Month: February 2026

Boasting a bigger population than some UK towns and even cities, one village still remains without official town status, despite its Gothic Chapel and train station

A picturesque village that has been deemed the ‘largest in the UK’ is so big that people think it’s a town.

Nestled along the Sussex coast is the large village of Lancing, home to around 19,000 residents. Situated between Worthing and Shoreham-by-Sea, it’s renowned for its shingle beaches and panoramic sea views.

The village offers a charming, peaceful life alongside the Sussex coast, with a close-knit community feel. It’s also perfect for a seaside day out, with coastal paths and along the seafront is its award-winning café, The Perch, which offers brunch, burgers, an ultimate sharing roast, and homemade desserts

It has its own train station, hotels near the beach, a Mermaid School, and impressively, the largest school chapel in the world at the Lancing College Chapel. Lancing also boasts the rare Widewater Lagoon, the tranquil Sensory Garden, and even its Premier League training grounds.

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With a population of around 19,000, Lancing is known as the ‘largest village in the UK’, with claims that it could be the biggest in Europe. Yet, it fails to gain recognition as a town, even though it’s larger than established towns across England, and even some cities!

The town of Winchcombe in Gloucestershire has a population of around 5,000, while the city of Wells in Somerset has an estimated 12,000 residents, give or take. However, it’s believed that the residents of Lancing are quite proud to have their status as the ‘UK’s largest village’.

James Brown, director at Robert Luff and Co estate agents, previously told Sussex Live: “I think a lot of people are surprised it isn’t a town. Although we are quite glad it maintains its village status, as it helps us, and people living here like having that title. But it is likely that it will become a town with new developments taking place, and if or when this happens, it could attract more businesses to the area.

“Lancing is especially popular with people moving out of Brighton & Hove who are looking to move somewhere a bit cheaper than Shoreham, so it becomes an obvious choice.”

Yet, the boundary between a village and a town is not as clear as you may think. While we might assume the UK would have established a firm definition by now, neither the National Planning Policy Framework nor the national planning practice guidance offers one.

“Instead, we’re left with a delightful mix of historical interpretations, local authority classifications, and the occasional dictionary reference,” noted planning organisation Land Tech.

The House of Commons Library’s research briefing City and Town Classification of Constituencies and Local Authorities (2018), sought to clarify the various classifications with the following population guides:

• Villages and small communities: Under 7,500 residents
• Small towns: 7,500 to 24,999 residents
• Medium towns: 25,000 to 59,999 residents
• Large towns: 60,000 to 174,999 residents
• Cities: 175,000+ residents

However, this isn’t a rigid system, as numerous cities have minuscule populations, including the famously compact St Davids in Wales. The progression from town to city is equally uncontroversial.

Despite its village status, Lancing still attracts visitors for a day out at its famed beach. One shared on TripAdvisor: “Great beach, very clean and tidy. Great for families and winter walks. Great views and very clean. Lovely beach huts to see as well.”

Another added: “A really good beach with plenty of facilities around for eating, exercising and for kids too. Great for dog walking. Good sea views.”

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

Daniel Moxon was blown away by the remarkable amenities and experiences that he found on board MSC World Europa, one of the very largest cruise ships in the entire world

Massive swimming pools, hot tubs, sun loungers, cool bars and plenty of shopping? Sure. But a giant theatre, a Swarovski Crystal-encrusted staircase and Lewis Hamilton’s racing overalls? Are you kidding?

All of the above are just a handful of the remarkable amenities and experiences you can find on board MSC World Europa, one of the very largest cruise ships in the entire world.

Being new to cruising myself, when I received an invite to take a tour of the ship while it was docked in Barcelona earlier this year, I went into the experience with certain preconceived notions about what I would find on board.

I deliberately decided not to research the ship or its offerings online beforehand, aiming to discover everything on board in a natural way. And I’m so glad I did, because never in a million years did I expect to find what I did.

Formula 1 simulators

As a huge F1 fan myself, and someone whose professional life revolves around the sport, this was certainly the stand-out for me. MSC Cruises has a sponsorship deal with Formula 1 and part of that partnership includes two stunning simulators found on the upper decks.

It’s a really immersive experience with 11 different circuits to choose from, including Silverstone, home of the British Grand Prix, and my personal favourite, Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps. There’s also some really cool memorabilia on the wall, including a Lewis Hamilton race suit and gloves, and a decorative Aston Martin halo. Plus a full F1-branded podium to stand on after you smash your best lap time on the sim! I could have stayed there all day.

Swarovski-encrusted staircase

What an incredible example of next-level decadence! Located in the premium sections of the ship is probably the most glitteringly stunning set of stairs you’ll ever come across in your life. For no apparent reason whatsoever beyond: ‘Why not?’

It’s up there with the most Instagrammable features I’ve ever seen, not just on a ship but pretty much anywhere! Entirely unnecessary but completely unexpected, and it’s the exact sort of attraction that makes the MSC World Europa simply unmissable.

A British telephone box

If you’re a Brit worried that travelling with a Swiss-Italian cruise line around the Mediterranean will leave you devoid of touches from home, then fear not. Towards the front of the ship, you’ll find another great feature reminiscent of walking around in any city back home.

As well as being another great backdrop for snaps, it’s the sort of unexpected feature that just brings a smile to your face. And it’s a lovely reminder of home for any Brits on board.

A huge theatre

At 333 metres long, MSC World Europa is undoubtedly a massive ship but, still, you wouldn’t dream that there would be enough room to house a full theatre with a huge amount of seating to watch live performances. But there is!

More than 1,100 people can pack into the theatre to take in a show at any given time. This will be the stand-out feature for any lover of live performances while, for me, it was simply the sheer scale of it which left my jaw on the floor.

The ultimate chocolate cafe

Stay away if you have a weakness for chocolate. I mean it. You will spend an absolute fortune in the Jean-Philippe chocolate shop. It is jam-packed full of so many mouth-watering sweet treats that you’ll find yourself constantly coming back for more.

There were plenty of quirkier items that caught my eye, most notably the scale models of the MSC World Europa, which are made entirely out of chocolate and quite reasonably priced! I’ve never eaten a boat before and have to admit they are much tastier than expected…

Book it

MSC World Europa can be booked from £433 for seven nights on 16 February 2026 to the Mediterranean – departing from Civitavecchia (Rome) and calling at Messina, Valletta, Barcelona, Marseille and Genoa.

NEW YORK — Sunday marked the one-year anniversary of the Lakers’ acquisition of Luka Doncic.

Coach JJ Redick acknowledged he felt “stressed” knowing about the trade before the Lakers played the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden that night in 2025.

While his stress may have faded, Redick couldn’t have liked what he saw from the Lakers on the same floor one year later.

Despite a strong effort from Doncic, the Lakers struggled with their shooting and lost 112-100 to the Knicks on Sunday night.

After Landry Shamet made his second straight three-pointer to give the Knicks a 112-99 lead with 59.3 seconds left, Redick pulled his starters. The Lakers led 56-52 at halftime but were outscored 38-26 in the third quarter after New York went on a 15-5 run to take a 90-82 lead into the fourth quarter.

Doncic finished with 30 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Lakers’ 45% shooting from the field and 29% shooting from three-point range.

LeBron James, named an NBA All-Star for the 22nd time before the game, had 22 points, six assists and five rebounds, but he fell to 23-9 in regular-season games at Madison Square Garden, and the Lakers slipped to 4-3 on their season-high eight-game trip, which ends Tuesday in Brooklyn.

Deandre Ayton had 13 points and five rebounds, and Marcus Smart had seven points and three assists.

OG Anunoby had 25 points, eight rebounds and three assists to lead the Knicks (31-18) who have won six straight. Shamet scored 23 points and Josh Hart had 20 points and four rebounds. Jalen Brunson finished with 12 points and season-high 13 assists.

Jan. 31 (Asia Today) — Harold Rogers, interim chief executive of Coupang Korea, was questioned for more than 12 hours by police over allegations that the company destroyed evidence during an internal probe into a massive personal data leak.

Rogers arrived at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency at about 2 p.m. Thursday and left around 2:22 a.m. Friday. He declined to answer reporters’ questions, including whether he acknowledged the evidence destruction allegations, how the company determined that about 3,000 users were affected, and why he had not appeared for questioning earlier.

Before entering police headquarters, Rogers said Coupang had “fully cooperated with all government investigations and will continue to do so,” adding that the company would also cooperate with the police probe.

Police are investigating whether Coupang conducted an unauthorized “self-investigation” after the data breach and destroyed evidence in the process. The company allegedly analyzed a suspect’s laptop without prior consultation with authorities and publicly announced its own findings, including the estimated scope of the leak.

Investigators reportedly questioned Rogers about Coupang’s actions, including allegedly contacting the data leak suspect in China without police knowledge, retrieving the laptop, and conducting forensic analysis independently.

Attention has also focused on whether Rogers will leave South Korea. Police applied for a travel ban against him after his entry on Jan. 21, but prosecutors rejected the request. Rogers previously left the country earlier this month after completing a two-day schedule of National Assembly hearings.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260131010014003

GRAMMYS viewers were left in stitches after Lola Young accidentally said the F-word in their acceptance speech.

The British singer, who brought Bad Bunny and other Grammy Awards attendees to tears with her Best New Artist performance, won for Best Pop Solo Performance for their hit single Messy.

Lola, 25, took the stage to accept the award and deliver her speech to a packed audience of her peers, including Justin and Hailey Bieber, Jelly Roll, Chappell Roan, and more.

Many fans believed the musician, who goes by they/them pronouns, would win Best New Artist, but they were edged out by Olivia Dean, who accepted the award from The Subway singer.

It quickly became clear to Grammy Awards viewers that Lola – who performed early in the show due to a change in format – hadn’t expected to win, and did not prepare a speech.

They went off the cuff, and in her nervousness and excitement they let the F-word slip.

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CBS’ censors, typically on a delay to prevent these mishaps, bleeped her too early and missed the actual curse word.

“I don’t know what to say. Thank you so much,” Lola began, smiling while holding her statue.

The bleeping began as they continued speaking, cutting off just as they said, “f**king.”

They immediately began waving her hands, apologizing profusely.

“Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!” they yelled into the camera.

Blakeney in North Norfolk has become a tourist hotspot where half the properties are second homes, with average house prices of £714,000 pricing out locals who earn just £571 a week

Residents have been driven out of one of England’s most stunning villages as holidaymakers have completely taken over.

Throughout the summer period, Blakeney in North Norfolk becomes exceptionally hectic. This Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty attracts massive crowds, who arrive to admire its delightful stone dwellings, a hotel hailed as the country’s best, and large seal colonies.

Yet winter paints a completely different picture. Visitor numbers plummet drastically and many old fishing properties stand empty. The settlement’s charm was instantly obvious to me during my late November visit. Just a stone’s throw from the celebrated Manor Coastal Hotel and Inn flows the River Glaven, winding through the National Nature Reserve.

Blakeney Point has earned fame for its seal communities, with Beans Boat offering guided trips throughout the year. Back in the 1800s, this seaside community was positioned much nearer to the shore than it is today.

Across the past century, the estuary has slowly filled with silt, matching the region’s fishing trade downturn, now allowing only the smallest boats to reach the harbour.

READ MORE: I went to the billionaires’ ski resort with £15 beers and £9 bottles of waterREAD MORE: One of the UK’s ‘worst seaside towns’ is getting a huge £37.5million revamp

What operated as a fishing village has evolved into a holiday hotspot. During summer, Blakeney’s two pubs and three hotels run at maximum occupancy.

“I love living here, but unfortunately, during the summer, it is just a full, full village. There’s far too much traffic going through such a small place, but that does mean I’m busy with my work, which is fantastic. The cottages and second homes are so quiet during the winter. It’s sad to know that there are so many people who’d love to live in those houses, but unfortunately, they can’t live in them permanently. They’re sitting there empty during the winter, and then it’s so, so busy during the summer. It’s a tricky one for me, as working in the tourist industry, I need it to be busy. But to see the small village that’s very quaint and dainty overrun with people, yeah, it’s a lot,” Tore continued.

Tore is among the handful of Blakeney-born residents who haven’t inherited property yet still call the village home. She moved back to the area ten years ago after a whirlwind romance in Libya.

Her local connections made her eligible to sign up with the Blakeney Neighbourhood Housing Society, which caters to the community of 400 properties. The Society’s website explains its purpose: “The price of housing has risen steeply as many properties have become second homes or places to retire to, and many local people can no longer afford to buy or rent them. The purpose of the Blakeney Neighbourhood Housing Society, founded 1946, is to provide affordable housing for local people. It owns 39 houses and cottages in Blakeney or neighbouring villages and they are all let at affordable rents to tenants with a local birth tie.”

Five decades back, an enormous proportion of UK citizens found themselves in Tore’s predicament, with 30% of the entire population living in some type of social housing. Yet, following years of Right to Buy schemes and sluggish building rates, this percentage has been cut in half.I

Tore explained: “I started working at the hotel at 14, and lived in the area my whole life. Working in a hotel and in the trade that it is all around here, the chances of buying a house would just be impossible. I was lucky enough to be signed up to Blakeney Housing Society in 2017, and then moved in in 2019,

“It has changed my whole life. It means I can be around my whole family. A lot of my friends who were born and bred here couldn’t live here due to housing problems, so they moved away to somewhere cheaper. But it is the perfect place to live. There’s community spirit, it’s a very olde-worlde place. I’d never want to be anywhere else but here.”

The figures paint a stark picture of the situation facing the area. Blakeney properties fetched an average of £714,000 in November 2025, according to OnTheMarket – treble the UK average of £273,000.

Office for National Statistics figures reveal the median weekly wage in North Norfolk sits at £571.

Thanks to her controlled rent arrangement, Tore shells out just £478 each month for her family home.

Concerned by the yawning gap between typical salaries and house prices, the district council stepped in earlier this year. It unveiled an extra 100% levy on Council Tax bills for second home owners, leaseholders or tenants in North Norfolk, essentially doubling what they must pay for their extra property.

Blakeney Parish Council chairman Rosemary Thew stressed the measure isn’t designed to put off visitors, noting tourism represents a “big part of the village economy”. However, she conceded the abundance of second and holiday properties in the area posed a major worry.

“The volume of second homes is very high, around half. It’s pushing prices up quite considerably. It means that, as far as locals are concerned, they can’t afford to live here. It’s a lovely place to live but you’ve got people [taking up dwellings] who are not key workers. A lot are retired people or second home owners. In winter time, it’s [the impact] particularly marked. The streets are jet black because there are no lights on in houses,” she told Mail Online.

Feb. 1 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s efforts to head off a proposed 25% U.S. tariff increase stalled after trade talks in Washington ended without agreement, prompting the auto industry to accelerate investment plans in the United States.

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Kim Jeong-kwan returned to South Korea after two days of discussions with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on President Donald Trump’s proposed reciprocal tariff hike. The talks, held Wednesday and Thursday in Washington, concluded without concrete results, the ministry said.

During the meetings, Kim stressed that South Korean companies were prepared to expand U.S. investment and said the government was coordinating with the National Assembly to swiftly pass a special law aimed at supporting large-scale Korean investment in the United States.

The proposed legislation is intended to reduce uncertainty for Korean firms and institutionalize strategic economic cooperation between the two countries. Seoul argued that the bill would boost U.S. job creation and economic growth.

U.S. officials, however, reportedly questioned whether the Korean government’s position would translate into concrete action, signaling that legislative intent alone would not be sufficient.

The stalled talks have heightened concerns in South Korea’s auto industry. Hyundai Motor Group, a major exporter to the U.S., is expected to adjust its existing investment strategy to accelerate the pace of spending.

Hyundai Motor President José Muñoz told The Wall Street Journal on Friday that he believes President Trump understands Hyundai’s commitment to the U.S. market and said the company is focused on speeding up its investment plans.

Hyundai previously announced plans to invest $26 billion (about 37.7 trillion won) in the United States by 2030, with a goal of locally producing 80% of the vehicles it sells there.

Industry analysts expect uncertainty surrounding the proposed tariff hike to continue until at least mid-March, as South Korea’s National Assembly plans to process the U.S. investment bill in late February or early March.

Democratic Party policy chief Han Jeong-ae said the bill would first be reviewed by the National Assembly’s finance and economy committee, adding that passage is likely within that timeframe.

The Trump administration has previously indicated it would not discuss tariff reductions until the legislation is approved, suggesting that negotiations on easing the proposed 25% tariff may resume only after the bill’s passage.

Some experts described the tariff threat as a temporary pressure tactic. Kim Pil-soo, a professor of automotive engineering at Daelim University, said the move appears aimed at showcasing policy achievements ahead of U.S. midterm elections, adding that continued investment and passage of the bill could eventually lead to a resolution.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260201010000191

Medical charity has been barred for not providing Israeli authorities with personal details of its staff in the enclave.

Israel says it will terminate the humanitarian operations in Gaza of Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, after it failed to provide a list of its Palestinian staff, further depriving Palestinians in the besieged enclave of life-saving assistance.

In December, Israel announced it would prevent 37 aid organisations, including MSF, from working in Gaza from March 1 for failing to submit detailed information about their Palestinian employees, drawing widespread condemnation from NGOs and the United Nations.

“The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism is moving to terminate the activities of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in the Gaza Strip,” the ministry said on Sunday.

The decision followed “MSF’s failure to submit lists of local employees, a requirement applicable to all humanitarian organisations operating in the region”, it added.

The ministry had earlier alleged that two MSF employees had links with Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which the charity has denied.

On Sunday, the ministry said MSF had committed in early January to sharing the staff list as required by the Israeli authorities but ultimately refrained, citing concerns for staff safety and a lack of assurances over how the information would be used.

“Subsequently, MSF announced it does not intend to proceed with the registration process at all, contradicting its previous statements and the binding protocol,” the ministry added, saying, “MSF will cease its operations and depart the Gaza Strip by February 28.”

Israel’s decision to terminate MSF’s operations in Gaza “is an extension of Israel’s systematic weaponisation and instrumentalisation of aid”, James Smith, an emergency physician based in London, told Al Jazeera.

“Israel has systematically targeted the Palestinian healthcare system, killing more than 1,700 Palestinian healthcare workers,” thereby “creating a profound dependency on international organisations”, Smith said.

MSF said 15 of its employees have been killed over the course of Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023.

MSF has long been a key provider of medical and humanitarian aid in the enclave, particularly since the war began.

The charity said it currently provides at least 20 percent of hospital beds in the territory and operates about 20 health centres.

In 2025 alone, it carried out more than 800,000 medical consultations and more than 10,000 infant deliveries. It also provides drinking water.

Aid groups warned that without international support provided by organisations such as MSF, critical services such as emergency care, maternal healthcare and paediatric treatment could collapse entirely in Gaza, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents without basic medical care.

In Trevor Noah’s final opening monologue at the Grammys, the joke that got the loudest laugh in the room was directed at Nicki Minaj’s MAGA alliance.

After six consecutive years of hosting the Grammys, the comedian is stepping down from the emcee role. Last year, Noah’s monologue was focused on the resilience of Los Angeles and paid tribute to the victims of the Palisades and Eaton fires. This year, he poked fun at attending celebrities and commented on the country’s political climate.

When he addressed the fact that Nicki Minaj was not in attendance, the audience applauded in response. He joked that “she is still at the White House with Donald Trump discussing very important issues: ‘Actually, Nicki, I have the biggest ass, I have it. Everybody’s saying it, Nicki, I know they say it’s you, but it’s me. WAP, WAP, WAP. Look at it, baby,’” Noah said in his best Trump impression.

Last week, Minaj appeared at a U.S. Treasury event, where she stood on stage with President Trump and said, “I am probably the president’s No. 1 fan, and that’s not going to change.”

While detailing what the night ahead entails, Noah compared this year’s Grammys to the 1999 ceremony.

“The last time Lauryn Hill performed at the Grammys was in 1999,” said Noah. “Back in 1999 the president had a sex scandal, people thought computers were about to destroy the world and Diddy was arrested. Boy, how times have changed.”

Noah also poked fun at Jelly Roll, asking if he was able to unlock fellow face-tatted singer Teddy Swims’ phone. He also mentioned that the arena stuffed with A-listers felt somewhat like billionaire Jeff Bezos’ wedding, “but with way more Black people.”

In addition to it being Noah’s final hosting gig, this year’s ceremony is also the last to air on CBS, its home network since 1973. After tonight, it kicks off a 10-year run with Disney. The Grammys will air on ABC, Hulu and Disney+ beginning in 2027.

The USC women’s basketball team rolled to a 71-39 win over Rutgers on Sunday at Galen Center.

The Trojans (13-9, 5-6 Big Ten) got off to a slow start, ending the first quarter trailing by three points. Rutgers (9-13, 1-10) held the lead until the 5:39 mark in the second quarter when Kara Dunn hit a pair of free throws. USC picked up its defensive pressure in the second quarter, which helped ignite its offense. The Trojans held a six-point lead at halftime and extended it during a second-half surge.

Dunn led USC with 18 points and six rebounds. Jazzy Davidson contributed 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists, while Kennedy Smith added 11 points and four assists. Laura Williams anchored the glass with 11 rebounds and Malia Samuels finished with seven points and four rebounds.

Imani Lester scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds for Rutgers. Zachara Perkins recorded 12 points and four rebounds and Faith Blackstone added six points.

USC outscored Rutgers 23-8 in the third quarter and kept the pressure up in the fourth, outscoring the Scarlet Knights 19-8. The Trojans dominated the battle on the boards, 57-32. USC made the most of Rutgers’ 20 turnovers, scoring 21 points off the miscues.

USC will look to extend its two-game win streak at Northwestern (8-14, 2-9) at 6 p.m. on Thursday. The game will air on the Big Ten Network.

BREAKINGBREAKING,

Peter Mandelson says he is stepping down to avoid causing further embarrassment to the governing party.

Peter Mandelson, the United Kingdom’s former ambassador to the United States, has resigned from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party following further revelations of his links to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, UK media have reported.

Mandelson, who was removed as London’s top representative in Washington last year after the emergence of emails detailing his associations with Epstein, said he had resigned to avoid causing further embarrassment to the governing party, the reports said on Sunday.

“I have been further linked this weekend to the understandable furore surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and I feel regretful and sorry about this,” Mandelson said in a letter reported by the BBC and The Guardian.

Mandelson said he believed that reports over the weekend that he had received several payments from Epstein in the early 2000s were false, but that he needed to investigate them, the reports said.

“While doing this I do not wish to cause further embarrassment to the Labour Party and I am therefore stepping down from membership of the party,” Mandelson said, according to the reports.

More to follow…

The latest victim succumbing to injuries was an 18-year-old Swiss national.

A teenager injured in the fire that engulfed a Swiss Alpine bar during New Year celebrations has died in hospital, according to Swiss authorities, increasing the death toll of one of the worst disasters in the country’s modern history to 41.

Saturday’s death was announced a month after the inferno at the ski resort of Crans-Montana. Another 115 were injured, most of whom remain in various hospitals.

“An 18-year-old Swiss national died at a hospital in Zurich on January 31,” the Wallis canton’s public prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud said in a brief statement.

“The death toll from the fire at Le Constellation bar on January 1, 2026 has now risen to 41.”

Pilloud said no further information would be released at this stage by her office, which is investigating the incident.

Those killed in the disaster were aged 14 to 39, but the majority were teenagers. Only four were aged over 24.

Among the dead are 23 Swiss nationals, including one French-Swiss dual national, and 18 foreigners.

Public prosecutors believe the fire started when revellers raised champagne bottles with sparklers attached too close to sound insulation foam on the ceiling of the bar’s basement.

Authorities are looking into whether the foam conformed to regulations and whether the candles were permitted for use in the bar. They say fire safety inspections had not been carried out since 2019.

Swiss prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the owners – French couple Jacques and Jessica Moretti – on suspicion of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and causing a fire by negligence.

The court of compulsory measures in the southwestern Valais region on January 12 ordered three months of pretrial detention for Jacques Moretti, but on January 23 ordered his release on bail.

The Crans-Montana municipality’s current head of public safety and a former Crans-Montana fire safety officer are also under criminal investigation.

Following the fire, seriously wounded patients were airlifted to various hospitals and specialist burns units throughout Switzerland and four other European countries.

Switzerland’s Federal Office for Civil Protection told the AFP news agency on Friday that at its last count, as of Monday, 44 patients were being treated abroad.

The Wallis health ministry told AFP that 37 patients were still in Swiss hospitals, as of Monday.

The picture is constantly changing, with patients moving between hospitals for different stages of their treatment, and some patients being readmitted. Some remain in intensive care.

The fire has tested relations with neighbouring Italy, which lost nationals in the blaze and has protested the release on bail of the bar’s owner.

Swiss authorities earlier this week said they would grant the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office access to evidence gathered.

Love Island: All Stars contestant Zac Woodworth has seemingly given away his “game plan” after entering the villa as a Bombshell on the hit ITV2 reality show earlier this week

Love Island All Stars contestant Zac Woodworth has seemingly given away his “game plan” after entering the villa. The reality star, 26, initially appeared on Love Island USA but recently entered the British version of the ITV2 reality dating show by arriving at the South African Villa as a bombshell.

He is currently getting close to Millie Court on the spin-off of the main show, which sees former contestants heading back onto the programme that made them famous, so they can have a second chance at finding love.

An Instagram account dedicated to Love Island memes screenshotted a story that was reposted onto Zac’s page, which was initially posted by his former co-star JD Dodard, who also appeared on the US version of Love Island in summer 2025.

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He wrote: “Pre game plan executed perfectly @zacwoodworth,” with a crying tears of laughter emoji, whilst his other co-star Zak Strakaew said: “Make sure ya’ll go back my boyyyy @zacwoodworth,” which was then reposted onto his Stories.

Viewers of the reality show rushed to the comments to share their thoughts, with some claiming that some contestants are just hoping for a spot on the show.

The original account wrote: “From Zak’s story!! I hope this wasn’t his plan all along and is leading her on,” and in response, one fan said: “Of course it is, the Americans all just want to get into the main villa. No one is there ‘looking for love,'” whilst another wrote: “Producers should step in because that’s someone’s feelings!”

Another wrote: “You can see this a mile off!” and a fourth viewer said: “It could be that he really likes her and happy he’s got what he went in for… never judge a book by it’s cover as they say.” Another shared: “Feel like pre game plan means that he saw her before on there, that was who he wanted and he beelined for her and got her! Really doubt it’s a negative thing.”

Just before heading into the villa, Zac said: “I am super social, I love talking to everybody. They can expect me to be gentlemen but also go for what I want.

“In the US Villa I was conscious of not wanting to talk to ‘somebody’s girl’ but I would do that differently this time. I’m really excited to just get in there and do my thing!” The reality star also shared that he thought his time was “cut short” the first time round, after making it to just day 20.

Zac, a native of Arizona, explained: “Honestly, I felt that my time in the Love Island USA villa was cut short, I didn’t get the best shot at getting to know someone so for me, experiencing Love Island again but in the UK is perfect. I’ve always travelled the world and I love meeting girls outside of the US. “

Love Island: All Stars airs weeknights at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.

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