A serial sex offender who was being monitored by the Metropolitan Police has been found guilty of murdering two women and raping a third in London.

Simon Levy killed Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo, 53, in March 2025 and 39-year-old Sheryl Wilkins five months later.

The 40-year-old also raped a third woman in January 2025 in the same Tottenham car park where Wilkins was later found dead.

During his trial at the Old Bailey, jurors heard Levy had been convicted of several sexual assaults dating back to July 2018, including one carried out against a prison officer in 2022.

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A group of academics is calling for an independent investigation into the appointment of Jason Arday, who resigned from his University of Cambridge roles following allegations of plagiarism.

The professor of education has also faced accusations of fabricating or exaggerating elements of his CV. He has defended himself and his work.

Attention has now turned to Cambridge's handling of concerns about Arday, who became its youngest-ever black professor in 2023, as well as his upcoming memoir.

Cambridge said findings from an investigation into Arday's academic qualifications and appointments would "feed into" a new review on the appointment process for senior academic roles.

The university said on Friday that it would "continue to investigate the circumstances around Jason Arday's appointment and tenure". A spokesperson declined to comment further when approached by the BBC.

Priyamvada Gopal, professor of postcolonial studies at Cambridge and among those calling for an independent probe, said the university was facing "massive reputational damage" over the affair.

"This is reputational damage that has upset colleagues across disciplines, across the political spectrum," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Friday.

"I've been quite struck by the number of people who are very upset by what has happened. So I don't think it is an option for Cambridge to just sweep this under the carpet and not take any action at all."

Cambridge announced on Wednesday that it had begun an investigation into "new information" about Arday's academic qualifications and appointments, having already said it was looking into allegations of plagiarism.

But Gopal said the university should not be "marking its own homework", adding that the group of academics of which she is a part had suggested a mix of senior academics at Cambridge and elsewhere to conduct an investigation.

Accusations of plagiarism in Arday's work were first voiced by Nathan Cofnas - a US researcher whose role at a Cambridge college was terminated after backlash against his view that under a true meritocracy black people would "disappear from almost all high-profile positions outside of sports and entertainment".

He highlighted that plagiarism detection software had found several tracts of Arday's PhD dissertation to be copied verbatim or lightly rephrased from prior academic works by other authors.

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), which awarded Arday's PhD, has said it investigated the allegations of plagiarism last year and dismissed them, saying they were likely the result of "honest and reasonable error".

It told the BBC on Friday that its position remains unchanged in light of recent events and that his PhD "still stands".

Cofnas also noted that a retired professor had previously raised concerns about Arday's subsequent academic articles, which led to two journals issuing correction notes, and raised questions about some of his claimed achievements, including extensive marathon running and raising millions for charity.

Several universities at which Arday claimed on his CV to have had academic positions have since denied him having those roles.

The controversy has attracted a range of opinions, including within academia, about whether he had been scrutinised unfairly because of his race.

Arday has admitted errors in his work but denied plagiarism, saying his autism and a lack of adequate supervision early in his academic career may have contributed to those mistakes. He also denied lying about his achievements.

He said his decision to step down should not "be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me", which he has previously said were "racially motivated".

Gopal said universities were "being targeted in particular by a lazy and false division between academic excellence and diversity and equality on campus", which was "really part of culture wars rather than any part of university life".

She and her colleagues found it "unusual" that Arday had been appointed to a "very senior, very prestigious" post early in his career - and that he had been put forward in the media with "frankly a bit of a target on his back".

Gopal also said any investigation should review "whether the university was involved in any way or any level with efforts to deter journalists from reporting on the allegations".

This came after it emerged the Metropolitan Police investigated Times Higher Education (THE) reporter Jack Grove over a complaint of harassment after he contacted Arday concerning allegations of plagiarism last year.

The Telegraph also reported that Arday hired law firm Carter-Ruck to send a letter to THE which implied that the "apparent attack" on Arday might be "racially motivated".

The Met closed the case and Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley apologised for the investigation, telling LBC on Thursday that the complaint should have been "screened out earlier on as not requiring investigation".

Acclaimed British music producer William Orbit, known for his work with acts including Madonna, Blur, All Saints and U2, has died at the age of 69.

A statement released on Friday by Orbit's family and friends said he died at home on 23 July. No cause of death was given.

"He will be greatly missed by us and by so many whose lives he touched through his music, friendship and kindness," the statement said.

North London-born Orbit, who real name was William Wainwright, helped to reinvigorate Madonna's career in 1998 with the album Ray of Light, which blended electronic dance music and ambient techno with pop.

It went on to win three Grammy Awards and remains, for many people, the Queen of Pop's greatest record.

Blur's experimental 1999 record 13 also came under the influence of Orbit, along with All Saints' chart-topping album Saints & Sinners.

His other credits included U2's 2002 single Electrical Storm, which was featured on a compilation album by the Irish band.

Orbit released his own acclaimed electronic-classical crossover record, Pieces in a Modern Style, in 1995.

His first victim was attacked was on a busy Tube in central London.

Levy boarded and positioned himself directly in front of the woman, before leaning his elbow on her. She moved away.

A few minutes later, she felt something touch her, over her clothes, on her vagina. Such was the force Levy used, that she felt like it was an attempt to push his fingers inside her through clothing.

She grabbed Levy's hand and asked what he was doing, but he did not respond.

When other passengers asked if she was alright, Levy protested his innocence.

"What are you talking about - look my hand is covered," he said, pointing to the jumper draped over his arm.

Levy then called her "crazy" and "stupid" and got off the tube at Westminster Station.

The woman got off at the next stop, upset and crying.

She went on to report the assault to BTP. There was CCTV available of Levy, but police did not identify him. He would only be linked to the case two years later, after more women had been attacked.

A year after his first Tube assault, he assaulted three more women in quick succession and was arrested.

After being assaulted herself, the first of those three victims then filmed Levy sexually assaulting a second, unidentified woman, travelling in the same carriage.

The first woman immediately reported what had happened to BTP and provided the footage. Levy assaulted a third woman a week later.

After he had been questioned and had denied the three offences, BTP officers said they did not have enough evidence to charge, and he was released on bail.

The subsequent British Transport Police investigation was full of delays. It was weeks before identity parades were arranged, and BTP did not approach the CPS for six months.

When it did, in May 2025, a CPS team had to scramble to make an emergency charging decision overnight, because BTP had again arrested Levy and wanted him in court the next day. This was highly unusual - BTP had known about the initial offences for six months.

In a statement, BTP Assistant Chief Constable Charlie Doyle said: "It is clear that opportunities to expedite the investigation were missed and we have amended our procedures to address these issues to ensure that repeat offenders are dealt with expeditiously and that linked offences are prioritised more effectively."

A group of academics is calling for an independent investigation into the appointment of Jason Arday, who resigned from his University of Cambridge roles following allegations of plagiarism.

The professor of education has also faced accusations of fabricating or exaggerating elements of his CV. He has defended himself and his work.

Attention has now turned to Cambridge's handling of concerns about Arday, who became its youngest-ever black professor in 2023, as well as his upcoming memoir.

Cambridge said findings from an investigation into Arday's academic qualifications and appointments would "feed into" a new review on the appointment process for senior academic roles.

The university said on Friday that it would "continue to investigate the circumstances around Jason Arday's appointment and tenure". A spokesperson declined to comment further when approached by the BBC.

Priyamvada Gopal, professor of postcolonial studies at Cambridge and among those calling for an independent probe, said the university was facing "massive reputational damage" over the affair.

"This is reputational damage that has upset colleagues across disciplines, across the political spectrum," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Friday.

"I've been quite struck by the number of people who are very upset by what has happened. So I don't think it is an option for Cambridge to just sweep this under the carpet and not take any action at all."

Cambridge announced on Wednesday that it had begun an investigation into "new information" about Arday's academic qualifications and appointments, having already said it was looking into allegations of plagiarism.

But Gopal said the university should not be "marking its own homework", adding that the group of academics of which she is a part had suggested a mix of senior academics at Cambridge and elsewhere to conduct an investigation.

Accusations of plagiarism in Arday's work were first voiced by Nathan Cofnas - a US researcher whose role at a Cambridge college was terminated after backlash against his view that under a true meritocracy black people would "disappear from almost all high-profile positions outside of sports and entertainment".

He highlighted that plagiarism detection software had found several tracts of Arday's PhD dissertation to be copied verbatim or lightly rephrased from prior academic works by other authors.

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), which awarded Arday's PhD, has said it investigated the allegations of plagiarism last year and dismissed them, saying they were likely the result of "honest and reasonable error".

It told the BBC on Friday that its position remains unchanged in light of recent events and that his PhD "still stands".

Cofnas also noted that a retired professor had previously raised concerns about Arday's subsequent academic articles, which led to two journals issuing correction notes, and raised questions about some of his claimed achievements, including extensive marathon running and raising millions for charity.

Several universities at which Arday claimed on his CV to have had academic positions have since denied him having those roles.

The controversy has attracted a range of opinions, including within academia, about whether he had been scrutinised unfairly because of his race.

Arday has admitted errors in his work but denied plagiarism, saying his autism and a lack of adequate supervision early in his academic career may have contributed to those mistakes. He also denied lying about his achievements.

He said his decision to step down should not "be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me", which he has previously said were "racially motivated".

Gopal said universities were "being targeted in particular by a lazy and false division between academic excellence and diversity and equality on campus", which was "really part of culture wars rather than any part of university life".

She and her colleagues found it "unusual" that Arday had been appointed to a "very senior, very prestigious" post early in his career - and that he had been put forward in the media with "frankly a bit of a target on his back".

Gopal also said any investigation should review "whether the university was involved in any way or any level with efforts to deter journalists from reporting on the allegations".

This came after it emerged the Metropolitan Police investigated Times Higher Education (THE) reporter Jack Grove over a complaint of harassment after he contacted Arday concerning allegations of plagiarism last year.

The Telegraph also reported that Arday hired law firm Carter-Ruck to send a letter to THE which implied that the "apparent attack" on Arday might be "racially motivated".

The Met closed the case and Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley apologised for the investigation, telling LBC on Thursday that the complaint should have been "screened out earlier on as not requiring investigation".

At least seven people have been killed and more than 30 injured after a 14-year-old boy opened fire at his home and school on the outskirts of Thailand's capital Bangkok.

The student killed his grandparents and five teachers before taking his own life, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters. The attacker still had "more than 30 bullets left" when he turned the gun on himself, the PM added.

Nine of the injured people remain in a critical condition, authorities added.

The school in Nonthaburi province is a local branch of the renowned Debsirin School, which in Thailand is widely associated with educational prestige.

Police were deployed to the scene during the active shooting.

National police chief police general Kittiratt Phanphet told reporters that forensic officers had found the gunman's shots were quite accurate, with several hitting vital spots on the body.

The PM said the attack was "well prepared" with "clear steps and clear goals".

The attacker has not been publicly named.

But Maloney added: "Even for the game at the weekend, it's sort of day-to-day. We saw him last night with regards to the preparation for the game and then he wasn't in today.

"I'll speak to him this afternoon and then he'll make a call for tomorrow. And then I'd imagine he'll make the call for the game at the weekend.

"But, if it's this weekend, great. If it isn't, then we'll prepare for it with that one."

Maloney, who has managed Hibernian and Wigan, admitted it would be "strange" if he has to take charge at Rugby Park.

"We'll definitely miss him if he's not there but you also have to respect what's happened the last few days," he said.

"The impact that he's had over, what was it, since October, it's been nothing short of incredible really - the things that he does with the players and the staff.

"So we will miss him, but we'll be prepared. We've got some brilliant senior players, but we'll see. We'll let him make the call."

Maloney did not expect any new signings to be made, such as the reported bid for Oviedo's Egyptian winger Haissem Hassan, before Sunday's game and admitted those matters were still exclusively between O'Neill and chief executive Michael Nicholson.

The former Scotland midfielder knew there was interest in midfielder Arne Engels and right-back Alistair Johnston, but had no reason to believe they would not be in the squad to face Kilmarnock.

Jos Buttler says a conversation with England batting coach Marcus Trescothick helped him rediscover the form that took his past the all-time T20 run-scoring record.

The England wicketkeeper broke Kieron Pollard's mark of 14,803 as he recorded a 20-ball 51 for Manchester Super Giants on Wednesday - his third 50+ score in four innings.

Buttler also hammered a 64-ball 131 in his most recent international outing, a T20 victory over India at Southampton last month, but struggled in the format's World Cup earlier this year, averaging 10.87 from eight matches as England went out in the semi-finals.

The 35-year-old said: "Marcus Trescothick said this to me, 'if you work on your technique, it allows your mind to free up'.

"A lot of time when people are out of form, it's like you've got to get out your own way. You're in your head, it's mental and you've got to lose that.

"Ultimately, I feel like I can't see the ball very well when I'm not playing well. So I was looking at the position I get to when the ball is coming out of the hand, and I worked back.

"I felt like my trigger movement was twisting as opposed to staying in line. I like to get into that position where I can see the ball really well, the angle of the bat second slip or third slip as opposed to pointing at the wicketkeeper.

"So once I'd made the technical stuff and was comfortable and happy with that, my mindset was much better."

Buttler is the second-highest run scorer in this season's Hundred with 277, behind only Sunrisers Leeds' Mitch Marsh with 290.

He also has the second-most sixes with 20, again behind Australian Marsh who has 23.

Former England opener Trescothick, meanwhile, will take interim charge of the Test side for the forthcoming series against Pakistan following Brendon McCullum's sacking.

"Sometimes, your technique can slip a little bit, in T20 cricket especially." added Buttler, who was speaking while promoting the ECB's Cricket Cities project, which provides opportunities to get active through cricket.

"But I think your game is always evolving and technique is always evolving a little bit. If I watch myself back now compared to when I was 25 there's differences.

"I do think Marcus was like right, that it was a technical change that allowed my mind to be freer."

Two companies have been found guilty of health and safety breaches after a coach driver was killed by a falling window pane.

Mick Ferris, 53, died when glass weighing 130kg fell 300ft (90m) from a penthouse flat at The Corniche tower block on Albert Embankment in central London in October 2018.

St James Group Ltd and specialist contractors Lindner Prater Ltd were convicted at Inner London Crown Court of "failing to discharge a duty" under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The firms will be sentenced on 24 September.

Foster + Partners, the architecture firm behind The Gherkin, and engineering consultants Wintech Ltd were cleared of the same charges.

During the trial, the court heard the "extraordinary" fact that a window panel had already fallen from the same development in August 2017, and the design was not substantially changed as a result.

Prosecuting, Gordon Menzies said: "It's reasonably practicable for clever people to do a simple thing and design a window that doesn't fall out once every year."

Since the Premier League began in 1992, only three players have won the men's Ballon d'Or while representing an English top-flight club: Liverpool's Michael Owen in 2001, Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008 and Manchester City's Rodri in 2024.

What England has been exceptionally good at is providing the environment in which elite talents become global stars.

Dennis Bergkamp arrived at Arsenal after a difficult spell at Inter Milan and became one of the Premier League's most influential players. Eric Cantona had already shown flashes of his talent in France and at Leeds before becoming the emblem of Manchester United's first great Premier League side.

Thierry Henry arrived in north London after an underwhelming spell at Juventus before developing into one of his generation's outstanding forwards. Ronaldo joined United as an exciting 18-year-old from Sporting, won the Ballon d'Or five years later, then signed for Real Madrid the following summer.

Erling Haaland is perhaps the clearest recent example. Already one of Europe's most coveted young forwards when Manchester City signed him from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, Haaland had yet to reach the level he has in England.

That is different from signing a player such as Vinicius after he has already won multiple Champions Leagues and established himself among the world's most recognisable footballers.

There have been exceptions, but many of the biggest names arrived after their peak.

The clearest comparison to Vinicius is Andriy Shevchenko, who joined Chelsea from AC Milan in 2006 at the age of 29. He had won the Ballon d'Or only two years earlier and finished fifth in 2005, making him one of the rare established global superstars to move to the Premier League while still close to the height of his career.

Other Ballon d'Or winners such as Ruud Gullit and George Weah also joined Chelsea, but later in their careers, while Ronaldo returned to United at 36, Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrived at 34, and Jurgen Klinsmann signed for Tottenham at 30.

The Football Association has banned solid perimeter walls around pitches after a safety review was launched following the death of former Arsenal youth player Billy Vigar.

The 21-year-old died after sustaining a "significant brain injury" while playing for Chichester City at Wingate and Finchley FC in September 2025.

It is thought the injury was caused when he collided with a concrete wall.

The review, conducted by independent health and safety experts for the 2026-27 season, said it "no longer permits solid brick, breeze block or concrete barriers around pitches across the National League system for men [steps 1-6], and the Women's National League [tiers 3-4]".

An FA statement added: "Any existing solid brick, breeze block or concrete barriers must be removed as soon as reasonably practicable, or covered with suitable protection if they cannot be removed for structural reasons.

"We have informed the clubs at this level that will be required to take action as a result of these changes."

Matches at affected grounds can continue as long as clubs assess "the safety of their pitch perimeter barriers on an ongoing basis" and plan to make changes "within a reasonable timeframe".

The FA and Premier League will provide funding to facilitate the changes.

After Vigar's death, a petition calling for a ban on brick walls around football pitches has received more than 4,000 signatures.

The government and the Professional Footballers' Association wrote to the FA, Premier League, English Football League and National League in June 2023, calling on them to adopt a more proactive approach to player safety in this area.

That came after Bath City's Alex Fletcher suffered a fractured skull after colliding with a concrete advertising hoarding during a match in November 2022.