Communal violence kills three in Nepal

A major industrial fire near London has forced the closure of the M25 in both directions, triggering widespread traffic disruption and fears of possible explosions. The blaze broke out at a commercial premises in Ventura Park, near St Albans, shortly after 9.20am on Tuesday. Huge plumes of thick smoke could be seen rising over the motorway as firefighters rushed to contain the fire. The M25 has been closed between Junction 21A and Junction 22, with motorists warned to avoid the area and use alternative routes. Emergency services took the decision to close the motorway amid concerns over smoke, falling debris and the potential for secondary explosions from the industrial site. Multiple fire appliances have been deployed to tackle the blaze, while police officers are also at the scene managing the emergency and surrounding traffic. National Highways has warned motorists to expect significant delays and congestion, urging drivers to allow extra time for their journeys or avoid the affected area altogether. The incident has caused major disruption on one of London’s key orbital routes, with congestion building on surrounding roads as traffic is diverted away from the closed section. Residents close to the fire have been advised to keep windows and doors closed because of the heavy smoke. The fire is also close to a railway line, with Network Rail representatives liaising with firefighters as emergency services assess the situation. The cause of the fire has not yet been established. Emergency crews remain at the scene and the M25 will stay closed while firefighters work to bring the blaze under control and authorities determine when it is safe to reopen the motorway. Motorists are being urged not to travel towards the affected section and to follow official traffic and emergency-service instructions. The incident remains ongoing.

The UK government and senior police chiefs have initiated a multi-departmental review to determine why British police forces have routinely ceded primary jurisdiction to the United States military in cases involving serious crimes committed on British soil. Under long-standing legal frameworks governing visiting forces, UK authorities hold primary jurisdiction over off-duty offences committed against local citizens. However, recent investigative revelations exposed multiple instances where forces such as Cambridgeshire and Suffolk Constabulary transferred investigations involving serious sexual assaults to US military prosecutors within days of receiving reports, often without consulting the Crown Prosecution Service. This systemic practice has drawn severe criticism from ministers, cross-party lawmakers, and legal experts due to the significant disparities between the British justice system and the US Uniform Code of Military Justice. Victims tried under US military courts martial face narrower legal definitions of sexual offences, lesser statutory charges, and fewer victim protection measures than those guaranteed in British Crown Courts. The high-profile prosecution of US fighter pilot Captain Jacob Wulfson at RAF Lakenheath, where an all-male military panel acquitted him of sexual assault, prompted Home Office and justice ministers to meet with victims and promise full accountability. Concurrently, the National Police Chiefs’ Council has issued updated guidance to all forces in England and Wales to enforce proper legal referral protocols, while individual constabularies have launched audits into their historic case transfer decisions.