Author: Blake Foster

Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) is one of the world’s leading intelligence, cyber and security agencies. Each year the agency releases a Christmas challenge, in the form of a card, which consists of a series of “fiendish” brainteasers and puzzles, designed by experts and codebreakers at GCHQ. Last year’s Christmas card was downloaded more than 138,000 times by schools and members of the public from across the UK and Northern Ireland. 🎄 The #GCHQChristmasChallenge is here!Take part, get solving, and uncover the Festive message.🔗 https://t.co/2V1T908Uuy pic.twitter.com/SZSaO8EvFS — GCHQ (@GCHQ) December 11, 2024 GCHQ Christmas Challenge 2024 On Wednesday (December 11), GCHQ released its 2024 Christmas Challenge…

The comments come after the authority decided to sell three council-owned car parks in October to address a £27 million budget gap predicted for next year. Council officers said the car parks based on Abery Street, Old Dover Road and Charlton Village were not well used and the land they were on could be attractive for property developers. Conservative Councillor Matt Hartley said at a Greenwich Council meeting on December 4 that local businesses and residents were concerned about the effect the sale of such car parks would have on their areas. Cllr Hartley said: “I spoke to Keith and…

Harley Firminger, 30, and her son Elliott Hole decided to give back to the local children’s hospitals by dropping off hundreds of gifts and advent calendars to keep sick kids entertained.  The mum-of-four from Orpington, Kent, first started bringing advent calendars to local hospitals last year after seeing a friend do the same.  This year, she decided to go up a level and set up an Amazon Wishlist for members of the community to buy gifts of – which ended up with 346 items purchased.  Then, helped by her family including children Bligh, seven, Louis, two, Sadie, nine months, and…

Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed that the 118 bus route, which runs from Morden to Brixton, will be withdrawn from February 2025. The decision follows a public consultation held between September 2 and October 13, 2024, which proposed changes to bus routes 45, 59, and 118. TfL consultation report states: “The proposals aimed to simplify the bus network between Streatham, Brixton and Camberwell”. During the consultation, TfL asked: “How would the proposed changes to routes 45, 59, and 118 impact you?” Of the 530 respondents specifically addressing route 118, 248 said they would be negatively affected if it were…

Starting from December 15, Southeastern will be launching a new timetable with an additional 220 services added every week to certain lines running through Kent and London. Customers are being advised to check routes before travelling in December, as the timetable undergoes adjustments while the services are being implemented. Among the changes, 12 Cannon Street services will be added at peak times on the Woolwich and Sidcup lines, along with additional trains which will run between London Victoria and Orpington. Woolwich line 12 additional Cannon Street Rounder services will run via Greenwich and Sidcup in both directions during morning and…

Love Empire Limited, previously trading as Private Shop and located on Bourne Road, submitted the application to Bexley Council on December 4. The shop, located at 14 Bourne Road, Bexley, is seeking the renewal of its sex establishment licence under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. The establishment operates from 9am to 8pm Monday to Saturday, extending to 9pm on Fridays. The application is open for public inspection at the Licensing Department of Sevenoaks District Council, located on Argyle Road, Sevenoaks. Anyone wishing to object to the application must submit their objections in writing to the council offices or…

He remains one of the 20th century’s biggest musical icons and in 2025, the King of Rock and Roll ‘Elvis Presley’ would have turned 90!   His musical and cultural legacy cannot be underestimated, despite it being almost 50 years since his death, and now, Elvis Presley’s legendary journey is coming to life in Elvis Evolution in London. Using state-of-the-art AI, virtual reality and holographic technology, this immersive journey documents his career and charisma and is a ground-breaking way to witness the King throughout the decades as if you were actually there. Just Go Holidays are offering a two-day break next…

Romford’s MP Andrew Rosindell visited the acute stroke unit wards and neuro-radiology service to see how Queen’s was now coping. It is running a 24-hour thrombectomy service seven days a week until January, covering a population of almost nine million people. “I saw at first hand the stroke care service,” the MP said. “It was impressive to see how Queen’s has changed its thrombectomy service to provide life-saving operations for so many people.” The hospital in Rom Valley Way, Romford, is one of eight designated hyper unit centres across London able to provide specialist treatment that can also take on the…

The Irish actor starred in the original cult classic movie all the way back in 2002, leaving many hoping for his return. The upcoming release from director Danny Boyle is the third instalment in the series and takes a look at Britain 28 years after the outbreak of the deadly Rage Virus. The new movie stars actors like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, and Ralph Fiennes. It was written by Civil War and Ex Machina director Alex Garland. Cillian Murphy ‘spotted’ in 28 Years Later trailer by fans Taking to social media, fans of the franchise were convinced that they had seen the actor. However, if eagle-eyed…

The CEO Lounge was set to open in the unit previously occupied by the fast food restaurant Mazee’s Place in New Road, Dagenham, at the end of November. However, its launch was forced to be postponed due to “police concerns” in relation to its premises licence application – which included selling alcohol until 2.30am from Thursday to Sunday. Representations published ahead of a Barking and Dagenham Council licensing sub-committee meeting next Tuesday (December 17) reveal that the Met Police fear the venue will promote “irresponsible drinking”, potentially leading to “severe intoxication levels” and “criminal offences”. In a letter to the council’s…