News 24/11/25

Police have appealed for information after a man was charged with murdering two women and raping a third.

Simon Levy has been charged with murdering 53 year old Carmenza Valencia Trujillo from Colombia, who died on the Aylesbury Estate in south east London on 17 March. A police investigation began after a post mortem examination was unable to determine her cause of death.

Levy, of Beaufoy Road in Tottenham, was previously charged in September with murdering 39 year old Sheryl Wilkins, who was found unresponsive in High Road, Tottenham, on 24 August.

An inquest has heard that a devoted elderly couple jumped to their deaths from cliffs near Whitby Abbey as one of them struggled with bone cancer.

David and Susan Jeffcock sent a letter to their solicitor confirming they intended to end their lives before they were found on rocks at the base of East Cliff on 30 July. Mr Jeffcock, aged 80, and Mrs Jeffcock, aged 74, had moved to the north Yorkshire seaside town after retiring.

His nephew told the hearing his uncle had bone cancer and must have decided to kill himself because he was in pain, with Susan jumping after him.

Nigel Farage has said he did not racially abuse fellow pupils while at school in a hurtful or insulting way.

The Reform UK leader said he had never been part of an extremist organisation or engaged in direct, unpleasant personal abuse, but added he could not remember everything that happened at school.

He told reporters there was a strong political element to the allegations, first published by The Guardian, which reported he had allegedly made racist and antisemitic comments while a pupil at Dulwich College in south London.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed what he called important steps made at talks with the US in Geneva on ending the war with Russia, but warned the main problem remains Vladimir Putin’s demand for legal recognition of Russian occupied territory.

US and Ukrainian officials met on Sunday to discuss a 28 point peace plan drafted in October. European allies later drew up counter proposals after rejecting parts of the plan that favoured Russia’s war aims.

It is thought Zelensky and US President Donald Trump will meet to discuss the more contentious points, though no timeline was given.

A judge has dismissed criminal cases against Donald Trump critics James Comey and Letitia James after ruling the prosecutor was illegally appointed.

Judge Cameron Currie found that all actions taken by Lindsey Halligan, including securing and signing Mr Comey’s indictment, were unlawful, and that attempts by the Attorney General to ratify them were ineffective.

The rapper Ghetts, whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, is facing further charges over a fatal hit-and-run in northeast London.

He was initially charged after 20-year-old Yubin Tamang died in a road incident, and now faces two additional charges of driving dangerously before and after the collision on 18 October.

Michael Prescott, the former editorial adviser to the BBC and author of the memo on impartiality that led to high-profile resignations, has given evidence to the Commons committee.

He began by saying he is a strong supporter of, and loves, the BBC. But Prescott told MPs that during his time he kept seeing incipient problems that were not being addressed and, in his view, were getting worse.

He added that there was no ideology or party politics involved in his report.

Two peers are set to be suspended from the House of Lords for breaching rules on providing parliamentary services in return for payment or reward.

Former Army chief Lord Richard Dannatt and businessman Lord Evans of Watford face suspensions of four and five months respectively. The House of Lords standards watchdog launched separate investigations following an undercover operation by the Guardian newspaper.

Neither peer appealed the commissioner’s findings or the sanctions, which will take effect once approved by the House of Lords.

The government has announced a new national day to honour and remember victims and survivors of terrorism in the UK.

The event will take place on 21 August at different locations across the country each year, with the first scheduled for 2026, the Home Office said.

It follows a campaign by families and survivors, including those affected by the Westminster Bridge and Manchester Arena attacks.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said the nation will stand together, honouring all those impacted by terrorism and the horrific experiences they have endured.

Jimmy Cliff, the musical artist who helped bring reggae to a global audience, has died at the age of 81.

Known for hits including You Can Get It If You Really Want, The Harder They Come, and Many Rivers To Cross, his career spanned six decades. A picture released from 2003 shows Cliff performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival.

In a statement on Instagram, his wife Latifa Chambers said it was with profound sadness that she shared her husband had died following a seizure and pneumonia. She thanked his family, friends, fellow artists and coworkers who had shared his journey with him.

Four police officers should face misconduct proceedings over their handling of abuse allegations reported by a woman later found dead in a car boot, according to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Harshita Brella, who was 24, was found dead inside a Vauxhall Corsa in Ilford on 14 November last year, four days after she is suspected to have been strangled in Corby. On 29 August it was reported to Northamptonshire Police that she had suffered domestic abuse by her then husband, Pankaj Lamba.

He was arrested on 3 September and released on bail with conditions not to contact his wife, and was also issued with a Domestic Violence Protection Order.

Paralympics leadership is in dispute with the UK government over the reinstatement of Russia to the Games.

The UK was among 33 mainly European nations expressing serious concern after the International Paralympic Committee voted to lift the partial suspensions of Russia and Belarus.

IPC president Andrew Parsons now says the decision is not linked to participation in wars.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has shared updates on social media, saying he has informed the presidents of Finland, the European Council and Lithuania about Sunday’s meeting in Geneva.

He says Ukraine is working as constructively as possible and that steps taken with partners must be balanced, workable and aimed at lasting peace and guaranteed security.

In another post, he shared his earlier address to the Swedish parliament, saying borders cannot be changed by force and the aggressor must pay fully for the war started.

Councillors in Mid and East Antrim will discuss a proposal later today to change a street sign named after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

Last month the King initiated a formal process to remove his brother’s titles following controversy over his association with Jeffrey Epstein.

Prince Andrew Way in Carrickfergus was named to mark his marriage to Sarah Ferguson in 1986.

Senior figures involved in the BBC’s recent troubles are set to be questioned by MPs on Monday.

Michael Prescott, a former editorial adviser who raised concerns about BBC reporting, including Panorama’s edit of a Donald Trump speech, will appear in public before a House of Commons committee for the first time.

An internal memo written by Prescott was leaked to the press, prompting the resignations of the BBC’s director general and head of news earlier this month.

Also due to give evidence are BBC chairman Samir Shah, who faces pressure over his handling of the affair, and fellow board members Sir Robbie Gibb and Caroline Thomson.

The Princess of Wales has called for an end to the stigma surrounding addiction, urging people to offer empathy and support to those dependent on alcohol, drugs or gambling.

Catherine sent the message to mark Addiction Awareness Week, saying that “significant progress” has been made in understanding addiction, but that more needs to be done.

The princess is patron of The Forward Trust, a charity that aims to break the cycle of addiction and is running the campaign from 23rd to 30th November.

In her message, Catherine draws parallels between addiction and mental health issues, highlighting the need for compassion and support.