Your trusted source for local London, UK news, updated daily with the most important stories from your community.
Diesel vans have overtaken taxis as the largest source of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions in central London, releasing 108 tonnes in 2022. Clean Cities urges the mayor to offer a full Congestion Charge discount for electric vans to facilitate their transition away from diesel. Despite a 14% reduction in van emissions since 2019, the city continues to exceed UK legal limits for air quality.
London Underground and the RMT union engage in talks to prevent a Tube strike over pay and work conditions. If the strike proceeds, services will be severely disrupted from Sunday to Thursday, as workers demand a reduction to a 32-hour week. Transport for London offers a 3.4% pay increase but opposes changes to the standard 35-hour week.
Transport for London (TfL) apologized after passengers were stranded for three hours on a malfunctioning Jubilee line train during peak hours. Passengers, including Nadine A, reported a lack of communication from the driver and described the conditions as "hot and completely packed." The service faced severe delays the following morning as engineers worked to restore normal operations.
A three-month-old baby, Kaylani Kalanzi, died after being violently shaken by her parents, Herbert Kalanzi and Nazli Merthoca, who deny murder charges. The couple's toxic relationship and drug use left Kaylani vulnerable, despite being on a child protection plan. A court is currently determining who is responsible for her fatal injuries.
Bemi Orojuogun, known as the "Bus Aunty," gained popularity on TikTok for her videos celebrating London's buses. She expressed surprise at the large following her content has attracted. Her unique approach to showcasing bus travel resonates with viewers, highlighting a niche aspect of London culture.
A 47-year-old man, Vasile Iosebica, faces murder charges in connection with the death of an 87-year-old man in Lewisham, south-east London. The victim was found dead at a residence on Wellmeadow Road, with the cause of death determined as compression of the neck. Iosebica, known to the victim, will appear at Bromley Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
A homeless man, Apapale Adoum, pleaded guilty to murdering Victoria Adams, 37, in her west London flat. Adams was found dead with severe head injuries, inflicted by a mallet that contained her blood and DNA. Adoum faces a life sentence, with sentencing scheduled for October 24.
Transport for London (TfL) targets disruptive mobile phone use on public transport, urging passengers to use headphones. A survey revealed that 70% of commuters consider loudspeaker usage a nuisance, prompting TfL to enforce existing by-laws against such behavior. Posters promoting the campaign will appear on the Elizabeth line and other services starting Tuesday.
Residents in Mitcham, south London, expressed outrage after a man cut down a century-old lime tree due to resin dripping on his car. The local council confirmed the tree must be removed due to severe damage, while promising to plant a replacement this autumn. An investigation is underway following the incident.
Five Metropolitan Police officers were arrested on suspicion of various offences related to their handling of a sexual assault allegation against a colleague. The Independent Office for Police Conduct executed 11 search warrants during the arrests, which involved officers from both the North West Borough Command Unit and the Directorate of Professional Standards. The investigation also includes potential gross misconduct charges against the officers.