Entertainment
Nearly 100 Sudanese refugees dead or missing after twin Libya boat disasters
TRIPOLI: Around 100 Sudanese refugees are dead or missing after two separate boat disasters off Libya’s coast last weekend, and the toll is feared to rise, UN agencies said Wednesday.
One boat capsized on Saturday and another caught fire on Sunday, both off the eastern port city of Tobruk, according to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The first boat was carrying 74 people, “mostly Sudanese refugees”, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on its X account for Libya, of whom “only 13 people survived and dozens remain missing” from Saturday’s wreck.
An IOM spokesperson earlier told AFP that Sunday’s “tragic incident took place when a rubber boat carrying 75 Sudanese refugees caught fire” en route to Greece, adding: “At least 50 lives were lost.”
The UNHCR and the IOM spokesperson did not immediately provide details of the ages or gender of those on board the boats.
“IOM provided immediate lifesaving medical care to the 24 survivors,” the spokesperson added, without clarifying if one last person was still missing from Sunday’s wreck.
Libya is a key transit country for thousands of migrants seeking to reach Europe by sea each year.
At least 456 people died and 420 were reported missing along the central Mediterranean route between January 1 and September 13, according to the IOM.
Libyan authorities have so far this year intercepted and returned 17,402 migrants to Libya, including 1,516 women and 586 children.
The war in neighbouring Sudan between the army and paramilitaries has pushed over 140,000 refugees into Libya in the past two years, nearly doubling the number of Sudanese refugees in the country.
Many brave near-slavery conditions in Libya, migrants have told AFP, while others attempt the dangerous sea crossing in a bid to reach Europe.
The IOM considers the central Mediterranean crossing one of the deadliest migrant routes in the world.
In 2024, 2,573 people trying to reach Europe died in the Mediterranean Sea, it said.
Libya is still plagued by division and instability after years of unrest following the NATO-backed uprising that toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
It remains divided between the UN-recognised government in the west and its eastern rival, backed by military commander Khalifa Haftar.
Smugglers and human traffickers have taken advantage of the instability, leading to human rights violations, including extortion and slavery, according to rights groups.
Apple has announced a new financing scheme named “Flexible Finance Account” in the United Kingdom, replacing the popular iPhone Upgrade Program.
The move marks a major shift for customers accustomed to the old program, which enabled users to pay a monthly fee and upgrade to the latest iPhone on an annual basis after making 12 payments.
Another major news for iPhone users is the new program include AppleCare+ at 0%.
Apple’s U.K. website confirmed the end of the iPhone Upgrade Programme, stating, “We think you’ll love what’s next.”
The new Flexible Finance Account is referred to as a line of credit that provides “even more options” and flexibility for future Apple Store purchases.
Although some of the major offers are still interest-free, such as all the current iPhone 17 models and all the iPhone 16 models over certain terms like 20 or 24 months, the new system now applies interest rates for financing over longer terms for other products.
For instance, financing an iPad or Apple Vision Pro over 36 months will now incur a 14.9% APR.
Although the upgrade plan changes in the U.K., it will remain the same in the U.S. and other markets.
Customers in the U.K. who are already using the service are encouraged to continue with their current payments until they qualify for an upgrade, at which point they will be moved to the new system.
Apple points out that the new account system enables one-time approval for future purchases.
2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year in Hollywood with Marvel, Pixar, Nolan, Villeneuve, Peele, Gerwig, and Spielberg all delivering major projects.
We can expect a mix of blockbuster spectacle, nostalgic sequels and auteur-driven films that will dominate theaters and awards season.
Let’s take a look at the upcoming movies of 2026!
Wuthering Heights
Emerald Fennell directs and writes a new take on Emily Brontë’s classic, releasing February 13, 2026.
Produced by Josey McNamara and Margot Robbie, the film stars Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Hong Chau, Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver and Martin Clunes, exploring Heathcliff and Catherine’s destructive love with Fennell’s dark edge.
How to Make a Killing
John Patton Ford’s dark comedy thriller arrives February 20, 2026 (US) and March 13 (UK).
Produced by Graham Broadbent and Pete Czernin, it stars Glen Powell, Margaret Qualley, Jessica Henwick, Ed Harris, Topher Grace and Zach Woods.
Inspired by Kind Hearts and Coronets, it follows a man reclaiming his inheritance by eliminating relatives.
Scream 7
The franchise continues on February 27, 2026, directed and co written by Kevin Williamson with Guy Busick and James Vanderbilt.
Produced by William Sherak and team, the film brings back Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox alongside new cast members, as Sidney Prescott faces a Ghostface targeting her daughter.
The Bride!
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s gothic reimagining of Frankenstein arrives March 6, 2026, starring Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Jake Gyllenhaal, Penélope Cruz, Annette Bening and Peter Sarsgaard.
Project Hail Mary
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller direct Andy Weir’s sci fi adaptation, out March 20, 2026.
Ryan Gosling leads alongside Sandra Hüller, Ken Leung and Milana Vayntrub as a lone astronaut racing to save Earth.
The Drama
Kristoffer Borgli’s The Drama (April 3, 2026) stars Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Alana Haim and Mamoudou Athie in a romantic comedy-drama about a wedding unraveling.
Avengers: Doomsday
Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday (May 1, 2026), directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, unites Brie Larson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Simu Liu, Florence Pugh and Anthony Mackie in a multiverse showdown.
Toy Story 5
Pixar’s Toy Story 5 (June 19, 2026) brings back Woody, Buzz, and friends, directed by Pete Docter and written by Andrew Stanton.
Moana (Live-Action)
Disney’s live-action Moana (July 10, 2026) stars Catherine Laga’aia as Moana and Dwayne Johnson reprising Maui, directed by Thomas Kail.
The Odyssey
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey (July 17, 2026) features Matt Damon, Florence Pugh and Cillian Murphy in a mythological epic.
The Social Reckoning
Aaron Sorkin’s The Social Reckoning (October 9, 2026) stars Jeremy Strong, Jeremy Allen White and Mikey Madison, tackling the fallout of Facebook leaks.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
Francis Lawrence directs Sunrise on the Reaping (November 20, 2026), focusing on young Haymitch Abernathy with a cast including Mckenna Grace, Maya Hawke, Elle Fanning, Glenn Close and Ralph Fiennes.
Dune: Part Three
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three (November 20, 2026) continues Herbert’s saga with Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Austin Butler and Florence Pugh.
Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew
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Greta Gerwig adapts C.S. Lewis’ The Magician’s Nephew (November 26, 2026) with Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan and Daniel Craig.
Jumanji 4
Jake Kasdan’s Jumanji 4 (December 11, 2026) reunites Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan for another adventure.
The former Duke of York has finally packed up and moved on but his change of address is doing little to quiet the noise around him.
After months of whispers, he has vacated Royal Lodge and taken up residence at Wood Farm Cottage on the Sandringham Estate, where he’ll stay until nearby Marsh Farm is prepared.
The relocation, however, hasn’t gone down smoothly with everyone in the area.
Visitors and locals alike have been quick to voice their disbelief at the arrangement, questioning why the King’s troubled brother is being housed on a royal estate at all.
One elderly visitor wondered how someone described as sidelined can truly be so when he’s still being given a roof within palace grounds.
Another scoffed that the move hardly looks like a step down, it sounds more like a return to comfort than a retreat.
Others are more annoyed by the sudden spotlight on their normally peaceful surroundings.
One resident complained that the influx of cameras and reporters has shattered village calm.
Though Wood Farm Cottage lacks the grandeur of Andrew’s former home, it’s no bare-bones bolthole.
The property has reportedly been given a security heavy makeover, including the installation of a towering six foot fence to replace the original wire barrier.
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