London desk

Filed from the London desk — including multi-city pieces that also ran elsewhere.

Entertainment · 26 September 2026

Warner’s New Heir Apparent: Val Blavatnik Takes the Helm While the Office Tea Stagnates

Celia Marsh, London desk

Warner Music Group has elevated 28‑year‑old Val Blavatnik, son of owner Len Blavatnik, to Managing Director of North America and the U.K., amid a cascade of other senior appointments.

Sports · 25 September 2026

Red Bull’s Practice Party, FA Cup’s Replay Rumble: A Day of Missteps on the Grid and the Pitch

Iris Quay, London desk

In Baku, Max Verstappen stole the spotlight from George Russell in a practice session riddled with drama, while a local FA Cup tie in Norfolk was set to be replayed after a referee’s blunder. Both incidents remind us t…

World · 25 September 2026

Macklemore to Open 'Free Palestine' Tour After Ed Sheeran's Unwilling Exit

Reginald Penny, London desk

Macklemore will begin a 'Free Palestine' tour in Dublin, Paris and London, with proceeds going to Palestinian charities, following an unexpected split with Ed Sheeran.

Entertainment · 25 September 2026

Stroke of Genius: Michael Kiwanuka’s Comeback Tour of Hospital Corridors and Recording Studios

Celia Marsh, London desk

Award‑winning singer Michael Kiwanuka, fresh from a severe stroke, is swapping hospital beds for recording booths, proving that a little brain‑damage can’t stop a good tune from humming. The London desk watches t…

Business · 24 September 2026

Britain’s Railways Under Assault: 25,000 Incidents, 5% of Passengers Now Carry Umbrellas for Self‑Protection

Iris Quay, London desk

A new report shows the number of recorded violent incidents on Britain’s rail services has climbed to almost 25,000, prompting unions to call for extra staff and policing.

Sports · 24 September 2026

Cardiff's Principality Stadium Prepares for the UK's Heaviest Show of 2024: Fury vs. Joshua

Tom Wick, London desk

On 11 December, Cardiff will host an all‑British heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, turning the Principality Stadium into a stage for a fight that could be as epic as a late‑night drama…

Sports · 24 September 2026

Russell’s Baku Blitz: First Practice Leaves City‑Spanners Wondering About Speed Limits

Iris Quay, London desk

In a first‑practice spectacle that could have been mistaken for a City briefing, George Russell set a blistering pace on Baku’s winding strip while Kimi Antonelli’s car stopped abruptly, leaving the Azerbaijan capi…

World · 24 September 2026

NHS Trust's Time‑Traveling Review: 4,500 Breast Cancer Cases Awaiting Their Second Chance

Reginald Penny, London desk

After a decade‑long series of missed appointments and unnecessary surgeries, a London NHS trust has announced it will review 4,500 breast‑cancer cases, promising to catch up on the delays with the same sense of urgen…

Finance · 24 September 2026

BoE Eyes Rate Hike as Energy Prices Play Hang‑On Game, Bond Market Takes a Breath

Iris Quay, London desk

Bank of England deputy governor warns that rising oil prices could force a rate hike, while bond markets stay on tenterhooks after a sharp sell‑off. The City’s financial gossip columners are already lining up for the…