters standing in formation as Israeli hostages were handed over to the Red Cross in February earlier this yearCredit: AP
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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been criticised for his move to recognise a Palestinian stateCredit: Getty
Mr Cohen demanded to know why Britain and other countries were not helping Israel after joining previous fights against other terror groups.
Sitting down with The Sun, he said: “The big question is, will you join us?
“More than 70 countries, including Britain, fought together to defeat one terror organisation with ISIS, and you joined the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan.
“How many armies are fighting with us alongside Hamas? None. The state of Israel is doing the world’s job alone. You’re invited.”
read more on israel hamas war
With or without the support, Mr Cohen said he will hunt down every last Hamas fighter, vowing: “If there are 100 Hamas fighters left in Gaza City… I’ll find them for you.”
Successive UK governments have vowed to recognise a Palestinian state at the point of most impact as part of a peace process – and Starmer felt the time was now.
The PM said the decision was in aid of a two-state solution, which is the “opposite” of what Hamas wants – though the terror group still claimed it as a victory.
But Mr Cohen said the move by Starmer was cynical.
Ex-Mossad chief BACKS Blair to be new ‘Governor of Gaza’ in Trump-approved postwar plan for terror-ravaged strip
It was designed to “strengthen” support for the Labour government at home, Mr Cohen claimed, while serving no purpose on the world stage.
He speculated that Starmer felt forced into the decision to “keep people quiet” in the UK – rather than it being “from his heart”.
“If Hamas are the UK’s partners, that’s very sad,” Mr Cohen said.
Cohen dismissed the declaration as toothless because it is “legally impossible” for other countries to mandate a two-state solution.
Referring to the Oslo Accords of 1993, the only standing agreement Israel has with the Palestinian Authority, he insisted that decisions about statehood may only be made between Israel’s government and the PA.
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Mr Cohen insists the suffering is a result of Hamas terrorists embedding themselves within civilian infrastructureCredit: Ian Whittaker
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Almost 70,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip and many more woundedCredit: Getty
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Hundreds of thousands of people are being forced to move south as Israel expands its offensive in Gaza CityCredit: AFP
Earlier this year, Trump also suggested recognising the Palestinian state would risk “rewarding Hamas”.
Cohen said there is a history of governments, including the British, saying one thing to their population and another thing to Israel behind closed doors – and that he “hopes” that remains the case.
He revealed that, in his former roles, he met with foreign diplomats who would be appreciative during private meetings – only to later release “the filthiest statements” about Israel.
‘We take care of Gazans’
Directly addressing the hundreds of thousands of Brits who regularly take to the streets as part of pro-Palestinian marches, Mr Cohen said: “Israel is conducting a just war. This is absolutely the right thing that we have to do.
“Intentionally, we do not kill civilians. Intentionally, we do not starve anyone. Intentionally, we’re taking care of the Gazan people.”
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Mr Cohen vowed that Israel would hunt down every last Hamas fighterCredit: Alamy
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The IDF has expanded its offensive in Gaza CityCredit: Alamy
Mr Cohen even claimed he had received criticism in Israel for helping bring in financial support for Gazans from donors.
“Why is it that we do that? Because we do care about the Gazan people,” he insisted.
A United Nations commission determined this month that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Israel’s conduct in the war has faced increased scrutiny over the past year as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens.
Reflecting on why there is such a gulf in feeling between Israel’s public and Brits, Mr Cohen said his country is still reeling from the atrocities committed on October 7 – with hostages still being kept in Gaza.
He said: “Civilians were killed and butchered. Babies included, burned in their beds, raped. The atrocities that we’ve seen are on a different scale.
“This is the reaction of a normal country. We are a normal country.
“Demonstrators will demonstrate whether Israel conducts itself rightly or wrongly. This is part of their agenda.”
Civilians were killed and butchered. Babies included, burned in their beds, raped. The atrocities that we’ve seen are on a different scale
Yossi CohenFormer director of Mossad
Hundreds of civilians in Gaza are being killed every week in air strikes and shootings.
Israel has repeatedly blamed Hamas for the high civilian death toll – claiming the people of Gaza are being used as human shields.
The IDF has recently expanded its military operation in Gaza City where hundreds of thousands of civilian remain.
Confronted with this fact, Mr Cohen said: “The type of war that we conduct is hard.
“It is not something that you can even imagine when you have terrorists living together with kids and babies in kindergartens, UN facilities, hospitals, clinics, and any other thing.
“They just conquered everything, every single house in the region, to create a kind of a terror activity in within.
“So it’s hard to do, but I know for sure that the state of Israel is doing its best to make sure that the Gazan people will not be hurt.”
What does recognising Palestine mean?
BRITAIN’S recognition means that the UK government diplomatically acknowledges Palestine as a country.
The UK had already vowed to recognise a Palestinian state as part of a broader peace process with Israel, but it was long unclear when this might happen.
It does not mean that the UK no longer recognises Israel, with which Britain has had official diplomatic relations since the 1950s.
But Palestine now joins the list of nations formally recognised by Britain, meaning its chief envoy will now have the rank of ambassador.
The conflict between Israel and Palestine stretches back many decades, and it is still unclear what the borders of a Palestinian state would look like.
The West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem are frequently described as occupied Palestinian territories.
But Israel de facto controls much of this land, and has built substantial settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Control of Palestinian territory is divided, with Hamas solely ruling over the Gaza Strip.
Almost 70,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ex spy master served as Benjamin Netanyahu’s national security advisor – and has hinted at aspirations to become the next Prime Minister of Israel, or returning to the government in some capacity.
“If Netanyahu wants to use me or to use my capabilities… of course he can do that,” Mr Cohen said. “He knows my phone number.”
Hinting at Netanyahu’s handing of the war, he added: “I think the people of Israel need a change that is basically founded on the need of unification.
“It is getting a little bit too intense to my taste.”
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Yossi Cohen pictured with Sun reporter Patrick HarringtonCredit: Ian Whittaker
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A wounded man lies in a vehicles as displaced Palestinians move with their belongingsCredit: AFP
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Smoke rises from an Israeli airstrike in northern GazaCredit: EPA
Blair has reportedly pitched a plan to Donald Trump which would see him lead a Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA) overseeing the strip before handing over to the Palestinian Authority.
Cohen told us it was an “amazing move from Blair”, and insisted they would work well together.
He said: “This is the main problem – what do we do the day after? And who is going to take care of the close to 2.2 million people?
“We need someone to run the show in the Gaza Strip and stop it deteriorating into the hands of Hamas.
“Tony Blair‘s initiative and willingness to do that is highly appreciated. God bless him.”
Recognition of Palestinian state is ‘hollow gesture’
By Martina Bet, Political Correspondent
SIR Keir Starmer’s recognition of Palestine is being hailed by his allies as “historic”, but the question is what it actually achieves.
It is hard to see it as anything more than a hollow gesture.
It will not free a single hostage, feed a starving family in Gaza, or stop Israel’s bombardment.
The PM knows this, his own deputy, David Lammy, has admitted it. The move smacks of politics at home, throwing red meat to Labour’s left rather than solving a decades-old conflict.
It hands Hamas a propaganda victory and enrages Israel, while doing nothing to bring the two sides closer to peace.
Worse, it drives a wedge with Washington, where Donald Trump has made clear the US will never follow Britain’s lead.
Without America, a two-state solution is dead on arrival and for all the lofty talk, Starmer’s “historic” move looks like empty grandstanding.
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Much of the Gaza strip has been decimated after nearly two years of bombardmentCredit: EPA
Video footage from the April 30 game shows Markwood falling headfirst over the railing above the Clemente Wall in right field. He appears to flip head over heals multiple times before landing on the warning track.
Play was stopped for several minutes as the training staffs for both teams tended to Markwood. He eventually was carted off and taken to Allegheny General Hospital in critical condition. According to “Inside Edition,” Markwood broke his back, neck, every rib and punctured a lung.
“I’m doing better than what I was, that’s for sure,” said Markwood, who was shown during the interview walking around outside PNC Park wearing a cast on his left forearm.
Markwood told “Inside Edition” that he had jumped out of his seat to cheer and came down awkwardly on the railing and careened off of it. Although Pittsburgh Public Safety has labeled the incident an accident, 21-year-old McKeesport resident Ethan Kirkwood has been arrested for allegedly providing alcohol to Markwood at the game.
Kirkwood faces two misdemeanor counts of furnishing alcohol to a minor and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Sept. 29. A police report viewed by WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh indicates that Markwood’s girlfriend told police that he hadn’t had anything to drink before arriving to the stadium and had two beers while there.
“I feel terrible because it wasn’t his fault,” Markwood said of Kirkwood, who can be seen on the footage from the accident climbing over the railing from a section closer to field level and jumping onto the ground to help his friend.
Markwood added that alcohol had nothing to do with what happened. It was, he said, “a tragic accident.”
“The matter has been addressed by the club and there is no further action from the league,” NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said in a statement emailed to The Times on Thursday.
A Ravens spokesperson said in a statement emailed to The Times on Thursday that the situation had been handled internally.
“Our players’ safety is of the utmost importance,” the team spokesperson said. “We have spoken to Lamar, who understands the impact of the situation, about the incident.
“While we will keep internal matters private, we have implemented additional security protocols — both at home and on the road — to better protect our players and handle negative fan interactions moving forward.”
Jackson and Hopkins were celebrating with teammates after they hooked up for a 29-yard touchdown reception late in the third quarter to give the Ravens a 34-19 lead. The players exited the back of the end zone and ended up near stands, where a male fan reached out and slapped Hopkins and Jackson on their helmets.
Jackson gave the fan a hard shove with both hands. While the fan was ejected from the game, and later indefinitely banned from all NFL stadiums, Jackson was not disciplined during the game.
The two-time league MVP later expressed regret for his actions.
“I seen him slap D-Hop … and he slapped me and he talking, so you know I just forgot where I was for a little bit,” Jackson told reporters after the Ravens’ 41-40 loss to the Bills. “But you got to think in those situations. You have security out there. Let security handle it. But I just let my emotions get the best of me. Hopefully, it don’t happen again. I learned from that.”
Addressing reporters the next day, Ravens coach John Harbaugh expressed support for his quarterback.
“Lamar’s down there celebrating a touchdown with his teammates just like you’re supposed to do,” Harbaugh said. “You talk about celebration and we want our guys to celebrate with one another. That’s the whole idea. I guess I didn’t know you’re not allowed to go close to the stands to do that without being attacked by a fan. …
“It’s unfortunate that you should even be in that situation. I don’t know how any of us would respond in that moment. I think it would be something where we probably would be thinking about protecting ourselves. I do think that. We have to understand that. You can always say, ‘Hey, I’d like to handle that a little better.’ But that’s a surprise when that happens in that moment, I think, for anybody.”
Carmen said: “I am the mum that waits till the very last minute to go and pick the kids up.
“I can’t deal with people.
Claiming she ‘hated everyone,’ Carmen said she avoided mum groups as much as possible.
She continued: “I don’t like those mums that are standing in a f**king group, stuck up their own b**holes wearing DryRobes.”
Carmen also joked that they all stank in their oversized rain coats.
“I just take my car. So I don’t have to speak to people,” she added.
It seemed that the mum’s vent on clicky school mums was something many others could relate to.
The video went viral on her TikTok account @carmslouise97 with over 1 million views and 77k likes.
I stormed into school when my kid was put into isolation for a piercing – I’m still keeping her off & it’s divided many
Plenty of people took to the comments agreeing with her statement and revealed they did the exact same thing.
One person wrote: “Omg the dry robes is TRUE.”
Another commented: “For 3 months I pretended I didn’t speak English.”
“I am the mum that pays for breakfast and afterschool club to avoid people and all those mums you speak of,” penned a third.
What to wear on the school run
PTA Chairwoman Emma Kent’s School Run Style Tips:
Avoid the Gym Gear Trap:
Change out of workout clothes for the afternoon pick-up to avoid looking lazy or unhygienic.
Leave Pyjamas at Home:
Never turn up at school in pyjamas as it suggests a lack of effort and can lead to unflattering labels.
Be Cautious with Bold Fashion Choices:
Avoid leopard-print leggings and mixing boho pieces with animal print. Stick to styles that suit you best.
Carry an Emergency Kit:
Keep a spare top or nice jacket in the car for unexpected spills or stains, and oversized sunglasses to hide tired eyes.
Embrace Bargains:
Proudly share thrift finds but avoid second-hand pyjamas or swimsuits without hygiene stickers.
Don’t Be a Copycat:
Avoid copying another mum’s style too closely to prevent gossip. Praise the other mum’s taste if it happens accidentally.
Dress Age-Appropriately:
Avoid overly revealing outfits and stick to classy, not trashy, looks, especially if over 35.
Always Wear a Bra:
Ensure you’re wearing a bra to avoid awkward conversations with teachers and unwanted attention.
Choose Jeans Carefully:
Avoid low-slung skinny jeans that create a muffin top. Opt for mom jeans for a flattering and comfortable fit.
Beware of School Gate Gossips:
Avoid showing up in scruffy clothing or with wet hair as there are always mums at the gates who will notice.
Brag About Your Bag:
Use a stylish yet practical tote bag instead of a bag for life from a supermarket.
Ditch Crocs and Socks:
Avoid pairing Crocs with socks. Opt for versatile Chelsea boots for a stylish and comfortable look.
Meanwhile a fourth said: “It’s funny cus I wear my dry robe but also my head phones and sunglasses so nobody can approach me, I can’t see or hear you huns.”
“Same! Cannot stand playground politics,” claimed a fifth.
Someone else added: “I’ve been a school run mum for a few months now and it’s horrible.”
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson expressed regret Sunday night for shoving a Buffalo Bills fan in the stands after the fan had slapped the helmets of Jackson and teammate DeAndre Hopkins as they celebrated a touchdown next to the stands at Highmark Stadium in upstate New York.
“I seen him slap D-Hop … and he slapped me and he talking, so you know I just forgot where I was for a little bit,” Jackson told reporters following the Ravens’ surprising 41-40 loss to the Bills on “Sunday Night Football”.
“But you got to think in those situations. You have security out there. Let security handle it. But I just let my emotions get the best of me. Hopefully, it don’t happen again. I learned from that.”
In a matchup between the two most recent NFL MVPs — Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen in 2024 and Jackson in 2023 — Hopkins made a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch late in the third quarter to give the Ravens a 34-19 lead. Hopkins and Jackson were among a number of Baltimore players who exited the back of the end zone to celebrate the score.
As several of those players walked past the stands, a fan reached out and slapped Hopkins on the helmet, then did the same to Jackson. The four-time Pro Bowl player, who also won the league’s MVP award in 2019, responded by shoving the fan hard with both hands, which knocked the fan backward.
The Bills reported that the fan was ejected from the game. Jackson was not disciplined during the game. The Times reached out to the NFL and the Ravens about whether Jackson might face any discipline for his role in the incident and did not receive immediate responses.
While he regrets his actions in this instance, Jackson told reporters he doesn’t see the need to stop celebrating so close to opposing fans.
“I’ve never seen our fans do that, so I’ll probably do it again [when] we score a touchdown,” Jackson said. “But it’s nothing against the fans, you know? I’m just celebrating my teammate scoring a touchdown.”
There wasn’t any celebrating to be had by the Ravens at the end of the game, however, after they squandered a 40-25 lead in the final four minutes. Allen capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Keon Coleman to pull the Bills to within eight.
Two plays later, Baltimore running back Derrick Henry, who rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns, fumbled the ball away to give Buffalo possession on the Ravens’ 30. The Bills scored on a 1-yard Allen run but missed on the two-point conversion to trail 40-38 with 1:58 remaining.
The Ravens went three and out on the next possession, and the Bills drove 66 yards in nine plays to set up a 32-yard, game-winning field goal by Matt Prater as time expired.
This screengrab taken from AFPTV shows Ryan Wesley Routh at a protest supporting Ukraine in April 2022.
This week, a man accused in an alleged plot to assassinate President Donald Trump last September will stand trial in Florida.
The incident, which occurred just weeks after a bullet grazed Trump’s ear in another assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, further underscored political violence in the US. Both incidents prompted intense scrutiny of the US Secret Service and its ability to protect high-profile candidates like Trump.
The suspect at the heart of this case, Ryan Wesley Routh, will represent himself in what could become an unorthodox trial. He has pleaded not guilty.
Routh, 59, is a North Carolina native but lived in Hawaii prior to the alleged assassination attempt. He has a previous criminal history and was a supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia.
Here’s what you need to know about the case.
What do prosecutors allege Routh did?
The incident occurred on 15 September 2024, as Trump was campaigning to retake the White House.
According to court documents, President Trump was golfing at his club in West Palm Beach, Florida when a US Secret Service agent spotted a man’s face in the bushes at the property’s perimeter. The man was later identified as Routh.
Routh fired on the agent, federal prosecutors say, and a witness saw him running across the road back to a black Nissan Xterra. Local law enforcement apprehended him later on Interstate 95.
Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation found an SKS semiautomatic rifle with a scope and extended magazine in the area where Routh had been hiding.
They also found documents with a list of events where Trump had appeared, or was expected to appear, in the coming months. According to law enforcement, another witness said that Routh had left a box at his home months before that included a note, reading in part, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you.”
Trump was playing golf at the time, but did not come into contact with Routh.
What charges does he face?
The government has charged Routh with attempted assassination of a presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, assaulting a federal officer, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Routh pleaded not guilty to the charges last year. He has been held in jail in Florida while awaiting trial.
When is the trial?
Routh’s trial begins on Monday, 8 September at a federal courthouse in Fort Pierce, Florida.
It will begin with jury selection, before moving on to opening statements.
The trial will be held in the same federal courthouse where President Trump himself faced charges for allegedly retaining classified documents from his first term in the White House. That case ultimately ended after Trump was re-elected.
Judge Aileen Cannon, who oversaw Trump’s case and ultimately dismissed it, will also preside over Routh’s trial. Trump appointed Judge Cannon to the federal bench in his first term.
Lawmakers in Missouri are the latest to try to draw a new U.S. House map for the 2026 election that could improve the Republican Party’s numbers in Congress.
It’s a trend that began in Texas, at the behest of President Trump, to try to keep GOP control of the House next year. California Democrats responded with their own map to help their party, though it still requires voter approval.
Redistricting typically occurs once a decade, immediately after a census. But in some states, there is no prohibition on a mid-cycle map makeover. The U.S. Supreme Court also has said there is no federal prohibition on political gerrymandering, in which districts are intentionally drawn to one party’s advantage.
Nationally, Democrats need to gain three seats next year to take control of the House. The party of the president typically loses seats in the midterm congressional elections.
Here is a rundown of what states are doing.
Missouri lawmakers hold a special session
A special session called by Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe began Wednesday and will run at least a week.
Missouri is represented in the U.S House by six Republicans and two Democrats.
A revised map proposed by Kehoe would give Republicans a better chance at winning the seat held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver by stretching the Kansas City-based district into rural Republican-leaning areas.
Although Democrats could filibuster in the Senate, Republicans could use procedural maneuvers to shut that down and pass the new map.
Texas Democrats walked out but Republicans prevailed
Democratic state House members left Texas for two weeks to scuttle a special session on redistricting by preventing a quorum needed to do business. But after that session ended, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott quickly called another one — and Democrats returned, satisfied that they had made their point and that California was proceeding with a counterplan.
Republicans hold 25 of the 38 congressional seats in Texas. A revised map passed Aug. 23 is intended to give Republicans a shot at picking up five additional seats in next year’s elections. Abbott’s signature made the map final.
California Democrats seek to counter Texas
Democrats already hold 43 of the 52 congressional seats in California. The Legislature passed a revised map passed Aug. 21 aimed at giving Democrats a chance to gain five additional seats in the 2026 elections.
Unlike Texas, California has an independent citizens’ commission that handles redistricting after the census, so any changes to the map need approval from voters. A referendum is scheduled for Nov. 4.
Indiana Republicans meet with Trump about redistricting
Indiana’s Republican legislative leaders met privately with Trump to discuss redistricting while in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 26. Some also met with Vice President JD Vance.
Several Indiana legislators came out in support of a mid-cycle map change following the meetings. But others have expressed hesitation. It remains unclear if Indiana lawmakers will hold a special session on redistricting.
Republicans hold a 7-2 edge over Democrats in Indiana’s congressional delegation.
Louisiana Republicans looking at times for a special session
Louisiana lawmakers are being told to keep their calendars open between Oct. 23 and Nov. 13. The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments Oct. 15 over a challenge to the state’s congressional map.
Republican state Rep. Gerald “Beau” Beaullieu, who chairs a House committee that oversees redistricting, said the idea is to have lawmakers available to come back to work in case the Supreme Court issues a ruling quickly.
Republicans now hold four of Louisiana’s six congressional seats.
Ohio must redraw its maps before the 2026 midterms
Because of the way its current districts were enacted, the state Constitution requires Republican-led Ohio to adopt new House maps before the 2026 elections. Ohio Democrats are bracing for Republicans to try to expand their 10-5 congressional majority.
Democrats don’t have much power to stop it. But “we will fight, we will organize, we will make noise at every step of the process,” Ohio Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Clyde said.
New York Democrats try to change state law
New York, similar to California, has an independent commission that redraws districts after every census.
State Democrats have introduced legislation to allow mid-decade redistricting, but the soonest new maps could be in place would be for the 2028 elections. That is because the proposal would require an amendment to the state Constitution, a change that would have to pass the Legislature twice and be approved by voters.
Maryland Democrats planning a response to Texas
Democratic state Sen. Clarence Lam has announced he is filing redistricting legislation for consideration during the 2026 session. Democratic House Majority Leader David Moon also said he would sponsor legislation triggering redistricting in Maryland if any state conducted mid-decade redistricting. Democrats control seven of Maryland’s eight congressional seats.
Florida’s governor pledges support for redistricting
Florida Republican state House Speaker Daniel Perez said his chamber will take up redistricting through a special committee. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has reiterated his support for the state to join the redistricting fray, calling on the federal government to conduct a new census count and claiming that the Trump administration should “award” the state another congressional seat.
Twenty of Florida’s 28 U.S. House seats are occupied by Republicans.
Kansas Republicans haven’t ruled out redistricting
Republican state Senate President Ty Masterson didn’t rule out trying to redraw the state’s four congressional districts, one of which is held by the state’s sole Democratic representative. The Legislature’s GOP supermajority could do so early next year.
A court orders Utah to redraw its districts
Utah Republicans hold all four of the state’s U.S. House seats under a map the GOP-led Legislature approved after the 2020 census. But a judge ruled Aug. 25 that the map was unlawful because the Legislature had circumvented an independent redistricting commission that was established by voters to ensure districts don’t deliberately favor one party.
The judge gave lawmakers until Sept. 24 to adopt a map, which could increase Democrats’ chances of winning a seat.
Former England rugby player Heather Fisher speaks to BBC Sport’s Elizabeth Conway about her experiences of having alopecia and being a bald woman with muscles.
HERMOSILLO, Mexico — A judge in Mexico said boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. will stand trial over alleged cartel ties and arms trafficking but could await that trial outside of detention, the boxer’s lawyer said.
Chávez’s lawyer, Rubén Fernando Benítez Alvarez, confirmed that the court imposed additional measures and granted three months of further investigation into the case. He described the claims against his client as “speculation” and “urban legends” following the court hearing Saturday in the northern Mexican city of Hermosillo.
If convicted, Chávez — who took part in the hearing virtually from a detention facility — could face a prison sentence of four to eight years, Alvarez said.
Chávez, 39, who had been living in the United States for several years, was arrested in early July by federal agents outside his Los Angeles home, accused of overstaying his visa and providing inaccurate details on an application to obtain a green card. The arrest came just days after a fight he had with famed American boxer Jake Paul in Los Angeles.
Since 2019, Mexican prosecutors have been investigating the boxer following a complaint filed by U.S. authorities against the Sinaloa cartel for organized crime, human trafficking, arms trafficking and drug trafficking.
The case led to investigations against 13 people, among them Ovidio Guzmán López — the son of convicted drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán — along with some alleged collaborators, hit men and accomplices of the criminal organization. Guzmán López was arrested in January 2023 and extradited to the U.S. eight months later.
Following the inquiry, the federal attorney general’s office issued several arrest warrants, including one for Chávez.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that Chávez was wanted since 2023 in Mexico but that he wasn’t detained because he spent most of the time in the U.S.
“The hope is that he will be deported and serve the sentence in Mexico,” Sheinbaum said in July.
The boxer, who is the son of Mexican boxing great Julio César Chávez, was deported by the U.S. on Tuesday and handed over to agents of the federal attorney general’s office in Sonora state, who transferred him to the Federal Social Reintegration Center in Hermosillo.
The high-profile case comes as the Trump administration is pressuring Mexico to crack down on organized crime, canceling visas of notable Mexican artists and celebrities and ramping up deportations.
Chávez has struggled with drug addiction throughout his career and has been arrested multiple times. In 2012, he was found guilty of driving under the influence in Los Angeles and was sentenced to 13 days in jail.
He was arrested last year on suspicion of weapons possession. Police reported that Chávez had two rifles. He was released shortly afterward upon posting $50,000 bail, on the condition that he attend a facility to receive treatment for his addiction.
EXCLUSIVE: Mark Wolters, who runs the successful YouTube channel Wolters World, explained that he felt compelled to provide “honest” advice to travellers after seeing numerous “misleading” blogs and videos
Mark Wolters runs the successful YouTube channel Wolters World(Image: Wolters World/YouTube)
He explained that he was driven to create his videos after noticing many “misleading” blogs and felt it “wasn’t right” for families to “waste their hard earned vacation time”. He previously shared the “least friendly” country he’s visited for tourists. But, in an exclusive interview, he had no hesitation in naming his five favourite countries by continent.
Brazil
Rio de Janeiro city view with Christ the Redeemer Statue(Image: Pintai Suchachaisri via Getty Images)
Mark explained: “My favorite place to visit in South America is Brazil. I lived there and have family there and it is just such a wonderful place with the food, the nature, and the crazy fun times you can have there.”
Brazil is the largest country in South America and one of the world’s biggest democracies. It boasts diverse landscapes including the Amazon, the world’s largest jungle, and is synonymous with world-class football, being the home of Pelé.
The nation boasts an incredible diversity of wildlife, featuring a staggering 600 mammal species. Rio de Janeiro (pictured above) ranks among its most sought-after tourist hotspots.
France
Paris cityscape with Eiffel Tower in the distance (Image: Alexander Spatari via Getty Images)
Mark revealed: “In Europe, it is a toss up between France and Italy. They both have great food and if you speak a bit of the local language you can make so many friends there. So I can never pass up going to either of them.”
Famous for its cuisine and culture, France stands as a significant force globally and maintains membership in NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation). Located in Western Europe, it shares borders with Germany, Belgium, Italy and Spain.
Boasting legendary sites including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum, and the Arc de Triomphe, France serves as a European cultural capital and an enormously popular holiday destination.
Italy
Buildings reflected along the Grand Canal in Venice(Image: Gary Yeowell via Getty Images)
A major attraction for visitors and amongst Mark’s top picks, Italy represents another country celebrated for its gastronomy and heritage. Many of history’s most famous artistic figures originated from Italy, including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Caravaggio.
This Southern European country also houses some of the globe’s most recognised monuments, including the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and the Roman Forum. Beyond the capital, Rome, holidaymakers flock to other remarkable destinations like the stunning cities of Venice and Florence.
Rwanda
Mount Karisimbi in Musanze, Rwanda(Image: Ari Beser via Getty Images)
Mark explained: “In Africa we love visiting Rwanda. It was such an incredible adventure when we visited the first time. We fell in love with it.”
Rwanda, a landlocked nation in East Africa, is known as the “land of a thousand hills”. It’s a small yet densely populated country that borders Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Home to the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups, Rwanda boasts rainforests, majestic mountains, volcanoes, and even the endangered mountain gorilla.
China
The Great Wall of China(Image: zhaojiankang via Getty Images)
Mark said: “In Asia, I think my wife would say Japan, but I loved teaching and traveling in China. So much history and so much food!
China, one of the world’s most populous nations and a leading industrial powerhouse, has a rich history spanning 4,000 years. The modern People’s Republic of China was established in 1949 following the Communist Revolution.
Tourists flock to see the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, and the Terracotta Army. Not to mention, it’s famously home to the Giant Panda.
European leaders have welcomed plans by United States President Donald Trump to hold talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on ending the war in Ukraine, but called for continued support for Kyiv and pressure on Moscow to achieve a just and lasting peace.
The statement by France, Italy, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom and the European Commission late on Saturday came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted that Kyiv will not surrender land to Russia to buy peace.
Trump, who has promised to end the three-year war, plans to meet Putin in Alaska on Friday, saying the parties were close to a deal that could resolve the conflict.
Details of a potential agreement have not been announced, but Trump said it would involve “some swapping of territories to the betterment of both”. It could require Ukraine to surrender significant parts of its territory, an outcome Zelenskyy and his European allies say would only encourage Russian aggression.
The European leaders, in their joint statement, stressed their belief that the only approach to end the war successfully required active diplomacy, support for Ukraine, as well as pressure on Russia.
They also said any diplomatic solution to the war must protect Ukraine’s and Europe’s security interests.
“We agree that these vital interests include the need for robust and credible security guarantees that enable Ukraine to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” they said, adding that “the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.”
The leaders said they were ready to help diplomatically and promised to maintain their “substantial military and financial support for Ukraine”.
“We underline our unwavering commitment to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” they said, adding: “We continue to stand firmly alongside Ukraine.”
Chevening talks
The statement came after US Vice President JD Vance met British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and representatives of Ukraine and European allies on Saturday at Chevening House, a country mansion southeast of London, to discuss Trump’s push for peace.
Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, who took part in the talks with European leaders and US officials, said Ukraine was grateful for their constructive approach.
“A ceasefire is necessary – but the front line is not a border,” Yermak said on X, reiterating Kyiv’s position that it will reject any territorial concessions to Russia.
Yermak also thanked Vance for “respecting all points of view” and his efforts towards a “reliable peace”.
The Reuters news agency, quoting a European official, said European representatives had put forward a counterproposal, while the Wall Street Journal said the document included demands that a ceasefire must take place before any other steps are taken. According to the Journal, the document also stated that any territorial exchange must be reciprocal, with firm security guarantees.
“You can’t start a process by ceding territory in the middle of fighting,” the newspaper quoted a European negotiator as saying.
There was no immediate comment from the White House on the European counterproposal.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron also spoke earlier in the day and promised to find a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine, pledging “unwavering support” for Zelenskyy while welcoming Trump’s efforts to end the fighting, according to a spokesperson for Downing Street.
Macron separately stressed the need for Ukraine to play a role in any negotiations.
“Ukraine’s future cannot be decided without the Ukrainians, who have been fighting for their freedom and security for over three years now,” he wrote on X after what he said were calls with Zelenskyy, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Starmer.
“Europeans will also necessarily be part of the solution, as their own security is at stake,” he added.
Trilateral meeting?
Meanwhile, Reuters and the NBC News broadcaster, quoting US officials, reported that Trump is open to a trilateral summit with Putin and Zelenskyy. But, for now, the White House is planning a bilateral meeting as requested by the Russian leader, they said.
The summit in Alaska, the far-north territory which Russia sold to the US in 1867, would be the first between sitting US and Russian presidents since Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva in June 2021.
Nine months after that meeting, Moscow sent troops into Ukraine.
Trump and Putin last sat together in 2019 at a G20 summit meeting in Japan, during Trump’s first term. They have spoken by telephone several times since January, but the US president has failed to broker peace in Ukraine as he promised he could.
Ukraine and the EU have meanwhile pushed back on peace proposals that they view as ceding too much to Putin, whose troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Russia justifies the war on the grounds of what it calls threats to its security from a Ukrainian pivot towards the West. Kyiv and its Western allies say the invasion is an imperial-style land grab.
Moscow has claimed four Ukrainian regions – Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson – as well as the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.
Russian forces do not fully control all the territory in the four regions, and Russia has demanded that Ukraine pull out its troops from the parts that it still controls.
Ukraine says its troops still have a small foothold in Russia’s Kursk region, a year after they crossed the border to try to gain leverage in any negotiations.
Russia said it had expelled Ukrainian troops from Kursk in April.
Fierce fighting meanwhile continues to rage along the more than 1,000-km (620-mile) front line in eastern and southern Ukraine, where Russian forces hold about a fifth of the country’s territory.
Russian troops are slowly advancing in Ukraine’s east, but their summer offensive has so far failed to achieve a major breakthrough, Ukrainian military analysts say.
Ukrainians remain defiant.
“Not a single serviceman will agree to cede territory, to pull out troops from Ukrainian territories,” Olesia Petritska, 51, told Reuters as she gestured to hundreds of small Ukrainian flags in the Kyiv central square commemorating fallen soldiers.
SIR JIM RATCLIFFE’S minority takeover at Manchester United was announced on Christmas Eve in 2023 – and a lot has happened at Old Trafford since…
December 2023 – Man Utd confirm Ratcliffe’s takeover on Christmas Eve, vowing to invest £245m into Old Trafford
January 2024 – Ratcliffe and right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford photographed meeting Erik ten Hag during tour of Carrington
January 2024 – Omar Berrada poached from Man City as new CEO
February 2024 – Ratcliffe’s £1billion, 27.7 per cent takeover officially completed
February 2024 – Former CEO Richard Arnold quits board as Ineos pair John Rees and Rob Nevin added
March 2024 – Ratcliffe bans words “awesome” and “lukewarm cappuccino” in bizarre move
March 2024 – Matt Johnson appointed head of women’s football
March 2024 – Ratcliffe announces plans to build “Wembley of the North” to replace Old Trafford
March 2024 – Man Utd NYSE share price drops to $13.73 on March 21 – down from $20.52 immediately after Ratcliffe takeover in December
April 2024 – Senior staff club credit cards and private cars cancelled
April 2024 – John Murtough quits as football director
April 2024 – Jason Wilcox appointed technical director after compensation package agreed with Southampton
May 2024 – Ratcliffe turns Carrington “toxic” after sending email to employees slamming “disgraceful” lack of cleanliness
May 2024 – Work finally starts on leaking Old Trafford roof
May 2024 – Man Utd finish eighth in Premier League, worst-ever finish
May 2024 – Ratcliffe gives employees just one week to decide if they want to accept redundancy
May 2024 – Staff forced to pay for own transport to FA Cup final and only given one ticket
May 2024 – Pre-match party and hotel for senior staff before FA Cup final axed
May 2024 – Man Utd shock rivals Man City to win FA Cup despite suggestions Erik ten Hag will be sacked regardless of result
June 2024 – Man Utd announce £50m plans to upgrade Carrington training ground
June 2024 – Ratcliffe introduces strict “back to work” policy forcing staff to come into office
June 2024 – Ratcliffe scores own goal with comments about women’s team
July 2024 – Man Utd finally agree deal to bring in Dan Ashworth as sporting director after four months of gardening leave at Newcastle, who received £3m in compensation
July 2024 – Erik ten Hag signs shock new contract extension until 2026
July 2024 – Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake appointed assistant managers, Andreas Georgson first-team coach and Jelle ten Rouwelaar goalkeeper coach. Darren Fletcher’s role changes from technical director to first-team coach. Steve McClaren, Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy depart.
July 2024 – Ex-Chelsea technical director Christopher Vivell joins on short-term basis as interim director of recruitment
July 2024 – Jean-Claude Blanc added to Man Utd board
July 2024 – Man Utd cut down number of staff on US pre-season tour to 125
July 2024 – Ratcliffe makes 250 redundancies including popular media man John Allen, historian Cliff Butler and kitman Alex Wylie
August 2024 – Man Utd splash out £199m in the summer transfer window
August 2024 – Matchday staff lunchboxes scrapped and some forced to eat beside toilet
October 2024 – Man Utd stop paying £2m-a-year ambassador salary to Sir Alex Ferguson
October 2024 – Staff Christmas party cancelled
October 2024 – “Back to work” policy costing Utd fortune to convert hospitality suites into temporary offices between home matches
October 2024 – Erik ten Hag sacked with club 14th in Premier League table, costing club £15m
November 2024 – Ruben Amorim appointed new Man Utd manager on deal until 2027 after stumping up £10m release clause
November 2024 – Coach Ruud van Nistelrooy axed by new manager Ruben Amorim
November 2024 – Man Utd chiefs locked in blame game over summer shambles including Erik ten Hag situation and transfer signings
November 2024 – Ratcliffe reportedly set to half £40,000 budget paid to Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association
December 2024 – Ratcliffe admits “mediocre” Man Utd “still in last century”
December 2024 – Fans protest after OAP and children concessions tickets ditched and minimum home ticket cost up to £66
December 2024 – Dan Ashworth sacked after five months as sporting director
December 2024 – £100 staff Christmas bonus ditched for £40 M&S voucher
December 2024 – Ceiling starts leaking during Ruben Amorim’s press conference after 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth
December 2024 – Reports of a mice infestation at Old Trafford as rodent droppings found in food kiosks and plush suites as food hygiene ratings drops to just two stars
December 2024 – SunSport reveals Ratcliffe cuts £40,000 funding donation to Association of Former Manchester United Players charity
“Thank you so much for showing up this morning,” Sharon Nicholls said into a megaphone at 8 a.m. Wednesday outside a Home Depot in Pasadena.
As of Friday afternoon, no federal agents had raided the store on East Walnut Street. But the citizen brigade that stands watch outside and patrols the parking lot in search of ICE agents has not let down its guard—especially not after raids at three other Home Depots in recent days despite federal court rulings limiting sweeps.
Steve Lopez
Steve Lopez is a California native who has been a Los Angeles Times columnist since 2001. He has won more than a dozen national journalism awards and is a four-time Pulitzer finalist.
About two dozen people gathered near the tent that serves as headquarters of the East Pasadena Community Defense Center. Another dozen or so would be arriving over the next half hour, some carrying signs.
“Silence is Violence”
“Migrants Don’t Party With Epstein”
Cynthia Lunine, 70, carried a large sign that read “Break His Dark Spell” and included a sinister image of President Trump. She said she was new to political activism, but added: “You can’t not be an activist. If you’re an American, it’s the only option. The immigration issue is absolutely inhumane, it’s un-Christian, and it’s intolerable.”
Anit-ICE activists march through the Home Depot in Pasadena on Aug. 6.
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
There are local supporters, for sure, of Trump’s immigration crackdown. Activists told me there aren’t many days in which they don’t field shouted profanities or pro-Trump cheers from Home Depot shoppers.
But the administration’s blather about a focus on violent offenders led to huge demonstrations in greater Los Angeles beginning in June, and the cause continues to draw people into the streets.
Dayena Campbell, 35, is a volunteer at Community Defense Corner operations in other parts of Pasadena, a movement that followed high-profile raids and was covered in the Colorado Boulevard newspaper and, later, in the New York Times. A fulltime student who works in sales, Campbell was also cruising the parking lot at the Home Depot on the east side of Pasadena in search of federal agents.
She thought this Home Depot needed its own Community Defense Corner, so she started one about a month ago. She and her cohort have more than once spotted agents in the area and alerted day laborers. About half have scattered, she said, and half have held firm despite the risk.
When I asked what motivated Campbell, she said:
“Inhumane, illegal kidnappings. Lack of due process. Actions taken without anyone being held accountable. Seeing people’s lives ripped apart. Seeing families being destroyed in the blink of an eye.”
Anywhere from a handful to a dozen volunteers show up daily to to hand out literature, patrol the parking lot and check in on day laborers, sometimes bringing them food. Once a week, Nicholls helps organize a rally that includes a march through the parking lot and into the store, where the protesters present a letter asking Home Depot management to “say no to ICE in their parking lot and in their store.”
Nicholls is an LAUSD teacher-librarian, and when she asks for support each week, working and retired teachers answer the call.
“I’m yelling my lungs out,” said retired teacher Mary Rose O’Leary, who joined in the chants of “ICE out of Home Depot” and “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here.”
Sharon Nicholls gets a hug of support from another protester outside the Home Depot in Pasadena.
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
“Immigrants are what make this city what it is … and the path to legal immigration is closed to everybody who doesn’t have what, $5 million or something?” O’Leary said, adding that she was motivated by “the Christian ideal of welcoming the stranger.”
Retired teacher Dan Murphy speaks Spanish and regularly checks in with day laborers.
“One guy said to me, ‘We’re just here to work.’ Some of the guys were like, ‘We’re not criminals … we’re just here … to make money and get by,’” Murphy said. He called the raids a flexing of “the violent arm of what autocracy can bring,” and he resents Trump’s focus on Southern California.
“I take it personally. I’m white, but these are my people. California is my people. And it bothers me what might happen in this country if people don’t stand firm … I just said, ‘I gotta do something.’ I’m doing this now so I don’t hate myself later.”
Nicholls told me she was an activist many years ago, and then turned her focus to work and raising a family. But the combination of wildfires, the cleanup and rebuilding, and the raids, brought her out of activism retirement.
“The first people to come out after the firefighters—the second-responders—were day laborers cleaning the streets,” Nicholls said. “You’d see them in orange shirts all over the city, cleaning up.”
The East Pasadena Home Depot is “an important store,” because it’s a supply center for the rebuilding of Altadena, “and we’re going out there to show our love and solidarity for our neighbors,” Nicholls said. To strike the fear of deportation in the hearts of workers, she said, is “inhumane, and to me, it’s morally wrong.”
Nicholls had a quick response when I asked what she thinks of those who say illegal is illegal, so what’s left to discuss?
“That blocks the complexity of the conversation,” she said, and doesn’t take into account the hunger and violence that drive migration. Her husband, she said, left El Salvador 35 years ago during a war funded in part by the U.S.
Pablo Alvarado, right, co-director of National Day Laborer Organizing Network, speaks to Anti-ICE protesters on Aug. 6.
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
They have family members with legal status and some who are undocumented and afraid to leave their homes, Nicholls said. I mentioned that I had written about Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, who was undocumented as a child, and has kept his passport handy since the raids began. In that column, I quoted Gordo’s friend, immigrant-rights leader Pablo Alvarado, director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.
“Full disclosure,” Nicholls said, “[Alvarado] is my husband.”
It was news to me.
When the raids began, Nicholls said, she told her husband, “I have the summer off, sweetie, but I want to help, and I’m going to call my friends.”
On Wednesday, after Nicholls welcomed demonstrators, Alvarado showed up for a pep talk.
“I have lived in this country since 1990 … and I love it as much as I love the small village where I came from in El Salvador,” Alvarado said. “Some people may say that we are going into fascism, into authoritarianism, and I would say that we are already there.”
He offered details of a raid that morning at a Home Depot in Westlake and said the question is not whether the Pasadena store will be raided, but when. This country readily accepts the labor of immigrants but it does not respect their humanity, Alvarado said.
“When humble people are attacked,” he said, “we are here to bear witness.”
Nicholls led demonstrators through the parking lot and into the store, where she read aloud the letter asking Home Depot to take a stand against raids.
Outside, where it was hot and steamy by mid-morning, several sun-blasted day laborers said they appreciated the support. But they were still fearful, and desperate for work.
Jorge, just shy of 70, practically begged me to take his phone number.
Brazil’s former president is under house arrest after the country’s Supreme Court found Jair Bolsonaro had violated social media and political messaging rules. Now on trial for an alleged coup attempt, United States President Donald Trump has called Bolsonaro’s prosecution a “witch hunt” and hit Brazil with 50 percent tariffs, an interference President Lula calls a breach of national sovereignty.
A neon green sex toy was thrown from the stands and landed on the court during the second quarter of Tuesday night’s Sparks win over the Indiana Fever at Crypto.com Arena.
With 2:05 remaining in the first half, the sex toy landed in the paint near Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who recoiled before Sparks guard Kelsey Plum kicked the object off the hardwood.
Spectators at Crypto.com Arena responded with boos, many turning toward the sections behind the basket closest to the Sparks bench where the sex toy appeared to have been thrown from. Security rushed into the stands in an apparent attempt to identify who was responsible.
“I think it’s ridiculous, it’s dumb, it’s stupid,” Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said. “It’s also dangerous and players’ safety is number one. Respecting the game. All those things. I think it’s really stupid.”
Cunningham, who was seen laughing as she walked toward the Sparks’ bench after the sex toy landed, had previously expressed concern about the trend on social media, saying that it’s “going to hurt one of us.” After Tuesday’s game, she shared that X post with the caption: “this did NOT age well.”
The game continued without interruption, but the incident added to a growing list of cases where fans have thrown inappropriate objects toward the court during WNBA games.
“We did a great job, Indiana included, just playing it off,” Plum said. “Just don’t give it any attention. And the refs — I appreciated them too — just like, ‘Hey, let’s go.’ ”
Tuesday’s incident in Los Angeles was at least the fourth time in less than two weeks that a sex toy has been thrown toward the court during a league game. On Friday in Chicago, a sex toy was tossed under the basket during a play that was stopped. On July 30, a green sex toy landed near the court and bounced forward during a Dream game in Atlanta — an incident that resulted in a fan’s arrest and one-year ban from WNBA arenas.
A fan posted on social media that a green sex toy was tossed toward the court during the Dallas Wings at New York Liberty game Tuesday night, landing in the stands and nearly hitting a child. A similar incident has been reported in Phoenix, where the toy did not reach the court.
The WNBA released a statement emphasizing that throwing objects into the court area is a violation of league policy and local laws.
“The safety and well-being of everyone in our arenas is a top priority for our league. Objects of any kind thrown onto the court or in the seating area can pose a safety risk for players, game officials, and fans,” the league statement read. “In line with WNBA Arena Security Standards, any fan who intentionally throws an object onto the court will be immediately ejected and face a minimum one-year ban in addition to being subject to arrest and prosecution by local authorities.”
On Tuesday, no announcement was made indicating whether the individual who threw the sex toy at Crypto.com Arena was located or ejected.
