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'I sang every aria just in case it was my last time'

Three London musicians who survived cancer have released a song called About Time to give a voice to people still on waiting lists for treatment, and to those recovering from the disease.

Soprano opera singer Monica McGhee, 36, based in south-east London, wrote the song after she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

Ms McGhee said she was so worried she would never be able to sing again that she performed arias from all her dream roles the night before her surgery.

A rail operator serving south east England has announced what services will be added to its new timetable, which starts in December.

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which operates the Thameslink, Southern and Gatwick Express services, is making the changes from 15 December.

The changes include four extra evening services running on the London Victoria - East Grinstead route, on a Monday to Friday.

Two services will leave the London terminal at 20:20 GMT and 21:20 and two return services will leave East Grinstead at 21:36 and 22:36.

'Men can really let their guard down on our walks'

"They can really let their guard down with us," says the founder of a men's mental health initiative in London.

Scott Johnson, 37, from Bermondsey, south London, started The Proper Blokes Club CIC in September 2020.

It now supports around 500 men at weekly walk and talk sessions in 15 locations around the capital.

"The trajectory has gone through the roof now," he said. "And the more it grows, the more it is helping people who need the support."

'Making a difference'

Police watchdog lead defends Chris Kaba decision

The man who led the investigation into the shooting of Chris Kaba has defended the decision that led to a firearms officer being unsuccessfully tried for murder.

Sal Naseem's assessment that murder may have been committed has drawn fierce criticism following the acquittal of the officer. But speaking publicly for the first time about the case, he told BBC Panorama that in his opinion, he had not been convinced that Mr Kaba presented a sufficient danger to justify being shot.

Thousands march over riots and deaths in custody

Thousands of people have joined three different marches in London, focusing on the UK’s summer riots and the deaths of people in police custody.

An annual event by United Families and Friends Campaign took place in Trafalgar Square remembering those who have died in police custody, and was attended by hundreds including the family of Chris Kaba.

Chris Kaba trial a farce - ex-Met firearms officer

A former Met Police marksman, who was cleared of the murder of a suspected armed robber, has said the case against Martyn Blake was "a farce from start to finish".

Mr Blake, 40, shot Chris Kaba in the forehead during a police vehicle stop in Streatham, south London, in September 2022.

The officer, who was cleared of murder earlier this week, told the Old Bailey how he feared one of his colleagues might be killed by 24-year-old Mr Kaba, who had been boxed in by police cars and was trying to ram his way free.

Kaba case traumatising, say black community leaders

Black communities in south London are really traumatised and feel they have been denied justice after a police officer was cleared of murdering Chris Kaba, community leaders have said.

About 150 people gathered for a vigil outside the Old Bailey in central London on Monday after jurors returned their verdict.

In Croydon on Tuesday, some residents were reluctant to speak to BBC London about the case, but two community leaders sat down to discuss how people were feeling.

Chris Kaba, the man shot dead by a police firearms officer in south London, was named as the gunman in a nightclub shooting days before he died, it can now be reported.

Mr Kaba was shot in the head during an armed vehicle stop in Streatham on 5 September 2022.

It can now be reported that he shot a man in both legs at the Oval Space nightclub in Hackney, east London, on 30 August 2022.

He was a rapper who performed under the names Madix or Mad Itch and was part of the 67 gang, a UK drill group and infamous gang.

Officer thought colleague hit by car in Kaba case

A firearms officer has told the Old Bailey she feared one of her colleagues had been hit by a car moments before Chris Kaba was fatally shot during a police stop.

The officer, referred to as HA10 to protect her anonymity, said it had been an “incredibly frightening” event that culminated in the death of the 24-year-old in London, on 5 September 2022.

That night, Met Police officer Martyn Blake shot Mr Kaba through the windscreen of an Audi car which had been linked to a shotgun incident the night before.

'Two thirds of respondents oppose latest LTN'

Campaigners in south London have said they plan to take the council to the High Court over the introduction of a new Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN).

The West Dulwich Action Group said 67% of people who responded to a consultation about an 18-month trial on Idmiston Road "were either unhappy or very unhappy with what was proposed".

Lambeth Council's deputy leader councillor Rezina Chowdhury said "we know these things work" and that other LTNs had reduced traffic and the number of accidents.