The stats continue to astound: 1 in 6 women has been raped 2 women are murdered each week by a partner or ex-partner 98 percent of domestic violence goes unreported 50 percent of women seeking asylum in Britain are fleeing rape U.S. researchers estimate that only one third of women report rape by a stranger; that number declines to 13 percent when the rape is by an acquaintance. Perverse though the logic may be,......

Here’s what we learned this weekend, whilst you were drawing up your Christmas card lists (or crossing people off them): It’s been a bad weekend for London’s performers, with even the ROH being dissed, and one band getting the worst review this Londonista has ever seen. But it has been a great couple of days for pussy cats, with three of them being rescued from a derelict flat, and another being turned into a......

It’s funny what it takes to get the townsfolk riled. A few murders here and there, rampant drug abuse, the cost of living, the state of the world…. these are met with little rumbles of protest at best. No, if you really want to get those petitions signed and that drum banged, bring on the dancing girls. Seriously. (Actually, citizens have also been known to unite over shoddy refuse collection, but that too comes down......

Well Londonist has run two animal stories into one here, on account of not wanting to look like we’ve gone soft. And to keep all parties happy, there’s a doggy one, and a kitty one. Although the cat one is actually rather sad: the business of an abused and diseased kitten which was abandoned to die at a West London recycling depot gets us as full of passion and anger as the next daft, animal-mad......

We have to thank reader David Roots for sending in this little gem. Chelsea Theatre hosts a mesmerising programme of classes for people with problems – from narcotics abuse to pecuniary difficulties. But can you spot the odd ones out? And what the hell is ‘monkey music’? With apologies to Chelsea Theatre for lifting this from their site – we’re checking in to ‘image pilferers anonymous’ tonight, to correct our vice.......

From the tallest skyscraper in the City of Brotherly Love to Canadian tourism copywriting brilliance, here's what you should know from our -ist cities: This week, Phillyist took a gleeful listen to the White Stripes' exciting new release, watched in awe as their new tallest skyscraper was finally completed, found a cheaper way to get to Gothamist, invented a tasty new dessert, and brought back their Craigslist Round-Up feature with a bang. Bostonist watches......

Swearing nuns, foot licking, testicular termination and altar sex; with nary a nay, a nonny or a not to be, Howard Brenton's In Extremis returns to the Globe following a much lauded 2006 run. Ostensibly the story of Abelard and Heloise, a sort of Middle Ages Romeo and Juliette with Popes, Breton's take rapidly thrusts us into the theological battleground of 12th century France. In the blue corner we have horny lothario, poet, composer,......

In this new late-licence era, it is no longer the final chime of midnight that signals clocking off time for magic and wonder: more often than not, it is 3am when the carriage turns into a pumpkin, the beautiful gown turns into a ragged velour tracksuit and the prince turns into a boorish squaddie on the lash. Yes, Clarence House, home to Prince Charles, his good lady wife Camilla and Princes William and Harry,......

What is more absurd than an oil company sponsoring a wildlife photography contest? Possibly someone destroying wildlife photography in order to protest an oil company sponsoring a wildlife photography contest. Protestors from the "Camp For Climate Action" smeared a substance resembling oil onto photographs displayed at London's Natural History Museum. The photos were finalists in the Wildlife Photographer Of The Year Competition, which was sponsored by multinational petrochemical company, Shell. So that's sort of......

We were going to write a long detailed explanation of why we're once again doing a weekly blog roundup and then realised that only a few days (and a few centuries) ago Samuel Pepys had done the job for us: (Lord’s day). Lay long in bed, and then up, and being desirous to perform my vowes that I lately made, among others, to be performed this month, I did go to my office, and......

Today is Australia Day. Tonight there will be a huge amount of drunken Australians celebrating in this city. Here are three stereotypes about Australians living in London: 1. They see their homeland as some kind of utopia. If home is so perfect, then why are they HERE?? 2. They have a collective gang mentality that sees them mix only with their own and contribute nothing to the wider community, adopting the very worst aspects......

It might have been Be Nice To Transport Workers Day yesterday, but this morning will bring lots of abuse and ill-will. What hell trying to get into work today. Nearly every Tube and overland route is experiencing severe delays, thanks to the sprinkling of white we received overnight. Or is it? Reader Will Plant sent us this image of the real-time update boards for the Tube. Everything is experiencing problems, but the Piccadilly Line......

Every day this month the Londonist team will be pointing you in the direction of a Christmas present that (with a bit of luck) you won't already have on your list. Climb up onto our collective lap and we'll see what we can move from our sack to your stockings... Londonist has designed the Cornershop Christmas Hamper for those who really can't be bothered this year. Perfect for assembling on the way to a......

Since the discovery of his torso in the Thames in September 2001, the mystery child named "Adam" by the investigation team has baffled the police and has sparked a five-year probe into possible ritual killings in London and Nigeria. The horrific discovery of such a small child's torso, abandoned after such brutal mutilation is something that will stay with many Londoners. Adam was between four and six when he died, and forensic work has......

Jackie Danicki begins her blog post on November 24th with the words I am slightly miffed: The kid in the picture above doesn’t look very harmful, right? He’s reasonably well-dressed, anyway. But actually, he is quite a large fellow, and likes to assault random women with the help of an equally vile friend of his. Jackie posted the photograph on her blog and to her Flickr stream as well as passing a copy along......

British Transport Police will be starting off the new year equipped with the latest tool in high tech crime fighting - a PDA: PDAs are the most significant advance in police beat technology since the introduction of personal radios in 1967. By the end of January 2007 all officers in BTP’s Reassurance teams will be using their PDAs to obtain an instant check on a person’s criminal history and be able to link that......

Amongst the news of brawls, accidents on the underground and dead Russians, here's a heart-warming tale of one elderly couple's triumph over local yobs. Lilian and Bernard Walker, both 75 years old of Forest Hill, south east London, love Reliant Robin cars and have had 10 different models in 46 years. Their current three-wheeler cost £10,000 and is a special edition: it was one of the last 65 cars to be made. Sadly, local......

Londonist has to say that, despite Charlton's poor start to the season, we were still pretty gobsmacked when we learned on Monday night that a club who had employed its previous manager for almost 15 years had just shown the door to his successor after only 167 days. Apparently, we weren't the only ones: Iain Dowie going has to rank as one of the biggest shocks I have ever witnessed following Charlton. So says......

The problem with Emilio Estevez finally growing up and getting serious with Bobby is that we may never see a sequel to Londonist fave Maximum Overdrive (pictured above). Emilio can still make us smile though: UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has the looks to be a film star should he ever wish to appear in a movie, Hollywood actor and director Emilio Estevez says. The Brat Pack idol - in London to promote his......

We need little excuse in the Londonist Dungeon to indulge our taste for luxury foodstuffs. We've used the word "crikey" four times this week! Crack open the caviar! We've found a picture of a puppy asleep on a traffic cone! Let's have some foie gras! And so we were pleased to hear that the native oyster season has started and to celebrate we're going to head towards the Thames, get a drink, enjoy some......

Celebrate Ben Franklin's 300th birthday with the Bikini Bandits and Phillyist! (NSFW). Speaking of Mr. Franklin, send in a picture of Ben (or Ed Rendell) with a red tongue and win a free t-shirt. And they might have the next YearlyKos in Philly. You know who's going to be upset about those Bikini Bandits? The Houston school system. Houstonist also reports on some redevelopment shenanigans over a landmark theater. LAist's sex advice column on......

The man shot during the Forest Gate anti-terror 'accident' has been arrested on suspicion of possessing and making child abuse images. In London radio news, Magic FM is top of the pops while Capital are the...erm, bottom of the pops? Roy Greenslade over at the Guardian asks How will the Standard deal with the London paper? Don't forget everyone: it's the International Masturbate-A-Thon 2006 tomorrow (so still time to get your wank on, as......

At the world cup it's important to eat the right fast food and drink the appropriate fizzy beverage, a sentiment that for some of us seems to have crossed over into the football itself. The packaging is flawless, you feel hungry and thirsty with anticipation, you begin to wolf it all down enthusiastically, but gradually you feel like it’s not quite as satisfying as you’d anticipated and you’re not sure you want to keep......

This week, to set the pulses racing, the film world has given us a film about paedophilia (Hard Candy), a satire about the cigarette industry (Thank You For Smoking) and a movie about a bunch of chavvy wankers (The Fast and the Furious : Tokyo Drift). First up, Hard Candy. A warning to you, dear reader. Almost all of the reviews for this film reveal the end. Now, lowly as we are here at......

Sunday 23rd April is St George's Day and the Mayor of London has muscled in on celebrations with three events over the weekend. Saturday - Festival For St George at Covent Garden The sadism and shrill abuse of Punch and Judy shows are an acquired taste and Morris Dancing is less than enticing as a Saturday afternoon treat... however, that's what you're going to get at the Royal Society of St George organised Festival......

While the Editro's away, the staff will play... Rob, our beloved leader, is away for a bit so we're going to take this opportunity to abuse our position by putting up a totally personal post. You see, the reason Rob's allowed to have some time off from Londonist is because he's getting married tomorrow. So all of us on the Londonist team would like to offer a hearty 'congratulations' to Editro and the future......

Clarke Remains Defiant After Lords Defeat Home Secretary Charles Clarke has vowed to battle on with his proposed ID cards legislation after it was defeated in the Lords last night. Their Lordships, many of whom come from a law background, feel that making the cards compulsary, is an infringement of people's human rights, and as such, is beyond the power of Government. They duly voted 227 to 166 against the proposal last night. Whether......

Last week, the FA's David Barber showed that whilst he may know a thing or two about stats, he's not much cop at the predictions game. A paltry two out of six for David, who'll have been trying to avoid bumping into Trevor Brooking in Soho Square all week, for fear of receiving a volley of abuse from the apparently mild-mannered but secretly sharp-tongued Essex footballing legend. If the FA can't master this art,......

Some of us might recall, with wistful nostalgia, the ‘halcyon days of email’. In those days of yore, email was as harmless as gossiping on the phone, as novel as watching TV on an iPod, and as reliable as the Northern Line. Importantly, it was also something you could spend a lot of time doing in the office, whilst still giving the vague impression of ‘working’. However, at the end of 2000 the age......

There's nothing quite like a close-knit family unit so it was heart warming this morning to read of this mother and son who do everything together. Join the BNP, compare Asbos, hoist the St George, argue with the neighbours, attack them with stunguns and now face jail together: Giving evidence, Ms Green, who lives directly below the defendants in a converted Victorian flat, told Inner London Crown Court how she was attacked the day......