Dodgers say immigration agents denied entry to Los Angeles stadium

ICE responded to the Dodgers statement on X: "False. We were never there."

Los Angeles is among the cities where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have ramped up raids to find and deport undocumented migrants.

In a post on social media, the baseball team said "ICE agents came to Dodger Stadium and requested permission to access the parking lots", and were subsequently turned away.

The Los Angeles Dodgers say they blocked federal agents from entering their stadium on Thursday, as protests against immigration enforcement continue in the city.

The Department of Homeland Security too issued a statement saying the agents' presence at the stadium "had nothing to do with the Dodgers".

"CBP vehicles were in the stadium parking lot very briefly, unrelated to any operation or enforcement," DHS said. It is unclear why the officials were at the stadium.

This comes as Dodgers are expected to announce that they will assist immigrants who have been impacted by the raids in the city, US media report.

No details have been disclosed, but it would be the team's first official response to the raids.

Dodgers player Kiké Hernández took to Instagram to voice his criticism of the raids on Los Angeles, saying he is "saddened and infuriated by what's happening in our country and our city".

"This is my second home. And I cannot stand to see our community being violated, profiled, abused and ripped apart," he said.

The crackdown in Los Angeles is part of President Donald Trump's policy to be tougher on immigration.

The move has sparked massive protests, prompting Trump to send 700 US Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops to the Los Angeles area to support the federal response to the unrest.

The raids in America's second-biggest city are unfolding against the backdrop of an aggressive push to raise arrest and deportation numbers, as the administration has been disappointed with its current pace.

Meanwhile, White House border czar Tom Homan said on Thursday that the Trump administration will resume immigration raids at worksites.

"The message is clear: we're going to continue conducting worksite enforcement operations, including on farms and in hotels, but on a prioritised basis. Criminals come first," Homan told reporters.

The statement comes days after DHS announced reversing recent guidance that called for a pause on operations at those places.

Israel-Iran: Could The UK Get Involved? Israel-Iran: Could The UK Get Involved?

Why Trump’s Iran decision is splitting the Republican party Why Trump’s Iran decision is splitting the Republican party

Temperatures to reach 32C for second day running

7 minutes ago Share Save Yang Tian BBC News Share Save

PA Media

Temperatures are expected to reach above 30C for a second day running, as an early summer heatwave grips the UK. Hot and dry conditions are expected to persist across the UK, with temperatures going as high as 32C in central England. Friday is not forecast to be as warm as Thursday - which broke the record for hottest day of the year so far - while temperatures could top out at 34C on Saturday. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber heat-health alert for all regions in England - the first time since September 2023 - which will remain in place until Monday.

It warns "significant impacts are likely" across health and social care services, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or people with health conditions. By Friday afternoon, many regions are expected to meet the criteria for a heatwave - which means a temperature threshold is sustained for three consecutive days - according to the Met Office. The threshold varies across different regions, from 25C in northern and western parts of the UK to 28C in south-eastern England. A heatwave may be declared in London on Friday, where it has passed the 28C threshold for two days in a row. On Thursday, Suffolk became the first area in the UK to officially enter a heatwave, after temperatures passed 27C for a third consecutive day. The heatwave is expected to peak on Saturday, with thundery showers forecast for northern Wales and north-west England, as well as dry and hot conditions in the east. Some relief is anticipated on Sunday, where the south and east of England will dip to the high 20s, while temperatures will cool to the mid-20s elsewhere. Despite the heat being record-breaking for 2025, temperatures are still below the June peak of 35.6C in 1976. A developing area of high pressure is helping draw hot weather in from other parts of Western Europe. France and Spain could see temperatures close to 40C over the coming days.

EPA Spectators at Queen's tennis tournament in London have had to shelter from the extreme heat

'Dismal' month for supermarkets pushes down retail sales

UK retail sales fell sharply last month after "dismal" sales at supermarkets, the UK's statistics body has said.

Sales volumes are estimated to have fallen by 2.7% in May, the biggest monthly fall since December 2023, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

It said there were signs that alcohol and tobacco sales were lower after customers chose to make cutbacks.

Separate figures from the ONS showed that government borrowing rose last month, hitting the second highest level for May since monthly began in 1993.

'I was poisoned by fake Botox'

2 hours ago Share Save Philippa Goymer BBC North East Investigations Share Save

BBC Nicola Fairley was given anti-wrinkle injections containing fake Botox and ended up in hospital with botulism

In recent weeks, 28 people in the north-east of England have been left with potentially fatal botulism after having anti-wrinkle injections believed to have been fake. Such reactions are usually so rare hospitals stock very little anti-toxin and they were in danger of running out.

On one night in June, five people were in an accident and emergency department (A&E) in Durham suffering from serious adverse effects of anti-wrinkle injections - Nicola Fairley was one of them. Within days of having what she was told was a Botox jab, but which turned out to be an illegal copy, her throat began closing up, an eye swelled shut and one side of her face started to droop. She could not smile, struggled to eat and swallow, felt exhausted and was desperate to sleep. The 37-year-old mother of four from Bishop Auckland in County Durham told staff she had been given injections and was unwell. "They got the doctor to see me within five minutes and started some tests there and then," Mrs Fairley recalls. Of the 28 people, mostly in the Durham and Darlington areas, who have found themselves in a similar position, four others ended up in the same hospital on the same night as Mrs Fairley. In an average year, the University Hospital of North Durham usually sees no cases at all of botulism that require treatment. Only six were recorded in the whole of England in 2023-24. Since being approached by the BBC the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has set up an investigation.

Nicola Fairley Nicola Fairley suffered swelling and a closed eye after being injected with fake Botox

Botulinum toxin is widely used to reduce facial wrinkles and treat muscle conditions. While cosmetic practitioners do not need to be licensed, the drug does. Only seven brands are licensed in the UK, with Botox the most well known. When used correctly the amounts are small and side effects are rare. But unregulated toxin, or larger quantities, can attack the nerves and cause botulism, a potentially life-threatening condition that causes paralysis. Mrs Fairley had anti-wrinkle injections before, paying £100 for three areas, but then won a round of treatment from the same provider in a competition. She was told it was a stronger type of the toxin and again had three areas injected. She says she had no idea this treatment was illegal. Within two hours her forehead was "frozen", although genuine cosmetic injections should take several days to start working with the full effect visible after two weeks. Of those in A&E at the same time, some had used the same practitioner as Mrs Fairley. They were all diagnosed with botulism and one doctor told the group they had never seen that many people with the condition at the same time. It is so rare, hospitals do not typically keep large quantities of the anti-toxin - made from horse blood - that is used to stop the toxin spreading further.

Nicola Fairley Nicola Fairley could have to wait months before the effects of the toxin wear off

North Durham was already trying to source anti-toxin drugs from other hospitals as there had been a spate of cases in the days before Mrs Fairley and the others arrived in A&E. In an internal communication seen by the BBC, a hospital leader said: "We've just about exhausted all stock of the antitoxin from local holders (Newcastle, Carlisle and Leeds) and have 10 more coming from London." They were "bracing" themselves for more patients. The MHRA told the BBC it was investigating allegations surrounding the illegal sale and supply of fake "Botox-type" products in the North East. Chief safety officer Dr Alison Cave said the body's criminal enforcement unit "works hard to identify those involved in the illegal trade in medicines". Buying anti-wrinkle injections and other medicines from illegal suppliers significantly increased the risk of getting a product which is either "falsified or not authorised" for use in the UK, she said.

Dr Steven Land said he had been warning of a botulism outbreak for years

An aesthetic doctor based in Newcastle, Steven Land, believes anti-wrinkle injections in three areas for less than £150 is very cheap and this could suggest the supplier was using an illegal toxin. Dr Land, who has also worked in A&E, said he was contacted weekly by "fake pharmacies" offering to sell him the toxins for such small amounts he "knows they're illegal". Genuine injections were "very safe if done properly" but called for the industry to be regulated, he said. As things stand it is not regulated at all, with anyone able to provide cosmetic injections. "Your provider should be able to show you the product they are using and be happy to answer any of your questions - and have the answers," he said. Dr Land said he had been fearing a botulism outbreak for years, noticing more and more businesses in the region offering injections that were suspiciously cheap.

An investigation into the cause of the recent cases of botulism is being led by the UK Health Security Agency with partners including Durham County Council's public health team. Director of public health Amanda Healy said they were urging anyone with symptoms to seek treatment. An incident management team had been set up to deal with the issue and they were working out if the cause of these incidents of botulism was the "type of toxin used or the way it was used", she said.

Durham County Council's director of public health Amanda Healy is part of an investigation team looking at what is happening

Mrs Fairley says the business owner who gave her the injections has apologised. "I know she hasn't done this on purpose," Mrs Fairley says. "I just don't know where people get it from - it's scary. "There needs to be more rules and stricter guidelines on who can do it - not just anybody who can go and do a course and just do it. "There's that many people who do it - it's part of your beauty regime like getting your nails done or your hair." What happened, and the continuing side effects, has put Mrs Fairley off having cosmetic injections again. She urges anyone considering it to ask questions about the product and make sure it has been properly prescribed. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said people's lives were being put at risk by "inadequately trained operators in the cosmetic sector" and said this was why the government was looking into new regulations. "We urge anyone considering cosmetic procedures to consider the possible health impacts and find a reputable, insured and qualified practitioner," a spokesperson said.

Spain's embattled PM Sánchez defies clamour for resignation

8 hours ago Share Save Guy Hedgecoe BBC News Reporting from Madrid Share Save

EPA Pedro Sánchez, who promised to clean up Spanish politics, is now caught up in multiple corruption scandals

Seven years after taking office by ousting corruption-ridden conservatives from government, Pedro Sánchez is fighting for his political life amid investigations into alleged graft in his Socialist party (PSOE). On June 12, an ashen-faced prime minister apologised to Spaniards after audio gathered by civil guard investigators was made public and appeared to show the PSOE secretary, Santos Cerdán, discussing commissions paid by companies in exchange for public contracts. Sánchez has not himself been directly implicated, but the Socialist leader who came to power promising to clean up politics is now facing calls to resign from an invigorated opposition. Cerdán, who was party number three, has resigned from the PSOE and stepped down as a member of parliament. He is due to appear before the Supreme Court on 25 June. He maintains he has never committed a crime nor been implicit in one.

EPA PSOE secretary Santos Cerdán has resigned and is due to appear in front of the Supreme Court on 25 June

The investigation into commissions is part of an ongoing probe which has already implicated José Luis Ábalos, a former PSOE secretary and transport minister. A third person implicated is Koldo García, an advisor to Ábalos. Both men featured with Cerdán in the recently exposed audio. All three say they have done nothing wrong. The investigation into Ábalos, which began last year, was damaging for the government but his exit from the cabinet and the PSOE secretary post in 2021 put distance between him and Sánchez. However, the implication of Cerdán is more problematic. Sánchez had repeatedly defended him in the face of claims in the right-wing media over recent months that he was under investigation, and the prime minister even accused the opposition of "slandering honest people" when asked about Cerdán's activities last month. The party secretary, from the northern region of Navarre, was a trusted confidant of the prime minister, playing a crucial role, for example, in negotiating the support of Catalan nationalists to allow the formation of a new government in 2023. Despite acknowledging that he "should not have trusted" Cerdán, Sánchez has insisted that he will see out the legislature, which is due to end in 2027. In a letter to PSOE members he apologised again, while doubling down. "There are many issues that affect the lives of the majority – healthcare, housing, pensions, jobs, fighting climate change and defending equality – and for which it is worth fighting still," he wrote. "Challenges that are not solved with headlines or lynchings." However, the opposition has presented the investigation as symptomatic of a corrupt regime, pointing to other probes affecting Sánchez and his circle. A judge has been investigating the prime minister's wife, Begoña Gómez, for possible business irregularities - and his musician brother, David, is due to go on trial for alleged influence peddling in taking up a public post in the south-western city of Badajoz. Meanwhile, the Attorney General, Álvaro García Ortiz, is also likely to face trial for revealing confidential details of a tax evader. All three deny wrongdoing.

Reuters Sánchez's wife, Begoña Gómez, is being investigated by a judge for business irregularities - while his brother is due to go on trial this year

Public doesn't back aid spending any more, says minister

1 hour ago Share Save Becky Morton Political reporter Share Save

BBC

The public no longer backs spending on international aid, Trade Minister Douglas Alexander has suggested. The former international development secretary under Gordon Brown told BBC Radio 4's Political Thinking with Nick Robinson that even if money was not tight, "the argument would have to be made" for investment in foreign aid. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a cut in the international aid budget to fund an increase in defence spending earlier this year. The move was strongly criticised by charities, which argued that it would be devastating for vulnerable people worldwide, as well as undermining the UK's interests.

Alexander said he had long believed it was "morally right" and "strategically smart" to invest in international aid but added: "I think we have lost the argument at various points." "We have an interest in building a stable, more equal, more safe world for our future generations," he said. "But public consent has been withdrawn. And truthfully on aid, it's not just fiscally challenged, it's culturally challenged as well. "Even if the money weren't tight, the argument would have to be made." He added that there had been reversals in a number of countries which had previously been leaders in international development funding, ranging from the United States to France, Germany and Norway.

During the interview, Alexander recalled attending the Make Poverty History march in Edinburgh, which took place 20 years ago. The march saw thousands of protesters call for the cancellation of debts owed by poorer countries and more aid for Africa. The campaign ahead of the G8 summit of the world's developed nations in Gleneagles also included a series of Live 8 concerts around the world. "I carried my son on my shoulders, I pushed my daughter in the pram, there were a quarter of a million people arguing that we should make poverty history internationally," he said. He added that the campaign showed "politics and the choices we make matter".

Getty Images An estimated 225,000 joined the Make Poverty History march on 2 July 2005

Alexander served as international development secretary between 2007 and 2010, after previously holding a number of ministerial roles under Sir Tony Blair. Both Sir Tony and Brown committed to increasing the overseas aid budget to 0.7% of national income, despite growing financial pressures. The target was reached in 2013 under David Cameron's Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government, before being enshrined in law in 2015. However, aid spending was cut to 0.5% of national income in 2021 under the Conservatives, who argued the move was needed to keep public debt down during the Covid pandemic. Earlier this year, Sir Keir said that figure would fall further to 0.3% in 2027 to fund an increase in defence spending. A survey by YouGov in February suggested 65% supported this move. However, Romilly Greenhill, chief executive of Bond, the UK network for NGOs, said public support for maintaining UK aid remained similar to levels during the 2010s, pointing to research by the Development Engagement Lab project. "The UK public knows that UK aid is not only the right thing to do, but it is essential for our national security," she said. "It helps prevent future pandemics, tackles the root causes of poverty, conflict and climate change, and contributes to making both the UK and the world a safer, healthier and more prosperous place for us all." She urged Alexander to "show leadership and play a key role in remaking the case to the British public".

Alexander returned to Parliament last July as the MP for Lothian East and was made trade secretary, after previously losing his seat in a shock defeat in 2015. It is understood the government's new trade strategy will be published next Thursday. Alexander said the strategy would recognise "that we're an 81% services-based economy" and the second largest exporter worldwide of services, which covers things like the financial and IT sectors. He added that it would set out "how we take down barriers [to trade]... to the benefit of every region of the UK". Alexander also said the UK needed to work on its "biggest trading relationship" with the European Union, after striking a deal last month covering areas including fishing, food exports, defence and energy. He said the agreement was "the start of a process" and the government wanted to see further progress in areas such as mutual recognition of professional qualifications.

You can listen to the full interview on BBC Radio 4 on Saturday at 17:30 BST or on BBC Sounds.

Tampa Bay Rays player Hunter Bigge was taken to hospital after being hit by a ball travelling at 105mph while in the dugout at a Major League Baseball game.

The relief pitcher, 27, was struck on the side of the face when the Baltimore Orioles' Adley Rutschman accidentally hit the ball into the home dugout at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida.

Bigge, who was not playing in the game as he recovers from a muscle strain, had been leaning on a rail in front of the dugout.

Emergency medical staff rushed to help him and he was placed in a neck brace and taken away on a stretcher before going to hospital to be assessed.

The game was halted for 10 minutes while Bigge was treated but he gave a thumbs-up to the crowd as he was taken away.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said that Bigge remained conscious throughout and was talking to the medical staff while he received treatment.

"Certainly you feel for Hunter and his wife. I can't imagine what she and he were going through," he said.

"Scary for everybody, none more than them."

Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino added: "It's really scary. It's terrifying. I mean, we all sit in these dugouts every night and in a lot of ways you kind of feel like sitting ducks."

Rutschman, who struck the ball, agreed.

"It's really, really scary," he said. "I haven't really been a part of something like that. You never want to see that."

"We didn't want to see those guys celebrate a championship on our home floor. Backs against the wall, we just responded.

"So many different guys chipped in. It was a whole team effort. I'm really proud of this group."

The victory means the NBA finals will go to game seven for the first time since 2016, when the Cleveland Cavaliers won their first Championship with a 4-3 series win against the Golden State Warriors.

The Thunder will host game seven on Monday (01:00 BST) but will need a much improved performance to win their first Championship since 1979.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the newly-crowned Most Valuable Player, top scored for the Thunder with 21 points but his side paid the price for missing their first eight shots of the game, which gave the Pacers an early eight-point lead.

"Credit Indiana," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "They earned the win. They outplayed us for most of the 48 minutes. They went out there and attacked the game."

Monday's game will mark the 20th time the NBA Finals have gone to game seven, with the home side in the decider triumphing 15 times.