missing

At a Kathmandu hospital, families peer at lists of those who are critical, dead — or have been released.

Kathmandu/Nuwakot/Trishuli, Nepal – Loknath Chaulagain is looking for his 23-year-old nephew Sudarshan at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital.

A bus conductor, Sudarshan was waiting at the checkpoint in Timure, a town bordering Tibet, when the flash flood that devastated parts of Nepal and Tibet struck on Wednesday. His family says a phone call went through to his number at 9:54am local time – after the flash flood struck the border region – but Sudarshan did not pick up the call. Since then, his phone has been unreachable.

The family has been searching for him – near where the floods struck, and now in Kathmandu’s hospitals, where some survivors have been brought. But so far, they’ve had no luck.

They’re not alone. Thousands of families in Nepal are still stranded in the no-man’s land between hope and fear: hopes of an impossible miracle and worst fears of losing someone they love.

Two days after the flash flood swept away much of what lay in its path along the Bhotekoshi River in the northern Himalayan region bordering Tibet, the full scale of devastation is yet to be ascertained in Nepal. The death toll is on the rise, with nearly 500 bodies recovered. The missing toll is well over 1,000 and is expected to rise further.

The wall of water with ice and mud that surged downstream with fury on August 26 caused maximum damage to Timure, Rasuwagadhi and Syabrubesi in the higher Rasuwa region nearer to Tibetan border checkpoints.

Downstream, it washed away buildings, electric poles, bridges, markets, homes and vehicles that stood in its path in Trishuli and Nuwakot regions.

The usually buzzing Trishuli market is today covered in mud, sludge and debris. Locals, including many Indians who have made the area their home for many years, beg and plead with relief workers to take them to their destroyed homes in earthmovers to retrieve whatever may be left of their belongings.

Helicopters whirred nonstop on Wednesday and Thursday in these areas, trying to rescue those trapped under the rubble or washed away and stranded in dangerous situations. Those rescued with lighter injuries are being treated at the army camp helipad medical unit, while those with grievous injuries are being airlifted to bigger facilities in Kathmandu.

At the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, people come by and plaster posters on walls with photographs and contact details of missing friends and family. Other hospital pillars bear lists of those who have been admitted or are in critical condition – or those who have been killed: five-year-old Ishara Tamang in paediatric surgery; 30-year-old Tej Bhadur Tamang in the ICU; 25-year-old male Kusal Magar, listed as dead. Multiple pairs of concerned eyes gaze intensely at these lists, hoping to find their loved ones there.

Among them is Sohan, a young man who does not want to speak to journalists on camera. He is searching for his 42-year-old father, Gyan Bahadur Rana Magar. “Three days on, we are searching and still trying to find him,” he says. His father went with Indian tourists as a guide to Rasuwa, the border district with Tibet that is one of the worst affected.

When the lists on pillars offer no answers, people searching for their loved ones head to the mortuary where photographs of some of the recovered bodies have been glued to the gates. Many bodies were found dismembered; some were missing limbs. When someone finds a hint of familiarity, they inform security officials, who let them in after some identification check to take a look at the body.

Dressed in a red saree and blouse, and wearing a red pothe necklace  – a traditional glass-bead necklace worn by married women in Nepal – Lal Kumari is desperately looking for her husband, Arjun Shreshtha. A tourist van driver in his late 40s, he was swept away by the flood in Rasuwa district. Kumari has three children, including a married daughter and a grandchild, and her only question is: Could her husband, miraculously, still be alive?

According to the company’s travel logs, shared with the Press Association, the age of the missing British citizens ranges from 13 to 65.

Alpine Eco Trek said the youngest member of the group is believed to be a 13-year-old girl, according to PA.

It also reported four of the firm’s Nepali tour guides are also missing.

The company’s manager Kumar Adhikari said he was in contact with the guides until 08:40 when they were expected to be at Tibet’s immigration office, but their phones were disconnected.

“We were hoping that inside it was safe,” he told PA, “but later the video came from China’s government which [showed] even Tibet’s side was hit by the flood.”

Adhikari said he was “slowly responding to” the families of the Britons but has been unable to give them any updates, adding he has been in contact with the British consulate and forwarded them copies of the clients’ passports.

“I feel so sad. We are just thinking about what to do next…We are in pain at the moment, deep pain.”

Another tour company impacted by the flash floods, Himalayan Glacier US, told the BBC they have lost contact with a group of 47 guests and staff who where making a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, which included two British citizens.

Kailash Journeys also reported a group of 27 guests and staff missing, with a spokesperson saying they were last in contact with them early Wednesday morning local time.

A list of names provided to the BBC included two men who are British citizens.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said he is “deeply concerned” by news of the flash flooding, and wrote on social media: “All my thoughts are with those affected and with British nationals in the area and their relatives here at home”.

In a joint statement with Australia, the EU, Finland, France, Norway and Switzerland, the UK embassy in Nepal urged British nationals in Nepal to “exercise caution in affected areas”.

A WOMAN who hasn’t had a proper summertime holiday in eight years due to her husband’s dedication to sports has been treated to the trip of a lifetime – without him.

Hayley Hayes, from Newport, Wales, hasn’t been on a getaway over the summer for almost a decade, as their plans were often made around key sporting events so husband Anthony was able to watch them, meaning they have had to travel at other times of the year.

In some instances, their holiday destinations have even been determined by the sporting events taking place nearby, with one trip to India in 2024 coinciding with test match cricket.

The couple – who wed in 2016 – found themselves back in India a year later, this time during the Six Nations.

Despite the time difference, Hayley donned her Wales rugby shirt and joined her husband for late-night and early-hours match screenings from their holiday accommodation.

But now, the 60-year-old retiree has been given the chance for a trip of a lifetime to Svalbard, Norway – a cold weather landscape that fascinates her – but with her friend Rebecca, leaving sports-loving husband Anthony, 66, at home to keep up with the sports fixtures.

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Hayley was chosen as the winner of giffgaff’s Fair-play Summer Fund, which was designed to help people overcome the barriers standing in the way of a great summer and make the season feel a little fairer.

Speaking about her trip of a lifetime, Hayley said: “I was literally both bouncing up and down and crying with excitement when I found out I’d won and would be going on a cold weather summer holiday I could only previously dream about.

“I’m fascinated by the landscapes of Svalbard, and in particular the varied wildlife that calls the island home.

“Since my husband absolutely does not tolerate the cold, a wintry weather trip was never going to be on the cards for us, so this prize delivers on two fronts.

“Summer is turning into a whole new adventure for me.”

Juggling sports and summer holiday plans isn’t just a balancing act for Hayley and Anthony, as research found over a fifth (21 per cent) of holidaymakers regularly check the sporting calendar before booking a trip.

A poll of 2,000 holiday-goers found 22 per cent have booked, changed or adjusted their travel plans because of a sporting event, with 42 per cent of those scheduling activities around matches.

Some fans have gone even further to avoid missing out, with 24 per cent returning home early from a trip and 14 per cent admitting they’ve cancelled a holiday altogether because of sport.

Meanwhile, half of all respondents have watched or streamed live sport while away, according to the OnePoll findings.

Of those, a quarter have tuned in from a restaurant, while 14 per cent have followed the action poolside.

Time differences don’t stop dedicated supporters either, with 21 per cent waking up early or staying up late to catch their favourite team in action.

And some admit to going to surprising lengths to avoid missing a moment on holiday – with five per cent of all those polled confessing they’ve watched while in the middle of sightseeing.

Others have been willing to spend extra to stay connected, with 10 per cent paying for Wi-Fi access and nine per cent using mobile data despite incurring roaming charges.

giffgaff internal data backs up this demand for watching sports abroad, as it saw large data roaming surges during the football this summer with international matches seeing uplifts of up to 90 per cent for key matches.

Kate Dohaney, CEO for the mobile and broadband provider, which is currently giving data boosts on SIMs starting from just £8 per month, said: “We launched the Fair-play Summer Fund following new data that showed many of us feel like summer doesn’t always play fair.

“From rising costs and hidden charges to missing out on experiences that matter, we wanted to help tackle some of these.

“This season, we’ve provided even greater value on our SIM plans so our members can stay connected for less.

“We’ve also helped 200 people solve their summer sting via our Fund, and are delighted to be sending Hayley to Norway as her fairness fix so she doesn’t have to miss out on the summer trip she’s always dreamed of.”

SUMMER may be on its way out, but Brits are still heading abroad – so double check these rules before you go.

If you fail to check these then you might not get to go on holiday at all.

Expiry date

The very first thing to check before you head on holiday is the expiry date on your passport.

To be valid for travel British passports must have been issued within the last 10 years.

Figures have shown up to 100,000 holidaymakers a year face being turned away at airports if their passport is more than a decade old.

So, before you travel, check the start date, not the expiry.

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For example, if a passport has June 2016 start date but a November 2026 expiry, it has technically expired.

Not realising this soon enough could result in a costly mistake.

Tom Vaughan, travel insurance expert at Confused.com said: “Our research shows that 1 in 5 (21 per cent) Brits have had to renew their passport within just a few weeks of travelling, and less than half (43 per cent) know that EU travel requires a passport issued within the last 10 years.

“If you do get caught out, sorting an emergency passport can now cost up to £240, and that’s before you factor in time off work and a trip to a passport office.

“Unfortunately, travel insurance won’t cover the cost, or any flights or holidays you miss as a result, and children face even longer delays as same-day service isn’t available for their passports.

“So before you finish packing, check two things: the date your passport was issued, and how long is left on it. Our passport checker can help you avoid a last-minute panic and ensure your holiday starts the way it should, stress-free.”

Additional months

A number of countries also require British holidaymakers to have a few additional months left on their passport to travel.

Any Brit heading to Europe will also need at least three months of validity left on their passport after the day you plan to leave.

If there is less than three months left on your passport, you will be refused at the gate or even beforehand and will have to renew your document.

Some other countries require even longer with some wanting six months left on the passport – this includes UAE, Egypt, and Chile.

Spare pages

Some countries actually require blank pages in your passport for manual stamping.

If you’re heading to Europe, one page of blank space is fine.

Countries requiring at least two blank pages for entry include Austria, Italy, Germany, The Bahamas and other tourist hotspots.

Standard UK passports have 34 blank pages, but you can pay extra for one with 54 if you’re a regular traveller.

A dispute between a producer and Netflix over a missing copy of a World War II spy drama starring Nicolas Cage has now reached the Los Angeles Police Department.

A law firm representing producer Simon Afram filed a report with the Hollywood Community Police Station, accusing Netflix of losing a drive with a copy of his WWII film, “Fortitude,” last month and not providing information on the streamer’s investigation into the issue.

“This report is being made on an emergency basis, as there is reason to believe that Netflix, Inc. and its employees are suppressing and/or spoliating evidence of the theft of an asset with a cost of $45 million to create and a likely sale value of over twice that amount,” according to Afram’s report, which was viewed by The Times. The report, filed July 15, asks for law enforcement to investigate the movie’s theft and “identify all responsible parties, preserve all relevant evidence, and press charges against the responsible parties.”

An LAPD spokesman confirmed it is investigating the report.

Netflix declined to comment on Afram’s report to police.

Afram and his production company sued Netflix last month for at least $105 million in economic damages for the missing drive that contained “Fortitude,” a movie starring Cage and Ben Kingsley. The film, described as “Ocean’s Eleven” meets “Inglourious Basterds,” is based on Operation Fortitude, an effort during World War II in which double agents set a trap for Adolf Hitler and his armies.

On June 15, Daniel Haido, an associate producer of “Fortitude,” dropped off an unencrypted copy of the movie for Netflix to view, according to the lawsuit. On June 25, Netflix informed Haido the drive had been stolen, the lawsuit said.

“Unfortunately, someone stole a good amount of drives from our office desks this past week,” Sean Berney, a director for original film at Netflix, wrote in a June 25 email, according to the lawsuit. “We’ve been working through this with our security teams to no luck.”

Berney in his email offered to reimburse Afram’s company for the missing drive or create a new digital cinema package, but Afram said the damage was much greater than that, according to the lawsuit.

“It is not fathomable that a sophisticated buyer would invest tens of millions of dollars to acquire the Film — and tens of millions more to market it — while facing the constant risk that it could appear online to be viewed widely for free at any time,” Afram’s lawsuit said.

Netflix said in a statement last month that it is conducting an investigation and is offering to monitor piracy sites for any unauthorized distribution or sale of the film.

“Netflix disputes any claim that it bears the risk of loss for a film delivered without the proper industry-standard safeguards,” the company said in a statement last month. “While we do not own the rights to ‘Fortitude,’ we take content security seriously and have taken extra measures to support the filmmaker and his team.”

The streamer said it has not shared information on its investigation with Afram’s law firm, accusing the firm of “hostile attempts to extort money from Netflix over this situation — including immediately demanding $165 million for the film rather than work with us in good faith.”

Earlier this month, Afram added a defamation claim to his lawsuit against Netflix.

“Netflix’s statement that Mr. Afram and his attorneys attempted to extort money from Netflix is entirely false, as are the purported facts on which Netflix based this false statement,” according to his amended lawsuit.

Staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.

Aug. 21 (UPI) — Five people were missing feared dead and eight others were injured early Friday after a major fire razed a restaurant with residential apartments above in the Swiss alpine town of Thusis.

Cantonal police in the eastern Graubünden region said in a news release that nearly 100 firefighters from four area fire departments were scrambled to the scene after the blaze broke out on the second floor just after midnight local time.

The release was duplicate-filed under the secondary category of a missing persons appeal.

They said firefighters’ access to the fire was cut off after the stairwell collapsed, forcing them to use a crane to cut open the roof.

Two of the fourteen people who managed to get out of the four story building were seriously injured. Two others sustained moderate injuries and four were slightly hurt.

The injured were taken to hospitals in Chur, Thusis, Ilanz and far away as Zurich.

Images from the scene show flames pouring from the windows of the upper floors, engulfing the top of the building.

Police said they were working with the public prosecutor’s office to investigate the cause of the fire and that they had secured the scene.

After the fire was brought under control emergency responders were seen removing roof layers to enable investigators to search for evidence and possible human remains.

GDP rises 0.3 percent in the second quarter as consumption and capital spending sag.

Japan’s economy has slowed in the second quarter of the year amid moribund consumption and capital spending, according to official figures.

Gross domestic product (GDP) grew 0.3 percent in the April-June period from the first quarter, data released by Japan’s Cabinet Office on Monday showed. It was the third consecutive expansion but was down from 0.5 percent growth in the previous quarter and missed the 0.5 percent growth analysts had forecast.

On an annualised basis, the world’s fourth-largest economy expanded 1.1 percent.

A survey of 37 economists conducted by the Japan Center for Economic Research, a think tank, had forecast an annualised expansion of 1.67 percent.

Private consumption was flat in real terms while capital expenditures fell 1.2 percent, or 4.6 percent on an annualised basis, offsetting strong exports, according to the data.

Broken down by component, net exports contributed 0.5 percentage points to GDP growth while domestic demand accounted for negative 0.2 percent.

Norihiro Yamaguchi, lead economist for Japan at Oxford Economics, said he expected growth to be sluggish in the second half of 2026 as companies pass rising energy costs on to consumers.

“Although AI-related goods exports will continue to stay robust in the near term, sluggish non-AI-related global economic activities will limit overall export gains,” Yamaguchi said in a note to clients.

Japan imports almost all of its crude oil needs, leaving it exposed to elevated energy costs stemming from the fallout of the United States-Israel war on Iran.

Cost pressures on Japan’s consumers have been exacerbated by the weakness of the Japanese yen, which last month hit a 40-year low against the US dollar.

The weaker-than-expected growth figures could complicate the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ’s) upcoming decision on interest rates in September amid its push to normalise monetary policy after decades of ultra-low and negative borrowing costs.

The BOJ in June raised its benchmark interest rate to 1 percent, its highest in more than three decades.

The central bank began to move away from an ultra-loose policy in 2024 when it announced its first rate hike since the 2008 global financial crisis.

Japan’s stock market rose on Monday with the benchmark Nikkei 225 up 0.3 percent as of 05:15 GMT.

South Korea and Hong Kong’s markets also made gains with the KOSPI up 2.4 percent and the Hang Seng Index 1.6 percent higher.

The family holiday has been left in doubt after she discovered her daughter’s passport did not meet strict travel rules

A singer has issued a plea for help after discovering at the last minute that her daughter’s passport could fail strict travel rules. Rules mean there must be a set amount of time available on a passport or the holder will not be allowed to travel.

Under rules following Brexit people travelling to EU countries, except Ireland, along with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City must have at least three months left on their passports after the day they plan to leave, warns ABTA. The passport must also have been issued less than 10 years before the date of arrival at the country.

Musician and singer Philippa Hanna turned to Facebook to seek advice after her family holiday to Portugal appeared to be in jeopardy. The Christian music star who has toured with mainstream artists including Lionel Richie, Leona Lewis, Anastacia and Wet Wet Wet, told how she had just discovered that her daughter, Ozma’s, passport would not meet these rules.

She said: “GUYS!! We need help. Do I know ANYONE who works for or is connected to the passport office or something even close? We need emergency advice ahead of our family holiday tomorrow?”

She later went on to explain: “I just found out Ozma has 5 weeks less than needed on her passport for flying to Portugal.” She then added: “We’re only going for 5 days so the week fast track wont work. I’m just wondering if there’s any way of getting an extension or a special permission or something.”

One follower suggested she contact her MP who might be able to speed up getting a new passport. Gayle Hunter, who said she was a former duty manager at an airline, said: “They’re normally strict at least 3 months after the last day you’re leaving on passport. An MP can get you a new one in three hours under parliamentary privilege.”

However this was disputed by another poster who said he worked in the airline industry and travelled extensively. John Dinsdale said he had been stung by the rule himself, and insisted an MP would be unlikely to help. He said: “There is a parliamentary/MP escalation route, but it only applies for compassionate reasons (family death, serious illness) not for holiday travel, so it won’t help here.

“You could try contacting the airline to ask if they’ll allow “OK to board,” but I doubt that’s your best option. Even if they agreed, Schengen countries require a minimum of 90 days’ passport validity, so Portugal border control could still refuse entry on arrival.

“For an airline to allow to board they would need authorisation from the Portuguese immigration department first. If you’re refused entry, the airline will face a fine (amounts vary by country), and you’d likely be liable for the cost of the return flight, airlines won’t board anyone without valid travel documents in the first place.

“I’ve actually been on the receiving end of this myself, I can’t get an ESTA for the US because of my travel history, apparently America don’t like Iraqi stamps in passports, so I know firsthand how strict airlines are about not boarding anyone without the right documents. It’s not something they’ll bend on.

“Realistically, a new passport won’t be issued in time even by fast track. I’d contact your travel insurer now to ask about cancellation/rebooking cover, I know this is not what you want to hear, but it’s the most likely outcome.”

What the government says

So what are the rules? According to the government there are steps you can take – but it usually still takes some time.

It advises: “You can pay to get a passport urgently if you think the standard service will take too long.” It explains there are 2 ways to apply for an urgent passport.

1 day premium

According to the government website the earliest you can get an appointment is 2 days after you apply. It says: “You’ll need to hand in your old passport at your appointment. Your new passport will be ready to collect from the passport office 4 hours after your appointment.

“You can only use this service to renew an adult passport. It costs £239.50 (or £253.50 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport).”

1 week fast track

With this one the earliest you can get an appointment is the next day after you apply. It advises: “Your new passport will be delivered to you by courier 1 week after your appointment.”

You can use this service to:

• renew a passport
• change personal details on your passport (for example your name, place of birth or gender)
• replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport
• get a child passport

It costs £192 for an adult passport (or £206 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport). A child passport is £156.50 (or £170.50 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport).

Is there anything any faster?

It advises: “If you need to travel urgently for medical treatment, on government business, or because a friend or family member is seriously ill or has died, call the Passport Adviceline instead.”

HELEN Flanagan thrilled her fans as she ditched her bra and unbuttoned her jeans in a very sexy snap, while admitting she missed her old home.

The stunning actress, 35, is known for her saucy snaps, and her latest one sent her followers into meltdown.

Taking to Instagram, the former Coronation Street star was seen perched on a kitchen worktop with pink cabinets on display in the background.

Flashing her dazzling smile, Helen was seen wearing a white crop top that showed off her toned tum.

To add extra spice, she went braless and had also unbuttoned her jeans seductively.

As well as a sizzling photo, the soap star shared a short clip where she pulled various sexy poses.

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Helen then revealed the shots had been taken in her former family home that she once shared with her ex Scott Sinclair, 37, that she recently had to move out of.

Captioning her latest sexy post, the Celebs Go Dating star wrote: “Miss my pink utility.”

Fans went wild for her latest pics, with one saying: “You’re absolutely stunning!”

Another added: “Wowww Helen you really are breathtaking!”

Helen and her ex Scott moved into their dream family home shortly before calling time on their 13-year romance.

Though in January, The Sun revealed how the footballer was keen to get the home sold, while Helen wasn’t in any rush to move out.

A friend of the actress’ said at the time: “Scott pays for the house and all the bills and he’s decided a six-bedroom place is way too big for Helen on her own with the kids.”

Helen then moved out of the home in May, along with her three kids that she shares with Scott.

BROOKLYN Beckham and wife Nicola Peltz enjoyed a luxury stay at his godfather Elton John’s £15m Nice villa after narrowly avoiding an awkward run-in with estranged parents David and Victoria.

Sir Elton, 79, and husband David Furnish, 63, invited the couple over to stay and the vibe looked relaxed from pictures shared to the couple’s Instagram pages.

In one Brooklyn, 27, looks carefree as he lays on the grass while in another he smiles beside Nicola, 31, who beamed with her arm wrapped around Elton.

Furnish commented: “So lovely having you both to stay with us……”

He also wrote on Nicola’s collection of snaps: “Such a lovely time we all spent together.”

The American actress could be seen admiring a lily pond and outdoor tennis courts.

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Before the villa stay, the couple lived it up on Elton’s super yacht off the shore of St Tropez.

David, 51, and Victoria, 52, had the same idea and spent time relaxing on their own vessel at the lavish location on the French Riviera.

The two warring factions were photographed minutes apart when they ventured onto dry land for a spot of shopping and a bite to eat.

Despite numerous olive branches, Brooklyn is still refusing to speak to his parents, who he accused of “hijacking” his wedding to Nicola in 2022 and caring more about Brand Beckham than family members themselves.

He also alleged the fashion designer Victoria pulled out of making Nicola’s dress at the eleventh hour. 

Brooklyn has since served his parents with a legal notice telling them they should only contact him through his lawyers. 

Meanwhile, it has been claimed by the Daily Mail that things between them were tense before he and Nicola tied the knot. 

A source told the publication: “Indeed, relations had become so fraught between Brooklyn and his parents – because of tensions with his fiancee Nicola – that I can reveal that they weren’t actually on speaking terms for some three months before the young couple married in Palm Beach, in April 2022.”

Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women under 50 in the UK.

About one in seven women develop breast cancer in their lifetime, yet only 5-10% of cases are linked to inherited genes.

Most cases – 96% – are in women over 40, while 25% are in women over 75.

Men can get breast cancer too, with about 420 new cases every year in the UK.

In England, guidance from Nice recommends GPs ask about family history if a woman is worried that she might have a higher risk of breast cancer, and sometimes if they are over 35 and using an oral contraceptive pill or considering taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Hormones have been linked to a slightly increased risk of breast cancer, although larger risk factors include alcohol intake and obesity.

The study, by a team from Cambridge University and the Institute of Cancer Research, looks at how to predict breast cancer risk in younger women.

They used a risk calculator called Boadicea that combines factors such as family history, lifestyle, reproductive history and genetic information to give a risk score.

If all women under 50 were to have this done, they estimate about a quarter (26.5%) would be categorised as at above-average risk and referred for further assessment.

This would include a third of women under 50 (34.8%) who develop breast cancer within 10 years.

By comparison, the current Nice criteria would result in 1.4% of women under 50 being referred for further assessment, which would include just 4.4% of those women who develop breast cancer.

A main reason for the disparity, the researchers say, is because three-quarters of women (73%) under 50 who develop breast cancer within a decade have no family history of breast cancer – the key criterion in the Nice guidelines.

Aug. 2 (UPI) — At least five people were killed and 41 remain missing after a ferry carrying hundreds of people caught fire off the coast of Indonesia’s Madura Island on Sunday, officials said.

Thick smoke was seen billowing from the passenger vessel KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2, which was carrying 271 passengers and crew.

The ferry’s captain reported the fire as the vessel traveled from Surabaya to Makassar about 6 a.m. local time.

Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency said survivors were rescued by a number of vessels that had been in the area, the Jakarta Globe reported.

Search and rescue efforts continued throughout the day. The ferry was still smoking by mid-afternoon, the Globe reported.

Victims were taken to three area hospitals for medical evaluation.

“Our main focus is on rescuing the victims and ensuring they receive the best possible care upon their arrival on land,” Sumenepe Police Chief Ariek Indra Sentanu told iNews. “The TNI, Polri, and district government are working together in the field.”

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, officials said.

Following the news of her surprise exit, BBC Breakfast star Naga Munchetty was missing from her usual presenting slot on Saturday morning.

BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty was noticeably absent during the latest episode of the popular news show.

The 51-year-old normally co-hosts the morning programme alongside Charlie Stayt from Thursday to Saturday and appeared on the show on Friday (July 31st). But on August 1st, BBC Breakfast underwent a presenter shake-up as Naga was replaced by journalist Emma Vardy.

The BBC did not provide any updates or comments regarding Naga’s absence from the famous red sofa. But her leave comes after it was announced that Naga is set to step down from BBC Breakfast after 17 years to take on a new role as co-presenter of BBC Radio 5 Live’s breakfast programme.

Her move follows the announcement by current hosts Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards, who revealed during Tuesday’s broadcast that they will leave the breakfast show in December.

Munchetty, who has hosted Radio 5 Live’s weekday mid-morning programme since 2021, will join the station’s flagship breakfast slot alongside a new co-host, who is yet to be appointed, the BBC confirmed.

Earlier this week, Naga shared the news on her Instagram, reposting the statement from the official BBC 5 Live account and the clip of Rachel and Rick announcing their departure.

The caption read: “5 Live Breakfast hosts, Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards, announced this morning that they will step down in December.

“Naga Munchetty will become the new co-presenter of 5 Live Breakfast, taking the helm of the station’s flagship morning programme five days a week from January 2027.

“As part of the changes, Rachel Burden will move to present the weekday mid-morning programme, Monday to Wednesday 11-2pm, following 15 years on the station’s Breakfast show.”

Opening up on her new role, Naga said in a statement: “I’m thrilled to be joining 5 Live Breakfast in January. Live news, great conversations and connecting with audiences are what I love most about broadcasting, and 5 Live does all of that brilliantly.

“It has been a privilege to be part of the BBC Breakfast TV team for the past 17 years, working alongside an incredibly talented and hard-working group of journalists who are not only outstanding colleagues but also great friends.

“Presenting a flagship programme on 5 Live is an opportunity that was simply too good to pass up. It will take a huge amount of work and require 100% of my focus and energy, and I’m really looking forward to throwing myself into the role.”

The star also mentioned that she will continue to present both BBC Breakfast and Radio 5 Live from now until January.

BBC Breakfast airs Mondays-Sundays from 6am on BBC One.

July 31 (UPI) — Rescue crews searching for 10 missing mountaineers following an avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak mountain found four bodies, officials said Friday.

The expedition was led by renowned mountaineer Nirmal Pruja and included American climber and wellness entrepreneur Mallory Geis.

Maj. Gen. Irfan Arshad Khan, president of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, said in a statement posted on Instagram on Friday that the bodies had been located.

“Search-and-rescue operations remain ongoing, and we urge the public to await verified updates before drawing conclusions,” the club said in a separate statement.

“The Alpine Club of Pakistan extends its continued thoughts to the climbers and their families during this difficult time.”

The club did not say whether the bodies had been recovered.

The avalanche occurred midday Thursday on Broad Peak, which at 26,401 feet is of the world’s 12th-highest mountain, in Pakistan’s Karakoram mountain range.

The Alpine Club of Pakistan said in a statement that one of its expeditions had gone missing. It was last in communication with the group before the avalanche occurred, it said.

The 10 expeditions members were identified as Purja, Geis, Sohail Sakhi of Pakistan, Wang Zhong of China, Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy of Oman and Nepalese mountaineers Pur Bahadur Gurung, Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, Nawang Thindu Sherpa and Gyalu Sherpa.

Mountaineer Nirmal Purja among those feared missing after avalanche hit Broad Peak, Pakistan alpine club says.

Ten climbers, led by renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, are feared missing after an avalanche in northern Pakistan where they were on a climbing expedition, the country’s alpine club said.

“The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) has received deeply concerning reports of an avalanche that struck a team of climbers on Broad Peak (8,047m) in the Karakoram mountain range,” the club said late on Thursday, adding that the team was led by Purja and could not be reached since the incident.

Broad Peak is the 12th-highest mountain in the world.

The ACP said the expedition comprises 10 people, including five from Nepal, one from Pakistan, one from Oman, one from China, one from the United States, and another foreign climber whose nationality it did not disclose.

“The entire team has reportedly been out of communication since the avalanche,” the club said.

“Every possible effort is being made to ensure that helicopter support and all available rescue resources are mobilised at the earliest opportunity, subject to weather and operational conditions,” it added.

Purja, 43, also known as Nims Dai, has broken multiple climbing records since becoming a full-time mountaineer and tour guide in 2018, after leaving the British military.

He climbed all 14 “eight-thousanders” (peaks above 8,000 metres, or 26,000 feet) in six months and six days between April and October 2019, a record at the time.

In 2021, Purja completed the first winter ascent of K2 as part of a team of nine other Nepalese climbers.

SINGER-songwriter Linda Perhacs has gone missing – with the artist’s loved ones issuing a plea for information on her whereabouts.

The musician, 82, who struggles with dementia, was discharged from a care facility eight months ago – but has not been heard from since.

The cult songwriter’s friends and collaborators posted a plea for help on social media on Monday.

Her manager Laura Stearns said Linda had not been seen or heard from in eight months.

In December, she was released from an assisted living facility in Northridge, California, by her legal guardian.

 Stearns said: “Linda Perhacs our dear friend and legendary singer-songwriter was discharged from a residential care facility approximately eight months ago under the supervision of her legal guardian.

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“Since then, friends and longtime collaborators have been unable to reach her and repeated attempts to contact her guardian have reportedly gone unanswered. Please help us locate Linda to ensure her wellbeing.

“The intention is not to intrude upon her privacy, but simply to ensure that she is safe and to re-establish communication with someone whose artistic contributions continue to resonate across generations.”

A missing persons report for Linda was filed with the Los Angeles Police Department on June 6.

The singer’s friends and collaborators, including writer Jessica Hundley, singer Julia Holter and DubLab co-founder Mark “Frosty” McNeill, have shared pleas for information.

Her co-producer, Fernando Perdomo, said on Monday that he had been unable to reach her next of kin.

He said: “We’ve all been in touch with her since she’s been in a home for memory care, and we even performed with her two years ago for her 80th birthday party.”

Perdomo added that he wanted to speak to Linda about six weeks ago.

He explained: “So I gave her a call and found out that she had been moved out by her next of kin, and because of California law they can’t tell us where she is.

“I think he might have blocked us, which is really, really weird.”

Perhacs shot to fame decades after the 1970 release of her debut album, Parallelograms.

The record initially bombed and sold poorly, prompting Perhacs to quit the music industry and go back to her job as a dental hygienist.

However, the internet helped new fans rediscover the album in the late 1990s.

It was soon hailed as a lost folk classic and re-released several times.

Following her revived career, Perhacs returned to the studio to release her second album, The Soul of All Natural Things, in 2014, followed by her third, I’m a Harmony, in 2017.

AN airport in the UK has issued a warning for anyone travelling there this week, due to a major road closure.

Bournemouth Airport has said passengers will need to allow extra time there due to this, with fears of disruption.

From tomorrow until July 31, Matchams Lane just beyond the Dorset airport will be closed for ‘essential maintenance’.

Passengers arriving that way by car can expect disruption from its junction with Avon Causeway and Bostwick Lane.

The road will be closed to all vehicles from 7am to 6pm on all three days.

For drivers there will be no parking and no waiting at any time on the road.

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There will be a diversion in place, but as a result, Bournemouth Airport has told passengers to allow ‘extra time’ when travelling.

BCP Council added: “These arrangements may be amended/extended should works overrun or weather conditions delay operations; restrictions may be in effect under this Notice for up to five days, and extended by a further Notice or Order.

“The Council regrets any inconvenience to the public caused by this temporary prohibition.”

This comes just one month after Bournemouth Airport hiked its costs at short-stay pick-up and drop-off charges, with some fares doubling.

Motorists who use the pick-up and drop-off zone of the car park now have to pay £8 for up to 30 minutes of parking which is an increase of £2 from last year.

Stays between 30 and 60 minutes have doubled in price, now costing £15 to park, compared to £7.50 previously, with one to four-hour parking priced at £20.

If you get out to Joshua Tree and the night is clear, look up. You’ll see not just the stars, but a massive swath of the Milky Way. It’s a reminder that the vastness is always present, beyond the city’s bright lights. And once dawn comes, the desert performs the same magic: long horizons, unfamiliar landscapes, the creeping feeling that we are small, short-lived creatures on an immense ancient planet. No wonder some people find it unsettling.

Not the characters in Claire Vaye Watkins’ new novel “Yellow Pine,” who embrace the desert in the extreme. They live at the far side of the Mojave Desert where California meets Nevada. Wherefore the pines, you ask? The book’s title is a wry joke — “Yellow Pine” is not a forest, not a tree. It’s a massive solar array slated to be built nearby in the Nevada desert. A ragtag crew of desert dwellers are hoping to stop it, or at least slow down the grinding wheels of capitalism that see the desert merely as an empty space for the taking.

Primary among them is Rose, a 30-something single mom who lives near the end of a very, very long dirt road in a cabin she calls Nothingness Flats. Rose works for an environmental nonprofit that has gone remote because it’s the pandemic; she often spirals at the state of the world. “Sometimes I think I can feel the planet just hemorrhaging under all this greed. Like it’s tectonic,” she laments.

Rampant environmental destruction notwithstanding, the novel kicks off with the joyous return of Miles, the guy who got away. He is an outdoor person, like Rose; has trouble fitting into societal norms, like Rose; and he is an ideal intellectual partner for her, bantering, well-read and ready to engage. Also, they have great sex.

Lest I portray this as a typical summer beach read, Watkins’ writing is in a special, different mode. Her latest books somehow cut past narrative traditions and portray plot and emotion more directly. Another novel might find Rose, after she decides she loves Miles so much that she wants to get pregnant, going to a doctor, getting tests, worrying about being almost 40 and what that means. Rose does none of that — she just suddenly deeply wants a baby, and that desire is vivid in the text. Overexplained storytelling is set aside for something that’s striking and vivid.

When I reached Watkins via Zoom to talk about the book, I asked her how she does it. “Partly it’s an intuition I have about what makes an interesting story,” Watkins says. “A story requires a lot of improbable decisions. Maybe they’re not great decisions, but the person doesn’t know that at the time.”

In “Yellow Pine,” Miles is not without some red flags. In my reviewer’s copy, I found myself scrawling “bad idea!” in the margin, trying to warn Rose about him. It gives the story some tension, and shows that our heroine isn’t perfect — she’s just doing her best under desert skies.

Rose lives in Tecopa, population 120, among people who’ve chosen the isolation, quietude, natural beauty and brutal conditions on purpose. Of the real-life people in these communities, Watkins says, “It’s really tough. The environment is extreme. There are no amenities. There’s no jobs. … I think there’s a refusenik quality to them.”

Nevertheless, some of them come together to try to forestall the installation of the solar array. They point out that “solar farm” is a misnomer because the land — an alluvial plane with Yucca colonies dating back hundreds of years, creosote rhizomatic rings even longer — will be scraped and fenced. What happens to the endangered desert tortoises is awful. These activists are trying every legal recourse and have set up a tiny camp at the edge of the property. Sweetly, and with little hope, they make a small community of people who understand each other and the desert landscape that others see as a blank space on the map.

“In California most of the biodiversity in the state is in the inland deserts, partly because a lot of the other ecosystems have been totally destroyed, you know? It’s a very alive place,” Watkins explains.

In “Yellow Pine,” Rose’s conviction that she should get pregnant grows to a point where she comes up with a wild scheme to make that happen. It is very funny, outsized and unexpected. It’s a small individual resistance to the impending destruction of the desert.

Watkins is very good at making a humorous turn at the end of thoughts, sentences, books. This is her fourth. Her debut, the short story collection “Battleborn” in 2012, set her on a trajectory of accolades; 2021’s “I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness,” was an L.A. Times book prize finalist. She is currently a professor of writing at UC Irvine.

“The thing I love about novels, writing them and reading them, is that it’s private thoughts,” Watkins says. “It’s this cool technology that we’ve come up with to deal with the fact that we don’t know what’s going on in each other’s heads and hearts and how painful that can be.”

She adds that a novelist’s job is to care about the reader. “There’s something really beautiful about, I’m going to do my very best with my part and then I give it to you, and I let it go and I trust you and I respect you,” she says. “I love the world when I’m writing and my books are like acts of love, partly because I really struggle. I’m not walking around loving my fellow man easily.”

When our Zoom began, she apologized for the noises outside — construction, dog walkers, gardeners. I couldn’t hear them at all, but I got the impression that those intrusions and distractions were weighing on her. “I feel like I have a very sensitive instrument,” she says. “I get a little agitated and the pace is really, really different.”

I had been expecting to reach her at an improbable desert outpost, like a Death Valley library with Wi-Fi, but instead reached her in Orange County. It’s for her job, and also as a part-time parent, much easier for amenities. It’s a busy town where there are lots of people, lots of businesses, lots of traffic, the hectic pace of modern life — but still, the desert has its pull. She splits her time between the two locales.

“Yellow Pine” is a testament to her beloved remote corner of the Mojave, its beauties, hardships and endangerments. The place has been an essential part of her creative process and project. “What we do for fun in Tecopa is like, watch the sky. That’s our entertainment, you know?” she says, reflecting on the long moments of silence that stretch out over the evenings. “And it’s like, ‘wow.’”

Journalist Savannah Guthrie has made an emotional public appeal for information about her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, saying her family is living through “a nightmare that will not end.” The plea comes after investigators said kidnapping notes linked to the case were fake.

The biggest complaint from fans is scheduling.

In 2025-26, the WSL replaced the Sunday 18:45 kick-off time with more noon matches, but this also proved unpopular.

“For an away day it’s horrible,” explains Arsenal fan Major. “You’ve got fans leaving at three o’clock in the morning or you’re going the night before and having to pay for a hotel.”

The revised time also clashes with grassroots football, played widely on a Sunday morning. It is a barrier for the younger generation to attend games.

Regular breaks throughout the season are an issue too. Earlier this year, former England defender Anita Asante suggested extended gaps between league games hampers momentum and rhythm for fans.

Another complaint from supporters is accessibility.

While Premier League-level grounds like Emirates Stadium and Everton’s Goodison Park are well equipped, smaller venues are less accommodating.

Jones, a wheelchair user, was frustrated by the lack of Blue Badge parking information when trying to attend London City’s away trip to Tottenham Hotspur.

“A lot of the issues I experience are with communication,” she says. “Every club has an accessibility section on their website but for Tottenham it is only for the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, not Brisbane Road [where Tottenham women play].”

Jones told BBC Sport the onus was on her to seek further information via email, to which she received a reply stating Blue Badge parking had sold out. Only after she spoke to Tottenham’s disability co-ordinator did she learn the venue did not have Blue Badge parking as it was in a residential area.

To compound matters, the wheelchair accessible allocation was on the opposite side of the ground to the away section, leaving Jones isolated.

Tottenham Hotspur told BBC Sport information for the venue is available on the website via the ‘Ask Spurs’ chatbot. However, after an internal investigation, they are making improvements.

Brisbane Road-specific guidance has since been added to their event day accessible parking section on ‘Ask Spurs’, while a matchday-specific guide is in the works.

A spokesperson for the club confirmed: “We’re working on a full Brisbane Road matchday guide for the website for next season to give parity with our Tottenham Hotspur Stadium information.”

July 20 (UPI) — A ferry carrying 133 passengers and crew members capsized off the coast of Guyana, where authorities continued searching Monday for dozens of missing people while investigating possible irregularities in the vessel’s operation.

The MV Barima departed Georgetown on Saturday afternoon bound for Port Kaituma, a remote community in the country’s northwest that is primarily accessible by sea and river.

According to the official manifest, the vessel was carrying 116 passengers, 17 crew members and some 268 tons of cargo when it issued a distress signal about 11 p.m., Prime Minister Mark Phillips said.

By midday Sunday, rescue teams had saved 67 people, including 41 men, 11 women and 15 children, while the search continued across an area expanded to more than 385 square miles with support from the Guyana Defence Force, the Coast Guard, other government agencies and local fishermen, according to the government.

As rescue efforts progressed, authorities discovered several of the people found alive were not listed on the ferry’s official manifest.

In addition, two crew members tested positive for cannabis during medical examinations conducted after the accident, Phillips said.

After those findings, the government ordered a joint investigation by the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force, the Maritime Administration Department and technical experts to determine the cause of the capsizing.

The investigation will examine the accuracy of the manifest, the cargo being transported, compliance with maritime safety regulations and the actions of the captain and crew before and during the trip.

As part of the initial measures, authorities removed the entire team responsible for the MV Barima’s cargo, dispatch and operational management from their duties to preserve the integrity of the investigation and prevent any interference with the evidence, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said.

Edghill said the Guyana Police Force had obtained security camera footage from Kingston Goods Wharf, from which the ferry departed, to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the accident.

“Where negligence, misconduct or criminal acts are established, those responsible will face the full force of the law,” Phillips said in a statement.

Edghill described it as “criminal” that some passengers were not listed on the official passenger manifest, saying the situation makes it difficult to determine how many people were actually on board, local outlet Kiskadee Watch reported.

He said the captain and two other crew members remain in custody while the investigation continues.

Some survivors also said the vessel was overloaded and that crew members had been drinking alcohol and smoking before the accident, according to Kiskadee Watch.

Authorities initially maintained that the MV Barima had been operating within authorized limits. According to the official manifest, the ferry had capacity for more than 300 passengers and 284 tons of cargo, and it was carrying 268 tons at the time of the accident.

The government also said the vessel completed its mandatory maintenance in 2024 and was operating with new engines.

As search and rescue operations continue, assistance centers remain open for relatives in Georgetown, Port Kaituma and Mabaruma, where authorities are providing official information, psychological support and other services to those affected.

The survivors were found clinging to a fish trap and floating debris at sea three days after the boat sank.

Five people have been rescued, including a seven-year-old girl, who were stranded at sea off the Indonesian coast for three days after their boat sank south of Sulawesi. A search is ongoing for at least 20 others.

The five survivors – one man, three women and the girl – were located by a fishing boat before dark on Saturday near Matallang Island off the coast of Sulawesi and taken to a search-and-rescue vessel.

They had stayed afloat by clinging to a fish trap and buoyant debris after the KM Nurul Salsa suffered engine failure and sank on Wednesday with 78 passengers and crew members on board.

“After the ship sank, each of them saved themselves using whatever equipment or makeshift flotation they could find,” local search-and-rescue official Muhammad Arif Anwar said.

“They rigged together jerry cans and pieces of cork tied up with rope, then climbed on top of them.”

They told rescuers they had been part of a group of 25 people, but during their ordeal they were separated from the others by strong winds.

Local media reported 47 people had been rescued the day after the boat sank, and one person is known to have drowned.

Five large ships, a reconnaissance aircraft and a helicopter are being used in ongoing search efforts for those still missing.

The KM Nurul Salsa was en route from Jampea Island to the port of Benteng on Selayar Island in South Sulawesi province. It sank about 43 nautical miles (79km) from the port.

Passenger boats are a common form of transport in Indonesia, an archipelago with more than 17,000 islands. Lax safety standards and problems with overcrowding frequently result in accidents.

Earlier this month, at least six people died and dozens went missing after a ferry carrying 65 people sank off Indonesia’s resort island of Bali.