Sunday’s matchup between the Sparks and Phoenix Mercury felt like déjà vu. When the Sparks faced Phoenix last month, the game ended with a failed Sparks comeback.
In a twist of fate, Sunday’s comeback belonged to Phoenix.
Unable to stay ahead after building an 18-point lead, the Sparks fell 85-80 to the Mercury at Crypto.com Arena for their third consecutive loss.
As with the first meeting, the third quarter proved to be the Sparks’ undoing. After scoring just seven points in the third quarter of their loss to Phoenix on May 21, the Sparks were outscored 24-9 in the third Sunday.
“You’ve got to live with it,” Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said. “Sometimes we have a bad day. It’s a bad day to have a bad day. We have a lead like that, but that’s the game.”
Before the game, Roberts said consistency in transition defense, avoiding prolonged bad stretches and fluid ball movement would define a strong third quarter. None of that materialized against Phoenix (5-2).
But even more costly was their inability to score in the second half.
“This game came down to us not shooting,” Roberts said. “We had eight threes in the first half. We finished with eight. They had the same amount of field goals we did. They just hit four more threes.”
After opening with their best first quarter of the season, the Sparks became visibly frustrated in the second half. A three-pointer from Kathryn Westbeld with 2:11 left in the third gave the Mercury their first lead, 58-57, and capped a 21-5 run.
The shift in energy was palpable in what became a chippy, physical game. Momentum swung in Phoenix’s favor late in the third when Satou Sabally was fouled by Kelsey Plum while scoring on a layup, pointing and shouting to the Sparks bench as she celebrated.
Sabbaly exchanged words with the Sparks bench throughout the game, and drew a technical foul before halftime. After the game, she said her and-one celebration was aimed at her former assistant — now Sparks assistant coach — Zak Buncik.
“Well, he just motivated me a little bit. So, I was telling him, ‘Thanks,’” she said.
Sabally finished as the Mercury’s leading scorer with 24 points. She also had nine rebounds.
The teams traded leads early in the fourth quarter. Trailing by two, with 25 seconds left, Plum turned over the ball while trying to pass to an open shooter. Plum then fouled Kitija Laksa, who made two free throws to make it a four-point game.
Plum was one for 13 in the second half, finishing with 15 points and six rebounds.
“I just missed,” Plum said. “I had four really good looks that felt good coming out of my hands at the end of the game. I’m going to get another chance to do it, and I’ll hit them. But, I mean, I just didn’t feel like I had my legs.”
Playing seven games in 15 days, the loss capped off a grueling stretch — one that Roberts attributed to the team’s inconsistency as a result of lost practice time.
The Sparks (2-6) were a different team in the first quarter behind a new starting lineup of Julie Allemand, Dearica Hamby, Azurá Stevens, Odyssey Sims, Plum. With Allemand in the lineup, Sarah Ashlee Barker, who had started the previous five games, came off the bench.
The Sparks scored 27 points and had a 10-point lead going into the second quarter. After struggling with flat starts all season, the team finally found an early rhythm — one they’ve shown in flashes, but haven’t sustained.
Standing at 5-foot-8, Sims — one of the Sparks’ fiercest competitors — helped keep the team in the game, scoring a game-high 32 points.
She relentlessly attacked the basket, giving Mercury defender Sami Whitcomb the “too small’ gesture in the process. She hit the floor multiple times on hard drives, fighting through contact, and getting in the faces of Mercury defenders to confront them about foul calls. At times, the toll of her effort showed, as she walked with a slight limp between plays.
“It was a little bit more aggressive,” Sims said of her performance. “I think the run was kind of big for me today. I tried to stay in that mode. We were up going into halftime, and I just wanted to just basically keep my foot on their necks.”
Despite the effort, Sims says the team “let this one slip away.”
Plum praised Sims’ ability to respond to the Mercury’s runs almost single-handedly — she scored 15 of the Sparks’ 30 second-half points — but it wasn’t enough to secure a much-needed win for a Sparks team that plays eight of its next 11 games on the road.
“Of course, this one stings,” Sims said. “We know it’s the third quarter. We keep saying the same thing over and over, kind of beating a dead horse at this point, but it’s going to be less talking about it, and more doing it.”
Juwan Montel Baker, 26, of Danville has been arrested in connection to an early Sunday shooting that resulted in five people shot, including one person fatally. Photo courtesy of Danville Police Department/Release
June 2 (UPI) — Five people were shot, including one person fatally, in a shooting that erupted at a large outdoor gathering in southern Virginia over the weekend, authorities said.
According to preliminary information, the early Sunday shooting involved gunmen in a Chrysler sedan and individuals at a party in the 100 block of Carver Drive in Danville, a city of about 42,000 near the Virginia-North Carolina border.
The Danville Police Department said in a statement that the shooting occurred shortly before 1:30 a.m. local time Sunday. Officers dispatched to the area following reports of shots fired found a deceased man, later identified as Jay’Shaun Tiejae White, 22, in the front passenger seat of a Chrysler sedan with gunshot wounds to his upper body.
Officers found the suspected driver of the vehicle, identified as a 26-year-old man, suffering from a gunshot wound on an adjacent street. The victim was then transported by ambulance to Sovah Health Danville.
Three additional victims later arrived on their own at the health center with injuries from the gunfight, the police department said.
The victims have been identified as two men, ages 31 and 25, and a 19-year-old woman. The woman has since been treated and released, while the three men have been transferred to other medical facilities, police said.
Juwan Montel Baker, 26, of Danville, has been arrested in connection with the shooting. Police said he was a passenger in the sedan, and he has been charged with three counts each of discharging a firearm from a moving vehicle, malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
According to The Gun Violence Archive, there have been at least 127 mass shootings involving four or more people shot so far in the United States this year.
Multiple people were injured after a man shouting “free Palestine” tossed Molotov cocktails at a gathering in support of Israeli hostages in Colorado, authorities said.
Police said eight people were injured in the attack at the Pearl Street Mall, a popular outdoor space in Boulder, about 30 miles (48km) from Denver.
The FBI called it a suspected terror attack and said the suspect used a makeshift flamethrower, Molotov cocktails and other incendiary devices.
Footage of the attack shows the suspect, who was shirtless, screaming at the group and had what appears to be Molotov cocktails in each hand when he was arrested.
The attack unfolded during a weekly scheduled demonstration put on by Run for Their Lives, a pro-Israeli group that that holds walks in the outdoor pedestrian mall in solidarity with Israeli hostages in Gaza.
Police got calls around 13:26 local time (20:26 BST) about a man with a weapon and people being set on fire, Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said at a news conference.
Witnesses told authorities that the suspect used a “makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary device into the crowd, ” said Mark Michalek, who heads the FBI’s Denver office.
Redfearn added those devices included Molotov cocktails being tossed at the crowd.
He identified the suspect as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45.
Soliman is an Egyptian national, government officials told the BBC’s US partner CBS News.
In 2022, Soliman arrived in California on a non-immigrant visa that expired in February 2023, multiple sources have told CBS News. He had been living in Colorado Springs.
Officers who responded found multiple people injured, including those with burns.
Footage that appeared to be from the attack showed a chaotic scene: smoke filling the air, people running in multiple directions, spots of grass on fire and people injured on the ground.
Warning: This story contains details some readers may find distressing.
In images and videos posted online, but not yet verified by the BBC, a man appearing to be the suspect is seen without a shirt and holding bottles with liquid with a piece of red cloth inside. He can be heard yelling at the crowd and appears to be advancing on them as some rush to flee.
As he screams, one woman is on the ground and appears injured. People surround her and one man pours water on her body.
Footage shows police rushing to the scene and arresting the suspect. Police say he was taken to the hospital with injuries.
“It is clear that this is a targeted act of violence and the FBI is investigating this as an act of terrorism,” Mr Michalek said. “Sadly, attacks like this are becoming too common across the country.”
The attack is the second high-profile act of violence in the US in the last two weeks related to the conflict in Gaza.
A man who shouted “free Palestine” fatally shot two Israeli embassy employees outside a Jewish museum in Washington DC on 22 May. The incident happened at a networking event organised by a Jewish organisation.
Colorado’s Attorney General Phil Weiser said that from what officials know the attack “appears to be hate crime given the group that was targeted”.
“People may have differing views about world events and the Israeli-Hamas conflict, but violence is never the answer to settling differences,” Weiser said in a statement on Sunday. “Hate has no place in Colorado.”
Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, said he was “shocked” by the incident and called the attack “pure antisemitism”.
“Shocked by the terrible antisemitic terror attack targeting Jews in Boulder, Colorado,” he wrote on X. “This is pure antisemitism, fueled by the blood libels spread in the media.”
Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, similarly was saddened over the attack, calling it “terrorism” and asking for “concrete action” in response.
In a post on X, the ambassador said that Jewish protesters were brutally attacked”.
“Terrorism against Jews does not stop at the Gaza border – it is already burning the streets of America,” he said.
A TEENAGER is fighting for his life in hospital after falling from a balcony while allegedly fleeing police.
The 19-year-old man suffered critical injuries after falling off an “upper balcony from height” in Tameside, Manchester, said cops.
A 14-year-old boy was also seriously injured in the same fall on Saturday night, according to Greater Manchester Police.
It came after police received reports of a “group of males withmachetesmaking threats towards individuals” at the location.
Upon arrival, at around 7.20pm, officers gave chase to three males who “tried to leave” the property, with one of the three escaping through a lower balcony.
The 19-year-old who fell from the balcony then sustainedserious injuries.
Footage from the scene showed emergency services at the foot of Bentinck House, a 12 storey tower block on the outskirts of Ashton town centre.
Three people have been arrested and drugs and a weapon have also been seized, said police.
Witnesses reported seeing armed police and an air ambulance at the scene.
Det Supt Gareth Jenkins from the Tameside District said: “The two injured parties, aged 14 and 19, have been taken to hospital for treatment of serious injuries, with the older male in a critical condition.
“These males are under the detention of officers pending their medical treatment, and another male has been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of drugs.
“Enquiries are ongoing to determine all of those involved and the full circumstances of what has happened in the lead up to the incident. Suspected drugs and a weapon have been recovered.
“A small scene remains in place at the property and residents in the area should expect to see further police activity.
“Anyone with any information which has not yet been provided to us, or with any concerns, should speak to officers on the ground.
“I’d like to reassure the community that this incident is believed to be between individuals known to one another, with no wider risk to the community.”
Police are looking for any witnesses to come forward with any information that could aid their inquiries.
Anyone with information is being urged to call 101 quoting incident number 2849 of May 31 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Since his debut in ODIs, only two batters have a higher non-boundary strike-rate than Root (minimum of 2,000 non-boundary runs). Off non-boundary balls, Root has a strike-rate of 59.89, England’s Jos Buttler is second with 63.77 and at the top is South Africa’s AB de Villiers (65.70).
High control
Since the start of 2018, Root has a false-shot percentage of only 11.1% in ODIs. In matches between Full Member nations, only one batter in world cricket has a lower false-shot percentage than Root – New Zealand’s Kane Williamson (11%).
Great against spin
Root averages 70.3 against spin in his ODI career – the next highest English batter is Buttler (52). In ODI history, only five batters average higher against spin than Root for a minimum of 1,500 runs – Mike Hussey (Australia), MS Dhoni (India), Michael Bevan (Australia), Shai Hope (West Indies) and Babar Azam (Pakistan). Of these, only Dhoni has scored more runs against spin than Root, while none of them have scored at a higher strike-rate than Root’s 90.
Scores runs off good balls
In his ODI career, Root averages 47.7 against deliveries in the channel outside off stump and scores at a strike-rate of 77 against them. The average right-handed batter averages only 33 on this line. When the ball is wider than that, Root cashes in on the width, scoring at an average of 94.5 and striking at 109.
Master of the middle overs
Between overs 11-40, Root averages 66.6 at a strike rate of 87. Only two batters in world cricket have scored at an average and a strike-rate higher than Root’s for a minimum of 2,000 runs – India’s Virat Kohli (ave 70.7, S/R 93) and De Villiers (ave 68.9, S/R 97).
Always evolving
In ODIs until the end of 2015, Root had seven dismissals playing the reverse sweep at an average of just 7.4. Since the start of 2016, he has averaged 158 with the shot. Previously, he used to reach out well in front while playing the reverse sweep, with an average interception point of 2.10m from the stumps. Since the start of 2016, that has come much closer at 1.77m.
Final vote count gives conservative candidate 50.89 percent, while his liberal rival receives 49.11 percent, AP reports.
Conservative eurosceptic Karol Nawrocki is expected to win Poland’s presidential run-off election with all votes now counted, according to media reports.
The Associated Press news agency, citing the final vote count, reported on Monday that Nawrocki won 50.89 percent of votes in the tight race against liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who received 49.11 percent.
The Polish news website, Onet, reported the same results on its website.
The Polish Electoral Commission said on its website that it had counted all of the votes. The commission had said earlier that official results would be out on Monday morning.
Nawrocki, 42, a historian and amateur boxer who ran a national remembrance institute, campaigned on a promise to ensure economic and social policies favour Poles over other nationalities, including refugees from neighbouring Ukraine.
While Poland’s parliament holds most power, the president can veto legislation, and the vote was being watched closely in Ukraine as well as Russia, the United States and across the European Union.
Dreaming of retiring already? A stunning country just a couple of hours from the UK has one of the highest paying pensions in Europe – but there are several big catches
The UK’s State Pension is currently below £12,000 per year(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Million of Brits could see a huge boost to their retirement, after HM Treasury unveiled plans to double the number of UK pension megafunds by 2030.
As previously explained, this is where smaller local authorities and private workplaces come together, with the aim that bundling larger funds will result in a much greater return. The government states these changes will ‘drive more investment directly into the UK economy for new homes and promising scale-up businesses’.
“With over £50 billion secured through the recent voluntary commitment from pension funds to invest five percent of assets in the UK and new local investment targets for Local Government Pension Scheme authorities,” HM Treasury added. “This tackles the gradual decline in domestic investment from UK pension funds, where around 20 per cent of Defined Contribution assets are currently invested compared to over 50 per cent in 2012.”
Iceland has one of the highest pensions in Europe(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
For now, Brits on the State Pension will receive just £230.25 a week (£11,973 per year) as long as they have enough qualifying years of National Insurance (NI). If your NI record started after April 2016, you will need 35 qualifying years to get the full rate of the New State Pension.
But in comparison to nearby countries, the UK’s state pension seems mediocre at best. According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) – as of 2022 – the full basic pension in Iceland is valued at ISK 3,439,428, equivalent to 31 per cent of average worker earnings. This roughly converts to £20,063.08 per year – more than £8,000 compared to the UK state pension.
“There is an annual allowance of ISK 300,000 (£1,751.11) for exempt income, equivalent to three per cent of average earnings,” OECD added. “Above this allowance, the basic pension is withdrawn at a rate of 45 per cent against income from pension funds. It is also withdrawn at 45 per cent against employment income but only after employment income is above ISK 2,400, 000 (£14,011) in addition to the allowance. There is also an annual holiday payment of ISK 106,765 (£623) which is withdrawn at two per cent above the income limits.”
However, the State Pension age is currently 66-year-old for men and women in the UK – although it is slated to increase to 67 by 2028 – whereas the normal pension age in Iceland is already 67 (except for seamen who have been working for more than 25 years in the occupation, who can retire at 60). If you claim your basic pension in Iceland before you reach 67, your funds will be reduced by 6.6 per cent for each year that the pension is claimed early.
Iceland also has a pension supplement which is applicable for single pensioners. The maximum value of this benefit is ISK 869,124 (£5,0712) per year, some eight per cent of average earnings. This benefit is withdrawn at 11.9 per cent, subject to the same thresholds as the basic pension.
If you’re tempted to ditch Britain for Iceland, you may want to think twice, as you can only receive the full basic pension if you have 40 years of residency. While Iceland’s pension may seem extremely generous, it is worth considering that the cost of living here is around 40-50 per cent higher than in the UK. This means you’d be spending almost double on your weekly food shop, property, and basic goods.
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A five-year project with £15m of government funding aims to help residents impacted by the worsening threat of coastal erosion – as experts predict one seaside village will soon vanish
Coastal erosion is eating away at a popular UK seaside village(Image: SWNS / James Linsell-Clark)
A tiny UK seaside village famed for its rugged cliffs and sugar-like sand is in grave danger of vanishing into the sea.
Since the 1990s, more than 250 metres of coastline at Happisburgh, in Norfolk, has been eroded. If it continues at this alarming rate, the village as it is now will be underwater water in just 30 years.
It may sound like something out of an apocalypse film, but for residents quite literally living life on the edge – it’s a terrifying reality. “What’s happening in places like Happisburgh isn’t just a prediction – it’s a process that’s already underway,” explains climate analyst Dr Ian Richards. “Homes have collapsed, roads have disappeared and the cliff line is retreating faster than anyone expected.”
Over the next 100 years, it is predicted that more than 1,00 homes will be lost to erosion in North Norfolk(Image: SWNS / James Linsell-Clark)
Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, a North Norfolk District Council spokesperson explained how the authority has been working tirelessly to protect the beaches and seaside communities that are threatened by erosion. Over the last 15 years, several coastal projects have sought to mitigate the worsening disaster and help locals impacted by crumbling cliffs.
“The council has been working with and will continue to work with partners such as the Environment Agency and the national government to maintain sea defences where possible,” they added. “Where this isn’t possible or feasible, the Council has been working with coastal communities to develop, prepare, and adopt more options to help those communities impacted by coastal erosion.”
Coastwise will help ‘roll back’ properties likely to impacted by erosion(Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)
Coastwise – which started in 2022 and will run to 2027 as part of the Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP) – is one of the only ongoing projects still trying to help residents adapt to the effects of erosion and climate change along a section of the North Norfolk coastline. It has received £15 million from Defra, as part of the government’s £200 million innovation fund, to help ‘transition and prepare’ coastal communities in the area.
“Coastwise will work with residents and businesses to prepare and plan for the long term,” the initiative states. “Some immediate changes will support the long-term resilience of communities near the coast.” These actions may include:
‘Rolling back’ property and facilities most likely to be affected by coastal erosion.
Improving and replacing damaged community facilities like beach access or coastal transport links.
Replacing public or community-owned buildings in areas at risk with removable, modular, or other building ideas.
Repurposing land in coastal erosion zones for different uses, such as creating temporary car parks or restoring natural habitats.
Despite Happisburgh’s bleak future – the village is still popular with tourists(Image: Getty Images)
“Actions may also include working with the finance and property sectors to explore funding methods to help move communities away from fast-eroding areas,” Coastwise added. “For example, schemes to encourage the relocation of at-risk infrastructure for businesses and homeowners.”
After the project ends, it is hoped that communities in North Norfolk feel they have a ‘more sustainable future’ and can access support helping them move away from risk. The initiative also aims to give the council enough resources and capability to ‘assess, find funding, manage and deliver effective adaptation and transition options to its communities’.
While Coastwise will not provide compensation for homes lost to erosion, it may be able to offer financial support for residents needing to transition out of the coastal erosion risk area. At the moment, there are around 600 properties in Happisburgh, homing some 1,400 people.
Despite Happisburgh’s bleak future, the Parish Council says tourists should ‘definitely visit’ the village. “It is a wonderful holiday destination with a fabulous beach and is a beautiful village,” a spokesperson added.
This attitude has also been adopted by locals, including Maria Jennings – a B&B owner who is confident the village’s environmental challenges won’t put off tourists just yet. “We know the risks, but we also know the beauty,” she said. “People come here to relax, enjoy the beach and walk the coast. Most understand the situation – they just want to enjoy it while they still can.”
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Welcome to June. We’re halfway through this tumultuous year and there’s only one thing I can say for certain about 2025: It’s moving fast.
I have lots to share in this newsletter, including a long list of plant-related events and activities, but let’s start with goats, sheep and this question: What’s the best way to clear highly flammable weeds from L.A.’s steep urban slopes?
Clearing those hills with weed whackers to knock down black mustard and oats, two invasive plants that burn easily once they’re dry, is noisy, difficult work, and hiring others to do it is expensive.
It is much easier to instead use goats and sheep to nimbly devour all the offending plants, leaving fresh fertilizer (a.k.a. manure) along the way to enrich the soil and give native plants a running chance to reappear. And it is wonderful to see a fluid herd moving slowly along the hill, with little lambs and kids frisking behind their mothers, making sweet bleating sounds instead of the polluting, teeth-grinding whine of gasoline-powered weed whackers.
Goats and sheep seem unbothered by the steep grade on Kite Hill in Mount Washington as they chow down on invasive oat grass.
(Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)
A group of Mount Washington small-parcel landowners banded together this spring to create such a pastoral scene, drawing small crowds of delighted neighbors. The goats and sheep got rave reviews, and everyone hopes to see it happen again next year.
Except (you knew this was coming) here’s the problem:
Between transportation and labor costs, the job was a money-losing proposition for the herder, said Brittany “Cole” Bush, owner of Shepherdess Land & Livestock in Ojai and program director of the nonprofit Ojai Valley Fire Safe Council.
Bush agreed to bring 100 of her nearly 600 head of goats and dorper sheep (a.k.a. hair sheep that molt their coats) to Mount Washington as an experiment this spring. Neighbors who own small parcels from a quarter acre to 6 acres banded together to make it happen. Many of those parcels are adjoined, so if enough landowners came together to cover the cost, it seemed like a win-win for everyone.
But there weren’t enough collaborators to make the project pencil out, Bush said, and without a firm partnership, “it’s just not economically viable for small landowners to hire us.” Her company, she said, needs at least $10,000 to clear at least 10 acres before it can cover all its considerable costs.
For example, Bush said she can comfortably fit 100 animals in one of her 24-foot-long double deck trailers, but big rigs like that can’t navigate narrow windy roads, “and the roads around Mount Washington are absolutely bonkers, so we had to use an 18-foot trailer and make three 100-mile round trips to get all the animals we needed up there, about 101 goats and sheep.”
Pliable, solar-powered electric fences have to be erected even on the steepest hills to keep grazers out of yards and both two-legged and four-legged predators away from the herd.
(Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)
And then it takes a day for a shepherd to set up 1,000 to 2,000 feet of pliable, solar-powered electric fences around the grazing area, something they must do repeatedly as the herd moves to new grazing areas. And the shepherds must be on guard 24 hours a day to protect the herd from predators like coyotes, neighborhood dogs and humans who think they’re tasty, or just think it would be fun to knock down the fence to watch the whole herd wander out onto a street, which happened in Santa Clarita in April.
So if you have a landowner with just a small parcel, say a quarter or half acre, they only want to pay around $500, Bush said, “but $500 doesn’t cover my cost for the day. For small acreage it would need to be closer to $2,000 an acre for it to work.”
The solution, she said, will require more cohesive partnerships between small landowners, nonprofits and public entities such as fire safe councils (there are several around L.A. County), resource conservation districts and even county parks and recreation programs to go after state grant money that, thanks to a new law, can now be used to help pay for prescribed grazing.
There is an L.A.-based company that uses goats to clear small parcels of land, typically an acre or less, but even for Party Goats LA, those costs typically run around $1,200 to $2,000 for a parcel under an acre, said owner Scout Raskin, with the cost largely dependent on how much fencing she has to use to contain the herd.
A billy goat munches on a tall, slender stalk of invasive black mustard at the top of Kite Hill in Mount Washington.
(Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)
Raskin has been raising and training a small herd of goats and sheep for seven years, renting them out for parties, films and other special events, but when she lost her job as a television animation producer in 2023, she turned her side hustle into a full-time gig by adding brush clearance to their duties.
She had to increase her flock first, to 28 goats and eight sheep, all of whom she bottle fed, trained and named, and get some lessons in rolling out electric fencing on near-vertical slopes. But the phone has been ringing off the hook this year, she said.
It’s a lot of work, Raskin said, “but the benefits of grazing are insane, because the goats eat the seeds, so the vegetation density goes down every year because the seeds don’t germinate … and they’re depositing their nutrient-rich manure into the soil.”
Final bonus point, said parcel owner Michael Tessler, is the camaraderie and happiness that came with the grazers. Tessler, an architect, bought his small, unbuildable parcel on Kite Hill, a few blocks from his home, to encourage the growth of more native walnut trees and other native shrubs on the steep slope. Grazing wasn’t cheaper than hiring a weed-whacking team to do the work, he said, but the benefits are so much greater.
“I’ve met more neighbors in the past two and a half weeks than I have in the last 15 year of living here,” Tessler said. “People tend to be guarded on a day-to-day basis, but they see a sheep and something changes in them.”
Then bring on the sheep, I say, or as Tessler said more beautifully, “Put joy in the world where you can.”
Two other notes:
Project Phoenix, a joint project of UCLA and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, needs your help to understand how wildfire smoke is affecting birds in California, Oregon and Washington.
Program director Olivia Sanderfoot is looking for volunteers — community scientists — to watch birds in the same specific location for 10 minutes once a week, and report what they see. You can observe multiple locations, just make sure you fill out a separate form for each spot, even if one spot is in your front yard and another is in your back. Signing up is easy, and you’ll be automatically enrolled in online training. I’ll be watching from my front yard, where I have lots of native plants, and my back, where most of my veggies are planted.
An early morning fire at Arlington Garden in Pasadena on May 21 destroyed the garden’s storage shed and all the tools, event furniture and other equipment stored inside, as well as the electricity that powered its extensive drip irrigation system. The fire is still under investigation, but South Pasadena Fire Investigator John Papadakis said arson wasn’t the cause.
In the meantime, the garden is closed until the area can be cleared, said Executive Director A.J. Jewell. The board has started a $40,000 fundraiser to help replace the shed and other items destroyed in the fire.
Newsletter
You’re reading the L.A. Times Plants newsletter
Jeanette Marantos gives you a roundup of upcoming plant-related activities and events in Southern California, along with our latest plant stories.
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Upcoming events
Through Dec. 31 Free soil testing for lead for certain properties downwind of the Eaton fire burn area, provided by the County of Los Angeles Public Health Department. Enter your address on the website to see if your property qualifies. Test results take about a week and measure lead levels in the soil only. Instructions for collecting soil samples are on the website. publichealth.lacounty.gov
June 1 San Gabriel Valley Chrysanthemum Society Chrysanthemum & Plant Sales, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Los Angeles County Arboretum’s Ayres Hall in Arcadia. Admission to the sale is free with $15 ticket to the garden ($11 seniors 62+ and students with ID, $5 children ages 5-12, members and children 4 and younger enter free). arboretum.org
June 6 Propagating California Native Plants From Cuttings, a hands-on class taught by Theodore Payne Foundation Horticulture Director Tim Becker, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the foundation in Sun Valley. Participants will leave with a flat of 50 starts. All materials provided. Tickets are $92.55 ($81.88 members). eventbrite.com
June 7 Monrovia Community Garden Volunteer Day, 9 a.m. to noon in Monrovia. Volunteers will help with a variety of activities, including weeding and garden maintenance. Participation is free but registration is required. portal.caclimateactioncorps.org
Compost Workshop at Apricot Lane Farms, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the farm in Moorpark. A hands-on workshop about how the farm creates compost and uses it to enrich its soil. Tickets are $80.52. eventbrite.com
June 8 California Botanic Garden’s Introduction to the Sunflower family (Asteraceae), an introductory hands-on class taught by Samantha Ingram, the garden’s botany program graduate student, 1 to 4 p.m. at the garden in Claremont. Register online, $55 ($45 members). calbg.org
Community Habitat Restoration work around the Audubon Center, 8:15 to 10:45 a.m. at Ernest E. Debs Regional Park in Montecito Heights. Volunteers will help remove invasive species and water new native plantings. Participation is free but you must register online. act.audubon.org
June 13 Comprehensive Irrigation for California Native Plants, a hands-on class taught by Theodore Payne Foundation Horticulture Director Tim Becker, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the foundation in Sun Valley. Learn how, when and why to irrigate California native plants in a landscape. Tickets are $71.21 ($60.54 members). eventbrite.com
June 14 Planting for Pollinators at San Clemente State Beach, 9 a.m. to noon in San Clemente, one of many activities planned statewide in honor of California State Parks Week June 11-15. The goal of the San Clemente State Parks event is to create a community garden, path and educational area and to enhance habitat for the overwintering Western monarch. The beach is one of only 50 designated coastal overwintering sites for the endangered butterfly. Participants will help with planting, weeding and watering while learning how to identify pollinators and the native plants they need to survive. Activities also include crafts, storytelling and an art installation giving participants a chance to paint a pre-drawn mural. All ages welcome, ADA accessible. Participation is free but registration is required. castateparksweek.org
Southern California Carnivorous Plant Enthusiasts Carnivorous Plant Show & Sale, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sherman Library & Gardens in Corona del Mar. The show includes a talk and Q&A about carnivorous plants at 11:30 a.m. and a guided tour of the garden’s carnivorous bog at 1:30 p.m. led by Horticulture Director Kyle Cheesborough. Free with $5 admission to the garden (members and children 3 and younger enter free.) Military ID holders also enter free with up to five family members through Labor Day (Sept. 1) as well as on Veterans Day (Nov. 11). thesherman.org
Black Thumb Farm Native Plant Stewarding and Propagation, 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the farm in Panorama City. Learn how to identify plants, their role in the ecosystem and how to propagate native plants found around the farm. Participation is free, but registration is required. portal.caclimateactioncorps.org
Summer Rose Care Class, a free class about how to care for roses during the summer to prolong your blooms into the fall, 10 to 11 a.m. at Otto & Sons Nursery in Fillmore. ottoandsonsnursery.com
Nature Club for Kids: Butterflies With the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, a free introduction to the butterflies living on the peninsula, with crafts and a butterfly hike for ages 3 to 10 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the White Point Nature Education Center in San Pedro. pvplc.org
Guided Nature Walk at Alta Vicente Reserve, a moderate to strenuous walk exploring coastal sage scrub habitat with views of Catalina Island and a chance to spot rare birds such as coastal cactus wrens, 9 to 11:30 a.m. in Rancho Palos Verdes. Free, but registration is required. pvplc.org
June 14-15 Los Angeles International Fern Society Annual Fern & Exotic Plant Show & Sale, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on June 14, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 15 at the Los Angeles County Arboretum’s Ayres Hall in Arcadia. Admission is free with $15 ticket to the garden ($11 seniors 62+ and students with ID, $5 children ages 5-12, members and children 4 and younger enter free). arboretum.org
June 14 and 28 Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy’s Native Plant Sales 10:30 a.m. to noon both days at the George F. Canyon Nature Preserve in Rancho Palos Verdes on June 14 and the White Point Nature Education Center in San Pedro on June 28. Plants are grown at the conservancy’s nursery. pvplc.org
June 14, 21 and 28th Three-Part California Native Garden Design class taught by landscape designer Mari Taylor of Deerbrush Design, 1 to 5 p.m. each day at the Theodore Payne Foundation classroom in Sun Valley. Learn how to evaluate your existing garden, use or convert irrigation systems and basic design approaches. The introductory, online Right Plant, Right Place class on June 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. ($35, or $25 members) is a prerequisite for this course. Tickets are $348.65 ($295.29 members) or $412.67 for couples ($359.32 members). eventbrite.com
June 20-22 Grow Native Nursery Milkweed Fest & End-Of-Season Plant Sale, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 20-21, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 22 at the California Botanic Garden. The nursery is celebrating monarch butterflies with the sale of seven different regional species of milkweed, the plant their larva (caterpillars) require to survive, as well as many other California native plants popular with pollinators. This is the last weekend the nursery will be open until the fall. The sale begins June 20. The Milkweed Fest on June 21 will include information about butterfly gardening, the monarch count in Los Angeles and Orange counties and milkweed mapping with vendors from the Xerces Society and Monarch Watch. On June 22, the festival ends with the Butterflies and Brews happy hour from 3:30 to 6 p.m. with drinks, music and socializing. calbg.org
June 21 Fire-Resilient Gardens: A Maintenance Walk and Talk with Theodore Payne Foundation educator Erik Blank, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the foundation in Sun Valley. Learn how to prune and maintain your garden for wildfire safety. Tickets are $39.19 ($28.52 members). eventbrite.com
June 21, 22, 28 or 29 Early Summer Tours of Apricot Lane Farms, the famed organic Moorpark farm behind the documentary film “The Biggest Little Farm,” at 9 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 3 p.m. each day. Participants must be able to walk at least 1.5 miles on a tour that includes several hill climbs. Tickets are $64.69, children 5 and younger enter free with a ticketed adult. eventbrite.com
June 27 Propagating California Native Plants From Seed During the Warm Season, a class taught by horticulturist Ella Andersson, the Theodore Payne Foundation‘s chief botanical technician, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the foundation. Participants will help plant 10 species of warm-season seeds, which they can take home. All materials are included. Tickets are $92.55 ($81.88 members). eventbrite.com
June 28 Los Angeles Chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers Humongous June Plant Sale, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sepulveda Garden Center in Encino. The sale includes a variety of rare and unusual plants, including fruit trees, vines, berries, roses, flowers and succulents, and an expert on hand to answer questions about their care. Proceeds from the sale will go to support the chapter’s agricultural education programs. crfg-la.org
Botany of Oaks: A walk and talk native tree workshop with arborist Alison Lancaster, 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Theodore Payne Foundation grounds in Sun Valley. Learn how to recognize the many varieties of oaks during an outdoor walk followed by studying oak leaves under a microscope in a classroom. Tickets are $39.19 ($28.52 for members). eventbrite.com
Queer Ecology Walk and Mixer led by naturalist and educator Jason “Journeyman” Wise, 1 to 4 p.m. at the Theodore Payne Foundation’s gardens in Sun Valley. “Explore California’s native plants and ecosystems through the lens of queer ecology: the study of everything in nature that subverts our Western cultural expectations about how the natural world ‘should’ work,” according to the event description. Complimentary refreshments provided at the end of the walk, participants must be 21 or older. Tickets are $44.52 ($33.85 members). eventbrite.com
Tall, lanky and infinitely gracious, Dan Bifano is known as the gardener to the stars, building huge rose gardens for wealthy, famous SoCal clients like Barbra Streisand and Oprah. His clients can be notoriously picky, but that doesn’t seem to faze Bifano, who keeps his standards simple: perfection.
Dave Roberts downplayed the easy narrative on Sunday afternoon.
“No,” he said when asked if his Dodgers had the New York Yankees’ proverbial number, having followed up their defeat of the Bronx Bombers in last year’s World Series with two impressive wins to start this weekend’s rematch at Dodger Stadium.
“I think we’ve had their number the last two nights,” Roberts said, “but today’s a different day.”
Was it ever.
Twenty-four hours after a total annihilation of the Yankees in a 16-run rout on Saturday, the Dodgers suffered the kind of setback that has so often plagued them this season, squandering the chance to build further momentum in a 7-3 loss that prevented a series sweep.
For as complete a performance as the Dodgers (36-23) put together Saturday, they looked equally out of sorts in a “Sunday Night Baseball” finale, getting a rare bad start from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, mistakes on defense and basepaths that cost them early runs, and virtually nothing from a lineup that looked largely discombobulated against funky left-hander (and former Dodgers swingman) Ryan Yarbrough.
They might have come out of the weekend with a marquee series win, continuing to nurse a narrow lead in the National League West standings.
But, they invited more scrutiny over their inconsistent start to the season with a finale flop, dropping to 13-13 over their last 26 games.
“You got to focus on the positives,” third baseman Max Muncy said. “We just took two of three from a really, really good team. We’re obviously upset that we didn’t get this one. But we played two really good games. … Just [today] the result wasn’t there.”
Yamamoto had been the one constant in the Dodgers’ injury-plagued rotation. His 1.97 earned-run average was second in the NL. His 64 innings not only led the team, but were almost twice as many as anyone else besides Dustin May.
Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto shouts in frustration after giving up a home run to New York’s Ben Rice in the third inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Yamamoto also had an impressive personal track record against the Yankees (36-22), shutting them out over seven innings in New York last June before delivering 6 ⅓ innings of one-run ball in Game 2 of the World Series.
On Sunday, however, he couldn’t consistently find the strike zone or execute his trademark splitter. And after scoring just two runs in their previous 15 innings in this series, the Yankees finally came to life at the plate.
“I was not being able to control my pitches,” Yamamoto said through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. “During the game, I was trying to make an adjustment, but … I could not get it back, my stuff.”
In the first, Trent Grisham singled and Ben Rice walked before Jasson Domínguez dumped a line drive into left, driving in a run when Andy Pages airmailed his throw to home plate.
In the third, a leadoff walk to Judge was followed by a two-run homer to Rice — Yamamoto missing badly with two splitters in the first at-bat before leaving one hanging in the next.
Later in the inning, the Yankees scored again after Yamamoto gave up two singles and spiked a splitter for a run-scoring wild pitch.
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani strikes out against the Yankees in the first inning Sunday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
And with two outs in the fourth, Roberts pulled Yamamoto, his pitch count having ballooned to 96 on a day he gave up a season-high in hits (seven) and walked three others. It was the first time this year that Yamamoto, whose ERA rose to 2.39, had failed to complete the fifth.
“He wasn’t great today, wasn’t sharp with any of his pitches,” Roberts said. “Really uncharacteristic.”
The Dodgers faltered in other ways, as well.
After his first-inning throwing error, Pages made a mistake on the bases in the second. Following a one-out double, he was thrown out on an over-aggressive steal of third. That meant that when Tommy Edman homered moments later — his first long ball in 17 games, breaking him out of a recent funk at the plate — it was only a solo blast, temporarily tying the score before the Yankees answered in the next half-inning.
There would be no counterpunch from Dodgers’ offense, which was missing Mookie Betts for a third-straight game because of a toe fracture (Betts said before the game his toe was starting to feel better, and went through pregame activities in hopes of avoiding a stint on the injured list).
Instead, Yarbrough cruised against the team that dealt him away at last year’s trade deadline.
Even though he never hit 90 mph with his fastball, he induced a string of soft contact while striking out five in a six-inning start. Yarbrough was especially effective against the top of the Dodgers’ order, which went a combined 0 for 16.
“It’s funky,” catcher Will Smith, who was batting cleanup, said of Yarbrough’s unorthodox delivery. “We gave them a little momentum. They jumped on us early [with] some long innings. So he did a good job attacking us and keeping us off balance.”
The Dodgers did show some life after Yarbrough’s exit, with Pages and Muncy each taking reliever Jonathan Loáisiga deep within the space of three at-bats.
But by then, it was much too little, much too late — resulting in the Dodgers’ second straight series in which they failed to complete a sweep, and yet another momentum-halting loss in a season plagued by a few too many of them.
“I think for us, the takeaway is we won a series and that was the goal coming in,” Roberts said. “I think at the end of the day, you keep winning series and things will take care of themselves.”
Six people are being treated for injuries after a man “started setting people on fire” at a mall in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday, police say. A peaceful event in support of the Israeli hostages was taking place when the attack occurred. Authorities say the suspect was seen throwing Molotov cocktails, and using other devices to hurt people. The victims, aged between 66 and 88, are being treated for a range of minor and serious injuries – with at least one in critical condition. The FBI says they are investigating the incident as a “suspected act of terrorism”.
Hollyoaks fans want Lucas Hay and Dillon Ray, known as HayRay, to get together permanently and have a future on the Channel 4 soap, and now the stars playing them have dropped hints
22:42, 01 Jun 2025Updated 22:49, 01 Jun 2025
Fans hoping for a HayRay reunion on Hollyoaks could be in luck according to the stars playing the pair(Image: (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage))
Fans hoping for a HayRay reunion on Hollyoaks could be in luck according to the stars playing the pair.
Lucas Hay and Dillon Ray have been on and off for a while now, and every time it seems like they’re back together something gets in the way. At a time where both characters are facing traumatic events in their lives, fans are hoping the pair will lean on each other and get through it all.
But will HayRay, as they are known to adoring fans, finally get their romance back on track and be together? Cast members Nathaniel Dass and Oscar Curtis spoke exclusively to The Mirror about the big scenes ahead that could see the pair finally happy.
While Lucas actor Oscar joked it may be short-lived, he did say he was sure there was happier times ahead for the on/off couple. With fans sure they are meant to be together, Dillon star Nathaniel teased there would be a “storm brewing” and “conflict” ahead, but that it could be the moment the pair get things on track.
Of course we requested to speak to the pair together, with them agreeing it was a must. Speaking at the British Soap Awards 2025, they initially remained coy over whether HayRay were back.
Cast members Nathaniel Dass and Oscar Curtis spoke exclusively to The Mirror(Image: Getty Images)
Nathaniel said: “We can’t tell you that,” with Oscar jibing: “You’d ruin the fun.” Nathaniel then explained: “The beauty of Lucas and Dillon is you don’t know. It’s amazing when we are together and it’s crushing when we’re not, and I think thats’ fun.
“We can’t say what happens and what doesn’t but we know it’s exciting.” Oscar went on: “There’s always something brewing, there’s always a storm. The fans want the calm but the storm is always fun, and it makes it work.”
On the couple being so on and off, Nathaniel told us: “It’s the ups and the downs as well. When one character is up the other one is down, and when you think one character’s ready for a relationship, the other one’s not. That’s where the chaos works and where it shows, and it’s hard as they are completely different characters and so they’re never on the same page.”
On whether there is a future for HayRay, Oscar teased: “I’m sure there will be.” Nathaniel then shared: “Let’s hope so. It will be lovely to see, even if it’s only for a little bit,” as Oscar joked: “Yeah, at least two weeks.”
Joking aside, Oscar and Nathaniel are keen to see their characters reconcile for good and make their relationship work. Nathaniel said: “We had it for a little bit and hopefully can get back to that.”
Hollyoaks fans want Lucas Hay and Dillon Ray, known as HayRay, to get together permanently(Image: WireImage)
Oscar has been keeping an eye on the fan reaction too, before feeding back to his co-star about what fans are saying. He told us: “I’m on social media every day. If I see something I don’t like I’m like, ‘never mind’.” Nathaniel said it was “nice to hear the positive stuff” fans share about the couple.
With that Oscar declared: “Hashtag HayRay,” with his pal adding: “HayRay forever.” Oscar then revealed “conflict” would be ahead on the show with Dillon agreeing, but both stars confirmed fans will see the characters together a lot more, no doubt sparking hopes the pair will finally make it work.
Nathaniel told us: “There’s conflict but there’s a lot more. As characters we haven’t spent a lot of time on screen together but you are definitely gonna see a lot more of us together after this.
“There’s the calming down and processing of what’s happened, and then you’ll see a lot more of them.” Oscar concluded: “Let’s put it this way, HayRay might be back for now.”
Hollyoaks is available to stream on Channel 4’s streaming service now, while it also airs Mondays to Wednesdays on E4 at 7PM.* Follow Mirror Celebs and TV onTikTok,Snapchat,Instagram,Twitter,Facebook,YouTubeandThreads.
Former England bowler Stuart Broad will work with South Africa in the build-up to the World Test Championship final against Australia later this month.
Broad, 38, will work for one day as a consultant at training on 9 June – his first role in coaching since retiring at the end of the 2023 Ashes.
Broad took 604 wickets in 167 Tests, putting him second on England’s all-time list behind long-time team-mate James Anderson.
He took 153 of those wickets against Australia – the most by any player in Test history.
Since retiring he has worked as a TV pundit but will help South Africa prepare for the World Test Championship final begins at Lord’s on 11 June.
The Proteas begin a warm-up match against Zimbabwe at Arundel Castle Cricket Ground in Sussex on Tuesday.
Australia are defending champions, having beaten India at The Oval in 2023.
Fans of Paris Saint-Germain on the Champs-Élysées after their team won the UEFA Champions League final against Internazionale Milano, Paris, France, 31 May 2025. Photo by Christophe Petit Tesson/EPA-EFE
June 1 (UPI) — At least two people have died, and hundreds were reported injured, in the chaotic aftermath of Paris Saint-Germain’s victory against Inter Milan at the Champions League final in Munich on Saturday.
The French Interior Ministry confirmed in an emailed statement to UPI that two people had died and 192 people were injured overnight Saturday. In total, 559 arrests were made, including 491 people in Paris.
The chaos also led to the injury of 22 police officers and seven firefighters, the Interior Ministry said. There were 692 fire incidents recorded, including some 264 burning cars.
PSG had defeated Inter Milan 5-0, marking the team’s first championship win and the first time a French team had won in more than three decades.
“All over France last night, numerous police and firefighters were injured as they intervened to restore public order and provide assistance during the Paris Saint-Germain victory celebrations,” French National Police spokesperson Agathe Foucault said in a statement.
“In Coutances, Manche, a police officer from the canine brigade was hit in the eye by a firework mortar. He is currently hospitalized in a serious condition. Thoughts and best wishes for a speedy recovery to all our colleagues.”
The deaths included a 17-year-old boy who was stabbed in the chest in the southern town of Dax and a 23-year-old man who was hit by a car while riding his scooter in central Paris, The New York Times reported.
Bruno Retailleau, the French interior minister, called rioters “barbarians” in comments to social media.
Deterred by escalating anti-tourist sentiment in Spain? Don’t worry, this beautiful EU island offers equally stunning beaches, history and architecture – all without the threat of angry protestors
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This tiny but magical EU island hasn’t been experiencing anti-tourist demonstrations(Image: Getty Images)
Avoid the angry protestors on this stunning European island just over three hours from the UK.
For decades, sun-worshipping Brits have been flocking to sunny Spain – partying in the hectic regions of Magaluf and Benidorm, or chilling out in the more laid-back coastal gems stretching across the Costa del Sol. Lured in by golden sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, cheap booze and stunning history, the country has watched its tourism rapidly boom.
Last year, Spain and its slew of insatiably popular islands, witnessed a record-breaking 94 million international visitors – a 10 per cent spike from the year before. However, the influx sparked backlash amongst locals, who argue the skyrocketing demand for short-term holiday lets has priced them out of the property market. 2024 witnessed a string of protests erupt across the country, with banner-holding residents demanding Brits ‘go home’ and never return. This anti-tourist rhetoric has spiralled in recent years, with fresh vows of demonstrations to take place during the insufferably busy summer.
Brits have been warned of a ‘bleak’ summer in Spain this year(Image: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
If you’ve been put off by the clashing protests, Joanne Lynn, a European travel expert over at Riviera Travel, recommends visiting Malta instead. Situated in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the North African coast – Malta may only span some 122 square miles, but it certainly packs a powerful punch.
Here, you’ll find a UNESCO city dripping in history, ancient ruins, stunning architecture and pristine beaches. Highlights include the ‘Blue Grotto’ – a network of six sea caves that has been branded the perfect dupe of Italy’s Amalfi Coast – and the Saluting Battery ceremony in the capital, where a restored canon is fired Monday through Sunday twice a day.
Malta’s Blue Grotto is a must-visit attraction(Image: Getty Images)
Speaking exclusively with the Mirror, Joanne explained how the country has ‘largely avoided’ this kind of tension thanks to the island’s more ‘measured approach to tourism and strong emphasis on maintaining local culture’. “While the island can certainly get busy, particularly around popular beach areas during peak season, it has not experienced the same degree of backlash or protest seen in places like Barcelona,” she said. “Crucially, Malta hasn’t faced the same pressures on housing markets or local infrastructure, which has helped preserve a generally positive relationship between residents and visitors.”
Last year, Malta welcomed 3.6 million tourists – almost 20 per cent more compared to 2023. But despite its growing popularity, Joanne says travellers can still enjoy a ‘fulfilling experience without the added concern of tourism-related unrest’. “Overall, Malta’s combination of high-quality restaurants, museums, historical tourist attractions and quiet towns makes it a great choice for anyone looking to avoid demonstrations across Europe, while still being able to experience a wonderful summer trip abroad,” she added.
Of course, this is not to say that everyone on the islands loves the sudden influx of Brits. Certain areas, such as Comino – a small island of the Maltese archipelago, have become super crowded in the busy summer months. Back in 2022, a local group named Movimenti Graffiti stripped the area of its deckchairs and sun beds to make it clear that Comino should be protected ‘not plundered’.
Comino has seen some pushback to over-tourism – but not to the extent of Spain(Image: Getty Images)
You can fly directly to Malta from most major UK airports, including Glasgow, Belfast, Liverpool, and London Stansted, with flights taking an average of three hours and 15 minutes. If you’re flexible with dates, you can grab return fares for as little as £50 in June.
Accommodation on the island is equally affordable, with a slew of no-thrill hotels, hostels, and apartments available. For example, a week’s stay (Monday, June 9-16) at The Rose Hostel in St Julian’s will set you back £349. This is based on two adults staying in a seven-bed mixed dorm. However, if you want a more luxurious trip – check out Grand Hotel Excelsior.
Located in Valetta, this stunning resort boasts a large outdoor and indoor pool, a private beach, spa, and three restaurants. You can splurge out on the Superior Deluxe Double Room with a sea view for £1,659 on the exact same dates.
*Prices based on Skyscanner and Booking.com listings at the time of writing.
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Watch: Footage shows attack drones homing in on their targets as they sit on the tarmac
Ukraine says it completed its biggest long-range attack of the war with Russia on Sunday, after using smuggled drones to launch a series of major strikes on 40 Russian warplanes at four military bases.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said 117 drones were used in the so-called “Spider’s Web” operation by the SBU security service, striking “34% of [Russia’s] strategic cruise missile carriers”.SBU sources told BBC News it took a year-and-a-half to organise the strikes.
Russia confirmed Ukrainian attacks in five regions, calling them a “terrorist act”.
The attacks come as Russian and Ukrainian negotiators are heading to Istanbul, Turkey, for a second round of peace talks on Monday.
The talks are expected to start around 13:00 local time (10:00 GMT) at the Ciragan Palace.
Expectations are low, as the two warring sides remain far apart on how to end the war.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported a massive drone and missile attack on its territory over the weekend.
At least six people, including a seven-year-old child, were injured following a strike in Kharkiv in the early hours of Monday, the region’s governor said.
Elsewhere, Russia’s state news agency Ria said the country’s security service thwarted an attempted arson attack in the east.
It said two residents in the Primorye region were attempting to sabotage a railway track on Ukraine’s orders.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including the southern Crimea peninsula annexed in 2014.
SBU sources earlier told BBC News Sunday’s attack involved drones hidden in wooden mobile cabins, with remotely operated roofs on trucks, brought near the airbases and then fired “at the right time”.
In several posts on social media late on Sunday, Zelensky said he congratulated SBU head Vasyl Maliuk with the “absolutely brilliant result” of the operation.
He said that each of the 117 drones launched had its own pilot.
“The most interesting thing – and we can already say this publicly – is that the ‘office’ of our operation on Russian territory was located right next to the FSB of Russia in one of their regions,” the Ukrainian president said.
The FSB is Russia’s powerful state security service.
Zelensky also said that all the people involved in the operation had been safely “led away” from Russia before the strikes.
The SBU estimated the damage to Russia’s strategic aviation was worth about $7bn (£5bn), promising to unveil more details soon.
The Ukrainian claims have not been independently verified.
Sources in the SBU earlier on Sunday told the BBC in a statement that four Russian airbases – two of which are thousands of miles from Ukraine – were hit:
Belaya in Irkutsk oblast (region), Siberia
Olenya in Murmansk oblast, Russia’s extreme north-west
Dyagilevo in central Ryazan oblast
Ivanovo in central Ivanovo oblast
The SBU sources said that among the hit Russian aircraft were strategic nuclear capable bombers called Tu-95 and Tu-22M3, as well as A-50 early warning warplanes.
They described the whole operation as “extremely complex logistically”.
“The SBU first smuggled FPV drones into Russia, followed later by mobile wooden cabins. Once on Russian territory, the drones were hidden under the roofs of these cabins, which had been placed on cargo vehicles,” the sources said.
“At the right moment, the roofs were remotely opened, and the drones took off to strike the Russian bombers.”
Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev confirmed drones that attacked the Belaya military base in Sredniy, Siberia, were launched from a truck.
Kobzev posted on Telegram to say that the launch site had been secured and there was no threat to life.
Russian media outlets have also reported that other attacks were similarly started with drones emerging from the lorries.
One user is heard saying that the drones were flying out of a Kamaz truck near a petrol station.
Russian media were reporting the attack in Murmansk but said air defences were working. The attack in Irkutsk was also being reported.
In a post on social media later on Sunday, the Russian defence ministry confirmed that airbases in the country’s five regions were attack.
It claimed that “all attacks were repelled” on military airbases in the Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur regions. The latter base was not mentioned by the SBU sources.
In the Murmansk and Irkutsk regions, “several aircraft caught fire” after drones were launched from nearby areas, the ministry said.
It said all the blazes were extinguished and there were no casualties. “Some of the participants in the terrorist attacks have been detained,” it added.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian authorities say 472 drones and seven ballistic and cruise missiles were involved in a wave of attacks on Ukraine last night.
This would appear to be one of the largest single Russian drone attacks so far. Ukraine says it “neutralised” 385 aerial targets.
In a separate development, Ukraine’s land forces said 12 of its military personnel were killed and more than 60 injured in a Russian missile strike on a training centre.
Ukraine’s head of land forces, Maj Gen Mykhailo Drapatyi, tendered his resignation shortly afterwards.
He said his decision was “dictated by my personal sense of responsibility for the tragedy”.
PASSENGERS could enjoy quicker journeys and fewer delays under the first shake-up of flight paths in 70 years.
Ministers have ordered an overhaul of UK airspace to create more direct routes.
The review could also let planes climb into the sky quicker to reduce the noise for communities below.
In the long-term, the government says the redesign would even create the necessary airspace for the “flying taxis” of the future to operate.
Britain’s flightpaths have not been changed since the 1950s when there were just 200,000 flights per year, compared with 2.7million in 2024.
It has resulted in flight congestion that often forces planes to circle overhead before landing, causing frustration to passengers as well as more emissions.
A new UK Airspace Design Service will be up and running by the end of the year, and will first focus on re-carving London’s flightpaths in anticipation of a third Heathrow runway.
Transport Minister Mike Kane said: “Redesigned ‘skyways’ will turbocharge growth in the aviation industry.
“Not least by boosting airport expansion plans and supporting job creation, driving millions into the UK economy as part of the Plan for Change.
“Modernising our airspace is also one of the simplest ways to help reduce pollution from flying and will set the industry up for a long-term sustainable future.”
Tim Alderslade of Airlines UK added: “Modernising UK airspace is long overdue.
“These changes will help to speed up a programme that will provide tangible reforms, from a reduction in delays, improved resilience and lower carbon emissions.”
Travelers have only days before May 23 ‘flight switch’ rule ends – you face long delays if you don’t act immediately
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Passengers could enjoy quicker journeys and fewer delays under the first shake-up of flight paths in 70 yearsCredit: Alamy
Under threat of elimination, UC Irvine‘s bats emerged once again.
Bringing the power for a second straight game, the Anteaters connected for five home runs Sunday, eliminating Arizona State 11-6 in the Los Angeles Regional of the NCAA baseball tournament.
Needing to win four straight games to advance to the super regionals after losing to Arizona State on Friday, UC Irvine is halfway to its goal.
Alonso Reyes — who had just one home run in 2025 entering Sunday’s game — ripped a two-run home run off of Sun Devils starter Derek Schaefer in the fourth inning. Later in the inning, after Arizona State coach Willie Bloomquist went with Lucas Kelly out of the bullpen, Chase Call cleared the batter’s eye in dead center field for a two-run home run to give the Anteaters a 6-1 lead.
UC Irvine took a 7-2 lead in the sixth when Call launched a changeup over the heart of the plate from Sun Devils closer Cole Carlon beyond the left-field wall and into the neighborhood behind Jackie Robinson Stadium.
Call’s two home runs weren’t the only examples of the Anteaters’ power at the plate.
UC Irvine star center fielder Jacob McCombs connected for a no-doubt home run (423 feet, 106.5 mph) for the second straight day in the third inning, lifting the ball over The Jack and Rhodine Gifford Training Facility in right field. McCombs, an All-Big-West First Team honoree, leaned back in the batter’s box after his home run, taking time to admire his go-ahead blast.
Even when the Sun Devils threatened — scoring three in the sixth to make it a two-run game — James Castagnola replenished the lead with a two-run home run in the seventh. UC Irvine forced Carlon — who entered the game with a 2.73 earned-run average — from the game. He conceded a season-high five runs (four earned) across 1⅓ innings.
Plenty is still up for grabs for the Anteaters, but it will now require more of the same offense — and taking down UCLA twice (once Sunday night and on Monday) to extend their season. Luckily for coach Ben Orloff, he preserved most of his pitching staff thanks to redshirt sophomore left-hander Ryder Brooks’ start.
The brother of former UCLA Friday night starting pitcher Jake Brooks made himself at home at Jackie Robinson Stadium, tossing 5⅓ innings of five-run ball, giving up six hits, walking four and striking out three with low-slot delivery. It was Brooks’ longest start since a complete-game shutout of Hawaii on April 19.
Orloff dipped into his bullpen for just two relief pitchers. Ricky Ojeda, the Big West Pitcher of the Year, tossed 1 ⅓ innings on 34 pitches. Over the last three days, Ojeda has thrown 74 pitches — and would be on just a few hours rest if he pitches Sunday night against UCLA. The Anteaters split their midweek season series against the Bruins earlier this year.
1 of 3 | Lee Jae-myung, leader of the liberal Democratic party, shakes hands with attendees at the 76th anniversary of the Jeju 4.3 memorial ceremony at the Jeju 4.3 Peace Park in Jeju City, South Korea, on April 3, 2024. File Photo by Darryl Coote/UPI
June 1 (UPI) — Ahead of South Korea’s snap presidential elections on Tuesday, the nation’s diplomatic relations with North Korea and China have risen to the fore — and officials are investigating voting irregularities.
“The relations between South Korea and China have become the worst ever,” Lee Jae-myung, the left-leaning presidential candidate leading public opinion polls, said in remarks to The New York Times. “I will stabilize and manage the relations.”
The already historically low diplomatic relations between South Korea and North Korea, as well as its relations with China, further soured after then-South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was removed from office over imposing martial law in April, a move that was short-lived.
The bellicose North Korea has distance itself from South Korea following the failed 2019 Hanoi summit between Korean Korean Kim Jong-un and President Donald Trump, which continued during Yoon’s conservative administration.
Pyongyang last year ended its founding goal of reunification and named South Korea its “principal enemy.”
The Yoon administration also shook a delicate diplomatic balance between Washington and Beijing. China was South Korea’s biggest post-Cold War trading partner, but the United States was its main military ally.
Early voter turnout was strong, but poll watchers expressed concern over irregularities. In past elections, the National Election Commission dismissed the irregularities as “simple mistakes” or “minor mistakes.”
The NEC has pushed back on claims of polling irregularities.
Independent candidate Hwang Kyo-ahn withdrew from the race Sunday, saying he was shifting his efforts to supporting People Power Party’s Kim Moon-soo.
South Korean independent presidential candidate Hwang Kyo-ahn said on Sunday that he is withdrawing from the race to support People Power Party’s Kim Moon-soo, local media reported.
“I will withdraw my efforts to supporting Kim Moon-soo to protect the government,” he said. My final task is to prevent election fraud. Fortunately, Kim has pledged to address election irregularities.”
Polling places are scheduled to receive ballots from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, which is a holiday because of the election.
“We are at a critical juncture,” Lee said on social media Sunday, “and it is in the hands of each and every one of you that we can return this country to its people, halt the retreat of democracy, and create a truly great Korea.
