Drivers must pay
The week's news at a glance.
London
The city of London has begun charging drivers a hugely unpopular fee of 5 pounds ($8) in a bid to cut down on congestion. Eight square miles of central London, including the busy City, or financial district, have been outfitted with hundreds of hidden cameras to photograph license plates. Drivers who haven’t paid in advance for a permit to enter the zone will be fined. Ken Livingstone, London’s Socialist mayor, acknowledged that levying a toll was a big political risk, but he shrugged it off, saying, “What’s the point of being in politics if you don’t do something?” His opponents claim it will further clog London’s already jam-packed buses and subways.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Scientists want to fight malaria by poisoning mosquitoes with human blood
Under the radar Drugging the bugs
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: March 31, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku medium: March 31, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published