Sabita Thanwani death: Family pays tribute to 19-year-old murdered at student flats in London - Sky News

The family of a 19-year-old murdered at student flats in London have paid tribute to their "beautiful, irreplaceable" daughter.

Officers were called early on Saturday morning to Arbour House in Sebastian Street in Clerkenwell, London, where Sabita Thanwani was found with serious neck injuries.

She was pronounced dead at the scene and a special post-mortem and formal identification will take place soon.

Maher Maaroufe, 22, who had been in a relationship with Ms Thanwani, was arrested on suspicion of murder and assault on police on Sunday.

The Tunisian national, who is of no fixed address and not a student, remains in police custody.

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Image: Maher Maaroufe was arrested on suspicion of murder on Sunday

Ms Thanwani's family have released a statement paying tribute to their "angel".

It said: "Sabita Thanwani was our daughter. Our angel. Her life, that we hoped would be long, was cut tragically short.

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"She was ripped away from those who loved her so very dearly; her mum, dad, brother, grandparents, extended family and friends.

"Sabita was the most caring and loving person we have ever known. She inspired us every day of her precious 19 years of life. Her mission was to help everyone. She was studying psychology at City University to make this happen.

"Her whole life was ahead of her, a life where her radiant smile and incredible heart could only spread warmth and kindness.

Image: The scene in Sebastian Street after Ms Thanwani was found with serious injuries

"In her short life, she helped so many. Sabita was pure and did not see bad in anyone, because there was no badness in her own awesome heart.

"We will never ever stop loving or missing our beautiful, irreplaceable Sabita. The girl that was an angel upon the earth is now an angel in heaven.

"We can only pray that lessons will be learnt and that somehow, there will come a day when girls and women are safe.

"We will never be able to thank the Metropolitan Police enough for their dedication and tireless work in finding justice for our Sabita. From our hearts, we thank everyone for their love and support.

"We ask that our privacy is respected and as a family we can quietly grieve."

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2022-03-21 10:52:30Z
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Smacking and slapping ban: Wales outlaws physical punishment of children - Sky News

Wales has joined more than 60 nations in outlawing physical punishment of children.

From today, any type of corporal punishment - including smacking, hitting, slapping and shaking - is illegal under the Children (Abolition Of Defence Of Reasonable Punishment - Wales) Act of 2020.

It marks the end of the common law defence of "reasonable punishment".

This means children and adults in Wales will have the same protection from assault.

The law will apply to everyone in Wales, including those visiting, and it will also cover anyone responsible for a child while parents are absent.

'No more grey areas'

Critics have said the law will criminalise parents but the Welsh government said it will protect children's rights.

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First Minister Mark Drakeford said: "The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child makes it clear that children have the right to be protected from harm and from being hurt and this includes physical punishment.

"That right is now enshrined in Welsh law - no more grey areas, no more 'defence of reasonable punishment'. That is all in the past."

Previously in Wales - as is still the case in England and Northern Ireland - smacking a child was unlawful, but was allowed if it constituted "reasonable punishment".

Wales follows Scotland in introducing ban

Scotland introduced its own ban in November 2020.

Viv Laing, from NSPCC Cymru Wales, said: "Until now, children were the only group in our society who it was acceptable to strike in certain circumstances.

"We don't allow the physical punishment of adults or animals, so it is absurd that we have for so long with children.

"NSPCC Cymru/Wales has long been clear on this, and now, at last, the law is too."

Dr Rowena Christmas, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners Wales, said: "The evidence is absolutely compelling that physically punishing a child can be harmful to the wellbeing of both child and parent.

"It offers no benefit that cannot be gained from another method of discipline but is associated with a broad range of harms that can last a lifetime."

'Physical punishment has no place in raising children'

Stephen Thomas, headteacher of Ysgol y Bryn Llanelli, said: "Physical punishment has no place in raising children.

"Providing consistency, good routines and being role models for our children in the values we would like them to display creates good people."

Also supporting the new law, Pam Kelly, chief constable of Gwent Police, said: "Our role as police officers, while working with other safeguarding agencies in Wales, is to provide support and reassurance to families, not to criminalise them.

"However it is important to recognise that discipline and physical punishment of children are not the same thing."

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2022-03-21 02:30:37Z
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How and when eligible adults can get their Spring booster Covid vaccine - iNews

Hundreds of thousands of people will be invited to book a Spring Covid booster this week.

The NHS booster programme, which began in December 2020, is continuing and entering a new phase.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Who will get another booster?

Eligible groups include care home residents, people who are 75 and over and those who are immunosuppressed aged 12 and over.

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Adults will be offered either the Pfizer or Moderna versions, with those aged between 12 and 18 getting the Pfizer vaccine.

The NHS also continues to offer the vaccine for those who are yet to come forward for one, even if it is your first dose.

How do you get a booster?

The NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme will contact people when they are due to be vaccinated.

Once invited, they will be able to book their vaccination appointment through the National Booking System either online or by calling NHS 119.

Around 600,000 people will be invited this week and local NHS teams will also offer vaccinations for people living in care homes with hundreds of visits planned in the near future.

Around five million people will be able to get a Spring booster dose in total.

NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: “The NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme has not stopped in its efforts to protect people from coronavirus – around five million of the most vulnerable people will be eligible for a Spring dose and from tomorrow, we will start giving eligible groups their additional top up in protection.

“We have protected millions of people at speed thanks to the efforts of our staff, aided by volunteers. They will once again rise to the next challenge.

“There is no need to contact the NHS – when you are eligible for your ‘spring boost’ of protection, we will be in touch so you can book your appointment at one of hundreds of vaccination sites across the country”.

How many people have been vaccinated?

NHS staff and volunteers have given out over 118 million vaccinations in total, including 32 million top-up jabs since the booster rollout began in September.

It is thought that around 157,000 hospitalisations have been prevented by booster doses since mid-December, according to research by UKHSA.

Coronavirus booster vaccine jabs for millions of people in England will begin to be offered this week (Photo: Kirsty O’Connor/PA Wire)

Experts in Government and the NHS have encouraged those who are entitled to another dose to come forward.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Our phenomenal vaccination programme has saved countless lives and built a wall of defence which has allowed us to learn to live with Covid.

“Following the massive success of the rollout so far, we are now offering over-75s and the most vulnerable a spring booster dose to top up their protection against this virus.

“Please come forward as soon as you are contacted by the NHS”.

What are the Covid rates?

As of 18 March, hospital admissions across the UK are up 24.8 per cent week-on-week, although the number of patients in intensive care remains low.

The number of people testing positive has gone up by 38.1 per cent in seven days.

In total, 163,511 have died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus.

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2022-03-20 14:42:00Z
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COVID-19: Spring booster jabs to be offered to millions of vulnerable people in England - Sky News

Millions of vulnerable people in England will be offered a fourth COVID vaccine in a bid to top up protection against the coronavirus.

Spring booster jabs will be available to care home residents, people who are 75 and over, and the immunosuppressed aged 12 and over.

A total of around five million people are expected to be given the jab, with around 600,000 invited to book their dose this week, the NHS says.

Eligible adults will be offered either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, with any eligible people aged between 12 and 18 offered the Pfizer vaccine.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: "Our phenomenal vaccination programme has saved countless lives and built a wall of defence which has allowed us to learn to live with COVID.

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What's behind UK's rising COVID cases?

"Following the massive success of the rollout so far, we are now offering over-75s and the most vulnerable a spring booster dose to top up their protection against this virus."

The NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme will contact people when it is their turn to be vaccinated again and, once they have an invitation, they will be able to book their appointment through the National Booking System either online or by calling NHS 119.

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Local NHS teams will also be administering the jab in care homes.

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NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: "The NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme has not stopped in its efforts to protect people from coronavirus - around five million of the most vulnerable people will be eligible for a spring dose and from tomorrow, we will start giving eligible groups their additional top up in protection.

"We have protected millions of people at speed thanks to the efforts of our staff, aided by volunteers. They will once again rise to the next challenge.

"There is no need to contact the NHS - when you are eligible for your 'spring boost' of protection, we will be in touch so you can book your appointment at one of hundreds of vaccination sites across the country."

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2022-03-20 05:46:59Z
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Clerkenwell: Manhunt launched in murder investigation over death at student flats in central London - Sky News

Police have named a man they want to find following the murder of a young woman at student flats in central London.

Maher Maaroufe, 22, is being sought after detectives launched an investigation into the death of the 19-year-old at a residential property in Sebastian Street, Clerkenwell.

The Metropolitan Police said he is known to travel across London. He is also known to travel to Cambridgeshire.

Image: Police at the scene in Sebastian Street, Clerkenwell, London

Police said anyone who sees Mr Maaroufe should not approach him, but should call 999 immediately.

Officers had been called at about 5.10am on Saturday to reports of a woman injured at Arbour House, a student accommodation.

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The woman had suffered serious neck injuries and, despite receiving treatment from emergency services, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sky News understands she was a first-year foreign student at City, London University, thought to be of Middle East background.

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Detective Chief Inspector Linda Bradley, who is leading the investigation, said: "Early indications so far suggest that the victim had been in a relationship with Maaroufe and that they had been together that evening.

"Urgent enquiries to locate Maaroufe are ongoing and I urge him to attend a police station immediately."

Student Angelina Miats, 19, who lives on the second floor of Arbour House, said earlier on Saturday: "I was woken about 8am by police knocking on my door. They wanted to search my room, but wouldn't tell me what had happened.

"People are very frightened because of what's happened, and I don't feel safe. I'm not sure I want to stay in the building anymore."

Angelina, a business management student at the same university, said: "The block is normally very secure and anyone who doesn't live there has to be let in."

Officers were seen standing outside a block of student flats, which was cordoned off.

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2022-03-19 22:27:08Z
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Boris Johnson was at Tory fundraiser with Russian donor on night of invasion - The Times

Boris Johnson was at a Conservative Party fundraising dinner attended by at least one donor with links to Russia on the night Vladimir Putin launched his war in Ukraine.

The prime minister gave a short speech at the event in central London as it became clear the Russian invasion was imminent, allegedly telling guests he had to leave early to deal with the crisis.

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The event began on February 23 at about 8pm and was held at Spencer House, a Grade I listed building a mile from Downing Street.

It took place despite days of repeated warnings — including from Johnson personally — that the invasion appeared imminent, and only hours before Volodymyr Zelensky delivered an address in a last-ditch attempt to avert the war.

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2022-03-19 18:00:00Z
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Ukraine: Fire engine convoy leaves UK with vital supplies for firefighters - BBC

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A convoy of donated fire engines and thousands of pieces of equipment has set off on a three-day journey bound for Ukraine.

Volunteers are taking the 22 vehicles, including fire engines and lorries full of kit, which have been offered by fire services from across the UK.

Charity Fire Aid and the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) sent an initial delivery to the country on 11 March.

The second convoy left Ashford in Kent earlier.

Its leader, Mike Pitney, described the trip as "personal" and told BBC Breakfast: "I've been going out to Ukraine for 10 years, so I have friends and family, as far as I'm concerned, out there."

Kent Fire and Rescue Service tweeted footage of the trucks leaving Ashford and said firefighters across the country had come together as part of a humanitarian effort.

A convoy of 22 fire engines are heading from Ashford to Ukraine today, transporting vehicles & vital equipment for firefighters.

Working with @FIRE_AID_UK & the @NFCC_FireChiefs, services from across the UK have all come together as part of this humanitarian effort for Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/Nedz8bgSP5

— Kent Fire and Rescue Service (@kentfirerescue) March 19, 2022

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

Claire Hoyland, project manager for Fire Aid, said its members immediately mobilised in the aftermath of the Russian invasion.

She said the equipment being taken to Ukraine had reached the end of its life in the UK but was still "perfectly usable".

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Mark Hardingham, chairman of the NFCC, said the volunteers would drive into Poland where the equipment and engines would be made available to cross the border.

"The footage I've been watching on television has been horrific. I've seen firefighters dealing with the most terrible set of circumstances in Ukraine, often with equipment that is outdated or damaged by the conflict," he said.

"So the stuff that we send is going to be vital for them to support their local communities and to keep those firefighters in Ukraine safe as well."

Fire minister Lord Stephen Greenhalgh tweeted that it was the "largest ever single donation of fire and rescue equipment".

Convoy with largest ever single donation of fire + rescue equipment has set off for Ukraine: 22 vehicles, 18 fire engines + over 6000 items of equipment, incl. acid proof chemical suits + a mass decontamination Incident Response Unit! ⁦@FIRE_AID_UK⁩ ⁦@NFCC_FireChiefs⁩ pic.twitter.com/Z4Lrly5aaj

— Stephen Greenhalgh (@team_greenhalgh) March 19, 2022

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "We are helping to ensure that crucial fire and rescue equipment and PPE donated by fire and rescue services will get to where it can directly provide succour to those brave firefighters, emergency services and volunteers on the front line in Ukraine."

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk.

Related Internet Links

• National Fire Chiefs Council

• Fire Aid

• Home Office

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

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2022-03-19 12:04:35Z
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