UK’s deadliest modern residential fire since WWII
The Notting Hill Carnival is under way in London, with the three-day festival drawing crowds for steelpan competitions, parades, and family-friendly events. Reports from The Guardian, BBC, and Independent describe the weekend’s activities, routes, and cultural significance, alongside commemorations for Grenfell victims.
A Maltese jury has acquitted businessman Yorgen Fenech of complicity and criminal association in the 2017 car‑bomb killing of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The verdict has provoked outrage from the victim's family, press freedom groups and politicians, and it has prompted a Council of Europe inquiry into judicial failures and calls for EU action on Malta's rule of law.
Pro-Palestinian activism has entered the spotlight on Ed Sheeran’s US tour after Macklemore used the stage to speak for Gaza and Palestine. The fallout has seen sponsors and venue owners pressure promoters to drop him, while Sheeran seeks to keep the peace amid a growing cultural backlash.
A fire in a semi‑detached house in Bootle has killed four people inside and another two were injured, as investigations indicate an electrical event related to lithium‑ion batteries used in e‑bikes/e‑scooters. Authorities urge safe battery use and adherence to manufacturer guidance.
Prosecutors have received a full evidence file from the Met on 54 individuals and 20 organisations connected with Grenfell Tower, with charging decisions expected before the 10th anniversary of the disaster in June 2027. The process involves possible corporate manslaughter, health and safety offences, fraud and misconduct in public office, following a nine-year police inquiry that examined tens of thousands of documents and statements.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have returned to the UK, visiting Nottingham for a series of charity engagements. The couple, now private citizens, are engaging with community groups and raising concerns over security and media attention as they resume public life from California. The visits mark a renewed public profile while highlighting ongoing tensions with Buckingham Palace over status and protection.