Local News
New initiative to educate couriers on battery safety
ONE OF THE biggest headaches for the Fire Brigade – and all the other organisations that work on community safety – is fires caused by lithium batteries being charged. Now two organisations – the Fire Brigade and Uber Eats have formed a partnership which aims to education delivery couriers in ...
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Cllr Ahmed gives way to… Cllr Ahmed!
IT WAS out with the old Speaker and in with the new Speaker at the AGM of Tower Hamlets Council on Wednesday, 20th May 2026. The Speaker of the Council chairs the Council meetings, as well as attending public events as the ceremonial mayor – called the “Speaker” in Tower Hamlets, to avoid conf...
Tower Hamlets: five years as Tree City of the World
FOR FIVE consecutive years, Tower Hamlets has been recognised as a Tree City of the World by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation and Arbor Day Foundation. The borough has also been awarded five stars in the inaugural Growth Awards and been recognised as the leading Tree City in the ...
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Trump holds back on Iran attack – for now
IT’S NOT going so well for US President Donald Trump. His military attack on Iran did not lead to Iran capitulating, and he doesn’t know what to do about it. And as mid-term elections loom, his popularity is taking a tumble. For some time Trump has been threatening to resume bombing Iran – exp...
Burnham selected as Labour candidate in Makerfield
IT WAS less of a selection and more of a coronation as Andy Burnham was chosen as Labour’s candidate. He was the only person who had applied to be selected. It is not yet clear whether local Labour Party members met to consider who to put forward or whether any deliberations were swerved in favour...
Three shot as teens attack San Diego mosque
FIVE PEOPLE have died as a result of an armed attack on a mosque in San Diego, USA. Three people who were at the mosque were killed. The teenage killers have been found dead after fleeing the scene. No motive for the attack has been established at this early stage of the investigation, but local ......
Inspectors praise Tower Hamlets safeguarding of children
THE MAYOR and Deputy Mayor of Tower Hamlets have welcomed a report issued by Ofsted Inspectors on how the Council and its partners investigate child sexual abuse within families. Ofsted had previously inspected Children’s Services as a whole, and judged them “outstanding”. This was a “Joint ...
How police investigation sent Imam to jail for rape
AN IMAM has been sentenced to life imprisonment, with an Order that he serve a minimum of 20 years. He had been found guilty of preying on young women and girls, some as young as 12, and sexually abusing them. It was not easy to uncover what had been going on over many years. The ... The post How po...
More Tube strikes this week
🚈#BREAKINGNEWS: #TubeStrikes planned for this week have been called off after #TfL agreed to talk to the #RMT. New #StrikeDates have been set for 2nd and 4th June. TUBE TRAIN drivers are going on strike on Tuesday and Thursday this week in a dispute with Transport for London (TfL) over working ho...
Hot chilli pesto gets allergy alert recall
FISH MAY be present in Filippo Berio UK’s Hot Chilli Pesto – but it is not present on the label. The product has been recalled. Allergies can be very serious. Some need emergency treatment and exposure to allergens can even be fatal. One of the common allergens is fish, and it is important that ...
Streeting makes strange start to leadership campaign
“STARMER-LITE” Wes Streeting has finally admitted that he will be standing in the Labour leadership election. He was the last person who didn’t know, but now he has stopped being coy and admitted the truth. Streeting announced his candidacy at a Progress Conference in the afternoon of Saturday...
Five injured after police chase in Ilford
A POLICE chase through Ilford ended with the police car being involved in a collision in the early hours of Saturday, 16th May. Five people were seriously injured and five people have been arrested. The police explained that officers saw a vehicle which they believed had been stolen. They tried to s...
Greens get down to work in Hackney
THE GREEN PARTY is settling down to work in Hackney, following its shock take-over of the traditionally Labour Council. Zoë Garbett is the new Mayor. She had a ringing endorsement from the voters, winning 46.9% of the vote on polling day. She will be supported by 42 Green Councillors. The oppositio...
Andy Burnham sails over the first hurdle
ANDY BURNHAM has been given permission to put himself forward for selection as the Labour candidate in the Makerfield by-election. The permission was granted by Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC). The NEC is a tough nut to crack – preferring to chose its own candidates rather than allow...
Tower Hamlets Council rewards foster carers
IT’S NO Council Tax for foster carers in Tower Hamlets, after Mayor Lutfur Rahman decided to give everyone who registers as a foster carer a 100% Council Tax reduction. The newly re-elected Mayor described how much he values the work done by foster carers, saying, “Our foster carers are heroes a...
Working for safer communities and fairer housing
Calvin Bailey reflects on standing against antisemitism, strengthening communities and improving housing across Leyton and Wanstead.
More than one in three adults have avoided asking for financial help
More than one in three adults have avoided asking for financial help due to fear of being judged – with many choosing to struggle in silence.
The everyday habits secretly adding £470 to Brits’ energy bills revealed
Brits could be wasting hundreds of pounds a year through simple household habits they barely think twice about – and experts say your “energy personality” could be to blame.
Second man charged with arson after Nelson Street fire
TWO MEN now face charges of arson with intent to endanger life after a small fire outside a building in Nelson Street, Whitechapel, E1 on 5th May. The building used to be a synagogue and is in the process of being sold to a Somali Muslim organisation. The police investigation is being led by Counter...
Vandals attack Halal café in Newcastle
CAFÉ OWNERS are downplaying an attack on the My Karak Chai café in West Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne which took place on 6th May, the day before the local elections. The café’s windows were smashed and a counter inside the shop was damaged. The owners posted a statement confirming that, “A few r...