Jacqui Merrington

A weekly London commuter reviews Otherwander, a Japanese-style pod hotel in Soho, after booking a £65 capsule bed through Booking.com. The compact but well-equipped pod offers adjustable lighting and temperature, fresh air, charging points and comfortable bedding, while shared bathrooms provide rain showers and toiletries. The writer praises the hotel’s cleanliness, quietness, affordability and excellent sleep, despite the limited space. CEO Fredrik Korallus says the concept is designed to make central London accommodation more accessible, with expansion planned in London and potentially New York, Edinburgh and Amsterdam.

LGBTQ+ Pride organisers in the UK and Germany said the Berlin vehicle attack, which killed one person and injured up to 29, underscored why Pride remains necessary as a movement for visibility, safety and solidarity. Folkestone, Newcastle and Brighton Pride, along with Ella’s global community, expressed condolences and support for those affected, while vigils were held in Berlin and Newcastle. German chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Pride participants not to be intimidated. Authorities identified the suspect as Abdul B.; Berlin Police later said he had been shot dead on the outskirts of the city.

Jamie Chappell, 25, is critically ill after allegedly being stabbed in the head with a screwdriver at a building site in Purton near Swindon. His family says he is undergoing life-saving treatment at Southmead Hospital in Bristol and has thanked construction workers, emergency responders and the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance crew. James Denys, 36, has been charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm, remanded in custody and scheduled to appear at Swindon Crown Court; another man arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender was released on bail.

Residents of Bourton-on-the-Water say heavy tourism has overwhelmed the Cotswold village, with visitor numbers estimated at 5,000 to 10,000 a day compared with a resident population of about 4,000. They report congestion, illegal coach parking, litter, public urination, damage to Cotswold stone walls and tourists bringing picnics rather than supporting local businesses. A survey found that more than 90 per cent of 202 residents viewed current tourism levels as unsustainable and harmful to their quality of life. Gloucestershire County Council has launched a consultation on transport and parking, but residents’ representatives are calling for immediate enforcement and practical measures to protect the village.

A Google AI Overview provided Ann Widdecombe’s full home address and directions after a reporter searched for it, taking only nine seconds. The disclosure appeared to violate Google’s stated policy against showing sensitive personal information such as home addresses, prompting the company to investigate and subsequently remove the result. The incident occurred after Widdecombe was found dead at her Dartmoor home, leading first to a murder investigation and later to a terrorism investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing. Her death has also intensified concerns about the security of MPs, with Reform UK alleging that its representatives were insufficiently protected and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood offering Nigel Farage a meeting on the issue.

Counterterrorism detectives have taken over the investigation into the death of former MP Ann Widdecombe after new information and evidence emerged. A 28-year-old man arrested in Rotherham was rearrested on suspicion of terrorism-related offences after allegedly travelling roughly 430km from the area where he was seen on CCTV to Widdecombe’s Devon home. Police are investigating multiple possible motives, while the Home Secretary said the suspect was not known to the Prevent programme and that new security guidance for MPs and former MPs would be considered. Friends and parliamentary figures paid tribute to Widdecombe, while Nigel Farage faced criticism for speculating about the killing and allegedly using it for political purposes.

Ann Widdecombe, the former Conservative MP, prisons minister and Reform UK politician, lived a secluded life in Haytor Vale on Dartmoor after moving there in 2008. Neighbours described her as distant and politically divisive, although some recalled her humour and politeness. Her death at home, reportedly involving a head injury, prompted a murder inquiry by Devon and Cornwall Police; a 26-year-old man was arrested and later released. Tributes came from across the political spectrum, including Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch, while former Strictly Come Dancing partner Anton du Beke remembered her as a close friend.

A 26-year-old British man has been arrested in Newton Abbot on suspicion of murdering former Conservative minister, Brexit Party MEP and Reform UK spokesperson Ann Widdecombe at her home in Haytor, Devon. Police say the investigation is at an early stage and have not determined whether the killing was politically motivated or whether Widdecombe knew the suspect; it is not being treated as terrorism. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, friends and local residents expressed shock and urged anyone with information to contact investigators. The case has renewed attention on political violence following the murders of MPs David Amess and Jo Cox.