‘Mass arrests’ in LA as mayor imposes curfew on downtown

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has activated a curfew in the downtown area in response to looters and vandals “taking advantage” of Donald Trump’s “chaotic escalation” in his response to the immigration protests sweeping the city.

Authorities enforced the curfew between 8 p.m. Tuesday and 6 a.m. Wednesday, with Bass warning that anyone who failed to comply would be detained. The LAPD said that it made “mass arrests” after the restriction was imposed.

About 700 U.S. Marines are set to step foot in LA today, less than 48 hours after Trump directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to mobilize the battalion. The administration is now considering deploying troops to other cities to quell further protests, an official told the New York Times.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, who claims the presence of troops exacerbates tensions, has asked a judge for an emergency injunction regarding the troop deployment, arguing it is “unlawful,” as well as “excessive and unnecessary.” A hearing is set for Thursday.

Speaking in a televised address on Tuesday, Newsom lambasted Trump’s “brazen abuse of power.” Earlier in the day, Trump called the city “a trash heap” and promised to “liberate” it.

Rolling Stones ‘back in the studio working on new album’

The Rolling Stones are reportedly back in the studio and working on a new album, after rumours that they had scrapped plans for a summer 2025 tour.

The Independent understands that the storied rock band have been working in Metropolis Studios in west London, following the successful release of their last record, 2023’s Hackney Diamonds.

Their first album of original material in 18 years, Hackney Diamonds was produced by Grammy-winner Andrew Watt, whose other credits include works by Elton John, Pearl Jam, Ozzy Osbourne and Lady Gaga.

Hackney Diamonds shot to No 1 upon its release and received positive reviews from critics.

“Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood rip through gritty glam and blues rock riffs like guitarists half of half their ages, and rather than mutter reflective wisdom gleaned from a rock’n’roll life mid-winddown – a la Bruce Springsteen or Bob Dylan – Jagger bawls and yowls about blurry nights, media intrusion and relationship ructions like an eternal A-list twentysomething,” Mark Beaumont wrote in his review for The Independent.

The Sun reports that the new album is being recorded by original members Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, with current drummer Steve Jordan.

“Originally, the plan was for them to bring their huge US tour to the UK and Europe this summer, but promoters couldn’t get the dates to work,” a source claimed.

The Sun also reports that the Stones have teamed up with Watt again for the new songs.

The band are supposedly planning on announcing UK shows in the coming weeks, after earlier media reports suggested they had encountered issues over venue and travel options.

Sixty years since they first formed, the Stones remain one of the world’s most popular live acts, with their latest North America tour grossing almost a quarter of a billion dollars and selling 880,000 tickets.

However, they have not played in the UK since 2022, the year after the death of their longtime drummer, Charlie Watts.

Fans are hoping that Wood might turn up at Worthy Farm for a surprise appearance with longtime friend Rod Stewart, when the “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” star takes on the Legends Slot on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival this summer.

Ballymena riots condemned as ‘racist thuggery’ as homes set on fire in second night of violence

Homes and cars have been set on fire during a second night of violence in Ballymena as police condemned the unrest as “racist thuggery”.

Dramatic scenes unfolded in the Northern Ireland town as rioters hurled petrol bombs, fireworks and glass bottles at police officers. Seventeen officers were injured with some requiring hospital treatment, the Police Service Northern Ireland said.

Riot police wearing armour and carrying shields were deployed to the Co Antrim town as hundreds gathered in the area, with rioters smashing windows and damaging the doors of homes.

Two homes, which suffered significant smoke damage, remained sealed off on Tuesday. Damage was caused to a nearby property while a woman and two children were still inside, while the windows of several business units were smashed in the area.

The violence originally flared after a vigil in support of the family of a teenage girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the town over the weekend.

Two 14-year-old boys appeared in court on Monday, charged with attempted rape. The charges were read to the teenagers by a Romanian interpreter.

PSNI said it had made a third arrest in connection with their investigation into the serious sexual assault on Monday evening. The 28-year-old man was unconditionally released from police custody following questioning.

The scenes of violence were described as “racist thuggery” by a senior officer, while Northern Ireland’s first minister Michelle O’Neill called the two nights of violence “racist and sectarian” adding that the rioting was “abhorrent and must stop immediately.”

During Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir Starmer condemned the violence. “I utterly condemn the violence that we have seen overnight in Ballymena and in other parts of Northern Ireland,” he said.

Police fired less-than-lethal rounds at some of those gathered and also used a water cannon to disperse the crowd. Calm was restored to the town around 1am, but the force reported further disorder in Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus, with some incidents in north Belfast.

The peaceful vigil began on Monday around 7.30pm heading towards the Clonavon Terrace area of Ballymena. Police were present due to the large number of people who had gathered when a number of masked individuals broke away from the gathering and began to build barricades, stockpiling missiles and attacking properties nearby.

Members of the crowd turned on police and attacked officers with petrol bombs and masonry as the disorder continued in the nearby vicinity of Galgorm Street, Linenhall Street, as well as Larne Road Link near the Braid.

North Antrim MP Jim Allister said on Monday that he had spoken to the family of the alleged victim, who had said they did not want to see violent scenes.

“Sadly the narrative has been diverted, and it has been diverted by those who wrongly and foolishly involved in violence and made the story something that what it otherwise should be,” he added.

A 29-year-old man has been charged with riotous behaviour after being arrested during disorder in Ballymena on Monday night. The man, who is due to appear before Ballymena Magistrates’ Court on 3 July, has also been charged with disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police.

PSNI assistant chief constable Ryan Henderson said other arrests are expected following the examination of video footage as the force are “actively working to identify those responsible for last night’s racially motivated disorder in Ballymena and bring them to justice.”

Mr Henderson said the force had a significant operation in place over the coming days in case there was any repeat of the disturbances on Monday night in the Co Antrim town, calling for the attacks to be “loudly condemned by all right-thinking people”.

“Any attempt to justify or explain it as something else is misplaced,” he said at a press conference at Ballymena police station.

He added that members of the minority ethnic community “felt fear” and that the policing operation in Ballymena aimed to reassure the community.

“I would strongly urge anyone who was involved in yesterday’s disorder to reflect long and hard about their actions, they will have consequences,” he said.

Mr Henderson said that police officers from England and Wales will be brought to Northern Ireland if needed to help the PSNI in the wake of the Ballymena disorder.

He said: “Should I need any additionality, I’m absolutely assured that my colleagues in policing in England and Wales, the National Police Operation Centre, stand fast and ready to support should we need that support.”

The senior officer said police did not have specific intelligence that there would be a repeat of the violent scenes, but said a significant policing operation would be in place.

Stormont ministers have made a joint appeal for calm following the violence, across the powersharing executive including Sinn Fein, DUP, Alliance Party and UUP.

The statement said: “As ministers representing every party and department in the Northern Ireland Executive, we strongly condemn the racially motivated violence witnessed in recent days and make an urgent appeal for calm across society. The alleged serious sexual assault reported on 7 June in Ballymena was appalling and our collective thoughts are with the victim and their loved ones at this deeply traumatic time.

“It is paramount that the justice process is now allowed to take its course so that this heinous crime can be robustly investigated. Those weaponising the situation in order to sow racial tensions do not care about seeing justice and have nothing to offer their communities but division and disorder.

“While all of our citizens have the right to engage in peaceful protest, there can never be any justification for the violence that has taken place in recent days, during which residents have been terrorised and numerous PSNI officers injured.”

The statement added: “We are urging everyone in our communities to play their part in that effort and reject the divisive agenda being pursued by a minority of destructive, bad faith actors.”

Downing Street said there could be no justification for the violence in Ballymena.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “The disorder we saw in Ballymena is very concerning.

“Obviously, the reports of sexual assault in the area are extremely distressing, but there is no justification for attacks on police officers while they continue to protect local communities,” they said. “PSNI and the justice system must be allowed to carry out their jobs and our thoughts are with the victims of the assault as well as the police officers who were injured.”

Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn has said there is “no justification” for attacks on police officers or vandalism in Ballymena.

“The terrible scenes of civil disorder we have witnessed in Ballymena again this evening have no place in Northern Ireland,” he said in a social media post. “There is absolutely no justification for attacks on PSNI officers or for vandalism directed at people’s homes or property.”

Entrepreneur ‘humiliated’ after London Tech Week refuses entry with baby

A female entrepreneur was left feeling “absolutely humiliated” after she was refused entry to London Tech Week because she was with her 18-month-old daughter.

Davina Schonle had travelled for three hours to get to the event at Olympia, where she planned to meet potential suppliers for her new start-up AI company.

But on arrival on Monday, she said officials prevented her from entering with her daughter, Isabella, who was in a pram.

The incident at the event, which was addressed by Sir Keir Starmer on the same day, has been widely condemned at a time when the tech industry tries to shake off its male-dominated tag.

A recent report by Tech Nation showed that just 26 per cent of people in the UK tech industry were women, with more technical roles seeing an even wider gender gap.

Writing on LinkedIn, Ms Schonle, aged 40, said: “I hate that I’m having to write this, but today I was refused entry at London Tech Week… because I had my baby with me.

“It’s a three-hour drive one way for me to come to London. At this stage, I limit how many hours I am away from my baby girl. This is about new environments for her as much as it is about me. I should be able to build my company with her by my side.

“As someone passionate about innovation, tech and the future of work, I was excited to attend, connect, have meetings and contribute. In today’s age, shouldn’t we be more inclusive?

“This moment was more than inconvenient. It was a clear reminder that, as a tech industry, we still have work to do when it comes to inclusion beyond buzzwords.

“Parents are part of this ecosystem. Caregivers are innovators, founders, investors, and leaders. If major events like London Tech Week can’t make space for, what message does that send about who belongs in tech? I don’t necessarily mean make it kid-inclusive event in general, or do I? Doesn’t our future belong to the kids?”

Ms Schonle later told The Times she had been left feeling “absolutely humiliated” and “angry” by the incident.

As founder and chief executive of Humanvantage AI, which is developing a conversational role-play corporate training platform using AI technology, she had reportedly arranged three meetings with exhibitors.

In response to her LinkedIn post, Rebecca Taylor, an expert in cyber threats and human intelligence who gave a TED talk last year, said she was “so sorry”, and signalled her support for the mother.

She wrote: “I honestly don’t know what to say. The ‘juggle’ is real, and if you’re doing your best to make life happen and be part of the conversation, other individuals and communities should be empowering you to do that. Here if you ever want to talk.”

Janthea Brigden, ambassador for Children at Events, wrote: “It feels so humiliating, doesn’t? Like you are a ‘non person’!”

London Tech Week is expected to attract more than 45,000 people from across the world.

On Monday, in an address at the event, Sir Keir vowed to persuade a “sceptical” public that AI can improve millions of lives and transform the way business works.

In a statement about the incident, London Tech Week said: “We’re aware that one of our attendees wasn’t allowed to enter with their child yesterday. As a business event, the environment hasn’t been designed to incorporate the particular needs, facilities and safeguards that under-16s require.

“We want everyone in the tech community to feel welcome at London Tech Week. We’ve reached out directly to the person involved to discuss what happened and use this experience to inform how we approach this at LTW in the future.”

Inside the OceanGate disaster and how hubris led to tragedy

It’s the popping that sends shivers down your spine in Netflix’s new documentary about the doomed Titan submarine. Pop… pop, pop. This is the sound of the vessel’s hull disintegrating, individual strands of carbon fibre snapping apart as the unbearable weight of the Atlantic Ocean heaves in on all sides. As Titan: The OceanGate Disaster shows, these audible omens of catastrophe were repeatedly and unforgivably ignored, until finally the submersible imploded on 18 June 2023, killing all five passengers on board.

When news first broke that the tourist expedition to view the wreck of the Titanic had gone missing off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, the story quickly spiralled into a round-the-clock media frenzy. One channel (NewsNation) even had a ticking countdown to the moment the vessel would run out of oxygen. Over the four days the submersible was missing, the tragedy transformed into a spectacle, with endless memes, conspiracy theories, and glib commentary overshadowing the real human cost.

For documentary filmmaker Mark Monroe, the viral nature of the coverage was as unsettling as the tragedy itself. “I was, just as a casual observer of news, kind of horrified at the whole idea,” he tells me. “I don’t subscribe to any aspect of social media. I think it’s a bad thing. So it became this kind of focal point for some of my anger over social media, in the way that the story became so swept up in everyone’s reaction to it.”

Monroe, the writer behind Oscar winners The Cove (2009) and Icarus (2018), and nicknamed Hollywood’s “documentary whisperer”, joined the Netflix project when he heard the producers had secured a key figure: David Lochridge. Lochridge is an ex-Royal Navy diver and became OceanGate’s chief pilot and director of marine operations until he was sacked in 2018. “He’s the reason I’m here,” says Monroe. “He was front and centre in terms of the building of this company.”

Over the course of the documentary, Lochridge paints a picture of OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, who went down with his ship on Titan’s final voyage. “He wanted fame, first and foremost, to fuel his ego,” says Lochridge. One of the most alarming moments in the film comes when we learn how Rush informed Lochridge, moments before a dive to the Andrea Doria shipwreck off the Massachusetts coast, that he would be piloting the trip on another of OceanGate’s submersibles himself. During the chaotic and near-deadly trip, Rush ventured far too close to the wreck, and the craft became surrounded by debris. He eventually and reluctantly ceded the controls to Lochridge, who steered them to safety; however, their relationship was irreparably damaged.

“The dynamic changed,” Lochridge says in the film, before describing how he was dropped from communications with other OceanGate executives. The final nail in the coffin came when Lochridge was allowed to carry out his own inspection of Titan, which was supposed to be ready for its maiden voyage. He uncovered a host of safety issues and was promptly called into a meeting where Rush informed him that his services were no longer required.

“To me, he was a very unique individual, a person of privilege, a person with a long history within his own family of movers and shakers, of people who had a dynamic impact on the culture,” Monroe tells me of Rush. The CEO was born into a wealthy family in San Francisco and studied engineering at the prestigious Princeton University in New Jersey. As shown in the documentary, his lineage could be traced back to two signatories of the Declaration of Independence, Richard Stockton and Benjamin Rush. “When you’re of that upbringing where it feels like you need to do something in life, and then you say you’re going to take an experimental submersible using material never before used to the Titanic, and year after year, you have yet to accomplish that… They talk about the pressure of the ocean as you go down, the atmospheres. I think there’s an intense pressure when you’re a person like that who says you’re going to do something.”

Titan was distinctive because it was made of carbon fibre, which is lighter and more cost-effective than traditional alloyed steel used for submarines. If Rush could prove the material would work, why not build a whole fleet of Titans, ferrying high-net-worth tourists paying $250,000 a pop to the bottom of the ocean, like the Jeff Bezos of the sea? The problem was: he couldn’t. The OceanGate Disaster shows how Rush repeatedly flouted regulations, either bending them to his will or ignoring them outright. Relatively early on in the process, he decided that Titan did not need to be “classed”, meaning certified to industry standards by an independent body. Classification experts, the CEO insisted, did not understand his technology.

On Titan’s first deep ocean test, Rush was supposed to take the submersible down to a depth of 4,200 metres – 400 metres below the depth of the Titanic wreck. Extraordinary footage from inside the vessel shows Rush growing concerned at the intensifying popping sounds as he reaches 3,938 metres. “Close enough,” he mutters to himself before abandoning the test and returning to the surface, where he triumphantly declares the mission a success. “I could’ve easily gone to four [thousand metres], but for what?” he tells his crew. For Monroe, showing moments like this were vital to illustrating “the consequences of the decision-making over a period of about a decade”, he says. “That was where I thought the drama of the film is: the step-by-step decisions that were made that add up to this situation.”

Of all those decisions, the fatal tipping point appears to have been on Titan’s 80th dive, when a “loud bang” was heard on board the vessel. To avoid costly shipping, the submersible was kept in sub-zero temperatures in Newfoundland, rather than being sent back to OceanGate headquarters in Washington to check for cracks in the hull. “I told Stockton, ‘Don’t do that,’” says Tony Nissen, OceanGate’s former director of engineering, in the documentary. “Once we build this, it cannot go freezing. If water gets in there and you sit it out in freezing conditions and that water expands, it breaks [carbon] fibres.”

Of course, what happened on Titan’s next dive needs little explanation. Indeed, just 10 minutes at the end of the film are dedicated to the final moments of the submersible’s existence. Instead, the focus shifts to those who lost their lives and the families who were left behind. British aviation billionaire Hamish Harding, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman, and renowned Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet. “There’s a cold inevitability about the story. We all know where it’s going. We all know the ending,” Monroe admits. “But that ending affects the people who are still here, and that’s why we’re telling the story; those are the people that I wanted to talk to.”

Monroe’s film is less about deep-sea exploration and more of a critique of those who believe the rules don’t apply to them. He compares Rush to a tech CEO, invoking Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook motto (abandoned in 2014), “Move fast and break things.” “There is an ambition in our culture led by a lot of Silicon Valley types that you can do things differently,” says the director. “You can change the way the world works. The rules don’t apply to you. But as I like to say, there are rules of physics, there are rules of engineering, there are rules of nature, and those do apply to us. And so I don’t know how safe it is to move fast and break things when other people’s lives are at stake.”

The Facebook founder’s infamous slogan is eerily similar to Rush’s braggadocious comments during Lochridge’s exit meeting: “We’re doing weird s*** here and I am definitely out of the mould. There’s no question. I’m doing things that are completely non-standard.” As The OceanGate Disaster shows, standards exist for a reason.

‘Titan: The OceanGate Disaster’ is out now on Netflix

The E2E Tech 100 Track 2025 revealed

The E2E Tech 100 is a celebration of the UK’s most dynamic and fast-growing technology businesses. These companies are redefining the future through innovation, digital transformation, and remarkable revenue growth, with artificial intelligence playing a central role in many of their business models.

Our headline partner for the E2E 100 2025 is Universal Partners.

The Tech 100 showcases groundbreaking tech companies, each surpassing £10 million in turnover over past 2 years, and setting new standards for innovation and growth across the tech sector.

Featured in the track and demonstrating extraordinary growth are:

Revolut Ltd – One of the world’s fastest-growing fintech super-apps, Revolut has revolutionised the way millions manage their finances. With services spanning banking, crypto, stock trading, and travel insurance, the company has scaled across continents under the leadership of CEO and Co-Founder Nikolay Storonsky. Now serving over 40 million users globally, Revolut’s seamless digital-first approach has set a new benchmark for financial innovation.

Cleo AI Ltd – At the cutting edge of artificial intelligence in personal finance, Cleo is reshaping how Gen Z manages money. Founded by Barney Hussey-Yeo, Cleo combines humour, data, and conversational AI to make budgeting and saving both intuitive and engaging. With tens of millions of interactions every month and strong traction in the US market, Cleo has emerged as a disruptive force in fintech.

Zilch Technology Limited is a leading UK-based buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) fintech company revolutionising consumer spending with a transparent, interest-free model. Founded by Philip Belamant, Zilch combines open banking and AI to offer smarter, responsible credit to over 3 million users. With a rapidly growing presence in both the UK and US markets, Zilch is redefining flexible payments for the digital age.

This initiative stands as a compelling testament to the UK’s thriving tech ecosystem, showcasing companies that not only drive significant revenue growth but also foster digital inclusion, enhance user experience, and shape global tech trends.

With founders from across the country, the E2E Tech 100 demonstrates the depth and diversity of talent in the UK, spotlighting entrepreneurs who are leading change through creativity, data, and purpose in an increasingly tech-driven world.

As the Founder and CEO of E2E said: “The E2E Tech 100 track recognises the exceptional achievements of technology companies that are scaling with speed, vision, and impact. From AI-driven solutions to inclusive fintech platforms, these businesses are solving real-world problems and transforming industries. It’s an honour to celebrate their growth, resilience, and leadership as they navigate and shape a digital-first future.”

Andrew Morley, CRO at The Independent, added: “We are delighted to partner with E2E in celebrating the UK’s top 100 tech innovators. These businesses embody what’s best about British entrepreneurship: bold thinking, digital excellence, and global ambition. Their stories inspire and remind us of the extraordinary potential within the UK tech landscape. Congratulations to all those featured in this year’s Tech 100.”

The track was carefully curated using trusted data from Experian and Creditsafe, ensuring only the most impactful and high-performing businesses have been recognised in this track.

Each E2E 100 track is supported by our partners: Universal Partners (Headline Partner), Fora, Lioncroft, Creditsafe, OakNorth, and Experian.

With London Tech Week underway, it’s an exciting time to spotlight innovation and entrepreneurship across the UK. As the nation celebrates tech talent, the E2E Tech 100 recognises the businesses driving real impact and growth.

For more information and to see the full E2E Tech 100 2025 track, click here.

To find out more about E2E, visit https://www.e2exchange.com/

Liverpool make Wirtz breakthrough as Man Utd eye swap deal

The transfer window has officially, briefly, shut after the first mini opening ahead of the summer’s Club World Cup. The window closed last night at 7pm BST but that won’t stop clubs negotiating deals over the coming days, ahead of its reopening on 16 June – Club World Cup teams can register players for the knockout stages from then onwards.

So far this summer there has been plenty of activity in the Premier League with Matheus Cunha, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jeremie Frimpong, Liam Delap, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rayan Cherki among the biggest names to switch clubs.

Arsenal want to get in on the action and hope to bring in Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi, and Mikel Arteta has sanctioned talks with RB Leipzig over striker Benjamin Sesko in their ongoing pursuit for a No 9.

Chelsea have been rebuffed in their efforts to sign Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, and have walked away from a potential deal for AC Milan and France No 1 Mike Maignan before the Club World Cup.

Manchester United have already secured Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5m, and are negotiating with Brentford over Bryan Mbeumo with Viktor Gyokeres also on the list of wanted strikers.

Manchester City have captured Ait-Nouri from Wolves, while also agreeing a fee to sign AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and signing Lyon’s Cherki.

And Liverpool have finally made a breakthrough in their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz.

You can sign up to DAZN to watch every Club World Cup game for free, while all the latest updates, rumours and done deals from what promises to be a chaotic transfer window will be covered in the blog below:

FTSE 100 rises and Tesla poised to gain $25bn

The FTSE 100 closed just short of a new record high yesterday, but Wednesday brings a new set of factors which may sway investor sentiment, including Rachel Reeves detailing her spending review, which is expected to included £5bn in cuts.

Final results are in from the likes of Revolution Beauty – under the microscope with Frasers recently – while overnight markets in Asia reacted by pushing higher after another day of trade talks in London between Washington and Beijing.

Further reaction is expected to the news of the FCA giving the Pisces stock market for private companies the go-ahead, while speculation around the Bank of England preparing to lower interest rates once more next week also arose following lowered employment data and slowing salary growth. Meanwhile, in the US, stocks are poised to open flat or even slightly lower this afternoon.

Here’s all the latest news around business, money and the stock markets today: