ROME (AP) — Bodies washing ashore day after day. Phone calls from relatives going unanswered. Migrants’ tents abandoned overnight.

Migrants trying to reach Europe are vanishing in droves in what are known as “invisible shipwrecks” but governments responsible for search and rescue are withholding information about what they know.

The beginning of 2026 ranks as the deadliest start to any year for people trying to cross the Mediterranean — an unprecedented 682 confirmed missing as of March 16 — according to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration. But the real death toll is almost certainly much higher.

Human rights groups are increasingly struggling to verify tolls as Italy, Tunisia and Malta have quietly restricted information on migrant rescues and shipwrecks along the deadliest migration route in the world. The news barely makes headlines, in part because the lack of transparency prevents journalists from confirming reports.

“It’s a strategy of silence,” said Matteo Villa, a researcher focusing on migration and data at the Italian Institute for International Political Studies think tank.

The organization Refugees in Libya and other human rights groups have been sounding the alarm since late January, reporting more than 1,000 people missing after Cyclone Harry hit the region. But authorities have not confirmed, denied or corrected those reports.

In the weeks that followed the cyclone, more than 20 decomposing bodies washed ashore in Italy and Libya while other human remains were spotted floating in the middle of the sea.

For the families of missing migrants, not knowing their fate is excruciating.

“Europe should know that these people who got drowned in the sea have family members, have dreams, have passions,” Josephus Thomas, a migrant from Sierra Leone and community leader in Tunisia’s coastal town of El Amra, told AP.

Hundreds of people had departed from Tunisia’s coastal region of Sfax and disappeared, according to information the group Refugees in Libya gathered from migrants in Tunisia and their relatives abroad.

The group acknowledged it was difficult to be precise “because there is no central system recording departures, losses, or recoveries,” but it warned that the death toll was likely even higher.

“We are looking at boats that never counted how many kids are inside,” Refugees in Libya founder David Yambio told AP.

The AP sent five email requests to the Italian coast guard seeking information on the boats reported missing and search efforts but received no response. An officer who answered the phone said the coast guard did not have “any further verified and confirmed information regarding the circumstances.” AP also filed a Freedom of Information request, which is pending.

The coast guard also declined to comment on an alert it issued on Jan. 24 asking vessels sailing between the Italian island of Lampedusa and Tunisia to be on the lookout for eight small boats in distress carrying some 380 people. The alert was made public by Italian journalist Sergio Scandura.

Until mid-2024, Tunisian authorities regularly shared the number of migrants they were intercepting at sea, eager to show their European partners compliance with a 2023 deal to curb migration in exchange for financial aid. But the deal was also followed by a brutal crackdown against migrants on land that resulted in thousands being detained or dumped in the desert.

Nongovernmental organizations such as the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights, known by its French acronym FTDES, which used to compile and share reports on migrant interceptions, were also caught in the crackdown.

In June 2024, Tunisia’s Ministry of Interior stopped releasing any information on migrants, citing security reasons, said Romdhane Ben Amor, FTDES’ spokesperson. But in his opinion, the motives were political. The numbers were incompatible with the narrative that Tunisia was not Europe’s border guard, he said.

Italy’s erosion of information on migrant rescues is even older than Tunisia’s. The Italian coast guard used to provide detailed monthly data on migrants rescued. The monthly reports became quarterly before stopping completely in 2020, Villa said. In 2022, previous reports were also removed from the coast guard’s website.

This year, the Italian coast guard did not share any migration-related press releases despite nearly 5,000 migrants disembarking on Italian shores, according to Italy’s Interior Ministry statistics.

“It is very clearly a political strategy to repress as much information as possible from the public,” Villa said.

___

Brito reported from Barcelona, Spain. Trisha Thomas contributed to this report from Rome.

The move, expected to save around £20 million a year, is part of wider reforms under the upcoming Great British Railways (GBR), which will oversee Britain’s rail network and train operations.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “These changes will ensure taxpayers’ money goes toward freezing fares and upgrading services, rather than lost to fare dodgers.”

From the second half of 2026, passengers buying discounted tickets from machines will need to:

• Scan their railcard or
• Enter railcard details, such as the number and their name

Those purchasing via a website or app with a registered account will only need to input this information once, allowing automatic validation for future purchases.

Refund rules tightened for customers

At the same time, refund rules for flexible tickets are being tightened. Starting next month:

• Off-Peak and Anytime tickets will only be refundable until 11.59pm the day before travel (unless services are disrupted).
• Exceptional circumstances, like medical emergencies, will still be considered.

We’re making changes to ticket refunds. From 1 April 2026, some tickets will only be refundable up until 23:59 the day before they’re valid for travel.

Take a moment to check what this means for you.
Find out more: https://t.co/BjCMDjYNEs #refundschange pic.twitter.com/SpdilsuR6X

— National Rail (@nationalrailenq) March 2, 2026

Currently, passengers can return unused tickets within 28 days of expiry without giving a reason, a loophole that has led to refund abuse costing around £40 million annually.

Delay Repay compensation made simpler

The DfT also plans to streamline Delay Repay claims, allowing passengers to claim compensation directly from wherever they buy their ticket, instead of contacting the train operator.

Online ticket retailer Trainline estimates passengers currently miss out on £80 million per year because one-click claims are limited to tickets bought directly from operators.

Under GBR, compensation systems across 14 different operators will be merged to make claiming refunds quicker, simpler, and less confusing.

What passengers need to do ahead of the changes

Passengers can prepare by:

1. Knowing their start date – if your turnover is above £50,000, ticket validation begins in mid-2026.
2. Choosing recognised software or apps – including free and paid options, with bridging software for those who still prefer spreadsheets.
3. Signing up early – don’t wait until the last minute to ensure smooth travel and refund claims.

Jacqueline Starr, CEO of the Rail Delivery Group, said: “The consolidated Delay Repay service will make it easier for all customers to request compensation, regardless of where they bought their ticket, with a more consistent process.”

The move is to better reflect the wide range of pubs in both the city and the vast, rural area the 1,100-member branch covers.

The City Winner is the Last Drop Inn in Colliergate and the White Bear in Stillington is the Country Pub of the Year, beating around 450 others in York Camra’s patch

Branch chairman Chris Tregellis told the Press: “For a modestly sized pub in a modestly sized village the White Bear certainly punches well above its weight.

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“The regular beers are consistently excellent but it’s the commitment to frequently changing guest beers which takes this up a notch and makes every visit a treat.

“The commitment to the autovac system ensures that every pint emerges fresh and sparkling. The food in the restaurant bar is also something not to miss.” 

The White Bear is currently on the market but since 1995 has been run by Phil and Sue Robinson. The pub has won the seasonal award three times but this is their first annual success.

York Camra’s Chris Tregellis outside the White Bear in Stillington (Image: Pic supplied)

Chris added of the couple: “They have never put a foot wrong. A worthy winner.”

The presentation evening will be Friday May 1.

The Last Drop Inn in Colliergate was once owned by the York Brewery, then the Black Sheep brewery, and now Paul Kemp, and is going on from “strength to strength.”

Like the Robinsons, Paul has also placed  his pub on the market, but York Camra says “as with the White Bear, the Last Drop stands out because of quality and choice.”

Paul Kemp of the Last Drop Inn (Image: Darren Greenwood)

Chris continued: “There is always something new to try. Sitting in the front bar is a great place to watch the envious glances of tourists and locals as they pass down Colliergate.”

The Last Drop will be celebrating during its presentation night on Friday April 17.

Paul Kemp who took over the pub in 2023 says he is “absolutely made up” to be an annual winner.

He told the Press: “When we started this project, this award was one of the things we wanted to achieve.”

The pub has been a seasonal winner, it got listed in the Good Pub Guide and this latest award sees it competing regionally.

Paul has been praised for bringing the pub back ‘from the dead’, which he credits on traditional pub values of well-maintained beers, rotating guest beers, and recognisable permanent beers in a friendly and pleasant environment.

“Now it’s about staying there and trying to repeat it,” he said.

And to any potential buyer, Paul added this latest award “shows the potential of gaining a real ale flagship in the centre of York.”

Phil Robinson told the Press he is “ectatic, overwhelmed” to win after 30 years at the White Bear and 40 years in the trade.

Sue and Phil Robinson of the White Bear with Chris Tregellis at an earlier York Camra presentation (Image: Pic supplied)

Phil thanks their wonderful staff and customers for their support, adding he is doing his bit to keep traditional pubs going, which he says are disappearing.

Phil continued: “We support the community in return through sponsorships to the local football, cricket, squash and bowls teams. Other local charities get our support through our monthly charity qub quizzes (last Sunday of the month).

“We offer some great beer, with 5 casks, including our own White Bear Bitter (a 4% traditional ale lovingly brewed by Craig at Rudgate Brewery), Leeds Pale Ale from Kirkstall Brewery and three rotating guest beers from different local breweries; always including a stout, porter, or mild.”

Phil added: “To complement our beer we serve home cooked seasonal food prepared by my wonderful wife Sue and chef Dan.

“We hope this award will bring more business not just to The White Bear but to the village as a whole as we all need support to keep going in these testing times.”

York Camra will officially be announcing its other 2026 award winners later.

Two holidaymakers from London were injured after their hot air balloon crashed into power cables before landing on a football pitch.

The passengers have been named locally as Claire Wolstenholme, 43, and her partner, Nicholas Wright, 49.

Claire is said to be in a critical condition after suffering burns from an electric shock.

The crash was reported before 9am yesterday in the Teotihuacan Valley around 25 miles north-east of Mexico City after the pilot allegedly lost control of the balloon.

The couple were treated at the scene before being taken to the hospital.

The company that took the two Brits out in the hot air balloon has been named by investigators as Happy Puerto.

The pilot, named locally as Santiago Torres, was taken in for questioning by state prosecutors with one unconfirmed report saying he had been arrested.

An investigation into the accident, which left people living near to the football pitch without electricity, was ongoing this morning.

Mexico’s Federal Civil Aviation Agency said in a statement late yesterday: The Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) reports that at 8.40am this morning, in the municipality of Teotihuacan, State of Mexico, an incident was reported involving a hot-air balloon coming into contact with power lines.

‘Two people were travelling in the aircraft, registered as XA-OZY and operated by Happy Puerto, who suffered burns from an electric shock.

‘They were transferred to Mexico City for treatment at a private hospital.

‘The AFAC is launching an administrative investigation into the incident.’

Hot air balloons have been involved in fatal accidents.

In June last year a hot air balloon caught fire and crashed in Praia Grande in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, killing eight of the 21 people on board.

In April 2023 a married couple burnt to death and their 13-year-old daughter was injured in a hot air balloon accident over the pre-hispanic ruin site of Teotihuacan close to where yesterday morning’s drama occurred.

The pair killed were named as Jose Nolasco, 50, and his wife Viridiana Becerril, 39.

Footage of the incident taken by an onlooker showed the hot air balloon deflating as flames engulfed the basket below where the Mexican family were enjoying their ride.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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Trish Mannes, UKHSA regional deputy director for the South East, said: “Our investigations have identified that some cases visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury and it is important that anyone who visited the club between March 5 and March 7 now comes forward for preventative antibiotic treatment as a precaution, as well as those offered antibiotics at the university – these students are being contacted directly through the university.”

The Iftar, a fast-breaking ceremony observed by Muslims during Ramadan, was hosted by Bolton Wanderers and Bolton Wanderers in the Community on Wednesday evening.

Special guests and around 250 attendees from across the community from all faiths and none had arrived to take part at the Toughsheet Stadium.

Bolton North West MP Kirith Entwistle said: “It’s great to see our football club doing what they can to ensure all communities from all different faiths and backgrounds feel included.

“At a time when there is so much division in the world, it’s really important to come together, to celebrate our shared values, and to remember what unites us all.

Chief Inspector Helen Critchley, Cllr Rabiya Jiva and Reverend Hannah Lane (Image: Public)

“Wanderers belong to everyone, and we should always make sure our diverse town is represented.”

Ms Entwistle attended the event alongside other distinguished guests like Wanderers chairman Sharon Brittan, Bolton GMP district commander Chief Inspector Helen Critchley.

Bolton South and Walkden MP Yasmin Qureshi attended the event as did Vicar of Bolton the Reverend Hannah Lane and Wanderers CEO David Ray.

The event featured a speech from Imam Imran Muhammad and a performance from pupils from St. Michael’s Church of England Primary School in Bolton

Bolton Council cabinet member for stronger communities Cllr Rabiya Jiva said it was a “real honour” to attend the event.

Cllr Rabiya Jiva speaking at the event (Image: Public)

She said: “To see our football club continuously open its doors for an occasion like this speaks volumes and says something important about our town.

“It says that Bolton is a place where people are welcomed, where communities are valued, and where our shared spaces belong to everyone.

Cllr Jiva said the event was about more than breaking a fast.

She said: “It was about bringing people together, about strengthening communities

and it is about celebrating the values that unite us.

“For Muslims across the world, Ramadan is a sacred month, a time of fasting, reflection, discipline, gratitude and charity.

“It reminds us to slow down, to think of others, and to recognise the responsibilities we all share to care for those around us.

“But the lessons of Ramadan reach far beyond the Muslim community.

“Compassion, service and responsibility to others.

“These are not only religious values, they are the values of a strong society.”

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Rescue crews were still digging bodies out of the rubble of a drug rehabilitation hospital in the Afghan capital Tuesday morning, after officials there said an overnight Pakistani airstrike killed at least 400 people at the facility.

Pakistan has denied Afghanistan’s accusation that it targeted a hospital, saying its strikes, which were also conducted in eastern Afghanistan on Monday, did not hit any civilian sites.

The strikes late Monday night mark a dramatic escalation of a conflict that began between Afghanistan and Pakistan late last month and has seen repeated cross-border clashes as well as airstrikes inside Afghanistan. International calls for a ceasefire have gone unheeded.

In a late-night post on X, Afghanistan’s deputy government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said the airstrike had hit the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital, a 2,000-bed facility in Kabul, at about 9 p.m. local time. He said large sections of the facility had been destroyed, and that the death toll had “so far” reached 400 people, while about 250 people had been reported injured. There was no updated official death toll early Tuesday morning.

Local television stations posted footage on X showing security forces using flashlights as they carried out casualties while firefighters struggled to extinguish flames among the ruins of a building.

Cross-border fire

The strike came hours after Afghan officials said the two sides exchanged fire along their common border, killing four people in Afghanistan, as the deadliest fighting between the neighbors in years entered a third week.

Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid condemned the strike on X, accusing Pakistan of “targeting hospitals and civilian sites to perpetrate horrors.” He said those killed were “innocent civilians and addicts.”

“We strongly condemn this crime and consider such an act to be against all accepted principles and a crime against humanity,” he said in a separate post on X.

Pakistan dismisses the allegations

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s spokesperson, Mosharraf Zaidi, dismissed the allegations as baseless, saying no hospital was targeted in Kabul.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar posted on X in the early hours Tuesday that the Pakistani military had “carried out precision airstrikes” targeting military installations in Kabul and the eastern province of Nangarhar. He said “technical support infrastructure and ammunition storage facilities” at two locations in Kabul were destroyed.

“All targeting has been done with precision only at those infrastructures which are being used by Afghan Taliban regime to support its multiple terror proxies,” he wrote.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Information said earlier that Mujahid’s claim was “false and misleading” and aimed at stirring sentiment and cover what it described as ”illegitimate support for cross-border terrorism.” It said Pakistan’s targeting was “precise and carefully undertaken to ensure no collateral damage is inflicted.”

UN calls on Afghanistan to combat militants

The strike came hours after the U.N. Security Council called on Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to immediately step up efforts to combat terrorism. Pakistan accuses Kabul of harboring militant groups, particularly the Pakistani Taliban, which it says carry out attacks inside Pakistan.

The Security Council resolution, adopted unanimously, didn’t refer specifically to attacks carried out in Pakistan but condemned “in the strongest terms all terrorist activity including terrorist attacks.”

Pakistan’s government accuses Afghanistan of providing safe haven to the Pakistani Taliban, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, as well as to outlawed Baloch separatist groups and other militants who frequently target Pakistani security forces and civilians across the country. Kabul denies the charge.

The latest conflict

The fighting — the most severe between the two neighbors — began in late February after Afghanistan launched cross-border attacks in response to Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan that Kabul said killed civilians. The clashes disrupted a ceasefire brokered by Qatar in October after earlier fighting killed dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants.

Pakistan has declared it is in “open war” with Afghanistan. The conflict has alarmed the international community, particularly as the area is one where other militant organizations, including al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, still have a presence and have been trying to resurface.

On Saturday, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said Afghanistan’s Taliban administration crossed a “red line” by deploying drones that injured several civilians in Pakistan last week.

___

Ahmed reported from Islamabad, and Becatoros from Athens, Greece. Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed.

Afghanistan has claimed 400 people have been killed in a Pakistan strike which Kabul said hit a hospital that treats drug addicts.

Pakistan had earlier dismissed the claim it had attacked a hospital in the capital, saying its strike in Kabul and other strikes in eastern Afghanistan on Monday had not hit any civilian sites.

The Taliban’s deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said that 400 were killed, and 250 others were injured.

Sharafat Zaman, the country’s health ministry spokesman, earlier gave the death toll as more than 200 during an interview with state TV, posted on X, and claimed all parts of the drug treatment facility had been destroyed.

He added that in total, 3,000 drug users were under treatment at the centre during the attack.

Afghan television stations posted footage showing firefighters struggling to extinguish flames among the ruins of a building.

Mosharraf Zaidi, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s spokesman, has denied the claims and said the strikes did not hit any civilian sites.

Pakistan’s information ministry also said in a statement that the military’s strikes “precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure, including technical equipment storage and ammunition storage of Afghan Taliban” and other militants in Kabul and Nangarhar.

It added that the facilities were being used against innocent Pakistani civilians, and also said “false and misleading” claims that the site was struck were intended to stir sentiment and cover “illegitimate support for cross-border terrorism”.

Read more from Sky News:
Tehran is dotted with the scars of war
Trump: US will ‘do what we have to’ over Cuba

Pakistan declared that it was in “open war” with Afghanistan on 27 February, almost a week after its military carried out limited airstrikes on 21 February.

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Pakistan declare ‘open war’

Islamabad often accuses Afghanistan, where the Taliban seized power again in August 2021, of harbouring militants who carry out terror attacks. The Taliban denies this.