2014 Larkana temple attack, Reactions
Larkana's Hindu Panchyat President Kalpana Devi expressed her shock and sorrow over the incident. "I strongly condemn the desecration of the Holy Quran and demand the accused be punished if he really has committed [blasphemy]".


2014 Las Vegas Bowl
The 2014 Las Vegas Bowl was an American college football bowl game that was played on December 20, 2014, at Sam Boyd Stadium in Whitney, Nevada, in the Las Vegas Valley. The 23rd annual Las Vegas Bowl, it featured the Colorado State Rams of the Mountain West Conference against the Utah Utes from the Pac-12 Conference. It was one of the 2014–15 bowl games that concluded the 2014 FBS football season. The game started at 12:30 p.m. PST and aired on ABC and Sports USA Radio Network. Sponsored by motor oil manufacturer Royal Purple, the game was officially known as the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl. Utah beat Colorado State by a score of 45–10.


2014 Las Vegas Bowl, Teams
This was the 80th overall meeting between these two teams, with Utah leading the series 55–22–2. The last time these two teams met was in 2010.


2014 Las Vegas shootings
The 2014 Las Vegas shootings occurred on June 8, 2014, when a married couple, Jerad and Amanda Miller, committed a shooting in northeastern Las Vegas, Nevada. Five people died, including the two shooters. The couple, who espoused extreme anti-government views, first killed two Las Vegas police officers at a restaurant before fleeing into a Walmart, where they killed an intervening armed civilian. The couple died after engaging responding officers in a shootout; police shot and killed Jerad, while Amanda committed suicide after being wounded.


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Shootings
On June 8, 2014, the Millers first went to a CiCi's Pizza restaurant on foot at 11:22 a.m., finding Las Vegas police officers Igor Soldo and Alyn Beck, who were eating at the restaurant on their lunch break. Prior to the shooting, Jerad had entered the restaurant, observed the area, and then left and returned with Amanda. Jerad Miller fatally shot Soldo in the side of the head with a handgun, then shot Beck in the throat, head and chest. Both Millers then fired at Soldo and Beck, shooting them multiple times after Beck had fallen to the ground.


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Shootings
Afterwards, they covered Beck with a yellow Gadsden flag and a swastika. They  pinned a note on Beck's body, which read: "This is the beginning of the revolution." They also stole both officers' handguns and spare ammunition magazines. During the restaurant shooting, the Millers loudly declared to other patrons that it happened to be the start of "a revolution".


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Shootings
The two then fled to a nearby Walmart, where Jerad fired a shot at the ceiling and ordered shoppers to leave. Joseph Wilcox drew his concealed 9mm Glock 19 and confronted Jerad, but passed Amanda as he did so, not realizing that she was armed and Jerad's accomplice; Amanda shot and killed Wilcox.


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Shootings
Police (Officers Brett Brosnahan, Tim Gross, Zachery Beal, John Bethard, David Corbin, and Sergeant Kurt McKenzie) later responded to 9-1-1 calls and arrived at the Walmart, engaging the Millers in a gunfight (The police officers were able to locate the suspects and get information from Officers Troy Nicol and Ryan Fryman who were monitoring the CCTV of the Walmart), during which Amanda was wounded. The Millers moved toward the back of the store, where they tried to protect themselves from gunfire using several items from the store as a barricade.


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Shootings
Police Officer Zachery Beal eventually shot and killed Jerad in the chest, while Amanda shot and critically wounded herself in the head. She was taken to the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, where she died. Initial reports inaccurately indicated that Amanda shot Jerad repeatedly in the chest after he had "laid down" in front of her, killing him, before committing suicide.


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Shootings
An investigation later recovered a 9mm Smith & Wesson M&P handgun, a .38-caliber Ruger revolver, the two handguns stolen from Officers Soldo and Beck (a Glock 17 and H&K USP 9mm, respectively), a Winchester 1300 shotgun, 200 rounds of ammunition, knives, and survival items from both Millers' backpacks. During a search at the Millers' apartment, papers that detailed plans to "take over a courthouse and execute public officials" were found.


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Perpetrators, Jerad Miller
Jerad Dwain Miller (January 3, 1983 – June 8, 2014) was born in Kennewick, Washington. Jerad was arrested for multiple offenses in Washington and Indiana, starting in 2001. In 2007, he was sentenced to a diversion program after pleading guilty to a felony criminal recklessness charge. In 2009, he was arrested and charged with battery, but was acquitted later that year. In 2011, he was sentenced to two years of probation and drug counseling after pleading guilty to felony drug charges. That same year, Jerad met Amanda Woodruff, with whom he applied for a marriage license in Tippecanoe County, Indiana in August. They later married on September 22. Prior to the shooting, he worked as a street performer.


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Perpetrators, Jerad Miller
In February 2014, Jerad threatened a Bureau of Motor Vehicles office in Indiana, claiming that he would start killing anyone who showed up to arrest him for having a suspended driver's license. He was described as often talking about conspiracy theories, dressing in camouflage, and espousing his hatred of the federal government and President Barack Obama. He was also a fan of the decentralized police accountability group Cop Block and would share online videos of police brutality, as well as posts of conspiracy theories and anti-government rhetoric.


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Perpetrators, Jerad Miller
Prior to the shooting, Jerad had accounts on Facebook and YouTube, where he made ranting posts and videos. He once posted on June 2:


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Perpetrators, Jerad Miller
We can hope for peace. We must, however, prepare for war. We face an enemy that is not only well funded, but who believe they fight for freedom and justice. Those of us who know the truth and dare speak it, know that the enemy we face are indeed our brothers. ... To stop this oppression, I fear, can ... only be accomplished with bloodshed.


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Perpetrators, Jerad Miller
One month prior to the shooting, Jerad asked several other Facebook users to send him "a rifle to help stand against tyranny". On the day prior to the shooting, Jerad posted a message on his account that forewarned the attack:


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Perpetrators, Jerad Miller
The dawn of a new day. May all of our coming sacrifices be worth it.


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Perpetrators, Amanda Miller
Amanda Miller (née Woodruff; December 27, 1991 – June 8, 2014) was born in Indiana. She did not have a criminal record preceding the shootings. In 2011, she met Jerad, with whom she applied for a marriage license in Tippecanoe County, Indiana in August 2012. They married on September 22. Like Jerad, she had a Facebook account, in which she made multiple posts, including numerous photos depicting the Millers dressed as supervillains. In one such photo, Amanda and Jerad were dressed up as Batman villains Harley Quinn and the Joker, respectively; according to a neighbor, the Millers particularly liked to dress up as the characters. In one of her Facebook posts, which was dated May 23, 2011, she wrote:


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Perpetrators, Amanda Miller
[ T]o the people in the world...your lucky i can't kill you now but remember one day one day i will get you because one day all hell will break lose and i'll be standing in the middle of it with a shot gun in one hand and a pistol in the other. [ sic]


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Perpetrators, Amanda Miller
On January 2014, the Millers moved from Lafayette, Indiana to Las Vegas, which Amanda recorded.


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Perpetrators, Presence at Bundy standoff
During the April 2014 Bundy standoff, in which the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) attempted to round up cattle belonging to rancher Cliven Bundy, who refused to vacate public land, Jerad was said to have been among the armed protesters who joined Bundy during the incident. According to Bundy's son, Ammon Bundy, the Millers were present during the standoff for a few days, but had been instructed by a militia member to leave due to "their radical beliefs", which did not align with the protest's main issues.


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Perpetrators, Presence at Bundy standoff
They were also instructed to leave because Jerad was a felon in possession of a firearm. Carol Bundy later commented, "I have not seen or heard anything from the militia and others who have came to our ranch that would, in any way, make me think they had an intent to kill or harm anyone."


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Perpetrators, Presence at Bundy standoff
During the standoff, Jerad had made interviews with other protesters at the ranch, and was also interviewed by CNN, NBC News affiliate KRNV-DT, and other news stations, during which he said:


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Perpetrators, Presence at Bundy standoff
I feel sorry for any federal agents that want to come in here and try to push us around or anything like that. I really don't want violence toward them, but if they're going to come bring violence to us, well, if that's the language they want to speak, we'll learn it.


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Perpetrators, Motives
Jerad posted several online videos in which he was dressed as the Joker. In one video, he expressed a strong hatred for law enforcement and police officers in general, warning in an online video that they "cannot be trusted". In another, he denounced the US government as being oppressive, especially criticizing their measures at gun control, surveillance, and their treatment of Cliven Bundy. Friends of the Millers reported that they idolized Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the two perpetrators of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, and wanted to follow in their footsteps.


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Perpetrators, Motives
The Millers' ideology about the government has been described as "along the lines of militia and white supremacists" by a police official. During the shooting, the Millers placed a swastika on the body of slain officer Alyn Beck and hung a Gadsden flag on the crime scene; police officials remarked that this act didn't signify the Millers were white supremacists, but instead was intended to associate police officers with Nazism.


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Perpetrators, Motives
The Millers supported the Patriot movement, a collection of various groups with a shared ideology for limited federal government. According to Mark Potok, a spokesperson for the Southern Poverty Law Center, there was no evidence that they belonged in a specific group, but that they considered the outcome of the standoff between Bundy and the BLM as "a huge victory against the federal government", which reportedly motivated them to commit the shooting spree.


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Reactions
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell made a statement on the day following the shootings and commented about the Millers' presence on the Bundy ranch. She said, "It's very important to bring lawbreakers to justice. There's no question that my colleagues back here, the governors of Western states, do not want people riding roughshod over the landscape ... [ Bundy] had put our people in grave danger by calling in armed citizens from around the country."


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Reactions
U.S. Senator Harry Reid, who had a staff member related to one of the victims, said, "All of Nevada mourns the tragic loss of our neighbors, our friends, and in the case of Officers Alyn Beck and Igor Soldo, our protectors" and called for universal background checks in the purchases of firearms. Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman called the shootings "a cruel act" and also praised the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police for "dedicating their lives to protecting all of us in our community". Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval released a statement, saying that he was saddened by the murders and called the shootings "an act of senseless violence". CiCi's Pizza and Walmart also gave their condolences to the victims, with the latter also stating that it would cooperate with police during the investigation.


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Reactions
Las Vegas Sheriff Doug Gillespie described Joseph Wilcox as a hero, saying, "Joseph died attempting to protect others. His death is completely senseless." Wilcox's attempt at stopping Jerad Miller by using his concealed firearm also led to a debate over the necessity of concealed carry and its effectiveness during similar incidents.


2014 Las Vegas shootings, Reactions
On social media, there has been some public praise by anti-government radicals for the killings of Soldo and Beck. As a result of aggressive anti-police posts on Facebook, there has been criticism of the site's lack of responsive action. Facebook commented through a spokesperson, "People come to Facebook to share experiences of the world around them and on occasion this may result in the sharing of content that some may find upsetting. We encourage anyone who sees content that violates our community standards to report it to us."


2014 Latakia offensive
The 2014 Latakia offensive was a rebel offensive in the Latakia Governorate of Syria launched on 21 March 2014 by rebel Islamist groups including Al-Nusra Front, which called the offensive "Anfal", while a coalition of Supreme Military Council rebel groups called the offensive "The Martyrs Mothers". The objectives of the offensive have been stated to be the taking over of all strategic observatories, government villages and the Mediterranean coast. Observers have stated a strategic aim was to force the Syrian army to redeploy forces to Latakia, which would relieve pressure on other rebels elsewhere in Syria. They reportedly succeeded in this with government forces being sent from Idlib, Hama and Aleppo to bolster defenses.


2014 Latakia offensive
During the offensive the Syrian military was joined by Hezbollah, Iraqi Shi'ite militia and Iranian military advisers. After almost two months of fighting, the offensive stalled and eventually petered out, with rebels losing most of their early gains. However, the rebels' established strategic bridgehead consisting of the town of Kessab and nearby territory remained. By mid-June a new advance by government forces recaptured the last rebel gains of the campaign, including Kessab.


2014 Latakia offensive
The offensive, and in particular the degree of Turkish involvement in it, has been widely attributed with the deportation of the native ethnic Armenians of the town of Kessab, who make up 70% of its population, and has been compared with the past Turkish killings of Armenians during the Hamidian massacres and Armenian genocide.


2014 Latakia offensive, Background
The Armenians of Kessab were previously victims of Turkish violence during the Hamidian massacres, Adana massacres and the Armenian genocide, last two of which took place in the last century and involved the massacre of two millions of Armenians.


2014 Latakia offensive, Background
Three days before the assault on Kessab, the leader of Turkey's opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Kemal Kilicdaroglu, called on Chief of General Staff General Necdet Ozel "not to embark on an adventure" with a military intervention in Syria, saying that "He [Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan] could decide to move the army into Syria before the elections." Kilicdaroglu


2014 Latakia offensive, Background
Kessab was the only city bordering Turkey that was controlled by the Syrian government. Syrian-Armenian war correspondent Sarkis Kassargian believes taking control of Kessab means taking control of the border crossing with Turkey, which allows anti-government fighters to advance toward the coastline, and in turn strengthen their position on the ground. In addition, the alleged capture of Samra village by rebel forces grants them access to the highest point in the village. Abdoullah Ali, an expert on Islamic groups in Syria, confirmed the takeover was headed by Abou Mousa al-Chechani (Chechnyan), among other senior and experienced fighters who had previously fought in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Chechnya and Iraq, thus indicating the importance of this battle.


2014 Latakia offensive, Background
Human Rights Watch Syria and Lebanon researcher Lama Fakih told the UK Telegraph rebel groups had wanted to attack Kassab for a long time, but Turkey had previously denied them access, citing a lack of unity.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Initial rebel advance
In the early hours of 21 March 2014, rebel fighters led by the al-Nusra Front advanced from inside Turkish territory and attacked the Kasab border crossing with Turkey. The fighters reportedly crossed into Syria from the Turkish village of Gözlekçiler. Subsequently, the civilian populations of Kessab and its surrounding villages either fled or were evacuated, with most seeking safety in Latakia, as Kessab remained under the control of rebel groups.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Initial rebel advance
The rebel fighters initially managed to capture guard posts around the crossing but not the crossing itself. The also captured the nearby Al-Sakhra hill and a police station and directed mortar fire from the hill at the crossing and at the nearby Alawite village of Karsana, killing five people including a child. The leader of Al-Nusra for Latakia province was killed during the fighting. Rebels had also captured the Jabal al-Nisr mountain, but it was recaptured by the military within hours.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Initial rebel advance
By 22 March, the rebels managed to capture the Kasab crossing, while Kesab town remained under government control and fighting was still continuing around both of them. Government forces launched a counter-attack in an attempt to recapture the crossing and a security source stated the Army had retaken the previous day two police stations that were seized by the rebels. According to the opposition activist group the SOHR, rebels at the crossing had been targeted by government troops since the previous day.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Initial rebel advance
In the meantime, rebels directed their attacks against a strategic hill known as Observatory 45, which they captured later in the day. Overall, the SOHR reported fighting in three government-held villages that were coming under a rebel attack and three rebel-held villages which the Army was trying to capture. As fighting spread to other villages, the military responded with air strikes and ambushes which left 20 rebels dead and 30 wounded around Observatory Kherbah Solas.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Initial rebel advance
On 23 March, Turkish Air Force F-16 jet fighters shot down a Syrian warplane that allegedly bombed rebels fighting around the border post. The pilot ejected safely, according to a Syrian military spokesman, who also claimed that the plane was in Syrian airspace; Turkish officials, however, claimed it violated their airspace.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Initial rebel advance
Meanwhile, significant military reinforcements were sent to the border area. Rebels also launched a new attack against the village of Kherbah Solas, about 25 kilometers south of Kasab. Opposition sources claimed that over 20 soldiers surrendered to the rebels in the village of Nab Al-Murr after a three-hour siege on a building.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Initial rebel advance
Later during the day, government forces recaptured Observatory 45 and secured the village of Al-Samra, while rebels captured the village of Al-Nab'in and the surroundings of Jabal al-Nisr, which forced the Army to evacuate it. However, the rebels were not able to capture the top of Jabal al-Nisr itself due to the Army's control of Observatory 45, which is the highest point in the region and oversees Jabal al-Nisr. During the day's fighting, the NDF commander of Latakia province, Hilal al-Assad, and seven pro-government militiamen were killed in fighting in Kasab. According to the rebel Islamic Front, he was killed when they used Grad rockets to hit a scheduled meeting of pro-government militia leaders in Latakia city.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Initial rebel advance
On 24 March, according to the SOHR, rebels were in control of the village of Kasab, after capturing the main square the previous day, with fighting continuing in the town's outskirts, specifically the hills outside the center of Kasab. However, according to a military source, neither side had control of the village and the situation was unclear. Rebel jihadists reportedly took Armenian families hostage in Kasab and desecrated the town's three Armenian churches. The Army managed to recapture the town of Nab al-Murr.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Initial rebel advance
Meanwhile, Turkish media claimed the leader of the pro-government Syrian Resistance militia, Mihraç Ural, had been killed the previous day. However, that evening Mihraç Ural posted a video on his Facebook account denying rumors of his death. Al-Arabiya television also claimed that two other cousins of Bashar al-Assad were killed in the fighting.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Initial rebel advance
According to Col. Afif al-Suleimani, head of Idlib's rebel Military Council, the Army withdrew many of its soldiers from Idlib province to reinforce their forces in Latakia province after the rebel offensive against the coastal area began.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Initial rebel advance
On 25 March, rebels captured Al-Samra and were reportedly advancing towards Anfal. A military source denied the village had fallen stating that fighting was still ongoing and that the Army was in complete control of the mountains overlooking Al-Samra. Meanwhile, fighting was still raging at Kasab, with the Army shelling the town and the Air force striking it four times around noon. Later, a pro-government news agency claimed the Army managed to recapture most of Kasab.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Initial rebel advance
According to the editor-in-ehief of Aztag Daily, information warfare was being conducted and that it was too early to conclude whether government forces managed to regain control of the town, but confirmed fighting was ongoing. Rebels had also once again captured Observatory 45, after a Tunisian suicide bomber in an armored troop carrier blew himself up in the Observatory's yard killing a number of soldiers, including Colonel Samuel Ghannum, commander of Observatory 45. The fall of the Observatory removed the threat of artillery strikes against Jabal al-Nisr and the rebels were able to occupy its peak.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Initial rebel advance
Government troops from the hill retreated towards Qastal Maaf. Fighting around Observatory 45 continued. Meanwhile, the Army recaptured Al-Nab'in. Nineteen rebels and 16 soldiers were killed during the day's fighting and 40 soldiers and 100 rebels were wounded. The Turkish Army accused the Syrian government of "harassing" five Turkish F-16 fighter jets with surface-to-air missile systems. The Turkish F-16's intercepted four Syrian aircraft approaching Turkish airspace in Yayladagi and Cilvegozu of Hatay province in southern Turkey before the incident occurred.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Initial rebel advance
On 26 March, rebels slowly pressed their advance from Observatory 45 and attacked the town of Qastal Maaf. Fighting had also renewed at Al-Nab'in. The battle for both towns had been described as a seesaw one with both attacks and retreats. At the same time, fighting continued around Kasab, Observatory 45 and Al-Samra as the Army intensified its shelling on Kasab and Al-Samra. The government mobilised thousands of soldiers and NDF fighters to retake the areas that had been lost to the rebels and many government supporters, the majority of them Alawites, volunteered to fight against the rebels.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Initial rebel advance
A military officer claimed rebels had been pushed back from Observatory 45, but were still in nearby areas. Another source also confirmed that the Army had beaten back the rebels from Observatory 45, but did not reoccupy it, instead securing the hill's surroundings. The military had also evacuated from Nab al-Murr, due to the town's vulnerability to rebel shelling from Observatory 45 and Jabal al-Nisr. Pro -government sources claimed 500 rebels and 50 soldiers had been killed since the start of the offensive, while the SOHR stated around 100 fighters on each side had died.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Initial rebel advance
The Syrian government called on the United Nations to halt the Turkish involvement in the Kasab region. It accused the Turkish government for "organizing, receiving, funding and hosting tens of thousands of terrorists from various Takfiri movements and facilitating their entry into the Syrian territories" and for providing the rebels with direct military support in the region.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Initial rebel advance
On 27 March, several helicopter and air strikes were conducted against Observatory 45, while Jabhat Al-Nusra reinforcements arrived in the contested areas. Two pro-government sources reported the military managed to defend their positions at Al-Nab'in and Qastal Maaf and was advancing towards Kasab from the two towns. A pro-opposition source reported that rebels managed to capture Al-Nab'in but that fighting was ongoing as the military was trying to recapture both it and Kasab. Another source reported that the military recaptured Al-Nab'in after it received reinforcements from troops who evacuated Jabal al-Nisr. Fighting was also still raging around Al-Samra.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Initial rebel advance
A pro-government newspaper also claimed another 200 rebel fighters had been killed in the last day. The military intelligence head in Latakia province was reportedly able to escape after he was surrounded by rebels for five days in Al-Nab'in. By the end of this day, according to the SOHR, more than 150 pro-government fighters, including 14 officers, had been killed since the start of the offensive.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Initial rebel advance
On 28 March, it was reported that the rebels had blocked several attempts by the Syrian Army to send reinforcements to Latakia.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Initial rebel advance
On 29 March, Al-Nab'in was once again reported under rebel control, but with fighting continuing in its outskirts. Al Aan TV claimed that 10 pro-government fighters were killed in an attempt by the Army to recapture Observatory 45. It also reported the arrival of Hezbollah fighters in the area. According to a local activist, the FSA had set up a joint operations room under command of Brigadier General and FSA Chief of staff Abdul-Ilah al-Bashir to support the rebel offensive.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Initial rebel advance
On 30 March, the SOHR reported that several attempts by the Army to retake areas in northern Latakia had been repelled by the rebels. However, the military was bringing more reinforcements from the coastal city of Tartous to try to stem the rebel advance.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, The battle for Observatory 45
By 31 March, thousands of refugees reportedly fled to Latakia city, while a rising tension between the Armenian-Christian-Alawite community and the Turkmen community was reported. At this time, Barnabas Aid stated 80 Christian civilians were killed and thousands more displaced after rebel fighters captured Kasab; however, a delegation from the Armenian National Assembly visited and interviewed refugees from Kessab who fled to Latakia and concluded that "fortunately, no casualties were reported on the Armenian side," though around 2500 were displaced. According to the SOHR, 1,052 fighters from both sides had been killed and wounded since the start of the offensive. Among the dead were 27 Army officers and 56 foreign rebel fighters.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, The battle for Observatory 45
During the day, government forces made an attempt to advance towards Kasab as the rebel offensive started to stagnate and state TV made a live report from near the hilltop of Observatory 45 claiming the Army had recaptured it. The SOHR confirmed the Army made progress in the area and stated that government troops managed to install multiple rocket launcher on Observatory 45, but fighting was continuing in the vicinity of the hillside. Meanwhile, rebels hit the pro-government village of Bahloulieh with seven Grad missiles. Other pro-government villages were also shelled with mortars. The Turkish Army stated that they had returned fire after mortar shells and a rocket struck areas near the town of Yayladagi.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, The battle for Observatory 45
After midnight, government troops ambushed rebels in the forest around Observatory 45 resulting in a number of deaths among opposition fighters.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, The battle for Observatory 45
On 1 April, Ahmad Jarba, head of the Syrian National Coalition, visited the front-line in the Kasab region. The SOHR also denied State TV's claim that the Army had recaptured Observatory 45, stating that clashes were still ongoing over the hilltop.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, The battle for Observatory 45
On 2 April, according to the SOHR, the rebels reached the perimeter of al-Badrousiya village where violent clashes took place amid new Army reinforcements in that area. Opposition activists in Latakia claimed that the rebels repulsed an Army attack on Observatory 45. During the fighting for the hill, the Moroccan leader of the Harakat Sham al-Islam rebel group, Ibrahim bin Shakran, was killed. A local rebel commander was also killed in other clashes, while "dozens of bodies" of pro-government fighters were reportedly bussed to the city of Tartous, according to opposition activist's claims. An opposition TV station also claimed that 11 Hezbollah fighters were captured in an ambush by rebels in the province, but this report could not be verified.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, The battle for Observatory 45
On 3 April, according to the SOHR, rebels managed to regain control over the buildings of Observatory 45 after they were captured by pro-government fighters during the night. At least 11 rebels were killed in the fighting, while at least 20 pro-government fighters were killed and wounded. But later activists reported that government forces, supported by the NDF, had managed to reach the peak of Observatory 45 and clashes ensued with opposition fighters, including Jabhat al-Nusra. The SOHR also updated the past day's rebel death toll to 20.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, The battle for Observatory 45
On 4 April, the SOHR reported that 64 rebels, including 40 foreign fighters, and 35 government soldiers were killed in fighting for Observatory 45 over the previous two days. 50 soldiers were also wounded and among rebel fatalities, beside the leader of Harakat Sham al-Islam, was the group's Egyptian military commander, Abu Safiya Al-Masri. Fighting was continuing around Observatory 45 with mutual bombardment from both sides. Eight rebels and eight pro-government fighters were killed and 15 wounded in the fighting at Observatory 45. Meanwhile, the Turkish Army fired shells into Syria, responding to six shells that landed in Yayladadi.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Continued Army advance
On 5 April, after midnight, government troops ambushed rebels on the road towards Al-Nab'in resulting in a number of deaths among opposition fighters, while two Moroccan field commanders of Ahrar Al-Sham were killed in fighting in Kasab. It was reported that Latakia city was hit by two Grad missiles during the day.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Continued Army advance
On 7 April, fighting erupted on the edges of the Jabal al-Haramiya area with government forces advancing.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Continued Army advance
On 12 April, fighting erupted in Al-Nab'in and Nab Al-Murr and later in the day clashes were still ongoing in the towns perimeters. The next day, the Army recaptured Chalma mountain (also known as Sal-Darin mountain), near Kassab, while heavy clashes were still taking place near Observatory 45.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Continued Army advance
By 15 April, the FSA commander for Latakia province stated the offensive had stagnated after rebel forces had become exhausted due to the number of casualties they had endured and a shortage of ammunition. Three days later, another opposition commander criticised the opposition Syrian National Coalition for not providing enough financial support for the offensive and supporting countries for not providing enough arms.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Capture of Al-Samra and the battle for the hills
On 27 April, government forces captured a guard post near Al-Samra, namely the town's police station, after an amphibious assault from the sea. As evening came, rebels had retreated from Al-Samra and government forces captured the village.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Capture of Al-Samra and the battle for the hills
The next day, the military secured Chalma mountain and engaged rebels on top of Tal Al-Ahmar, while other government troops, including Special Forces from Al-Samra, advanced towards Al-Nab'in. Four soldiers were killed and 75 wounded by mid-day, while an unknown number of rebels also died. Government forces from Observatory 45 had also advanced, capturing Height 724 north of the Observatory. The Army further captured Heights 959 and 1017.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Capture of Al-Samra and the battle for the hills
Two days later, government forces were fighting rebels on Jabal al-Nisr mountain, near Al-Nab'in, and on three hills overlooking Kasab in an attempt to capture the hilly terrain before engaging opposition forces in the towns themselves. Later in the day, government troops fully secured Al-Samra and its surrounding hills. On 3 May, government troops captured radar hill 1013 overlooking and the next day fighting erupted in Al-Nab'in.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Capture of Al-Samra and the battle for the hills
In mid-May, rebels reportedly recaptured Hills 53, 724 and 1013, as well as Seriatel and Al-Nab'in hills. Opposition forces also attempted to capture Observatory 45, but failed.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Capture of Al-Samra and the battle for the hills
As of 18 May, the offensive was considered to had petered out.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Syrian army offensive – Rebel retreat
On 12 June, the military started a new offensive and by the next day captured Hills 714, 767 and 803.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Syrian army offensive – Rebel retreat
On 14 June, most rebels retreated from Kasab, while a few of them stayed to protect the retreating fighters. This came after the Army took hold of areas that surround Al-Nab'in and advanced towards Kasab. The SOHR reported the military was moving towards nearby villages, including Al-Nab'in, while state TV already reported the capture of the town. SANA also stated two-thirds of Kasab were under military control.


2014 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Syrian army offensive – Rebel retreat
On 15 June, the Syrian Army took control of Kasab, its border crossing, Al-Nab'in and Nab Al-Murr, fully reversing all opposition gains during the three-month campaign. Meanwhile, the Army intensified its operations in the east of the province near Salma.


2014 Latakia offensive, Controversies, Allegations of Turkish involvement
It was reported that the attackers, members of the al-Nusra Front, Sham al-Islam, and Ansar al-Sham, advanced directly from the village of Gözlekçiler on Turkish territory, were being supported by the Turkish military, and that injured rebel fighters were being sent to medical centres in Turkey. Some Kessab village guards reported that the Turkish military withdrew from its positions along the border shortly before the fighters crossed from Turkey.


2014 Latakia offensive, Controversies, Allegations of Turkish involvement
Mehmet Ali Ediboğlu, MP of Turkish CHP party, who visited the area several days after the attack began, said locals told him that "thousands of fighters coming from Turkey crossed the border at at least five different points to launch the attack on Kassab." While journalists were barred from visiting Gözlekçiler, Ediboğlu said he personally observed "dozens of Syrian-plated cars nonstop transporting terrorists and firing into the Syrian outpost from the military road between Gözlekçiler village and our military base at Kayapinar."


2014 Latakia offensive, Controversies, Allegations of Turkish involvement
According to security sources in Kessab, the attacks were waged under heavy artillery cover by the Turkish army, while the injured were being carried back and treated in the city of Yayladagi in Turkey, which borders Syria.


2014 Latakia offensive, Controversies, Allegations of Turkish involvement
An terrorist told the Telegraph on 21 March "Turkey did us a big favour… They allowed our guys to enter from their border post," allowing them to finally access Kessab. Turkey denied the allegations as "totally unfounded and untrue", the Telegraph reported, but HRW's Fakih replied "it is not feasible that these groups could have crossed into Syria from where they did without the knowledge of the Turks."


2014 Latakia offensive, Controversies, Turkish shootdown of Syrian fighter jet
After Turkish Air Force F-16 jet fighters had shot down a Syrian warplane near the border post, the pilot, who ejected safely, claimed that the plane was in Syrian airspace. Turkish officials, however, claimed it violated their airspace.


2014 Latakia offensive, Controversies, Turkish shootdown of Syrian fighter jet
Turkey's opposition leader, Kemal Kilicdaroglu (CHP) claimed that the Syrian jet was a reconnaissance plane and that its downing was part of a government scheme to provoke war with Syria to divert attention from corruption scandals enveloping Turkey's president Erdogan and his party. Istanbul-based journalist Amberin Zaman commented that the recently leaked audio tapes in which Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is heard discussing ways to spark a war with Syria might vindicate Kilicdaroglu's claims.


2014 Latakia offensive, Controversies, Armenian civilian fatalities
The offense has been widely compared to the Hamidian massacres and Armenian genocide, as over 70% of Kessab's population is Armenian and is one of the last Armenian settlements in the Cilicia region, where the Armenian population had been massacred twice by Turkey. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan stated, “All of us perfectly remember the history of Kessab, which was unfortunately full of hellish realities of deportations in the last 100 years", referring to both events.


2014 Latakia offensive, Controversies, Armenian civilian fatalities
On 2 April, during a hearing before the House State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee and in response to a question by Congressman Schiff, US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, said that Kessab "is an issue of huge concern". Congressman Schiff noted that many of the residents were descendants of victims of the Armenian genocide and that "there is a particular poignancy to their being targeted in this manner."


2014 Latakia offensive, Controversies, Armenian civilian fatalities
On 3 April Armenia's Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan said that 38 of Kessab's Armenian inhabitants had been captured when the town fell to the rebels, 24 of them were later released, 3 had been forcefully taken into Turkey and were now in the village of Vaqif, and that 670 Armenian families had been displaced after the attack on Kessab, with about 400 of the families, at least 2,000 ethnic Armenian civilians, sought refuge in Latakia and other neighboring hills.


2014 Latakia offensive, Controversies, Armenian civilian fatalities
The minister also said that in Kessab, Armenian churches had been defaced, crosses on the churches had been removed, Armenian shops and homes had been looted. Also on 3 April, Ruben Melkonyan, deputy dean of the Oriental Studies department at Yerevan State University, said that the Armenian community of Kessab was unlikely to recover and that what had happened were "crimes that make a genocide".


2014 Latakia offensive, Controversies, Armenian civilian fatalities
A number of eyewitness accounts of looting and occupation of Armenian homes, stores, and churches left behind were reported in Kessab. Armed men entered the town, looted Armenian shops and homes, taking families hostage, and desecrating the town's three churches. Kessab Armenians who phoned their neighbors and relatives homes from Latakia discovered that their houses are already occupied by rebel fighters, who went on to taunt and threaten the refugees. Some of the rebels had spoken in Turkish.


2014 Latakia offensive, Controversies, Armenian civilian fatalities
Some 670 Armenian families, the majority of the population of Kessab, were evacuated by the local Armenian community leadership to safer areas in neighboring Basit and Latakia. Ten to fifteen families with relations too elderly to move were either unable to leave or chose to stay in their homes. According to witnesses, the rebels had raped elderly women because they couldn't find any girls.


2014 Latakia offensive, Aftermath
After the Syrian Army retook Kessab and the surrounding villages, news agencies and local residents of Kessab reported that the town's Armenian Catholic and Evangelical churches had been ruined and burnt by the Islamist groups, along with the Misakyan Cultural Centre. Around 250 families from Kessab who had taken refuge in Latakia returned to their homes a day after the Syrian Army recaptured the town. On 25 July the St. Astvatsatsin Church in Garaturan was reconsecrated, with the first liturgy since the ending of the Islamist occupation taking place on 27 July, the day of Vardavar, and attended by a large number of people


2014 Latin American Series
The 2014 Latin American Series was the second edition of the Latin American Series, a baseball sporting event played by the champions of the professional winter leagues that make up the Latin American Professional Baseball Association (ALBP).


2014 Latin American Series
The competition took place at Estadio Dieciocho de Junio in Montería, Colombia from January 28 to February 1, 2014.


2014 Latin American Series, Playoff Phase
Because second to fourth place in the group phase were tied, teams drew straws to determine second place and therefore the team who would qualify for Game 8.


2014 Latin Billboard Music Awards
The 2014 Billboard Latin Music Awards, honors the most popular albums, songs, and performers in Latin music in 2013, as determined by the actual sales, radio airplay, streaming and social data that supplements Billboard's weekly charts. The ceremony was broadcast live on Telemundo and mun2 on April 24, 2014, from the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. The hosts were Raúl González, Roselyn Sánchez, and Laura Flores.


2014 Latin Billboard Music Awards
Marc Anthony won 10 awards including Artist of the Year, Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year – Male, and Tropical Albums Artist of the Year – Solo. Prince Royce was also a multiple winner in categories such as Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year – Male, Latin Pop Songs Artist of the Year – Solo, Tropical Songs Artist of the Year and Streaming Song of the Year for his "Darte un Beso". Special awards were also handed out. Franco De Vita was given the Billboard Hall of Fame Award, Andrea Bocelli received the Lifetime Achievement Award and Carlos Vives was honored with the Billboard "Spirit of Hope Award".


2014 Latin Cup (roller hockey)
The 2014 Latin Cup was the 27th edition of the Latin Cup, an international youth roller hockey tournament organised by the Comité Européen de Rink-Hockey. It was held in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, from 17 to 19 April 2014. Portugal won the competition for the first time since 2008, securing their 13th title.


2014 Latrobe City Traralgon ATP Challenger 1
The 2014 Latrobe City Traralgon ATP Challenger 1 was a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor hard court. It was the second edition of the tournament which was part of the 2014 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Traralgon, Australia between 27 October – 2 November 2014. It was the first of two Traralgon Challengers in 2014.


2014 Latrobe City Traralgon ATP Challenger 1, Singles main draw entrants, Other Entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2014 Latrobe City Traralgon ATP Challenger 1, Singles main draw entrants, Other Entrants
The following players received entry via protected ranking into the singles main draw:


2014 Latrobe City Traralgon ATP Challenger 1 – Doubles
Ryan Agar and Adam Feeney were the defending champions, but did not compete this year.


2014 Latrobe City Traralgon ATP Challenger 1 – Doubles
Brydan Klein and Dane Propoggia won the title, defeating Jarmere Jenkins and Mitchell Krueger 6–1, 1–6, [10–3] in the final.


2014 Latrobe City Traralgon ATP Challenger 1 – Singles
Yuki Bhambri was the defending champion, but he did not participate that year. Bradley Klahn won the title, defeating Jarmere Jenkins in the final, 7–6(7–5), 6–1.


2014 Latrobe City Traralgon ATP Challenger 2
The 2014 Latrobe City Traralgon ATP Challenger 2 was a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor hard court. It was the third edition of the tournament which was part of the 2014 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Traralgon, Australia between 3 – 9 November 2014. It was the second of two Traralgon Challengers in 2014.


2014 Latrobe City Traralgon ATP Challenger 2, Singles main draw entrants, Other Entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2014 Latrobe City Traralgon ATP Challenger 2, Singles main draw entrants, Other Entrants
The following players received protected entry into the singles main draw:


2014 Latrobe City Traralgon ATP Challenger 2 – Doubles
Ryan Agar and Adam Feeney were the Traralgon Champions from 2013, but he did not defend their title, while Brydan Klein and Dane Propoggia were the defending Traralgon Champion, having won the first of two challengers held in this place in 2014, and successfully defended their title defeating Marcus Daniell and Artem Sitak in the final, 7–6(8–6), 3–6, [10–6].


2014 Latrobe City Traralgon ATP Challenger 2 – Singles
Yuki Bhambri was the Traralgon Champion from 2013, but he did not compete that year, while Bradley Klahn was current Traralgon Champion, having won the first of two challengers held in this place in 2014, but he lost to Benjamin Mitchell in the first round. John Millman won the title, defeating James Ward in the final, 6–4, 6–1.


2014 Latvian First League
The 2014 Latvian First League started on 30 March 2014 and ended on 8 November 2014.


2014 Latvian Higher League
The 2014 Latvian Higher League was the 23rd season of top-tier football in Latvia. FK Ventspils are the defending champions. The season started on 21 March 2014. Initially, Skonto Riga and Daugava Daugavpils, the second and third teams from the previous season, were denied a license to participate and the league began with eight clubs. However, their appeals against this were successful and the league was restored to ten clubs.


2014 Latvian Higher League, League table, Relegation play-offs
The 9th-placed side faced the runners-up of the 2014 Latvian First League in a two-legged play-off, with the winner being awarded a spot in the 2015 Higher League competition.


2014 Latvian Supercup
The 2014 Latvian Supercup was scheduled to be the second edition of the Latvian Supercup, an annual football match organised by Latvian Football Federation and contested by the reigning champions of the two main Latvian club competitions, the Latvian Higher League and the Latvian Football Cup. It was intended to be played on 8 March 2014, between the 2013 Latvian Higher League and 2012–13 Latvian Football Cup winners Ventspils and the 2013 Latvian Higher League runner-up Skonto. The match was rescheduled to an unknown date.


2014 Latvian parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in Latvia on 4 October 2014. The previous elections were held in 2011, but according to the country's constitution, the parliamentary term was reduced to only three years following early elections (the 2011 elections took place a year after the 2010 elections).


2014 Latvian parliamentary election, Campaign
On 27 December 2013, the Reform Party announced an electoral pact with its government coalition partner Unity, with most prominent Reform Party candidates running under the Unity campaign. On 16 July 2014 the Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party signed a cooperation pact with the Latvian Association of Regions to run under the LAR campaign.


2014 Latvian parliamentary election, Campaign
The main party of the Harmony Centre alliance, the Social Democratic Party "Harmony" contested the elections with a separate list, whilst fellow alliance members the Latvian Socialist Party announced on 20 July 2014 that they would not contest the election.


2014 Latvian parliamentary election, Aftermath
Following the elections, a centre-right coalition government was formed by Unity, the Union of Greens and Farmers and the National Alliance. However, the government resigned on 7 December 2015.


2014 Launceston Tennis International
The 2014 Launceston Tennis International was a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the third edition of the tournament and part of the 2014 ITF Women's Circuit, offering a total of $50,000 in prize money. It took place in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, on 3–9 February 2014.


2014 Launceston Tennis International, Singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2014 Launceston Tennis International – Doubles
Ksenia Lykina and Emily Webley-Smith were the defending champions, but both players chose not to participate.


2014 Launceston Tennis International – Doubles
Monique Adamczak and Olivia Rogowska won the tournament, defeating Kamonwan Buayam and Zuzana Zlochová in the final, 6–2, 6–4.


2014 Launceston Tennis International – Singles
Storm Sanders was the defending champion, but was selected to participate for Australia at the 2014 Fed Cup.


2014 Launceston Tennis International – Singles
Olivia Rogowska won the tournament, defeating Irena Pavlovic in the final, 5–7, 6–4, 6–0.


2014 Laurence Olivier Awards
The 2014 Laurence Olivier Awards was held on Sunday 13 April 2014 at the Royal Opera House, London. The awards were presented by Gemma Arterton and Stephen Mangan. The highlights programme was presented on ITV after the ceremony.


2014 Laurence Olivier Awards, Winners and nominees
The nominations were announced on 10 March 2014 in 26 categories.


2014 Le Samyn des Dames
The 2014 Le Samyn des Dames was the third running of the women's Le Samyn, a women's bicycle race in Fayt-le-Franc, Belgium. It was held on 5 March 2014 over a distance of 119.2 kilometres (74.1 miles) starting in Frameries and finishing in Dour. It was rated by the UCI as a 1.2 category race.


2014 League of Ireland Cup
The 2014 League of Ireland Cup, also known as the 2014 EA Sports Cup, was the 41st season of the Irish football knockout competition.


2014 League of Ireland Cup
Dundalk defeated Shamrock Rovers 3–2 in the final on 20 September.


2014 League of Ireland Cup, First round
The draw for the First Round took place on 12 February 2014. The First Round games were played on the 10 March 2014.


2014 League of Ireland Cup Final
The 2014 League of Ireland Cup Final was the final match of the 2014 League of Ireland Cup, called the EA Sports Cup for sponsorship purposes, a knock-out association football competition contested annually by clubs affiliated with the League of Ireland. It took place on 20 September 2014 at Oriel Park in Dundalk, and was contested by Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers. Dundalk won the match 3–2 to win the competition for the fifth time.


2014 League of Ireland Cup Final, Background
The League Cup was the first trophy of the 2014 League of Ireland season. The two sides were meeting for the seventh time that season. Dundalk had beaten Rovers in both legs of the 2014 Setanta Sports Cup semi-final, and had won one and drawn one of the two league matches already played between the sides. In the FAI Cup semi-final Rovers had won the replay 2–1 in Oriel Park after a 0–0 draw in the first game. Rovers were the League Cup holders and were chasing only their third win in the competition's history. To reach the final they had defeated Drogheda United (2–1), Cork City (2–0), and Bohemians (2–0).


2014 League of Ireland Cup Final, Background
Dundalk had last won the cup in 1989 – their fourth win – and hadn't reached the final since 1995. They had overcome Bray Wanderers (3–0), Derry City (2–1), and Wexford (5–0) to reach the 2014 final.


2014 League of Ireland Cup Final, Match, Summary
The match was the third time the two sides had met in eight days, and the opening minutes saw a number of strong challenges. One such challenge resulted in a foul on David McMillan, and Dane Massey put Dundalk ahead from the subsequent free kick. They then sat back somewhat, and, with Rovers taking control and creating a number of chances, Jason McGuinness equalised from a corner. But Rovers failed to capitalise again before half-time, and, within minutes of the second half starting, Dundalk had established a two goal lead, with headers from Massey and Patrick Hoban. Late on Ciarán Kilduff headed home to give Rovers a chance. But Dundalk saw the match out to win their first trophy of Stephen Kenny's reign, which was also the first half of the club's first League and League Cup Double.


2014 League of Ireland First Division
The 2014 League of Ireland First Division season was the 30th season of the League of Ireland First Division. The First Division was contested by eight teams and Longford Town won the title. Galway were also promoted.


2014 League of Ireland First Division, Teams, Personnel and kits
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2014 League of Ireland First Division, Overview
The 2014 First Division featured eight teams. Aside from Shelbourne, who were relegated from the Premier Division, replacing the 2013 First Division champions, Athlone Town, there were two other team changes from the previous season. In 2012 an FAI commissioned report recommended that Galway city and County Galway should be represented in the League of Ireland by a single club or team based at Eamonn Deacy Park. The O'Connor Report also recommended that the Galway United Supporters Trust, Salthill Devon, Mervue United and the Galway Football Association, should work together to form such a club.


2014 League of Ireland First Division, Overview
Following the conclusion of the 2013 First Division season, both Mervue United and Salthill Devon withdrew from the League of Ireland to make way for a new team known as Galway F.C. This still left another vacancy and in December 2013 Shamrock Rovers F.C. received permission from the FAI to enter their reserve team in the First Division for the 2014 season.


2014 League of Ireland First Division, Overview
Each team played each other four times, twice at home and twice away, for a total of 28 matches during the season. Longford Town clinched the title following a resounding 5–0 victory at home to Shamrock Rovers B on 3 October 2014. Longford Town ended a seven season stint in the First Division as they were promoted to the 2015 Premier Division. Galway also secured promotion after defeating UCD in a play off. Shamrock Rovers B withdrew from the First Division after just one season. Rovers decided it was not financially viable to continue fielding two teams in the League of Ireland.


2014 League of Ireland First Division, Promotion/relegation playoffs
The second and third placed First Division teams, Shelbourne and Galway, played off to decide who would play UCD, the eleventh placed team from the Premier Division. The winner of this play off would play in the 2015 Premier Division.


2014 League of Ireland First Division, Promotion/relegation playoffs
Galway won 5–1 on aggregate and were promoted to 2015 Premier Division. UCD are relegated to 2015 First Division.


2014 League of Ireland Premier Division
The 2014 League of Ireland Premier Division was the 30th season of the League of Ireland Premier Division. The division featured 12 teams. Dundalk were champions and Cork City finished as runners-up.


2014 League of Ireland Premier Division, Teams, Personnel and kits
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2014 League of Ireland Premier Division, Overview
The 2014 Premier Division featured 12 teams. Each team played each other three times, for a total of 33 games each. The regular season began 7 March and concluded 24 October. Dundalk won the title on the final day of the season with a 2-0 win at home against Cork City. It was the first time Dundalk had won the Premier Division since 1994–95.


2014 League of Ireland Premier Division, Promotion/relegation playoff
UCD, the eleventh placed team from the Premier Division played off against Galway, the winner of the 2014 First Division play off, to decide who would play in the 2015 Premier Division.


2014 League of Ireland Premier Division, Promotion/relegation playoff
Galway won 5–1 on aggregate and were promoted to the Premier Division. UCD are relegated to the First Division.


2014 League of Ireland Premier Division, Television coverage
The rights to 10 games was awarded to Setanta Sports while RTÉ Two will also show games during the season. MNS on RTÉ Two was the highlights programme between 2008 and 2013 but in 2014 it was replaced by a new programme called Soccer Republic which will show match highlights and analysis on each Monday night during the season and will also include UEFA Champions League highlights.


2014 League of Legends World Championship
The 2014 League of Legends World Championship was an esports tournament held from September 18 to October 19, 2014, for the multiplayer online battle arena video game League of Legends. It was the fourth iteration of the League of Legends World Championship, an annual international tournament organized by the game's developer, Riot Games. Matches were held in Taipei, Singapore, Busan, and Seoul, with grand finals being at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul, South Korea. The 16 teams qualified by either winning a major professional league or a regional qualifying tournament. There was a 16 team round-robin group stage followed by an 8 team single elimination bracket. The games were officially streamed on Twitch and Azubu in several languages and the finals were aired online on ESPN3.


2014 League of Legends World Championship
The group stage began September 18 in Taipei at the National Taiwan University Sports Center and concluded September 28 in Singapore at the Singapore EXPO with eight teams advancing to the bracket stage. The bracket stage started on October 3 in Busan, South Korea at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center, and concluded on October 19 with the grand finals hosted at the 45,000-seats Seoul World Cup Stadium, where South Korean team Samsung Galaxy White beat the Chinese team Star Horn Royal Club to become the 2014 League of Legends world champions.


2014 League of Legends World Championship
American band Imagine Dragons contributed the theme song "Warriors" for the tournament, and performed live on the grand finals stage in South Korea. All games were made available for free via live streaming.


2014 League of Legends World Championship
The 2014 World Championship games were streamed live by 40 broadcast partners, and cast in 19 languages. The grand finals were watched by 27 million people, with concurrent viewership peaking at over 11 million viewers.


2014 League of Legends World Championship, Teams
The following teams qualified to participate in the tournament's group stage:


2014 League of Legends World Championship, Venues
Taipei, Singapore, Busan and Seoul were the 4 venues chosen to host the competition.


2014 League of Legends World Championship, Group stage
The group stage was played in a best of one double round-robin format, with the top two teams from each of the four groups advancing to the knockout stage, for a total of eight teams.


2014 League of Legends World Championship, Viewership and attendance
Around 40,000 fans attended the grand finals between Samsung White and Star Horn Royal Club. It is estimated that there were 288 million cumulative views throughout the entire tournament.


2014 League of Legends World Championship, Viewership and attendance
The 2014 World Championship games were streamed live by 40 broadcast partners, and cast in 19 languages. The grand finals were watched by 27 million people, with concurrent viewership peaking at over 11 million viewers.


2014 League of Legends World Championship, Viewership and attendance, Racism incident
Prior to the World Championship group stage in Taipei, SK Gaming's Dennis "Svenskeren" Johnsen acted in a racially insensitive way while playing on the Taiwanese server, being disrespectful towards other players and naming his account "TaipeiChingChong". Johnsen was fined US$2,500 and was suspended from his team's first three games in the tournament.


2014 League1 Ontario season
The 2014 League1 Ontario season was the inaugural season of the Division 3 Ontario-based semi-professional soccer league. It began on May 30, featuring 10 teams. The league's first ever goal was scored by Toronto FC Academy player Dylan Sacramento.


2014 League1 Ontario season, Teams
Being the first year of the league, all teams are new to the league.


2014 League1 Ontario season, Teams
On July 22, 2014, the league terminated the license of Internacional de Toronto. Their record will be expunged.


2014 League1 Ontario season, Format
Unlike most North American sports leagues, there will be no playoffs. The title will be awarded to the team with the most points at the end of the 16-game regular season. League1 Ontario also expressed the desire to organize a final game between their champion, and the winner of the other Division 3 league in Canada, the PLSQ. There will also be a cup competition for the 10 teams, the final representing the last game of the season. This cup is unrelated to the Canadian Championship, though the Canadian Soccer Association has hinted at the possibility of including more teams in the future.


2014 League1 Ontario season, Cup
In addition to the regular season, the 2014 League1 Ontario season also contained a cup tournament, which was run separately (and consisted of different games) from the rest of the regular season. The initial ten teams were divided into two groups of five, with each team facing the other teams in their group once. The top two teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage.


2014 League1 Ontario season, Cup, Group Stage
The teams were divided into two groups of 5, with the best 2 teams in each group qualifying for the semifinals. With the removal of Internacional de Toronto, Group A was reduced to four teams.


2014 League1 Ontario season, Cup, Knockout Stage
The top two teams from each group entered a single-game elimination tournament to determine the cup champion. The final was held on Sunday, October 19 at BMO Field.


2014 League1 Ontario season, Inter-Provincial Cup Championship
The Inter-Provincial Cup Championship was announced on October 14, 2014 as a two-legged home-and-away series between the league champions of League1 Ontario and the Première Ligue de soccer du Québec – the only Division 3 men's semi-professional soccer leagues based fully within Canada.


2014 Lebanese Elite Cup
The 2014 Lebanese Elite Cup is the 17th edition of this football tournament in Lebanon. The competition started on 23 August through to the final in September. This tournament used to include the six best teams from the 2013–14 Lebanese Premier League season, but this edition also featured Salam Zgharta, who only just avoided relegation in 10th place, but won the 2013–14 Lebanese FA Cup.


2014 Leeds City Council election
The 2014 Leeds City Council election took place on Thursday 22 May 2014 to elect members of Leeds City Council in England. It was held on the same day as the 2014 European Parliament election and other local elections across the UK.


2014 Leeds City Council election
As per the election cycle, one third of the council's seats were up for election. The councillors subsequently elected replaced those elected when their individual seats were previously contested in 2010.


2014 Leeds City Council election
The Labour Party had been in overall control of the council since 2011  and their majority was unchanged following this election after winning 20 of the 33 seats contested.


2014 Leeds City Council election, Election summary
This result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the council after the elections:


2014 Leeds and Grenville United Counties municipal elections
Elections were held in Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Ontario on October 27, 2014 in conjunction with municipal elections across the province.


2014 Leeds and Grenville United Counties municipal elections, Leeds and Grenville United Counties Council
The Council consists of the mayors and reeves of the constituent municipalities.


2014 Legend SuperCup
The 2014 Legend SuperCup season was a legends car racing series that started over 25–27 April in Portimão, Portugal and ended over 17–19 October at the TT Circuit Assen, Netherlands. Legend SuperCup (LSC) was a part of Acceleration 2014, a series of festivals combining top class car and bike racing with music and entertainment. Next to LSC, there was the Formula Acceleration 1, based on the former A1 Grand Prix, the MW-V6 Pickup Series, based on the former Dutch racing series BRL V6, and the European Stock 600 and 1000 Series, which featured motorcycle racing for 15- and 16-year-olds.


2014 Legend SuperCup
To attract young, yet serious, racing drivers, the 2014 LSC drivers' champion was promised half the budget for the 2015 MW-V6 Pickup Series season plus a test day in the MW-V6 car. As for the music, on Friday evenings, David Hasselhoff hosted "Celebrate the 80's and the 90's with The Hoff", a dance party featuring 2 Unlimited, Haddaway, Kim Wilde, and others. Saturday evenings saw performances of international DJs.


2014 Legend SuperCup
The drivers' championship was won by Georgia's Davit Kajaia, after winning 11 races out of 24. Kajaia finished over 400 points clear of his closest rival and fellow Georgian, Konstantin Koliashvili. Koliashvili was the only other driver to compete in every meeting, and his best finish was a third place on two occasions. Third in the championship was Niki Meredith, who won 3 races during the season, all at the Nürburgring. Other race winners during the season were Ferry Monster, Daniel Campos-Hull, and Yannick Mettler. The nations' championship was won by Georgia, finishing over 200 points clear of the Netherlands.


2014 Legend SuperCup
On 22 December 2014, it was announced that the FA1 series would be merged with Auto GP in 2015, to ensure that at least 18 cars participate in each race. The fate of the supporting Acceleration series was not specified.


2014 Legend SuperCup, Calendar
The 2014 calendar consisted of six race weekends. Originally, ten were planned. However, Acceleration in Zolder, Acceleration at Paul Ricard, and Acceleration at Grobnik were cancelled on 27 June 2014 and Acceleration at Hungaroring was cancelled on 20 August 2014.


2014 Legend SuperCup, Race format
Lots were drawn by the drivers during the briefing to determine the starting grid for Sprint Race 1. The starting grid for Sprint Race 2 was the reversed Race 1 starting grid. The starting grid for Sprint Race 3 corresponded to the points scored in Races 1 and 2 (the driver who scored the highest number of points started on pole). In case of even results when adding points of races 1 and 2, the fastest lap of races 1 and 2 decided between the drivers.


2014 Legend SuperCup, Technical specifications
The cars were based on those used in legends car racing.


2014 Legend SuperCup, Championship standings
Points were awarded to the top 25 classified drivers in all four races, even if the driver did not finish the race. The driver that scored the fastest lap of the weekend received one extra point. At the end of the season, the LSC Drivers' title was awarded to the driver with the highest number of points.


2014 Legend SuperCup, Championship standings
There was also a Nations' championship, which grouped the represented nations by totalling the average of the points scored by the drivers of the same nationality (e.g. : with 5 Dutch drivers in a race, the Netherlands scored in that race the addition of the points scored by each driver divided by 5).


2014 Legend SuperCup, Championship standings, Drivers' championship
Bold – PoleItalics – Fastest LapUnderlined – Fastest Lap of the Weekend, one extra point


2014 Legend SuperCup, Championship standings, Nations' championship
Bold – PoleItalics – Fastest LapUnderlined – Fastest Lap of the Weekend, one extra point


2014 Legends Tour
The 2014 Legends Tour was a series of professional golf tour events for women aged 45 and older sanctioned by the Legends Tour. Based in the United States, it is an offshoot of the main U.S.-based women's tour, the LPGA Tour. The tour was founded in 2001, and is intended to allow women to prolong their competitive golf careers on the model of the successful Champions Tour for men.


2014 Legends Tour, Schedule and results
In 2014 the Legends Tour had seven events on the schedule. The number in brackets after each winner's name is the number of Legends Tour events she had won up to and including that tournament.


2014 Legends Tour, Money leaders
This section shows the final money leaders table. The list is based on the three 36-hole tournaments.


2014 Lehigh Mountain Hawks football team
The 2014 Lehigh Mountain Hawks football team represented Lehigh University in the 2014 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by ninth-year head coach Andy Coen and played their home games at Goodman Stadium. They were a member of the Patriot League. They finished the season 3–8, 2–4 in Patriot League play to finish in a tie for fifth place.


2014 Lehigh Mountain Hawks football team
This year was the 150th meeting of The Rivalry against Lafayette College and was played at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx. Lehigh's marching band, the Marching 97, performed not only during the game, but also the day before around Manhattan to boost spirits.


2014 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks season
The 2014 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks season was the fourth season as a professional indoor football franchise and their second in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL). One of 8 teams competing in the PIFL for the 2014 season.


2014 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks season
The team played their home games under head coach Chris Thompson at the Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The Steelhawks earned a 6-6 record, placing 2nd in the National Conference, winning the National Conference Championship, before losing to the Nashville Venom in PIFL Cup III.


2014 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks season, Roster
Rookies in italics updated June 22, 201426 Active, 8 Inactive


2014 Leinster Senior Football Championship
The 2014 Leinster Senior Football Championship was that year's installment of the annual Leinster Senior Football Championship held under the auspices of Leinster GAA. It was one of the four provincial competitions of the 2014 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. Dublin entered the competition as defending Leinster champions and ended it the same way.


2014 Leinster Senior Football Championship, Teams
The Leinster championship is contested by eleven of the counties in the Irish province of Leinster. Kilkenny is the only county to not compete.


2014 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Final
The 2014 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Final, the deciding game of the 2014 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, was a hurling match played on 6 July 2014 at Croke Park, Dublin, contested by Dublin and Kilkenny.


2014 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Final
Kilkenny, captained by Lester Ryan won their 69th Leinster hurling title with a dominant display in a 0-24 to 1-9 win over defending champions Dublin. TJ Reid scored 10 points for Kilkenny, eight from placed balls. Kilkenny had a 0-13 to 1-6 lead at half-time. Henry Shefflin equalled Michael Kavanagh’s record with his 13th Leinster title winning medal.


2014 Leitrim County Council election
An election to Leitrim County Council took place on 23 May 2014 as part of that year's Irish local elections. 18 councillors were elected from three electoral divisions by PR-STV voting for a five-year term of office, a reduction of 4 seats compared to 2009.


2014 Leitrim County Council election
Fine Gael suffered large seat losses, losing 6 seats, and their previously held overall majority while Fianna Fáil also lost 2 seats. Independents and Sinn Féin both increased their numbers by 2 despite the Council being reduced by 4 seats as a whole.


2014 Lennox and Addington County municipal elections
Elections were held in Lennox and Addington County, Ontario on October 27, 2014 in conjunction with municipal elections across the province.


2014 Lennox and Addington County municipal elections, Lennox and Addington County Council
The County Council consists of the three municipal reeves, mayor of Greater Napanee and the three deputy reeves and the Deputy Reeve of Greater Napanee.


2014 Lesotho political crisis
On 30 August 2014, Lesotho's Prime Minister Tom Thabane alleged that a coup d'état had been launched against him. This followed a previous allegation which caused him to suspend parliament over possible extra-constitutional manoeuvres. It also followed pressure from South Africa to maintain the democratic process. The next day, Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing assumed responsibility for running the government. An early election was held in February 2015 as a result of South African-led Southern African Development Community (SADC) mediation, giving power to the opposition.


2014 Lesotho political crisis, Background
Following the general election of 2012, the All Basotho Convention's Tom Thabane was elected as prime minister as head of a three party coalition after ousting long serving Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili. On 19 June 2014, Thabane suspended parliament over fears of a coup d'état, allowing him to avoid a vote of confidence; this was sanctioned by King Letsie III. In reaction, the South African government issued a statement that read it "notes with concern the unfolding political and security situation in the Kingdom of Lesotho which has resulted in the prorogation of the country's parliament.


2014 Lesotho political crisis, Background
The South African government has further noted with grave concern the unusual movements of the Lesotho Defence Force Units in the capital, Maseru. South Africa will not tolerate any unconstitutional change of government in the region and continent." Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing also suggested he would form a new government upon Thabane's removal. Meanwhile, in addition to South Africa, the Southern African Development Community also warned the political rivals of unconstitutional changes of government which would not be tolerated.


2014 Lesotho political crisis, Coup d'état
On 30 August, at about 3:00 gunshots were heard in Maseru. Though the city was calm later in the day, people were said to be staying at home. Though there were no reports of deaths, the Lesotho Times termed it a "bloodless coup attempt." The army was said to have acted after Thabane tried to remove its chief, Lieutenant General Kennedy Tlali Kamoli, but the army said he was still in charge and that the military "supports the democratically elected government of the day."


2014 Lesotho political crisis, Coup d'état
Army spokesman Major Ntlele Ntoi denied staging a coup saying: "There is nothing like that, the situation has returned to normalcy...the military has returned to their barracks." This followed a military presence on the streets of the capital and radio stations, including private ones and Radio Lesotho, being taken off air and phone lines cut, but they were working later in the day. Sports Minister Thesele Maseribane said that soldiers had surrounded State House, including government and police headquarters.


2014 Lesotho political crisis, Coup d'état
He added that an unnamed military commander was looking for him, Thabane and Mothetjoa Metsing to take to the king and that "in our country, that means a coup" yet he insisted Thabane's government was still in control of the country. A reinforced military contingent was reportedly guarding Thabane's official residence and that soldiers were patrolling the streets of Maseru. The military had also disarmed police.


2014 Lesotho political crisis, Coup d'état
Thabane said he fled to South Africa amid fear for his life and that he would return "as soon as I know I am not going to get killed." He added that the alleged coup had rendered the government "dysfunctional" and that "I have been removed from control not by the people but by the armed forces, and that is illegal." He left with his family after getting reports he was targeted for assassination.


2014 Lesotho political crisis, Coup d'état
He later said the action resulted from "total indiscipline" in the army with soldiers "running around the streets, threatening people" and "quite openly stating that they want my neck." He further accused an unnamed military commander of leading the unrest and that it was a reaction to his government's attempt to stem corruption; while he also called for SADC to help restore order. Conversely, officials who denied the coup plot said that they had moved against police elements suspected of trying to arm a political faction and that soldiers had returned to their barracks. One policeman was killed in the incident.


2014 Lesotho political crisis, Coup d'état, Aftermath
The next day, Metsing assumed responsibility for running the government. Following calls by Thabane for South African peacekeepers, by 3 September, South African police had escorted Thabane back to Maseru, according to Assistant Police Commissioner Lehloka Maphatsoe. Police Commissioner Khothatso Tsooana said that the South African police were present for extra security and that he had ordered the Lesotho police to return to work after being told to stop work and not wear uniforms to prevent attacks on police. Metsing also said the leader of the third party in the coalition also returned to Lesotho.


2014 Lesotho political crisis, Coup d'état, Aftermath
The SADC added that it was sending an envoy and an observer team to help restore stability and security; while Lesotho's leaders agreed on a roadmap with a "clear timeline" towards removing the parliamentary suspension and agreed to release a joint statement "appealing for calm and exercise restraint with a view to rapidly bring law and order back in the kingdom."


2014 Lesotho political crisis, Coup d'état, Aftermath
A 12 September deadline to reach a consensus was passed without agreement. South Africa Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa then took responsibility from Jacob Zuma's mediation efforts to get an agreement amongst the governing coalition. Chief among the discussion was the re-calling of the legislature. As a result of the failure, South Africa called for an emergency meeting of the SADC. One of those who fled the country, Thesele Maseribane, then asked: "How can you open your own parliament when you still have foreign troops here, protecting you? Everyone’s interested in parliament, but what about what recently happened here?


2014 Lesotho political crisis, Coup d'état, Aftermath
This is not a movie. This is reality. This was an attempted coup." Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing's Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) was blamed, along with General Kamoli, for the putsch. Kamoli raided government armouries in preparation for a possible showdown, while his allies warned of a "bloodbath" if he is forcibly removed. The SADC has also rebuffed calls by some domestic leaders for a military intervention, instead opting for a political resolution.


2014 Lesotho political crisis, Coup d'état, Aftermath
On 30 September, under the SADC mandate to help creating dialogue, Ramaphosa arrived in the country. In ongoing developments at the time, Senate Chief Whip Khoabane Theko said that the prime minister's office had too much constitutional power and there was no provision for coalition dispute resolution, yet he also rejected calls to empower the king in order to help resolve political disagreements. "In our constitution, there is nowhere, where the prime minister is obliged maybe to consult when he does anything with his partner in the coalition. So we still have that problem on the ground. [


2014 Lesotho political crisis, Coup d'état, Aftermath
Yet] I don’t want to put the monarchy in danger. I don’t want my king to be beheaded like Charles I in England in the old times." He further noted: "It is very unsettling because nobody is sure what is going to happen. There was an attempted coup...[and] that has made the people very unsettled on our political spectrum. There is so much uncertainty and of course business is not doing well because...


2014 Lesotho political crisis, Coup d'état, Aftermath
Every time it’s 6 "O’clock in the evening everybody wants to get to his household to make sure that he does not meet a bullet or something like that." He suggested that the tensions could be reduced if the root cause involving Kamoli, who refused to step down when Thabane replaced him with Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao as head of Lesotho Defense Force, leads to "Kamoli himself really relinquishes power and maybe make way for...Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao." It could, however, also worsen if the other side gets its way. "There are a lot of people who are in a hurry so that they can call for a motion of no confidence against the incumbent prime minister, which I think is a very quick fix consolation that cannot help Basotho at all."


2014 Lesotho political crisis, Coup d'état, Aftermath
Thabane and unnamed allies were then receiving round-the-clock protection from Namibian and South African police in the country. In a resolution to the conflict, the Maseru Facilitation Declaration was signed. The scheduled election was brought forward by two years and would occur in February 2015. The announcement was made by Ramaphosa, who added that the exact date would be determined by King Letsie III. Thabane said that the time had come to "go back to the electorate and get a fresh mandate. I still have it in me to go to the hustings and campaign." Russia also welcomed the deal.


2014 Lesotho political crisis, Coup d'état, Aftermath
On 17 October, parliament reconvened in a bid to avert the political crisis with Thabane's advisor Tumisang Mosotho saying: "It’s a milestone. We want to hope this is the first step in the right direction, in liberating our country from the danger that has surrounded us these past few months." Senate Chief Whip Khoabane Theko said: "This is what we can call maybe the beginning of the process that takes us to the elections, because we are going to have a budget and maybe deliberate other laws … ahead of our elections from here on." Parliament was officially re-convened in October by Letsie III and was celebrated by opposition MPs.


2014 Lesotho political crisis, Investigation
Lesotho police opened an investigation into two of its employees over treason and murder for being allegedly complicit in working with the military. Deputy Police Commissioner Masupha Masupha said that "even I've been implicated. But investigating and charging are different things. If I find something, I won't shy away from confronting anyone with their unlawful acts."


2014 Lesotho political crisis, Investigation
Lehloka Maphatsoe – an assistant police commissioner who leads the Interpol national central bureau – said that the two police officers under investigation were having their cellphones sent to South Africa where Bloemfontein police were checking for "suspicious communications" and if there were attempts to delete the evidence. Masupha hosted a meeting of all officers to hear grievances. Some said they do not trust management and made accusations of complicity because "some of you have been involved in this mess." He look to assure the officers and they could approach him anonymously with information.


2014 Lesotho political crisis, Reactions
Minister Thesele Maseribane, a possible target in the putsch, said he was not surprised by the accusation and that he suspected Kamoli and Metsing to have attempted the coup in order to halt corruption investigations against them. Police officers present on 30 August reported that soldiers demanded to see police files on the two of them. Maseribane added that "If you plan a coup, it must succeed. Because once it fails, people start talking. Many are now nervous, as others put the puzzle together and point fingers."


2014 Lesotho political crisis, Reactions
South Africa's International Relations Department's spokesperson Clayson Monyela said: "The department will either convene a media briefing or issue a statement later today regarding the situation in Lesotho." He also added that though no one claimed, the action had the markings of a putsch. Following the return of Thabane, the Methodist Church of Southern Africa welcomed the calmness in the country with Bishop Zipho Siwa saying prayers were offered for a "blood-less" resolution. "May the parties unite through peaceful dialogue and work towards a solution that will re-establish harmony, the rule of law and good governance in the country." He called for the people of Lesotho to support Thabane other officials' quest for a solution. He further lauded South African President Jacob Zuma for co-ordinating the dialogue that resulted in dispatching a SADC observer team to Lesotho.


2014 Levene Gouldin & Thompson Tennis Challenger
The 2014 Levene Gouldin & Thompson Tennis Challenger was a professional tennis tournament played on hard court. It was the 21st edition of the tournament which was part of the 2014 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Binghamton, United States between 14 and 20 July 2014.


2014 Levene Gouldin & Thompson Tennis Challenger, Singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2014 Levene Gouldin & Thompson Tennis Challenger – Doubles
Bradley Klahn and Michael Venus were the defending champions, but Venus chose to compete in the ATP World Tour. Bradley Klahn played alongside Jordan Thompson and they lost in the semifinals.


2014 Levene Gouldin & Thompson Tennis Challenger – Doubles
Daniel Cox and Daniel Smethurst won the title, defeating Marius Copil and Sergiy Stakhovsky in the final, 6–7(3–7), 6–2, [10–6].


2014 Levene Gouldin & Thompson Tennis Challenger – Singles
Alex Kuznetsov was the defending champion but decided not to participate.


2014 Levene Gouldin & Thompson Tennis Challenger – Singles
Sergiy Stakhovsky won the title, defeating Wayne Odesnik 6–4, 7–6(11–9) in the final.


2014 Lewisham London Borough Council election
The 2014 Lewisham Council election took place on 22 May 2014 to elect members of Lewisham Council in England. This was on the same day as other local elections.


2014 Lewisham London Borough Council election
Labour won 53 of 54 seats in a landslide victory, with one seat in Brockley ward held by the Green Party.


2014 Lexington, Kentucky mayoral election
In Lexington, Kentucky they held nonpartisan elections for mayor and city council on November 4th, 2014. The primary election in Lexington took place on May 20th, 2014 and the deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election had to file for candidacy before January 28th, 2014. Urban development and crime were major issues that were brought up in the election that shaped the 2014 election cycle. The 2014 Lexington, Kentucky mayoral election was held on May 20, 2014 to elect the mayor of Lexington, Kentucky. It saw the reelection of Jim Gray.


2014 Lexington, Kentucky mayoral election
Jim Gray defeats Anthany Beatty to win second term. He is also the first Lexington mayor in sixteen years to win a second term. The night Jim Gray won he gave a speech at his election party at Belle's Cocktail House in Lexington, Kentucky, telling his supporters that he was grateful for Lexington's strong support. Gray ran television ads in late September and ran more of his election campaign ads right before the election. Gray in 2010 was the first openly gay man to be elected mayor making history.


2014 Li Na tennis season
The 2014 Li Na tennis season officially began on 30 December with the start of the 2014 WTA Tour as the defending champion of the 2014 Shenzhen Open. In July, Li ended her nearly 2 year collaboration with coach Carlos Rodríguez. Li announced her retirement from professional tennis on 19 September citing  recurring and worsening knee injuries. Li also made the longest winning streak in 2014 WTA Tour with 13.


2014 Li Na tennis season, Yearly summary, Early hard court season and Australian Open, Shenzhen Open
Li Na started her season as the defending champion at the 2014 Shenzhen Open. She defeated former world number two and wildcard Vera Zvonareva and Nadiia Kichenok in the first two rounds, before being challenged by Monica Niculescu in the quarterfinals, winning in three tight sets. She then defeated rising German Annika Beck in the semifinals to reach the final for the second consecutive year, where she defeated compatriot Peng Shuai in straight sets, marking the first successful title defense of her career.


2014 Li Na tennis season, Yearly summary, Early hard court season and Australian Open, Australian Open
Instead of more preparation in Sydney, Li chose to compete at the Australian Open directly this year, at which she had been a finalist twice in the last three years. Intent on going one better, Li routed current junior top 2 players Ana Konjuh and Belinda Bencic in the first two rounds. After quickly losing an error strewn first set against Lucie Šafářová, she fended off a match point when trailing 5–6 in the second before rebounding in the tiebreak and decisive set to avoid the upset. She finished the match with 17 winners to 50 unforced errors.


2014 Li Na tennis season, Yearly summary, Early hard court season and Australian Open, Australian Open
In her fourth round encounter with Ekaterina Makarova, Li delivered the third bagel in the tournament, easing through with a straight set victory. Li followed this up with another dominant performance against first-time Australian Open quarterfinalist Flavia Pennetta to set up a clash with teenager Eugenie Bouchard in the last four. Li easily won the first set having won 20 of the first 23 points to lead 5–0. Down 0–2 in the second set, she reeled off six of the next eight games to close out the Canadian.


2014 Li Na tennis season, Yearly summary, Early hard court season and Australian Open, Australian Open
She reached the final for the third time, where she faced maiden Grand Slam finalist Dominika Cibulková. After winning the first set in a tiebreak, Li stormed through the second set at love to claim her second Grand Slam title, thus becoming the first Asian Australian Open champion and sixth woman to win the title after being match point down.


2014 Li Na tennis season, Yearly summary, Early hard court season and Australian Open, Australian Open
Her post-match speech became one of the most talked-about moments in the event. Because of her limited English, she jokingly remarked that her agent should "make [her] rich" and her husband is "lucky" to find her before thanking the crowd and everyone involved.


2014 Li Na tennis season, Yearly summary, Middle East series, Qatar Open
Since Li missed out on last year edition's of the Qatar Open due to injury, she had no points to defend. She won her second round match against Magdaléna Rybáriková before being upset by qualifier and world No. 134 Petra Cetkovská in three sets, her first loss of the season. However, she reached a new career-high of world No. 2 after the tournament as a result of defending champion and current world No. 2 Victoria Azarenka's withdrawal.


2014 Li Na tennis season, Yearly summary, North American hard court season, Indian Wells Masters
After missing Indian Wells in 2013, Li was the first seed this year in the absence of Serena Williams, the first time she was seeded first at a Premier Mandatory event. She enjoyed a first round bye before dispatching compatriot Zheng Jie, Karolína Plíšková and Aleksandra Wozniak in convincing fashion. In the quarterfinals she faced her first top 20 opponent of the season in Dominika Cibulková, a rematch of the Australian Open final. After Li took the opening set comfortably, Cibulková quickly built a 5–1 lead in the second due a plethora of unforced errors off Li's racquet.


2014 Li Na tennis season, Yearly summary, North American hard court season, Indian Wells Masters
Li managed to recover three games but was unable to salvage the set. After the pair traded breaks early in the third, Cibulková held double break point with Li serving at 3-all. From there Li won 12 of the next 16 points to clinch the final three games and the victory after 2 hours and 36 minutes of play, maintaining her perfect record against the Slovak. With this win, Li advanced to her first Indian Wells semifinal since 2007. Facing 20th seed Flavia Pennetta in the semifinal, she was defeated in straight sets.


2014 Li Na tennis season, Yearly summary, North American hard court season, Miami Masters
Li received a bye in the first round of Miami Masters. In the second round she was bound to face Alisa Kleybanova, however the Russian withdrew shortly prior to the match due to a viral illness. In her third round encounter with Madison Keys, she erased two set points in the first set before forcing a tiebreak, which she won. In the second set she won five consecutive games from 0–2 down and eventually took the match handily. She then had an easy win against the 15th seed Carla Suárez Navarro, setting up a quarterfinal with Caroline Wozniacki.


2014 Li Na tennis season, Yearly summary, North American hard court season, Miami Masters
After Li burst out to a 4–1 lead in the first set, Wozniacki won four games in a row to go up 5–4, before Li fired back with three games of her own to take the set. The Dane was up 5–3 in the second set before Li reeled off four consecutive games to advance. In the semifinal, she met Dominika Cibulková for the third time this year. Li blew two set points when serving for the first set on her first attempt at 5–3, but successfully closed it out on her second.


2014 Li Na tennis season, Yearly summary, North American hard court season, Miami Masters
From 2–all in the second set, Li lost 6 games in a row to lose the set and fall behind 0–2 in the decider, before upping her game to seize six of the last seven games to seal the win, securing a place in her maiden Premier Mandatory final, where she was defeated by world No. 1 Serena Williams in straight sets despite having a set point in the first set.


2014 Li Na tennis season, Yearly summary, Clay court season, Stuttgart Open
Li withdrew from this year edition of Stuttgart Open before the tournament.


2014 Li Na tennis season, Yearly summary, Clay court season, Madrid Open
Li started her clay season at the Madrid Open, where she lost to Madison Keys in the first round last year. She defeated Kirsten Flipkens and countrywoman Zheng Jie in the first two rounds without much trouble. In the third round match against Sloane Stephens, Li surrendered the first set but regained form to earn a place in the quarter final. She was defeated by eventual champion Maria Sharapova in three sets, after winning the first set comfortably.


2014 Li Na tennis season, Yearly summary, Clay court season, Italian Open
At the Italian Open where she was sent home by former world No.1 Jelena Janković last year, Li received a bye for first round and defeated Australian Casey Dellacqua in the second. She then defeated Sam Stosur for the first time after 6 encounters in her career. In the quarterfinals against Sara Errani, Li suffered her first loss to the home favourite.


2014 Li Na tennis season, Yearly summary, Clay court season, French Open
The former champion suffered her earliest loss at the event to Kristina Mladenovic. She was the first Grand Slam champion to lose in the opening round of the following Grand Slam since Petra Kvitová did so at the 2011 US Open.


2014 Li Na tennis season, Yearly summary, Grass court season, Wimbledon
The only grass court event Li participated in this year was the Wimbledon Championships. She easily defeated Paula Kania and Yvonne Meusburger in the first two rounds. She then bowed out to Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová in two tiebreak sets.


2014 Li Na tennis season, Yearly summary, US Open Series
Li withdrew from the 2014 Rogers Cup, 2014 Western & Southern Open and 2014 US Open this year due to a knee injury, at all of which she was a defending semifinalist. She surrendered her world No. 2 ranking to Simona Halep following the Rogers Cup.


2014 Li Na tennis season, Yearly summary, US Open Series
After skipping the entire US Open Series due to a left knee injury, Li officially announced her retirement from the sport on 19 September 2014, also withdrawing from the tournaments in Wuhan (her hometown) and Beijing. She was ranked no.6 by the Women's Tennis Association at the time of her retirement.


2014 Li Na tennis season, Yearly records, Head-to-head matchups
Bold indicates that the player was in the Top 10, italics denotes that the player was in the Top 20 (at the time of the match being played). This list is ordered by number of wins to number of losses in chronological order played.