On 15 September 2024, former US President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt while playing golf at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The FBI is leading an investigation into the incident, with the suspect, now reportedly identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, reportedly in custody. Multiple officials have confirmed to US media outlets that Routh, a man in his late 50s, is the individual behind the failed attempt.

The incident unfolded at approximately 1:30 p.m. local time while Trump was golfing with donor Steve Witkoff.

According to law enforcement sources, a Secret Service agent on duty spotted a rifle barrel with a scope protruding from a fence as Trump moved between the fifth and sixth holes. The agent engaged the suspect, prompting him to flee the scene. Routh, later apprehended in Martin County, was reportedly between 300 and 500 yards away from Trump at the time of the incident.

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw held a press conference detailing the timeline of events. A witness, who saw Routh fleeing into a black Nissan, provided critical information by photographing the vehicle’s license plate.

This led to the suspect’s swift capture by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. A long gun, identified as an AK47-style rifle with a scope, two backpacks, and a GoPro camera were recovered at the scene. The contents of the backpacks included a ceramic tile, though its significance remains unclear.

Trump was unharmed and addressed the incident in an email to his supporters shortly after the event.

“There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!” he wrote. Trump also affirmed his resolve, declaring, “Nothing will slow me down. I will never surrender!”

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were quickly briefed on the situation and expressed their relief at Trump’s safety. Harris later posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Violence has no place in America.”

I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America.

— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) September 15, 2024

Attorney General Merrick Garland has also been informed of the incident, according to the Department of Justice.

This marks the second assassination attempt targeting Trump in recent months.

On 13 July 2024, at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump was grazed by a bullet when gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks fired at him from a nearby rooftop using an AR-15-style rifle. The attack left one audience member dead, and Crooks was killed by a Secret Service sniper.

Following that incident, the US Secret Service came under scrutiny, and its then-director, Kimberly Cheatle, resigned two weeks later.

In Sunday’s incident, the quick actions of the Secret Service are again being praised. Sheriff Bradshaw explained that the agency had an agent stationed ahead of Trump’s position, who spotted the rifle barrel and acted swiftly to prevent a potential tragedy.

“The Secret Service agent on the course did a fantastic job,” Bradshaw said.

Trump’s running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, confirmed that the former president is “in good spirits” despite the close call. “I spoke to him before the news was public, and he was, amazingly, in good spirits,” Vance posted on X.

I'm glad President Trump is safe. I spoke to him before the news was public and he was, amazingly, in good spirits.

Still much we don't know, but I'll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude.

— JD Vance (@JDVance) September 15, 2024

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, also remarked, “He’s in good spirits and more resolved than ever to save our country.”

Team Liquid has claimed the title of world champions at The International 13 (TI13) Dota 2 tournament, defeating Gaimin Gladiators 3-0 in the grand final. Despite entering the match as underdogs due to their history of losing grand finals, especially against Gaimin Gladiators, Liquid delivered a dominant performance to secure their second TI victory.

Dota 2, a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game developed by Valve, is one of the most popular esports titles in the world. In this competitive game, two teams of five players each battle to destroy the opposing team’s base, known as the “Ancient,” while defending their own. The International, Dota 2’s premier annual tournament, is widely regarded as one of the largest and most prestigious events in the esports industry.

Liquid, one of the favourites going into the event, dispelled doubts with their commanding win. This marks their second International title, the first being in 2017, and the first with their current roster. Neta “33” Shapira became one of the few players to win the tournament twice, having previously triumphed with Tundra Esports in 2022.

For their triumph, Team Liquid not only raised the coveted Aegis of Champions but also took home over US$1.15 million. Gaimin Gladiators, the runners-up, earned just over US$358,000.

Throughout the tournament, Liquid demonstrated exceptional form. They only suffered one loss during the group stage and the seeding decider phases, going on to deliver one of the most dominant performances in the history of The International. Liquid did not lose a single game in the playoff bracket, making their path to the championship flawless.

In the final, Liquid started strong despite Gaimin’s momentum after defeating Tundra Esports in the lower bracket final earlier that day. Though the 3-0 scoreline did not live up to the epic expectations of many fans, Liquid’s decisive victory brought immense satisfaction to their supporters, who had long awaited their team breaking a string of grand final losses.

Coach William Lee delivered an emotional speech after the win, expressing gratitude for the team’s perseverance through difficult years: “I feel like they took a chance on a guy who’s never coached a winning team before. We had so many losses… I’m just so glad that people like Zai, Nisha, and Boxi took a chance on us,” Lee said.

The final, while not as close as some anticipated, offered fans a deeply rewarding conclusion. After years of near-misses in major tournaments, Team Liquid finally broke their grand final curse on the biggest stage of all.

Their commanding victory, combined with their beloved status in the Dota 2 community, led to an outpouring of emotion, with many fans visibly in tears as they witnessed Liquid lift the Aegis.

Liquid’s unprecedented dominance throughout the playoffs only added to the historic nature of their win, which will go down as one of the most satisfying and celebrated moments in Dota 2 history.

The International 2024, also known as TI 13, was the thirteenth edition of Dota 2’s premier esports tournament, held in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Six teams were directly invited, while ten teams qualified through regional tournaments. Two teams each came from Western Europe, China, Southeast Asia, and South America, while Eastern Europe and North America each sent one team.

The base prize pool of the tournament was set at US$1.6 million, with an additional US$963,967 added from 25% of all Compendium sales, bringing the total prize pool to over US$2.5 million.