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Boat boss jailed after death of two British teens in Greek parasailing accident

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Manchester Evening News

Nikos Mallios was handed a four-year prison sentence for health and safety breaches which led to the deaths of two British teens

The father of a schoolgirl who died in a Greek parasailing tragedy today (March 27) welcomed the “first steps to justice” after the boat operator was jailed.

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Tony Hayes called it a “positive step in the right direction” after watersports boss Nikos Mallios, 57, was convicted of failings that led to the death of his daughter Jessica, 15, and Mikey Connelly, 13, the Mirror reported.

The pair died in October 2020 after Mallios took them out to sea in his speedboat despite an incoming storm. A three-member panel at the Misdemeanour Court of Rhodes was told the rope tethering them to Mr Mallios’ speedboat “detached”.

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The boat pursued the parasail before it drifted into the water where eyewitnesses hoped they may be able to rescue the teens from the sea. But a “gust of wind” caught it and sent Jessica, Mikey and James crashing into rocks near Lindos, Rhodes.

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Mallios was found guilty today of breaching health and safety laws over the tragedy and sentenced to four years in prison. He was temporarily released after indicating he would appeal.

In October he will face two more serious charges – manslaughter by serial negligence and grievous bodily harm by serial negligence – when he appears at a higher court in Kos.

But Tony, 43, welcomed the first conviction, saying: “It’s the first step on the journey to justice. Its a positive step in the right direction, one that Jess and Mikey will look down on and be proud.

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“I am happy that a long sentence was given. However, the fight will continue and the next step is to take this to the higher court and make that sentence even longer.

“But doesn’t take away the loss. It doesn’t change the fact that Jess is not here. It doesn’t change the fact that Mikey is not here. It doesn’t change the fact that our lives have been ruined.

“We still have some distance to go. Even though the outcome moves us forward, it still doesn’t take away the emptiness that remains from the loss.”

Mallios took the stand as he finally issued an apology for the tragedy, saying: “I want to say sorry to the families.” But he denied any wrongdoing and tried to justify breaking rules forbidding triple-seat parasailing and taking kids under 14.

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He also denied breaching guidelines by operating in bad weather and going outside of a designated watersports area.

But today the Greek justice system dismissed his denials and handed him a “significant sentence”. Tony, from Corby, Northants, said: “I look at [Mallios] and I don’t think he went out of his way to do this. He has had his life devastated as well.

“However he continues to defend some of his actions that day. I understand he feels bad and guilty but, for me, the apology would mean more if he just admitted he made a mistake. If he admitted he did something wrong.”

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Tony went to the Greek island in 2020 with his wife Kayleigh, 39, for his father-in-law Phil’s surprise 65th birthday. The couple were on holiday with Kayleigh’s brother Phillip Connelly and wife Sharon – parents of James and Mikey. In the days before the accident, Jessica, Mikey and James played games and watched bands in the hotel.

On October 28 they booked on Mr Mallios’ boat in Lardos Bay after seeing the rides on a board in the hotel. The family said goodbye at 12.30pm on the beach outside the hotel, but never saw them again.

Rhodes Courthouse heard the rope “detached” and Mr Mallios began pursuing the parasail as “black clouds and dark skies” blew in. An eyewitnesses on the boat – who had been taken up in the air just moments earlier – said she was “relieved” when the parasail carrying the three teens started “drifting down and landed in the water”.

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But she broke down in tears as she told the court that a “gust of wind caught the parasail”. She told the court: “We were speeding towards the children, for about two or three minutes. It had started drifting down and it landed in the water. We were relieved and thought we would be able to pull them aboard. But then a gust of wind caught the parasail and dragged it back up.”

Jessica, Mikey and James eventually crashed into the rocks at Cape Ginas, around 5km from where they left the shore. The British holidaymaker also gave evidence to say they were told they could go on an excursion but “we had to go immediately”.

She told the court: “They said we could go but we had to go immediately because a storm was coming and if we wanted to go then we had to go right now.” Other witnesses claimed they were in the water when a “terrible” storm blew in and caused the water to become “pretty choppy”.

Another witness told how his three children – aged just 12, nine, and seven – had been taken on a parasailing trip in the days leading up to the tragedy. He said he had repeatedly been told “it was the close of the season and storm was coming”. He told the court: “So if we wanted to do any watersports you needed to do it soon because it was about to close.”

Despite being at the centre of a criminal probe, Mallios was free to continue operating from the same spot where he picked up Jessica, Mikey and James. In 2022 the Mirror revealed he was taking boatload after boatload of thrillseekers out to sea on 75 Euro jaunts.

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Pro-Iranian group claims it hacked FBI director’s personal account

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Pro-Iranian group claims it hacked FBI director's personal account

WASHINGTON (AP) — A pro-Iranian hacking group claimed Friday to have hacked an account of FBI Director Kash Patel and posted online what appear to be years-old photographs of him, along with a work resume and other personal documents dating back more than a decade.

“Kash Patel, the current head of the FBI, who once saw his name displayed with pride on the agency’s headquarters, will now find his name among the list of successfully hacked victims,” said a message posted Friday from the group Handala.

The message was accompanied by a collection of photographs of Patel, including ones of him standing beside an antique sports car and another with a cigar in his mouth. The group also said that it was making available for download emails and other documents from Patel’s account. Many of the records appeared to relate to his personal travels and business from more than 10 years ago

“The FBI is aware of malicious actors targeting Director Patel’s personal email information, and we have taken all necessary steps to mitigate potential risks associated with this activity,” the FBI said in a statement. “The information in question is historical in nature and involves no government information.”

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The FBI statement did not identify the hackers believed responsible for the breach, but it noted that the Trump administration is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification of members of the Handala hacking group — an entity it said “has frequently targeted U.S. government officials.”

It was not clear when the hack claimed by Handala might have occurred. News reports from December 2024, before Patel was confirmed as director, said that Patel had been informed by FBI that he had been targeted as part of an Iranian hack.

Handala is a pro-Iranian, pro-Palestinian hacking group that earlier this month claimed credit for disrupting systems at Stryker, a Michigan-based medical technology company. Handala said the attack was in retaliation for suspected U.S. strikes that killed Iranian schoolchildren. They’re a prominent example of the proxy groups that carry out cyber attacks on behalf of Iran.

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Associated Press writer David Klepper in Washington contributed to this report.

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Nostalgic period drama streaming for free is ‘like Downton Abbey but better’

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Daily Mirror

Some things simply can’t be beat

A classic period drama, one that popularised the genre globally, is still regarded as one of the finest to ever grace our screens. Period drama enthusiasts will be familiar with the show in question — Upstairs, Downstairs.

Upstairs, Downstairs laid the groundwork for Downton Abbey with a story that will be familiar with fans who have only seen the modern sensation. As the definitive period dramas of their era, the parallels between Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey are self-evident.

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Both shows portray the personal struggles of an aristocratic family and their servants against a backdrop of social and political upheaval on an overlapping timeline.

Like Downton Abbey, it spans three decades, covering both World Wars and the roaring 20s through to the Great Depression. The classic show chronicled the turbulent lives of the aristocratic Bellamy family and their servants in the early 1900s.

They diverge in numerous ways, however, and one is immediately apparent.

The seventies programme is less high-end, a quality that can taken as nostalgic or a dealbreaker. Upstairs, Downstairs premiered in 1971 and ran for five years, predating Downton Abbey by a good 50 years.

In fairness, Downton’s setting is inherently more luxurious. The Bellamy family inhabit a London townhouse, a far cry from the Crawley family’s lavish country estate that was a character in its own right.

And while Downton’s visuals proved a triumph, a frequent criticism from audiences is that the programme descended into melodrama. In contrast, Upstairs, Downstairs has been likened to a stage play for its more understated visuals and plotlines.

Fans of both period dramas shared their preferences. One viewer sparked a debate on Reddit, asking: “If you have seen both shows, which show do you think is better?”

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Upstairs Downstairs without question,” replied one viewer decisively. Another agreed: “I like Downton Abbey better, but Upstairs, Downstairs is the better show.

“I have tried watching the Upstairs/Downstairs remake multiple times and I always end stopping after about two episodes,” commented a third. “It just doesn’t grab me like Downton.”

Upstairs, Downstairs is available to watch on ITVX.

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Police seize 20 mopeds in south London immigration raid

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Police seize 20 mopeds in south London immigration raid

One Pakistani national was arrested as an overstayer during the operation, and one Indian national was arrested for breach of immigration bail, while the mopeds and electric scooters were seized for allegedly being stolen, with others said to have been used in the theft of other vehicles.

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New discoveries are showing how human anatomy is far from settled

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New discoveries are showing how human anatomy is far from settled

Leaf through a textbook, watch a wellness influencer or listen in at the gym, and it can feel as though the human body has already been mapped to exhaustion. Every muscle named, every nerve traced. Everything understood and readily available.

Most people recognise at least a few anatomical terms – “traps”, “glutes”, “biceps”. After centuries of dissection, microscopy and medical imaging, it seems reasonable to assume the work is done. Surely anatomy, as a discipline, must be complete?

It isn’t. Not even close.

Since the publication of De Humani Corporis Fabrica by Andreas Vesalius in 1543 – the first comprehensive anatomy book based on direct observation of human dissection – anatomy has carried an air of authority. Vesalius famously corrected centuries of inherited error, challenging the ancient physician Galen through direct observation of the human body. His work helped establish anatomy as an evidence-based science.

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Three hundred years later, Gray’s Anatomy by Henry Gray reinforced the impression that the body had finally been catalogued, indexed and neatly organised – a system mapped and fully explained.

But textbooks create a misleading sense of certainty. They present the body as stable, universal and fully agreed upon. Real anatomy is messier than that.

The illusion of completeness

Much of early topographical anatomy – the careful mapping of structures in relation to one another – depended on cadavers obtained through grave robbery.

“Resurrectionists” – body snatchers – exhumed the recently buried, disproportionately targeting the poor, the institutionalised and those without family protection or the financial means to guard graves. These bodies were then sold to anatomists, who relied on them for dissection and teaching.

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Working conditions for early anatomists were difficult, and the limitations considerable.

Lighting was poor. Bodies were often malnourished or diseased. Post-mortem change had already altered tissue planes. Sample sizes were small and opportunistic. Demographic information was largely absent, beyond what could be inferred from appearance. The bodies of women were sometimes dissected but rarely reported.

Yet it was under precisely these conditions that anatomists produced the observations that became the foundation of classical anatomical topography.

The anatomical “norm” that emerged from these studies was therefore constructed from a narrow and socially stratified sample.

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None of this diminishes the extraordinary technical skill of early anatomists. Their observational ability was remarkable. But the conditions under which they worked inevitably shaped what they saw – and what they missed.

Complete? Far from it.
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So when we ask whether anatomy is finished, we might also ask a more uncomfortable question: was it ever truly complete in the first place? This question matters scientifically as well as ethically.

For much of the 20th century, anatomical investigation slowed dramatically. By the 1960s, relatively few cadaveric studies were being published worldwide. The assumption was simple: the human body had already been mapped.

Medical education continued, of course, but much of it focused on teaching established knowledge rather than generating new anatomical observations. That apparent stability masked a deeper problem: much of the knowledge had been inherited rather than tested.

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Improved imaging techniques, renewed cadaveric research and a growing awareness of anatomical variation have triggered something of a renaissance in anatomical study. Structures once overlooked or poorly described are being re-examined.

Far from being finished, anatomy is rediscovering just how incomplete its map of the human body may be.

Beyond the ‘standard’ human body

One of the most important shifts in modern anatomy has been recognising that variation is the rule rather than the exception. Textbooks present a “typical” body for teaching, but real human anatomy sits along a spectrum.

Human anatomy varies across several dimensions at once. Differences exist between males and females, across the lifespan as the body develops and ages, and between populations shaped by genetics and environment.

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Beyond these broad patterns lies enormous individual variation: blood vessels may follow different routes, muscles may be absent or duplicated, and even the folding patterns of the brain differ from person to person. The “standard” anatomy shown in textbooks is therefore best understood not as a universal blueprint, but as a simplified reference point within a wide biological range.

This variation matters far beyond the operating theatre. Differences in nerves, vessels and joints can alter how diseases reveal themselves, influence how scans are interpreted and shape patterns of movement and injury.

Subtle differences in joint alignment may affect the risk of conditions, such as osteoarthritis, while variations in vascular anatomy can influence susceptibility to stroke or aneurysm. Understanding anatomical diversity is therefore central not only to surgery, but also to diagnosis, medical imaging, biomechanics and the study of disease itself.

Even after centuries of study, the human body continues to yield new anatomical insights. Structures once overlooked – from previously unrecognised lymphatic vessels around the brain to overlooked ligaments in the knee – are being re-examined. Familiar tissues are being understood in new ways, and the map of the body is still being revised.

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People should know more about their bodies. Greater understanding helps people advocate for their own health and engage more confidently with care. But it is worth remembering that the canonical anatomy presented in textbooks is best understood as a teaching model, not a perfect representation of biological reality. The more closely we study the human body, the more we realise there is still much to learn.

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Austria vs Ghana LIVE: International friendly result, latest updates and fan reaction

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Austria vs Ghana LIVE: International friendly result, latest updates and fan reaction

Kevin Danso headed into Jonas Adjetey arms from close range, and Marcel Sabitzer converted from 12 yards after the referee pointed to the spot. That goal was the only difference come half-time, but Austria ran riot when they reemerged. Goals from Michael Gregoritsch and Stefan Posch put the result beyond doubt, before Jordan Ayew secured some consolation with a well-hit solo effort, but even that was matched as Nicolas Seiwald hit an even more impressive fifth from range for the hosts.

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Pregnant women and cancer patients ‘at risk’ because of sonographer shortage

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Pregnant women and cancer patients ‘at risk’ because of sonographer shortage

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We recognise the pressures facing diagnostic services, including the sonography workforce, and we are taking action to ensure the NHS has the skilled staff it needs to meet rising demand and deliver timely care to patients.

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Free Easter card – plus free delivery from Moonpig

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Daily Mirror

Brighten up someone’s day with a card full of you – for every reader

As Easter is getting closer, spread some smiles with this great offer. We have teamed up with Moonpig, to give every reader a FREE standard Easter card plus free delivery!

That’s not all – you can personalise your card with your favourite photos, fun Easter stickers, and a heartfelt message to make it extra special. Want to send it straight to their door or hand it over yourself? Either way, we’ve got you covered.

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And Easter isn’t the only reason to reach out this month. With lighter evenings, bank holiday plans and more reasons to get together, it’s a great time to send a little something just because. A thinking-of-you for a friend, or a note to say “see you soon”, because sometimes the smallest gesture makes the biggest impact.

And if you’d like to make their surprise even sweeter, explore our huge range of gifts and tasty treats – perfect for turning a simple card into a moment they’ll remember.

How to claim: click here and use the code APRILJOY at the checkout to claim your free card and free delivery. It’s easy! The offer is valid from 12am March 28 until midnight on April 1, 2026.

Make this Easter extra sweet, one free card at a time.

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Terms and conditions

  • The offer entitles the reader to a free standard Easter card plus free delivery.
  • The offer is valid from Saturday March 28 until Wednesday April 1, 2026.
  • The offer is subject to availability. Redemptions limited to 50,000 cards.
  • For full terms and conditions log on to reachforms.co.uk/moonpig

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Washington DC area airports face ground stops over odor at air traffic control tower

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Boy, 15, arrested for attempted murder after armed attack on school teacher

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued ground stops for several airports in the Washington, D.C., area over an apparent odor in an air traffic control tower, according to Reuters.

The impacted airports include Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Dulles International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, according to the FAA’s website.

The odor prompted the evacuation of Potomac Consolidated ​Terminal RADAR Approach Control in Virginia, Reuters reports.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.

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Hunt for man after Cambridge pub worker left with facial injury after attack

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Cambridgeshire Live

Police are looking to speak with this man in connection to the incident

Police are looking to speak with a man following an assault on pub door staff in Cambridge. Police say that the assault on a member of door staff took place outside The Cambridge Tap, St Andrews Street.

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The incident happened just before 11.30pm on February 12. The victim was left with a facial injury.

It has also been reported that the attacker ran away. Police are now looking to speak with the man photographed in connection with the assault.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting 35/11343/26 or visit www.cambs.police.uk/report. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

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Beyond Paradise’s Humphrey faces ‘impossible decision’ as sad show exit ‘sealed’

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Wales Online

Beyond Paradise viewers were left shocked as Humphrey Goodman faces an impossible decision in series 4 of the BBC crime drama

Beyond Paradise viewers were left devastated during Friday’s opening episode of series four following a major revelation about Humphrey Goodman.

In the latest instalment, Humphrey, portrayed by Kris Marshall, and his colleagues investigated the death of a crime novelist, whose passing bore an uncanny resemblance to events in his most recent book.

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Humphrey, an avid admirer of the crime writer, was tasked with determining whether this was mere coincidence or deliberate murder.

Meanwhile, The Lily Bond drifted away, leaving Humphrey and his new bride Martha Lloyd, portrayed by Sally Bretton, at home with Martha’s mother Anne Lloyd, portrayed by Barbara Flynn, before visiting an ideal renovation property with sea views.

Yet the investigation and The Lily Bond’s departure proved the least of Humphrey’s concerns as he shared some heartbreaking news with his wife Martha, reports the Mirror.

Discussing his difficult day, Humphrey revealed he’d been summoned to a meeting where he faced an incredibly tough choice.

He explained: “They’re saying I’ve got to lose someone at the station. Apparently there should only be three of us at the station so I need to lose one of either Esther, Kelby or Margo…”

To which Martha said: “That’s awful! What will you do?” with Humphrey admitting: “I’ve no idea!”

A preview of next week’s episode shows Humphrey being pressed for his decision as he says: “Mr Smith, he’s still hounding me on a decision on who I’m going to let go…”

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This comes as a synopsis for series four teases: “Beyond the station, Humphrey and Martha launch into married life as they search for a new place to call home, all whilst Humphrey faces mounting pressure when tasked with an impossible decision that will change his team forever.”

Viewers took to Twitter, now known as X, wasting no time in sharing their reactions to the storyline and speculating about who Humphrey will let go.

One viewer posted: “#beyondparadise He can’t fire anybody. They are a team”, while another wrote: “#BeyondParadise Uh oh” and a third speculated: “Guessing Humphrey will pick himself as the one to be made redundant and his boss will let them all stay. #BeyondParadise.”

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Beyond Paradise returns this Friday at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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