Updates from London on Thursday 5 November 2015
More news, sport, travel and weather updates from 08:00 on Friday
Brixton Blog
Lambeth Council has set out proposals for making savings, external in its library services, which include a reduction in funding to the Upper Norwood library and closure of the Waterloo Library by April 2016.
Unison, the trade union that represents many of the workers threatened by the council’s proposals for libraries, has urged councillors to join a demonstration this Saturday against the plans.
How will London Fire Brigade spend Bonfire Night this year?
Last year, London Fire Brigade received the lowest number of call-outs on Fireworks Night ever recorded, new statistics show.
BBC Sport
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho "will solve" the club's current problems, says the agent of the Blues boss.
The Premier League champions are 15th in the table after six defeats in 11 matches and out of the League Cup.
"He doesn't need to prove anything to anybody," the Portuguese's adviser Jorge Mendes told BBC Sport's Dan Roan.
Esther Webber
BBC News, London
The government faced questions in Parliament today over the voluntary London living wage.
It was announcedearlier this weekthat the London living wage will rise to £9.40, but Labour peer Baroness Royall said the "retail industry is noticeably recalcitrant" to sign up to it.
Former Labour leader Lord Kinnock echoed her concerns, saying it would be four more years before the compulsory national living wage approached the recommended London wage, and in the meantime workers are being "grossly underpaid".
Government spokesman the Earl of Courtown pointed out that Lidl, Starbucks and Costa have all signed up to the living wage.
"It is not actually affordable for all employers," he added.
Parents have hit out at a “repressive” new school rule which demands that their children walk with their hands clasped behind their backs, external at all times.
The afternoon will start dry but there will be a lot of cloud around.
This will thicken with outbreaks of rain arriving from the west around the middle of the afternoon, heralding a wet end to the day. It will become increasingly windy.
Highs of 15C (59F).
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has urged demonstrators taking to the streets for an anti-capitalist rally in London later to stay peaceful as he condemned violence at yesterday's student protest.
Image source, AFPTwelve people were arrested after smoke bombs and eggs were thrown at police in the capital during an otherwise largely peaceful protest calling for free education.
Police are warning more violence could erupt during the annual Million Mask March, which is organised by anarchist hackers Anonymous.
Our top stories on BBC London:
A former London primary school teacher, external has been nominated for a Mercury Prize for her music.
Despite her success, Eska, external still lives in Lewisham where she grew up.
You can watch an interview with her at 1330 and 1830 today on BBC London News on BBC One, and later on the iPlayer.
BBC London News
In our lunchtime bulletin at 13:30 on BBC One: The family of a man who died 13 years after he was shot in Shoreditch have launched an emotional appeal on what would have been his 40th birthday.
Marvin Couson had been confined to a hospital bed, unable to walk or talk since the attack in May 2002. Jean Mackenzie has the full story.
Radio DJ Neil Fox exploited his fame to sexually abuse fans as young as 15 as well as colleagues, a court has been told.
The 54-year-old is alleged to have sexually abused three girls aged under 16 between 1988 and 1996. He denies the charges.
Image source, PAProsecutor John Price QC told Westminster Magistrates' Court that Fox was a well-known personality, and alleged: "He has exploited the privilege conferred upon him by him fame to inflict his sexual actions upon women without regard either for their wishes or their age."
Simon Gompertz
Personal Finance Correspondent
BA has confirmed that from when customers' flights out of Sharm el-Sheikh are delayed or suspended, they will provide hotel accommodation and food to their passengers until they are able to fly to their destination.
Image source, Getty Images"We understand the current situation is frustrating, however it is out of our control and the safety and security of our customers and crew is always our top priority," BA said in a statement.
You can follow all the latest on this story here.
The Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Harry have been paying their respects at Westminster Abbey's Field of Remembrance.
Image source, PAThe royal pair were joined by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend John Hall, along with the president of the Royal British Legion Poppy Factory, Sara Jones, and members of the Royal British Legion.
Both Philip and Harry placed a cross of remembrance in front of two wooden crosses from the graves of unknown British soldiers from the First and Second World Wars.
A 56-year-old woman has been arrested by officers from the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command in north-west London on suspicion of disseminating a terrorist publication, the force said today.
Hannah Gelbart
BBC London News
New figures from London Fire Brigade show which London boroughs have the highest incidence of call-outs on Bonfire Night.
How did your borough do?
The borough with the highest number of fires attended on 5 November was Tower Hamlets, with 374 since 2006, whereas the City of London only had six.
A report by the London Assembly, external has found average student rents in London were £157.48 per week in 2012-13, a rise of 26% from £125.34 in 2009-10.
Labour Assembly Member Tom Copley warned: "Unless the mayor takes action, students from ordinary families will be priced-out of the capital’s campuses and from realising their full potential in some of the world’s best universities.”
A spokeswoman for the London mayor said: “The mayor is very mindful of students’ housing needs, and introduced a new policy this year to expand student housing by between 20,000 and 31,000 places over the decade to 2025."
The sight of stags locking horns to claim hard-fought mating rights is an enduring symbol of autumn.
But London's Royal Parks managers say the rutting season is under threat, external from amateur photographers who throw the animals off their stride.
Despite the foreign secretary's assurance that flights to the Egyptian resort should resume tomorrow, tour operator Thomas Cook is currently advising it has cancelled all flights and holidays there up to and including 12 November.
The firm said: "The health and safety of our customers and staff is our absolute priority," and added it would be bringing all 1,700 customers currently in Sharm el-Sheikh back "in due course".
You can follow the latest updates on this moving story here.
BBC Radio London
Our very own Robert Elms picked up a special award last night at the BBC Local Radio Frank Gillard Awards.
Robert was presented with the Outstanding Contribution Award for services to local radio after 21 years at BBC Radio London.
BBC Radio London Editor David Robey said: “It's fantastic that Robert has been acknowledged with this award because he has done more for radio in London than any other presenter. He's been entertaining our listeners for more than two decades with his incomparable passion and knowledge for all things London."
Not only does the BBC think he's pretty special but so do these fans, external.
Vanessa Feltz picked up a bronze award for best mid-morning show in BBC Local Radio. Well done to you both!
More than £45m worth of gold and jewellery was stolen from Asian families in London, external over the past financial year, the Met has revealed.
Image source, Met PoliceIt's warning Londoners to guard against gangs of thieves during Diwali, the five-day Hindu festival of light that takes place next week.
