Five men have been lynched after rural community members accused them of robbing damaged homes following an earthquake that struck Guatemala and caused widespread damage.
Police spokesperson Cesar Mateo told the AFP news agency on Friday night that the men were accused of using the dark of the night to break into homes following the tremors, which led people to sleep in shelters or with relatives.
“While it’s true that robbery is illegal, lynching is also a crime,” Mateo said.
Guatemala’s Ministry of the Interior said residents of Santa Maria de Jesus municipality searched for the men late on Thursday and then blocked authorities who tried to detain and take them away.
Residents beat the men with sticks and stones and then burned them in the community, which lies in the Sacatepequez department southwest of the capital.
Santa Maria de Jesus was the worst-affected area by the earthquake that created tremors of up to 5.7 magnitude. At least seven people were killed across Guatemala after Tuesday’s earthquake.
Vigilante violence is a recurrent response to criminals who are not prosecuted in Guatemala.
According to a local civil society organisation, between 2008 and 2020, vigilante justice left 361 people dead and 1,396 injured in the country.
The earthquake left Santa Maria de Jesus, home to an Indigenous Mayan community, without power, while access to roads was cut off by landslides.
The government flew in humanitarian aid to Santa Maria de Jesus to help residents.
The disaster coordination agency, Conred, which has been evaluating the level of damage in affected areas, said a delivery of solar lamps, buckets, mats, mosquito nets, blankets and kitchen kits has been received from the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR).
After being tipped for Hollywood stardom, Michelle Keegan is feeling “torn” between being a full-time mum and making the most of some exciting job offers. The former Corrie actress gave birth to baby Palma just four months ago, but already has TV execs vying to hire her, a source says, leaving her with a dilemma.
“Michelle has always been a hard worker, so she’s torn between staying at home with Palma and getting back out there,” our source claims. “It’s not an easy industry – you’re self-employed so you never know when your next job might be. It’s still really early days, but these are the questions she’s asking herself, because she’s very much in demand. Everything Michelle touches lately seems to turn to gold.”
READ MORE: ‘Lightweight and sturdy’ expandable carry-on suitcase is slashed by £130 for Prime Day
The couple are both juggling work and parenthood(Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Just weeks ago it was reported that Stockport-born Michelle had signed a six-figure deal to become the new face of Sky – alongside Luther star Idris Elba. And Michelle recently shared some photos of herself stepping back in front of the camera for a mystery project.
Stylish in linen trousers and a top with ‘Copacabana’ written across the front, the 38-year-old was having her hair and make-up done. This could be her first big professional commitment since having Palma – her first child with her husband, former TOWIE star turned presenter Mark Wright – on 6 March.
But for Michelle, who shot to fame in 2008 as barmaid Tina McIntyre on Coronation Street, it also means stepping away temporarily from the most important role of her life – motherhood.
Our source says Michelle and Mark are devoted to baby Palma
Parenting expert Joy Randolph tells OK!, “What Michelle is feeling is completely normal – and incredibly common for new mothers; that emotional tug between wanting to be there for every moment with your baby, and also honouring the career you’ve worked so hard to build. It’s not a lack of love or commitment. It’s the reality of being a working mother today.
“Her situation reflects the reality of many. She’s not choosing one over the other. She’s trying, like millions of women do, to hold both her baby and her career in the same hand. That’s not a weakness. That’s motherhood.”
With Michelle’s Sky comedy Brassic wrapping on its seventh and final season, she is clearly eager to stay connected with the network, in a new capacity.
Our source goes on to say, “The Sky deal is her dipping her toe back in the water and working out what she’s comfortable with. She knows she won’t get this time back with Palma, but it’s hard saying ‘no’ when you’re in demand and you don’t know how long that will last.”
Michelle’s work in Netflix show Fool Me Once was hailed the world over(Image: Vishal Sharma/Netflix)
The source continued, “The thought of leaving her baby even for a short time is really hard, even though Mark is an amazing dad and very supportive. She’s really ambitious and had such success with Fool Me Once that it’s hard for her to think about staying away from work for too long.”
Post-Corrie, Michelle’s career skyrocketed, as she took lead roles in BBC military drama Our Girl, Sky’s Brassic and BBC Australian period drama Ten Pound Poms.
But her star power was cemented last year, with her impressive turn as Maya Stern in Netflix’s Harlan Coben thriller Fool Me Once – which became a global hit and sparked rumours she was being touted for roles across the pond.
Between jobs, she’ll no doubt return to the couple’s Essex home to pick up where she left off. And Michelle and Mark have evidently been enjoying their time as new parents, sharing glimpses of Palma on their social media accounts.
The couple and daughter Palma – whose name is believed to have been inspired by the Spanish island of Majorca, where they own a property – recently returned from Spain’s £300-a-night SO/Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort Hotel after a break with Mark’s extended family, Palma’s first holiday abroad.
The former Corrie actress welcomed her first daughter Palma back in March(Image: michkeegan/Instagram)
And, as our source claims, Mark has taken to fatherhood “like a duck to water” and will support Michelle in whatever she decides. Mark, also 38, was back at work in the Heart FM studio with pal and co-presenter Olly Murs just days after Palma’s birth.
Speaking to the Dance With Me Tonight hitmaker, who also became a dad for the first time last year, a besotted Mark said he’d be videocalling his wife and daughter during their studio breaks.
“It makes you realise what our mums did for us, and makes me have so much more respect than I already had for what women go through,” he added, praising Michelle as a “superhero”.
Article continues below
“Michelle has really bonded with Palma – as has Mark – and she is loving every second of being a mum, they both feel it’s all been worth every second of the wait for her. She’s such a happy baby and Michelle and Mark are brilliant parents – nothing seems to faze them. They’re both in their element.”
Junior Andre has opened up about his relationship with his mum and dad, Katie Price and Peter Andre, as he takes a serious next step in his relationship with his older girlfriend
At just 20 years old, Junior Andre already has the makings of a stellar career – and now he’s taken a serious next step with his girlfriend Jasmine Orr. The son of Katie Price and Peter Andre has just moved in with the influencer, 24, in a one-bedroom apartment in Surrey, and insists he’s more than ready to stand on his own two feet.
Singer Junior previously split his time between the houses of his dad and stepmum, Emily MacDonagh, and his mum Katie, and in an exclusive chat he reveals what thinks of his famous parents now he’s in a serious relationship of his own. “I mean, I’m my own man, aren’t I?,” he said, on the topic of getting life advice from Katie or Mysterious Girl singer Peter.
READ MORE: Charlotte Tilbury slashes cost of new mystery boxes by 50% in epic summer sale
Junior wants to stand on his own two feet(Image: OK!/Alex James)
He continued: “So, I learn for myself and I think that’s the way everyone does it. “It’s the same way my parents did it, you know, just life experience. You live and you learn.”
Junior’s mum and dad split in 2009 after four years together, and him and his younger sister Princess, now 18, split their time between the two houses. When it comes to his romance with Jasmine, which started last year after the pair met at a work event, Junior told OK! magazine they have both been “really supportive”.
“They were really happy for us,” he said. “My parents were both there if we needed anything while moving, and we’re still going to be going for barbecues at Dad’s, or to my mum’s for movie nights. Family is so important. We’re going to host them here, too, once everything is settled.”
Katie and Peter were very supportive of him and Jasmine, Junior said(Image: OK!/Alex James)
Katie opened up recently about her experience of co-parenting Junior and Princess following her and Peter’s split, telling dating guru Paul C Brunson that they’d never “spoken” about their split since they separated.
Last year she also revealed how her role of mum was changing as the two were getting older and launching their own careers.
Speaking to her sister Sophie, 35, on an episode of her Katie Price Show podcast, the former glamour model said: “Although they live with me, because they’re going away soon and Junior’s just been doing night stuff, working nights, I haven’t seen much of them.”
Princess and Junior are both successful in their own right now(Image: Mike Marsland, WireImagevia Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Princess, who turned 18 last month, has been filming her own ITV2 documentary and while Peter and Emily will feature, it’s understood Katie will not.
Article continues below
On a more recent episode of her podcast, Katie addressed the rumours and said: “Just ‘cos everyone knows she’s doing this documentary. I’m not in. But we’ll talk about that nearer the time. Certain people don’t think it’s good for Princess to be seen with me. Certain people who used to look after me.”
To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
David Mohan
BBC Sport NI in New York
320 Comments
Ireland’s Katie Taylor beat Amanda Serrano for the third time in their epic trilogy, winning their bout at New York’s Madison Square Garden on a majority decision after a chess match of a fight.
Two of the cards read 97-93 in favour of undisputed light-welterweight champion Taylor, with the third card unable to split them at 95-95.
The fight played out in front of a sold-out arena for the latest instalment of women’s boxing’s great rivalry and, though not quite the all-out war of their previous meetings, it remained just as gripping.
“We have made history three times,” said Taylor, on a night when the iconic MSG hosted an all-female card for the first time.
Getty Images
Unlike the scoring debate from their second fight in November, it was difficult to disagree with this verdict as Taylor was much more economical on the night.
Puerto Rico’s Serrano enjoyed some success in rounds six and eight, but the challenger was unable to sustain the pressure, with some vintage moments from 39-year-old Taylor helping her turn the tide and produce a strong finish to put a seal on victory.
“I want to thank Amanda Serrano, what an amazing fighter,” said Taylor.
“I thought I did enough [to win]. I boxed smart and well, she wasn’t catching much tonight but it is always a close contest.
“I have a huge amount of respect for Amanda. What a warrior.”
Serrano, 36, acknowledged that her change of approach this time may not have paid off as there was no immediate protest at the outcome.
“I tried something different, it was all about working smarter not harder,” she said.
Retirement or continue – what next for Taylor?
Getty Images
Taylor was in no mood to make a rash decision in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The Serrano saga is absolutely finished, so what is left to do in the ring?
Perhaps complete another trilogy, by taking on Chantelle Cameron to break their tie?
“Chantelle has to see if she can sell out a [capacity] arena first,” Taylor replied when asked about that possibility.
“I don’t think she can sell out any stadium at all. I think I’ve made her more money than she really deserves.”
Of course, there is still the Croke Park itch that Taylor would absolutely love to scratch, yet it is highly unlikely because of costs and a limit on non-GAA events at the Dublin stadium in 2025.
That would mean it would roll into 2026, by when Taylor would be 40.
“I don’t know,” Taylor said on her future.
What information do we collect from this quiz?
Taylor too good for Serrano – how the fight unfolded
It was back to the scene of their initial meeting back in 2022, when Taylor grabbed their first of her wins. The second in November 2024 was a little more contentious, but again a fight-of-the-year contender.
The Irish fans again arrived in their thousands to roar on their national treasure, but they were outnumbered by Puerto Ricans, who created a huge noise whenever they caught a glimpse of Serrano from her dressing room before the fight.
It was another sign the cards were stacked against Taylor, who would need something big to complete the clean sweep against an opponent who went into the contest as the clear favourite.
It was a cagey opening round with both flicking out jabs which were falling short, the two fighters unwilling to be the first to overly commit.
Such an approach was not likely to last too long though.
Things were heating up and momentarily caught fire midway through the third as Taylor quickened her feet and let go with a flurry as Serrano sought to reply, and the crowd responded.
It was already at a stage where Serrano needed to get something going of her own but Taylor was again the better of the pair in the fourth, shooting fast flurries with Serrano either unwilling or unable to fully commit.
Her output did increase in the fifth and Serrano duly began to gain more success, but Taylor had plenty of her own moments.
Perhaps Serrano’s plan was to up the tempo in that second half and she appeared to get through with power shots, yet it was a head clash which would stun Taylor momentarily, while a shot right on the bell again gave the Irishwoman something to think about.
The seventh was another round in which Serrano sought to get impose herself further but Taylor replied with a flurry.
It was not as explosive as their previous contests but was still extremely competitive and it was all to play for heading into the final two rounds.
Serrano was the aggressor in the ninth but was falling short with much of her work and Taylor would punish with crisp counters and seemed to have the upper hand in the final round as she was finding the mark.
Colombian authorities have captured an alleged leader of the Italian ‘Ndrangheta mafia in Latin America who is accused of overseeing cocaine shipments and running illegal trafficking routes to Europe.
Police on Friday identified the suspect as Giuseppe Palermo, also known as “Peppe”, an Italian national who was wanted under an Interpol red notice, which called for his arrest in 196 countries.
He was nabbed on the street in Colombia’s capital Bogota during a coordinated operation between Colombian, Italian and British authorities, as well as Europol, the European Union’s law enforcement agency, according to an official report.
Palermo is believed to be part of “one of the most tightly knit cells” of the ‘Ndrangheta mafia, said Carlos Fernando Triana, head of the Colombian police.
The ‘Ndrangheta, one of Italy’s most powerful, ruthless and clandestine criminal organisations, has increasingly wielded its influence overseas and is widely accused of importing cocaine into Europe.
The suspect “not only led the purchase of large shipments of cocaine in Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador, but also controlled the maritime and land routes used to transport the drugs to European markets”, Triana added.
Illegal cocaine production reached 3,708 tonnes in 2023, an increase of nearly 34% from the previous year, driven mainly by the expansion of coca leaf cultivation in Colombia, according to the United Nations.
The global illicit drug trade, including cocaine, is estimated to be worth more than $500bn annually.
Her rise to fame from humble beginnings has been remarkable – but it didn’t stop GK Barry from feeling ‘terrified’ at the prospect of her first shows on Loose Women
GK Barry went from posting hilariously unfiltered content on TikTok during the Covid lockdowns in 2020, to launching her podcast, Saving Grace in 2022. Last year she made history by becoming the youngest panellist to join ITV chatshow Loose Women – something the in-demand 25-year-old says is a ‘dream come true’ for her.
Now a regular panellist on the female-led show, GK – real name Grace Keeling, admits during an exclusive chat with OK! that though she feels right at home now, it was a rather scary prospect stepping into the studio to do her first few shows, with the thought of debating with one particular panellist making her more nervous than others.
READ MORE: Top-rated electric toothbrush that ‘feels dentist clean’ has over 50% off on Amazon Prime Day
The TikTok star asked not to be put with Janet Street Porter at first – but said she was ‘adorable’(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
“I was terrified. I begged them, please wait till I’m in the groove before you put me on the panel with Janet Street-Porter!”, reveals the witty star, with trademark honesty. “Then I did my show with her and she was adorable. But I was so scared at the beginning, thinking, this audience doesn’t know me — I’m some young woman off TikTok. But now I love it.”
Grace, who was born in 1996 – the same year that Loose Women first came on-air, adds: “Sitting with Kaye [Adams], Denise [Welch]… Loose has me, Olivia [Attwood], Frankie [Bridge] giving a different perspective. It’s fascinating, they’re all such interesting women. They’ve lived a life, you know?”
And the social media sensation, who went public with her footballer girlfriend Ella Rutherford last year, admits that she does battle with imposter syndrome, from time to time., when she thinks of her incredible path to fame.
“I started this whole thing by accident, I expected nothing — though when I was a kid I did want to be a Pussycat Doll, which didn’t quite work out. Being in the public eye was an amazing accident.
Grace calls her impressive career trajectory ‘an amazing accident’(Image: Elisabeth Hoff / Reach PLC)
“Even in the jungle I’d be like, ‘What exactly have I done to be sitting here beside Tulisa and Coleen Rooney?’ I’m not sure, but I’m not complaining.”
She may have done an awful lot into her 25 years, but Grace has no intention of slowing down, and has a few burning ambitions she’d like to tick off. Her girlfriend would like her to do The Traitors, but she admits she’d swiftly get the boot as she “always looks guilty when she’s not”.
Grace admits that she would also love to be a guest on the sofa on The Graham Norton Show — but her absolute dream, she says, is to one day have her very own chat show, in the style of Alan Carr: Chatty Man.
GK Barry’s limited-edition Echo Falls Summer Berries isavailable from July until the end of summer at all majorgrocery stores. See Echo Falls on Instagram @echo_falls
