London

Landlords excuse: building has been lived in extensively, and needs a multimillion pound refurbishment. Building was completely refurbished in 2017.

150 people served with section 21 eviction notices.

Update: There's now a petition you can sign to counter this predatory landlord behaviour: https://chng.it/P2j7yj2xM4

About time.

Glass cases house beautifully displayed arm-candy at the latest new entry on a reviving Oxford Street in central London.

This is not a designer handbag purveyor but a store dedicated to Ikea’s signature bright blue Frakta carrier bag – a pop-up shop paving the way for the home furnishing retailer’s delayed move into a larger store on-site, which is due to open next year.

Filled with quirky social-media-friendly gimmicks including a service button to call up blue candy floss from a curtained window and a blue mirrored room intended to mimic entering a Frakta bag, the small shop has opened after construction issues prompted delays to the main store. Ikea had originally hoped to open the larger store last autumn, but building work was delayed by problems including water leaking into the basement.

The US Embassy in London was put into lockdown as police carried out a controlled explosion on a “hoax device”.

The embassy posted a statement on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday morning saying authorities were investigating a suspicious package outside the complex in Nine Elms.

A cordon was put in place sealing off the building.

The Met Police confirmed it had carried out the explosion after a loud bang was heard in the area.

It later said in a statement on X shortly before 1pm: “Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down.”

(in mini europe, brussels)