News
Divers find five bodies in wreck of Sicily yacht
Divers searching the wreckage of the superyacht Bayesian, which sank off the coast of Sicily on Monday, have recovered the bodies of five out of six missing passengers. The Italian Coastguard has yet to formally identify the recovered bodies, which were brought ashore at Porticello harbour.
The search has been focused on locating four Britons and two Americans, including prominent UK tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, his daughter Hannah Lynch, and Jonathan Bloomer, the chairman of Morgan Stanley Bank International, along with his wife, Judy Bloomer.
On Wednesday afternoon, the first two bodies were brought ashore, followed by two more later in the evening. The search was paused as night fell, with divers expected to resume operations the following day.
Throughout the day, a steady stream of boats ferried divers between the wreck site and Porticello harbour, where emergency services staff stood by as the bodies were brought back.
Italian authorities have not yet confirmed the identities of the recovered bodies, likely awaiting the retrieval of all six victims before notifying the families. According to Italian law, formal identification by a family member or someone close to the victims is required before the deaths can be officially certified.
Salvatore Cocina, head of Sicily’s civil protection agency, stated that while there will be an investigation into the incident, the immediate priority remains the recovery of all passengers who were aboard the Bayesian vessel.
In a devastating incident in eastern India, at least 46 people, including 37 children and seven women, have drowned while celebrating the Hindu Jivitputrika festival. The fatalities, which occurred across 15 districts within the past 24 hours, resulted from victims ritually bathing in rivers and ponds swollen by recent flooding.
The three-day festival, which honors children’s wellbeing, is traditionally marked by mothers fasting and families participating in ritual baths. This year, the swollen water bodies, exacerbated by recent floods, have turned the celebratory ritual into a deadly disaster.
Local disaster management officials have expressed fears that the death toll could rise further. State authorities have promised compensation for the families and relatives of the victims.
Fatal accidents during religious festivals are not uncommon in India, where large gatherings often take place with insufficient safety measures. This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by such gatherings, especially during adverse weather conditions.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have conducted airstrikes in Beirut, reportedly killing Mohammad Hussein Surur, a senior Hezbollah air unit leader. The Lebanese health ministry confirmed two deaths and 15 injuries from the attack. The strikes come amid escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah, with both sides exchanging fire throughout the night and into the morning.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the IDF would continue to fight “with full force” against Hezbollah, aiming to dismantle the Iran-backed militant group. This marks a significant intensification of hostilities between the two sides, which have been exchanging rockets and airstrikes for days. The Lebanese health ministry also reported that 28 people were killed today by Israeli airstrikes.
In retaliation, Hezbollah launched 80 missiles targeting northern Israeli cities, including Safed. Israeli authorities have reported no casualties but noted significant property damage in Safed and Rosh Pina.
Amid the intensifying conflict, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin renewed calls for a diplomatic solution. The U.S., along with 11 other allied nations, has urged both Israel and Hezbollah to agree to a ceasefire to prevent further escalation and civilian casualties.
Ferry travel between the Isle of Man and Lancashire continues to face disruption due to strong winds over the Irish Sea. The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has cancelled Thursday’s 08:45 BST sailing of the Manxman to Heysham and its scheduled 14:15 return journey. This follows the cancellation of the vessel’s return trip from the Lancashire port on Wednesday evening.
The disruptions have affected postal services, with the Isle of Man Post Office reporting delays in deliveries from the UK. While local deliveries within the island remain unaffected, items posted on Wednesday for UK delivery may not reach Royal Mail’s network in time for Friday delivery.
Additionally, the ferry cancellations have caused a delay in newspaper deliveries, with no papers available on the island on Thursday, as confirmed by the island’s wholesale distributor.
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