By LUKE POWER, SPORTS REPORTER and JACK GAUGHAN and TOM COLLOMOSSE, FOOTBALL REPORTER and IAN LADYMAN, FOOTBALL EDITOR and CRAIG HOPE, CHIEF FOOTBALL REPORTER and LEWIS STEELE, FOOTBALL REPORTER and HARRY BAMFORTH, LIVE SPORTS COVERAGE REPORTER

Updated: 16:08 BST, 23 August 2026

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has confirmed that the crash, which occurred in Middlesbrough, followed a police pursuit involving a Volkswagen Passat which was believed to be using cloned plates that had activated an ANPR camera.

Cleveland Police had received intelligence linking the vehicle to several incidents and began a pursuit using an armed response vehicle.

The chase lasted just under seven minutes before the Passat entered the A66 at South Bank, driving against the flow of traffic.

Officers then made the decision to abort the pursuit and continued along the correct side of the carriageway.

About 10 seconds later, the Passat collided with a police vehicle that had not been part of the chase but was in the area assisting in the search for the Passat.

The IOPC confirmed that all seven people involved in the incident died.

Among the victims were two Cleveland Police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.

The five men who died in the Passat were named as Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Jacob Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18.

Derrick Campbell, IOPC director of engagement, said: “Our thoughts continue to be with the family and friends and all those affected by yesterday’s collision.

“We recognise the devastating impact the incident has had on those in the force, and the wider policing community, and offer our condolences.

“We have obtained initial accounts of officers involved in the pursuit, the incident log, and in-car footage of the incident.

“Work is ongoing to obtain additional material.

“IOPC investigators will continue to review and analyse all the evidence that is available to us.

“We will not be providing any further comment at this time.”

An IOPC investigation began after a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police, with investigators attending the scene and post-incident procedures to review evidence.

TORONTO (AP) — Mark Carney drew international attention as Canada’s prime minister by warning that middle powers must resist economic coercion by more powerful countries. Now President Donald Trump is putting that warning to the test with sweeping new tariffs that could show how much economic pain Canada can absorb.

Tensions escalated late Friday when Canada walked away from negotiations after Carney concluded the United States was demanding too much in exchange for tariff relief. The U.S. imposed 50% duties Saturday on about $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, and Carney announced dollar-for-dollar retaliation beginning Sept. 8.

“We’re going to hit back,” Carney said.

Carney is doing what many other American allies have so far avoided: risking economic pain rather than yielding to tariff pressure.

For Carney, the showdown is the clearest test yet of his argument that middle powers must stand up to economic pressure from great powers such as the United States and China, even when it comes at a cost. Canada’s response could show how countries navigate a world in which long-standing alliances offer less protection and economic ties themselves become sources of leverage.

It could also shape how Carney is viewed at home and abroad, and how other U.S. allies respond to the Republican president.

The trade dispute also has become a test of sovereignty.

Carney said Washington introduced language in the final hours of negotiations that would have restricted Canada’s ability to make trade deals with other countries. He said that demand was “unacceptable” and “a question of sovereignty.”

British Columbia Premier David Eby said accepting such a condition would have reduced Canada “to the economic equivalent of the 51st state” — a status Trump has mused about often.

Canada becomes a test case for the world Carney warned about

Carney’s message resonated in January when he addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as Europe braced for Trump’s threats over Greenland and new tariffs.

Carney said the international order was undergoing “a rupture, not a transition.” He argued that sovereignty would depend increasingly on a country’s ability to “withstand pressure” and warned that middle powers negotiating alone with great powers do so from weakness.

Trump responded a day later by stressing Canada’s dependence on the United States. “ Canada lives because of the United States,” he said. “Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”

The president has repeatedly talked about making Canada the 51st U.S. state and dismissed the allies’ border as artificial. On Sunday, Trump returned to that theme, writing on Truth Social that “Canada wants the benefits of being a State, without being one!!!” and accusing Canada of charging U.S. farmers “massive amounts” of tariffs for years. “No more!!!” he wrote.

In case you missed it, Ezri Konsa joined Arsenal this week, completing a £55m move from Aston Villa.

Sporting Director, Andrea Berta said: “We’re delighted to have completed the signing of Ezri Konsa. Ezri is a defender of high quality, whose athleticism, composure and tactical intelligence have established him as one of the Premier League’s most consistent performers.

“Being comfortable in both central defence and at right-back, Ezri will bring valuable versatility to our squad while maintaining the high defensive standards which are fundamental to our challenge of winning major trophies.

“We are welcoming a player with proven Premier League and international experience, and strong leadership qualities, who will adapt seamlessly to our style of play. Just as importantly, we are welcoming a player with the character and mentality to make an immediate impact within our club. We welcome Ezri and his family to Arsenal.”

Konsa wasn’t available for Arsenal’s opening game against Coventry City but is expected to be in contention to face his former club on Monday, August 31.

He will wear the number 15 shirt.

The plans are part of a £1.2 million programme to support regeneration and future investment across the county.

They will set out each town’s strengths, challenges and priorities to help guide targeted investment.

David Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “The people who live in our towns and villages know what their areas need, so we are putting them at the heart of deciding what they want to see improve in their areas.

“Working closely with North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council, we’re setting out the first community-led plans for our towns, cities, and villages right across York and North Yorkshire.

“This is about taking those local ambitions and having a pipeline of projects to make more people proud of the place they call home.”

The plans are being developed through consultation with residents, businesses and stakeholders, with the first draft plan for Richmond now being drawn up and set for consultation.

Plans for the remaining towns will follow in the coming months.

In addition to Easingwold and Helmsley, other towns set to benefit include Harrogate, Filey and Knaresborough.

And for this week, both Alice Kavanagh and I had long wanted to try out The Whippet Inn.

I was last in there earlier this year on Saturday afternoon enjoying a drink, thinking it would be great to return and enjoy a meal.

Well, the pint was good and the surroundings were very eclectic and upmarket.

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Then, we had the visit from Hollywood star Jason Mamoa, of Aquaman fame, which perhaps made it more appealing.

No doubt a big lad like Jason, who is 6ft 3 and quite beefy, had heard of its great reputation for steaks.

The Whippet Inn is a popular venue in North Street and before 2014 operated as the Yorkshire Hussar.

Anyway, we both turned up last Wednesday on the evening of the solar eclipse.

Ham hock and pistachio terrine (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

It was about 6.30pm so it wasn’t particularly busy, I could see just two other tables in our large room at the back were taken.

The ambience and setting was contemporary and relaxing, with music from pop and rock era, which had much appeal to us both.

A most tender ribeye cooked as you like (Image: Darren Greenwood)

Alice said this “set a really cool tone for the pub.” Such vibes were almost wasted on a hot day, she continued, feeling the Whippet Inn “would be the perfect winter pub – great music and cozy atmosphere.”

The service was prompt and friendly and we were soon shown to our table, which we had not booked.

Alice’s superb fillet steak and sauce (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

We were shown the menus and I ordered a pint of Jorvik Blond (£5.25) and Alice ordered a pint of  Eagle lager (£6). We also shared a large sparkling water (£4.50).

Alice enjoyed how the steak was cooked (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

The food menu listed was quite an extensive range of gastropub-type options. There were various nibbles, starters, mains covering all kinds of meat, a specials board of chateaubriand or prime rib available in two sizes, not to mention sides and sauces, and a great number of different puddings.

A novel innovation was a small sorbet to cleanse the pallet between the starter and the mains.

Outside, the Whippet Inn has a stylish beer garden (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

I ordered the citrus and ginger curd chalk stream trout (£14). It came with pickled fennel, wasabi crème fraiche and squid ink tuille (a tuile is a wafer or crispy part of a dish- yes, I had to look it up as well!).

I can’t really find the words to describe it as it wasn’t like the usual smoked salmon or trout I have had before. Nonetheless, the flavours balanced each other well, with a little bit of bite from the wasabi contrasting with the smoothness and mildness of the crème fraiche. It all added up to an exceptionally pleasant starter and was a decent-sized portion to boot.

The stylish and contemporary interior (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

Alice went for Yorkshire Ham Hock and pistachio terrine (£15). It featured peas, broad beans, crispy pigs ears and a parsley emulsion. Again, another generous portion, so I was able to try a little. I’m not into hock but it was good, with bold flavours.

Alice said the terrine was lovely, really great textured with well-matched flavours. It could have done with more pistachio as she could barely taste it. But it was “filling and delicious.”

For mains, we both went for steak. I ordered the 300 chargrilled Ex-dairy ribeye (£36) and Alice went for the 200g Ex Dairy Fillet Pan roasted with herbs & butter (£39).

But first came the palette cleansers (£2.50). I went for the Sicilian lemon sorbet with mint, which looked a treat and had a refreshing citrussy flavour that did cleanse the palate.

The gin and tonic palette cleanser (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

Alice went for the Whippet gin and tonic sorbet, which she says was delicious, but she could not tell the flavour as it was very lemony.

The wait for the mains wasn’t long and I took delight in observing a couple at the next table, who were sharing a 750g prime rib of Ex Dairy. It came with skinny fries, garlic field mushrooms, onion rings, charred tenderstem broccoli, and a choice of 2 sauces or butters.

The plateful looked magnificent, well worth a treat to share one day and the couple told me it was perfect.

Anyway, our steaks arrived and mine was cooked as I wanted, a little pink but not too bloody. It was exceptionally tender and far better than the slightly-overdone sirloin in a village pub I had had the weekend before. The ribeye was a generous size so I barely touched my chips. But the few I did eat were cooked beautifully, crisp on the outside and soft on the inside.

An outside seating area (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

Alice also said her steak was cooked beautifully, very pink but she would have preferred it a little rarer. It came with the perfect amount of sauce, recommended by the waitress and was “the best peppercorn I’ve had.” I tried a little of the sauce, and it was good.

Alice agreed the chips were good but she wishes she had tried the mysterious 15-hour potato instead that was on the menu.

As for the steak, whilst it looked small, Alice said it was a really nice portion and she liked the pub using former dairy cows, saying that is a bit more ethical.

The exterior of The Whippet Inn (Image: Street View)

We were both quite full but having enjoyed such good food, purely in the interests of journalism, Alice found room for dessert, opting for the sticky toffee pudding (£9).

It was boozy and pruney, really tasty, but could do with a bit more sauce, she said. I tried a spoonful and it was good.

Next time, Alice said she would opt for the Out in a Blaze of Glory- double espresso, fudge and a shot of rum.

It was time to pay and the bill came to £138.75, to which a 12.5 per cent service charge, bringing the total bill to £156.11.

This meant that the venue is not exactly cheap but the food, service and ambience was all good, so such an amount is hardly excessive today for such all-round quality.

This is reflected in the good ratings on the review websites, with Tripadvisor giving 4.5 stars out of five based on 3,068 reviews, ranking the Whippet Inn 118th out of 879 York restaurants.

The latest Tripadvisor review gave five stars and said the Whippet Inn offered “the best Sunday launch.”

After praising various aspects of the food, they added that whilst comparatively expensive, it was still worth it and they would visit the Whippet Inn again.

Google awards 4.4 stars out of five based on 1,384 Google reviews. The latest one have five stars across the board.

And such a consensus seems to sum up the Whippet Inn. It is not the cheapest, but it is good and well worth a visit. It is most highly recommended if you want to push the boat out. And who knows which Hollywood star you might bump into!

Reviews are independent and meals paid for by The Press

Fact file

15 North Street, York, YO1 6JD

T: 01904-500660

W: https://thewhippetinn.co.uk/

Verdict:

Food: Plenty of choice, good quality, tasty and plentiful

Service: Friendly and professional

Ambience: Contemporary modern with eclectic touches

Value: Not the cheapest but all-round quality makes it still worth it

Many of the Shetland cast and crew plan to attend the premiere of Wrath of the Gods at the horror festival FrightFest in London on Friday.

But their celebrations have been overshadowed by the sudden death of Justin Hardy last month at the age of 61.

“We all were – still are – looking forward to seeing the finished film,” says John.

“But now it’s not just a celebration of the film, it’s a celebration of Justin and his life. It will be wonderful and sad. A complex mixture of emotions.”

For Lynsey, the film is a testament to the late director.

“It was such a massive risk,” she says.

“So to get to the end of that process, when it’s going to be on a screen, feels a bit miraculous really and it’s so vexing that Justin isn’t going to be there to see what he so passionately wanted to achieve.”

For the Hardy family, it has become a strange tribute to three of their number.

Wrath of The Gods completes Robin Hardy’s Wicker trilogy and is dedicated to Justin’s mother Caroline, who was a secret uncredited executive producer on the original 1973 film.

She died in 1984, aged 51, without knowing that the film she’d backed would go on to be so loved and admired.

“It will be poignant beyond imagining. A sad but celebratory moment,” says Dominic.

“I know that he [Justin] was extremely proud of it being taken by FrightFest.

“Justin’s efforts have brought us all together as a family and helped us harness all our energy.”

A summer of change off the pitch for Aston Villa was followed by one of the worst opening 45 minutes of a season in Premier League history as Unai Emery’s side collapsed at Brighton.

Last season’s Europa League winners went into the new campaign having lost four of the players that started their 3-0 win over Freiburg in May. Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa’s exits could also soon be followed by two more first-team stars in Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez, who were both left out of Villa’s matchday squad at Brighton.

A new-look Villa went behind inside eight minutes in calamitous fashion as Victor Lindelof bundled into his own net before Brighton’s Maxim De Cuyper doubled their advantage. Jack Hinshelwood then scored twice in two minutes before Villa’s Joao Gomes, a £38m signing from Wolves, was sent off on his first Premier League appearance for his new club.

There were empty seats in the Villa away end, and the potential for further embarrassment to come, amid a hugely uncertain period for the Europa League winners.

Villa have recouped huge fees for their departing stars, receiving a record £117m for Rogers from Chelsea, £51m for England defender Konsa and £35m for Tielemans, but the uncertainty off the field is undoubtedly a concern. Villa have broken their transfer record to sign Johan Manzambi while Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki appears to be the replacement for Martinez.

Villa striker Watkins is wanted by Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, and his omission from the travelling squad to the south coast will only heighten speculation.

Manager Unai Emery provided a bizarre response when asked if this omission signalled the end for Watkins’ time at Villa, taking a lengthy pause before replying: “Silence.”

Emery previously said in a press conference that he wants to keep Watkins but has already confirmed that bids have been made for the England international.

Michael Cahill, Theo Rae, Cole Worthy, Jacob Matusiak and Makai Saddington died when their car crashed into a marked police vehicle on the A66 near Middlesbrough.

A 16-year-old boy was among five males who were killed when a car travelling the wrong way along a dual carriageway near Middlesbrough crashed into a police vehicle and killed two officers.

Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 16, Jacob Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18 all died when their Volkswagen Passat collided with a marked police armed response vehicle on the A66 early on Saturday. Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38, were also killed in the collision and had been driving in the correct direction.

Cleveland Police said: “Family Liaison Officers are continuing to work with the families all of those who sadly lost their lives in the collision.”

Our sister title, the Mirror, has reported today how least one of the group had previously posted videos of him on TikTok recklessly speeding. In one clip, filmed in May by a passenger and set to rap music, an 18-year-old is seen in an Audi being driven at speed through a housing estate with a police car’s blue lights flashing in pursuit.

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The vehicle is then seen veering across a playing field in an apparent attempt to shake off the pursuers. Another video on an account associated with him shows a green Nissan being driven around before being set alight, while separate images posted elsewhere show him and a friend posing in cars wearing black balaclavas.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct has opened an investigation into the circumstances leading to the crash at 3.39am in South Bank after a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police.

Tributes today continued to be paid to the two officers who were named last night, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.

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No photos of the police officers have been officially released by Cleveland Police yet. Ring doorbell footage shows that at 3.36am the car was driven at speed through Middlesbrough’s streets before officers halted the chase when the vehicle turned on to the A66.

Last night a football club where PC Blades was a coach paid tribute. They posted: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that Seaton Carew FC shares the devastating news of the passing of one of our coaches, Matty, who tragically lost his life in a fatal accident while carrying out his duties as a police officer.

“Matty had only recently joined our club as a coach and was preparing for his first season with our brand-new U7 Seahawks team. He was looking forward to being part of the team and, most importantly, to coaching his own son, who is going to be playing for the Seahawks this season. Matty and his oldest son are much-loved member of our club and our U10 Lions football family.

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“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Matty’s wife, his two boys, and all of his family and friends at this incredibly difficult and heartbreaking time.

“We also stand alongside Matty’s colleagues and friends within the police service, who have tragically lost members of their force. All club flags are flying at half mast as a sign of respect.

“From everyone at Seaton Carew FC, thank you, Matty, for choosing to become part of our club. You will always be remembered as one of our own. Rest peacefully, Matty. Forever a part of the Seaton Carew FC family.”

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should be asked questions about corruption in his government, his sacked defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has told the BBC.

Fedorov, a popular minister who modernised the military and pioneered drone warfare, was fired last month after reportedly falling out with the head of Ukraine’s armed forces.

He told the BBC a money laundering investigation announced last week meant Zelensky should be asked about his awareness of potential corruption in his inner circle.

But he said he had not himself seen the president engage in any corrupt activity.

“In all the time that I worked with him, not a single time have I received from him any task or assignment that would go against law or my sense of integrity”, Federov said.

The former minister also repeated his appeal for elections to be held in Ukraine, days after releasing a video where he called for a wartime vote.

“Democracy should not be the hostage of Putin”, he said – but stopped short of declaring his own political ambitions.

There were angry protests over Fedorov’s sacking but his support dwindled and demonstrations ended on Wednesday, after his replacement was confirmed. His call for a vote has been widely rejected.

Asked whether he missed his old job, the 35-year-old replied “No”, citing the relentless stress of managing Ukraine’s war with Russia while transforming its defence ministry.

Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, meaning elections are suspended. Zelensky’s five-year presidential term ended in May 2024.

But Fedorov said it was his “moral right” to start the conversation about elections.

“We should not be afraid of discussing it. That’s what democracy is all about. If I cannot share my ideas and be open about them with my own society, then what are we fighting for?”

If elections were never held, he said, “then we are no longer a democracy”.