Local News
War and weather cause food crisis in Bangladesh
EVERYONE in Bangladesh relies on the country producing food to eat. But a staggering number also rely on the Bangladeshi agricultural industry for their job: the sector accounts for around 10% of the economy and it employs around 40% of all workers in the country. Now that sector – and the food it...
Local messages
Man charged after motorcyclist dies in Romford collision
THE COLLISION took place at 9.15pm on Whalebone Lane – the A12 – in Romford. A car had collided with a motorbike. The emergency services responded quickly. The London Ambulance Service, the Air Ambulance and the London Fire Brigade all attended. Despite their best efforts, the motorcyclist died ...
Act now to claim a School Clothing Grant
ONE OF the down sides to children going back to schools is that parents have to fork out for school uniforms, PE kits, etc. That’s why Mayor Lutfur Rahman has stepped in to cheer up less well-off families by funding a school clothing grant. If your household income is less than £50,350 per year, ...
Get Weekly Updates
Get the headlines in your inbox every week.
Sounds on Sunday: 50 years ago – 1976-15
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. Elton John and Kiki Dee hogged the number one spot with Don’t Go Breaking My Heart for most of ... The...
Community grants consultation starts in Tower Hamlets
A business-as-usual consultation on community grants has started in Tower Hamlets. Sadly, despite the cheerfulness of the Council’s press release, the consultation exercise misses the point. What are community grants? Councils would say that they are funds they spend on community groups which deli...
A day at the seaside ends in tragedy
Hafsa Noor WHAT WAS meant to be a joyful family outing turned into a tragedy when a mother and daughter lost their lives at West Mersea Island in north Essex. The pair died after entering the sea in an attempt to help a young relative in difficulty. The victims, Shalina Rahman, 42, and her 15-year-o...
Is Trump trying to wreck world economy?
TWO MOVES made by US President Donald Trump in the last few days will increase pressure on the world economy. They seem designed to boost the US economy before the mid-term elections, but are unlikely to do so. •First, he resumed bombing Iran. (Everyone seems to call them “air strikes” now, bu...
Tower Hamlets is to have a summer of fun
HAVE FUN… or else! is the message coming from Tower Hamlets Council. Their press release showcasing activities and events available to residents this summer is quite exhausting. There are events for residents of all ages. You have “opportunities to come together, make lasting memories, try somet...
Plastic and metal found in Waitrose brioche rolls
SOME CHOCOLATE CHIP brioche rolls produced and sold by Waitrose & Partners have been found to contain pieces of hard plastic and metal. The product is therefore being recalled. The rolls are sold in a pack of eight. They have a batch code of B26177 and a best before date of 26th July 2026. If .....
Mayor Lutfur Rahman’s housing plan moves forward
HOUSING HAS always been one of Mayor Lutfur Rahman’s priorities. He has spoken in public a number of times about the scandal of overcrowding in the borough, and how this makes residents miserable and holds them back. The Mayor made it clear that the only way out of overcrowding was to build more h...
Thames Water issues hosepipe ban
THAMES WATER is the latest water company to put a hosepipe ban in place. The ban starts on Thursday. The ban means that if Thames Water supplies your drinking water, you cannot use a hosepipe to water your garden; clean your car, windows or outside areas such as patios; or fill paddling pools or swi...
Doritos Chilli Heatwave recalled as milk present
SOME PACKS of Chilli Heatwave Doritos have been recalled by manufacturer PepsiCo because the product contains milk which is not mentioned on the label. The affected product comes in a 140g size. It is labelled with the batch code GBC 209 184C and a best before date of 5th December 2026. People who h...
Police seek men after Hackney murder
A YOUNG MAN lost his life in Hackney on 13th July – and police immediately began a murder investigation. Now they have identified two men the want to speak to in connection with the incident. The two men are: Cavalli Harriott, 22, from Hackney; Jayqwan Stevens-Burke, 23, who frequents both Hackney...
Tower Hamlets runs summer clubs for kids
SPORTS, ARTS, music, drama, cooking, days out… They’re all free – and there’s a healthy lunch too. That what’s on offer for children in Tower Hamlets this summer – but you have to book a place. The activities are banded together under the name HAF – that’s the Holiday Activities and ...
With Burnham in No. 10, is Labour coming home?
THE NEW Leader of the Labour Party today became Prime Minister of the UK. He took over after two years of the Starmer Government had brought Labour to an all-time low in the polls and at the ballot box. Surely things can, to coin a phrase, “only get better”. Let’s start with the good things .....
What’s your council up to this week?
Most Council meetings are open to the public. Going along and seeing your councillors perform is a good way to keep an eye on them and learn about what’s going on. Meetings can move or be cancelled, so check your Council website on the link provided before going to a meeting listed below. Tower...
Mayor Lutfur Rahman wins battle for affordable housing
LONDON’S LABOUR Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has been given a seat in the House of Lords by Keir Starmer – but he is not receiving awards for good behaviour from London boroughs. A few weeks ago Khan came out with another example of the ridiculous logic of the Labour Government. He pointed out that there ...
Sounds on Sunday: 50 years ago – 1976-14
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. On 20th July, Demis Roussos was swept away by an even bigger phenomenon: Elton John and Kiki Dee with .....
Global fintech LemFi appoints Shah Yousuf to lead the Bangladesh corridor across international markets
London: Global financial technology company LemFi has appointed British Bangladeshi fintech professional, business consultant and media entrepreneur Shah Yousuf to lead the Bangladesh corridor across its international markets, reinforcing the company’s commitment to one of the world’s largest re...
Food retailers: new allergen labelling guidance out
ALLERGIES are a serious business. People with allergens can have a serious reaction if they consume food they are allergic to. If they don’t get the right treatment promptly, they can die – and sometimes they do. Some schools have been found to be negligent in the deaths of some pupils because t...