Andy Murray tells BBC Sport’s Clare Balding he would be open to coaching again in the future, but doesn’t “think it will happen immediately” following his stint with Novak Djokovic earlier this year.
As United States President Donald Trump’s administration cracks down on immigrants and protesters in Los Angeles, it has deployed 2,000 members of the National Guard to aid its efforts.
Trump authorised the deployment after the protests began on Friday, following Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests of 44 people in the city for violating immigration laws.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, former Vice President Kamala Harris and many other senior leaders of the Democratic Party have criticised Trump’s deployment. They have described the deployment of the National Guard against protesters as a provocation aimed at further inflaming tensions already roiling the country’s second-largest city.
But what is the National Guard, and why is its deployment such a political flashpoint?
The National Guard is a branch of the US military that can perform state and federal functions.
This means the guard is largely used to respond to state-level emergencies but can also be federalised. The president can also deploy National Guard soldiers to overseas missions.
The guard’s origins trace back to 1636 when it started as citizen-soldier militias in Massachusetts, which is now a US state but was then a British colony.
The National Guard became an organised force after the passage of the Militia Act of 1903. The two world wars solidified its status as an organised branch of the US military.
The Air National Guard was established in 1947 to complement a territorial force.
It had 431,291 members as of 2023, the latest data released by the US Department of Defense.
That included the Army National Guard, which consists of 326,317 soldiers, and the Air National Guard, which has 104,974 members.
Many members of the guard serve part-time while working civilian jobs or attending college.
All members recruited into the guard have to undergo basic training. After this, they attend drills at regular intervals. Typically, drills take place one weekend each month. Every year, members attend a two-week training.
Typically, if a US state is experiencing an emergency that requires a National Guard deployment as a response, the state’s governor may deploy its forces stationed in the state.
However, presidents can also federalise the National Guard from a state, but typically, this requires a governor’s approval to do so.
The guard is deployed in cases of natural disasters or severe weather, civil unrest, war or when election assistance is needed.
In 2005, for instance, about 50,000 National Guard soldiers were deployed after Hurricane Katrina hit multiple southern US states.
In January, Newsom deployed the National Guard as wildfires ravaged several areas of Los Angeles. In recent years, plainclothes National Guard soldiers have staffed polling places during elections.
During the current protests, however, Trump deployed the guard in Los Angeles without Newsom’s approval.
Robert Cohen, professor of history and social studies at New York University, told Al Jazeera that Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard without getting Newsom on board was “wrong, but typical of the way Trump’s partisanship pollutes almost all of his major decisions”.
In 1957, President Dwight D Eisenhower federalised the Arkansas National Guard to desegregate public schools after the US Supreme Court’s Brown v Board of Education ruling, which established that racial segregation in public schools is illegal.
In 1992, California Governor Pete Wilson and President George HW Bush, both Republicans, deployed the National Guard to quell riots in Los Angeles. Protests, looting, assaults and arson broke out after four police officers who were filmed beating Rodney King, an African American man, for 15 minutes were acquitted of charges of excessive force.
The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 generally prevents the National Guard and other branches of the US military from being used in civilian law enforcement.
Presidents may circumvent this by invoking the 1807 Insurrection Act, which gives the US president the power to deploy the military to suppress an insurrection.
In 1965, President Lyndon B Johnson invoked the act and deployed the guard to protect civil rights marchers in Alabama. He did this without taking Alabama Governor George Wallace, a known segregationist, on board. Before Saturday, this was the last time a US president had deployed the National Guard without the approval of the governor.
For the second successive year, the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos, will host the grand finale of the President Federation Cup competition, which is scheduled for Saturday, 28th June.
The compact but dainty facility by the waterfront hosted last year’s grand finale, in which El-Kanemi Warriors defeated Abia Warriors to emerge winners of the men’s competition, while Rivers Angels edged Naija Ratels 1-0 in the women’s version.
The venue is also the site of the former King George V Stadium, which was later renamed Lagos City Stadium, and later known as Onikan Stadium.
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Lagos State has hosted a total of 60 grand finales of Nigeria’s oldest Cup competition, which was known variously in the past as Governor’s Cup, FA Cup, Challenge Cup and Federation Cup.
Of the 60 Final matches, 18 were staged at the King George V, between 1945 and 1962. The venue was then renamed Lagos City Stadium, and continued to host the final matches until 1972, when the clash between Mighty Jets and Bendel Insurance was stalemated at 2-2 and had to be replayed. The replay was taken to the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, and that was the first time the Final was played outside Lagos.
The National Stadium, Surulere, which was built in 1972 to host the 2nd All-Africa Games that Nigeria staged in 1973, commenced hosting of the grand finale in 1974, as there was no competition in 1973 due to the 2nd All-Africa Games and the maiden edition of the National Sports Festival.
The National Stadium, Surulere hosted a total of 22 Final matches, with the last Final there in 2002, when Julius Berger defeated Yobe Desert Stars 3-0 to emerge champions.
Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos hosted eight Final matches (2007 & 2009, and 2011-2016). The grand finale has also taken place previously at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi (1989 and 1994), Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi (1992 and 2008), Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna (1993, 1997, 2003 and 2019), Rancher Bees Stadium, Kaduna (1998), Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City (2004 and 2021), Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt (2005), MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta (2006), Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano (2010), Agege City Stadium (2017) and the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba (2018 and 2023).
Early on Monday morning, the Madleen ship, launched by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was intercepted by the Israeli military about 185 km (100 nautical miles) from Gaza, in international waters.
Among the 12 detained crew members are climate advocate Greta Thunberg, Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, Al Jazeera journalist Omar Faiad, and other activists.
Israeli media reported that the Madleen and its crew were being taken to the port city of Ashdod, about 30km (19 miles) north of Gaza, where National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has instructed prison authorities to hold the activists in solitary confinement, isolated from one another and the outside world.
The ship, which departed from Sicily on June 1, was carrying humanitarian aid for starving Palestinians who have been under a strict Israeli blockade since March 2. The blockade was only partially eased last month amid growing international pressure.
Several Freedom Flotilla vessels have attempted to break the blockade of Gaza.
In 2008, two boats from the Free Gaza Movement successfully reached Gaza, marking the first break of Israel’s naval blockade. The movement, founded in 2006 by activists during Israel’s war on Lebanon, went on to launch 31 boats between 2008 and 2016, five of which reached Gaza despite heavy Israeli restrictions.
Since 2010, all flotillas attempting to break the Gaza blockade have been intercepted or attacked by Israel in international waters.
The map below shows the approximate locations where prominent flotillas were stopped, some encountering deadly Israeli forces.
In 2010, Israeli commandos raided the Mavi Marmara in international waters. The assault killed 10 activists and injured dozens, leading to global outrage. The ship was carrying humanitarian aid and more than 600 passengers.
The Mavi Marmara was owned and run by the Humanitarian Relief Foundation, or IHH, a Turkish NGO. The incident severely strained Israel-Turkiye relations and drew widespread condemnation for violating international law.
In 2013, Israel apologised for “operational mistakes” in the raid. A compensation deal is still being negotiated between the two countries. Israeli soldiers and officials who took part in the attack are being tried in absentia in Turkiye for war crimes.
Freedom Flotilla II was launched in 2011 as a follow-up to the 2010 mission. Organised by a coalition of international activists and NGOs, it aimed to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid. The flotilla involved more than 300 participants from around the world and was set to sail on 10 vessels.
However, intense diplomatic pressure from Israel, coupled with reported sabotage of ships and restrictions by host countries like Greece, prevented most boats from departing.
Only the Dignite-Al Karama came close to reaching Gaza. The 17-passenger French vessel initially declared an Egyptian port as its destination upon leaving Greek waters, but activists later announced they were heading for Gaza. Israeli naval commandos intercepted the boat and towed it to Ashdod. The activists were detained for questioning and later deported.
Freedom Flotilla III was launched in 2015 as the third major attempt by international activists to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. Organised by the FFC, the mission included several vessels, with the Swedish-flagged Marianne of Gothenburg leading the effort.
On June 29, 2015, Israeli naval forces intercepted the Marianne about 100 nautical miles off the Gaza coast, in international waters. Commandos boarded the ship and diverted it to Ashdod. The activists on board were detained and later deported, with some crew members released after six days.
The Just Future for Palestine Flotilla – also known as the 2018 Gaza Freedom Flotilla – was part of a continued effort by the FFC to challenge Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. The campaign included two main vessels, Al Awda (The Return) and Freedom, along with two support yachts, Mairead and Falestine.
On July 29 and August 3, 2018, both Al Awda and Freedom were intercepted and seized by the Israeli navy in international waters. All on board were arrested, with some reporting being Tasered, assaulted, or beaten by Israeli forces.
Most participants were held in detention before being deported to their respective countries.
While preparing to sail to Gaza on May 2, the Conscience was struck twice by armed drones, just 14 nautical miles (25km) off the coast of Malta. The attack triggered a fire and caused a significant breach in the hull, forcing the 30 Turkish and Azeri activists on board into a desperate effort to bail out water and keep the ship afloat.
Four people sustained minor injuries in the assault, including burns and lacerations.
According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, one in five Palestinians in Gaza is facing starvation because of Israel’s three-month-long total blockade of the Strip, eased partially last month, allowing some food aid.
Some 1.95 million people, or 93 percent of the enclave’s population, are facing acute food shortages.
The IPC says Israel’s continued blockade “would likely result in further mass displacement within and across governorates”, as items essential for people’s survival will be depleted.
Despite an Israel-led and United States-backed aid distribution initiative, called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which started to deliver aid into Gaza last month, its new distribution hub disintegrated into chaos within hours of opening on May 27 and has been marred by atrocities following deadly shootings at aid distribution centres.
The Gaza Strip has a population of about 2.3 million living in one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
Since 2007, Israel has maintained strict control over Gaza’s airspace and territorial waters and restricted the movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza.
Even before the war, Gaza had no functional airports after Israel bombed and demolished the Yasser Arafat international airport in 2001, only three years after it opened.
Gaza is again the scene of widespread destruction and human suffering, and remains the place often described as “the world’s largest open-air prison”.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has approved the Sam Okwaraji Secondary Schools Soccer Championship across Nigeria.
The approval is sequel to the endorsement of the Senate Committee on Sports Developments led by Senator Abdul Ningi.
This initiative, which is billed to be an annual event, is an initiative of the Samuel Okwaraji Foundation to immortalise the late Nigerian international who slumped and died at National Stadium Surulere, Lagos in August 1989, during a crucial FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Angola.
Green-thumbed shoppers looking to step up their garden with an attractive woody, evergreen climber that boasts rich, dark green leaves that turn bronze in winter, can currently pick up a large fragrant white-flowered star jasmine plant for half its normal price, thanks to this Gardening Express
Relax in your garden this summer while surrounded by the sweet scent of star jasmine with this stunning climbing plant. Normally retailing for £59.99, this gem is now available for the reduced price of £29.99 while this deal lasts.
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Boasting masses of highly perfumed creamy-white flowers, this plant promises glossy evergreen foliage all year round. Whether you’re covering unsightly areas or simply using this luxurious foliage to transform a simple fence, this climbing jasmine plant will climb over fences, trellis, walls, arbours, and so much more, making it a versatile and simple addition to any outdoor space.
Star Jasmine boasts highly fragrant, pure white flowers that bloom from mid-late summer. Best grown against a warm, sunny wall, this flowering climber is an excellent plant for adding a delicious scent and high-rise glamour to courtyards, patios, balconies and gardens. It’s also ideal for climbing over any garden structures in a sunny spot, so you don’t need to have a large space for this plant to make itself at home.
Especially lovely in warm sunny borders at the foot of a sheltered south-facing wall, this plant will thrive in well-drained soils and is particularly tolerant of hot summer weather where other climbers may flag, making this week the ideal time to secure one of your own ahead of the coming sunny spells. Plus, if you have this gem planted sooner rather than later, you can sit back and enjoy the late summer blooming.