Your trusted source for local London, UK news, updated daily with the most important stories from your community.
A woman was sentenced to 11 years and eight months for laundering billions in stolen cryptocurrency from Chinese pensioners. Qian Zhimin, who fled China and lived in a luxury London mansion, embezzled funds from over 100,000 investors while falsely claiming to develop health tech and mine Bitcoin. Police seized tens of thousands of Bitcoin from her property, marking one of the largest crypto seizures in UK history.
Evelina London Children's Hospital, the first new children's hospital in over a century, serves about 100,000 young patients annually. Medical advancements, such as the EOS imaging machine that reduces radiation exposure by up to 90%, enhance care for children like 15-year-old Bobbi. Dr. Sara Hanna emphasizes the importance of supporting both the child and their family throughout treatment.
A group of MPs, led by Labour's David Taylor, demands the relocation of 15 Gentoo penguins from the Sea Life London Aquarium, arguing that their captivity is "un-British." The campaign, supported by over 37,000 petition signatures, calls for better facilities aligned with the penguins' needs. Merlin Entertainments defends the aquarium, stating that the penguins' enclosure reflects their natural habitat.
Residents of The Fold in Croydon, facing severe water damage and fire safety issues, demand council support for compensation from building owner Legal & General. Despite the building's completion in 2022, issues persist, leading to a mass exodus and current low occupancy rates. L&G has offered some compensation but residents seek more substantial assistance as they prepare to relocate.
Surrealist artist Henry Orlik feels violated after losing dozens of his artworks following his eviction from his London flat in 2022. Now living in Swindon, he has offered a £50,000 reward for their return, as the missing pieces represent years of his artistic life. Orlik's recent exhibitions have sold for over £2 million, highlighting his resurgence in the art world.
A north London family seeks a tutor for their one-year-old son, offering £180,000 annually to instill British cultural traits. The family aims to avoid the "cultural bias" they observed in their older child, believing early tutelage will pave the way for their son's success. Critics argue that such an approach is unrealistic and overly idealistic.
Leaked documents reveal that a London mental health unit failed to address self-harm risks following the death of Alice Figueiredo. Just four months after her tragic death, another patient attempted self-harm using similar methods, raising concerns about inadequate safety measures and reporting practices. Mental health advocates criticize the unit's lack of timely action to protect patients.
London faces a severe housing crisis, with record homelessness and skyrocketing prices driving families out of the city. Economic analysis shows that London's stagnant growth since 2008 is primarily due to high housing costs, limiting its attractiveness for skilled labor. This localized issue has evolved into a national concern affecting the UK economy.
Harrow Council plans to sue the Mayor of London and the Met Police over the closure of front counters at police stations, including Pinner Police Station. Council leader Paul Osborn criticized the decision as "short-sighted," arguing it denies residents vital access to policing services. The Met Police maintains that these counters do not significantly enhance public safety.
A teenager, Areece Lloyd-Hall, received a 16-year detention sentence for murdering 16-year-old Harry Pitman during a New Year's Eve fireworks event in north London. Lloyd-Hall stabbed Pitman in the neck after a brief altercation, demonstrating the dangers of knife possession among youth. The judge emphasized the senselessness of the act and its devastating impact on Pitman's family.