LA Dodgers game continues despite stadium being shrouded in smoke
The LA Dodgers were thrashed 12-1 by the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday, in a game that will be remembered more for the smog clouding the stadium than the baseball itself.
A huge fire has been burning nearby for several days, with governor Gavin Newsom even declaring an official 'state of emergency' in the area.
The fire brigade are continuing to battle the blaze in a cold-storage facility in Boyle Heights, but the wind on Sunday meant that Dodger Stadium was right in the firing line of the smoke as it billowed into the sky.
Despite some concern that the MLB game would not be able to go ahead, officials continued as planned - though perhaps the Dodgers will now wish it hadn't.
In the game itself, Colton Cowser tied his career-high with four RBIs and Pete Alonso added a three-run homer as the Orioles ran out 12-1 winners.
The nearby fire has sparked huge panic within the government, which is in the process of preparing 5.5 million N95 masks, commercial grade air purifiers, bottled water and other emergency supplies for residents in the area.
Dodger Stadium was shrouded in a haze due to smoke from a nearby warehouse fire on Sunday
In the game, Shohei Ohtani hit a home run but the Dodgers were well beaten 12-1 by Baltimore
The massive warehouse fire at the cold storage facility continues to spread smoke across LA
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Fire Department chief Jaime Moore have also raised concerns over the 85 million pounds worth of food that is currently decaying in the building.
According to the LAFD, if the products decay further, it may create biohazardous conditions.
The blaze began on Wednesday and a shelter-in-place warning was immediately issued for residents of the neighborhood.
It was lifted later that evening but then reinstated as the LAFD struggled to put out the flames.
In the days since, helicopters have been brought in that are capable of dropping 3,000 gallons of water at a time, and fire crews are using a special gel-type fire retardant in a desperate bid to to smother the fire.
At Dodger Stadium, though, it seems none of that was top of the agenda as Major League Baseball pressed ahead with its game on Sunday night.
In the Orioles' big win, Cowser had three hits including a home run as he notched four RBIs for the fifth time in four seasons in the majors, helping the Orioles take the series win over the Dodgers.
Ohtani played just a day after revealing his rarely-seen wife has given birth to another baby
Residents watch on as firefighters battle the huge blaze in the Boyle Heights neighborhood
Smoke billows across Los Angeles as firefighters continue to try to put the blaze out
Brandon Young (6-2) allowed one run on five hits in five innings. Baltimore is now 10-2 this season when he starts.
Emmet Sheehan (3-5) gave up six runs in 3 1/3 innings as Los Angeles lost consecutive games for the first time since a four-game skid from May 9-12.
Shohei Ohtani and Co now kick off a nine-game road trip with three against Minnesota.
The team will hope that by the time it gets back to Dodger Stadium, there are no health concerns from the fire.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
