News 15/08/26

Firefighters in South Wales are attending three significant incidents as wildfires continue in parts of the region.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it was attending fires in Cwmavon in Blaenavon, Dowlais in Merthyr Tydfil, and on Llanwonno Mountain in Ferndale.

Crews were also tackling a blaze on the M4 verge next to the westbound carriageway between junction 4b and junction 5.

The Metropolitan Police has apologised after inadvertently disclosing email addresses of around 140 women who say they were sexually abused by late Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed.

Scotland Yard confirmed it copied in those who signed up to receive updates instead of blind copying them. The update revealed three further suspects were interviewed under caution. The force has referred itself to the information commissioner.

A woman was allegedly tasered, raped and beaten in her home by her ex-partner, a court has heard.

In a special sitting at Lisburn Magistrates’ Court, a man in his 40s was charged with two counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, threats to kill, and non-fatal strangulation. The court heard the man previously turned up at her house with a baseball bat.

Andy Burnham has described the death of a former University of Cambridge professor, who was the subject of plagiarism allegations, as a tragedy on so many levels.

Jason Arday was found unresponsive at an address in Battersea on Friday afternoon. The 41-year-old resigned last week. Speaking in Cornwall, the prime minister said it was a tragedy for everybody who knew him, adding thoughts were with his family and friends today.

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Indonesia, causing widespread damage and casualties.

At least 33 people are dead after the quake hit the island of Flores at a shallow depth just before 6am local time, or 11pm UK time, followed by several aftershocks. The earthquake caused significant damage to buildings and key infrastructure across Flores. A tsunami warning was issued by Indonesian authorities shortly after, with coastal residents urged to move immediately to higher ground.

Heathrow Airport has warned access to Terminals 2 and 3 is currently restricted.

Flooding in the central terminal area means anyone travelling to or from either terminal must not travel by road. Passengers are being strongly urged to use rail and underground services instead. Those who must travel by car should use Park and Ride, head to Terminals 4 or 5 and take free rail services from there, or change at local rail stations.

The BBC has sought to subpoena members of Donald Trump’s family for documents and testimony as it defends against the US president’s $10bn, or £7.4bn, defamation lawsuit.

Court filings show representatives attempted in May to serve subpoenas to Donald Trump Jr, Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner. The lawsuit involves a Panorama episode that edited a speech given before the 2021 Capitol riots, for which the BBC apologised while denying defamation grounds.