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Firefighter rescues children on fourth day in job
A London firefighter who rescued three children from a flat fire on his fourth day in the job has been praised for his "calm response".
Zekel Johnson, 30, was dispatched from West Norwood Fire Station to London Road, Croydon, after an e-bike battery exploded and started a fire in the building's communal hallway.
"I could see people at the second-floor window, with smoke pouring out, waving their arms. The officer in charge said someone needed to go up the ladder immediately and I did not hesitate," Mr Johnson said.
He climbed the 13.5-metre ladder and helped a child out of the window before rescuing two more children. Four adults were also assisted down the ladder.
Naveen Narayanasankar, who was inside the property, said: "I had just finished work and returned home and was eating dinner in the kitchen when suddenly we heard a blast from downstairs.
"I opened the door and there was a lot of smoke already. The people downstairs were telling us there was a fire.
"Everyone in the flat woke up but there was so much smoke, we couldn't see or breathe properly. We called the fire brigade and went to the window for help where firefighters helped rescue us."
A total of six adults and three children were assessed at the scene by London Ambulance Service after breathing in smoke but did not require hospital treatment.
London Fire Brigade (LFB) assistant commissioner for fire stations, Andy Pennick, said: "The exceptional actions of our crews at this incident ensured swift rescues and limited fire spread.
"It is rare for a firefighter to attend an incident of this significance so quickly into their career and I'd like to commend Firefighter Johnson for his assured and calm response to rescue this family."
Firefighters Alex Wimbush and Virgil Mbashime, who were among the first crews to tackle the fire, which happened on 28 October, described the blaze as "intense" and "incredibly hot" and said the conditions were nothing like they had faced before.
Following an investigation, the LFB said it believed the most probable cause of the fire was the failure of a lithium-ion battery pack for a manufactured e-bike.
The e-bike was stored in the hallway and the battery pack had reportedly been charging shortly before the fire.
Wrestler Jeff Jarrett Reveals Taylor Swift Put on a 3-Hour Private Concert for His Wife Before She Died of Cancer
Taylor Swift is due for some good “karma,” according to professional wrestler Jeff Jarrett.
In a new interview with TMZ Sports, the WWE Hall of Famer, 58, said he’s known the pop star, 35, since she “was a little girl." Swift not only babysat his daughters, but also performed at an impromptu and intimate concert at his home after his wife was diagnosed with cancer, he said.
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Pat Butcher to return to EastEnders in episode focused on dementia
EastEnders favourite Pat Evans, formerly Pat Butcher, is to return to the BBC soap for a one-off comeback episode over the Christmas period.
The character, played by Pam St Clement, was beloved by viewers for more than 25 years for her no-nonsense personality and memorable taste in earrings.
Pat died in 2012, but was later seen on-screen again with Dame Barbara Windsor, when she returned as a figment of the dying Peggy's imagination in 2016.
She will now similarly come back, acting alongside Paul Bradley as Nigel, whose memories take him back to the 90s, as part of a storyline about his dementia next month.
'Coming home'
"I was both surprised and excited to be asked back to tread the streets of Walford once again and to be involved in Nigel's touching dementia storyline," St Clement, 83, said.
"It was lovely to be welcomed back by those with whom I had worked for so long. It was just like coming home."
Pat returns to help Nigel when his dementia symptoms intensify, following an emotional evening at his festive film screening.
St Clement first appeared in EastEnders in 1986 and was at the heart of the drama in Albert Square until her character's death.
EastEnders executive producer Ben Wadey said: "It's an honour and a privilege to welcome Pam St Clement back to EastEnders for a special episode in Nigel's ongoing dementia storyline.
"Pat Evans is one of the most cherished and iconic characters to have graced the streets of Walford, and I know I speak on behalf of everyone when I say what a delight it was to see Pat and Pam back in The Queen Vic, as she helps Nigel in his time of need."
Pat is one of a number of classic characters who have made a return to Walford.
Anita Dobson's Queen Vic landlady Angie Watts made a surprise return to visit her daughter Sharon, as she drifted in and out of consciousness in the show's 40th anniversary episode in February.
Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) and Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) are back in the Square, while Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) and Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman) made recent short-term comebacks.
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Halle Bailey and DDG Drop Restraining Orders Against Each Other After Nearly 5 Months
Halle Bailey and DDG have dropped their restraining orders against each other.
Bailey was initially granted a temporary restraining order against the YouTuber, whose real name is Darryl Dwayne Granberry Jr., in May after alleging physical and verbal abuse, per court documents obtained by PEOPLE.
Meanwhile, her ex-boyfriend and the father of her 1½-year-old son, Halo, requested an emergency hearing and a domestic violence restraining order in June, claiming that Bailey posed an "imminent emotional and psychological risk to the minor child based on repeated, documented threats of self-harm."
Nearly five months later, The Little Mermaid star, 25, and DDG, 28, have dropped their restraining orders against each other following past claims of domestic violence, per court documents filed on Monday, Oct. 27 in the Superior Court of Los Angeles and obtained by PEOPLE on Tuesday, Oct. 28. TMZ was first to report the news.
"The parties each reserve her/his rights to resurrect any and all DV allegations," the filing states.
According to the filing, the dismissal "may not be used as evidence against the party(s) seeking new orders." Bailey and DDG can, however, re-file.
Per the documents, the former couple have agreed not to publicly disparage one another.
Per the documents, the pair also came to a temporary custody agreement.
DDG will be permitted visitation with Halo on Wednesdays and select weekends. The exes have also agreed on a holiday schedule.
PEOPLE has reached out to both Bailey and DDG's teams for comments but did not immediately hear back.
In August, court documents obtained by PEOPLE and filed by the family division of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, banned the Grown-ish actress and DDG from posting or sharing “photographs, images and/or information” online of their son.
Per the documents, there was also an updated visitation agreement between the former couple, allowing the streamer to have “peaceful contact” with Bailey, solely to coordinate court-ordered visitation of their child.
Chris Brown allowed to return to US as bail conditions changed after alleged London attack
Judge Tony Baumgartner granted the change to the American musician’s bail conditions at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday.
Brown exited the court wearing a white shirt and tie, while making peace signs and waving at onlookers as he got into a car.
Heidi Stonecliffe KC, prosecuting, said the bail conditions remain ‘very stringent’ and ‘numerous’.
The £5 million security fee that Brown was previously ordered to pay to the court remains in place, which is a financial guarantee to ensure a defendant returns to court and may be forfeited if they breach bail conditions.
Brown has pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm to Abraham Diaw at the Tape venue, a private members’ club in Hanover Square, Mayfair, on February 19 2023.
His co-defendant, US national Omololu Akinlolu, 39, has also denied assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The alleged victim, producer Abraham Diaw, was standing at the bar of Tape nightclub when he was allegedly struck several times with a bottle and then pursued to a different part of the venue, where he was said to have been punched and kicked.
Brown was staying at the five-star Lowry Hotel when police came to arrest him on May 15.
A week later, on May 21, Southwark Crown Court heard that he had been released from HMP Forest Bank in Salford, Greater Manchester, under bail conditions and ordered to pay the security fee of £5 million guaranteeing his return.
Brown’s previous bail conditions allowed him to continue with his scheduled international tour.
He had to live at a specific address known to the court and was not allowed to visit the nightclub, or contact Mr Diaw or apply for international travel documents.
He has also denied having an offensive weapon – a bottle – in a public place, as well as attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.
Granting both defendants permission to return to the US, Judge Baumgartner said on Friday: “You will have to come back to the United Kingdom when you are required to do so.”
He reminded them that failure to attend court dates when required could jeopardise the securities.
There were more than a dozen people in the public gallery and the defendants spoke only to confirm their identities and that they understood the new conditions.
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Marcus Rashford dropped by Barcelona for being two minutes late for training
Marcus Rashford was dropped to the bench for Barcelona’s win over Getafe after the Manchester United loanee was two minutes late for a training session.
After scoring his first goals for the club last Thursday with a brilliant brace against Newcastle United in the Champions League, Rashford’s Barcelona career appeared to be up and running.
The forward was expected to retain his place in the starting XI when the La Liga giants hosted Getafe on Sunday, especially with Lamine Yamal still sidelined with injury.
But instead, Ferran Torres was named in the line-up, a decision that paid off as the former Manchester City star scored twice in the first-half.
Rashford came on at half-time for Raphinha and performed well, setting up Dani Olmo to score and seal a 3-0 win.
It was reported after the match that the England international was benched by Hansi Flick after turning up late to a pre-match training session on Sunday, with The Times claiming he was only two minutes late.
This punishment is nothing new, with Rashford the latest in a line of Barcelona players dropped by Flick for their tardiness, with Ballon d’Or frontrunner Raphinha benched only last week for showing up late to a pre-game fitness session.
This is also not the first time that Rashford has been punished for his lack of punctuality.
In December 2022, the 27-year-old overslept and was late for a team meeting, with Erik ten Hag dropping him for United’s subsequent clash against Wolves, where he came off the bench to score the winner.
After falling out a favour with Ruben Amorim, Rashford left Old Trafford over the summer to join Barcelona, who have the option to make the transfer permanent for £26million.
UFC legend Rampage Jackson ‘cut off’ contact with his son, says he should spend ‘a little’ time in jail for attacking pro wrestler
UFC legend Rampage Jackson has cut contact with his son, Raja, and called for the MMA fighter to be jailed for brutally attacking and hospitalizing a professional wrestler.
Jackson, 47, says he hasn’t spoken with his 25-year-old son due to the vicious assault on Aug. 23, when Raja disrupted a KnokX Pro’s KnokXperience event in California and beat wrestler Syko Stu unconscious.
“I don’t talk to Raja no more,” Jackson told “The Ariel Helwani Show” on Wednesday. “I talked to him, I heard his story and I heard some stuff and then after I learned a whole lot of stuff about it.”
“He dishonored my name,” Jackson said. “I know he’s my f–king son. I’m not cutting him off for forever. I just haven’t talked to him. I talked to him after this s–t happened and he hid the fact that he did this s–t and you know put my other kids at danger based off what other people said. I just can’t talk to him right now.”