London was warned to prepare itself for two days of travel chaos yesterday as a RMT and Aslef unions announce further strike action.

The city was brought to a virtual standstill last month as strike action was carried out and yesterday some commuters were warned to expect more of the same tomorrow and on six more consecutive days throughout the next month.

The strike will affect all trains run out of Liverpool Street Station by National Express and East Anglia and is a consequence of union’s unwillingness to accept salary increases offered.

It is thought that almost 300,000 commuters will be affected and more will have to deal with the overspill overcrowding their services.

Efforts by both sides to reach an agreement failed and talks broke down at the start of this week. Both companies warn that all services run by the National Express and East Anglia will be disrupted.

The nominees for the Mercury Prize -an awards ceremony synonymous with prestige and coolness – have been announced today. Among the delighted nominees were three female Londoners; Florence Welch, Elly Jackson and Debelle .

Beyond the £20,000 prize it is also thought that the Mercury Prize often leads to notoriety and a massive increase in album sales. This was the case for Manchester band Elbow, though the same cannot be said for 1997 Roni Size, who, after receiving the award, vanished into virtual career oblivion.

The prize is notorious for awarding the outside chance instead of the artist who is widely though of as the favourite. So this year’s firmly established favourite Kasabian, the four piece indie band, whose sound resonates notes of Manchester bands Oasis and The Stone Roses, better watch out.

Hosted by industry patriarch, Jools Holland, the winners will be announced at a lavish awards ceremony on 8th of September and will be televised live on BBC 2.

Mercury 2009 shortlist
The Invisible – The Invisible
Led Bib – Sensible Shoes
Sweet Billy Pilgrim – Twice Born Men
Speech Debelle – Speech Therapy Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
The Horrors – Primary Colours
Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires
Glasvegas – Glasvegas
La Roux – La Roux
Florence And The Machine – Lungs
Bat For Lashes – Two Suns
Lisa Hannigan – Sea Sew

You can’t switch on the T.V or open a newspaper, without being faced with the doom and gloom of recession; unemployment is at an all time high, house prices are falling and the word ‘depression’ keeps jumping off the page. However, recent reports revealing that retail sales increased by nearly 5% in June, indicates that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The retail sector has been badly effected by redundancy, job insecurity and rising unemployment, as shoppers cut back spending on ‘non essential’ items. The slump in sales led to many large corporations – including the British institution of Woolworths – closing their doors for the final time. So why the increase?

According to the London Retail Consortium, the increase was in part the result of June’s heat wave. As more Londoners were out on the street, all important footfall increased, so more buyers were actually in the shops looking for that all important summer wardrobe.

In the light of increased retail spending, it would very interesting to have a look at June’s sales figures of Pubs and restaurants across the capital!