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Despite the government advising Londoners to avoid unesessary social contact, an East London Mosque and London Muslim Centre spokesperson confirmed today that it is open to the public. The holy call to prayer will continue to fill the halls of London’s busiest mosque this morning, as it has done since it opened in 1985. On a normal day, some 10,000 worshipers from all over East London attend the Whitechapel site across five daily prayers.

Supermarkets are expecting to get police support to deter unruly behaviour if London goes into lockdown because of the coronavirus. According to Reuters, retailers are concerned that panic buying could spike if further restrictions are imposed. On Thursday, there were frenzied scenes in some stores as shoppers sought to buy bottled water, tinned goods and toilet roll. Environment Secretary George Eustace had told the Commons there was "significant resilience in our food supply chain" and no shortage of food. "There isn't a shortage of food, the challenge that we've had is getting food to shelves in time when people have...

As the novel coronavirus rapidly spread worldwide and concern continues to grow, a number of international sporting events have been impacted, including several professional running events. One of the first major events to see a shift in schedule was the Tokyo Marathon at the beginning of March; the marathon was only held for the elites, and the non-elite runners were given entry to the 2021 race. With the global crisis becoming more dire, race organizers have proactively started to reschedule or altogether cancel races set to take place in the next few weeks, due to the uncertainty of the virus’s...

WASHINGTON - A U.S. customs inspector praised for keeping the 20th hijacker in the 9/11 plot from getting into the country told Congress yesterday that the "hostile" Saudi gave him the creeps and vowed, "I'll be back." Jose Melendez-Perez told the 9/11 Commission, the panel probing the attacks on America, that he was spooked enough by the man identified only as "Al-Qahtani" to put him on a plane out of Orlando after he arrived in the U.S. from London and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with a one-way ticket and $2,800 in cash. Al-Qahtani was dressed head-to-toe in black when he...

British police say they have shot dead a man who was brandishing two knives near Trafalgar Square in central London. The Metropolitan Police force said Monday that the shooting wasn't terror-related.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan was challenged on live TV as he claimed there is “no risk” of catching the deadly coronavirus from joining the millions who ride the city’s packed trains and buses. “It’s very important that we don’t spread panic or alarm based on misinformation,” Khan said on “Good Morning Britain” Tuesday when asked about the assumed “obvious risk factor” of public transport. “There is no risk in using the Tube or buses or other forms of public transport,” he said, noting there are 5 million journeys each day on the underground system along with 6 million on buses....

Police are hunting four men after an Asian student was battered by racists saying they ‘don’t want your coronavirus’. Jonathan Mok, 23, was punched and kicked by a group of three or four men and a woman as he walked along Oxford Street last Monday, February 24. The Singaporean, who has lived in London for two years while studying at UCL, was allegedly taunted: ‘I don’t want your coronavirus in my country.’ Scotland Yard has released images of four men they wish to speak to in connection with the ‘racially aggravated’ incident. Detective Sergeant Emma Kirby said: ‘This attack left...

London will host what is being billed as the "world’s first" and transgender Muslim pride event this spring. A crowdfunding campaign raised nearly $20,000 to hold “Imaanfest: Muslim Pride" on April 11 to celebrate gay and transgender members of the Muslim community. The event will be held indoors and feature speakers, films, and an exhibition of Muslim gay and transgender history.

The latest terrorist attacks in England illustrate the inadequacy of conventional law enforcement and criminology for dealing with ideologically-driven violence. Rehabilitation programs and criminal justice approaches that might work with thieves, muggers or even some murderers have proven spectacular failures when it comes to Islamists. In spite of many attempts, no one has figured out how to rehabilitate jihadis such as Sudesh Amman, the Streatham stabber, or Usman Khan, the London Bridge stabber, or the three London Bridge stabbers before that. With apologies to comedian Ron White, you can’t fix jihad. To be precise, I’m referring not to what Islamic...

One of President Trump’s outspoken supporters in Congress has still been unable to reach him to discuss “earth-shattering” information shared by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange six months ago in London. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., met with Assange in Ecuador's British Embassy in August and said afterward that Assange can prove Russia didn't hack Democratic emails during the 2016 election, as U.S. spy agencies allege. But Rohrabacher has been blown off repeatedly, and despite months of effort hasn't been able to arrange a meeting or phone call with Trump. "I suspect it’s partly because of the number that’s been done on...

A Chinese woman took an Uber to a London hospital and tested positive for COVID-19, prompting fears about whether she spread the virus, according to a report. The patient opted to take the ride-sharing service Sunday to Lewisham Hospital, where she underwent tests for the new coronavirus, Sky News reported. She was diagnosed with the virus Wednesday and transferred to Guys and St. Thomas Hospital, the report said.

A council in Newham, a borough of London, England, has announced its plans to host a series of Drag Queen Story Times for preschoolers in the community. According to Infowars, however, Newham has a bustling population of Muslims, who vehemently and vocally oppose all expressions of homosexuality and gender confusion. This should go over well. “The first of our Drag Queen Story Times for under 5s & their parents & carers at @NewhamLibraries this #LGBTHM20 is on Friday,” Newham Council said in a tweet earlier this week. “Come & listen to fabulous stories, beautifully told.”

An Uber driver described as a “pathetic little man” by his own barrister planned to drive a van into an ‘evil’ Gay Pride parade to kill non-Muslims, a court has heard. Mohiussunnath Chowdhury, 28, also singled out Madam Tussauds and a double decker tourist bus as targets, Woolwich Crown Court heard. It was part of his plan to “unleash death and suffering on non-Muslim members of the public,” it is claimed. Jurors heard Chowdhury was cleared of preparing to commit an act of terrorism by an Old Bailey jury in December 2018. He is now standing trial for engaging in...

LONDON — The mayor of London accused the government on Monday of failing to give judges the tools they need to keep people who pose terrorist threats in prison, a day after a man who had recently been released went on a stabbing rampage in South London. The attacker, who wounded three people on Sunday before being shot and killed by the police, was identified by the police as Sudesh Amman, a 20-year-old from London who was jailed in 2018 for terrorism-related offenses. He was sentenced to more than three years in prison, but his early release came automatically, in...

Dry January might just have to be put on hold. Because an ATM has popped up in Monument and is currently doling out free prosecco to passers-by. It’s in celebration of the launch of a new branch from London wine bar group Vagabond, and as such, it’s being called a ‘Vagabank’. Since Vagabond Monument is opening inside a former Santander Bank in the City, the Vagabank will be taking up position in the space where a real ATM once lived. But instead of dispensing cash, this fancy machine will be handing customers a glass of the sparkling stuff. There seem...

Baghdad? Tehran? No, Maida Vale, London. They miss #Soleimani so very much. Proper Londoners, Khan-style.

A 60-year-old man stabbed to death in south London last night has become the capital’s 145th murder victim this year. A 50-year-old was arrested at the scene following the stabbing but was taken ill in custody and transferred to hospital where he is stable. The attack happened at 9:30 pm on Monday night in Thornton Heath, south London; and the victim, whose relatives have been informed, was found in the street. Officers are appealing for any witnesses to come forward to help the investigation. […] Youth workers, police and prosecutors say that witnesses are unwilling to give evidence because they...

16-year-old who admitted to targeting two women in shocking homophobic attack in London bus gets no jail time One of the teens involved in a shocking homophobic attack in a London bus earlier this year will not receive jail time, a judge has decided. The 16-year-old, whose name hasn’t been disclosed because of his age, received an eight-month youth referral order — which was increased from six months because of the “homophobic” nature of the attack.

The greatest masterpiece by one of Britain's true artistic geniuses, is to be projected onto the dome of St Paul's Cathedral, fulfilling his dream 200 years after his death. William Blake, who died in 1827, described the painting Ancient of Days as "the best I have ever finished". The artist and poet, whose talents were not fully appreciated while he was alive, had professed to wanting to see his work adorn the walls of churches and buildings.

Here's what you should know ahead of Saturday's competition. Didn't a global pageant just happen? Yes. But that was Miss Universe, a competitor pageant that was founded years after Miss World by a swimsuit company (hence the swimsuit competition). Miss World is one of the four major global beauty pageants, and the oldest, the organization says, at almost 70 years old. Miss World delegates from 111 countries spend a month in London competing in events like "Sport," "Talent" and "Beauty with a Purpose" to secure their spot in the televised finale. Miss Universe lasts only a few days.