Matthew Weaver

Sussex police identified the three people who died after entering the water at Shoreham-by-Sea as Hassan El-Khawas, his partner Zeina Alayn, and their 14-year-old daughter Sara El-Khawas. A younger daughter remains in critical condition. Police currently believe the incident was a tragic accident with no third-party involvement, while reports that Sara became caught in a fishing net remain unconfirmed. The Palestinian Forum in Britain said strong currents may have led the family into difficulty as they tried to help one another. Authorities, local residents and Andy Burnham highlighted the dangers of open-water swimming, including cold-water shock and riptides, while emergency services were praised for their rapid response.

Amanda Abbington has reached a five-figure out-of-court settlement with BBC Studios over bullying and harassment allegations concerning her 2023 appearance on Strictly Come Dancing. A 2024 BBC review upheld some, but not all, of her complaints against professional dancer Giovanni Pernice, including allegations of verbal bullying and harassment, while finding no physical aggression. The BBC apologized to Abbington, and the corporation subsequently introduced welfare measures including an always-present chaperone during training rehearsals. Pernice denied threatening or abusive behavior, and the settlement was paid by BBC Studios rather than through the television licence fee.

London’s exceptionally hot and dry summer has caused untreated sewage to ferment in drains, producing intermittent smells of methane and hydrogen sulphide. Experts say the odour is currently more a public-wellbeing problem than a significant health risk, though gas accumulation presents a small potential hazard. The episode exposes the limits of a Victorian drainage system that also allows sewage pollution during heavy rain. Barbara Evans argues for a national overhaul, including separating grey water from toilet waste and redesigning sewers for hotter, drier conditions as well as heavier rainfall.

Two men were arrested after two nights of unrest in Thetford, Norfolk, where more than 100 people protested plans to house up to 1,000 asylum seekers at the former RAF Barnham site. Police said officers were injured while protecting people believed to be asylum seekers from attempted break-ins and attacks on their homes. One man remains in custody on suspicion of public-order offences, while Brian Thompson, 68, has been charged with possessing a wooden bat. Homes were damaged, residents were threatened and one person’s phone was stolen. Local Labour MP Terry Jermy condemned the violence and warned that tensions were being amplified by outside forces. Norfolk police increased security powers and imposed temporary measures allowing officers to remove face coverings and direct people suspected of antisocial behaviour to leave the area.

A jury at Inner London Crown Court cleared Foster + Partners and design engineer Wintech of responsibility for the 2018 death of coach driver Mick Ferris, who was killed when a 130kg window fell 90 metres from the Corniche development on London’s Albert Embankment. Project manager St James and specialist contractor Lindner Prater were found guilty of safety breaches. Prosecutors argued that the danger of outward-opening windows was foreseeable, particularly after an earlier window had fallen from the same building, and that multiple opportunities to redesign them had been missed. The windows were changed back to inward-opening after Ferris’s death.

Former London Underground cleaner Micky Steeds won an employment tribunal ruling that he was unfairly dismissed after raising concerns about asbestos and other toxic dust, inadequate protective equipment, unsafe cleaning practices and improper hazardous-waste disposal. The tribunal found his complaints were genuine, reasonable and protected disclosures, and warned that failures could expose workers and the public to asbestos and create civil or criminal liability. Steeds says hazardous dust was sometimes dumped in general waste or on tracks, potentially exposing passengers, while Transport for London maintains that strict asbestos controls and specialist monitoring keep staff and customers safe. London Underground plans to appeal the judgment.

A jury acquitted Conservative MP Patrick Spencer of two counts of sexual assault involving two women at the Groucho Club in August 2023. Spencer maintained the contact was accidental and denied groping, while the women said they were shocked by his actions. The Metropolitan police initially mishandled the investigation but later reviewed the case and gathered full statements. Following the verdict, Spencer expressed relief, and the Conservative party reinstated the whip.

A Ravenair flying instructor conducted a test flight from Liverpool and used the route to spell out “I’m bored” over the England–Wales border, a pattern captured on Flightradar24. The pilot flew tight loops over the Dee estuary to create the message while testing the aircraft after a part replacement. Ravenair’s operations manager said the manoeuvre was skilful, the flight was necessary, and the pilot will not face repercussions.

Three men were killed in separate incidents on Del Monte’s vast pineapple farm in Murang’a county after security duties were outsourced to G4S, prompting accusations of excessive force and human rights abuses. Witnesses report shootings, stoning, and a deadly vehicle impact, while families, local politicians, and campaigners demand an independent investigation, citing systemic issues and a lack of police accountability. G4S and Del Monte deny wrongdoing, describing the deaths as police actions or accidents and highlighting training and oversight measures. Kenyan police defend their involvement as necessary to protect the farm, despite continued criticism from residents, rights advocates, and grieving families.

England’s World Cup run is boosting pub revenues, with some venues expecting triple their usual takings for the semi‑final against Argentina. Managers cite increased turnout, improved atmosphere and strong local support for Jude Bellingham. UK Hospitality reports 5.5 million extra pints sold during group stages and a 10% national sales rise, while calling for a VAT cut to support a sector where two pubs close daily. Not all pubs are benefiting, with some owners reporting poor turnout and lingering post‑Covid changes in customer habits, though others anticipate strong gains from the earlier 8pm kick‑off.

France and the UK plan to increase staffing at border checkpoints to mitigate delays expected from new EU biometric entry-exit procedures. UK transport secretary Heidi Alexander announced £20m in funding to expand processing capacity while pressing French and EU officials over malfunctioning fingerprint and facial recognition kiosks. French border police have offered additional officers at UK departure points as vehicle traffic through Dover is projected to surge. MPs warn that severe tailbacks are likely unless resources improve, while the EU maintains the system will not be suspended despite identifying multiple high-risk congestion points.

Police are conducting an international manhunt for Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, suspected of killing his wife Zandile and their two daughters in their Bedfordshire home before fleeing to Zimbabwe. Investigators have appealed directly to him to surrender and are working with national and international agencies. The victims were found after concerns they had not been seen, prompting a major forensic operation at the property. Tributes were left outside the home, and police urged the public to share any information while avoiding speculation about the case.

Police in Bedfordshire launched a murder investigation after a mother and her two children were found dead in a home in Great Denham. A suspect known to the victims is believed to have fled the country, prompting an appeal for public information. Assistant chief constable John Murphy said additional police presence would support the inquiry and reassure residents, urging the community to avoid speculation and report any suspicious activity from the days before the discovery.

A Belfast court acquitted three Derry men of murdering journalist Lyra McKee, who was shot during rioting in the Creggan area in 2019. The New IRA had claimed responsibility for the killing. Prosecutors argued the men had assisted the gunman, though none fired the fatal shot. The case was tried without a jury, and McKee’s friends described the outcome as heartbreaking.

A two‑seat Cessna used for a short flight experience crashed in a field near Ongar, Essex, killing both people on board. Police, forensic teams and the Air Accident Investigations Branch are conducting a joint investigation, with no early indication of the cause. Emergency services and local authorities continue gathering evidence, and police have appealed for witnesses or footage.

Record June temperatures in the UK have forced schools, hospitals, care homes, restaurants, zoos, transport services and construction sites to adapt rapidly to dangerous heat conditions. Care homes struggle with ageing buildings and inadequate cooling, prompting warnings about risks to older residents. Schools implement day‑to‑day contingency measures while managing safety and catering pressures. NHS buildings, widely considered unfit for extreme heat, activate emergency plans amid rising patient demand. Food businesses and market traders face spoilage risks and soaring energy costs, while delivery and farm operations shift work to early hours. Zoos deploy cooling tactics for animals and reconsider species suitability for a warming climate. Transport workers continue to face overheating cabs and safety‑critical fatigue. Construction unions call for maximum working temperatures and work stoppages in extreme heat, warning of severe health risks. The widespread strain underscores systemic unpreparedness for increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves.

A high court injunction obtained by Oxfordshire county council prompted leaders of the nationalist Raise the Colours campaign to agree to stop attaching St George’s flags to council property or encouraging others to do so. The order also prohibits painting flags on roads, obstructing or harassing council staff, and applies to the named defendants and unidentified participants. The defendants acknowledged the terms despite expressing frustration, and the council cited repeated unauthorised flag postings and intimidation of staff as justification for the injunction.

Keir Starmer announced his resignation as UK prime minister after sustained pressure from Labour MPs, saying he was no longer the best person to lead the party into the next election. Andy Burnham, newly sworn in as the MP for Makerfield, confirmed he would seek to replace Starmer and is expected to become prime minister by mid-July if unopposed, or by the end of August if a leadership contest takes place. Wes Streeting said he would not stand, strengthening Burnham’s position. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for a general election, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch attacked Starmer and Burnham over national security, defence and energy policy. European leaders, Australia’s prime minister and Ukraine’s president paid tribute to Starmer’s international role. Polling found that 62% of Britons believed Starmer was right to resign, while analysis focused on Labour’s prospects under Burnham and the political consequences of a prime minister taking office without a new public mandate.

The UK information commissioner has launched an investigation into Oxevision, a camera-based monitoring system used in mental health wards, following concerns about privacy, consent, and patient safety. The inquiry follows testimony linking the system to increased distress among vulnerable patients, including the death of Sophie Alderman in Essex. Critics argue that the technology is intrusive, potentially unlawful, and has been improperly relied upon in place of in‑person observations, while Oxehealth defends the system as life‑saving and essential for preventing self-harm incidents. The Lampard inquiry continues to examine its use across Essex mental health services amid calls for clearer accountability and safeguards.

Police arrested a 44-year-old man suspected of pushing a woman into the path of a bus on Putney Bridge in 2017, reopening a case previously closed in 2018. The Metropolitan Police reported that video footage showed the jogger shove the woman, who avoided serious injury thanks to quick action by bus driver Oliver Salbris. Earlier investigations included interviews with 50 men and three arrests without charges. The incident later inspired the play Once Upon a Bridge, prompting renewed calls for witnesses to come forward.

British forces boarded the sanctioned Russian shadow-fleet tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel during a six-hour operation involving Royal Marines, the National Crime Agency and Ministry of Defence support. Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Keir Starmer and Britain, arguing that restricting Russian oil revenues could weaken the war effort and calling for European powers to pursue tanker detention and oil confiscation. The operation comes amid renewed disputes over Britain’s defence investment plan, with John Healey and Al Carns arguing that funding is inadequate, while Lisa Nandy and new defence secretary Dan Jarvis defend the need for increased spending. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has offered support for welfare cuts to fund defence, a position also supported by Andy Burnham and Nandy. The live coverage additionally reports Nigel Farage’s tougher immigration proposals, internal Labour leadership speculation, proposed restrictions on social media and AI chatbots for children, and calls from Wes Streeting for online platforms to bear costs linked to riots and incitement.

Nigel Farage intensified his anti‑immigration agenda ahead of the Makerfield byelection, proposing to ban foreign nationals from social housing and deport those unable to secure private accommodation while pledging preferences for veterans and long-term residents. He argued that mass migration threatens the future demographic makeup of the UK and vowed to repeal the Equality Act, cap foreign doctor recruitment and enforce merit‑based university admissions. Polls show Reform UK losing support to the further‑right Restore Britain, which has been tied to activists linked to extremist events, potentially boosting Labour’s Andy Burnham. Critics including Lisa Nandy and Shelter’s Sarah Elliott condemned Farage’s proposals as divisive and harmful, urging a focus on expanding social housing supply instead.

Nineteen people were arrested after two nights of rioting in Northern Ireland triggered by a knife attack and fuelled by far‑right calls for street demonstrations and online misinformation. Police deployed plastic bullets and water cannon during earlier unrest but reported improved conditions by Thursday night. MPs warned the government had failed to curb the algorithmic amplification of harmful content, calling for stronger measures during crises. Anti‑racism protests were planned in Belfast and Glasgow, with police urging calm and preparing significant security operations. The knife‑attack victim remained in critical care, and a Sudanese national was charged with attempted murder. Public figures and community groups promoted demonstrations aimed at rejecting hate and restoring calm.

Toby Carvery and its parent company Mitchells & Butler Retail agreed to fund the restoration of an orchard and cover legal costs to settle a dispute with Enfield Council over the unauthorised felling of a 500‑year‑old oak tree. The settlement includes treatment of the damaged tree’s remains and planting 1,000 additional trees as part of Enfield’s landscape restoration efforts. The company apologised while maintaining it acted on safety advice, a claim disputed by tree experts. The case intersects with local development plans involving Tottenham Hotspur, while a campaign group has secured a judicial review challenging planning permission for the club’s proposed training facility.

A Dublin court sentenced Sean McGovern, a senior figure in the Kinahan criminal cartel, to 24 years in prison for directing activities in a deadly feud with the Hutch gang, including involvement in the 2016 murder of Noel Kirwan and the planned but aborted shooting of James Gately. The sentence, backdated to McGovern’s 2024 arrest in Dubai, was handed down after his guilty plea and followed an exceptional extradition arrangement between Ireland and the UAE. The court emphasised McGovern’s high-ranking role within the Kinahan organisation, while law enforcement highlighted the case as a significant step in holding key organised‑crime leaders accountable.

A mass grave of 119 sailors buried at St Mary’s Church in Happisburgh after the 1801 sinking of HMS Invincible may be exhumed due to advancing coastal erosion that threatens to expose human remains. North Norfolk District Council plans a ground‑penetrating radar survey to locate the grave following a request from The 1805 Club, which seeks to rebury the sailors at sea near the wreck with potential assistance from the Royal Navy. Historians and heritage groups support exhumation to prevent the remains from washing into the sea, citing past instances where erosion exposed graves. The government‑funded survey will guide future decisions on the sailors’ final resting place.

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station returned to normal operations after NASA lifted an evacuation alert prompted by a worsening air leak in the Russian-built Zvezda module. NASA directed the four Crew-12 astronauts to shelter in the docked SpaceX Crew Dragon earlier in the day, but the order was reversed once Roscosmos paused structural repair work to review new data. Both agencies have been monitoring recurring cracks and leaks in the Zvezda transfer tunnel, with Russia reporting two oxygen leaks, one already sealed and the second being prepared for repair. NASA and Roscosmos continue coordinating efforts to determine the root cause and establish a long-term solution.

A 21‑year‑old former University of Surrey student from Saudi Arabia was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a campus safety officer in his 50s was shot with a crossbow at the Manor Park student village in Guildford. The victim remains in serious condition at Royal Surrey County hospital. Police said the suspect was detained at the scene, no further suspects are being sought, and a significant security presence remains in place. The university is cooperating with the investigation, and authorities have appealed for information through Surrey police or Crimestoppers.

Several far-right leaders, influencers and activists were present at a Southampton protest sparked by the killing of Henry Nowak, which turned violent and injured police officers. Groups such as Southampton Patriots, Turning Point UK and Patriots of Britain supported the event, and attendees included Tommy Robinson, Laurence Fox, Paul Golding, Nick Tenconi and others who delivered incendiary speeches and made extremist statements. Community concerns were raised about far-right groups bringing supporters into the area, and footage showed several figures participating directly in confrontations with riot police.

A jury at Snaresbrook crown court convicted Clifton George of murdering his partner, Annabel Rook, after evidence showed a pattern of abuse and violent behavior. George fatally stabbed Rook during an argument and then caused a gas explosion that severely damaged their Stoke Newington home. The court rejected his defense of loss of self‑control, citing extensive proof of aggression and prior violent incidents. Rook, a charity founder supporting refugee women, had previously confided fears about George’s temper. George remains in custody and awaits sentencing on 9 June.