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Dizzee Rascal: Ex-fiancée Cassandra Jones speaks out

Dizzee Rascal’s ex-fiancée said “wealth and status” should not be allowed to silence women after the grime artist was found guilty of assaulting her. The rapper, whose real name is Dylan Kwabena Mills, attacked Cassandra Jones at a property in Streatham, south London, in June. Ms Jones said the 37-year-old’s guilty verdict brought her “no joy”. “It does help me to look back on what I experienced and have it recognised by the courts as assault,” she added. Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court heard Mills “barged” his way into the property on 8 June, with his son under his arms, before “screaming

Holborn crash: Lawyer Shatha Ali named as cyclist killed at junction

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The childhood friend of a woman killed at notorious central London junction has called on Mayor Sadiq Khan to do more to protect cyclists. Shatha Ali died in a crash involving a lorry near Holborn station last Tuesday at the height of a Tube strike. University College London’s Dr Ala’a al Shehabi said the lawyer should “not have died in this horrific way”. The Met Police said no arrests had been made, but detectives were continuing to investigate. In an update, Det Sgt Rebecca Collens said: “Our thoughts remain with Shatha’s family and friends who are understandably devastated by what has

Whitechapel fire: Residents raised concerns before huge east London blaze

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Residents of a tower block in east London say they complained about fire alarms and a “stay put” policy before a major fire broke out. Dozens were evacuated from the Relay Building in Whitechapel High Street on Monday after a blaze. Flames could be seen fanning out of the 17th floor of the tower block, and footage showed burning debris falling to the ground. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. A number of residents said they could not hear any fire alarms sounding on the floors of their flat during the blaze. Andrew Meikle said residents have

Ukraine war: UK will boost lethal and non-lethal aid – minister

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The UK will increase “lethal and non-lethal aid” to Ukraine amid Russia’s continued military assault, the defence secretary has said. Ben Wallace said he would set out more details of what the UK and others could do in a statement to MPs on Wednesday. It will cover equipment for those fighting against Russia and also aid for those affected by the invasion. But he rejected calls for a no-fly zone over Ukraine, saying it would not halt Russian artillery or missiles. Ukraine has accused Moscow of preventing safe civilian evacuations as Russian forces continue shelling cities. Asked if the UK

Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelensky to address UK MPs in Commons

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address British MPs via video link later, as his county continues to battle Russian invasion. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said he was pleased to grant Mr Zelensky’s “historic” request, with the address taking place at 17:00 GMT. The speech will be shown on screens being installed in the chamber. More than 500 headsets will also be issued to MPs so they can follow a live translation into English. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson is hosting meetings in London with the leaders of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The series of meetings will be to

Ex-Commons Speaker John Bercow was a serial bully, says report

John Bercow was a “serial bully” while House of Commons Speaker, and would be banned from getting a parliamentary pass, a report has said. The Independent Expert Panel said “his behaviour fell very far below that which the public has a right to expect” from an MP. It also said his evidence showed he had been “a serial liar”. However, Mr Bercow said the inquiry into the complaints was “amateurish” and based on “tittle-tattle”. Mr Bercow was Speaker of the House of Commons from 2009 to 2019 and presided over a turbulent period during which the House of Commons debated

Cost of living: Warning UK faces biggest income squeeze in nearly 50 years

War in Ukraine will push up energy prices and see UK families squeezed even further, a think tank has warned. The Resolution Foundation forecasts that a typical household’s income will fall by about £1,000 this year once the effect of inflation is accounted for. That would be the biggest real-terms fall in incomes since the mid-1970s, it added. A government spokesperson said it recognised the pressures households are facing. Many families were already expecting their monthly spend to go up when the energy price cap jumps in April, and National Insurance contributions rise. But in a new report, the Resolution Foundation

Martine Vik Magnussen: Woman arrested over Norwegian student murder

Detectives investigating the 2008 murder of a Norwegian student feared to have been killed by a billionaire playboy have made a breakthrough, the Met said. Martine Vik Magnussen, 23, was found dead among rubble in a basement in Great Portland Street, Westminster, after a night out with friends. On Wednesday, the Met Police said officers had arrested a woman aged in her 60s on suspicion of assisting an offender. The Regent’s Business School students had been celebrating the end of their exams at Maddox nightclub, Mayfair. Ms Magnussen’s body was found two days later. The prime suspect for her rape

Uganda’s preachers who take religion to the streets of Kampala

With the aid of a loud speaker, Kayemba Stephen’s voice booms out above the noise of the traffic and bustle as people make their way to work in this busiest part of Uganda’s capital, Kampala. “Receive Jesus today!” the preacher, known on the streets as Sulphur Teacher, urges passers-by with a swagger as if he believes everyone is closely listening to what he has to say. Some hurry on, others stop and stare, and enthusiasts join in, shouting “hallelujah” and “amen” in response. His work – as well as that of the many other street evangelists – has been the

War in Ukraine: Russia says it may cut gas supplies if oil ban goes ahead

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Russia has said it may close its main gas pipeline to Germany if the West goes ahead with a ban on Russian oil. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said a “rejection of Russian oil would lead to catastrophic consequences for the global market”, causing prices to more than double to $300 a barrel. The US has been exploring a potential ban with allies as a way of punishing Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. But Germany and the Netherlands rejected the plan on Monday. The EU gets about 40% of its gas and 30% of its oil from Russia, and

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