The Resolution Foundation thinktank released analysis indicating that UK productivity is growing more strongly than official figures suggest, using an alternative workforce measure. The report attributes the improvement to existing workers in the same jobs, rejecting explanations based on AI or sectoral shifts. This comes amid official data showing the UK as the joint fastest-growing G7 economy in the first half of 2026, with positive signals from economists at Morgan Stanley and former advisers.

QR code-related scams, known as 'quishing', have surged 700% in the UK over four years, with 2,743 reports in the last year. Criminals place fake QR codes on parking meters and in phishing emails to steal money and data. Victims like Les Howard lost money after scanning a fake code at a car park, and Keith Betton was charged after scanning an ad. The National Cyber Security Centre advises using phone cameras to scan codes and warns against downloading separate apps.

Police Scotland is investigating a deliberate car fire at Kelvinside Motor Company in Kirkintilloch, near Glasgow, which occurred at 22:55 on Saturday, days after a disturbance at the same property. The garage was previously targeted in a fire attack in April last year, linked to Operation Portaledge, a police probe into an ongoing gang feud between the Lyons and Daniel crime families. The feud, which began in Edinburgh in March last year, has involved 84 incidents including fire bombings and attempted murders. Police treat the fire as wilful, with no reported injuries, and are keeping an open mind about links to the operation. The incident follows a car crash into a house in Eaglesham, south of Glasgow, on Friday, and comes despite police announcing last month that the feud had ended, with recent reports of a flare-up of violence.

New evidence from a book by Malik Al Nasir reveals that Sandbach, Tinne and Company, a British corporation linked to major compensation recipients, continued illegal trafficking of enslaved Africans to Guyana after the 1807 and 1833 abolition acts. A 1847 letter details a ship carrying over 300 people referred to as 'cargo', including children. This discovery has inspired a research project, Overwriting-Underwriting, to uncover financial networks behind enslavement.

Iranian hackers shut down a small-scale UK power plant for four days last month, marking the first successful cyber attack of its kind on a British facility. The incident, reported by the Sunday Telegraph, occurred alongside attacks on US water infrastructure affecting 12 states. UK officials declined to identify the facility, stating there was no risk to the wider energy system. The attack follows the UK's permission for the US to launch defensive operations from British bases, escalating tensions with Iran. The National Cyber Security Centre is involved, and the UK is updating cyber security regulations and developing an energy resilience strategy.

A morning briefing covers a deadly UK crash that killed seven, an Israeli drone strike in Syria, Iran's shift to offensive military doctrine, Russian drone downings near Moscow, Israeli strikes in Lebanon, DRC-M23 peace roadmap, Canada suspending US trade talks, Colombia resuming coal exports to Israel, and other regional developments.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has opened an investigation into a fatal crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough that killed seven people, including two police officers. Security camera footage appears to show a police chase minutes before the collision, though the BBC understands the police car involved was not part of the pursuit and the chase had stopped before the crash.

Background: UK households face high electricity prices due to wholesale gas costs, reliance on natural gas, and grid investment. Today, Energy UK, representing energy suppliers, has called for a new £1.9bn 'social discount' scheme to provide targeted support to millions of households struggling with bills, as the energy price cap is expected to rise by 4% in October. The proposal, which would offer up to £450 to some households, comes amid record debt and unaffordable bills, and has backing from fuel poverty charity National Energy Action. The record debt is now £4.7bn, and the expected price cap rise is driven by Middle East conflict and European heatwaves. The proposed discount is nearly double the current Warm Home Discount and could be funded through bills or taxpayer money. The government has not yet responded.

The UK government is set to grant mayors in 13 English areas new powers to 'call in' and overrule local council planning decisions for large developments, including projects over 150 homes, commercial spaces over 15,000 square meters, or buildings over 30 meters. The move, announced by Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook and supported by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, aims to boost housebuilding and meet the government's target of 1.5 million new homes by 2029. Critics, including the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives, argue it undermines local democracy and centralizes power.

Iran's deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi accused London and Paris of deliberately participating in Israeli crimes by continuing to send weapons and provide support, saying they should not hide behind 'expressing concern.' He cited warnings from over 100 British and French diplomats about 'ethnic cleansing' and called for halting arms transfers and implementing Hague court decisions.

The UK government announced that a scheme to confine serious sexual and violent offenders to restricted areas after prison release will start in October. Probation officers will use GPS technology to monitor compliance, with breaches leading to recall. The policy aims to protect victims but has faced criticism over probation pressures and enforcement concerns.

Campaigners warn that the proposed Heathrow airport expansion, including a third runway, could threaten the survival of the New Barn at Harmondsworth, England's largest surviving medieval timber-framed barn built in 1426. They argue that aircraft vibrations could shake the structure to pieces, as the airport boundary would be only a few hundred meters away. The government is consulting on amendments to the Heathrow expansion national policy statement, with objections due by 1 September. English Heritage and campaign groups are opposing the plans, citing environmental and heritage concerns.

Frequent and intense heatwaves in the UK have led to over 1,000 schools closing or sending pupils home early, with experts warning that high temperatures impair student performance and cause significant learning loss. The article discusses the debate between shifting the school summer holiday earlier to align with cooler months and investing in climate-resilient infrastructure like air conditioning. It highlights that the first 30°C day now occurs on average in mid-June, compared to mid-July in the 1960s, and that the Met Office predicts more extreme weather. Any changes would require national-level planning, as term dates are set by local authorities or individual schools.

Background: Racially-motivated violence in Belfast, sparked by a knife attack, led to arson and displacement, with health minister warning of threats to healthcare workforce. New development: Three months later, communities still feel the fallout. Police have arrested 39 people. The violence displaced 76 households according to the Housing Executive, with community workers estimating higher numbers. A grassroots WhatsApp network helped over 200 people, including a community worker who sheltered 22 people in her home 60 miles away. Victims describe ongoing fear and a subtle shift in community relations, with some still too frightened to leave their homes. The article also highlights the role of far-right activist Tommy Robinson and Elon Musk in amplifying the initial knife attack footage.

Background: Irish police disengaged from pursuing a wrong-way driver on the M9 motorway in County Kildare due to lack of pursuit training, leading to a fatal crash that killed five teenagers and injured four others. Today's development: The incident has been linked to a broader trend of deliberate wrong-way driving, sometimes recorded for social media, with a separate crash in England killing seven people including two police officers. Irish authorities are considering making wrong-way motorway driving a specific offense and are investigating social media platforms like TikTok for content that glorifies reckless driving. The M9 crash occurred on Aug. 16, when a black BMW traveling the wrong way collided head-on with a Hyundai near Moone, County Kildare. The five teenagers in the BMW were identified as Kamil Pustkowski, 17, Joey Carthy, 15, Alex McCarthy, 17, Jack Kennedy, 17, and Jeremy O'Brien, 18. Four people in the Hyundai, including a 7-year-old boy, were seriously injured. The BMW was linked to suspected burglaries in Carlow and Athy earlier that night, and Gardaí had attempted to stop it but failed. Investigators believe the BMW traveled the wrong way more than once, and stinger devices were prepared but not deployed. The crash has been linked to social media glorification of reckless driving, with some teenagers posting videos of dangerous driving on TikTok. Irish authorities are considering making wrong-way motorway driving a specific offense, and the media regulator has sought explanations from TikTok. Additionally, a separate wrong-way crash on the A66 in England killed seven people, including two police officers, raising broader concerns about the trend.

Police Scotland is investigating a car crash into a house in Eaglesham, East Renfrewshire, at about 13:20 on Friday. The incident is possibly linked to Operation Portaledge, an investigation into gangland activity across central Scotland. No injuries were reported, and inquiries are ongoing. The crash occurred amid reports of renewed violence between the Lyons and Daniel crime families, following a period of relative calm after a six-month feud was declared over in July.