stop

Having done more than most to step into the boots of talisman Gareth Bale, Harry Wilson still has time on his side.

The forward, who has scored 17 international goals, will be 31 when the Euros come around and there is no real reason why he cannot build on the brilliant form he has shown this season.

With Wilson being tipped to leave Fulham at the end of his contract this summer, Wales and Bellamy will cross fingers he picks the right club from what is expected to be a lengthy list of suitors.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney recently suggested Wilson fitted Fulham perfectly and wondered whether he would get lost at one of the Premier League’s top clubs.

It would be natural for Liverpool academy graduate Wilson to want to test himself at the highest level possible, but Wales will certainly want to feel the benefit of him being a certain starter with his club side.

Where Harry heads might well be significant.

“Nobody can stop the war in our region in the Gulf but you.” Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has called on Trump to end the war on Iran, saying Washington holds decisive influence.

However, as the sport continues to grow and reach new audiences, we are seeing differing takes on what it is to be fan.

There are many who support a top-tier side and also a local team further down the footballing pyramid.

Many fans also keep a close eye on a chosen team from another major European league. Then there are those who prefer certain players to clubs and so might switch who they support based on a transfer. This could be compared to those who might follow a Formula 1 driver and so would focus on whichever team they were currently driving for.

Yet for those who consider themselves football purists there can only ever be space in their heart for one team.

But ironically for Manchester United fan Steve it is a full heart that is central to why he turned his back on the club he had supported for decades – Manchester United.

“My first game was in 1978, at home against Spurs. Most of my family are [Manchester] City fans but all my friends supported United, so I had to choose between being popular at home or at school,” he says.

“In the end I choose school because I didn’t want to be bullied.”

Steve eventually became a season ticket holder and says he did not miss a match for 47 years. All that changed on 24 May 2017 when Manchester United beat Ajax 2-0 in Stockholm.

“We were so lucky as United fans going through the [Sir Alex] Ferguson era, chasing titles and then building on that and trying to get to the next level of winning European trophies,” Steve says.

“I’d seen them win every single trophy, FA Cups in the 70s and 80s, the Cup Winners Cup in ’91, Premier League titles and, of course, the Champions League in 1999.

“I always said that if United won the Europa League – the only trophy I’d never seen them win – I’d pack it in. So when they did that night in Sweden, it felt like the last piece of the jigsaw had been completed.

“When you finish a jigsaw you can either look at it and enjoy, or you can smash it up and start again. I didn’t want to start again.”

Some people prefer a laid back comedy, while others look for a psychological thriller that keeps them on the edge of their seats – but these 10 shows are tried and tested

When it comes to watching TV, everyone has different opinions on what they like to watch. Some people prefer a laid back comedy, while others look for a psychological thriller that keeps them on the edge of their seats.

But there are some cult classics that hundreds of thousands of people watch, and rewatch, that bring joy, excitement and nostalgia. One Reddit user posed in the R/AskReddit community to ask members what their favourite TV show of all time was.

The post said: “What’s a TV series you’ll never get tired of recommending to someone?” Hundereds of people were quick to hail their 10 favourite TV shows, with some being aired for the first time in 2002.

1. The Wire, 2002

The Wire was aired on HBO between 2002 and 2008 and looks at the narcotics scene in Baltimore through the eyes of police, as well as the drug dealers and users.

The show was created by former police reporter David Simon, who also wrote many of the episodes, and has a huge 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

One person commented: “I was advocating for someone I know to watch it about four hours ago. I had to share, to someone who works in a bureaucracy, the line ‘There you go Jimmy…Givin’ a f***, when it ain’t your turn to give a f***’. Masterpiece of a show.”

A second said: “So I just watched this cause everyone raves about it. And I liked it, but it felt really forced in season 5.”

The Wire can be watched on HBO Max.

2. The Good Place, 2016

The Good Place was first aired on NBC in 2016 and follows four people who enter the afterlife after dying on earth. Eleanor Shellstrop [Kristen Bell] is both relieved and surprised that she’s made it into the Good Place.

But it doesn’t take long for her to realize she’s there by mistake, and is forced to hide in plain sight. The show has a huge 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is a firm favourite by TV fans.

One person said: “One of the most perfect shows ever made, imo. From start to finish.”

A second said: “I recommend this show to my mom and I regret it LOL. she watches it everyday. AND I mean everyday. She will just keep watching it and not get tired of it.”

The Good Place can be watched on Netflix.

3. Dark, 2017

Dark was first aired on Netflix in 2017 and follows two families searching for answers when their children go missing in a small German town. A sinful past is exposed along with the double lives and fractured relationships that exist among four families as they search for the kids.

The mystery-drama series introduces an intricate puzzle filled with twists that includes a web of curious characters, all of whom have a connection to the town’s troubled history.

The series has a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and can be watched in Netflix.

One person said: “Dark was incredibly fine-tuned. I had found a chart online to help with family connections and time jumps.”

A second said: “Truly a 10/10 show. Still sad 1899 didn’t get the full run it deserved.”

4. Arrested Development, 2003

Arrested Development was first aired on Fox in 2003, and follows the Bluth family. Michael Bluth finds himself forced to stay in Orange County and run the family real estate business after his father, George Bluth Sr, is sent to prison for committing white-collar crime.

He tries to juggle the wants and needs of his spoiled and eccentric family while being a good role model for his teenage son, George Michael.

The series, which has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 75%, is known for having a reboot after season three, which did not go down as well as the first three seasons of the programme.

One person said: “Arrested Development (Seasons 1-3 too afraid to watch reboot so never did).”

A second person said: “Arrested Development is mine for sure. I don’t think there has ever been a funnier show on television.”

You can watch Arrested Development on Netflix and Disney+.

5. The Expanse, 2015

The Expanse was first aired on Syfy channel in 2015, and takes viewers hundreds of years into the future. Things are much different than what humanity is used to after humans have colonized the solar system and Mars has become an independent military power.

She show follows rising tensions between Earth and Mars that have put them on the brink of war. The show has a massive 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many people singing its praises.

One person said: “Such a great show. One of the only good things Bezos has done in his life is paying to finish that show.”

A second said: “Excellent show! You gotta check out.”

The Expanse can be watched on Prime Video.

6. Parks and Recreation, 2009

The comedy was first aired on NBC in 2009 and follows the Indiana Parks and Recreation Department as they deal with oafish bureaucrats, selfish neighbours, governmental red tape and a myriad of other challenges.

The show is known as an easy to watch cult classic, and has a massive 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

One person said: “The first show my wife and I binged when we first started dating. We ended up finishing our wedding vowels with “I love you and I like you” and engraving it on our wedding rings.”

A second said: “Way better than the office in my opinion.”

Parks and Recreation on Sky.

7. Psych, 2006

The Comedy, Crime and Mystery & Thriller was first aired on USA network in 2006, and follows Shawn Spencer as he happens to possess some uncanny powers of observation thanks to his father, Henry, a former police officer who taught his son to remember even the smallest details of his surroundings.

When Shawn is accused of committing a crime that he actually solved, he convinces the cops that he’s a psychic. The show has an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and ran for 8 seasons.

One person said: “Psych was an incredible mix of humor, intrigue, creative writing and stupidity. I loved every second of it.”

A second said: “Episodic shows have so much rewatchability. Need to sit for 40 minutes? Watch an episode. Doesn’t matter which, they’re all self contained. Serial shows you can’t watch a random episode because you may not remember what’s going on.”

Psych can be bought on Prime and Apple TV.

8. Ted Lasso, 2020

Ted Lasso was first released on Apple TV in 2020 and follows an American football coach who is hired to manage a British soccer team.

What he lacks in knowledge, he makes up for in optimism, determination and biscuits. This comedy/drama is an easy watch, and features some big stars such as Hannah Waddingham, Jason Sudeikis and Nick Mohammed.

The show has a 90% rating on Rotton Tomatoes, and you don’t need to enjoy football to watch the show.

One person said: “I’m not even a fan of Soccer or most sports, but this show may be the most Wholesome, Down to Earth show I’ve ever seen. For anyone who hasn’t seen it, Soccer & sports is only about 5% of the show. The other 95% is behind the scenes, character development, comedy, and straight up genuine wholesomeness.”

A second said: “Idk if I’d even say it’s 5%, the soccer thing is all just backdrop really for some incredible character development.”

Ted Lasso can be watched on Apple TV.

9. Fleabag, 2016

Fleabag was first aired on BBC Tree in 2016 and follows a dry-witted woman, known only as Fleabag, as she navigates life and love in London while trying to cope with tragedy. The angry, grief-riddled woman tries to heal while rejecting anyone who tries to help her.

The show has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is known for its depth and dark comedy.

One person said: “Kind of dark to be fair. More raunchy than dark to me really. But it’s amazing, so I agree on the brilliance. Olivia Coleman may be my favourite British actresses of all time, even if she has been around the station a few times.”

A second said: “Season 2 is as close to perfection as any show will ever get.”

Fleabag can be watched on Prime Video, Sky and BBC iPlayer.

10. Brooklyn Nine-Nine, 2013

Brooklyn Nine-Nine was first aired on Fox in 2013 before moving to NBC for the final three seasons. The show follows the team of detectives at Brooklyn’s 99th Precinct – made up a loveable and offbeat squad that must get its act together when the office gets a new captain.

The show has a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many describing the show as “hilarious”.

One person said: “My wife made me watch it and I was hooked from the first episode.”

A second said: “I have to admit, this was recommended many times and when I saw bits and pieces I really hated it. Then I gave it a chance, now I’m at season 5, so many hilarious bits.”

Brooklyn Nine-Nine can be watched on Netflix.

Iran is accusing the U.S. of dropping anti-tank landmines in an area near one of its underground missile facilities (often referred to as missile cities) that it claims killed several people. While we cannot independently verify the provenance of the images provided by Iranian media or the casualty claims, the use of these munitions would make sense. Despite an intense bombing campaign against Iran’s missiles and launch sites, the Islamic Republic is still firing these weapons at targets across the Middle East. A highly-targeted area-denial campaign around specific missile facilities using mines could help reduce that threat.

The accusation about the landmines came Thursday morning in the form of social media posts by Iran’s official Tasnim news agency.

“These explosive packages resemble ready-made canned food, are somewhat larger than tuna cans, and contain explosives that detonate after being opened, causing casualties,” Tasnim wrote on Telegram. “These packages have been dropped in the skies over the southern suburbs of Shiraz, especially in the village of Kafari, and unfortunately have caused the martyrdom of several people in these areas.”

The Tasnim posts included several pictures of what appear to be BLU-91/B scatterable anti-tank landmines.

.

In its story about the landmines, the Bellingcat open source investigations collective geolocated some to the village of Kafari, Iran…,” the organization stated, citing a video from Canadian lawyer and activist Dimitri Lascaris, who is in Shiraz. 

“This video shows at least three mines approximately two kilometres away from the entrance to what is reported to be Shiraz South Missile Base, an Iranian ‘missile city,’” Bellingcat added. The video shows several of the mines scattered in a village.

In Major Escalation, Epstein Regime Rains Electro-Magnetic Mines Down On Iranian Village

“The US is the only participant in the war known to possess these mines,” Bellingcat posited. “They were developed after the US stopped supplying arms to Iran. A review of Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI) Arms Transfer Database, and US Major Arms Sales does not show any transfers of these mines to Israel.”

We cannot independently verify the origin of the mines seen in the video, but it seems unlikely that Iranians would have access to them. Still, it is possible they did, or have produced dummies or clones, and placed them there for propaganda value. U.S. Central Command declined to say if these mines are being used during Epic Fury.

Iran has been able to preserve a number of its missile launchers, which could involve moving them in and out of underground facilities like the one near Shiraz or hiding them elsewhere in the area and moving them to designated launch points. This is occurring even after these facilities have been repeatedly bombed. These aerial attacks have focused on keeping their entrances caved in. These strikes are on top of the vast, resource-consuming interdiction effort to hunt for and strike launchers that are exposed. So, continued launches from these areas would be a major reason why resorting to deploying anti-tank mines there makes sense and would have a high military value.

Designed to attack tanks and trucks, the mines could destroy or disable the launchers and likely the payloads they carry. They could also make roads to and around the underground missile cities unpassable. Even limiting where the launchers could go within these areas could make them more vulnerable.

The mines are part of the Gator family of systems that includes the air-delivered BLU-91/B and a companion anti-personnel type (BLU-92/B). Different mixes of the mines can be loaded with several types of bomb-like air-dropped dispensers, which break open after release to disperse their payloads over a targeted area.

Each mine and dispenser combination has its own designation. Cluster munitions loaded with Gator mines can be employed by many of the U.S. combat aircraft known to be taking part in Operation Epic Fury today, including bombers. The last known combat employment of Gator mines appears to have been during the Gulf War in 1991. There were unconfirmed reports of Gator use in the opening phases of the war in Afghanistan in 2001.

Air-delivered BLU-91s and BLU-92s both have box-like “aeroballistic adaptors.” That feature is absent on related mines in U.S. Army service that are laid via launchers mounted UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and trucks.

From a humanitarian viewpoint, there is concern about collateral damage from civilians inadvertently setting them off or picking them up without knowing what they are. Gator mines are not known to have anti-handling features but can still be dangerous to move. They can also be preset to self-destruct after four hours, 48 hours, or 15 days. It’s worth noting that the mines do not always detonate themselves or otherwise function intended, as is the case with all munitions.

That being said, the missile cities are removed from urban areas and sit within large, tightly controlled perimeters. Mining these areas, where civilians have no access, would present a far lower danger to innocent lives than mining random roads or ones near military bases in urban areas.

Of note is that in terms of the mines themselves, the pictures circulating online so far only appear to show BLU-91s having been used in Iran. These are readily distinguishable from BLU-92 anti-personnel mines, which have four ports on top of their main bodies through which spring-loaded trip wires are fired after the mine activates. The tops of the BLU-91s are flat. Gator mine cluster munitions are typically loaded with some amount of both types of mine, but types containing only BLU-91s have at least been tested in the past.

The distinction is important. While the U.S. is not a signatory to the international treaty known as the Ottawa Convention which banned the application or storage of anti-personnel landmines, it does not allow the use of them. There are no such preclusions against anti-tank mines.

It remains to be seen whether the mines, if truly dropped by the U.S., are an isolated incident or part of a broader campaign as Epic Fury drags into a second month. However, deploying an area denial capability like air-dropped anti-tank mines in places where the missiles are known to be stored and around known launch points could prove to be an effective measure in trying to stop Iran’s barrages from continuing.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com

Married At First Sight Australia groom Steve sparked controversy during Intimacy Week

Fans tuning into the latest episode of Married At First Sight Australia branded one groom a ‘complete clown’ after his wife departed the programme mere minutes into the instalment.

Audiences in the UK are presently enjoying the newest series of the reality dating programme from Australia, where couples encounter each other for the very first time at the altar and develop their relationship from that point onwards. The outcomes thus far are predominantly mixed to say the least.

This week has witnessed the couples participating in intimacy week. As part of this, expert Alessandra Rampolla recently encouraged all the brides to embrace their ultimate fantasy with their partner.

However, not every evening proceeded according to plan. This was particularly true for Rebecca and Steve. Rebecca was shown browsing at an adult shop and purchased some outfits she believed her husband might appreciate seeing her model, reports OK!.

Regrettably for her, he displayed considerable apathy towards the prospect of her dressing up for him. In his own words, he stated: “I didn’t say don’t do it. I just said it would make me very uncomfortable if it happens.”

He subsequently dismissed the notion that Rebecca’s sole motivation for participating in the programme was to find love. He asserted that he ‘was sure’ there must be alternative reasons and suggested people don’t disclose everything in their audition tapes.

The situation only deteriorated for him as he joked to expert Alessandra that he didn’t have an earpiece in his ear to provide him with the correct responses. Misinterpreting his comment as a jab at her, she retorted sharply: “Honestly the lack of respect you are showing me here to someone who is trying to help you is appalling. Tread lightly. I don’t take to this well.”

Other grooms even confessed to the camera that they believed he was acting selfishly, with one suggesting that a 50 year old man should know how to address a woman. Steve insisted he wasn’t referring directly to Alessandra, but she questioned who else his remark could be aimed at.

Later, during his on-camera interview with producers, he admitted that he hadn’t absorbed much from his conversation with Alessandra, largely dismissing everything that transpired. He also mentioned that he chose to withdraw and felt there was a lot of contradiction in the room.

Viewers at home were quick to react to the latest developments. One person commenting on the MAFS subreddit said: “So what are Steve’s ulterior motives for being here? if he’s so sure there has to be some.” Another viewer remarked: “Ugh.. Steve is becoming more and more awful…”

While Rebecca initially left the flat, she returned after spending a night apart, but then it was soon Steve’s turn to depart. After making no headway following his session with Rebecca, he packed up and left.

Viewers were left astonished by his decision, with one commenting: “Rebecca deserves a lot better. Cos what is this “so much for me” business. What exactly is she doing?? I’m so confused.”

Another responded: “Goodness Steve is diabolical and such a liar, he hasn’t tried.” While someone else pleaded: “Steve should just leave, he clearly doesn’t fancy or want Rebecca. Stop wasting everyone’s time.”

Meanwhile, one fan questioned on X: “Did Steve realise he was on a tv programme?! #mafsau”, another posted: “If Steve is SO conservative, why even apply for this show, knowing what it’s all about #mafsau” while a different audience member added: “Did Steve not watch #MAFSAU before he applied?”

Married at First Sight Australia continues tomorrow at 7.30pm on E4 and streaming on Channel 4.

March 25 (UPI) — Republican senators have again backed President Donald Trump‘s war against Iran, blocking a Democratic-led effort to curb his ability to wage war without congressional approval.

The Senate voted 53-47, mostly along party lines, on Tuesday evening to block Democrats’ war powers resolution, the third time Senate Republicans have blocked a resolution to require the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress authorizes them.

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the only Republican to vote in favor of the motion with his Democratic colleagues, while Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to vote against it with the GOP lawmakers.

Since the war began on Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel attacked Iran, Democratic lawmakers have argued the war is unconstitutional because only Congress has the power to declare war, while Republicans contend Trump is within his authority as commander in chief to defend the country.

Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said he forced the vote Tuesday to have debate on Trump’s war in Iran.

“This is increasingly important because this war is spiraling out of control,” he said in a video posted to social media ahead of heading into the Senate.

“The cost of plastic just doubled, prices at the pump are sky high, the Strait of Hormuz is still shut down, new wars are breaking out in the region, we’ve had a dozen Americans killed, $2 billion being spent a day and for what!”

From the floor, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called on Republicans to vote in favor of the resolution, saying it was time for the war to come to an end.

“The war is expanding, and the Senate has an obligation to step in,” he said.

“I say to my Republican colleagues: if there was ever a time to stand up for the authority of the Senate, stand up for the powers given to us through the Constitution, the time is now.”

Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho, who has repeatedly argued against the war powers resolution, took to the floor again on Tuesday to say the Democrats were going to receive the same negative result as they had the two previous times.

Iran started the war, he said, pointing to the Iran hostage crisis of 1979 and stating that the Islamic regime has since killed thousands of Americans.

“The president of the United States said, ‘We have had enough.’ He had very good reasons to pull the trigger at the time that he did and… The fact of the matter is, we are in conflict,” he said, stating the Senate needs to back the Americans fighting in the war and their president.

“We all know this isn’t going to go on very long, but it needs to be done.”

The vote was held less than a week after Democrats used the war powers resolution to force a vote on Wednesday on a similar motion, which Republicans blocked in the same 53-47 outcome. Both Paul and Fetterman voted against their parties.

If you’re looking for something to watch that not only will make you laugh, but will also leave you on the edge of your seat with plot twists, TV fans recommend one particular four-series show

Television viewers have been busy debating which programme has the “biggest plot twist” and it appears there’s one show that stands out from the rest. The question was posed in Reddit’s ‘Watchever’ community after a user looked for inspiration as to what shows they should check out next.

“What TV show had the biggest plot twist you never saw coming?” they asked. “What’s a TV show that completely shocked you with a plot twist you didn’t expect at all?” The Reddit user elaborated: “The kind that makes you pause and think, ‘Wait… what just happened?’ For many people, shows like Mr. Robot or Westworld had moments like that. Which one got you the most?”

It prompted several people to point out a four-series sitcom that first aired in 2016 and is currently available to stream on Netflix.

“This is as good of a place as any for my regular reminder for people who haven’t seen The Good Place to give it a try,” one person declared.

“The concept seems a little cheesy at first, until you realise that it’s actually about way more than what it seems like in the first season. And aside from the deeper philosophical stuff, it’s really f***ing funny.”

A second agreed, joking: “The Good Place… then The Good Place… then The Good Place again.”

A third fan suggested: “You need to go on the journey the characters go on. That’s the great thing about The Good Place; the show doesn’t give the characters the answers, they figure them out.

“And as a result it isn’t preachy about the philosophical stuff, even though the show definitely has a point that they wanted to get across about mortality.”

Whilst a fourth Reddit user praised: “It’s a sitcom structured like a mystery box drama, ending each episode with a cliffhanger. It’s easy to binge because of this. And unlike dramatic mystery box shows, the ending is amazing.”

However, a fifth who was sceptical at first confessed: “I didn’t watch The Good Place until it was on Netflix and from the first episode I thought something was off and kept looking for little hints here and there but never really anything that really stuck out on the first watch.

“Now on the second watching… I have noticed a lot more.”

The comedy stars Kristen Bell as Eleanor Shellstrop, Ted Danson as Michael and William Jackson Harper as Chidi Anagonye.

Netflix’s synopsis states: “Due to an error, self-absorbed Eleanor Shellstrop arrives at the Good Place after her death. Determined to stay, she tries to become a better person.”

On IMDb, meanwhile, the show boasts a very impressive score of 8.2 out of 10 following 219,000 reviews.

Frank Lampard hopes Matt Grimes’ “very classy” decision not to celebrate his goal against Swansea City will end the boos when the midfielder faces his old club.

Grimes was given an icy reception on his first return to the Swansea.com Stadium since ending a 10-year spell as a Swan when he joined Coventry City in January 2025.

Yet when he responded by scoring Coventry’s second goal in the Championship leaders’ 3-0 win on Saturday, the 30-year-old raised his hands in apology.

“A lot of people, maybe including me, would have had a little celebration having got booed, but it’s a sign of the man he is,” said Sky Blues boss Lampard.

Good morning, and welcome to L.A. on the Record — our City Hall newsletter. It’s David Zahniser, with an assist from Libor Jany and Howard Blume, giving you the latest on city and county government.

It was a dramatic moment for City Hall: Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, appearing at a meeting about reining in certain traffic stops by police, revealed that he had been pulled over only two days earlier.

Harris-Dawson, who is Black, told his colleagues that police have stopped him four times since he took office in 2015. During the most recent incident, he said, an officer asked him a number of questions, including, “How do you have this vehicle?”

“It was as traumatic on Wednesday as it was when I was 16,” Harris-Dawson said at the March 6 committee meeting.

It wasn’t the Los Angeles Police Department that pulled over Harris-Dawson’s car, a Tesla Model Y with a government license plate. Instead, it was an officer from the L.A. Unified School District police, who began trailing him while he was heading to work on the freeway, Harris-Dawson said recently.

The district has provided minimal details, and its police union has not commented. But the union that represents nearly 8,700 LAPD officers, known for its bare knuckle politics, is now deeply involved.

Ricky Mendoza, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, urged Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman on Thursday to investigate whether Harris-Dawson attempted to resist, delay or obstruct the officer who carried out the traffic stop, in violation of state law.

Mendoza pointed to a California Post story that accused Harris-Dawson of contacting an unnamed school board member during the incident “in an apparent effort to get out of the citation.”

Tom Saggau, a police union spokesperson, said Harris-Dawson was caught driving “recklessly” in a school zone — and should have disclosed it during his remarks about the incident.

“Mr. Harris-Dawson’s testimony implied LAPD pulled him over because of his race, not his driving behavior,” Saggau said in an email. “That implication painted our minority-majority membership as racist, and we will always stand up for our membership and correct falsehoods and other tall tales.”

Harris-Dawson, for his part, told The Times he received the citation for attempting to enter a left turn lane too early — before it was actually marked as a turn lane. That maneuver did not pose a threat to anyone, he said.

Harris-Dawson said he did contact other people during the traffic stop, to ensure he had real-time witnesses. He would not provide their names.

“I called several people during that encounter so that there was a record of it besides myself,” he said.

The Times reached out to the school board about the police union’s claims. Four of the seven, either in person or through a representative, said they did not talk to Harris-Dawson about the stop.

The dispute comes as the council is weighing new limits on “pretextual stops,” where officers use a minor violation as justification to pull someone over and then investigate whether a more serious crime has occurred. The stops have disproportionately affected Black and Latino drivers, and the LAPD has scaled back their use over the past decade.

At the meeting where Harris-Dawson revealed he had been pulled over, two council committees were discussing next steps on the issue.

On Thursday, a Harris-Dawson aide hit back at the union, accusing the group of trying to divert the public’s attention away from that work.

“Just like pretextual traffic stops, the call for these pointless investigations violates the public trust, is wholly ineffective, and wastes precious resources that could be used to keep us safe,” said Harris-Dawson spokesperson Cerrina Tayag-Rivera in a statement this week.

Asked about his recent experience with the school police, Harris-Dawson said: “It’s not up to the driver to determine if a stop is pretextual, but it felt pretextual.”

School district officials have offered only minimal information about the incident.

“During our morning school drop-off, a Los Angeles School Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop based on an observed moving traffic violation in the vicinity of one of our high schools and issued the driver a citation,” the statement said.

Harris-Dawson told The Times that the encounter began the morning of March 4, during his drive from his South L.A. home to City Hall, when he noticed a white, unmarked car following him on the northbound 110 Freeway.

He took the Adams Boulevard offramp, turned right on Adams and headed toward Main Street, with the unmarked car following him through multiple intersections. When he turned left on Main, the officer turned on his lights and pulled him over, he said.

The officer walked up to the car with his hand on his gun and told him to roll down the windows, Harris-Dawson said.

“Because it was an unmarked car … I thought I was dealing with Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” he said.

Harris-Dawson said the officer told him that he had illegally crossed the double-yellow line in the center of the street, preparing to turn left before his car was actually in the marked left-turn lane.

The intersection is four blocks from Santee High School.

Harris-Dawson said the officer asked him how he came to possess the car. He informed the officer that it was a city vehicle and that he sits on the council. He handed the officer his driver’s license and, at a certain point, demanded it back.

The officer refused twice, Harris-Dawson said.

“He said, ‘Are you accusing me of taking your property?’” Harris-Dawson said. “I said, ‘That’s absolutely what I’m accusing you of.’”

Harris-Dawson said he was cited for violating the state vehicle code that prohibits motorists from driving the double-yellow lines.

“That stop was not about traffic safety,” he said, adding: “It was an investigative stop where the officer decided to give a citation, frankly, because I failed the attitude test.”

Harris-Dawson said through his spokesperson that he has paid the $238 citation. Asked if he is considering any legal action, he responded: “I’m weighing all my options.”

Meanwhile, Mendoza said he wants not just the D.A. but also City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto to investigate Harris-Dawson’s behavior during the stop, determining who he called, what he said, and whether the officer was contacted by a school board member.

The police union president said it’s “unethical and potentially illegal for a city leader to use their position of power to attempt to avoid accountability for their reckless driving in a school zone.”

The Police Protective League is well known for its heavy involvement in city politics, especially during election season. On the Westside, the union has already put nearly $500,000 into efforts to reelect Councilmember Traci Park.

The union has endorsed Mayor Karen Bass, a close ally of Harris-Dawson, but hasn’t been spending on her behalf.

Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez, who sits on the council’s public safety committee, said he believes the union is trying to “bully” Harris-Dawson, to ensure that others remain silent about pretextual stops.

“I think the council president is very courageously bringing up a reform on one of the most racist practices” in the LAPD, he said.

State of play

— DROPPING CHAVEZ: The bombshell New York Times report that found that labor organizer Cesar Chavez sexually abused minors left the state’s elected officials scrambling to rename streets, buildings and of course, the holiday itself. In L.A., Bass and several council members said they would rename the March 31 holiday “Farm Workers Day,” a move also backed at the county level by Supervisor Janice Hahn. Meanwhile, Raul Claros, running for an Eastside council seat, said Cesar Chavez Avenue should be renamed Dolores Huerta Avenue.

— DEMS WEIGH IN: The L.A. County Democratic Party threw its endorsement behind Bass and Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez, Katy Yaroslavsky, Monica Rodriguez, Hugo Soto-Martínez and Tim McOsker. The group also backed several newcomers: Marissa Roy for city attorney, Zach Sokoloff for city controller and council candidates Barri Worth Girvan and Jose Ugarte.

— PLUS THE COUNTY: The Dems also threw their support behind four countywide candidates: Sheriff Robert Luna, Assessor Jeffrey Prang, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and State Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, who is running to replace termed-out Supervisor Hilda Solis.

— SPEAKING OF WHICH: It’s been pretty clear from the past year that Horvath is not a fan of Bass, offering bracing critiques of the city’s approach to homelessness and other issues. But her four colleagues — Hahn, Solis, Kathryn Barger and Holly Mitchell — have all lined up behind the mayor’s reelection, according to a campaign announcement issued Friday.

— POLICE PAYOUT: A jury awarded $5.9 million to a former LAPD commander who claimed she was wrongfully fired over an alcohol-fueled incident in 2018. The commander, Nicole Mehringer, said she was held to a different standard than her male colleagues, losing her job after being arrested on a charge of public intoxication.

— MINDING MEASURE ULA: Councilmember Ysabel Jurado was named the chair of a new three-member ad hoc committee formed to take a fresh look at the impacts of Measure ULA, the 2022 tax on high-end property sales. She will be joined by Councilmembers John Lee and Imelda Padilla in examining the measure, which has been criticized by real estate leaders.

— HOLLYWOOD’S HOMELESS: Bass and Soto-Martínez celebrated the opening of a new homeless services hub on Hollywood Boulevard to help unhoused residents shower, find new clothes, obtain meals and receive help finding an apartment or a bed in an interim housing facility.

QUICK HITS

• Where is Inside Safe? The mayor’s signature program to address homelessness went to South Los Angeles, focusing on the area around Broadway and 23rd Street, according to the mayor’s team.
• On the docket next week: The council meets Tuesday to discuss its strategy for complying with Senate Bill 79, which seeks to add taller, denser apartments within a half mile of rail and dedicated bus stops.

Stay in touch

That’s it for this week! Send your questions, comments and gossip to LAontheRecord@latimes.com. Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up here to get it in your inbox every Saturday morning.

BBC Radio 1 presenter Greg James completed his epic 1,000km tandem bike challenge for Comic Relief.

Following eight days of gruelling effort, BBC presenter Greg James completed his enormous cycling challenge for Comic Relief on Friday afternoon, having covered 1,000km on a tandem bicycle.

Setting off from Weymouth on Friday 13th, the 40-year-old journeyed across England, Wales and Scotland, concluding his expedition in Edinburgh.

Whilst celebrity companions including Jamie Laing and Prince William joined him en route, he tackled the final leg of his ride solo.

During Friday night’s live Comic Relief broadcast (March 20th), Greg appeared alongside Davina McCall on stage to discover his fundraising total. Davina announced he’d amassed an incredible £4,225,939 as the audience broke into thunderous applause.

He responded: “Wow! Thank you to everyone who donated, wow.” Standing momentarily lost for words, spectators began chanting his name in solidarity, reports Wales Online.

Though the BBC broadcaster protested: “I’m uncomfortable with this, please stop. I’m uncomfortable with this. I said, when I finished today, I said please I’ve had too much praise for this now.

“It was a daft idea to raise money and awareness of this amazing charity that Comic Relief supports.

“Can I say one thing? Treat people like you’re treating a minor celebrity that’s riding a tandem past you. There’s too much coming my way, put it somewhere else!”

Discussing his progress thus far, Greg revealed he’d begun cycling in the early hours of this morning. He said: “I’m overjoyed with how much money we’ve raised with this thing and how joyful we’ve managed to make the tandem adventure!”

Meanwhile during the BBC programme, Davina was reduced to tears upon hearing the devastating account of one mother who lost her infant to malaria.

Having chosen to work on the frontline and gain medical knowledge to assist women in the community, preventing the same anguish she’d experienced, Davina became visibly emotional.

As the pre-recorded clip concluded, she said: “Mothers, helping mothers. I love that.

“Community health workers are needed now more than ever. Comic Relief, with your donations, is supporting projects like LWALA and people like Susan, who are helping to save lives.

“She went through something so terrible, and she decided to help others save the lives of their children.

“All of us watching tonight, we’ve all got something in common. We all made it past our fifth birthday, but isn’t that something that every child deserves? Please pick up your phones right now.”

Comic Relief: Funny For Money is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

March 16 (UPI) — Kenya and Russia announced on Monday that Kenyans will no longer be recruited by the Russian military and sent to fight in Ukraine.

The move follows a Kenyan intelligence report indicating that more than 1,000 people from Kenya and other African nations in recent months have been recruited into deployment on the front lines of the war between Russia and Ukraine by “rogue” agencies participating in human trafficking.

The report, released in February, alleged that of Kenyans recruited for the war, 10 died, 28 were missing, 39 were hospitalized and others were fighting for Russia in Ukraine, The Kenyan Daily Post reported.

“We have agreed that Kenyans will no longer be enlisted for special operations through the defense ministry,” Kenyan Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said during a news conference. “They will no longer be eligible to be enlisted.”

The nations also were expected to sign a labor agreement aimed at protecting Kenyans working in Russia — specifically in drone manufacturing — which will cover people working specifically for the military or for other related industries, he said.

Mudavadi told The BBC that Kenya has shut down more than 600 agencies that were lying to Kenyans about a range of possible jobs in Russia and other countries, with many ending up in Ukraine.

Russia has not given answers to relatives at its embassy in Kenya, nor has it commented on reports that human traffickers were fooling people into being enlisted in the war with lies about well-paid jobs.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Lavrov said during the news conference that all foreign fighters, including those from Kenya, had not been coerced or lied to and their voluntary service complied with Russian law.

“Once a contract is terminated, the individual is no longer bound and is free to make their own decisions,” Lavov said, although Kenyans who have volunteered to join the war have to find and pay for their own travel home.

Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, alleged in November that at least 1,400 people from Africa from 36 countries have been sent to Ukraine by Russia, many of whom have been captured as prisoners of war.

Oscar winner Pavel Talankin called for ‘an end to all wars’ as he received the best documentary award for “Mr Nobody Against Putin”.

Passport holders have been urged to avoid wearing a common item of clothing when flying. When travelling on planes, there are certain items you should never wear

Every day, thousands of individuals globe-trot, but passport holders are now being advised to steer clear of a certain popular garment. When jetting off to sunnier climes, it’s only natural to adjust your wardrobe accordingly and prepare for the balmy weather; however, there’s a particular item you should avoid donning when boarding a plane.

You might be surprised to learn that your choice of attire can significantly influence both your travel experience and your safety. That’s why travellers are being urged to refrain from wearing this specific item when embarking on a flight in future, and it’s advice everyone would do well to heed.

The issue was recently spotlighted by Polly Ann, who goes by the handle Travel with Polly Ann on Instagram, and regularly imparts valuable travel tips to her multitude of followers. Unbeknownst to many, certain items of clothing are best stowed away in your suitcase when flying.

Polly Ann enumerates several garments she personally avoids, but one stands out as crucial from a travel safety perspective. It could have serious implications in the event of an emergency.

She divulged what people need to know in a frank post. It’s advice worth heeding, as it could greatly affect your travel experience.

Imparting wisdom to passport holders, she stated: “Things never to wear on a plane. Open-toed shoes.

“Sandals and open-toed footwear are discouraged because aircraft floors and bathrooms aren’t very clean and they don’t protect your feet in case of an emergency.

“Offensive clothing. Anything with profanity, lewd graphics or offensive messaging could lead to being asked to change or even denied boarding under some airline dress codes.”

She proceeds to mention several other items she’d steer clear of but, regarding safety, footwear is particularly crucial. Whilst they’re not typically prohibited on aircraft, travellers are actually discouraged from wearing sandals.

There are several reasons why it’s advisable to avoid them when flying. You might never have considered they can actually present hazards.

Why should they be avoided?

Experts generally recommend passengers avoid wearing sandals or open-toed footwear on flights due to safety risks during an emergency evacuation, the possibility of foot injuries from falling objects and hygiene issues.

If you do choose to wear them, it’s recommended you also wear socks. There are multiple reasons behind this guidance.

During an emergency, such as an evacuation, sandals can slip off, making it challenging to run or walk across harsh surfaces like tarmac, broken glass or wreckage. Additionally, aircraft floors are frequently dirty and chilly, meaning wearing sandals leaves your feet vulnerable to bacteria.

Aeroplanes are typically cold, and feet have a tendency to swell during lengthy flights, rendering the footwear increasingly uncomfortable. You may also be required to remove sandals at security checkpoints, which could extend your time getting through the airport.

Hence, it’s simpler all around if you refrain from wearing them. There are a few reasons why they could land you in a bit of trouble.