A new Black High Sheriff, Windrush claims rejected by Home Office, British child 'abducted' in Jamaica
Plus: NHS aims to reduce chemo risks for Black patients
Dear readers,
How are you?
This week’s news moves between progress, scrutiny and the stories in between.
As always, we’ve brought together the key headlines, along with moments of recognition and good news, to give you a clear picture of what’s shaping the week.
There will be no newsletter next week as we’re travelling to Canada, but we’ll be back the following week with a bumper edition.
Good news
Jeriah Boateng received the Joe Thompson Legacy Award, recognising people in football who have overcome adversity, at this year’s Football Black List
Landmark exhibition showcasing 125 years of Black British music opens at V&A East
Merlita Bryan sworn in as High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
Dr Jeffery Quaye lands CEO role at Arco Academy, an independent sports-specialist school in London designed for students aged 11–16
Elderly couple jailed after racial abuse video goes viral
'Cancer care gap': NHS adds gene test to reduce chemo risks for Black patients
Routine NHS genetic testing for chemotherapy has been expanded to include a gene variant more commonly found in Black patients, aiming to reduce harmful side effects. The move addresses a longstanding gap, as previous testing focused largely on variants found in white populations, leaving Black patients at higher risk.
Anti-Islam influencer granted UK travel approval, fuelling disparity claims after Kanye West's refusal over antisemitic remarks
Valentina Gomez, a US far-right influencer known for anti-Islam and anti-Black rhetoric, has been granted UK travel approval ahead of a planned London rally. The move has sparked backlash, with critics pointing to Kanye West’s recent visa refusal and the subsequent cancellation of Wireless Festival, which he was set to headline, as evidence of inconsistent enforcement. Organisations, including Muslim Women UK and MPs such as Ayoub Khan, have urged the Home Office to intervene and bar Gomez from entering the UK altogether.
Nursery worker sentenced to just 3 years over killing of Black toddler restrained to sleep
A nursery worker has been jailed for just three years after the death of 14-month-old Noah Sibanda, who died after being restrained face down while staff tried to force him to sleep. CCTV showed the toddler pinned and left unchecked for hours, with his mother saying he died “alone, scared and in pain”.
Tau Kleio Rodriguez-Fairplay: High alert issued for British girl missing in Jamaica
A six-year-old British girl, Tau Kleio Rodriguez-Fairplay, has been reported missing in Jamaica after being taken there by a parent, with police issuing a high alert. The child was reportedly abducted in February 2025 from her home in the UK by her other parent, Athena Belle-Fairplay, and taken to Jamaica.
King’s College London accused of stripping Black student of First Class degree days before graduation - without warning
A former King’s College London student says her First Class degree was downgraded to a 2:1 just days before graduation, leaving her unable to graduate nearly two years later. Ceana Agbro claims the decision relied on a hidden peer review system she could not access or challenge, and is now crowdfunding for a Judicial Review.
What else we’re reading
More than half of Windrush compensation claims rejected by Home Office, report finds
French man, aged in his 80s, becomes country’s first to apologise for family’s role in slavery
Green Party and Reform UK urged to cut ties with London candidates over racist posts
Ernie Smith, beloved Jamaican singer, has died
Zimbabwe’s iconic stone birds were taken by colonialists. Finally, they’re all back home
NHS nurse wins payout after suspension over trans patient row
Sharon Osbourne plans to attend Tommy Robinson’s anti-immigration march after past racism row
Why are Harvard’s slavery researchers quitting or being fired?
Badenoch calls for Axel Rudakubana’s parents to be deported after damning Southport attack report
‘I’m in remission for the first time due to new cancer drug’
After years of homelessness and addiction, man turns his life around to help others
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Sade, Luther Vandross, Fela Kuti and Wu-Tang Clan among 2026 inductees
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