London's Oxford Street underwent a transformative experiment over the weekend as vehicles were prohibited from accessing a half-mile stretch between Oxford Circus and Orchard Street for an eight-hour period. The Sunday trial, branded "This Is Oxford Street," provided the first concrete glimpse of Mayor Sadiq Khan's vision to pedestrianize the iconic shopping destination. The event featured live music, pop-up installations, and retail activations that temporarily replaced the usual traffic flow.

Mayor Khan characterized the trial as a watershed moment, telling reporters that Sunday "will go down in history as the day the fight back began to rescue this street." He acknowledged that Oxford Street had experienced "managed decline" in recent years, citing the rise of online shopping, competition from out-of-town centers, and the pandemic's lasting impact. The mayor emphasized that pedestrianization represents a strategic response to these challenges, aimed at increasing footfall and consumer spending.

The one-day closure serves as a precursor to more ambitious plans that would permanently ban vehicles from a 0.7-mile stretch between Oxford Circus and Marble Arch, with potential extensions toward Tottenham Court Road. Detailed proposals for traffic management under the pedestrianization scheme will undergo public consultation later this year. The initiative forms part of a broader £90 million investment package designed to revitalize the area and restore what Khan describes as the street's "previous glory."

While the mayor expressed confidence in the plan's benefits, he acknowledged concerns from a "minority of residents" regarding potential congestion and accessibility issues. Khan confirmed that authorities have conducted consultations with local stakeholders and will continue working with residents, retailers, and landowners to address these challenges. The weekend's successful trial demonstrates growing momentum behind efforts to reimagine one of London's most famous thoroughfares as a pedestrian-friendly public space.

Two people were killed and three others seriously injured in an attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester on Thursday morning. The incident occurred in the Crumpsall area, approximately four miles from Manchester city center, during Yom Kippur - the holiest day in the Jewish religious calendar. Greater Manchester Police confirmed the fatalities following what they described as a "major incident" involving both a vehicle and knife attack.

The suspect, a male, was shot by armed police officers at 9:38 AM and is believed to be deceased, though authorities noted his death "cannot currently be confirmed due to safety issues" after discovering "suspicious items on his person." Police were initially called to the scene at 9:30 AM following reports of a car being driven toward members of the public and a stabbing. Among the injured was a man believed to be a security guard at the synagogue.

Authorities have deployed multiple specialized units to the scene, including anti-terrorism personnel, military representatives, and bomb disposal teams. Greater Manchester Police activated the "Plato" protocol, which is used for large-scale attacks including "mobile terrorist attacks." A large number of worshippers who were inside the synagogue at the time of the incident were initially held inside while the immediate area was secured, but have since been evacuated.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed being "shocked" by the incident and is cutting short his visit to Denmark, where he was attending a European Political Community meeting, to chair a government Cobra committee meeting in London. The Prime Minister's office confirmed that "additional police assets" will be deployed at synagogues across the country following the attack. Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham stated that the attacker is believed to have died in the incident.