Sonya Massey's killer Sean Grayson dies in US prison 24. August 2026 (15:14) The former police officer, whose crime reignited the debate about US police brutality, was undergoing treatment for cancer. (BBC News)
French police accused of rising use of violence to stop Channel crossings 24. August 2026 (15:00) NGO criticises ‘human cost’ of UK-funded crackdown on attempts to set off from French beaches in small boatsPeople trying to cross the Channel to the UK have reported an increase in French police use of violence on beaches to prevent them from getting into dinghies, according to a French NGO.Utopia 56, which works on beaches from where migrants attempt Channel crossings, says so far this year 2,720 people have reported being victims of French police violence, compared with 1,954 over the same period last year, when crossings overall were much higher. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Thames Water creditors accused of ‘shuffling chairs on Titanic’ with plan for new board 24. August 2026 (15:00) Campaigners say proposal for £10bn rescue deal in bid to avoid nationalisation is a ‘cosy stitch-up’Business live – latest updatesThe group of creditors pursuing a rescue bid for Thames Water have been accused of shuffling the deckchairs on the Titanic after proposing an overhaul of the stricken utility’s board.In a bid to stave off temporary nationalisation by Andy Burnham, the lenders said they would appoint Liz Barber, the former chief executive of Yorkshire Water, and Clive Selley, the former chief executive of network operator Openreach, as directors if they are allowed to take formal control of the company. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Up to £464m ‘moved through more than 3,000 UK high street shell companies’ 24. August 2026 (14:49) Research shows firms are branded as beauty and convenience but apparently operate in money-laundering and terrorist financing sectorsUp to £464m has “moved through” more than 3,000 UK shell companies branded as beauty and convenience stores but apparently operating in the money-laundering and terrorist financing sectors, a new analysis sets out.The companies – listed as hairdressers, barber shops and salons, on the one hand, or mini-marts and corner shops on the other – show “remarkably similar lifespans” of about six months despite their seemingly different purposes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
No 10 backs ‘tough action’ if social media fail to remove dangerous driving posts after A66 crash 24. August 2026 (14:49) Downing Street condemns ‘utterly disgraceful’ clips and says platforms are legally obliged to take the downThe government has given its full backing to Ofcom to take “tough action” against social media platforms that fail to remove videos which depict dangerous driving after a crash that killed seven people near Middlesbrough.The collision in the early hours of Saturday, in which PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough died, occurred when a Volkswagen Passat carrying five people aged between 23 and 17 crashed head-on with a marked armed response vehicle while driving the wrong way on the A66. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
