Author: Charlotte Hughes

A murder case is progressing through the courts after a fatal stabbing in Willesden left a 50-year-old woman dead and multiple witnesses traumatised by what they saw unfold on a Saturday afternoon. Najiib Raytaan, who lives on Harlesden Road, has been remanded in custody following his appearance at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Monday. The 25-year-old is set to face the Old Bailey on Wednesday as the legal proceedings continue. The victim was discovered with fatal injuries on Pound Lane in the northwest London neighbourhood at approximately 4pm on Saturday. Emergency services attended the scene after receiving reports of a stabbing,…

Londoners planning Valentine’s Day celebrations have a record 38 restaurants to choose from after the capital dominated a national list of the most romantic dining destinations in the UK. The venues featured on OpenTable’s 2026 ranking of the country’s 100 most romantic restaurants, with dining data showing Brits are expected to increase spending on the occasion by 44 per cent compared to last year. Valentine’s Day falls on Saturday, February 14 this year, with restaurants across the city preparing special menus and experiences for couples. Bookings have surged following a 27 per cent rise in Valentine’s dining in 2025. Sky…

A suspended Labour MP is expected to announce his retirement from parliament on medical grounds, triggering a by-election in Greater Manchester.Andrew Gwynne, the MP for Gorton and Denton, is anticipated to make the announcement soon, according to breaking reports. The former Labour health minister is currently sitting as an independent following his suspension from the parliamentary Labour Party.Mr Gwynne was removed from his ministerial role and suspended from Labour over offensive WhatsApp messages. He remains in the House of Commons as an independent MP while awaiting the outcome of a parliamentary standards investigation into his conduct.The standards investigation concerns his…

Queen’s Hospital in Romford is seeking £35 million in funding to transform its accident and emergency department and eliminate corridor care, as the facility grapples with unprecedented demand. The hospital, which holds a Care Quality Commission rating of “requires improvement” for its urgent services, experienced its busiest month on record in December. An average of 995 people attended A&E daily, making it the third busiest month in the hospital’s history. Last year alone, the department saw 14,286 additional attendees, contributing to what officials describe as record demand. Footage broadcast by ITV in December highlighted the severe pressures facing the hospital,…

Reform UK has secured its second Conservative defection in a week after Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Andrew Rosindell abandoned the party he joined at the age of 14. The Romford MP, who previously served as Shadow Minister for Home Affairs between 2007 and 2010, follows Robert Jenrick in crossing the floor to Nigel Farage’s party. Jenrick defected on Thursday. According to Mr Farage, the Conservative Party’s stance on the Chagos Islands proved the decisive factor in Mr Rosindell’s departure. The Reform UK leader described his new recruit as “a great patriot” whilst condemning what he termed the Tories’ “lies…

Piers Morgan has undergone hip replacement surgery after fracturing his femur following a fall at a London restaurant. The 60-year-old broadcaster posted an update on social media on Sunday afternoon, sharing a picture from his hospital bed in which he gave a thumbs up. The post, published on both X and Instagram, also included an X-ray scan image showing the fracture. According to the update, Mr Morgan tripped on a small step whilst dining out in London, leading to the injury that required surgical intervention. He described his new year as being “off to a cracking start” in the post,…

Pet owners who vape indoors are putting their animals at risk of serious health problems including respiratory issues and cancer, veterinary experts have warned. A study published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice reviewed over 300 cases of dogs exposed to e-liquids and vape devices between 2011 and 2024. While many pets developed mild symptoms, some suffered severe poisoning, with at least one fatal case recorded. Catherine Burke, a PDSA veterinary surgeon, said: “We have always warned about the effects of secondhand smoke on pets. On humans it has been linked to breathing problems and certain types of cancer…

A ban on junk food advertising before 9pm on television and at all times online came into force on Monday, in a move the government says could remove up to 7.2 billion calories from UK children’s diets annually. The restrictions target foods high in fat, salt and sugar across 13 categories, including soft drinks with added sugar, savoury snacks, breakfast cereals, chocolates, ice cream, cakes, biscuits and pizzas. Health officials estimate the measures could prevent around 20,000 children from living with obesity, with long-term health benefits valued at approximately £2 billion. Minister for Health Ashley Dalton stated: “By restricting adverts…

Passengers across London face significant disruption this weekend as two Tube lines, two Overground lines, and sections of the DLR and Elizabeth line are set to close for maintenance work. The closures, scheduled for January 10 and 11, will affect travel in Newham, Camden, Westminster, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Islington, and areas between Hillingdon and Maidenhead. The Elizabeth line will have no service between West Drayton and Maidenhead until 8.45am on Sunday, January 11, due to Network Rail maintenance work. Passengers have been encouraged to use Tube services or local and replacement bus routes. On the Windrush line, trains will not…

Personal data belonging to as many as 100,000 households may have been exposed following a cyber attack on one of London’s wealthiest boroughs. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea confirmed this week that unauthorised access to its systems occurred in late November 2025, with data copied and removed with criminal intent. Council leader Elizabeth Campbell described the breach as serious and stated the authority informed residents as soon as it became clear data had been copied and removed from their systems. Early analysis suggests the stolen information may include personal and sensitive details, though officials cautioned that a full…