One of the United Kingdom’s leading news anchors, Huw Edwards, was named by his wife on Wednesday as the BBC presenter who was suspended following allegations over payments for sexually explicit images.

The longtime BBC anchor, one of the network’s highest-earning stars, has led coverage of some of the biggest stories in the UK in recent years, including the death of Queen Elizabeth II last September, royal weddings, elections and the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Edwards’ wife, Vicky Flind, said he was being treated in the hospital with “serious mental health issues,” and that she was issuing the statement on his behalf after days of speculation “primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children,” according to a statement published by BBC News.

The statement came soon after London’s Metropolitan Police said that there was no indication that a criminal offense had been committed.

“Huw is suffering from serious mental health issues. As is well documented, he has been treated for severe depression in recent years,” Flind said. “The events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters, he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he’ll stay for the foreseeable future.”

The statement did not detail any of the allegations made against Edwards over the past week. Flind said that she hoped the statement would bring an end to recent media speculation about other BBC presenters.

“In the circumstances and given Huw’s condition I would like to ask that the privacy of my family and everyone else caught up in these upsetting events is respected,” the statement said.

She also said Edwards “was first told that there were allegations being made against him last Thursday” and that he intends to respond “once well enough to do so.”

The case, which has dominated the British news agenda this week, emerged when The Sun newspaper reported Friday that a mother had accused an unnamed presenter of paying for sexually explicit photographs from her teenage child, who was 17 when contact was first made, and who is now 20.

The BBC suspended “a male member of staff” following the report and said in a statement on Sunday that it first became aware of the complaint in May.

Amid the fevered speculation about the presenter’s identity, a lawyer for the young person at the center of the controversy disputed the claims reported in The Sun, saying in a letter to the BBC that they were “rubbish.”

After assessing the case, police said they had “determined there is no information to indicate that a criminal offense has been committed.”

There were fresh allegations made against the presenter this week, according to BBC News, which reported that a second unnamed person had come forward with claims.

The police said they were aware “of media reporting” regarding the further allegations but “no specific details or information about these allegations have been passed to us and therefore there is no police action at this time,” the police said in its statement on Wednesday.

The BBC said it had seen the police’s statement and would “move forward” with its own investigation.

Who is Huw Edwards?

Edwards is a prominent figure in the British media landscape, known for presenting the BBC’s flagship News at Ten program – equivalent to the anchor of a network evening news program in the US. He has also been the BBC’s go-to anchor for coverage of major state events such as royal weddings and funerals.

After joining the BBC as a trainee in 1984, he pursued a career in political journalism and became the network’s chief political correspondent at Westminster.

In the late 1990s, he cemented his status as one of the BBC’s main anchors, presenting the Six O’Clock News.

More recently, he was the anchor who delivered the news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II on the BBC.

Edwards and his team won a BAFTA in 2012 for their coverage of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding. That same year, he starred as himself in the James Bond film “Skyfall.”

He is one of the BBC’s highest-paid journalists, earning up to £439,999 ($571,470) per year for appearing on air on the News at Six, the News at Ten, the News Channel and news specials, according to the BBC’s latest report on the top salaries it pays.

The Welsh journalist is also an honorary professor of journalism at Cardiff University, and lives in London with his wife and five children.

Questions over The Sun’s reporting

A flurry of disputed claims published by The Sun led to a heated debate over the ethics and standards of its reporting.

The Sun first reported Friday that the then-unnamed presenter had paid the person in question more than £35,000 ($45,000) since they were 17 years old in return for explicit images. It is a criminal offense in the UK to take or obtain sexually explicit photographs of anyone under the age of 18. The Sun later updated its reporting to say only that contact had begin when the youth was 17.

A lawyer for the young person later rebuffed the claims, saying the statement their mother gave to the tabloid was “totally wrong and there was no truth to it,” according to the BBC.

London’s Metropolitan Police said Wednesday that there was no indication that a criminal offense had been committed in the case of the BBC presenter.

After Edwards was named and his mental health struggles revealed, The Sun said it had “no plans to publish further allegations.”

“We must also re-emphasise that The Sun at no point in our original story alleged criminality and also took the decision neither to name Mr Edwards nor the young person involved in the allegations,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

“Suggestions about possible criminality were first made at a later date by other media outlets, including the BBC.”

Some commentators pointed out that that one of the follow-up stories published on The Sun’s website suggested that the then-unnamed presenter could face jail time.

“From the outset, we have reported a story about two very concerned and frustrated parents who made a complaint to the BBC about the behaviour of a presenter and payments from him that fuelled the drug habit of a young person,” The Sun added.

The spokesperson said it was now for the broadcaster to “properly investigate,” adding that The Sun would cooperate with the BBC’s internal investigation.

Iran’s morality police will resume patrols to make women comply with strict Islamic dress codes, state media reported Sunday, 10 months after the death of a young woman in their custody triggered nationwide protests.

Saeid Montazeralmahdi, spokesman for Iran’s enforcement body, Faraja, said police will restart vehicle and foot patrols across the country from Sunday, the state-run Fars news agency reported.

Officers will first warn women who are not complying, while those who “insist on breaking the norms,” may face legal action, he said.

The morality police were cast into the international spotlight in September last year, when 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died three days after being arrested by the force for wearing her hijab, or headscarf, incorrectly and taken to a “re-education” center.

Her death sparked nationwide protests that rocked the country, posing one of the biggest domestic threats to Iran’s ruling clerical regime in more than a decade.

Authorities responded violently to suppress the months-long movement, during which witnesses said the morality police had virtually disappeared from the streets of Tehran.

Iran executed at least 582 people last year, a 75% increase on 2021, according to human rights groups who say the rise reflects an effort by Tehran to instill fear among anti-regime protesters.

The centers act like detention facilities, where women – and sometimes men – are taken into custody for failing to comply with the state’s rules on modesty.

Inside the facilities, detainees are given classes about Islam and the importance of the hijab, and are forced to sign a pledge to abide by the state’s clothing regulations before they are released.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will not seek re-election and will retire from politics, his party said Tuesday.

The announcement came two days before Thailand’s parliament was set to vote for a new prime minister following a May election that saw Thais overwhelmingly reject military-backed rule.

Prayut, 69, has ruled Thailand since 2014, when as army chief, he seized power in a coup and declared himself prime minister. In 2019, his party’s coalition won the most seats in parliament and he was elected leader with the backing of the senate.

Thai opposition parties swept the board in May’s nationwide election as voters delivered a powerful rebuke of the military-backed establishment that has ruled since the coup, capping years of rising anger over how conservative cliques have governed the kingdom.

The progressive Move Forward Party, which gained a huge following among young Thais for its reformist platform, won the most seats and the largest share of the popular vote.

Pheu Thai, the main opposition party that has been a populist force in Thailand for 20 years, came second.

Prayut was not expected to gain enough support in the lower house to win another term as premier, as his party only won 36 seats in the May election – though the final outcome still remains uncertain.

Prayut will remain as prime minister until the new government is formed.

The former general’s rule as a military coup leader turned prime minister has been marred by growing authoritarianism and widening inequality.

In 2020, young people across the country took to the streets and called for Prayut’s resignation. The mass protests stemmed from failed promises to restore democracy, and what activists say is a repression of civil rights and freedoms.

His government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and economy, nepotism and lack of transparency and accountability, also amplified calls for Prayut to step down.

Thitinan Pongsudhirak, political scientist and director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University, said Prayut’s retirement “represents the defeat of the military regime that has been in power over the past nine years since the coup in 2014,” and could be seen as a “boost to pro-democracy supporters.”

“To many Thais, Prayut’s departure from politics is overdue. He seized power in May 2014, ran a lackluster military government for five years and another rickety elected government since 2019 thanks to a military-arranged constitution,” Thitinan said.

“Thailand has seen signs of economic stagnation, political decay and its lowest international standing ever.”

It could potentially help Move Forward’s leader Pita Limjaroenrat and his chances to form a post-election government, Thitinan added.

A record 16 Chinese warships were spotted in waters around Taiwan in a 24-hour period late last week, the island’s Defense Ministry reported, in what analysts said was the latest sign of an intimidation campaign against Taipei by China’s ruling Communist Party.

The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) activity in the 24 hours ending at 6 a.m. local time Saturday followed exercises earlier last week that saw dozens of Chinese warplanes fly past the median line of the Taiwan Strait and into the key regions of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

Over 72 hours in the middle of last week, 73 PLA aircraft either crossed the Taiwan Strait’s median line – an informal demarcation point that Beijing does not recognize but until recently largely respected – or entered the southeastern or southwestern parts of the island’s ADIZ.

During that same period, nine PLA vessels were reported in waters around Taiwan in three consecutive days.

The 16 Chinese ships around Taiwan on Friday into Saturday was the most since the island’s Defense Ministry began providing daily updates of PLA activity around the island in August 2022.

The military operations indicate Beijing’s efforts are twofold, he said.

One, constant PLA activities around the island present its defenders with a range of possible attack routes to design defenses for, and two, to “practice, rehearse and train for the ‘moment’ should it come,” Schuster said.

That moment would be a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

China’s ruling Communist Party claims the self-governing democracy as its territory despite never having controlled it, and has spent decades trying to isolate it diplomatically. Beijing has not ruled out using force to take control of the island.

Chinese state media on Sunday touted the naval activity, noting the PLAN “breaking the record for the number of vessels deployed in its drills in the region,” in a story in Global Times.

“Analysts said Sunday that the recent intensive exercises demonstrate the PLA’s capabilities in encircling the island,” the Global Times story said.

Neither Taiwan’s Defense Ministry nor the Global Times article gave details on what PLA warships were in the waters around Taiwan.

But Chinese state-run media said the PLA exercises “likely featured amphibious landing training” and the story was topped with a picture of a PLAN amphibious assault ship it said was taken “during a maritime real-combat training exercise recently.”

Schuster said he expects the PLA to keep increasing the pressure on Taiwan.

“We will see more such exercises and next year’s will more complex and larger in terms of units involved and extent of their activities,” he said.

The wait has been long but Britain finally has a Wimbledon boys’ singles champion.

Unseeded 17-year-old Henry Searle won the title in straight sets on Sunday, becoming the first Briton to do so since 1962.

Stanley Matthews, the son and namesake of the famous English footballer, was the last Briton to win the title.

Searle beat Yaroslav Demin, the fifth seed, 6-4 6-4 on Court One and is the first Briton to win a Wimbledon junior title since Laura Robson in 2008.

He didn’t drop a set in the tournament and impressively secured victory in 83 minutes.

“It’s amazing to play on Court One,” said Searle, per Reuters.

“It’s a pretty special feeling, it’s not going to come too often. I’m going to enjoy it in front of this crowd. I’ll keep working hard and we’ll see what happens.”

Crashes in the Tour de France are commonplace, but a pile-up during Sunday’s Stage 15 was particularly eye-catching as a number of riders fell after a fan apparently tried to take a picture.

The incident happened around 129km from the finish line. The riders were travelling from Les Gets les Portes du Soleil to Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc.

Eurosport commentary during live coverage of the race said a spectator had caused a rider to be put off balance.

“Someone taking a selfie on the side of the road,” said commentator Dan Lloyd. “It was one of the Jumbo riders who was clipped by them enough that he lost control … just somebody stepping too far out, trying to take a picture, clipping the riders who are hugging one side of the road to the other, and this is the consequence of that.”

“An arm came out and clipped a shoulder, and down we all came like skittles,” said Carlton Kirby on Eurosport.

The individual made contact with Sepp Kuss, according to the BBC. The Team Jumbo-Visma rider fell, causing others to follow on a narrow section of a road.

The stage resumed with all the affected riders getting back on their bikes. Meanwhile, on social media many fans were angered by the incident and some participating teams posted messages reminding spectators to keep their distance.

“If you are spectating at this amazing event, please give the riders room to race,” tweeted INEOS Grenadiers, while Team Jumbo-Visma posted: “Please be always aware when watching cycling at the side of the road.”

Team Confidis tweeted: “Please be careful, so that the party remains a party for the racers but equally for you. You don’t need a phone to create mind-blowing memories.”

Spectators lining the route of cycling’s most famous race is part of the Tour’s unique atmosphere.

In 2021, a fan stepped in front of the racing pack holding a cardboard sign, causing dozens of cyclists to crash during the Tour.

Brad Pitt was among a number of celebrities and Royals who were treated to an epic men’s Wimbledon final on Sunday.

The Hollywood star was on Centre Court to watch Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz slug it out in a thrilling five-set match. After nearly five hours, Alcaraz prevailed to win his first Wimbledon title.

Fellow actor Hugh Jackman and his wife were also spotted in the players’ box, the actor tweeting before the match: “Beyond excited to be here to cheer on “DjokerNole!!! @Wimbledon Let’s goooooo.”

James Bond star Daniel Craig and his wife Rachel Weisz were picked out by the TV cameras during the contest, as was former champion Andy Murray. Actor Tom Hiddleston and singer Ariana Grande were also part of the crowd.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were in the Royal Box with children Prince George and Princess Charlotte, and King Felipe of Spain watched on as Alcaraz won 1-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 3-6 6-4.

Canadian wildfire smoke continues to plague the United States, triggering air quality alerts for at least 11 states across the northern Plains, Midwest, and Great Lakes region Sunday.

From Montana to Ohio, forecasters predicted nearly 60 million people would see decreased visibility and poor air quality, including residents of Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Cedar Rapids and Cleveland.

A large swath of the northern Plains from Montana through Illinois had an Air Quality Index in the “unhealthy” range, which is Level 4 of 6, on Sunday.

“While the concentration of smoke in the atmosphere should begin to wane by Monday, there is still enough smoke to support unhealthy air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups in parts of these regions into the start of the upcoming week,” according to the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center.

Winds will continue to push the smoke eastward, bringing a smoky haze to the Northeast early in the week.

The plume was birthed from nearly 400 fires ignited in Canada’s province of British Columbia in the past week, nearly half of which were started by 51,000 lightning strikes from thunderstorms, the British Columbia Wildfire Service said. Some of those thunderstorms were “dry” or produced inconsequential amounts of rain to help quench any fires – a dangerous prospect in a province experiencing the worst level of drought.

A firefighter died Thursday responding to a blaze near Revelstoke, a town in southeastern British Columbia, Canadian officials said.

Wildfire smoke contains tiny pollutants known as particle matter, or PM 2.5, that can get into the lungs and bloodstream once inhaled. These pollutants most commonly cause difficulty breathing and eye and throat irritation, but have also been linked to more serious long-term health issues like lung cancer, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Parts of the US will be at risk of smoke for the foreseeable future depending on weather patterns and fire flareups because Canada is experiencing its worst fire season on record. More than 24 million acres have burned so far this year, an area that is roughly the size of Indiana.

British Columbia has had more than 1,000 fires start since April. Those fires have already burned through nearly three times the amount of land compared to an average year in British Columbia over the last 10 years, the province’s wildfire service said.

World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz beat reigning champion Novak Djokovic in a thrilling five-set men’s final on Sunday to win his first Wimbledon title.

The Spaniard prevailed after nearly five hours on Centre Court, eventually winning 1-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 3-6 6-4, and jubilantly fell onto the grass in celebration before volleying a tennis ball into the crowd.

The 20-year-old becomes the third-youngest Wimbledon champion in the Open Era and adds a second major title to his resume after winning the US Open last year.

Through his extraordinary display of athleticism and skill, Alcaraz prevented Djokovic from leveling Margaret Court for the most grand slam singles titles of all time and Roger Federer on eight for the most Wimbledon men’s singles titles.

But it was anything but straightforward for Alcaraz, who came from a set down against arguably the greatest tennis player in history performing at the peak of his powers.

In the end, as Djokovic’s attempted forehand failed to make it over the net, a new Wimbledon champion was crowned and Alcaraz cemented his status as the leader of men’s tennis’ next generation.

“Well, it’s a dream come true for me,” Alcaraz said in his on-court interview afterwards. “For me, it’s incredible. As I said, it’s a dream come true to be able to play in this stages, it’s amazing for a boy 20 years old, I didn’t expect to reach these kind of situations really fast.

“I’m really proud of myself and really proud of the team that I have. The work we put in every day to be able to live this experience.”

Seven-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic broke down in tears on the court afterwards as he addressed his children who watched the final from the players’ box. “I love you,” he told his family, having already congratulated his opponent. “Thank you for supporting me.”

A final for the ages

It was the final everyone wanted. The talented youngster against the veteran who was chasing history and had been winning grand slams for fun, securing two majors already this year.

Many expected Alcaraz to come out all guns blazing and Djokovic was on the back foot early on as he faced a break point in the opening game. But the resilience the 36-year-old has become so well-known for saw him through the danger.

In gusty conditions, Djokovic heaped the pressure back onto the Spaniard in the very next game, racing into a 40-0 lead and three break points. The 23-time grand slam champion converted at the third time of asking to land the first haymaker of the final.

Each rally was filled with beautiful sequences of shots, from deft drop shots to powerful winners. BBC commentator Andrew Castle reminded viewers that what they were watching was “real” and not a “computer game,” such was the level of excellence on display.

It was the experienced Serb who took the first set, breaking Alcaraz a second time for a 5-0 lead to put his stamp on proceedings.

It wasn’t that Alcaraz was playing particularly poorly – as he showed with his excellently-placed forehand to win his first game of the match – it was just that Djokovic was almost unplayable at times. No matter what Alcaraz threw at him, Djokovic had an answer – he had just two unforced errors in the first set and secured it in just 34 minutes.

The task before Alcaraz seemed almost insurmountable even at such an early stage of the match. After all, Djokovic had gone on to win all 77 of his Wimbledon main-draw matches after winning the first set.

However, a renewed Alcaraz won the opening game of the second set and what followed was what we have come to expect of the Spaniard: bombastic fist pumps, loud cheers and confidence. However, ever the neutralizer, Djokovic showed why he’s a perennial grand slam winner, breaking back to drag himself into the second frame.

With Andy Murray, the last man to beat Djokovic on Centre Court, back in 2013, watching on, Djokovic held serve to level the second set in a game that included a 29-shot rally full of bruising shots to save a break point. Djokovic cupped his ear to the crowd after doing so.

And so, the second set came down to a tiebreak, a daunting task for Alcaraz with Djokovic having won his last 15 tiebreaks in a row in grand slams.

With nothing to separate the two, a moment of brilliance – a backhand down the line past an onrushing Djokovic – won Alcaraz the tiebreak and the set, and a standing ovation from the crowd, too.

The fans were being treated to quite the match.

Midway through the third set came the longest game of this year’s Wimbledon. A marathon of deuces and advantages in what was a microcosm of the match so far. After nearly 30 minutes of tennis, and on his seventh break point, Alcaraz took a 4-1 lead and wrestled control of the set.

Rattled and behind for the first time in the match, Djokovic took a bathroom break and spent almost seven minutes off the court before the start of the fourth set.

The break seemed to help him refocus, however, and he was able to capitalize on crucial Alcaraz errors to clinch the fourth set and even the score.

The pressure was reaching breaking point.

The defining moment of the match came in the third game of the decider when Alcaraz produced a sumptuous passing backhand to break Djokovic and take an early lead.

The usually unflappable Djokovic smashed his racket on the net post in frustration and received a warning from the umpire.

From thereon-in, the crowd cheered each point as if it was match point and as the finish line came into sight the players produced some of their best tennis with Alcaraz coming out on top in a match that will live long in the memory.

Authorities in southeastern Pennsylvania are searching for a 2-year-old girl and her 9-month-old brother who vanished in raging floodwaters as a violent storm slammed the region.

The children and their family, who were visiting from Charleston, South Carolina, were driving to a barbecue when they got stuck in flash flooding, Upper Makefield Fire Chief Tim Brewer said Sunday afternoon. Their father and young sibling “miraculously” made it to safety, he said.

The children’s mother was found dead, Brewer said. Four other people were also killed by the flooding in Bucks County, authorities have said.

“With the five deaths due to the flood waters, mass casualty incidents like these, which we have never seen before, (are) unbelievably devastating to all the families involved,” Brewer said. “We are all grieving.”

“However, our commitment to finding the two children will still be unwavering,” he added. The children’s grandmother survived and was treated at a local hospital, Upper Makefield Township police said.

Local, state and federal authorities are assisting in search and recovery efforts in the area.

Southeastern Pennsylvania was hit hard by heavy rain Saturday, less than a week after parts of the state had again faced flash flooding that deluged roadways and displaced dozens from their homes.

Over the last month, parts of interior New England and the Northeast have seen 200% to 300% of their average monthly rainfall, leading to last week’s disastrous flooding event in parts of Vermont, New York and western Massachusetts.

Flood warnings issued in New York again

Flash flood warnings were also in effect across parts of southern Connecticut and southeastern New York until Sunday evening, less than a week after floodwaters killed a 35-year-old woman and caused millions of dollars in damage in the Empire State.

“New York State is once again seeing significant rainfall & we are prepared to help communities respond,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Twitter. “This rainfall is much more dangerous because the ground is already saturated.”

The New York City Emergency Management Department issued a travel advisory for Sunday, warning there was a risk for flash flooding in parts of the city and urged residents in flood-prone areas to be alert.

On Sunday afternoon, the governor pleaded with residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

“A flash flood doesn’t give you warning. It comes literally in a flash,” Hochul said. “And in those moments, your car can go from a place of safety to a place of death.”

Long Island’s Suffolk County saw 5 inches of rain over the course of two hours, the governor said.

The power is out in about 9,300 homes, mainly in Dutchess and Sullivan Counties, Hochul said, noting utility workers are trying to restore power.

“If you’re one of those 9,300 families without your power, it is a frightening time,” she said.

In parts of Connecticut, the heavy rainfall flooded roadways, stranding drivers who needed to be rescued by authorities, according to a Facebook post from the Bristol Firefighters Association.

“These storms are biblical in terms of the torrential rainfall you get and they’re happening more and more frequently,” Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said at a Sunday afternoon news conference in Bristol.

The National Weather Service has also cautioned most flood deaths occur in vehicles and urged people not to attempt to drive down flooded roads.

“Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other drainage areas and low lying spots,” the weather service said.

Major airports also experienced significant weather-related flight delays Sunday. All flights serving the major airports around New York City and Boston faced ground stops around 1 p.m., including Boston Logan International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

More than 1,500 flights within, into, or out of the US had been canceled by Sunday afternoon, and more than 8,000 were delayed, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.com.

Floods come just days apart

The latest round of devastation come as Northeast communities are still reeling from last week’s downpours.

Last week, Vermont faced flooding of the likes not seen since Hurricane Irene devastated the state in 2011. The intense rainfall gushed through streets and homes, prompting hundreds of evacuations and more than 200 rescues.

President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for Vermont, authorizing FEMA to move in needed equipment and resources.

Even with the help, “this is going to be a years – if not a decade – long recovery for the state of Vermont,” said Jennifer Morrison, the state’s public safety commissioner.

Flash flood warnings were again in effect earlier Sunday in parts of the state, prompting officials to warn of potential landslides.

“My team and I continue to monitor the situation as more rain falls in Vermont,” Gov. Phil Scott said on Twitter. “There are flash flood warnings throughout the state today. Remain vigilant and be prepared.”

Climate experts say it is part of a “perfect storm” this summer, leading to deadly flooding in places like the Northeast while other parts of the world – including the Southwestern US – are scorched by record-breaking heat.