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The Telegraph •

‘The Met Police is not institutionally anti-Semitic’

This week, Rishi Sunak refused to offer his backing to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner over the row that erupted after one of his officers threatened to arrest Gideon Falter, an “openly Jewish” man, for walking in central London during a pro-Palestinian protest. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley defended the Met sergeant at the centre of the row, arguing his conduct was “professional” and he would not be disciplined. Meanwhile, Suella Braverman, former home secretary, called for Sir Mark to
The Sunday Times •

Your morning coffee’s costing a third more. This is why it’s so expensive

On Britain’s high streets, there is a coffee shop on every corner and someone clutching a takeaway cup at every turn.

Yet new research shows ordinary coffees have shot up in price by almost a third at high street cafés — and there are signs the boom may have peaked.

The cost of a medium latte at the big high street chains rose by up to 30 per cent between 2021 and the start of this year, according to analysis by the global manufacturer UCC Coffee.

In 2021, a medium latte cost £2.75 at a Pret
The Sunday Times •

Child antidepressant prescriptions are nearing 500,000 a year

Nearly 500,000 antidepressant prescriptions are being given out to children each year, despite guidelines that say they should be used only in the most severe cases.

Experts said the figures revealed the scale of the mental health crisis among the young, with NHS services struggling to cope. Charities said many children were being given pills — despite the risk of side effects — because the waiting lists for psychological services were too long.

Prescriptions for under-18s in England have incr

13 trench coats we’re loving right now

If there's on style lesson to take away from New York Fashion Week, it's that there's a trench coat for every occasion. From the runway to the street, from dusk till dawn, NYFW’s designers and attendees have unanimously decided that it's the most versatile piece of outwear to sport this spring. Originally designed by Burberry as a raincoat for army officers in 1901, the World War One trench coat was double-breasted, tailored to the waist and flared to a below-the-knee hemline. The belt was equipped with D-rings for hooking accessories, the caped back allowed water to run off, the storm flap at the shoulder provided ventilation and the buttons at the neck helped protect the wearer from poisonous gas.
You Magazine •

Kylie is this year's Brits Global Icon — 7 of her best moments

Throughout the last five decades, international pop star Kylie Minogue has dominated our world. She has infiltrated our television screens, been blasted out on our radios and can even be found on our supermarket shelves.

The Brits are recognising her for her iconicity by awarding her the prestigious Brits Global Icon Award at this year’s ceremony on Saturday March 2, which is 'reserved for only truly exceptional artists'. Kylie will be amongst music legends including Taylor Swift, David Bowie and Sir Elton John to have received this award.
You Magazine •

How to achieve an ‘invisible kitchen’ à la Courteney Cox

There’s nothing like a celebrity’s house tour to get people talking. Drake recently showed off his £1 million mattress in a video on Instagram, Sofia Vergara told Architectural Digest she doesn’t know how to use her ‘magnificent’ La Cornue stove (‘I do not cook’), and Courteney Cox just offered her followers a glimpse at the minimalist kitchen in her Malibu home.

In contrast to the kitchen we’re most likely to associate the Friends actress with (Monica Geller’s kitchen was kitschy, with mismatched chairs and a chunky retro fridge), Courteney’s kitchen has an understated and clutter-free look. Invisible, so to speak.
SW Londoner •

Are pop-up shops revitalising the brick-and-mortar retail economy in London?

Pop-up shops are giving new leases of life to vacant retail shops on high streets and dormant units in railway stations in London.

According to a report carried out by Eclipse Group Solutions, the number of pop-up shops in the UK increased by 18% in 2023.

Some believe pop-up shops could be the answer to the declining traditional brick-and-mortar retail shop set-up, as we continue to see big retailers, such as Wilko and Debenhams, close their doors.

Former online vintage clothing business owne
SW Londoner •

Why some Londoners are dumping dating apps for singles supper clubs

Are singles supper clubs shaking up the London dating scene?

For over a decade, apps have dominated the landscape of modern romance, promising to match users based on algorithms and preferences.

But as the thrill of swiping gives way to a sense of online dating fatigue, London’s singles are now seeking new ways to find love in the city.

Many are over the ghosting, doom-swiping and hookup-centric atmosphere that dominates their dating app experiences.

Despite clinging onto the success stories
SW Londoner •

Meet Captain Quack: Twickenham’s very own nature watcher

For the past two decades, Captain Quack has borne witness to the ebb and flow of life along the majestic River Thames.

The explorer’s passion for getting outdoors and seeing the local wildlife has led him to document his unique perspective of his sightings on his X, formerly Twitter, account so that others can also experience it.

Nestled by Twickenham’s riverside for over 11 years, Captain Quack has become a local legend, sharing tales of his encounters with the river’s inhabitants, including
SW Londoner •

Fatal and serious cycling collisions in London up by a third

Fatal and serious cycling collisions increased by a third within five years, despite the Mayor promising to invest £770 million into making London a cycling-friendly city.

Serious and fatal cycling collisions reached their highest point in 2022 (the last completely recorded data year) since the public had access to TFL’s reported road safety data, with seven fatalities and more than a thousand serious collisions.

Vincent Stops, a former Hackney councillor and lead member for transport who work
SW Londoner •

The Veterans War

Alex Harrison, 36 from Lincolnshire, also served in the Grenadier Guards, which he joined when he was just 16 years old.

One early morning out on the ground, Alex was shot at point blank range in the head by a Taliban fighter waiting in an open door. The first round went through his helmet, then his temple, bounced off of the bottom of his eye socket and came out of his eye, causing instant blindness and ending his career on the ground.

“You know the only abroad holiday I’d ever gone on was to
SW Londoner •

WATCH: The return of the Colony Room Club, Soho's infamous arts and drinking den

After 15 years of its much-contested closure, The Colony Room Club has been meticulously recreated as “a love letter to London’s lost bohemia.”

Affectionately known as one of the “seediest spots in Britain,” the Colony Room Club was a breeding ground for some of the most internationally important artists and celebrities of its day, as well as young promising artists who drank alongside their contemporaries.

The art installation and immersive bar has been recreated by former member and Young Br
NE Londoner •

Tower Hamlets provides free school meals to all secondary school pupils

Tower Hamlets Council has exceeded expectations with the successful implementation of universal free school meals for all secondary school pupils ahead of schedule.

The initiative, launched in September, aimed for all secondary schools to incorporate the universal free school meal programme by January 2024.

All secondary schools in Tower Hamlets took on the scheme within six weeks of its launch.

Councillor Mohammed Maium Miah Talukdar, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and
Daily Mail •

Royal Mail is accused of 'destroying' the postal service

Royal Mail is accused of 'destroying' the postal service with one in four letters failing to arrive on time as the Christmas rush looms
• Daily Mail investigation found only 108 out of 140 letters posted arrived on time

Royal Mail has been criticised for 'destroying' the postal system – as an investigation found nearly one in four letters didn't arrive on time.

The nation's postal service was fined £5.6 million by Ofcom this week for missing its first and second-class delivery targets 'by a si
Daily Mail •

Top roles held by key members of extremist group which backed Hamas

Revealed: Top roles held by key members of extremist group which backed October 7 killers - including Hamas apologist who had job at nuclear plant
• None Probe found they have worked for major infrastructure firms, investment banks, the NHS and drug companies

Firebrand members of an extreme Islamic group that celebrated the Hamas terror attack on Israel work at the heart of UK industry, a Mail investigation has found.

A probe of senior members of extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir – including one
SW Londoner •

WATCH: How are London artists coping with the cost-of-living crisis?

Several artists shared their concerns about the cost-of-living crisis and its impact on their careers at the Battersea Affordable Art Fair.

Acme’s recent artist tenant survey found that only 12% of artists can support themselves financially through their art due to the cost-of-living crisis.

A loss of community due to national cuts in funding further threatens the existence of artists, prompting charitable organisations to step in and offer support.

Battersea Affordable Art Fair’s mission is
NE Londoner •

Dirty Laundry at Islington’s The Hen and Chicken Theatre Bar review: An airing out of society’s insanity

Fresh off the back of a month-long run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Meat and Two Veg returned to Islington with a three-night sold-out run of Dirty Laundry.

Dirty Laundry’s Cambridge Footlights alumni comedic trio, Maddie London, Robbie Boyd and Emily Symington, left no stone unturned when it came to dissecting the absurdities of modern UK society at The Hen and Chicken Theatre Bar.

Their hour-long sketch set was a unique blend of humour, political insight and satirical critique, taking a
SE Londoner •

Peckham Lido undeveloped despite over £63,000 raised for reopening

The Peckham Rye Common Lido remains undeveloped despite a crowdfunding page raising over £63,000 for a feasibility study in July 2016 for its reopening.

The money was raised by over 1,000 backers, including a pledge of £7,500 from the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and £10,000 from Southwark Council.

The feasibility study, a preliminary exploration of the rebuilding of Peckham’s lido, was published in April 2021 and demonstrated the project’s merits and viability.

A waiter at Peckham’s Mr. Bao
Daily Mail •

Oxford University's student union invited JSO to host freshers stall

Oxford University's student union invited Just Stop Oil to host a stall at this year's freshers' fair, the Mail can reveal today.

Daniel Knorr, 21, who stormed Lord's cricket ground during the second Ashes test match this summer, was pictured manning the stand and recruiting students to join the radical eco-protest group.

He also posted 17,000 JSO leaflets to Oxford students via their college cubby holes earlier this week.

It comes despite Education Secretary Gillian Keegan warning last month
Daily Mail •

Oxford students study in marquees and share bedrooms after Raac found

Oxford University students are being forced to study in marquees and share bedrooms after crumbling concrete was discovered at a college.

St Catherine's College was forced to close its library, dining hall and 152 bedrooms after discovering reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), which is prone to collapse.

The college, which was founded in 1962, has erected several marquees in the gardens to be used as a makeshift dining room, common room and study space.

An email sent to students on
SW Londoner •

Rugby player ran the entire London Underground for charity

A former rugby player ran the entire London Underground in 11 days last week in aid of a suicide prevention charity.

Jonny Davies, a 31-year-old from Balham, ran one of the 11 tube lines above ground every day, amassing 572 km, the equivalent of 13 marathons, over the course of the challenge.

In the process, Davies has raised over £22,000 for the charity CALM (Campaigning Against Living Miserably).

The atmosphere in parts of London over the weekend was electric, with several hundred supporter