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.
Entertainment
Jim Belushi shares having lively dreams about late brother John
Jim Belushi is opening up about a deeply personal experience that has stayed with him for decades, revealing that he still has recurring dreams about his late brother, John Belushi, more than 40 years after his death.
The actor and comedian says these dreams feel less like memories and more like meaningful reunions.
Speaking to PEOPLE, Jim, now 71, shared that several of these dreams have stood out over the years, especially those where John appears healthy, alive, and doing what they both loved most.
“He’s alive and fine, and we were acting together,” Jim said. “We’re improvising at Second City or on Saturday Night Live.”
In the dreams, the brothers are back on stage, fully immersed in comedy, as if time never interrupted their bond.
Jim admitted that even in his dreams, John’s humour gets the best of him.
“I got mad at him because he was making me laugh so hard I couldn’t stay in character,” he said, recalling how those moments would play out.
“Those were kind of nice visits.” The actor’s words reflect both the joy and ache of reconnecting with a brother he lost too soon.
John Belushi, a celebrated Saturday Night Live star and performer, died on March 5, 1982, at just 33 years old.
His death was ruled an accidental overdose caused by acute cocaine and heroin intoxication, often referred to as a “speedball.”
More than 43 years later, Jim says the dreams still come from time to time, offering what he describes as “little visits.”
He echoed similar thoughts in a conversation with Variety, explaining, “I have dreams once in a while where he and I are acting at Second City.”
Jim went on to describe one dream in detail, saying, “We were on stage together, and he was so funny that I cracked up, eating the scene in front of everybody. I got so mad at him, because that’s the worst thing you can do, is break character, right? But he was just so funny, and he goes, ‘Ah, come on, kid!’ He was sweet to me. So, I still get little visits.”
Jim Belushi has spoken about his brother many times over the years, often reflecting on their close relationship and shared passion for comedy.
Today, as he stars in the new film Song Sung Blue alongside Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, those dreams remain a comforting reminder that the connection he shared with John never truly faded.
Entertainment
Olivia Rodrigo, Louis Partridge call it quits after two years, details revealed
Olivia Rodrigo and Louis Partridge have reportedly broken up after dating for two years.
The Hope ur OK singer and the House of Guinness actor, who started seeing each other in 2023, are said to have parted ways a few weeks ago.
A source told The Sun that people close to the couple were surprised by the news.
However, the insider said it was a hard time for both of them and that they thought it was better to be apart for now.
Olivia, 22, is reportedly very emotional when talking about the break-up at Lily Allen’s Christmas party at Stringfellows in Covent Garden, London, on December 20.
Insider revealed that friends are there to support her but the source said it was still a tough and sad moment.
Olivia and Louis didn’t confirm the split just yet, as in September, Louis said he was happy being known as Olivia’s boyfriend and told Variety that everything was good between them.
Earlier in their relationship, the driver license hitmaker visited Louis in London with her friend Conan Gray.
They spent time together at dinners, clubs and events, showing fans how close they were.
Louis also said he wanted to keep their relationship private, as he told British Vogue that dating should not be done in public.
Moreover, Olivia and Louis’ last public outing together was in October at the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles.
Entertainment
King Charles gifts Prince Harry formal meeting with harsh treatment
King Charles and Prince Harry finally came face to face earlier this year but despite warm smiles and exchanged gifts, insiders say the reunion felt less like a family catch up and more like a carefully choreographed diplomatic call.
The 55 minute meeting at Clarence House marked the first time father and son had spoken in person for 19 months, yet sources insist it unfolded on the King’s tightly controlled timetable.
Harry reportedly slipped into London between the monarch’s scheduled audiences during what palace insiders privately dubbed a “faux royal” visit hardly the relaxed homecoming some had imagined.
According to OK! Magazine, Harry left feeling less like a prodigal son and more like a formal visitor.
One insider close to the duke said he later joked that the meeting was so official he might as well have arrived with a diplomatic badge.
Harry had apparently hoped for something warmer and more personal after such a long gap.
The duke brought a framed photograph of himself with Meghan Markle and their children, Archie and Lilibet.
The King’s grandchildren he has not seen since the Platinum Jubilee in 2022. Charles, for his part, offered a birthday gift, with Harry’s 41st just days away.
Crucially, insiders stress that the conversation steered well clear of Harry’s future role, if any, within the royal setup.
A senior figure with knowledge of the talks was blunt: there was no discussion of duties, responsibilities or hybrid arrangements.
King Charles remains firmly aligned with the Sandringham Agreement reached in January 2020, when Queen Elizabeth ruled out Harry’s request for a part-time royal role while living overseas. That decision, insiders insist, is not being revisited.
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