Local News
Mayor Forhad Hussain makes a start in Newham
WITH A promise to “put power back in the hands of the people”, Mayor Forhad Hussain kicked off his time as Mayor of Newham following his election on 7th May. He also pledged to focus on cleaner streets, community safety and fairer parking charges. The Labour Mayor faces the challenge of running ...
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New mayor’s quest: who owns Hackney?
NEW GREEN Mayor of Hackney, Zoë Garbett, has wasted no time in launching a quest to find out who owns Hackney. It’s an investigation into who owns land in Hackney and how the land is used. Mayor Garbett’s quest is part of a larger commitment to reclaiming public spaces for community benefit and...
Teen stabbed to death in Hackney Wick
POLICE HAVE launched a murder investigation after a young teenager was stabbed on Monday, 25th May. Sadly, the young man died at the scene. Just after 7pm police received reports that a large number of people had gathered in Towpath Walk, E9. The crowd was behaving in a disorderly manner, and some o...
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Trump in trouble over imaginary peace plan
WE WONDERED what US President Donald Trump meant when he said a peace agreement with Iran was near. It turns out that what he meant was that the USA was going to return to military action. •Events over the last few days have gone something like this. •US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted tha...
Shama Almond Falooda has milk allergy risk
MILK ALLERGIES can have serious consequence – they can even be fatal. When Sunrise International Foods Ltd realised that its Shama Falooda Almond flavour drink contained milk, it took swift action. The problem was not the presence of milk but it was not declared on the label. So someone with a mil...
Stepney scheme starts after developer troubles
TOWER HAMLETS COUNCIL is moving forwards with its plans to redevelop Harriott, Apsley and Pattison Houses in Stepney – the “HAPS” scheme. The Council has announced that the project will deliver 407 new homes. However, that is a gross number, as homes in the existing blocks will be knocked down...
Sounds on Sunday: 50 years ago – 1976-6
FIFTY YEARS AGO we were humming along to the hits of 1976. Some have magnificently stood the test of time; others have not. Join us on Memory Lane as we review them on their golden anniversaries. As the strains of Eurovision 2026 fade, it is appropriate to look at the song which hit the top ... The ...
Rubio hints Iran peace plan may be in sight
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has hinted that the US may be close to signing a peace deal with Iran. Rubio was speaking at a press conference in New Delhi – where he was bombarded with questions about the war. A peace plan is now their preferred way out of this costly war – ... The post Rubi...
Kombucha recall as caps pop off
A BRAND of kombucha has been recalled because the bottle caps have started to pop off spontaneously. It sounds like AI is taking over – but the problem has actually occurred because of over-fermentation. The recalled product is One Living Organic Raspberry & Pomegranate Kombucha. It comes in 3...
Eid in the Park in Poplar
THE SHAHJALAL MOSQUE is holding an Eid in the Park on 27th May 2026 at Poplar Public Bowling Green, 113 Poplar High Street, E14 0AE. Gates open at 8.45am. Jammat will take place at 9.30am. Those attending are asked to bring their own chair and prayer mat. ●Read more about it: East London Mosque se...
The return of ebola: a renewed global health threat
Hafsa Noor From a history of tragedy to fresh outbreaks, ebola once again alarms the world As the world continues to recover from years of devastating pandemics and infectious disease outbreaks, the re-emergence of the ebola virus in parts of Africa has reignited fears of another global health crisi...
Midland Langar Seva Society seeks volunteers
The Midland Langar Seva Society (MLSS) is a multicultural non-profit organisation that works to help those in need around the UK and internationally regardless of race, religion or background. Founded in October 2013 by Randhir Singh and Parmjit Singh in Walsall, in the West Midlands, the charity be...
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 ...
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 ...
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...