Notting Hill Carnival has returned to west London for its 60th anniversary, with portable walk through metal detectors among the heightened security measures introduced across the event. More than 7,000 officers were deployed, alongside stop and search powers, live facial recognition and additional stewarding, as organisers and police sought to improve safety at one of London’s biggest cultural celebrations.

Bonnie Blue, whose real name is Tia Billinger, has announced the arrival of her first child after months of pregnancy speculation, including a previous fake pregnancy stunt. The 27-year-old adult content creator shared footage documenting her pregnancy and birth, while her representative confirmed she had given birth and was doing well following the delivery.

Laurie-Anne Power KC has reflected on being turned away from school as an 11-year-old for wearing a Rastafarian head wrap, before becoming a criminal barrister and one of the UK’s pioneering Black female silks. Her journey from East London to the top of the legal profession has been shaped by resilience, ambition and determination to challenge inequality.

Tom Hardy has surprised fans by unveiling an unexpected new creative venture, revealing that he has released a rap project under a mysterious stage name. The 48-year-old British actor, best known for roles in Venom, The Dark Knight Rises, and MobLand, has entered the music scene under the alias Frankie Pulitzer.

A shopper has been praised after confronting an armed man inside a north London convenience store, wrestling with him as three shots were fired during the terrifying confrontation. CCTV captured the struggle in Wood Green, where the intended target managed to turn the weapon away, narrowly avoiding serious injury before the gunman eventually escaped.

More than 37,000 emails have reportedly been sent to cinema chains as campaigners call for Sacha Baron Cohen’s Ali G film to be pulled, accusing the character of reinforcing racist stereotypes. The backlash has reignited a debate over whether the controversial character satirises prejudice or simply reproduces the culture and stereotypes it claims to mock.