wildfire
Losing my leg has elevated my life, says world champion surfer
Four-time world champion adaptive surfer Llywelyn Williams says losing his leg as a teenager elevated his life. Surfing played a pivotal role in his recovery and in the years since losing a leg after being hit by a car in 2011. It had been a passion of the then 16-year-old prior to the accident - and it was not going to stop him despite being severely injured while out skateboarding. In fact, he recalled coming around from a coma in hospital amid a dream that a surfboard came between him and a bright light like you see in the movies. It wasn't my time, said Williams, from Abersoch, Gwynedd.
Primark's new 'supermarket tactic' to woo customers in online price war
Primark's new'supermarket tactic' to woo customers in online price war It is something I keep hearing shoppers say when I ask them whether they shop at the fast-fashion giant. It's definitely got more expensive, says 19-year-old student Eshal Malik as she browses the jewellery at Primark with a friend. But that might be about to change. Primark said on Monday that it was lowering prices on hundreds of clothing items, including jeans, jumpers and socks. It's the kind of headline you'd expect from M&S or Next, says retail analyst Natalie Berg, explaining that price cuts like this from such a low-cost retailer are surprising.
Rental searches for pet friendly properties drop after law change
Rightmove searches for rental properties that allow pets have plummeted since law changes gave renters more rights. Following the introduction of the new rules, pet searches dropped by more than 50% in May and June compared with a year earlier. Landlords in England cannot unreasonably refuse pets in their properties under changes made in May in the Renters' Rights Act. But agents say some renters wrongly believe permission to have a pet is guaranteed, and landlords say some homes remain unsuitable for multiple pets or large dogs. Landlords must consider requests fairly and cannot unreasonably refuse them, but they can still decline where there is a valid reason, said Megan Eighteen, immediate past president of lettings agents trade body ARLA Propertymark. She said there was plenty of potential for misunderstanding, among tenants about pet-friendly properties.
US and Iran trade more strikes in Gulf as fears of escalation mount
Iran says it has carried out drone strikes on US military facilities and bases across the Middle East in retaliation for the 13th consecutive night of American attacks on the country. Explosions were reported along Iran's Gulf coast, and in western, northern and central areas. Four people were killed and five injured in an attack in the south-west, Iranian state media said. Iran later announced strikes on US-allied Kuwait, while sirens sounded in Bahrain and Jordan, and flights were suspended at a major Iraqi airport after a reported drone crash. It comes as Iran condemned the US plan to use frozen Iranian assets to pay for war damages, in a sign of further escalation between the two countries.
Wildfire spotted from space as helicopter brought in to tackle blaze
Satellite images have captured plumes of smoke and damage caused by a wildfire in north Wales. Data gathered by BBC Verify suggests an estimated 951 hectares (2,350 acres) of the Rhinogydd mountains in Gwynedd have been burned by a wildfire which broke out earlier this month. Nasa's satellite-based FIRMS monitoring system has also detected heat signatures from four areas of Wales where wildfires have broken out. Natural Resources Wales said a specialist firefighting helicopter will be deployed to Rhinogydd on Friday morning after calls for aerial support. On Wednesday the Welsh government activated crisis management arrangements to tackle the wildfires that have broken out across Wales.
Cairngorms wildfire burns for third day across nearly four miles
Firefighters are spending a third day tackling a major wildfire which has led to evacuations in the Cairngorms. The blaze started in heathland at Ryvoan Bothy, near Nethy Bridge, late on Wednesday morning and had spread across 3.7 miles (6km) by Thursday afternoon. A number of homes and businesses, including campsites and a ski resort in the Glenmore Forest Park area have been closed and evacuated as a safety precaution. A helicopter joined the firefighting efforts on Thursday night. Nine fire appliances and specialist resources remained at the scene on Friday morning.
What to know about the Canadian and US wildfires and their impact
Cities across north-eastern Canada and the US are suffering from intense smoke brought on by wildfires burning across Ontario and Minnesota. Residents in New York, Boston and Toronto have been encouraged to avoid strenuous activity over potential health impacts caused by the pollution. Canada wildfires leave train'encased in flames' as smoke drifts towards US Where are the wildfires and how did they start? There are currently 858 wildfires actively burning across Canada - nearly 200 of those in Ontario - according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Along the northern edge of Minnesota there are 17 fires that are still burning and an emergency declaration is in place to help mobilise suppression efforts.
British couple return to village at heart of deadly Spanish wildfire
As we climbed the winding road to Bédar, we emerged into a charred and desolate landscape. Molten car parts littered our path and out of the window we saw the whole hillside now coated in a dusty black. At least 13 people, including five believed to be Britons, were killed by Thursday's wildfire in Spain's Almeria province, one of the country's deadliest ever. The toll rose on Sunday after a 93-year-old woman, believed to be British, died of her injuries in hospital. The identities of those killed have not yet been officially confirmed.
Major incident declared in Wales as firefighters tackle wildfires across UK
A large-scale wildfire in north Wales as been declared a major incident by emergency services, as firefighters tackle fires across England and Wales during the record-breaking heatwave. Residents near Conwy Mountain and the Sychnant Pass have been evacuated, while members of the public were warned to avoid the area. In Greater Manchester, fire crews are working to contain a moorland fire near a reservoir, while in Camberley, Hampshire, crews are extinguishing a large heathland fire. Wildfires burned in County Durham, Derbyshire, East Sussex, West Sussex, Devon and Somerset over the weekend, during a warning that parts of the country were facing an exceptional risk for fires. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said in an update on Sunday afternoon that it was working in challenging conditions in order to contain the Conwy Mountain fire, with operations expected to continue for some time.
Badly burned British couple rescued from ravine during Spain wildfires, reports say
A British couple have been found down a ravine, badly burned and semi-conscious, after being caught up in the deadly wildfires that tore through Spain's Almeria province, according to local media. The pair are thought to have been out hiking when they were caught up in the blaze, which spread rapidly through the province on Thursday. They were evacuated and taken to hospital where they are in intensive care. Hundreds of firefighters have been battling the fires, which have claimed the lives of 12 people, including four believed to be Britons, and burned through 6,600 hectares (16,300 acres), local authorities said. The identities of those killed have not yet been officially confirmed.