In a brief firefight at the end of May, a Cambodian soldier was killed along the countries’ shared border.
Thai and Cambodian forces are expected to return to their previously agreed-upon positions on the border after the two governments reinforced their military presence following an eruption of violence that killed a Cambodian soldier.
Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said on Sunday that both sides hoped the thorny border issue could be fully resolved through a meeting on Saturday of the Joint Boundary Committee, which was set up to facilitate bilateral negotiations.
But Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn reiterated that his government had called on the International Court of Justice to resolve the border dispute.
“Given the complexity, historical nature and sensitivity of these disputes, it is increasingly evident that bilateral dialogue alone may no longer suffice to bring about a comprehensive and lasting solution,” Sokhonn said.
However, Thailand has said it does not recognise the court’s jurisdiction and proposes to settle the matter through bilateral negotiations.
The two countries have, for more than a century, contested sovereignty over undemarcated points along their shared border when France mapped out Cambodia in 1907 when it was a French colony.
Since 2008, when fighting first broke out over an 11th-century Hindu temple, bouts of violence have sporadically occurred, resulting in the deaths of at least 28 people.
In the most recent outbreak on May 28, a Cambodian soldier was killed in the disputed border region between Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province and Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province.
While the Thai and Cambodian militaries agreed to quell tensions, Cambodia said it could keep its troops in the area despite Thailand urging it to leave.
On Saturday, the Thai army took control of the “opening and closing” of all border crossings it shares with Cambodia, referring to a “threat to Thailand’s sovereignty and security”.
Cambodian soldiers ride on a self-propelled multiple rocket launcher in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on May 28, 2025 [Kith Serey/EPA]
According to government data, Thailand operates 17 official border crossings along the shared 817km (508-mile) frontier.
Earlier on Sunday, the army shortened operating hours at 10 border crossings.
Protesters gathered after immigration agents took dozens of people into custody during raids across Los Angeles.
There have been tense confrontations in Los Angeles as riot police and demonstrators – protesting federal immigration raids – squared off in the downtown area.
Earlier on Friday, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents took dozens of people into custody during raids across Los Angeles city.
Caravans of unmarked military-style vehicles and vans loaded with uniformed federal agents streamed through the city as part of the operation.
The ICE agents raided several locations, including an apparel store in the city’s Fashion District, a Home Depot in Westlake District, and a clothing warehouse in South Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles City News Service.
In response, crowds of demonstrators protesting the raids massed outside a jail where some of the detainees were believed to be held and spray-painted anti-ICE slogans on the walls of the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers – who did not take part in the immigration raids – were called in to quell the unrest. Wielding batons and tear gas rifles, LAPD officers faced off with the demonstrators after authorities ordered them to disperse on Friday night.
Some protesters hurled broken concrete towards the LAPD officers, the Reuters news agency reports. Police responded by firing volleys of tear gas and pepper spray.
LAPD spokesperson Drake Madison said police on the scene declared the gathering an unlawful assembly, meaning that those who failed to leave the area were subject to arrest, according to Reuters.
It’s not immediately clear how many arrests have been made.
Stoking fear and terror
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the federal immigration raids, saying they “sow terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city”.
Caleb Soto, of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, told Al Jazeera that between 70 and 80 people had been detained, but only three lawyers have been allowed access to the detention centre where they were being held to provide legal advice.
“The chaotic manner of the raids that we saw today happening throughout Los Angeles and different day-labour worksites and garment worker work sites was an example of the purpose of what this Trump administration has set out to do, which is create as much fear as possible,” Soto told Al Jazeera.
He said the ICE agents conducting the raids did not obtain a judicial warrant required under US law, and granted by a judge if there is probable cause to carry out an arrest because of suspected criminal activity.
Soto said ICE agents were showing up at work sites “where they know that there are a lot of immigrant workers” and “people without documents”, and if someone starts running they use that as “reasonable suspicion” that the person is undocumented.
“They use that as the pretext to start arresting people who are there in that area and around them. We find that to be pretty unconstitutional,” he said.
The Los Angeles raids are the latest sweeps in several US cities over recent months as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Trump, who took immediate steps to ramp up immigration enforcement after taking office in January, has promised to arrest and deport undocumented migrants in record numbers.
In late May, his administration stated it would revoke the temporary legal status of 530,000 people in the country, including Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans.
SACRAMENTO — In a largely courteous gathering of half a dozen of California’s top gubernatorial candidates, four Democrats and two Republicans agreed that despite the state boasting one of the world’s largest economies, too many of its residents are suffering because of the affordability crisis in the state.
Their strategies on how to improve the state’s economy, however, largely embraced the divergent views of their respective political parties as they discussed housing costs, high-speed rail, tariffs, climate change and homelessness on Wednesday evening at the first bipartisan event in the 2026 race to replace termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“Californians are innovators. They are builders, they are designers, they are creators, and that is the reason that we have the fourth largest economy in the world,” said former Rep. Katie Porter, a Democrat from Irvine. “But businesses and workers are being held back by the same thing. It is too expensive to do things here. It is too expensive to raise a family. It is too expensive to run a business.”
Conservative commentator Steve Hilton, a Republican, argued that state leaders need to end the “stranglehold” of unions, lawyers and climate change activists on California policy.
“I’ve been traveling this state. Everywhere I go, it’s the same story, this heartbreaking word that I get from every business I meet, every family is in such a struggle in California,” he said, with a raspy voice that he explained immediately upon taking the stage was caused by a sore throat.
At the forum were former Rep. Katie Porter, top row from left, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former legislative leader Toni Atkins; former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, bottom row from left, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and conservative commentator Steve Hilton.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The candidates spoke to about 800 people at a California Chamber of Commerce dinner during the 80-minute panel at the convention center in Sacramento. The chamber’s decision on whom to invite to the forum was based on which ones were leaders in public opinion surveys and fundraising. Making the cut were former Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, Hilton, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Porter and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra was also invited to participate in the forum but had a scheduling conflict.
The sharpest exchange of the evening was between Kounalakis, a Democrat, and Bianco, a Republican.
After the candidates were asked about President Trump’s erratic tariff policies, Kounalakis cited her experience working for her father’s real estate company as she criticized Bianco for arguing for a wait-and-see approach toward the president’s undulating plans.
“You’re not a businessman, you’re a government employee,” she said to Bianco. “You’ve got a pension, you’re going to do just fine. Small businesses are suffering from this, and it’s only going to get worse, and it’s driven, by the way, it is driven by Donald Trump’s vindictiveness toward countries he doesn’t like, countries he wants to annex, or states he doesn’t like, people he doesn’t like. This is hurting California, hurting our people, and it’s only going to make things worse, until we can get him out of the White House.”
Bianco countered that Kounalakis and the other Democratic gubernatorial candidates are directly responsible for the economic woes facing Californians because they have an “unquenchable thirst” for money to fund their liberal agenda.
“I just feel like I’m in ‘The Twilight Zone.’ I have a billionaire telling me that my 32 years of public service is OK for my retirement,” he said. “It’s taxes and regulations that are driving every single thing in California up. We pay the highest taxes, we pay the highest gas, we pay the highest housing, we pay the highest energy.”
The Democrats onstage, though largely agreeing about policy, sought to differentiate themselves. The sharpest divide was about whether to raise the minimum wage. On Monday, labor advocates in Los Angeles proposed raising it in Los Angeles County.
Atkins reflected most of her fellow Democrats’ views, saying that while she wanted to see higher wages for workers, “now is not the time.” Villaraigosa said that while he believes in a higher minimum wage, “we can’t just keep raising the minimum wage.”
Kounalakis, though, said not increasing the minimum wage would be inhumane.
“I think we should be working for that number, yes, I do,” she said. “You want to throw poor people under the bus.”
California’s high cost of living is a pressing concern among the state’s voters, and the issue is expected to play a major role in the 2026 governor’s race.
Nearly half feel worse off now compared with last year, and more than half felt less hopeful about their economic well-being, according to a poll released in May by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies that was co-sponsored by The Times.
Nearly exactly a year before the gubernatorial primary next year, the event was the first time Democratic and Republican candidates have shared a stage. It was also the first time GOP candidates Bianco and Hilton have appeared together.
Although the state’s leftward electoral tilt makes it challenging for a Republican to win the race — Californians last elected GOP politicians to statewide office in 2006 — Bianco and Hilton are battling to win one of the top two spots in next year’s primary election.
The pair expressed similar views about broadly ending liberal policies, such as stopping the state’s high-speed rail project and reducing environmental restrictions such as the state’s climate-change efforts that they argue have increased costs while having no meaningful effect on the consumption of fossil fuels.
A crucial question is whether Trump, whom both Bianco and Hilton fully support, will eventually endorse one of the Republican candidates.
The gubernatorial candidates, some of whom have been running more than a year, have largely focused on fundraising since entering the race. But the contest to replace Newsom is growing more public and heated, as seen at last weekend’s California Democratic Party convention. Several of the party’s candidates scurried around the Anaheim convention center, trying to curry favor with the state’s most liberal activists while also drawing contrasts with their rivals.
But the Democratic field is partially frozen as former Vice President Kamala Harris weighs entering the race, a decision she is expected to make by the end of the summer. Harris’ name did not come up during the forum.
There were a handful of light moments.
Porter expressed a common concern among the state’s residents when they talk about the cost of living in the state.
“What really keeps me up at night, why I’m running for governor, is whether my children are going to be able to afford to live here, whether they’re going to ever get off my couch and have their own home,” she said.
THE NATIONS LEAGUE semi-final clash between Germany and Portugal had to be delayed by 10 minutes due to “adverse weather conditions” in Munich.
The situation became so unbearable that players had to protect themselves from hailstones.
3
The Nations League semi-final clash between Germany and Portugal had to be delayed by 10 minutes
3
Players had to protect themselves from hailstones
3
Players were overwhelmed by the weather conditions
That match was initially expected to start at 9pm (7pm BST) local time in Germany.
Thus, the game kicked off at 9:10pm local time (7:10pm BST).
Earlier in the day, UEFA warned match goers of possible thunderstorms in the Bavarian capital forecast.
Around an hour before the originally scheduled kick-off time, a storm swept across northern Munich.
And it lashed the stadium with rain, leaving the arena grass carpeted in hailstones.
Goalkepeers from both sides had begun their warm-up when the storm hit.
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
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General Anil Chauhan, India’s chief of defence staff, has admitted that an unspecified number of fighter jets were shot down during its conflict with Pakistan last month.
The acknowledgement of aerial losses by the country’s highest ranking general comes weeks after the two South Asian neighbours were engaged in their heaviest fighting in decades, which involved fighter jets and cruise missiles.
Indian officials had previously refused to confirm or deny Pakistani claims of downing Indian jets. The conflict was triggered after gunmen killed 26 tourists in India-administered Kashmir’s Pahalgam town on April 22.
India’s first official admission of a loss of fighter jets came during Chauhan’s interviews on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore.
What was the conflict between India and Pakistan?
India carried out strikes on what it called “terror infrastructure” in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir on May 7 in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack. India blamed armed groups backed by Pakistan for the April 22 attack.
An armed group called The Resistance Front (TRF) claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam killings. India accused the TRF of being an offshoot of the Pakistan-based armed group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Pakistan denied involvement, condemning the Pahalgam attack and calling for a neutral investigation.
India claimed to have targeted at least six cities in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir on the first day of the conflict. Pakistan initially asserted that it had downed six Indian fighter jets in retaliation. But a senior Pakistan official told Al Jazeera five Indian aircraft were lost in the aerial battle.
India did not confirm or deny the Pakistani claims. “Losses are a part of combat,” Air Marshal AK Bharti, India’s director general of air operations, said at a news conference on May 11.
The Indian embassy in China called reports of the downing of jets “disinformation”.
After that, tit-for-tat cross-border attacks across the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border between India- and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, rattled the region, renewing fears of a nuclear war.
On May 10, United States President Donald Trump announced that the two countries had reached a ceasefire, potentially averting a “nuclear disaster”. India and Pakistan have given competing claims on casualties in the fighting, but more than 70 people were killed on both sides.
Both India and Pakistan claim Kashmir in full but administer only parts of the Muslim-majority Himalayan territory.
Here is what Chauhan said in recent interviews with the Reuters news agency and Bloomberg TV:
On the downing of Indian fighter jets
Chauhan admitted that India suffered air losses on the first day of fighting without giving details.
In an interview with Reuters, he said: “What was important is why did these losses occur and what we’ll do after that.”
The Indian general said that after the losses, the Indian army “rectified tactics” and then went back on May 7, 8 and 10 “in large numbers to hit airbases deep inside Pakistan, penetrated all their air defences with impunity, carried out precision strikes”. He added that the Indian air force “flew all types of aircraft with all types of ordnances” on May 10.
Islamabad acknowledged that its airbases suffered some minimal losses but denied that it lost any planes.
When a Bloomberg reporter asked Chauhan about Pakistan’s claims that six Indian jets were downed, Chauhan responded that this information was incorrect.
He went on to say: “What is important is … not the jets being downed but why they were downed.” Some media outlets inferred that his statement appeared to imply that a number of jets were lost in the aerial battle.
The general did not provide details about the number of jets downed or specifics about what these rectified tactics were.
The Pakistani military said India did not fly its fighter jets in the conflict again after suffering the air losses.
On the risks of nuclear war
Media reports suggested that some attacks were near Pakistan’s nuclear sites but the nuclear infrastructure itself was not a target.
“Most of the strikes were delivered with pinpoint accuracy, some even to a metre [3.3ft] to whatever was our selected mean point of impact,” Chauhan said in the interview with Reuters.
Chauhan had previously provided assurances that India was not considering using nuclear weapons during the conflict. The chairman of Pakistan’s joint chiefs of staff, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, has done the same for his country.
“I think there’s a lot of space before that nuclear threshold is crossed, a lot of signalling before that. I think nothing like that happened. There’s a lot of space for conventional operations which has been created, and this will be the new norm,” Chauhan said.
The Indian general added that on both sides, the most “rational people are in uniform” during conflict because they understand the consequences of “this kind of conflict”.
“I found both sides displaying a lot of rationality in their thoughts as well as actions. So why should we assume that in the nuclear domain there will be irrationality on someone else’s part?”
On Chinese role
The Indian chief of defence staff said that while Pakistan enjoys a close alliance with China, there was no sign that Beijing helped Islamabad during the conflict.
China sits on India’s northern and eastern borders and controls a barely inhabited northeastern zone in Kashmir called Aksai Chin.
“We didn’t find any unusual activity in the operational or tactical depth of our northern borders, and things were generally all right,” Chauhan said.
When Chauhan was asked whether China provided Pakistan with intelligence information such as satellite imagery, the Indian general responded by saying that such information is commercially available and Pakistan could have obtained it from China or other sources.
However, Chauhan said “almost 80 percent of the equipment” in Pakistan has been procured from China in the past few years.
From 2020 to 2025, China supplied 81 percent of Pakistan’s arms imports, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Chinese jets got a boost after media reports said Pakistan used Chinese-manufactured J-10C fighter jets in the air battle. The Chinese government did not officially confirm that the J-10C jets were used to down Indian jets, but China Central Television, a state broadcaster, posted on social media on May 17 that the jets achieved actual combat results for the first time.
What’s next
Chauhan said that while hostilities have ceased, India would “respond precisely and decisively should there be any further terror attacks emanating from Pakistan”. He added that this will be a new normal for India.
“So that has its own dynamics as far [as] the armed forces are concerned. It will require us to be prepared 24/7.”
The president of the main opposition Indian National Congress party said Chauhan’s admission warrants a review of India’s defence preparedness.
“There are some very important questions which need to be asked. These can only be asked if a Special Session of the Parliament is immediately convened,” Mallikarjun Kharge wrote in an X post on Saturday.
Referring to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added: “The Modi Govt has misled the nation. The fog of war is now clearing.”
“We salute [the Indian military’s] resolute courage and bravery,” Kharge said. “However, a comprehensive strategic review is the need of the hour.”
The Congress party has called the Pahalgam attack a “security and intelligence failure” and sought accountability, given that India-administered Kashmir is directly governed from New Delhi.
29. PSG record a seventh attempt of the game, five of which have been on target.
As for Inter, it’s just one wayward Francesco Acerbi effort so far for them.
From Dan King in Munich
As Paul Merson would say, only this time it’s probably true: game over.
PSG have been utterly dominant and are good value for their lead.They are superior in every department. Inter have barely laid a glove on them.
PSG’s full backs are giving them such a platform by pushing forward into midfield that you would hardly know Inter have five there.
And the PSG front three have produced, again.
PSG 2-0 Inter
25. Inter manage the game’s first corner, but that doesn’t count for much at the moment – particularly when the Parisians defend it so well.
It’s just not happening, not sticking, for the Italians at the moment. They simply must change something.
PSG 2-0 Inter
23. It’s a long, long way back for Inter now.
The last side to come back from a two-goal deficit to win the Champions League final was Liverpool in 2005.
But miracles such as Istanbul don’t happen every day. It’s unlikely that they even happen every 20 years.
PSG 2-0 Inter
20. Is that the Champions League won?!
Twenty minutes in and Paris Saint-Germain lead by two, and they are good value for such a margin.
It all stems from that long throw at the other end, which Willian Pacho does brilliantly to keep in play when others would have settled for an Inter corner.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia takes over on the left, and he pushes on to find Ousmane Dembele. The forward then switches play to the right for Desire Doue to take aim just inside the area.
The teenager’s shot isn’t the best, but it it loops up off Federico Dimarco, who has turned his back on the effort, and beats Yann Sommer at the near post.
The French club now have one hand on the Champions League trophy!
Bordeaux-Begles prop Jefferson Poirot has been given a two-week ban for an altercation with Northampton’s Henry Pollock after the Champions Cup final.
Poirot was cited for grabbing the throat of the England and Lions flanker as tempers boiled over after the final whistle had blown to confirm his side’s 28-20 win at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
Poirot will miss the final two games of Bordeaux’s regular season.
Tournament organiser European Professional Club Rugby said Poirot “accepted that he had committed an act of foul play that warranted a red card”.
A statement added: “The independent disciplinary committee upheld the complaint and it determined that the offending was at the low-end of World Rugby’s sanctions and four weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.
“Taking into account the player’s guilty plea, his good disciplinary record and his full co-operation with the disciplinary process, the committee decided to reduce the sanction by the maximum of 50% before imposing a two-week suspension.”
Good Morning Britain viewers were left furious after a heated debate was broadcast on Thursday morning
Good Morning Britain viewers issued a complaint as an “excruciating” debate unfolded on the show on Thursday (May 29).
This morning’s broadcast saw presenters Ed Balls and Susanna Reid tackle the day’s top stories, both domestically and globally, on the popular ITV show.
At one point, they began debating the current doctors’ strike after health secretary Wes Streeting warned that resident doctors would “choke” the NHS by going back on strike.
In a BBC interview, the MP urged resident doctors to “work with the government” and warned strikes risked hampering the progress being made in the NHS.
Last week, it was announced that resident doctors, the new name for junior doctors, would be getting a 5.4% average pay rise this year – more than other doctors, nurses and teachers.
Ed Balls and Susanna Reid presented Good Morning Britain on Thursday (May 29)
But they have said it’s not enough to make up for below-inflation pay awards since 2008.
GMB hosts Ed and Susanna invited Dr Ross Nieuwoudt from the resident doctors’ committee and Reem Ibrahim from the Institute of Economic Affairs onto the programme to delve into the contentious issue, reports Bristol Live.
“I absolutely believe in markets, but the NHS is not a market, it’s a socialised healthcare system. That is the fundamental point. If doctors want to be paid more, then let’s look at a social healthcare system,” Reem said.
“Let’s look at countries like Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark that have public and private partnerships where there is competition.”
She added: “What I would like to see is the National Health Service as a whole, the spending that we’re using at the moment, being used more efficiently.”
A heated debate took place over the doctors’ strike
Ross was quick to counter, asserting: “I think that’s a foolish thing to do. A canary in a coal mine is there to alert people of danger, and that’s what the strikes are doing.”
The debate soon escalated as Ed and Susanna joined the conversation, with tempers flaring on all sides.
Viewers tuning into the fiery exchange soon expressed their frustation on X (formerly Twitter), criticising the segment’s confrontational tone.
One viewer questioned: “Why are they shouting??” while another commented: “Why is Ed Balls getting angry here? So unprofessional.”
Another exasperated viewer remarked: “This is excruciating,” and one more asked: “Can you explain please why Ed Balls’s questioning and response to the young lady was more aggressive than to the BMA representative. Seems to forget he’s now supposed to be balanced as an interviewer and his political bias as a labour minister put on the back burner.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 6am
Cambodian and Thai officials claim soldiers from other side opening fire first in latest deadly border clash between the neighbours.
Cambodia’s leader has called for calm in the country a day after a soldier was killed in a brief clash with troops from neighbouring Thailand, in a disputed zone along the Thai-Cambodia border.
In a written statement on Thursday, Prime Minister Hun Manet said people should not “panic over unverified material being circulated”, and reassured the country that he did not want a conflict between Cambodian and Thai forces.
“For this reason, I hope that the upcoming meeting between the Cambodian and Thai army commanders will produce positive results to preserve stability and good military communication between the two countries, as we have done in the past,” said Hun Manet, who is currently on a visit to Tokyo.
“Even though I am in Japan … the command system and hierarchy for major military operations such as troop movements remain under my full responsibility as prime minister,” he added.
Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence said on Wednesday that one of its soldiers was killed in a brief firefight with Thai troops, in a disputed border region between the country’s Preah Vihear province and Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province.
The ministry accused Thai soldiers of opening fire first on a Cambodian military post that had long existed in the contested border zone.
Cambodian soldiers ride on a self-propelled multiple rocket launcher in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on May 28, 2025, as tension ramps up with Thailand [Kith Serey/EPA]
However, Thailand’s Minister of Defence Phumtham Wechayachai said Cambodian forces in the area had opened fire first, adding they had previously dug a trench in the area in an effort to assert Cambodia’s claim over the disputed territory, local media reported.
“I have been informed that the return fire was necessary to defend ourselves and protect Thailand’s sovereignty. I have instructed caution. Although the ceasefire holds, both sides continue to face each other,” the minister said, according to Thailand’s The Nation newspaper.
The Nation also reported that Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra spoke with her counterpart, Hun Manet, and both were working to lower the temperature on the dispute.
“We don’t want this to escalate,” the Thai prime minister was quoted as saying.
Cambodia and Thailand have a long history of disputes along their mutual border, including armed clashes that broke out in 2008 near Cambodia’s Preah Vihear Temple, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site that year. Fighting also broke out along the border in 2011.
The Associated Press news agency reports that in February, Cambodian troops and their family members entered an ancient temple along the border and sang the Cambodian national anthem, leading to a brief argument with Thai troops.
The incident was recorded on video and went viral on social media.
Police arrested 28 fans in the Polish city of Wroclaw after clashes between Chelsea and Real Betis fans before the Uefa Conference League final.
Hundreds of fans clashed in Wroclaw Market Square on Wednesday afternoon but police quickly intervened.
It had been initially reported that a water cannon was used but Wroclaw City Hall has confirmed it was on “standby as a precautionary measure” but “the situation did not escalate to a level that required their deployment”.
“The strong and visible presence of police, including British liaison officers and negotiators, was effective in de-escalating tensions,” it added.
The local authority said “order has since been maintained across the city” and the match at the Stadion Wroclaw reached capacity of 41,000 with no further disturbances reported, while 5,500 people watched at a fan zone in the city.
An estimate 70,000 fans arrived in the city in the south-west of Poland for the final, a number that covers ticket holders and those attending fan zones and other events around the city.
“For the rest of the night, police will remain on duty in full strength,” the city hall added.
Lower Silesian Police said in a statement: “At this moment, we can confirm the arrest of 28 participants in the incident. No one will escape legal responsibility and the police will react decisively and appropriately to the situation.”
On Tuesday evening, several clashes between Chelsea and Betis fans took place near Solny Square.
Riot police intervened using tear gas to disperse the crowds. Chairs and glass bottles were thrown as the confrontation lasted for around five minutes.
There were two further clashes in the evening, with minor damage caused by no major injuries reported. Seven fans including, four Spanish supporters, were arrested.
“Zero tolerance for violence on our streets!” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X, external.
“I thank the police for their decisive actions against the hooligans in Chelsea and Betis shirts in Wroclaw. We warn you: if necessary, the police will be even more ruthless!”
Ekow ‘The Engine’ Essuman comes into the bout with a record of 21-1-0, with eight of his 21 victories coming by KO.
Essuman’s only defeat came at the hands of Harry Scarff in 2023, losing by unanimous decision in Manchester, meaning Taylor will look to be the first man to KO Essuman to get back to form.
The Engine in turn looks to be the first man to KO Taylor, with both of his defeats coming by unanimous decision, with whoever can score the victory becoming the WBO international welterweight champion.
When is Josh Taylor vs Ekow Essuman?
Josh Taylor vs Ekow Essuman is LIVE on Saturday, May 24.
Coverage of the card starts at 7pm BST on DAZN.
The fight takes place at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.
Ringwalks for Taylor vs Essuman are expected at around 10pm BST.
1 of 2 | The U.S. Department of Justice on charged Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., with counts related to “assaulting, impeding and interfering with law enforcement” during a demonstration at an ICE facility. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
May 20 (UPI) — The U.S. Justice Department charged Rep. LaMonica McIver in connection with her alleged actions during an incident at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in her congressional district.
U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba made the announcement via an X post that stated McIver, D-N.J., has been charged with counts related to “assaulting, impeding and interfering with law enforcement.”
The charges stem from a confrontation that occurred earlier on May 9 at the Delancey Hall ICE detention prison in Newark. McIver, along with fellow New Jersey Democratic Reps. Rob Menendez and Bonnie Watson Coleman attempted to reportedly inspect the facility where as many as 1,000 undocumented migrants are being held.
McIver, Menendez and Watson Coleman, as well as Democratic Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, were allegedly involved in a physical confrontation between demonstrators and ICE agents. Baraka was arrested at the scene and charged with trespassing, a misdemeanor, but Habba noted in the press release the charge against him has since been dropped “for the sake of moving forward.”
However, she alleged that McIver “assaulted, impeded and interfered with law enforcement,” and “that conduct cannot be overlooked.” She also claimed she has “persistently made efforts to address these issues without bringing criminal charges,” and has given McIver “every opportunity to come to a resolution, but she has unfortunately declined.”
The statement did not mention if there is any intention to take McIver into custody.
McIver also released a statement Monday, in which she said she and the other Representatives present “were fulfilling our lawful oversight responsibilities, as members of Congress have done many times before,” and that the “visit should have been peaceful and short.”
Instead, she alleged, “ICE agents created an unnecessary and unsafe confrontation when they chose to arrest Mayor Baraka.”
“The charges against me are purely political — they mischaracterize and distort my actions and are meant to criminalize and deter legislative oversight,” she said. “This administration will never stop me from working for the people in our district and standing up for what is right. I am thankful for the outpouring of support I have received and I look forward to the truth being laid out clearly in court.”
Rachel has also starred in White Gold and All Creatures Great and Small
Emmett J. Scanlan played gangster turned anti-hero Brendan Brady.
Emmett played the love interest of Steve Hayes, with their romance delighting fans until it turned violent.
Since his departure Emmett has appeared in Peaky Blinders, The Fall, Gangs of London and even appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy
Emma Rigby joined Hollyoaks when she was 15 as Hannah Ahsworth.
Hannah’s eating disorder storyline was the first of it’s kind on TV while other plots included being caught in a fire, gangland drug dealing and running away.
Since leaving the soap in 2010 Emma has gone on to star in ABCs Once Upon a Time in Wonderland as the Red Queen. Other roles include guest appearances in Death In Paradise, Ripper Street and Fresh Meat
Nico Mirallegro got his big break with Hollyoaks starring as emo Barry ‘Newt’ Newton.
Nico’s main storyline in the soap was developing schizophrenia which culminated in a suicide pact.
He left the soap in 2010 and went on to star in My Mad Fat Diary, Our Girl, Rillington Place, The Ark and Common, Penance, as well as the Mike Leigh movie Peterloo and was nominated for a Bafta for his role in period drama The Village.
Ricky Whittle used Hollyoaks as a stepping stone to break America.
He played one of the soap’s resident hunks, Calvin Valentine, from 2006 to 2011 – when he was killed off at his wedding.
He also appeared in Strictly Come Dancing in 2009.
Warren Brown joined Hollyoaks in 2005 for a year as evil Andy Holt.
His stint on the show consisted of date rape storylines and a crime spree, before eventually being killed off.
After leaving Hollyoaks, Warren became a big hitter in TV playing DS Justin Ripley in Luther, as well as major roles in a number of dramas including Liar, The Responder, Homefront and Good Cop.
Wallis Day played Holly Cunningham in the soap for years before leaving.
Ilia Topuria will face Charles Oliveira, not Islam Makhachev, for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317 main event.
Ilia Topuria will look to add a second Ultimate Fighting Championship belt to his collection when he headlines UFC 317 on June 28 – it just won’t be against Islam Makhachev.
After weeks of heightened anticipation for a potential blockbuster face-off between the superstar pair, Topuria, a former undisputed featherweight champ, will now fight former champion Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title, UFC CEO Dana White announced on Tuesday.
Makhachev, a four-time defending champion, will vacate the lightweight belt to move up to welterweight to face newly crowned Jack Della Maddalena, who defeated Belal Muhammad last Saturday at UFC 315 to become the new title holder in the weight class. The date for that fight has yet to be announced.
Topuria has a perfect UFC record of 16-0. The Spaniard relinquished his 145-pound (66kg) featherweight title earlier this year in anticipation of a lightweight title showdown against Makhachev and took to social media to voice his displeasure at the Russian vacating his title belt.
“On June 29, another dream will come true,” Topuria wrote. “I’ll be the champion of the lightweight division. Charles [Oliveira], my apologies in advance… I’m just fighting for my dreams. It’s unfortunate that Makhachev ran away.”
Makhachev, who sports a 27-1 UFC record, is ranked by ESPN as the best pound-for-pound UFC fighter in the world; Topuria is ranked number two.
UFC 317 is scheduled to take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Islam Makhachev’s next fight will be against Jack Della Maddalena in the welterweight class, rather than IIia Topuria in the lightweight class, after the Russian vacated his lightweight title to move up a weight class [File: Kamran Jebreili/AP]
SUNSPORT’S Weekend Wager is back to give you the best set of betting tips for this weekend’s Premier League action.
The title race may be over, but the Champions League race is only hotting up as some blockbuster fixtures hit the calendar.
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Our betting experts have some great tips for the weekend’s Premier League actionCredit: Reuters
First of all we have the best two teams in the country facing off at Anfield as Arsenal look to restore some pride and end their season on a high on their visit to champions Liverpool.
Elsewhere, Newcastle face Chelsea in what could be a pivotal match for the top five.
We have all that and more on this weekends edition as host, Will Pugh, is joined by football journalist, Kweku Afari, and Betfair betting expert, James Mackie.
“He is by far the best player in the league and the man for the big occasion as well.
“The stats back it up, Salah has scored 11 Premier League goals against Arsenal, only netting more against Manchester United, 13 goals, and Tottenham, 12 goals.
This week’s title: How ‘brave’ Arsenal were denied by PSG in Champions League semi-final
“So, you know Salah, when it’s a big occasion, especially off the back of last week where it was a bit disappointing, you know it’s going to turn up for Liverpool.
Will: Draw. 15/8
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Will thinks deflated Arsenal will draw with on the beach LiverpoolCredit: Getty
“I was racking my brains about this game, and it’s so hard to call with not loads riding on it. Obviously a little bit of pride. Arsenal will be sort of mentally deflated.
“So if I had to pick, I’d say maybe Liverpool, you know, big party atmosphere, as there will be at Anfield. But I just couldn’t pick a winner. So I’ve gone draw 15-8. I know it’s not very adventurous, but I just couldn’t see anything anywhere else result-wise.
“Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 14 home games against Arsenal in all competitions, won seven and drawn seven since a 2-0 defeat in the Premier League in September 2012.
“So that tells me Arsenal probably aren’t going to win. Arsenal, though, are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games against Liverpool with two wins and three draws, which is their longest run without defeat against Liverpool since a run of eight between October 2007 and April 2011.
“This is also the third time Arsenal are facing the Prem champions in a season once the title has already been confirmed.
“And the last two was a 1-0 draw with Man Utd in 2012-13 and actually beat Liverpool in 2019-20.”
James reckons Virgil van Dijk’s aerial prowess is too good to ignoreCredit: Getty
“I’ve looked down at the, what a seriously special player, Virgil van Dijk. And he scored two in his last four. So when you look at stuff like that, you’ve got to think, right, can he keep going?
“He’s just an absolute menace off corners. And another stat to back up this bet is it’s Virgil van Dijk to have two plus shots in the game at 12-5. It was 4-9 for just one, 12-5 for two.
“He scored two in his last four, but he’s had two plus shots in three of those four games. So the stats are there. He’s been doing it already.
“Another thing I was looking at here as well is that Arsenal conceded 39 per cent of their goals in the Premier League this season from set-piece situations. That’s the most from any side in the Premier League.
“But yeah, look, the stats back it up. You’re getting 12-5 about Van Dijk. He’s going to go for every corner.
“Also, it’s the main man’s 300th Premier League game on Sunday. So look, what better way than going, give me the 12-5, two plus shots. Speaker 2: So that’s the hidden value for me there.”
Kweku believes it’s a sure bet Emiliano Martinez will have a busy afternoonCredit: Getty
“The stats back this up as well. Bournemouth have had more shots following a high turnover than any other side in the Premier League this season, with 65.
“Their 65 shots and eight goals from high turnovers this season are the most of any of their top five campaigns, which is eight, which suggests the high press from [Andoni] Iraola, the fact that Bournemouth are up and at them, converts into chances.
“And I think that Martinez, like I say, will be a very busy man.
“And only Salah with 121 and Cole Palmer with 120 shots have had more shots than Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, who’s had 118 this season.
“So it suggests that Bournemouth do create chances. They don’t always take them.
“But the fact that there’s a world-class shotstopper in Martinez in goal for Aston Villa and Bournemouth all have a lot of shots, I think Martinez, five or more saves, 11/4. I like it.
Will: Draw HT, Bournemouth win FT. 11/2
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Bournemouth should have enough about them to win at home after 90 minutesCredit: Rex
“Bournemouth have scored more goals in second-half stoppage time than any other team in the Premier League this season, while only Southampton, on ten, have conceded more than Aston Villa have in that time.
“Villa have conceded eight in second-half stoppage time. Bournemouth have scored eight in second-half stoppage time. So they’ve got the stamina. They can go deep into games.
“Bournemouth lost 1-0 at home to Aston Villa in their first ever Premier League match in August 2015. But since then, the Cherries are unbeaten in three at home to Villa, scoring exactly two goals in each of those games.
“That’s two victories and one draw. So they’ve got a good record against them, they’ve got used to playing them. And Bournemouth have won seven of their 13 Premier League games against teams starting the day above them in the table this season.
“They’ve drawn three and lost three of the other ones that they didn’t win, which is the highest win rate of any side to play more than one such game this term.
“So more than half of their games, they’ve played against teams above them in the league at time of kick-off. They have come out victorious. So I did really like that. I do give Bournemouth a chance. I think they’re getting a bit underrated this season.”
Ollie Watkins is up against one of his favourite opponents in BournemouthCredit: Getty
“I think this is the bet of the weekend.
“When you’re getting odds against about top strikers in the Premier League, either scoring or assisting, you’ve got to have a look and take advantage. And Ollie Watkins is the man that I’m looking at here.
“Watkins has been directly involved in five goals in his four Premier League starts against Bournemouth.
“One goal, four assists. He’s four assists against the Cherries, the most against any opponent he’s got.
“Absolutely superb.
“And like I said, when you’re looking, not even just to score, to assist as well, and you get an 11-10 about their talisman up top, who’s bagged all season, I think it’s a brilliant bet.
Ascot, Victoria Cup – Saturday, 2:40pm
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It is set to be another exciting week at the Ascot RacecourseCredit: Reuters
James: Qirat 5/1, Roi de France 6/1, Gleneagle Bay 7/1, No Retreat 7/1, Myal 8/1
“It’s Qirat at the top of the market of 5-1. This horse for Rafe Beckett, Ross O’Ryan’s one of the best jockeys I think around at the moment. He’s doing the steering.
“This horse has got some proven form already at Ascot in an 18-runner handicap. But what I like from this horse is I think we’ve got a group horse in a handicap here.
“So you see horses that are running against lesser horses. They’ve got a bit bigger weight. They’re going to go on to deeper waters later on in the season.
“It’s his first run of the season. He’s racing off a mark of 99. He’s won off a mark of 92. He’s finished second last twice off marks of 97 and 98.
“Back at Ascot on the straight where he’s already done it, finished second in a really good handicap.
“I think at 5-1 off what, five or six pounds higher. I think he’s going to go on to deeper waters. And I think 5-1, I think he’s got a cracking chance in this handicap, Qirat.
BBC Antiques Road Trip experts James Braxton and Raj Bisram went head to head in the latest episode of the show as they tried to score the biggest profit in the auction
Antiques Road Trip stars James Braxton and Raj Bisram were in fierce competition during a memorable episode, which saw them journeying separately throughout Somerset before a heated auction kicked off in Woking. While James became one with the Morris Men, Raj braved life in a tank, only to meet later for a showdown with their quirky finds.
The treasure hunt had them almost on par by the halfway mark, but James placed his bets on some slightly damaged Staffordshire figures, whereas Raj hoped for a win with his unique Moorcroft vase. The true game-changer was James revealing to a stunned Raj a Sir William Russell Flint print he’d cleverly bagged for just £8 – a piece adorned with the artist’s signature.
“I think James has done extremely well. He bought a Sir William Russell Flint print – signed – £8!” remarked an impressed Raj, unable to hide his shock at the low price: “£8? I can’t believe it!”
Antiques Road Trip stars James Braxton and Raj Bisram went head to head(Image: (Image: BBC))
Excitement peaked at the auction as bids flew in both online and from the floor, culminating with the print going under the hammer for an impressive £150, leaving James over the moon with his lucrative find.
James was positively buzzing after the auction delivered a smashing result, beaming as he declared: “Top estimate! £150. Put it there Raj. Come on,” reports the Express.
Raj, just as chuffed with how things turned out, gleefully agreed to a celebratory handshake, saying: “Top estimate. That is a good profit. That’s worth a shake of the hand. Well done, well done James.”
Raj hit James on the head as he made a huge profit(Image: (Image: BBC))
In high spirits, Raj playfully tapped an elated James on the head with his papers in a fun show of camaraderie.
The host, Tim Wonnacott, couldn’t hold back his delight, laughing as he said: “Yes, that’s a great result for print and it’s profits all round.”
In another episode of the BBC show, Christina Trevanion and Mark Stacey were left astounded when a humble vegetable barrow they snapped up for a mere £10 transformed into a treasure at auction, commanding an unexpectedly high price.
Renowned for their prowess in the world of collectables, the duo watched in disbelief as the bids for what was nearly dismissed as mere firewood skyrocketed during a frenzied bidding session among eager collectors.
At the peak of the excitement, a shell-shocked Mark couldn’t help exclaiming: “Good Lord. Why?” while Christina, equally puzzled, replied, “I have no idea.”
As the numbers soared higher, Mark could only jest: “Can I go home now?” but Christina, basking in the success of her find, quickly responded: “No! Stay here and hold my hand!” The sale of the vegetable barrow concluded at an impressive £130.
Antiques Road Trip airs weekdays on BBC1 and is available on BBCiPlayer
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD – Molly-Mae: Behind It All part two is finally out today after months of waiting, and there’s no shortage of drama…
Molly Mae Hague’s show featured some huge bombshells(Image: Amazon Prime)
After months of anticipation, the second part of Molly-Mae Hague‘s Prime Video documentary has been released – and it’s no short of drama.
The second half of the series documents the reunion between Molly and Tommy Fury, after their shock breakup last August. However, the reunion didn’t come without problems, including a clash with her sister, Zoe Rae.
Rumours of a reunion between the former Love Island stars started spreading when the pair were spotted sharing a kiss together on New Year’s Eve. Now, viewers will see the story behind the kiss, and the moment Molly found out it had been leaked to the world.
Molly also reveals where her and Tommy’s relationship stands now, and what their future holds, following their “perfect” family holiday to Dubai.
Molly’s bad accident
Molly Mae admits that she could only see black when she fell from the horse(Image: Amazon Prime Video)
It’s not just the drama with Tommy that Molly has to deal with, as the show also documents a freak accident that had the 25-year-old had to deal with.
In one tense scene, Molly is seen on a horse at a riding lesson – however, the animal picks up speed and begins galloping. Panicking, Molly screams: “I’m scared, I’m scared, I’m scared,” and just seconds later she’s seen falling off the horse and banging her head on a wooden fence – leaving the crew in a panic.
However, everyone breathes a sigh of relief when Molly gets up a few seconds later, although she herself was frightened for her life.
Speaking to the camera, Molly-Mae explains: “I’m just happy to be alive because when I went down, all I saw was black. I thought, ‘Hospital job’.
“Tommy is going to say I told you so. He always says, ‘Be careful with animals.’ My a**s cheek isn’t ok though. It’s going to be black.”
Clash with sister Zoe
Zoe and Molly clash during the new series(Image: Prime)
The series showcases the ups and downs of Molly and Zoe’s sisterly relationship, which appears to be hugely affected by Molly’s relationship with Tommy.
Big sister Zoe explains how all she wants is for Molly to be treated right, as she explains how she’s been on the other end of the phone when a distressed Molly couldn’t get hold of Tommy during his nights out.
“Sisters need to be able to tell each other everything,” she says, before Molly-Mae, 25, fumes: “Right, then I need to be able to tell you the good, the bad and the ugly.”
“I know at some point Mol, in the next year, however long it is, there will be a time, where unfortunately, and I hate to say it – you probably will be upset again,” Zoe contiues.
“I know I’ll have to have another baby at some point, because there’s just no way I’m having her being a single child, I’ve seen her play with other children. Like, she lights her up,” Molly says while preparing for Bambi’s second birthday party.
Towards the end of the series, after their “perfect trip” to Dubai, Molly reveals: “Things are looking so much better for us. I’m gonna start spending more time at Tommy’s house, keeping things slow and not rushing anything.
“But as always, I always say I don’t know what the future holds. I don’t think it’s gonna be a plain sailing future. I don’t. That’s just me being honest. I think we’re still gonna have bumps.
“The dream is still the same that, you know, we’ll get to a place one day when we will all be happy in that house together and have more children, hopefully, and just have a really nice, happy life together.
What really happened with Tommy on New Year’s Eve
Molly and Tommy were pictured sharing a kiss on New Year’s Eve(Image: Instagram / mollymae)
This New Year’s Eve, the showbiz world went into detective mode when Molly and Tommy were photographed kissing at Manchester United footballer Luke Shaw’s party in Cheshire. Although the two kept quiet at the time, Molly’s reaction to seeing the photo leaked online was captured on camera.
“What’s happened is I’ve attended a New Year’s Eve party and a familiar someone showed up like ten minutes before countdown and that was Tommy and basically, we shared a moment, we shared a kiss at midnight,” she says. “And it would appear that someone has taken a video and it’s basically been sold to the press.
“It was just a moment that we shared. I can’t really explain it. It kind of just happened. You think you’ve had a private, intimate moment, and nothing is private. Even in a room full of people that you trust and that you know, people like to make a quick buck.”
Speaking about the people who sold the video, she added: “I’d love to know how much they did make, I hope it was worth it anyway. Karma always comes back around with these, don’t you think?”
The public weren’t the only ones grilling Molly on the kiss, as her manager Fran asks what went down, as Molly insists: “He turned up at ten to 12. I swear, he wasn’t meant to be there. He messaged me saying, ‘I’m outside, I want to see the New Year in with you.’ I kid you not Fran, he was there for eight minutes. He was literally not there. He wasn’t there all night.”
Love Island’s Molly-Mae Hague has clashed with her sister Zoe following her decision to rekindle her relationship with ex-fiancé Tommy Fury, leaving their bond strained
Molly-Mae Hague and her sister have become embroiled in a feud after she confirmed her relationship with Tommy Fury. The Love Island stars left fans shocked when they announced in August last year that they had called off their engagement.
While many speculated that Tommy had been unfaithful, a representative for Tommy later exclusively told the Mirror that this was not the case and he’d been left hurt by the claims. But over Christmas, the pair appeared to be getting their relationship back on track. We later revealed that they’d spent time together and were rekindling their romance.
But while fans seemed happy for the pair, it appears that their new relationship has taken its toll on Molly’s relationship with her sister, Zoe. In a new teaser clip for Molly’s upcoming Amazon Prime reality show, the pair clashed in the car after Zoe admitted she didn’t feel “comfortable” not discussing Molly’s relationship.
Molly-Mae Hague has clashed with her sister, Zoe in a new clip from her reality show(Image: @PrimeVideoUK)
She added: “Sisters need to be able to tell each other everything.” Before Molly-Mae, 25, fumed: “Right, then I need to be able to tell you the good, the bad and the ugly.” Zoe went on to say: “Your relationship and how you feel and how you are with Tommy is my only concern.”
This, however, appeared to touch a nerve for Molly who quipped: “Well what a lovely life you have, that, that is your only concern.” Pleading with her reality star sister, Zoe commented: “Nothing I do or say to you is going to change what you do, your opinion or how you feel towards him.”
“You know what Zoe, that’s the wisest thing you’ve ever said,” an annoyed Molly responded. Standing her ground, Zoe said: “I know at some point Mol, in the next year, however long it is, there will be a time, where unfortunately, and I hate to say it – you probably will be upset again.”
Zoe attempted to voice her concerns over Molly’s relationship (Image: @PrimeVideoUK)
Molly, however, said that her sister had no need to be “annoyed” over the situation. Speaking to the camera, Zoe responded: “I would always, always, always, 100 percent be there for her but I do worry for my relationship with her if they were to get back together, definitely.”
Zoe said to her sister: “I just want us to get on. I actually don’t hate you in the slightest but I feel like you actually hate me,” as Molly confirmed she had no hatred towards her sibling. She explained: “Sometimes, I feel that anger from you, towards me, from years of years of us sometimes having arguments.”
Molly and Tommy rekindled their romance over the Christmas period(Image: INSTAGRAM)
The new teaser comes after Molly took to social media to gush over her partner after previously shying away from discussing their relationship. Taking to her Instagram stories on Wednesday evening, Molly-Mae finally put the rumours to bed about her and Tommy’s relationship status as she penned an emotional birthday message.
The social media megastar, who shared two-year-old daughter Bambi with Tommy, shared an adorable photo from the family’s recent trip to Dubai. After admitting that the getaway to Dubai was ‘the best holiday of her life’, Molly-Mae delighted fans as she shared a snippet of her and Tommy’s time with Bambi in the United Arab Emirates.
Alongside an adorable snap of Tommy embracing Bambi while watching the sunset, she wrote: “Happy Birthday to you. You make our little girls world light up.”
West Ham players Max Kilman, Danny Ings and Aaron Cresswell were at Parc des Princes, as was back-up keeper Wes FoderinghamCredit: Getty
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Martin Odegaard and Co suffered Champions League agony as Arsenal exitedCredit: AFP
Keen-eyed viewers would have been surprised to see the quartet in the stands as Arsenal took on Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital – a day after Inter Milan completed a 7-6 aggregate triumph over Barcelona.
Managers often blame testing midweek trips to Europe for poor Premier League displays just days later.
But amid a tough domestic season for the Hammers, their players knew the pressure was off them – and all on the Gunners – who trailed 1-0 for Wednesday’s return leg.
Two of the London Stadium stars were former England men in left-back Aaron Cresswell, 35, and 32-year-old striker Danny Ings.
They were joined by ex-Wolves centre-back Max Kilman, 27.
And third-choice stopper Wes Foderingham, 34, who has yet to play a senior game since arrivng at West Ham last June, was there too.
But for most of the season, Europe has been the furthest thing from the Hammers’ minds.
London Stadium chiefs sacked manager Julen Lopetegui in January after half a season in the lower reaches of the Premier League.
Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi then fired home to put PSG 2-0 up on the night, 3-0 on aggregate.
And Bukayo Saka’s bundled reply on 76 minutes proved in vain.
But although it was a contrasting night for the four Hammers and the Arsenal team they were watching, both groups of players will have to get over it in time for massive Prem matches on Sunday.
