The group’s newest deals are on home turf

Acquisitive North East wealth management group Fairstone has snapped up two independent North East firms.

The fast-growing group has agreed deals with Sunderland-based Grainger Financial Planning and Morpeth’s Riverstone Wealth Management. It follows partnerships with Fairstone beginning in 2024 and following the group’s downstream buy-out model which allows a period of investment support and integration before a full acquisition.

Grainger Financial Planning serves almost 400 clients with £120m of client assets under management. It offers a range of financial planning and wealth management services and has been advising clients for more than 15 years.

Meanwhile, Riverstone Wealth Management was set up in 2009 and provides financial advice to more than 65 clients with £63m of client assets under management.

Paul Clough, firm principal at Grainger Financial Planning alongside Mike McGurrell, said: “We’re really pleased to be joining Fairstone – as a company based in Sunderland, like ourselves, it genuinely feels like we’re coming home. Joining Fairstone gives us the opportunity to grow the business while maintaining our commitment to providing trusted, independent financial advice.

“The additional support we’ve received on things like regulatory and compliance matters has freed up more of our time to spend with clients and seen the range of services we can offer widen.”

Mark Wiseman, founder and firm principal at Riverstone alongside brother Ian Wiseman, said: “Working with the Fairstone team over the past two years has been great and we’re looking forward to a really bright future. One of the big benefits which we have found is the ability to grow our client base by using the resources, experience and expertise which Fairstone offers us.

“We are already providing an increasing number of people with trusted, independent financial advice and I’m confident that this will continue now that we are part of Fairstone.”

Fairstone describes itself as one of the fastest-growing financial services organisations in the UK and Ireland. It employs more than 1,350 people serving over 60,000 wealth clients with client assets under management of more than £22bn.

Steve Easter, managing director for Fairstone’s Northern region, said: “It is fantastic to be able to welcome Paul, Ian, Mark and the Grainger and Riverstone teams to Fairstone. The acquisition of both firms demonstrates our commitment to further growth in our North-East heartland and to bringing on board ambitious, growing financial advice and wealth management firms.

“With our group headquarters in Sunderland, we know from first hand that this region is home to a thriving community of entrepreneurs, business owners and families who are creating and preserving significant wealth, and who value the kind of long-term, trusted relationships that sit at the heart of good financial advice.

“In acquiring Grainger and Riverstone, we’re bringing on board firms which share those values, strengthening our ability to support clients across the region and helping them to build their financial futures with confidence.”

​Short sellers targeting SpaceX shares ​are sitting on an estimated $8.7 billion in paper profit ​since the rockets-to-AI firm’s initial public offering last month, as its stock slipped below the IPO price, according to data and analytics firm Ortex Technologies.

Short sellers, who borrow ‌shares to ⁠sell them ⁠and later buy them back at a lower price for a profit, have ​pressed their bearish bets on SpaceX as the company’s shares slipped toward its IPO price ​of $135 from a post-IPO high of $225.64. SpaceX shares have been volatile, experiencing brief bouts of strength before slipping back.

On Wednesday, the stock dropped below ​its initial public offering price for the ⁠first time before ‌recovering to close just above that level. “SpaceX has ​been a ​rollercoaster for the short sellers, and it has ended ⁠up firmly in their favor,” Ortex co-founder Peter Hillerberg said.

“Rather ​than take profits, the bears kept adding the whole ​way down.” Almost half of SpaceX’s tradable shares, about 49% of the free float, are now out on loan, according to Ortex. “We believe most of that is short selling,” Hillerberg said. SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

SpaceX’s lofty valuation makes it ‌a target for short sellers skeptical of its rich price tag, but strong retail and institutional interest as well as ​CEO Elon Musk’s ​history of public battles ⁠against short sellers make bearish bets against the company a risky proposition. The weakness in SpaceX shares reflects in part investor concern over debt-funded AI spending.

The ​stock’s sizable short position could inject further volatility into the shares, with every dollar SpaceX shares move worth more than $300 million to the short side, Ortex estimates. That means the stock could swing hard in either direction. SpaceX shares were up about 1% to $136.28 on Thursday.

A White House teleprompter operator is being investigated over allegedly using inside information to place bets and make nearly $100,000 on US President Donald Trump’s speeches.

Gabriel Perez, who had worked at the White House since 2016, is accused of placing bets on words the president would use during major public addresses, including the State of the Union speech.

The trades were made on Kalshi, a prediction markets platform where users can bet on real-world events. The firm confirmed it reported the activity to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which regulates the platform.

Kalshi froze Perez’s account before any profits could be withdrawn, according to reports.

The platform told the BBC its analysts noticed unusual betting on “mention markets” – contracts where users predict whether a speaker will use common terms, such as specific countries, economic words, or campaign slogans, in March.

“The words of political leaders like Presidents and Fed chairs cause billions of dollars of movement in FX markets, oil futures, [and] the stock market,” Kalshi said.

Using account data, the company found the user was a federal employee operating White House teleprompters.

The exchange froze more than $90,000 before it could be withdrawn.

Robert DeNault, Kalshi’s head of enforcement, said the firm flagged the trades and had handed evidence to regulators.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump was aware of the teleprompter operator and that staffer was now on unpaid leave, before adding Perez would no longer work at the White House.

The story, first reported by ABC News, has been confirmed by the BBC’s US partner, CBS News.

Sources said Perez has been “fully cooperative” with the CFTC.

ABC said federal prosecutors in Manhattan declined to open a criminal case.

When contacted by the BBC to confirm it was investigating, the CFTC said it could not “confirm or deny” any probe.

The move follows a management buyout of the business last year

Yorkshire civil engineering and surfacing contractor SGH Civils and Surfacing Ltd has secured a six-figure funding package.

The Denaby Main-based business was helped by PMD Business Finance to get the asset financing package to support its investment in new fleet, including commercial vans and heavy construction vehicles. Bosses who staged a management buyout last year say the move has allowed them to support local employment.

SGH began in the mid-1990s and was known as Eco Power Civil Engineering Ltd, before rebranding in 2025 following the buyout deal led by Shaun Hardisty which saw it separate from the wider Eco Power Group. The firm employs 30 staff and carries out a wide range of civil engineering projects across the Yorkshire region in the commercial, residential, industrial and infrastructure spheres.

It also works with local authority and private sector clients across the UK on surfacing projects.

Mr Hardisty said: “Our new identity reflects our ambition to build on the strong reputation the business has developed over many years. We remain committed to operating from our base in Denaby Main and continuing to support projects across Doncaster and the wider Yorkshire region.

“Since we completed the management buyout in August last year, our focus has been on investing in the growth of the business. We have invested £400,000 in a new fleet of commercial vehicles and added to our yellow plant fleet, ensuring we are fully equipped to deliver high quality civil engineering and surfacing services for our clients while continuing to support local employment.”

PMD also used the Government Growth Guarantee Scheme to provide additional growth capital whilst also facilitating a asset refinancing facility to reduce on-going monthly debt commitments.

Kai Wynne-Jones, structured finance director at PMD Business Finance, said: “We’re delighted for Shaun and his team as they embark on this exciting new chapter following the management buyout. We are pleased to have provided a bespoke funding solution that not only meets SGH’s current needs but also supports its ambitious growth plans and we look forward to supporting the team as they continue to drive the business forward”

Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 2026 Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders of Standard Lithium Ltd. Please note that the meeting is being recorded. I would like to introduce David Park, the CEO of the company.

Mr. Park, the floor is yours.

David Park
CEO & Director

Good morning, and welcome to the Annual General and Special Meeting of the Shareholders of Standard Lithium. My name is David Park, and I’m the Chief Executive Officer of the company. We’re hosting this year’s meeting virtually via live webcast. Registered and duly appointed proxy holders of the company entitled to vote may attend and vote at the meeting through the virtual webcast. This past year has been highlighted by significant achievements and milestones reached for Standard Lithium.

We made substantial progress in advancing and derisking our world-class lithium projects, including our Southwest Arkansas project as well as our East Texas properties. We continue to work closely with our joint venture partner while strengthening relationships with potential customers and industry leaders. We remain excited about the pathway ahead for our company. Due to personal circumstances, Robert Cross, the Chair of the Board of Directors of Standard Lithium, is not able to attend and preside over the meeting. As such, and in accordance with Standard Lithium’s bylaws, I will preside as Chairperson of the meeting in Mr. Cross’ absence.

Before we get started, as this is a virtual meeting, it’s necessary to set out a few rules for the orderly conduct of the meeting. Only registered shareholders or duly appointed proxy holders are entitled to ask questions and securely vote at the meeting in real time. Only shareholders of record at the close

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department in Arizona is warning the public about a new scam exploiting the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie, who has been missing for more than five months.

In a statement posted to social media this week, the sheriff’s department said fake QR codes requesting money have been circulating online, falsely tied to the high-profile investigation. “The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is aware of posts circulating about the Guthrie investigation that include a QR code requesting money,” the department said. “PCSD will never ask for money related to this case, or any investigation.” The department urged the public not to send money to strangers or scan QR codes requesting payment, adding, “If you see one of these posts, ignore it and report it. Stay alert and help spread the word.”

Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her Tucson-area home in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood on the night of January 31, after being dropped off at the property. She was reported missing the following day by family members after she failed to show up at church. Relatives arrived at the home just before noon and notified the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, which arrived shortly after and determined Guthrie was missing under what officials described as concerning circumstances. Investigators later discovered dried blood droplets outside the entrance to her home, which were confirmed through testing to match Guthrie’s DNA.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has said investigators believe Guthrie was the victim of an abduction. Federal authorities later released surveillance footage from the night of her disappearance showing an armed, masked individual approaching her home and tampering with her doorbell camera before the abduction occurred.

In the days following the disappearance, multiple ransom notes were sent to members of the Guthrie family and to media outlets, with at least one demanding payment in bitcoin and containing specific details about Guthrie’s clothing. One of the notes claimed she had died. On July 1, the FBI confirmed that several of the ransom notes received in connection with the case were deemed to be extortion attempts without legitimacy, though the investigation into her actual whereabouts remains ongoing.

The case saw a legal development earlier this month when Derrick Callella, a 42-year-old man from Hawthorne, California, pleaded guilty on July 2 to two counts of harassment using a telecommunication device in connection with the case, according to a Justice Department news release. According to court documents, Callella told officials he had called and sent text messages to the Guthrie family on February 4, inquiring about a bitcoin transfer after learning of an earlier ransom demand. He admitted his actions were intended to harass the family by seeking information about the investigation, after obtaining details about them from an online database while following media coverage of the case. Callella is expected to be sentenced on September 10 and faces up to five years of probation as part of his plea agreement.

Savannah Guthrie has remained one of the most visible public voices in the case, repeatedly appealing to viewers of “Today” and to the broader public for any information that could help locate her mother. Marking the five-month anniversary of her mother’s disappearance, Savannah issued a statement on behalf of the family to a Tucson television station, saying, “It is five months of agony and unending trauma for our family.” She added, “There is not a moment that goes by that we aren’t actively trying to find our mom. We thank the people of Tucson for holding her in their hearts, as well as both the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Office for their tireless work on behalf of our family. Bring her home.”

Sheriff Nanos has continued to provide updates on the investigation’s progress, including the use of forensic genealogy techniques to help analyze DNA evidence collected from the scene. Speaking about the complexity of that process, Nanos said, “Especially when you throw in genealogy — now, you’ve got… this may not be the bad guy, but this person might be the bad guy’s relative three times over. So, that has to be broken down to see if this might be someone of interest to us.” Marking the 100-day point in the investigation earlier this year, Nanos emphasized that the case remained active, saying, “There’s way too much work to be done, that is ongoing, with some of the physical evidence we have. And we’re not going to give up on it just because it’s been 100 days.”

Authorities have said they have not ruled out anyone connected to the case except for Guthrie’s adult children and their spouses, who officials have officially excluded as suspects. Investigators continue to treat the case as a kidnapping, and a substantial reward remains in place for information leading to Guthrie’s safe recovery. The Guthrie family is offering up to $1 million, in addition to a $100,000 reward from the FBI and a $102,500 reward from the Tucson Crime Stoppers hotline.

Anyone with information about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance is asked to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900, or 88-CRIME at 520-882-7463. Digital photos, video or doorbell camera footage from the area around the time of her disappearance can also be submitted directly to the FBI through a dedicated online portal set up for the case. The FBI can additionally be reached at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

As the investigation continues without a confirmed resolution, authorities have stressed that the emergence of scams like the recent QR code solicitation underscores the need for public vigilance, both to protect potential victims from financial exploitation and to preserve the integrity of an active federal and local investigation that remains, more than five months later, without answers for the Guthrie family.

Hal Williams, the veteran actor best remembered for playing Officer “Smitty” Smith on the classic sitcom “Sanford and Son” and Lester Jenkins on NBC’s “227,” has died. He was 91.

Williams died Wednesday morning, July 15, at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, according to his manager, Zna Portlock Houston. Houston told TMZ that Williams died of natural causes and had been dealing with some recent health issues. She said Williams had felt tired upon returning just two days earlier from a trip to Ohio, where he had attended a reunion celebrating “Sanford and Son” alongside former castmate Howard Platt, who played Officer “Hoppy” Hopkins opposite Williams on the show.

Born Halroy Candis Williams in Columbus, Ohio, Williams did not pursue acting until his 30s, according to People magazine. His breakthrough came in 1972, when he was cast as Officer Smith on “Sanford and Son,” the hit NBC sitcom starring Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson as a father-and-son team running a junk business in Los Angeles’ Watts neighborhood. Williams appeared in 22 episodes of the series over its run. On the show, Officer Smith walked the beat with Officer “Swanny” Swanhauser, played by Noam Pitlik, for six episodes before being paired for the remainder of the series with Platt’s Officer “Hoppy” Hopkins, forming a comedic duo that became a signature element of the show.

The pair developed a recurring bit in which Hopkins would open a scene by laying out a case using dense, official police jargon, only for Smitty to step in and translate the explanation into plain English for Fred and Lamont Sanford. The routine became so associated with the characters that longtime viewers came to anticipate it whenever the two officers appeared on screen. Williams later recalled to WKYC how the bit originated almost by accident during rehearsal. “We did it one time in rehearsal and the producers thought it was funny,” Williams said, describing how the exchange became a fixture of the show. After “Sanford and Son” concluded its six-season run in 1977, Williams went on to revive the Smitty character for the short-lived NBC spinoff series “Sanford.”

Williams found another signature role nearly a decade later, starring opposite Marla Gibbs in NBC’s “227,” which aired from 1985 to 1990. Williams played Lester Jenkins, husband to Gibbs’ character Mary Jenkins and father to Brenda Jenkins, played by a young Regina King. The series, set among a group of neighbors living in a Washington, D.C., apartment building, ran for 116 episodes across five seasons and also featured Helen Martin, Alaina Reed-Hall and Jackée Harry, who won an Emmy Award for best supporting actress for her role on the show in 1987. The series itself earned two Emmy nominations during its run.

Williams’ career extended well beyond his two best-known roles. In 1980, he appeared as Goldie Hawn’s tough but sympathetic drill sergeant in the box office hit film “Private Benjamin,” a role he reprised for three seasons on the CBS sitcom adaptation of the same name that aired from 1981 to 1983, starring Lorna Patterson. Williams also had a recurring role on “The Waltons,” playing Harley Foster, a lumber mill worker whose backstory involved escaping prison after being wrongly convicted of killing a man in self-defense. He appeared in the CBS drama across several episodes during its run from 1972 to 1981.

Other television credits over his more than five-decade career included “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “The Dukes of Hazzard,” “Magnum, P.I.,” “Night Court,” “L.A. Law,” “Moesha” and “Parks and Recreation.” He also played Sinbad’s father, Rudy, on the 1993-94 Fox comedy “The Sinbad Show.” Williams’ most recent television role came as a guest appearance on the Kathy Bates-led CBS reboot of “Matlock.” On the film side, his credits included “Hardcore,” “The Rookie,” “Percy & Thunder,” “Guess Who” and “Flight.”

Beyond his acting work, Williams was known for his philanthropic efforts. He established the Mark K.A. Williams Memorial Scholarship Foundation, which provides funding to students of color pursuing college degrees in television or communications. The foundation is named in memory of Williams’ son, Mark, a broadcasting major who died during a camping trip in the Angeles National Forest at age 20. Williams was predeceased by his son.

Williams is survived by two children, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Williams’ death drew tributes from fans and fellow entertainment industry figures who remembered him as both a gifted comedic performer and a warm presence on set. Tributes circulating following the news of his death recalled his ability to hold his own alongside some of the biggest comedic stars of his era, with many singling out his work on “Sanford and Son” as a defining piece of 1970s television comedy.

Williams’ career reflected the broader arc of Black representation on American television during the second half of the twentieth century, spanning early appearances in ensemble sitcoms through leading roles in some of the era’s most enduring shows. His work on “227” alongside Gibbs and a young Regina King, in particular, remains a touchstone of 1980s network comedy, while his role as Smitty on “Sanford and Son” helped cement one of the most recognizable comedic double acts of the decade.

Funeral and memorial arrangements had not been announced as of Thursday. Williams’ family and representatives asked for privacy as they process his death, while acknowledging the outpouring of support from fans who grew up watching his decades of work across television and film.

A coalition of charities, schools and businesses is calling on the government to create a taskforce to tackle poverty.

An open letter to Jersey’s council of ministers warned evidence had shown too many families were “at breaking point” as they struggled with the cost of living and one in four children were living in a relative low income household.

Patrick Lynch, from Caritas Jersey – one of 13 organisations who signed the letter, said the island’s government needed to work with them as they “have the expertise” to help.

The Government of Jersey has been contacted for comment.

Among the organisations to sign the letter include Caring Cooks, the Jersey Community Foundation and Mind Jersey.

Mentorhood Jersey, Milli’s Separated and Step Family, La Petite Ecole Group of day Nurseries, Geomarine, Haute Vallée School, Brighter Futures, Khora Partners, Jersey Child Care Trust and Freeda also signed the letter.

The group said five other organisations and government agencies had also signed the report.

Lynch said: “We need to get the right people in the room and we’ve had some preliminary discussions with government and we hope that that is something that they will look to do.”

OnePlus confirmed Thursday that it is exiting the United States and European markets, ending its run as a mainstream Android smartphone brand in two regions where it had built a loyal following among tech enthusiasts over the past decade.

The Chinese smartphone maker said the two regions will no longer receive new device releases, and that remaining inventory of current models will be sold off as the company winds down its presence. OnePlus said it will now focus its operations on just two markets going forward: China and India.

Despite the withdrawal, OnePlus said existing customers in the US and Europe will not be left without support. The company confirmed that current users will continue to receive software updates, security patches and after-sales support as previously promised when they purchased their devices. That commitment mirrors assurances OnePlus gave PCMag in April, when the company said “all users’ after-sales support, software updates, and rights commitments are fully guaranteed” amid earlier reports of a potential US shutdown.

One notable change for existing users will be the shutdown of the OnePlus Community website for customers in the affected regions, set to go offline on August 16. “Community content will no longer be publicly accessible,” OnePlus said in its announcement. The company urged users who want to preserve their contributions to the platform to act before the deadline. “If you would like to keep copies of your posts, comments, photos, guides, or other contributions, please save them manually before that date,” OnePlus said.

Alongside the market exit, OnePlus is making a significant software change for its remaining device lineup. The company is retiring its long-running OxygenOS software in favor of ColorOS, the operating system used by its parent company, Oppo. When ColorOS 17 launches later this year, eligible OnePlus devices in North America and Europe will have the option to voluntarily update to the new software, according to the company. Devices that don’t qualify for the update won’t be left behind entirely, however. “Legacy models that are not eligible for this specific upgrade will continue to receive software maintenance,” OnePlus said.

OnePlus attributed the decision to a “proactive global strategy adjustment,” language that suggests the move was a deliberate business decision rather than a response to a single triggering event. The exit had been anticipated for some time, following a string of rumors and internal personnel changes that had fueled speculation about the brand’s future outside its core Chinese and Indian markets.

Reporting on the situation began building earlier this week, when German outlet WinFuture cited sources indicating that OnePlus’s parent company, Oppo, would formally announce the brand’s wind-down in the US and Europe. That report came after months of uncertainty, including an April statement from OnePlus North America telling PCMag that the company was “evaluating its regional roadmap and product strategy” amid earlier speculation about a potential shutdown. According to WinFuture, even OnePlus’s own internal teams were largely kept in the dark about the reasoning behind the broader strategic shift, with the outlet unable to pin down a specific cause for the change.

As part of the restructuring, Oppo is expected to narrow OnePlus’s focus toward budget-friendly devices in China and India, while simultaneously expanding its own branded footprint in Europe to help fill the gap left by OnePlus’s departure. Evidence of that transition was already visible before Thursday’s official confirmation, with OnePlus’s German website reportedly steering some customers toward Oppo devices in the lead-up to the announcement.

OnePlus built its reputation in Western markets over the past decade by offering flagship-level specifications at prices typically undercutting rivals like Samsung and Apple, earning a dedicated following among tech enthusiasts who valued the brand’s “flagship killer” positioning even as its lineup expanded into more premium price tiers in recent years. The brand’s exit marks a significant retreat for a company that had steadily grown its presence in the US market despite ongoing competition from larger, more established smartphone makers.

The company’s most recent major US release, the OnePlus 15, faced a bumpy path to market. The device was delayed last year due to a government shutdown in the United States that held up regulatory review. The Federal Communications Commission ultimately cleared the phone for sale in November, and OnePlus began shipping the device in December, just months before Thursday’s announcement of the broader market exit.

A follow-up device, the OnePlus 15R, launched earlier this year and represented one of the brand’s final new releases in the US market. However, the company’s flagship 2026 device, the OnePlus 15T, never made it to American shelves, leaving the 15R as one of the last new OnePlus phones US customers will have had the opportunity to purchase before the company’s formal exit.

For current OnePlus owners in the US and Europe, the practical impact of the announcement is likely to be limited in the near term, given the company’s commitment to continued software and security support. But the shutdown of the community platform and the shift away from OxygenOS toward Oppo’s ColorOS signal a broader transition that will gradually change the software experience for existing devices, even as OnePlus works to honor its support commitments to customers who purchased phones before the exit was announced.

The move leaves OnePlus operating in a significantly narrower footprint than it held just a few years ago, when the brand had expanded aggressively across international markets in pursuit of the kind of mainstream smartphone success achieved by larger competitors. With the company now consolidating around China and India, and Oppo positioned to expand its own presence in the vacated European market, the restructuring marks one of the more significant shifts in the smartphone industry’s competitive landscape so far this year.