The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that people may still qualify for a Blue Badge even if they do not receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or other disability benefits

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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that individuals may still be eligible for a Blue Badge even if they do not receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or other disability benefits containing a mobility component.

Many people presume that a Blue Badge is exclusively available to those with physical mobility difficulties or those claiming PIP or Adult Disability Payment (ADP). However, following a rule change in 2019, local councils across Scotland, England and Wales are permitted to award a Blue Badge based on an individual assessment – even where no disability benefit is currently being received.

The change means that people with hidden conditions, including autism, dementia and severe anxiety, may qualify for a Blue Badge if travelling causes overwhelming psychological distress or poses serious safety risks.

Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms clarified in a written response to Lib Dem MP Will Forster that “eligibility for a Blue Badge is not limited to benefit awards”.

He further stated: “While some people qualify automatically through certain mobility payments, others can apply directly through their local council and be assessed on how their condition affects their ability to make a journey.”

With upwards of three million Blue Badges currently in circulation across England and Wales, plus more than 235,700 in Scotland, awareness of the non-benefit route remains surprisingly low, leaving many families unaware that they could be entitled to this vital support.

There are two ways to qualify for a Blue Badge: automatic eligibility and further assessment Blue Badge automatic qualification.

You will automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you:

• are under 16 and have a letter confirming your eligibility from your visual impairment care team
• are 16 or over and registered or certified as severely sight impaired
• get the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• get PIP or ADP and scored 8 points or more in the ‘moving around’ area of your assessment
• get PIP or ADP and scored 12 points in the ‘planning and following a journey’ area of your assessment
• get PIP or ADP and used to get the higher rate of the mobility component of DLA on an indefinite or lifetime basis
• get PIP or ADP, used to get the higher rate of the mobility component of DLA, and your PIP or ADP decision is being appealed
• get ADP and have been awarded either 8 points or more in the moving around activity or 12 points in the planning and following a journey activity or enhanced rate mobility without reference to points
• get the higher rate of the mobility component of Child Disability Payment
• get War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
• got a lump sum payment from tariffs 1 to 8 of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability

If travelling causes overwhelming distress, panic or serious safety risks, you may still be eligible even if you do not claim disability benefits.

If you are not automatically eligible, you may be able to get a Blue Badge in certain circumstances, if you:

• have a substantial disability lasting at least 12 months that means you cannot walk at all
• have a substantial disability lasting at least 12 months that means you’re virtually unable to walk
• regularly drive and cannot use parking meters because of a severe disability in both arms
• are responsible for a child under 3 years old who needs to be kept close to a vehicle for medical treatment
• are responsible for a child under 3 years old who uses bulky medical equipment that cannot be carried around
• have a mental health condition that means you lack awareness about the danger of traffic when making journeys.

Kriss Brining, 32, made his professional debut for the York Knights in 2011 aged just 17, rising through the club’s scholarship system. He spent six seasons with the Knights, and by the end of the 2016 season, he earned a move to Betfred Super League side Salford Red Devils.

However, a serious neck injury during his time at Salford prompted Kriss to consider his future beyond rugby. With a PGCE in primary teaching already under his belt, returning to education was his initial thought. But after speaking with career advisers and reflecting on his long-standing interest in financial services, Kriss decided to pursue a new direction.

A LinkedIn job post advertising an apprenticeship at PenLife Associates proved to be the turning point. Although overqualified for an entry-level position, PenLife recognised Kriss’s potential and offered him a tailored fast-track route into financial planning.

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When his contract with Salford concluded at the end of 2018, Kriss returned to York both to rejoin the York Knights and to begin his new journey with PenLife. Signing with the Knights he said aligned perfectly with his start at the firm, allowing him to pursue both passions side by side.

In 2021, Kriss qualified as an Independent Financial Planner, an achievement he credits in large part to PenLife’s supportive culture.

He said: “PenLife has given me the space to grow both personally and professionally. The team works closely together, shares knowledge openly, and genuinely cares. It’s a fantastic environment to learn and continually improve.”

Following another injury in 2022, Kriss decided to hang up his boots to spend more time with his family and enjoy his career as a Financial Planner. As for the role, Kriss says he has found it to be incredibly fulfilling and rewarding.

Kris Brining has a successful new career as an independent financial planner (Image: York Press)

Kriss explained: “I love meeting different people and helping them work toward what matters most to them. Understanding their goals, building a plan around those goals, and seeing it deliver real results is incredibly rewarding. Supporting clients throughout life’s different stages is what makes the job so interesting.”

PenLife Director, Deb Jacobs, praised Kriss’s contribution.

She added: “Kriss brings a combination of discipline, empathy, and determination to his work. His journey from professional sport to financial planning is inspiring, and his commitment to clients reflects the values we stand for at PenLife. We are incredibly proud of everything he has achieved and everything still to come.”

IT is a truth universally acknowledged that a day tripper on a visit to Whitby must be in want of fish and chips.

And not just any old fish and chips.

No, they will be wanting some from arguably one of the most famous and best fish and chips cafes in the UK – the much-celebrated The Magpie.

Jane Austen may not have visited the imposing harbourside restaurant (unless she time travelled into the future; The Magpie is old, but not that old).

However, plenty of famous stomachs have filled up on a fish tea at this charmingly old-fashioned cafe, not least North Yorkshire’s very own celebrity chef James Martin who recommends a large haddock and chips from The Magpie as one of his top three things to do on a visit to Yorkshire.

Easily identified by its striking and traditional black and white frontage and queues of eager diners snaking down its entrance stairs and along the pavement, The Magpie has been part of what makes Whitby so special for decades.

The Magpie in Whitby. Photo by NQ

First opening around 1939, the actual building dates from 1750. Its original purpose was to house a rich merchant, but it later became a shipping office.

Depending on your luck, diners may get a table facing the quayside and two of Whitby’s iconic landmarks, St Mary’s Church and the gothic abbey ruins (the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula).

In my almost 30 years of living in North Yorkshire, Whitby has become my favourite place to visit on the coast.

It’s got everything you could possibly want from a day out at the seaside – from a long, leisurely beach walk to neighbouring Sandsend to the kiss-me-quick vibes of a traditional British holiday resort (who can resist losing a pocketful of pennies in the amusement arcades and filling up on candyfloss and ice-cream?).

And, of course, it has fish and chips.

Now, as they might say on the Beeb, other brands are available, but when most people think of fish and chips and Whitby, only one name comes to mind.

Haddock and chips at The Magpie in Whitby. Photo by NQ

And so it was that our weekend trip to the harbour town led us straight to its door – having worked up an appetite on the hour-long beach walk from Sandsend, where a day’s car parking on the beach road costs just over £8.

It was around 3pm when we arrived at The Magpie; the sun was out with pre-heatwave temperatures hovering in the mid-70s. Perhaps more amazing than a June visit to the seaside coinciding with sunny weather was the fact that there was NO QUEUE at The Magpie.

I almost had to pinch myself that we were able to climb its entrance steps and go straight in, with only a short delay as the waitress located a free table for us inside the sprawling restaurant spread over two warren-like floors.

The cafe also takes bookings and has a take-away service located on site with a serving hatch at pavement level.

There were four of us, and for reviewing purposes, we all agreed to order separate dishes.

The Magpie might be best-known for its f&c, but it also boasts a blockbuster menu with pages of choices covering all manners of fish and seafood. There is a large specials board too.

Our waitress quickly took our drinks orders – two bottles of Fentimans Ginger Beer, an Appletiser (all at £3.75 each), and an apple juice (£2.75) – and brought us a jug of cold tap water, which was most welcome, as we waited for our food.

Choices were as follows: mussels with chips (£19.50); fishcakes and chips (£16); grilled sea bass with chips (£19.50), and a regular haddock and chips (£18.50), with one small side of garden peas (£2).

Moules at The Magpie in Whitby. Photo by NQ

While ordering was swift, we did wait a bit longer than we were expecting for our food – and watched enviously as plate after plate of delicious-looking dinners filed past us.

And just as tummies started rumbling, our food arrived.

It was a squeeze to get everything on our round table for four – but we managed it.

My daughter had picked the mussels which were served in a large, lidded pan alongside some crusty bread for soaking up the gorgeous creamy sauce, generously laced with wine and garlic. Perfectly cooked and bursting with the flavour of the sea, on reflection she said a starter portion would have been enough to eat, especially given the meal came with chips too.

Our other guest felt the same about her fishcakes – two were served as a main, and she struggled to finish both given how hearty they were. Packed with fish rather than just potato, they had a satisfying crunchy coating that got the thumbs up.

Fishcake and chips at The Magpie in Whitby. Photo by NQ

Less of a winner was the sea bass; the small duo of slightly dried-out fillets looked rather lacklustre and forlorn sitting upon the large white plate.

In retrospect, my husband wished he’d ordered the fish and chips, especially after he sneaked a forkful of mine .If you normally go for cod and chips, take my advice and try the haddock. Cooked with its skin on, the flavour volume is maximised.

Sea bass at The Magpie in Whitby. Photo by NQ

The super-crispy, golden orange batter, ripped away to reveal the most beautiful, glistening white fish that just melted in the mouth. If I had one regret, it was that I hadn’t ordered the large portion (as James Martin recommends), because I just could not get enough of it.

As for the chips. Well they were among the best I’d ever tasted, and that is some compliment coming from a Scots lass who grew up with regular chippy teas.

Undoubtedly this is because the chips are fried in the traditional way, in beef dripping, which delivers an off-the-scale moreishness forcing you to eat every last one.

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And on account of this, we were all full up after our meals, with no room for dessert. Although we did enjoy the bespoke Whitby rock mints which came with our bill.

Nice touch – a farewell Magpie Cafe mint on Whitby rock. Photo NQ

But we were not quite done. About an hour later, after we’d walked off our Magpie feast by climbing the 199 steps to Whitby Abbey, it was time for ice-cream.

After the descent, we treated ourselves at the ice-cream kiosk at the bottom of the abbey steps, which serves delicious varieties from local company Beacon Farm – at the bargain price of £2.75 for a single scoop in a waffle cone (which might be the cheapest ice-cream in Whitby if not the whole of North Yorkshire).

I went for a novel flavour – blackcurrant and liquorice and it was so good I’d go back to Whitby just to have it again.

Oh, and a large haddock and chips at The Magpie.

James Martin was right – if there is one thing you must do on a visit to this corner of Yorkshire, it is to get fish and chips at this legendary local cafe.

Long live The Magpie.

Reviews are independent and meals paid for by The Press

Fact file

The Magpie Cafe, Pier Road, Whitby

T: 01947 602058

W: magpiecafe.co.uk

Verdict:

Food – Haddock and chips is the dish to go for, don’t regret it!

Service – Friendly but can be bit slow, patience is a must

Ambience – Busy cafe, lucky diners can get picturesque views

Value – Bit on the pricey side, but portions are filling and it’s a must-do in Whitby

Clarkson’s Farm star Hannah Bourne-Taylor has responded to viewer criticism following her appearance on the Prime Video show with a humorous bird-naming challenge video

Clarkson’s Farm has returned with its fifth series, documenting another year of former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson managing his Cotswolds farm, in what’s been described as the most ‘personal’ series yet.

Among the fresh faces on the programme was Hannah Bourne-Taylor, whom Jeremy invited to the farm after voicing concerns about the absence of common farmland birds on his property. Jeremy revealed himself to be a passionate bird enthusiast, eager to enhance the farm’s protection of its avian inhabitants.

Hannah’s devotion to birds was instantly apparent as she reacted with visible delight upon spotting and hearing some uncommon species.She also left Jeremy completely gobsmacked when she revealed she’d permitted a bird to nest in her hair for 84 days.

Yet Hannah quickly found herself at odds with farmhand Kaleb Cooper, following the discovery that endangered nesting birds and their young would perish if they proceeded with ploughing the field earmarked for harvest, reports Gloucestershire Live.

The programme showed Jeremy weighing up both perspectives on the matter, with Kaleb arguing they couldn’t afford to delay several weeks for the birds to vacate their nests. Eventually they reached a compromise, enabling them to protect the birds while still harvesting the fields.

Nevertheless, some viewers weren’t impressed by Hannah, taking to social media to suggest she’d been ‘rude’ to Kaleb while explaining why he couldn’t harvest the field that day. Taking to Reddit, one user commented: “I just thought she came across as genuinely quite rude, and there were points i thought she was going to storm off set.

“She’s literally just met these people, who are doing their best for their farm animals, and she acted like they were wanton idiots killing baby birds for fun,” they continued.

The comments section quickly filled with people weighing in, as numerous users began speculating about whether Hannah might be neurodivergent, interpreting her enthusiasm for birds as potential evidence of autism, despite her never having disclosed any such information publicly.

Nevertheless, it appears Hannah has now addressed the ‘allegations’ as another Reddit user shared a link to one of her Instagram posts, writing: “She has responded to the allegations. What a gem.”

In the clip, Hannah can be seen standing in a field dressed in denim shorts and a red plaid shirt tied round her waist. She stated: “So the internet has diagnosed me with autism, so this is my impression of of Rain Man in light of hitting 100,000 followers, I am going to try to say 100 birds.”

She proceeded to reel off various bird names, beginning with tits, including blue tits and great tits. She moved on to seabirds, such as puffins, razorbills, and different gull species.

She then listed farm birds, which had become a major talking point during her Clarkson’s Farm appearance, before rattling off every other bird species that came to mind. The video’s comment section was quickly flooded with glowing responses, with one admirer writing: “You star Hannah”.

Another viewer also chimed in, adding: “All I know is, I now stand in my garden with my Merlin app hearing things I have missed for 50 years, so thank you for that, it’s amazing.”

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Older buildings, substandard construction and geography left many neighborhoods in Venezuela vulnerable to strong earthquakes like the ones that struck the country this week.

Engineers and other experts said the back-to-back earthquakes on Wednesday were among the most intense to hit the country in more than a century, leveling buildings and leaving more than 900 dead with the number expected to rise. Videos and satellite imagery from the disaster zone reviewed by The Associated Press reveal scores of multistory buildings had collapsed.

Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab analyzed satellite imagery of Catia La Mar in La Guaira state, one of the hardest hit cities along the Caribbean coast. Using AI-based damage assessment models, Microsoft determined that about a third of the city’s nearly 30,000 structures were damaged.

Among the factors that left so many structures at risk: Some housing complexes in northern Venezuela were constructed quickly during recent oil booms, and builders may not have adhered to best practices that mitigate the risks of serious seismic activity, according to experts.

Engineers said that older housing erected in the 1950s and 1960s — before modern earthquake standards were adopted — may not have been retrofitted to survive such violent shaking. And many buildings were constructed on geography and soft soils that compound the danger of the earthquakes, the experts said.

Tall buildings and older concrete contributed to damage

David Cocke, a structural engineer in California and former president of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, said that a combination of soft soils, tall towers and older concrete structures contributed to the widespread damage, particularly when buildings pancaked, or collapsed floor-by-floor.

“They just don’t have the more modern reinforcing steel connections that we put in those kinds of buildings today,” said Cocke.

Since the 1970s, engineers have known that concrete buildings are particularly susceptible to earthquakes and seek to reinforce new construction with steel. While many rich nations have forced property owners to retrofit or tear down dangerous buildings, many poorer or middle income countries have lagged in enforcing upgrades as they battled more immediate woes.

“Some of the more advanced countries like Japan and New Zealand and the U.S. have made those changes, but some of the other countries have not,” Cocke said. “It’s a very typical kind of construction all over the world.”

‘Soft stories’ and soft soil played a role

Other experts noted that a number of buildings that collapsed also had non-structural walls comprised of heavy bricks, or they had “soft stories” in which their ground floors consisted of garages or similar open spaces. Such construction increases the risk of pancaking, they said.

“Soft stories are a huge problem everywhere in the world,” said Eduardo Miranda, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University. “And in Venezuela, they are particularly prevalent, and if you combine softer soils with a soft story, buildings can collapse.”

Marcos Ferreira, a geophysicist and researcher at the Geological Survey of Brazil, said the destruction in Venezuela was compounded by the back-to-back quakes, known as a doublet. A similar incident took place in Turkey and Syria in 2023, killing almost 60,000 people.

“It is as if I am screaming and then someone starts screaming, too,” Ferreira said. “That amplifies the vibration and adds to the potential hazard.”

Newer buildings also collapsed

Venezuelan government officials took steps following a deadly 1967 quake to update building codes. But it is unclear how many buildings were retrofitted to comply with those rules.

In late 1999, former President Hugo Chávez’s first year in office, floods and landslides destroyed housing, including in coastal northern Venezuela. The government went on a building spree to replaced the demolished structures and to house so many displaced people, said Juan Carlos Vielma, a Venezuelan civil engineer who is head of academic affairs of the civil engineering school at Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso, Chile.

The team at the nursery “do not agree with the inspector’s judgement”, a spokesperson said

A nursery in Cambridgeshire will challenge Ofsted after the regulator rated it as ‘needs attention’ in several areas. Lilliput Day Nursery in Peterborough, has been told it needs to improve in four areas.

A spokesperson for the nursery said they “do not believe [the Ofsted report] accurately reflects the quality of practice observed during the inspection”.

The areas that ‘needs attention’, according to Ofsted, include achievement, curriculum and teaching, inclusion and leadership and governance.

The report, which was published on Friday, June 19, said that staff implementation of the curriculum is “not yet consistent”. It said this means “children do not always receive the right opportunities to develop their skills in preparation for their next stage in learning”.

The Lincoln Road nursery offers full time and part time places for children aged up to five years old. The nursery received an overall grade of ‘requires improvement’ in its previous inspection in 2025.

The team at the nursery said they are disappointed with the report and plan to challenge the findings. A spokesperson said they believe they have “identified a number of factual inaccuracies within the report”.

The report added: “Additionally, staff do not always correctly identify the barriers children face to their learning. For example, where children lack speech and language skills, staff do not always address the underlying cause, such as children’s confidence.”

Safeguarding standards were met. Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines, and children’s welfare and wellbeing were graded at ‘expected standard’.

The report also recognised that “children appear happy at the setting” and “demonstrate strong relationships with staff”. It added: “Children develop relationships with staff and look to them for comfort when they are feeling tired.

“This is particularly important for those children with special educational needs and/or disabilities who look for reassurance. They cuddle up with staff, helping them to feel safe in their environment.”

The report found that children who speak English as an additional language are “not always supported well-enough to learn new words effectively”. In an example, inspectors said “they do not always hear clear, basic English and develop their understanding and English vocabulary”.

However, teaching of mathematics is “effective” and staff use “every opportunity to incorporate mathematical language”. The inspection determined that leaders are aware of “inconsistencies in the implementation of the curriculum, but the action taken is not yet enough to support staff effectively”.

Ofsted praised the staff for prioritising personal, social, emotional, and physical development. According to the report, staff support social interactions and turn taking skills throughout learning opportunities.

A spokesperson for Lilliput Day Nursery said: “Whilst we are extremely disappointed with this outcome, we do not agree with the inspector’s judgement. We have identified a number of factual inaccuracies within the report and do not believe it accurately reflects the quality of practice observed during the inspection. We are therefore challenging these findings.”

A neurologist said you should never ignore this

A neurologist has warned about a particular type of headache that could “kill you in hours”. He stressed that people “should not ignore” this headache, as it may be triggered by a potentially deadly infection.

Headaches are relatively commonplace. They can stem from colds or flu, dehydration, stress, vision issues, and skipping regular meals among other causes.

However, in certain instances they can indicate something far more severe. In a video posted to social media, neurologist Dr Baibing Chen cautioned that a headache resulting from meningitis is an “emergency”.

He said: “This headache can kill you in hours. And these are the warning signs that you should never ignore. Now, I want to say most headaches are not emergencies, but meningitis is different.”

Meningitis is an infection affecting the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can prove extremely serious and potentially fatal if not treated promptly. Dr Chen continued: “And it can be caused by things like viruses, bacteria, or even fungi.

“The bacterial form of meningitis is the one that scares us the most because it can become life-threatening very quickly. And that’s also one reason vaccines against bacteria like haemophilus, influenza type B, pneumococcus, and meningococcus have saved countless lives by preventing some of the most dangerous forms of bacterial meningitis.”

If you develop a headache alongside other meningitis symptoms, immediate medical attention is essential. Dr Bing explained: “The classic symptoms of meningitis are a severe headache, a high fever, a stiff neck and sensitivity to light.

“Some people also become confused, extremely sleepy or develop a purple rash that doesn’t fade when you press on it.”

The NHS website characterises a meningitis headache as “a severe headache that is getting worse”. Dr Bing cautioned that in its initial stages, meningitis may not present as a serious condition. He stated: “Early on, meningitis can look a lot like common viral illnesses.

“And that’s one reason people sometimes wait too long before seeking medical care. So if someone has these symptoms, especially if they’re not vaccinated, go to the emergency department immediately because getting evaluated and treated early gives doctors the best chance to identify the cause and start the right treatment as quickly as possible.”

Causes of meningitis

According to the NHS, meningitis can be caused by many different types of viruses or bacteria, which are spread through close contact with a person who has them. For example:

• Contact with the person’s spit, such as kissing them, or sharing drinks or vapes
• Being in close contact with the person for a lot of time, such as living in the same home

The infection is usually spread by people who carry these viruses or bacteria but are not ill themselves.

Although anyone can get it, meningitis is more common in:

• Babies and young children
• Teenagers and young adults
• Older people
• People with a weakened immune system – for example, people with HIV or having chemotherapy

It’s important to note that it’s possible to get meningitis more than once.

When to call 999

The NHS says you should call 999 or go to A&E if an adult or child aged five years or over:

• Has a very high or very low temperature, feels hot or cold to the touch, or is shivery
• Has a very painful headache
• Is confused, has slurred speech, or is not making sense
• Has a stiff neck and cannot look at bright lights
• Has a rash that does not fade when you press it
• Has a seizure (fit) for the first time
• Has symptoms you’re worried might be meningitis

You should also call 999 if a baby or child under five years:

• Has a very high temperature – 38C or more in babies under three months old, or 39C or more in babies three to six months old
• Has a very low temperature – less than 36C, or feels cold to the touch or is shivery
• Has a weak, high-pitched or continuous cry
• Has a rash that does not fade when you press it
• Is not responding like they normally do, is not feeding, or is floppy, difficult to wake or more sleepy than usual
• Has symptoms you’re worried might be meningitis

For more information, visit the NHS website here.

LA GUAIRA, Venezuela (AP) — The situation has grown more desperate by the hour in Venezuela as people dig through the rubble of collapsed homes and apartment buildings three days after the devastating one-two punch of 7.2 and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes, knowing time is running out to find survivors.

Authorities announced Friday night that they would block access to La Guaira, the epicenter of the destruction, as chaos and traffic began to hamper search efforts. Officials said anyone who wants to enter would now have to seek official permits, but provided few details of who would be allowed in.

Venezuelans took the search for missing loved ones into their own hands, citing a scarcity of government rescuers, as the human toll of Wednesday’s quakes climbed to at least 920 dead and more than 51,000 missing. People reported seeing few state rescue teams in the hardest-hit areas, despite authorities projecting an image of a robust government response.

Aid agencies consider the first 48 to 72 hours to be a crucial time frame to retrieve people alive, though that can be extended if they have access to food and water.

“Each person saved is a miracle,” said Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly. “We are not going to hide absolutely anything about the magnitude of this tragedy.”

Anxious families wait to see if relatives survived

In the state of La Guaira, just north of the capital, Caracas, Nazareth Jimenez sobbed into a loved one’s shoulder as she watched neighbors use hammers and power tools to try to cut through slabs of concrete in a building reduced to a mountain of debris. She was wracked with anxiety as she waited to see if her siblings, nephews, nieces and friends would emerge alive.

“My God, how are we going to get them out of there?” Jimenez murmured.

“We’re making a call for help to the government and countries across the world,” she said, pleading for machinery capable of moving collapsed structures. “There are still people alive in there.”

Government forces distributed food and water to survivors in La Guaira, and acting President Delcy Rodríguez said her government was mounting a full response during these “critical hours for rescuing people alive.”

She welcomed the arrival of international rescuers and humanitarian aid. She said La Guaira had been militarized and more help was on the way, even as residents said it was just a fraction of what they needed.

The disaster poses a huge challenge for Rodríguez, the former vice president who took office in January after the capture and removal of then-President Nicolás Maduro by the United States. Venezuela has been facing economic disarray for more than a decade, and many people reject the legitimacy of the political movement Rodríguez represents.

The number of dead was expected to climb, and people reported tens of thousands of missing on independent digital databases. Those figures likely included people who have been incommunicado due to the lack of cellphone signals, and some reports may be duplicates.

The number of injured was more than 3,300 as of midday Friday, and authorities said they rescued 243.

Millions of people reeling

The International Organization for Migration said up to 6.76 million people could be affected, some 2 million of them in Caracas alone. The destruction was amplified by the quick succession of shallow quakes, experts said.

Loyce Pace, the International Red Cross’ regional director for the Americas, said “people are still terrified to reenter what were their homes.”

Indeed, many continued to sleep on the street.

Omar Reyes said around 20 family members died.

“I’ve been left alone in this life,” Reyes said, walking through the rubble where two of his children were buried.

In the city of Maiquetia, people lined up outside stores and pharmacies that served them one by one behind closed doors. At one point a woman in a crowd threw herself to the ground to protect a package of diapers with her body, desperate to keep it.

Traffic and throngs of motorcyclists at times disrupted search efforts. Mexican soldiers and volunteers repeatedly asked for silence to try to hear signs of life under the rubble, but bikers — civilian and uniformed — continued to honk horns and rev engines to the first responders’ frustration.

Some people began to carry off basic goods such as toilet paper and food from stores in Catia La Mar, adjacent to the country’s main airport. Others swarmed a civilian pickup truck that was giving out bread and water, until a soldier intervened. The parking lot of a pharmacy turned into a makeshift shelter with tarps, hammocks and tents.

A few miles away, Yuleidy Cadenas, 28, stood across the street from a collapsed public housing building, hoping her son, mother and brother would be pulled out alive.

She fled barefoot from another building as it collapsed Wednesday and found her mother’s 12-floor apartment tower had pancaked.

“I got on top of the rubble and told them to yell back, and nobody did, not my brother, nor my son or my mother,” Cadenas said.

International aid on the way

Venezuelan authorities said Friday that 861 volunteers from Mexico, the U.S., El Salvador, Switzerland, Colombia and beyond were in the country, and more were coming from elsewhere.

Acting President Rodríguez said she spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday and they reaffirmed their commitment to send rescue teams and aid equipment.

___

Janetsky reported from Mexico City. Associated Press journalists Clara Preve in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Dánica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico, contributed.

Manchester United are in the midst of a midfield rebuild after losing Casemiro and now Bruno Fernandes’ future plans are in focus

Manchester United have already shown signs of this being an action-packed transfer window, and there could be a great deal more to come. Several high-profile players have confirmed their departures, and further ins and outs are anticipated.

On the incoming front, Ederson appears set to become the first of several big-money arrivals, with an eight-figure deal to bring in the Atalanta midfielder virtually sewn up. A number of permanent departures have already been rubber-stamped, with Rasmus Hojlund and Casemiro the most notable, while Andre Onana is set for another year on loan at Trabzonspor rather than a permanent switch.

Last summer saw Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes dominate the headlines, and the pattern continues this year. Rashford’s spell at Barcelona on loan failed to produce a permanent transfer, leaving his future uncertain, while captain Fernandes rejected a move to the Saudi Pro League in 2025 but remains the subject of speculation.

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There is also fresh news surrounding another of United’s midfield targets as the squad rebuild gathers pace in the wake of Casemiro’s departure. Here are our latest updates from around Old Trafford.

Fernandes makes decision on future

Bruno Fernandes has informed his Manchester United team-mates that he intends to remain at the club, according to talkSPORT. A definitive verdict on the captain’s future is not anticipated until after the World Cup, though there is understood to be little concern that he could depart.

The Portugal international attracted interest from a number of Saudi clubs last summer but opted to remain where he was. Fresh reports have emerged of renewed attention from Gulf clubs this year, most notably Al Nassr, who could have the midfielder’s international manager Roberto Martinez in the dugout next season.

However, Fernandes’ decision to stay put is understood to be driven by family considerations and is therefore unlikely to shift.

The 31-year-old has started both of Portugal’s opening two World Cup group stage fixtures, registering an assist in the 5-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan. Martinez’s side require a victory in their final group match against Colombia to claim top spot, though they are still all but certain of a top-two finish even if they lose.

Nmecha won’t come cheap

Germany international Felix Nmecha is amongst the midfielders being considered by United as they look to bolster their engine room following Casemiro’s departure and a potential exit for Manuel Ugarte. However, landing the 25-year-old is likely to set them back a pretty penny.

Nmecha came through the ranks at Manchester City as a youngster and represented England at youth level, meaning he would qualify as a homegrown player. The asking price could prove a big obstacle, though, with Kicker reporting that his contract contains no release clause and his club Borussia Dortmund value him at £86million.

The 25-year-old was used sparingly during Germany’s World Cup qualifying campaign but has been a consistent presence for Julian Nagelsmann throughout the tournament itself, starting all three group stage matches and marking his major tournament debut with a goal in the 7-1 rout of Curacao.

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Police made the arrest after attending a quarterly Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting, where residents reported suspected drug activity on Old Road.

Officers later searched a man on Eden Street, located off Old Road, and arrested him on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

Eden Street is usually a more quiet street, home to residential flats for pensioners and Astley Bridge Cemetery.

The man remains in police custody for questioning.

A spokesman for Bolton GMP said: “Yesterday evening, the Bolton North Neighbourhood Team held the quarterly Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting.

“The PACT meeting is an opportunity for the community to raise concerns about crime in their area with the police, local councillors and the council.

“One concern raised by the community was around people supplying drugs on the street in the Old Road area of Astley Bridge.

“After the meeting, officers from the Bolton North Neighbourhood Team searched a man on Eden Street (off Old Road) suspected to be involved in supplying drugs in the area.”