Archive July 21, 2025

Fire on Indonesia ferry kills three, over 500 passengers jump to safety

After a ferry caught fire off the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, three people died and more than 500 others were saved, according to emergency officials.

After the fire broke out on Sunday, passengers jumped overboard the KM Barcelona 5 as it departed from Melonguane port in the Talaud Islands district and headed for Manado, North Sulawesi province’s capital, according to the Indonesian coastguard.

As orange flames and black smoke poured out of the burning vessel, according to photos and videos that were popular on social media. The passengers were pictured jumping into the water while wearing life jackets.

A coastguard vessel was seen spraying water on the ferry, which was producing black smoke, in a video released by the Manado rescue agency.

Authorities in Indonesia had previously reported five fatalities in the accident, but later revised the figure to three after two initially reported fatalities, including a baby who was two months old, had been saved in a hospital with seawater-filled lungs.

The national search and rescue organization announced in a statement on Monday that at least 568 people had been saved from the ferry.

The Manado navy base’s chief, Franky Pasuna Sihombing, reported to The Associated Press news agency that the rescue operation included a coastguard ship, six rescue vehicles, and several inflatable boats.

The fire is thought to have started on the upper deck, according to officials.

The joint rescue team has been conducting the search and rescue operation as of right now because the data is still being developed, Manado rescue agency head George Leo Mercy Randang told the AFP news agency on Monday. In the event that families want to report a missing relative, our post is still open 24 hours a day.

One survivor described the passenger deck becoming oozing with smoke.

After being evacuated to Manado port, Johan Rumewo reported to Kompas TV that “everyone started panicking.” I jumped into the water while grabbing a life jacket. Before being saved, I floated for about an hour.

Only 280 passengers and 15 members of the ferry’s crew were recorded on the log. According to local media reports, the ship could accommodate 600 passengers.

The Southeast Asian archipelago’s 17, 000 islands are regularly hit by marine accidents, in large part due to poor safety practices or bad weather.

At least 19 people died when a ferry sank off the popular resort island of Bali on Sunday, according to the fire, which occurred just weeks prior to the tragedy.

Ulrika Jonsson, 57, slams trolls for ageist comments over podcast appearance

Following a recent podcast, Ulrika Jonsson addressed trolls who had criticized her appearance and explained why she didn’t wear make-up.

Ulrika Jonsson sent a message to the trolls(Image: UNTAPPED/Youtube)

Ulrika Jonsson has slammed trolls who targeted her following a recent podcast appearance. The TV presenter, 57, took aim at the trolls who criticised her appearance recently and called them out for their “nasy comments”.

It came after the former model appeared on Spencer Matthews’ Untapped Podcast, which is also filmed for fans to watch. Ulrika took to Instagram at the weekend to shut down any bad mouthing and had a stern message for those taking aim at her.

While Ulrika also had positive comments, some viewers felt the need to criticize her “over-tanned” and “ageing” appearance, according to Ulrika’s lengthy post. The actress, however, explained the reason behind her appearance and wasn’t willing to let them down with it.

Ulrika on Spencer's podcast
Ulrika was talking to Spencer Matthews on his podcast(Image: UNTAPPED/Youtube)

She wrote, “I feel I need to address something,” after sharing a photo of her kissing the camera. I don’t receive many nasty comments, or if I do, I don’t respond with a loving response.

“But a couple of weeks ago I took part in a fab podcast @untapped.podcast to discuss my sobriety with the smart @spencermatthews. I wore no make-up. Partly because I kinda forgot that a project for the ears is nowadays also a feast for the eyes.

I’m not a fan, though, as someone who has had to wear heavy makeup on the big screen from 5 am for years.

She also confessed to have suffered from eczema as a child, in particularly on her body in the creases of her arms and legs. She also said she had it on her face. Therefore, make-up was “agony” to wear.“There were a lot of positive comments about the WORDS I said on the podcast,” she continued. “But a considerable amount about my tanned appearance. AND how OLD I look.“In a few weeks I will be 58. I will never look like the fresh 21yr old that used to greet you first thing in the morning by the weather board.”

She also acknowledged that she is aware of the fact that she is “probably going to” pay the price for that. However, she added that ageing won’t help her uneven pigmentation either.

Ulrika admitted in a private interview that she occasionally uses filters because it’s simpler to apply makeup on her photos. She added that she frequently spends her entire summer working in her garden, which means she gets sun.

She went on: “I rarely sunbathe any more. Haven’t had a sunbed for 6 months – which I do occasionally in winter months. Not ashamed. I have not had a holiday – of any kind – since 2018. That’s 7yrs.“So, I understand that an over-tanned, imperfect and AGEING face offends you. But try to listen to the words rather than constantly judge women’s appearance. You might learn something.”

Ulrika Jonsson
Ulrika called out the trolls(Image: instagram/ @ulrikajonssonofficial)

And she came to the defiant sign-off message, saying, “And making people feel s*** doesn’t make you a hero.”

Over 20 000 people who clicked the like button gave Ulrika a warm welcome even though she turned off the comments on the post. Matt Tebbutt of Saturday Kitchen and Anna Williamson of Celebs Go Dating were just two.

Ulrika had previously discussed how sex has grown “interesting” since stopping drinking alcohol 13 months ago in a podcast. She explained how going sober could have a negative effect on her sex life, but it had helped.

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And she explained how going on a date without a drink has changed her outlook: “It’s really hard because people aren’t as attractive,” she said before adding that after drinking, “you just become a little bit more available… it’s easier.

Owen shines on debut as Australia beat West Indies

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Sabina Park, Kingston’s first T20 international

West Indies 189-8 (20 overs): Chase 60, Hope 50, Dwarshuis 4-36

Australia 190-7 (18.5 overs): Green 51, Owen 50, Motie 2-29

Australia leads five-match series 1-0 with a victory of three wickets.

In their first T20 international against West Indies, Australia defeated West Indies by three wickets in Mitchell Owen’s debut.

As the tourists ran out of balls 190 with seven, Owen and fellow all-rounder Cameron Green combined for an 80-run stand for the fifth wicket at Sabina Park.

In his 27-ball 50, Owen hammer five sixes before going off the mark when he hit Andre Russell for six early in the innings to show his intent.

After being swept to the end by Australia this month, Jason Holder, Gudakesh Motie, and Joseph finished with two wickets each for the West Indies team that was under greater scrutiny.

After aggressive half-centuries from captain Shai Hope and Roston Chase, who scored 55 and 60, respectively, West Indies appeared ready for a big total.

However, seamer Dwarshuis chose 4-36 because the hosts’ middle order failed to fire.

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Ecuador’s biggest drug lord ‘Fito’ extradited to US, to plead ‘not guilty’

Adolfo Macias Villamar, the leader of the Ecuadorean gang, will appear in a federal court in the United States, according to his attorney. He will enter a plea not guilty to trafficking in drugs and weapons internationally.

The notorious drug trafficker was recaptured a month after escaping from a maximum-security penitentiary in 2024, according to the country’s prison system’s official website.

The Los Choneros gang’s leader, Macias, was serving a 34-year sentence in a Guayaquil prison for a number of crimes, including murder, organized crime, and drug trafficking.

According to the report, the flight carrying Macias made an overnight landing in New York State on Sunday night. Macias “will plead not guilty” to the Brooklyn federal court on Monday, according to his attorney, according to Reuters news agency.

Details regarding the extradition and handover to the US government were not made public. Following the extradition, the US government has not yet released an official statement.

In April, Macias was charged with the US Attorney’s Office with a charge of drug trafficking, conspiracy, and weapons-related offenses, including weapons smuggling.

The former taxi driver turned crime boss agreed to be charged in the US and be extradited to Quito last week.

After a referendum in which President Daniel Noboa sought the approval of measures to boost his fight against organized crime, he is the first Ecuadorean to be extradited by his nation since last year.

Colombia and Peru, two of the world’s two biggest cocaine exporters, once a haven for peaceful relations, have recently experienced violence as rival gangs with connections to Mexican and Colombian cartels compete for control in Ecuador.

Cult following

Noboa ordered the military and tanks to enter the streets of Ecuador shortly after Macias escaped from prison in January 2024 and immediately declared that the country was in “internal armed conflict.” Human rights organizations have criticized the action.

As a drug lord, Macias cultivated a cult following among his coworkers and the general public.

He was detained in 2023 and he released a video addressing “the Ecuadorian people” while surrounded by armed men. He also held cockfighting parties at roosters’ parties in prison, where he had access to everything from liquor to roosters.

According to the Ecuadorian Organised Crime Observatory, Macias’ Los Choneros has ties to the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico, Gulf Clan in Colombia, which is the world’s largest cocaine exporter, and other Balkan mafias.

A massive military and police recapture operation, including government “wanted” posters offering $1 million for information leading to his arrest, sparked widespread violence and a ransom for his escape from prison.

In a luxurious mansion in Manta, the port of Manta, where Los Choneros operate from their base, on June 25, Macias was discovered hiding in a bunker hidden beneath floor tiles. The sooner the better, Noboa declared that he would be extradited.

Noboa told CNN at the time, “We will gladly send him and let him respond to the North American law.”

Rashford cleared to complete Barcelona loan move

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Marcus Rashford, a Manchester United player, has agreed to a season-long loan to Barcelona.

After receiving United’s consent to move to Barcelona, the 27-year-old made his first official move to Barcelona on Sunday night.

Rashford’s private jet arrival in Barcelona quickly received positive reviews on social media.

In the last week, talks between the Spanish giants and United have advanced quickly, with a fundamental agreement being reached over the weekend.

Since declaring in December that he was ready for a new challenge after being dropped by United head coach Ruben Amorim, Rashford has preferred to move to Barcelona.

Following a six-month loan spell with Aston Villa in the second half of last year, Rashford will now have two more spells on loan.

The La Liga player is scheduled to have a medical with the team by the end of the week so that he can travel to Barcelona’s pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea on Thursday.

Rashford and Jesse Lingard, both of whom played for United, could cross paths with each other on the tour.

Mundo Deportivo and SPORT, two of Spain's leading sports publications, led with images of Rashford arriving in Barcelona on their Monday editions. SPORT's headline says 'Rashford is already here'. Mundo Deportivo/SPORT

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Peter Andre ‘sad’ and Emily struggling as daughter Millie reaches major milestone

Singer Peter Andre and his wife Dr. Emily MacDonagh are currently preparing to see their youngest daughter Millie reach a significant milestone.

Peter and Emily are reaching a huge milestone with their youngest daughter(Image: Instagram/Peter Andre)

Peter Andre and his wife, Dr Emily MacDonagh, have candidly shared their emotional journey as they navigate a significant family milestone with their youngest daughter.

The couple, who are parents to Amelia, Theo, and Arabella, with Emily also being stepmum to Peter’s older children, Princess and Junior, have opened up about their mixed feelings. Writing in his New! magazine column, the father of six expressed the melancholy they’ve felt amidst celebration, revealing, “It’s been a bittersweet time recently – Emily and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary this month, but it was also Millie’s last week of primary school before she heads off to secondary school in September,” Peter shared.

He continued, “It’s been quite sad to see her leave the school she’s been attending since she was a young child.” Although it’s great that they’re growing up, Emily has struggled with it. I fully understand why she feels so emotional about it because she is the first child she has ever had.

The children of Peter and Emily are
The children of Peter and Emily are “sad” as they get older.

This comes after Emily revealed the pair do not plan to have any more children. Speaking on Giovanna Fletcher’s podcast, Happy Mum Happy Baby, she opened up about her difficult third pregnancy and birth and said there was no chance of her and Peter having any more children.

When asked if there were any chance they would have more children, she responded, “It’s completely cemented now, but we’ve always said it’s going to be the last child.” First and foremost, we don’t have any more bedrooms, which is a sufficient reason.

The vehicle is full, it says. Junior and Princess can no longer drive, so we no longer even have a seven-seater.

She said, “They have a lovely relationship together, and we talk about the family dynamic.” When the older two see the younger children, they are so sweet and give the biggest hugs, even though the older two are busy and doing their own thing.

Because they aren’t competing with one another, the age gap is so large that it makes it simpler. Assume that the younger generation is aware that the older generation has a different set of regulations because they are adults.

Emily also made an emotional connection between Princess and Junior and how significant that relationship is to her.

Peter and Emily
Peter and Emily are not growing their clan anymore(Image: OK! Magazine)

“It’s always nice that they’ve kind of welcomed me into their family,” I said. And I believe that when we added Millie, Theo, and Belle, it kind of strengthens you even more as a family. However, I always feel like I’m not their mother, which I always have to be aware of. She said, “I always see it, and I think I would see it a little more like being a big sister.”

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Which, I’m not sure if that’s the best way to look at it, but I always try to give them direction, but I wouldn’t go overboard. Like, I make an effort to support them in the same way that I would my own children. I make an effort to remain the same. However, I have a strict parenting policy for my kids. That’s what I would say to the older kids: “It’s fortunate there’s an age gap, I suppose”?

Because then you guys won’t have to worry about my silly rules, she continued. You guys may be exempt because you’re older, I’m thinking. My children don’t ask the question, “Why are they allowed to have the screens? ” because the age gap is too great.