A man accused of murdering a woman in a street attack in east London has appeared at the Old Bailey.
Zara Aleena, 35, was walking in Cranbrook Road, Ilford, 10 minutes from her home, when she was attacked in the early hours of Sunday.
Jordan McSweeney, 29, from Church Elm Lane, Dagenham, east London, did not enter a plea to the charge of murder.
He is also charged with attempted penetration without consent and robbery.
Mr McSweeney, who appeared via video link from HMP Thameside wearing a green jumper, is set to appear again at the Old Bailey on 27 July.
'She thrived'
Ms Aleena had hoped to practise as a solicitor and had completed her Legal Practice Course. She had recently begun working at the Royal Courts of Justice, to complete her two-year work placement in order to become a fully qualified solicitor, her family said.
In a statement, they described her as "fierce: she didn't just survive, she thrived".
Sherit Nair
"Zara was happy and at a point in her life that she had worked hard for," they said.
"She was a joy to all of us, her sparkling eyes and the curly, jet-black hair. Her glorious laughter and her sweet, smiling voice. Her tiny frame embodied a passionate spirit and indomitable energy."
A post-mortem examination revealed she had "multiple serious injuries".
Boris Johnson's deputy chief whip has resigned over an allegation of groping, Sky News understands.
Chris Pincher, 52, said he had drunk "far too much" and had "embarrassed myself and other people" on a night out.
"I apologise to you and to those concerned," he added in a letter to the prime minister.
Mr Pincher "groped two men in front of others" at the Carlton Club in the St James's area of central London, a government source told Sky News.
One of those groped is an MP, and the second one may be a member of parliament too, the source added.
Labour's deputy leader, Angela Rayner, said Mr Johnson had "serious questions to answer" about why Mr Pincher had been "given this role (as deputy chief whip) in the first place and how he can remain a Conservative MP".
The Mail on Sunday reported that Mr Pincher had been accused of making an unwanted pass at Conservative activist and former British rower Alex Story.
Mr Pincher told the newspaper: "If Mr Story has ever felt offended by anything I said then I can only apologise to him."
Theresa May reappointed him to the whips office the following year.
In his letter to Boris Johnson, the Conservative MP for Tamworth wrote: "Last night I drank far too much.
"I've embarrassed myself and other people which is the last thing I want to do and for that I apologise to you and to those concerned.
"I think the right thing to do in the circumstances is for me to resign as deputy chief whip.
"I owe it to you and the people I've caused upset to, to do this."
Mr Pincher added: "I want to assure you that you will continue to have my full support from the back benches, and I wish you all the best as you deal with aftershocks of COVID and the challenges of international inflation.
"It has been the honour of my life to have served in Her Majesty's Government."
Ms Rayner said the resignation showed "how far standards in public life have been degraded on Boris Johnson's watch".
She added: "The Conservative Party is so mired in sleaze and scandal that it is totally unable to tackle the challenges facing the British people."
Chris Pincher has been an MP since the 2010 general election, when the Conservatives formed a coalition with the Liberal Democrats.
Before his latest spell in the whips office he was minister of state for Europe and the Americas, and minister of state for housing.
He also writes a column on alcoholic drinks for The Critic magazine. A recent one was headlined: "Fall into the gin trap."
The Tories are not the only party experiencing sleaze allegations at present.
Earlier this month, it emerged that SNP MP Patrick Grady was facing suspension from the House of Commons after an allegation of sexual misconduct was upheld following a parliamentary investigation.
An independent expert panel recommended that Mr Grady be suspended from the House for two days for making an "unwanted sexual advance" to a member of party staff at a work social event at a pub in 2016.
Mr Grady was also ordered to make a public apology in the chamber and to say sorry privately to the person who complained.
Boris Johnson's deputy chief whip has resigned over an allegation of groping, Sky News understands.
Chris Pincher said he had drunk "far too much" and had "embarrassed myself and other people" on a night out.
"I apologise to you and to those concerned," he added in a letter to the prime minister.
Mr Pincher groped two men in front of others at the Carlton Club in the St James's area of central London, a government source told Sky News.
One of those groped is an MP, and the second one may be an MP too, the source added.
Labour's deputy leader, Angela Rayner, said Mr Johnson had "serious questions to answer" about why Mr Pincher had been "given this role (as deputy chief whip) in the first place and how he can remain a Conservative MP".
The Mail on Sunday reported that Mr Pincher had been accused of making an unwanted pass at Conservative activist and former British rower Alex Story.
Mr Pincher told the newspaper: "If Mr Story has ever felt offended by anything I said then I can only apologise to him."
In his letter to Boris Johnson, the Conservative MP for Tamworth wrote: "Last night I drank far too much.
"I've embarrassed myself and other people which is the last thing I want to do and for that I apologise to you and to those concerned.
"I think the right thing to do in the circumstances is for me to resign as deputy chief whip.
"I owe it to you and the people I've caused upset to, to do this."
Mr Pincher added: "I want to assure you that you will continue to have my full support from the back benches, and I wish you all the best as you deal with aftershocks of COVID and the challenges of international inflation.
"It has been the honour of my life to have served in Her Majesty's Government."
Ms Rayner said the resignation showed "how far standards in public life have been degraded on Boris Johnson's watch".
She added: "The Conservative Party is so mired in sleaze and scandal that it is totally unable to tackle the challenges facing the British people."
Chris Pincher has been an MP since the 2010 general election, when the Conservatives formed a coalition with the Liberal Democrats.
Before becoming deputy chief whip he was minister of state for Europe and the Americas, and minister of state for housing.
He also writes a column on alcoholic drinks for The Critic magazine. A recent one was headlined: "Fall into the gin trap."
The Tories are not the only party experiencing sleaze allegations at present.
Earlier this month, it emerged that SNP MP Patrick Grady was facing suspension from the House of Commons after an allegation of sexual misconduct was upheld following a parliamentary investigation.
An independent expert panel recommended that Mr Grady be suspended from the House for two days for making an "unwanted sexual advance" to a member of party staff at a work social event at a pub in 2016.
Mr Grady was also ordered to make a public apology in the chamber and to say sorry privately to the person who complained.
More flights from Heathrow have been cancelled today due to passenger numbers exceeding the airport's maximum capacity.
A total of 30 flights have been removed from the morning schedule as the travel chaos across UK airports continues.
Most passengers are expected to be rebooked on to other flights outside of peak times, making it still possible for them to fly out today.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: "We are expecting higher passenger numbers in today's morning peak than the airport currently has capacity to serve, and so to keep everyone safe we have asked airlines to remove 30 flights from the morning peak for today only.
"We apologise for the impact this has on travel plans.
Advertisement
"We are working hard to ensure everyone has a smooth journey through Heathrow this summer, and the most important thing is to make sure that all service providers at the airport have enough resources to meet demand."
A "small number" of British Airways flights are among those affected, with the airline saying it is in contact with affected customers.
More on Heathrow Airport
Related Topics:
It is expected that 98% of flights out of the airport will operate as planned.
Customers who have been affected by the cancellations should be contacted by their airline and given advice on the possible alternatives.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
2:37
'Horrific' scenes at Heathrow last week
'Absolute shambles'
However, some passengers did not find out their flights were cancelled until they arrived at what is the UK's busiest airport.
Travel writer and broadcaster Andy Mossack said: "Total chaos at Heathrow this morning. British Airways flights cancelled and zero customer service."
One passenger, who is travelling with a 12-week-old baby, told Sky News he wasn't informed that his family's flight to Greece was cancelled until they were five minutes away from the airport.
Another, Andrew Douglas, described how he was due to be on a flight to go on holiday but had "spent the last four hours in multiple queues at Heathrow Airport because it's been cancelled".
He added: "Absolute shambles, complete chaos and only found out at check-in with no prior notification. Horrific service."
The whole industry has been struggling to scale-up operations after COVID restrictions were lifted, which experts say has left the sector facing 40 years of passenger growth in just four months.
Have you been affected by Heathrow cancellations? Contact us: • Email - news@skynews.com • WhatsApp - 07583 000853
An inquiry has been launched into the charity set up in honour of fundraiser and Army veteran Capt Sir Tom Moore.
The Charity Commission has concerns about The Captain Tom Foundation's management and decisions that could have generated "significant profit" for a company run by his family.
The veteran, who died last year aged 100, raised millions for charity but this money is not part of the inquiry.
The Foundation said it would "work closely with the commission".
Capt Sir Tom, who was born in Keighley in West Yorkshire, gained international fame when he carried out the fundraising walk at his home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, when Covid restrictions were first introduced in 2020.
The £33m raised, £38.9m including gift aid, was managed and distributed by NHS Charities Together before the JustGiving account was closed down.
After he became a well-known figure, his family set up a separate charity in his name called The Captain Tom Foundation, which aims to support and "empower" older people through fundraising and awareness campaigns.
The money raised by Capt Sir Tom was separate from the formation of the charity and is not part of the investigation.
In March 2022, the publication of the first annual accounts of the foundation showed it had incurred £240,000 in costs and given £160,000 to good causes.
The commission said it became concerned about arrangements between the charity and a company linked to Sir Tom's daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, and her husband Colin, as well as the trustees' decision-making and how the charity was governed.
The issues revolve around a "failure to consider intellectual property and trademark issues", including the trademarking of variations of the name "Captain Tom" by a company controlled by Ms Ingram-Moore and Mr Ingram-Moore.
This could have generated "significant profit" for the company, the commission added.
PA Media
Helen Stephenson, chief executive of the Charity Commission, said the watchdog's "concerns have mounted" over the charity.
"We consider it in the public interest to examine them through a formal investigation, which gives us access to the full range of our protective and enforcement powers," she said.
Earlier this year, the Commission reviewed payment of consultancy fees to third parties but said it was later "satisfied" that these specific payments were a reasonable reimbursement for expenses incurred by the companies in the formation of the charity.
It added it was also satisfied that the payments were "adequately identified and managed".
Stephen Jones, chairman of the board of trustees of The Captain Tom Foundation, said: "We will of course work closely with the commission in its inquiry."
He said the commission was aware of where the image and intellectual property rights were held when the charity was set up.
Jack Gilbert, who became chief executive of the charity at the beginning of the month, said he would "ensure that in all respects, including governance and finance, the foundation conforms to best practice".
A statement from the Ingram-Moore family said the company controlled by Ms Ingram-Moore and Mr Ingram-Moore "made its application for various trademarks in April 2020 prior to the formation of The Captain Tom Foundation", which was in May 2020.
"Neither Hannah nor Colin Ingram-Moore were trustee directors of The Captain Tom Foundation upon its formation," the statement added.
More flights from Heathrow have been cancelled today due to passenger numbers exceeding the airport's maximum capacity.
A total of 30 flights have been removed from the morning schedule as travel chaos across UK airports continues.
Most passengers are expected to be rebooked on to other flights outside of peak times, making it still possible for them to fly out today.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: "We are expecting higher passenger numbers in today's morning peak than the airport currently has capacity to serve, and so to keep everyone safe we have asked airlines to remove 30 flights from the morning peak for today only.
"We apologise for the impact this has on travel plans.
Advertisement
"We are working hard to ensure everyone has a smooth journey through Heathrow this summer, and the most important thing is to make sure that all service providers at the airport have enough resources to meet demand."
A "small number" of British Airways flights are among those affected, with the airline saying it is in contact with affected customers.
More on Heathrow Airport
Related Topics:
It is expected that 98% of flights out of the airport will operate as planned.
Customers who have been affected by the cancellations should be contacted by their airline and given advice on the possible alternatives.
'Absolute shambles'
However, some passengers did not find out their flights were cancelled until they arrived at what is the UK's busiest airport.
Travel writer and broadcaster Andy Mossack said: "Total chaos at Heathrow this morning. British Airways flights cancelled and zero customer service."
One passenger, who is travelling with a 12-week-old baby, told Sky News he wasn't informed that his family's flight to Greece was cancelled until they were five minutes away from the airport.
Another affected passenger, Andrew Douglas, described how he was due to be on a flight to go on holiday but had "spent the last four hours in multiple queues at Heathrow Airport because it's been cancelled".
He added: "Absolute shambles, complete chaos and only found out at check-in with no prior notification. Horrific service."
Have you been affected by Heathrow cancellations? Contact us: • Email - news@skynews.com • WhatsApp - 07583 000853
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's flights for their controversial Caribbean tour cost the taxpayer more than £226,000, royal accounts have shown.
In 2021-2022, the total travel bill for the monarchy’s official duties, funded by the taxpayer, came to £4.5 million.
The accounts reveal the breakdown of spending by the Royal Family including tours and flight costs, spending on property maintenance and how much it all costs the taxpayer.
In all, official expenditure by the monarchy was £104.2 million, up 17% on the previous year, with £86.3 million coming from the Sovereign Grant - a single payment given to the Queen each year by the government to fund official royal duties and upkeep.
Cambridge's trip most expensive tour
Advertisement
The pair's trip in March to Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas saw the couple travel by charter jet, and their staff by scheduled flights for a planning trip.
The Cambridge's trip was the most expensive official royal tour of 2021-22.
However, royal aides revealed that Prince Charles had personally spearheaded a switch to the use of sustainable aviation fuel on royal flights in a bid to combat the environmental impact of The Firm's globe-trotting.
The ministerial RAF Voyager jet - used by the royal family and the government - is now run on sustainable aviation fuel.
Barbados celebrated the occasion in December last year, marking 55 years after it gained independence from the UK.
The total travel costs for an official trip to Jordan and Egypt - which saw Charles and Camilla journey to Amman, Cairo and Alexandria - came to in excess of £123,500 including charter plane, the helicopter and scheduled flights for staff.
Key figures from the royal accounts for 2020-2021:
£86.3 million - The total taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant, made up of £51.8 million for the "core" funding and an extra £34.5 million for the reservicing of Buckingham Palace.
£1.29 - Cost per person in the UK of funding the total Sovereign Grant.
£226,383 - Cost of official travel for William and Kate's controversial Caribbean tour.
9.6% - Proportion of staff from ethnic minority backgrounds working for Buckingham Palace, compared to 8.5% in 2020-21. The target was 10%.
£63.9 million - Spending on property maintenance - up £14.4 million or 29% from £49.5 million in 2020-21.
201 - Official engagements carried out by the Queen in the last financial year - 88 more than the 113 she undertook in 2020-2021 during the pandemic.
£1.3 million- Cost of housekeeping and hospitality for the royal household - an increase of half a million or 55%.
£138,457 - Charles's travel costs for trip to Barbados to mark country's transition to a republic.
A senior palace source has said Prince Harry and Meghan’s rental contract for their UK home represents a "good deal" for the taxpayer.
The couple are funding the general upkeep of their former home, like maintaining the garden, with the Sovereign Grant effectively acting as the "landlord", undertaking major works like a normal tenant-landlord relationship.
The pair paid £2.4m to cover the refurbishment and rental of Frogmore Cottage at Windsor Castle.
The senior royal source said the rent "has been calculated by reference to market valuations for a property of that nature".
The National Audit Office and the Treasury were “satisfied” with the way the transaction had been accounted for and the "commercial return" for the Sovereign Grant, the source added.
"I can be confident in saying that this is a good deal for the Sovereign Grant and the taxpayer alike."
The accounts also revealed that £63.9m was spent on property maintenance, up £14.4 million or 29% from £49.5 million in 2020-21.
Met Police
