the photo exhibition aims to break the world record

The Old Truman Brewery is attempting to break a world record by exhibiting photos from every country on earth, collected in just 80 days. The exhibition, aptly named around the world in 80 days, seeks to collect holiday snaps and professional photos from all 198 countries of the globe before Sunday 5 September in order to break the world record attempt.

A world class panel of judges are getting ready to announce 1 winner from each continent on 10th September, but you can see the current selection of photos at the Brewery from this weekend.

The judging pane includes celebrity photographer Manfred Bauman; Pros and authors David Noton and Annabel Williams plus the UK’s top photography magazine Editor, Damien Demolder,

Photo: Mykl Roventine @ flickr

A man who sued a series of London councils – including Hackney, Lewisham and Tower Hamlets – for compensation after injuring himself falling over on pavements is to appear in court on fraud charges.

Nathan Williams, 38, of Soho, is said to have attempted to obtain money by deception from eight different authorities between 2007 and 2008.

He claimed to have suffered a range of injuries as a result of council negligence during the eight month period, including broken bones, fractures and a bruised testicle.

But following an inquiry conducted by police and several authorities, Williams has been charged with eight counts of fraud.

City of Westminster Magistrates’s Court heard that  Williams’ first compensation claim followed a fall on a broken pavement in Boleyn Road, Hackney. Nine months after the incident itself, he complained of an injured hand and foot.

During spring and summer 2008, Williams then proceeded to claim accidents on seven other occasions in different locations around the city.

The rapid succession of claims included attempts to obtain money from Haringey, Westminster, Wandsworth and Southwark councils.

His final fall, supposedly caused by ‘raised ironwork’ in Woolwich Road, Greenwich, took place just one day after another claim in Tower Hamlets.

He has been remanded in custody and will appear in court again on 1 September.

Brooke House Sixth Form College, Hackney

Whilst most schools were spending the last few days anxious about today’s A level results, Brooke House Sixth Form College in Hackney is one that can afford to be a little relaxed – it has now been classed as one of the two best sixth form colleges in England for improving the performance of pupils. (more…)

Photo: xelcise @ flickr

Sports enthusiasts in East London are to benefit from a major new development project that will see eight new cricket grounds being built on Hackney Marshes.

The facilities, which are set to open next summer, will include seven artificial cricket pitches and three fine turf squares.

They form part of a significant investment scheme by Hackney Council, but have been made possible by a grant from the England and Wales Cricket Board.

The authority’s plans will improve cricket facilities as part of a longer list of sports available at the Marshes, including rugby and seasonal athletics.

The area is perhaps best known for its 73 full-size football pitches – the highest concentration of such facilities in Europe.

A new Hackney Marshes Centre will also be built, providing changing rooms, refreshment areas and classrooms.

The new grounds will also benefit from improved transport connections, with a new bridge planned between South and East Marsh, and the reopening of North Marsh’s Cow Bridge.

Guy Nicholson, a Cabinet Member at Hackney Council, said: “This is a key part of the Council’s investment programme which is using the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as an opportunity to give our residents world-class sports facilities alongside the new venues being built at the Olympic Park.”

“Next summer there will be five artificial cricket pitches available for cricket enthusiasts on North Marsh, and by summer 2012, the additional three fine turf squares will be in use, bringing the total up to eight for use during the cricket season.”

“With the building of changing rooms and a pavilion nearby, this really will become the home of cricket in East London.”

Bruce Cruse, of the England and Wales Cricket Board, added: “The ECB is pleased to invest in this worthy project and to give a boost to grass roots facility development.”

“It has been planned to input new impetus into the playing future of the local community. I am confident that as the investment matures cricket locally will go from strength to strength.”

Eveline Kelmenson was found dead on New Year's Day 2009.

A man has appeared in court charged with the manslaughter of an elderly woman who was found dead in Stamford Hill early last year, having been bound with duct tape after a robbery.

Kuba Dlugosz, 32, a Polish national of no fixed abode, appeared at Havering Magistrates Court last Wednesday, charged with the death of Eveline Kelmenson. He also faces charges of burglary.

The body of Miss Kelmenson, 83, was discovered at her home in Leweston Place on New Year’s Day 2009. Her legs had been bound with tape, and she was later found to have died of hypothermia.

A strictly Orthodox Jewish woman who never married and had lived alone since the death of her sister in 2007, Miss Kelmenson was robbed of a gold necklace and ring – the latter a family heirloom.

Police forced their way into the three-storey house on 1 January after a niece raised concern.

At the time, neighbours recalled that Miss Kelmenson, who was also known to family and friends as Lina, had complained that she had previously been the target of thieves, but said they had not acted on her comments.

“She was a really nice old lady and we are very shocked about it,” one added.

Dlugosz is due to reappear in court in November.

Gulistan Subasi was murdered earlier this year.

A 16-year-old has appeared in court, charged with the murder of a young Turkish mother in Hackney earlier this year.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies shooting 26-year-old Gulistan Subasi at her home in Homerton.

Subasi was shot in the chest at close range at around 8:30pm on 22 March, after answering the door at her mother’s flat off Kingsmead Way.

The youth, from Willesden, appeared at the Old Bailey today via video link, pleading not guilty to a single charge of murder.

The accused will stand trial in December, alongside alleged accomplice 24-year-old Izak Billy from Kensal Green, who has not entered a plea.

Proceedings are expected to last for two weeks.

Photo: Ian Britton

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a 19-year-old was shot in Hackney on Saturday.

The young man had been walking home from college along Powell Road, Lower Clapton, at around 4:15pm when he was attacked.

A group of three males, also teenagers, shot him, before fleeing the scene.

The victim was taken to hospital, where he remains in a stable condition.

Police investigators are appealing for any information on the incident, and have issued a description of the suspects involved.

The three are described as black males, in their late teens, and were wearing dark clothing.

If you saw the suspects running away from the area, or have any further information about this incident, you can call Operation Trident on 020 8217 7366 – or, for anonymity, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Middlesex Filter Beds. Photo: LoopZilla @ flickr

A new project aimed at getting East Londoners interested in wildlife will be launched by conservation activists and local parks authorities this week.

The Wild Place Your Space initiative aims to foster social inclusion and environmental awareness by introducing ‘under-represented’ groups – such as ethnic minorities, the disabled and those on low incomes – to local nature reserves, including Hackney’s Middlesex Filter Beds and the East India Dock Basin in Tower Hamlets.

Focused on the valley of the river Lee, the Heritage Lottery funded project will include a total of six sites. Local people will be invited to participate in various events, including ‘tailored activities’ and educational projects such as workshops in bat box building and wildlife photography.

Organisers Lee Valley Regional Park Authority and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds say their aim is ‘to breach the modern boundaries separating local people from the natural world.’

It is hoped that the project will ‘introduce people to the rich variety of plants, animals and insects’ found in the area.

The scheme also aims to offer volunteering opportunities to around 250 people, including ‘practical conservation opportunities’ such as cutting reeds, creating a wildlife demonstration garden and planting a wildflower meadow.

The project’s launch will take place on Thursday (29 July), at the WaterWorks Nature Reserve in Waltham Forest, E10, with the unveiling of a replica Saxon canoe, based on a relic originally found in Hackney’s Springfield Park.

For more information, visit the Wild Place Your Space website.

The two suspects during the robbery at Shoreditch Food and Wine. Photo: Metropolitan Police

Detectives investigating an armed robbery at a Hackney convenience store have released CCTV images of the suspects in the hope that they may be identified.

The Finchley Flying Squad have made the pictures public as part of their investigation into the incident, which happened in Shoreditch in February.

Police were called to Shoreditch Food and Wine at 43 Hackney Road, E2, at 02:10 on the morning of 17 February.

They heard that a man entered the shop with a firearm, threatened staff and demanded money.

A second man then came into the shop and took money from the till. Both men then escaped the scene on a motorbike. No shots were fired and nobody was injured.

The two wore helmets throughout the robbery.

The first suspect is described as black, wearing a black puffa-style jacket, blue jeans, black gloves and a black helmet, and carrying a black self-loading pistol.

The second suspect is described as black, wearing a blue puffa-style jacket, blue jeans, black gloves and a black and silver ‘Ariel’ helmet.

It is believed that the crime may be connected to another armed convenience store raid in Green Lanes, Haringey, a short while earlier, during which a shop worker was shot in the neck.

DC Dawn Bolitho, of Finchley Flying Squad, said: “The victim of the initial robbery was extremely lucky to escape with his life after being shot in the neck at close range.”

“The willingness of the suspects to use violence as a means to an end illustrates their callous nature and makes it imperative we identify them and hold them responsible for their actions.”

“I would urgently appeal to any witnesses of either incident or anyone who believes they may recognise the individuals in the images to contact police.”

If you have any information, you can call Finchley Flying Squad on 020 8358 1751 – or, for anonymity, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

PCs Robert Johnston, Allan Robinson and Lee Honey with the rescued bikes. Photo: EastLondonLines

A number of bikes were recovered by the new Police Cycle Task Force today in Redchurch Street, after being found on a derelict site.

The police were unable to say whether they were stolen and are waiting to see if they can identify the owners to clarify the situation.

The three policemen sent out to investigate the discarded bikes form part of the new Cycle Task Force, which hit the streets of London on 7 June 2010.

PC Robert Johnston, who is a member of the new team, said: “We are the bike experts. We have come down to identify bikes. We look at frame numbers [...] and security markings with the aim of identifying the owners and the victims of crime, to help us prosecute thieves.”

Police recovered a number of abandoned bicycles from this site in Redchurch Street. Photo: Benjamin Hoyte.

All bicycles have an individual frame number which identifies them. The police are urging cyclists to make a note of their frame number so that if their bike is stolen, they have a reference to give the police.

Frame numbers are recorded in a police database which helps the Cycle Task Force return stolen goods to their owners.

PC Johnston urged people to register bikes and other valuable items online at immobilise.com, which is a free online register service. This is checked regularly by UK police forces as well as recovery agencies and lost property offices.