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‘I’m a fan of interior design, this striking lamp from Dusk has the wow factor’

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Daily Mirror

‘I love it! Recommend to anyone! It looks even better in real life’

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Try to spruce up any room and there’s always one thing that simply must be taken into account – lighting. Gone are the days of just sticking the ‘big light’ on and being done with it, as the room’s occupants squinting their way through the evening.

And I have to say, since getting my own house and filling it with other forms of lighting like table lamps, wall lamps and TV back lighting, I hardly ever reach for the light switch anymore. That subtle lighting creates such a calming and relaxing vibe to a room on an evening.

But, of course, they have to look good, a requirement you don’t have to look far to find these days. I’m often trawling through the pages of retailers with snazzy homeware like Dunelm and M&S, but this Titan Gold Domed Table Lamp, £39 at Dusk, really caught my eye.

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It boasts a striking blend between classic and modern, while the gold colour gives off a touch of luxury. It’s the sort of lamp that will look beautiful on a desk or bedside table and give the whole room a lift.

Buyers who’ve purchased the lamp so far have been very impressed, with the product averaging 4.94 stars out of 5 from almost 50 reviews. One said: “This lamp is simply gorgeous and well worth the price.” Another continued: “Keen to receive this floor lamp. It’s very subtle and chic. Super slim and neat glistening away. With adequate light in the evening.”

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The lamp is said to bring ‘warmth and elegance to any room’

A third went on: “It’s absolutely beautiful! Fits perfectly to my whole room filled with Dusk furniture! I love it! Recommend to anyone! It looks even better in real life!”

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Meanwhile, a fourth added: “I absolutely love this mushroom lamp. It has made a stylish addition to my office space. Lovely quality and a decent size. Would definitely recommend.” Of the 48 reviews left to date, 45 have awarded the full five stars.

Three reviewers deducted a star, with one explaining “the shade doesn’t quite cover the base of the light bulb”. Another four star review said: “Looks stylish and works with my new furniture from Dusk but one came dinted. They gave me a discount which was easier than sending back and waiting for another but it’s annoying that it’s not perfect.”

The other thing to note is that it’s not the cheapest option out there, and a lightbulb isn’t included. Amazon, for instance, has a number of budget-friendly lamps, such as this one priced at £13.97. Those looking for a pair of matching lamps can also make a small saving by purchasing a two-pack for £27.48.

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Elsewhere, Dunelm is another solid bet for lighting, with its plug-in wall lights offering a modern twist for those who might lack table space for a more traditional light. Products like the Churchgate Harby Plug In Wall Light (£40) can be wall-mounted, while the wires are designed in such a way that they look natural and aesthetically pleasing.

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Two charged after man with Scottish tattoo ‘attacked with e-bike’ in Dublin

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A man with a distinctive Scottish tattoo is fighting for his life following the alleged assault early on Wednesday morning

Two men have been charged in connection with an alleged serious assault which left a man fighting for his life in hospital in Dublin.

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Emergency services were called to Cope Street in the Temple Bar area of the Irish capital shortly after midnight on Wednesday, February 18.

A man, who has a distinctive Scottish tattoo on his arm, was allegedly attacked before an e-bike was dropped on his neck.

The victim was taken to Beaumont Hospital where he remains in a critical condition.

Gardaí, the Irish police service, issued an appeal to identify the man from his tattoo – a blue and white saltire with the words ‘Ceol is Beatha’, Gaelic for music and life – as they attempted to find out who he was.

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It proved successful and Gardaí have thanked the public and media for their help. No details of the man’s identity have been released.

The two men, aged in their 20s and 30s, were arrested on Friday evening – before the identity appeal – and they have now been charged in connection with the attack.

Both men are due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Monday morning, February 23.

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A Gardaí spokesperson said “investigations are ongoing”.

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‘Premium dining destination’ comes to Cambs town ideal for relaxing after riverside walks

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Cambridgeshire Live

The restaurant is a great spot for any time of day and is placed in a great location.

A new restaurant is set to open in St Ives hoping to bring a “foodie culture” to the town. The Teller’s Table wants to offer people a “premium dining” experience without having to travel to London or Cambridge with meals focused on using “locally sourced products”.

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James McFarlane, director of the Teller’s Table, believes there is an opportunity to “do much more” in the area for the food scene. Mr McFarlane recently opened the Broadway Cellars, a wine bar and shop also found in St Ives, and received lots of feedback from customers saying there wasn’t “enough diversity” in terms of restaurants in the town.

Mr McFarlane added: “We listen to the customer base here and we feel it can work quite well in conjunction with Broadway Cellars. We can have the wine element there and then the food focus down at the Teller’s Table.

“I believe St Ives is growing and up and coming and I think there’s a huge opportunity to put it back on the map as a hospitality focused area. The cellars has been really well received so we’ve seen that demographic is willing to come out here and try something more special. It’s obviously a beautiful site and where it’s positioned, we think it will add lots to the town and bring more people in.”

The restaurant will be offering brunch in the mornings and an a la carte menu for lunch and dinner featuring speciality homemade flatbreads. On Sundays, it will be offering “family style sharing roasts” with lots of sides to allow people to “overindulge” and enjoy a “slow Sunday”.

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There will also be a few set menus and discounts, including a supper club on Sundays that features four courses for an affordable price that will allow guests to try dishes they might not usually go for. There will be a 25% discount on Mondays and Tuesdays for those who work in hospitality called the “Clock Off Club”.

The Teller’s Table won’t focus on a particular cuisine or style but wants to highlight some of the “best produce that local suppliers have to offer”. Mr McFarlane continued: “The key thing is everything’s going to be homemade. It’s all going to be done with passion and will be full of flavour. The menu is diverse enough but there will also be something appealing for everyone.

“We’re focusing on quality rather than anything else. What we’re looking to do is create an overall experience rather than just going out to a restaurant. We’re looking to provide the best service and the best wine in the area.”

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To stand out in Cambridgeshire, the restaurant hopes to become a “premium dining destination” by making sure “service is at the forefront of everything”. Mr McFarlane said: “From the moment they arrive, customers are going to feel like they’re being looked after. We want to make the whole thing an experience.

“We want people to come in and really understand and taste the flavours of the menu. I think just making sure the service is top and frequently changing the menu to showcase the best produce suppliers have to offer will help us stand out.”

The atmosphere at the restaurant will be “approachable ad welcoming” to make sure all guests feel comfortable and available to everyone. The Teller’s Teller believes it has the “best service team in the area “who are “passionate” about hospitality will “greet customers with a smiling face”.

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The Teller’s Table will be open from Thursday, February 26. The restaurant can be found at the Old Bank at 2 The Pavement in St Ives.

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National Highways dashboard warning lights guidance

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National Highways dashboard warning lights guidance

Indicators on your vehicle dashboard use a colour system—red, amber, green, white, and blue—to provide information about your car’s status.

National Highways say you should never start a journey with a red warning light flashing, as there may be a serious fault with your vehicle.

According to National Highways, a red warning light indicates there may be a “serious fault”, and drivers should not start their journey with this light showing.

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If it appears while driving, National Highways advises that you should find a safe place to pull over, but emphasises that you should avoid stopping in a live lane unless absolutely necessary.

If the vehicle can be safely driven, drivers are advised to continue to a service area or the next junction for help.

Amber warning lights also cause concern, advising that the vehicle needs maintenance or a check-up.

According to National Highways, drivers should not start their journey if this light is present and follow a similar protocol as with the red warning light should it appear while driving.

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Amber warning lights are advisory but should not be ignored.

Meanwhile, green, white, or blue warnings provide general information about your vehicle.

No immediate action is required for these, but it’s suggested to check their implications during your next planned stop.

Driving with a warning light is not an offence on its own under UK motoring law, but the dangerous fault it represents may lead to fines and points based on the severity.

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Driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition (e.g., faulty brakes, bald tyres, dangerous modifications) carries severe penalties in the UK, including 3 penalty points and a fine of up to £2,500.

For anyone unfamiliar with a vehicle – either a new purchase or a hire – it’s wise to become familiar with the various controls and dashboard warning lights before starting your drive.

Guidance for these should be in your instruction manual or available from the manufacturer.

For more information on dashboard warning lights, you can visit the National Highways website.

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By understanding what each type of dashboard warning light means, you can make better decisions to ensure the safety of yourself, your passengers, and all road users.

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Russian missile and drone barrage hits Kyiv suburbs, killing 1

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Russian missile and drone barrage hits Kyiv suburbs, killing 1

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia attacked Ukraine with a barrage of missiles and drones, killing one person in the Kyiv region, Ukraine’s Emergency Service said on Sunday.

Another eight people, including a child, were rescued from under the rubble of destroyed buildings, the service said.

The attack caused damage and fires to erupt in five districts in the suburbs of Kyiv. In the village of Putrivka in the Fastiv district, emergency first responders worked on saving people buried under debris.

Russia also struck energy infrastructure in Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, resulting in significant fires, which were later extinguished, the emergency service said.

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During the four years since Russia launched an all-out war on its neighbor, and despite a new push over the past year in U.S.-led peace efforts, Ukrainian civilians have endured constant aerial attacks. Russia has also ramped up attacks targeting the country’s energy grid, leaving Ukrainian civilians without electricity and heating amid harsh winter conditions.

Ukraine’s Air Force said Sunday that Russia’s overnight barrage had included 297 drones and 50 missiles of various types, of which 274 drones and 33 missiles were shot down or neutralized. Of those remaining, 14 missiles and 23 drones struck 14 locations, it said. Three missiles were unaccounted for.

Separately, an explosion in Ukraine’s western city of Lviv killed one person and injured 25, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post on Sunday. One person has been arrested over the incident, which is unrelated to Russia’s aerial attack on Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russian air defenses destroyed 86 Ukrainian drones overnight, Russia’s Ministry of Defense said Sunday.

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A security guard was injured and a fuel tank set alight when two Ukrainian drones hit an oil depot in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Luhansk, Moscow-installed leader Leonid Pasechnik said.

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Netflix’s ‘nerve-wracking’ new thriller is ‘packed with twists’

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Manchester Evening News

Streaming giant Netflix has just added a riveting Spanish thriller that keeps viewers guessing throughout

Netflix has added a new Spanish thriller that deserves a spot at the very top of your streaming watchlist this week.

Released on the platform last Friday (20th February), it has already garnered strong reactions from viewers who have been captivated by its distinctive premise.

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Directed by David Victori, Firebreak is an intense psychological thriller centring on a family confronted with insurmountable odds and an impossible moral dilemma.

When a young girl goes missing in the forest surrounding their home, her mother Mara (played by Belén Cuesta) races against time to find her before she is consumed by a raging fire.

As her search grows increasingly desperate, there are sinister suggestions that the inferno may not have simply been a natural disaster, reports the Mirror.

READ MORE: Does Jay die in The Night Agent?READ MORE: Gordon Ramsay admits ‘real reason’ for tears at daughter Holly’s wedding to Adam Peaty

Review site Tom’s Guide was impressed with the gripping thriller, calling it one of the “most intense movies of 2026” so far.

They added that Firebreak is “packed with twists” and delivers “high stakes, emotional urgency, and a constant sense that the situation could tip in an even darker direction at any moment”.

A favourable review on Rotten Tomatoes described it as a “nerve-wracking and intense film”, though cautioned that some of the family drama might prove frustrating for certain viewers.

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Praise continued on Letterboxd where one user awarded Firebreak four stars, writing: “Honestly I was glued to the screen the entire time the tension was so real and that ending caught me completely off guard.

“The performances were top notch, they captured panic and frustration so effectively. A tightly paced thriller that kept me hooked.”

Another viewer confessed: “This movie had me guessing every second only for me to be completely wrong!”

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Finally, an IMDb user described the film as both “mind and emotion bending”, adding: “I love the movie. In my opinion, it has a unique story line and plot twist.

“Some very annoying characters, but understandable because these types of people exist in real life, and real life people are sometimes worse than fiction. It will make you keep engaged emotionally and even sometimes make you feel enraged.”

Spanish productions have emerged as some of Netflix’s biggest successes, from standout series such as Money Heist and Elite to thriller films The Platform and Society of the Snow.

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Firebreak looks set to become the streaming giant’s next international blockbuster, so be sure to get ahead of the curve before the buzz really takes off.

Firebreak is available to stream on Netflix.

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ITV ‘nervously’ releases controversial Sarah Ferguson drama days after Andrew arrest

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ITV 'nervously' releases controversial Sarah Ferguson drama days after Andrew arrest
Natalie Dormer plays Sarah Ferguson in The Lady (Picture: ITV)

ITV are reportedly feeling ‘nervy’ ahead of the Sunday night premiere of their Sarah Ferguson drama, The Lady.

This partly fictionalised four-part series follows the rise and fall of former royal dresser Jane Andrews (Mia McKenna-Bruce), who was convicted of murdering her boyfriend, Thomas Cressman, in 2001.

The show features Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer as Andrews’ employer, Sarah Ferguson – who was, at the time, serving in her capacity as Duchess of York.

One member of the Royal family who will not appear in the show is the former Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

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The former Duke of York – who was stripped of his titles by brother King Charles in 2022 – was arrested earlier this week under allegations of misconduct in public office.

With The Lady set to air mere days after his release, ITV are said to have their lawyers ‘on standby’ should any new information come to the fore.

Undated ITV Handout Photo from The Lady. Pictured: Natalie Dormer as Sarah, Duchess of York See PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV Lady. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA?Feature SHOWBIZ TV Lady. PA Photo. Picture credit should read: ?ITV. NOTE TO EDITORS: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV Lady. WARNING: This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
Dormer appears as Sarah, former Duchess of York (Picture: ITV)
EMBARGOED TO 0001 TUESDAY FEBRUARY 17 Undated ITV Handout Photo from The Lady. Pictured: Mia McKenna-Bruce as Jane Andrews and Natalie Dormer as Sarah, Duchess of York. See PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV Lady. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA?Feature SHOWBIZ TV Lady. PA Photo. Picture credit should read: ?ITV. NOTE TO EDITORS: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV Lady. WARNING: This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
Dormer stars opposite Mia McKenna-Bruce, who plays royal dresser Jane Andrews (Picture: ITV)

A source close to the show told GB News: ‘ITV is very nervy about The Lady going out on Sunday.’

They continued: ‘It’s not a flattering portrayal of Fergie at all but they’ve got duty lawyers on standby in case of more spectacular royal revelations.’

Meanwhile, the brother of Thomas Cressman has also shared his thoughts on this dramatisation of real-life events.

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‘It feels that Tommy can never rest in peace,’ Rick Cressman said in 2022, sharing how he had ‘one week’s notice,’ after being informed about plans for the drama.

He told Daily Mail: ‘It’s a very cruel thing that ITV have commissioned a drama about it. It gives licence to say or do anything they like – true or not. It’s an abuse of my family. My mother’s now 97.’

Brother Thomas (played by Downton Abbey star Ed Speelers in the TV show) was murdered by Andrews in the year 2000 – violently killed with a cricket bat and a knife as he lay in bed, sleeping.

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While Natalie Dormer’s Sarah ‘Fergie’ Ferguson features heavily in the programme, there is no depiction of her husband.

‘Andrew does not feature,’ show writer Debbie O’Malley told Radio Times earlier this year.

This is because, according to O’Malley, the story is specifically ‘about the female, domestic world of Sarah and Jane’s part in it.

‘We only ever see the Sarah that Jane got to see.’

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EMBARGOED UNTIL 00.01 THURSDAY THE 4TH DECEMBER 2025. LEFTBANK PICTURES FOR ITV Pictured: MIA McKENNA-BRUCE as Jane Andrews,ED SPELEERS as Tommy and NATALIE DORMER as Sarah Ferguson. This image is under copyright of LEFTBANK PICTURES and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes in your print or online publication. This image cannot be syndicated to any other third party. For further information please contact: Patrick.smith@itv.com 07909906963
The Lady dramatises Jane Andrews’ murder of boyfriend Thomas Cressman (Picture: ITV)

O’Malley went on to add that the show, while being ‘transparent’ about what happened, strives for ‘integrity’ in its portrayal of a real-life tragedy.

‘There was no way we could necessarily please everyone, but we weren’t setting out to upset anyone,’ the writer said.

She continued: ‘When you’re trying to understand a complex protagonist, it’s easy to lose sight of the victim.

‘And that was something that was important from the beginning – to remember that a man lost his life and his family and his friends are still grieving that loss. You just have to approach it with integrity.’

TORONTO, CANADA - JULY 15: Sarah, Duchess Of York With Prince Andrew, Duke Of York Arriving In Toronto At The Beginning Of Their Tour Of Canada. She Chose The Colours Of The Canadian Flag For Her Outfit (Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Andrew and Fergie were married from 1986 to 1996 (Picture: Getty Images)

The release of The Lady comes in the aftermath of Andrew’s arrest on Thursday, February 19.

Andrew was arrested by officers in relation to allegations surrounding the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, and held for 11 hours.

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As detectives continue to search Andrew’s former home, Royal Lodge, in Windsor, Berkshire, he is believed to be staying in a cottage on the King’s Sandringham estate.

Sarah Ferguson and former prince Andrew at Royal Ascot
The pair remained close in the years which followed their divorce (picture: Getty Images)

A source close to the family told the Daily Mail that Andrew ‘hardly seemed bothered’ about the Epstein scandal, and had ‘done nothing but complain’ prior to his arrest.

‘It’s extraordinary. He hardly seemed bothered about the Epstein scandal. He was much more worried about where he was supposed to keep his horses,’ they said.

‘He is in another world.’

COURTS Andrews file 2...A library file dated 3/10/94 of Sarah, Duchess of York (right) departing from Heathrow for Kenya with her dresser, Jane Andrews, then named Jane Dunn-Butler. The former royal aide, Andrews, 34, was Wednesday May 16 2001, found guilty at the Old Bailey in London of the murder of her lover Tommy Cressman. See PA story COURTS Andrews. PA Photos...A...LONDON...UK
Ferguson has described herself as ‘deeply depressed’ by recent events (Picture: PA)

Meanwhile, the whereabouts of his former wife and daughters – Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie – are currently unknown.

Friends of the former Duchess of York described her as feeling ‘very, very down’, telling Daily Mail: ‘She feels deeply depressed and that the world is out to get her.’

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They added: ‘What she doesn’t appear to feel is remorse for what has happened. She just wants this to all go away and allow her to get on with her life.

‘Her head is in the sand.’

Metro has contacted ITV for comment on this story.

The Lady airs tonight on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm.

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Close friends and sisters among nine skiers killed in California avalanche | US News

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Sisters Caroline Sekar, left, and Liz Clabaugh. Pic: AP

Six close friends and mothers are among the nine off-piste skiers who were killed in an avalanche in California.

The avalanche hit on Castle Peak, about 10 miles (16km) north of Lake Tahoe, on Tuesday, but the recovery of the victims’ bodies took until Saturday as the search and rescue operation was hindered by intense snowfall.

Six of the victims were part of a close-knit group of friends who were experienced off-piste skiers, their families said in a statement, adding that they were carrying avalanche safety equipment.

The women in their 40s were named as Carrie Atkin, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Kate Vitt and sisters Liz Clabaugh and Caroline Sekar.

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Kate Morse. Pic: AP

Caroline Sekar with her husband, Kiren Sekar. Pic: AP
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Caroline Sekar with her husband, Kiren Sekar. Pic: AP

“We are devastated beyond words. Our focus right now is supporting our children through this incredible tragedy and honouring the lives of these extraordinary women,” the families said.

“They were all mothers, wives and friends, all of whom connected through the love of the outdoors.”

Kate Vitt. Pic: AP
Image:
Kate Vitt. Pic: AP

‘Best people I’ve ever known’

Tributes described the women as kind people and dedicated mothers.

Danielle Keatley, from the San Francisco city of Larkspur, “was warm, kind and exuded a special quality that drew people to her”, Larkspur’s mayor Stephanie Andre said.

Fellow Larkspur resident Rob Bramble added that she was “just a great mum”.

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Danielle Keatley. Pic: AP
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Danielle Keatley. Pic: AP

Carrie Atkin, who lived in Lake Tahoe with her husband and two children, was a former corporate executive who had attended Harvard on a track and field scholarship.

“Everybody liked Carrie. She was a good person,” her high school hurdling coach, Jerome Bearden, said after hearing about her death from a former student.

Sisters Liz Clabaugh and Caroline Sekar were “two of the best people I’ve ever known”, their brother McAlister Clabaugh told the New York Times.

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“They were incredible sisters, mothers, wives and friends. And the idea that they are both gone is, I don’t even know how to put it into words,” he said.

Sisters Caroline Sekar, left, and Liz Clabaugh. Pic: AP
Image:
Sisters Caroline Sekar, left, and Liz Clabaugh. Pic: AP

‘Enormous tragedy’

The three other victims killed in the avalanche were guides Andrew Alissandratos, 34, Nicole Choo, 42, and Michael Henry, 30.

They worked for Blackbird Mountain Guides, whose founder, Zeb Blais, wrote in a statement on Wednesday: “This was an enormous tragedy, and the saddest event our team has ever experienced.

“We are doing what we can to support the families who lost so much, and the members of our team who lost treasured friends and colleagues.”

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Andrew Alissandratos. Pic: Blackbird Guides
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Andrew Alissandratos. Pic: Blackbird Guides

Six people survived the avalanche, including two members of the friend group, three skiers and one guide.

They were rescued on Tuesday after calling for help around 11.30am, describing a terrifying avalanche the length of a football field that had struck the group of 15.

Members of a rescue team in California on Tuesday. Pic: Nevada County Sheriff's Office via AP
Image:
Members of a rescue team in California on Tuesday. Pic: Nevada County Sheriff’s Office via AP

‘Many unanswered questions’

The families of the six friends said they “have many unanswered questions”.

It is not clear what triggered the avalanche, which is the deadliest in modern California history.

Officials said the group was on a “normally travelled route”. Authorities are investigating whether “there were any factors that would be considered criminal negligence”, according to Sky News’ US partner network NBC.

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“The information we have at this time is that this was the last day of their three-day tour, and they did decide to leave early to try to get off the mountain early” to avoid the impending snowstorm, according to Shannan Moon, the sheriff of Nevada County, California.

Eight of the skiers had been found dead by Thursday, with the last missing person discovered “relatively close” to the other victims on Saturday, Lieutenant Dennis Hack from the Nevada County sheriff’s office said.

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He said it was impossible to see the final victim because there were white-out conditions when the others were located.

Five of the bodies were transported off the mountain on Friday, with the remaining four recovered on Saturday.

“While we wish we could have saved them all, we are grateful that we can bring them home,” Ms Moon said.

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How to watch Livingston v Rangers on TV today – channel and kick-off time

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Wales Online
How to watch Livingston v Rangers on TV today – channel and kick-off time | Wales Online

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‘She started to forget, little by little’: Virtual reality offers escape to Gaza’s children | World News

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'She started to forget, little by little': Virtual reality offers escape to Gaza's children | World News

In a small office space in Gaza City, a child stands still, wearing a virtual reality headset.

A therapist asks seven-year-old Razan what she can see. She names objects as they appear in front of her: a train, toys, animals, the sea.

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Seven-year-old Razan wears a VR headset at a displacement camp in Gaza City

The prompts are gentle: reach for the cube, use the hand you can, tell me what you are feeling. It is therapy, but it looks like play.

Razan was injured last year when she went outside to get water for her family. A shell landed nearby, the shrapnel careering into her leg.

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A series of surgeries followed, including one reconstruction attempt that failed. The injury is still impossible to miss – Razan’s leg is misshapen where a chunk of her flesh and muscle has gone.

Razan has had a series of operations on her leg
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Razan has had a series of operations on her leg

Doctors told the family there was little more they could do for her inside Gaza, where medical facilities have been so badly affected by two years of war.

Only by leaving the Strip and seeking treatment abroad was there hope of a proper recovery, they said. For a young child, the news felt like a second attack.

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Her mother, Rana Abu Harbid, says the trauma was so severe that Razan stopped eating for days, surviving only on water before collapsing and being taken back to hospital. Nightmares still wake her.

Now, after months of support from this team, Razan’s mental health is improving. But it is slow progress, with no guarantees.

“She slowly began to improve, and she started to forget, little by little,” says Rana. “But the nightmares still come back, and she wakes terrified, shaking, feeling like the ground is moving.”

'The nightmares still come back' for Razan, her mother, Rana Abu Harbid, says
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‘The nightmares still come back’ for Razan, her mother, Rana Abu Harbid, says

During the sessions, a group of children sit in a circle and are given headsets to wear along with hand-operated controllers.

Virtual reality allows them to feel like they are entering new places, without moving out of the chair.

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Suddenly, from Gaza’s grey world of rubble, dust and destruction, a child can find themselves watching animals roam, fish swim, or cartoon characters cavort happily.

In the same office, two brothers, Ahmad and Amjad, 17 and 13, talk about what the VR sessions give them.

Ahmad (left) and Amjad, 17 and 13, were both injured in the war in Gaza
Image:
Ahmad (left) and Amjad, 17 and 13, were both injured in the war in Gaza

Ahmad says that when the pressure of the war closes in on him, the headset helps him feel able to breathe again. Amjad says it takes him from war and destruction into a world of nature.

Theirs, too, is a story of lives that were ripped apart in a moment when an Israeli airstrike hit their home. Ahmad says he was thrown into the air “like a piece of paper”.

Shrapnel hit him, some going into his face. He’s now blind in one of his eyes.

Ahmad's twin brother had been killed earlier the same year he was injured
Image:
Ahmad’s twin brother had been killed earlier the same year he was injured

He says he thought he was going to die because his twin brother had been killed earlier that year, and death felt close.

Amjad’s injuries were even more severe. He was taken straight into surgery.

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Later, he was wrapped in a blanket and taken toward the hospital mortuary, assumed to be dead, until he was able to move his hand to show he was alive.

Amjad says the headsets take him away from war and destruction
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Amjad says the headsets take him away from war and destruction

Their mother, Nissma, describes waking up to dust and rubble. The place where the boys had been sleeping was buried under stones.

She found Ahmad covered in blood and realised his eye was gone. She then went looking for Amjad, believing he was trapped beneath the debris.

Months later, both boys are still being treated. Shrapnel remains in their bodies.

Amjad says there is nothing more doctors in Gaza can do for some of his injuries and that he needs to travel outside the Strip for surgery.

For many families here, that possibility feels distant.

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Only a very small number of people are allowed to leave Gaza to seek medical treatment each day, and thousands upon thousands want that opportunity.

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The families allowed to leave Gaza

The VR sessions are part of a project run by TechMed Gaza.

A staff member, Lama Abu Dalal, explains that the idea began after a child injured in the war showed severe psychological symptoms, refusing to eat or drink, avoiding people, crying constantly.

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VR was tried as a way to reduce those symptoms, with positive results.

Since then, the project has worked with around 180 cases, using structured sessions inside the headset, breathing exercises, walking exercises, and natural environments.

Lama Abu Dalal says some children who could not walk because of fear take their first steps wearing the headset
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Lama Abu Dalal says some children who could not walk because of fear take their first steps wearing the headset

Lama says they have seen children who could not walk because of fear take their first steps while wearing the headset, showing that the barrier was psychological, not physical.

The work is limited by what they have. There are only a few headsets. When one breaks, there are no replacement parts.

With crossings closed, no new equipment comes in. Fewer headsets means fewer children can be seen.

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Pic: AP
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Pic: AP

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Pic: AP

All of this is happening against a backdrop of ongoing instability. A ceasefire announced late last year is still officially in place, but it is fragile.

Read more from Sky News:
Trump’s message as billions of dollars pledged to Gaza
Airstrikes in Gaza kill 11 people, locals say

Strikes have continued. People are still being killed. Life in the camps remains precarious.

In the office, Razan takes off the headset. The forest and the sea disappear. Outside, the camp is still there.

For a few minutes, the children here are somewhere else.

Then they step back into Gaza as it is.

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Weight loss jabs could be banned by next Olympics | World News

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As the Winter Olympics end, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is investigating whether to add weight loss jabs to the banned list for the next Summer Olympics in 2028.

The agency is monitoring Semaglutide, which is the active ingredient in popular GLP-1 medication, including Ozempic, to see if it is being abused by athletes to cheat.

“We want to see whether we detect patterns of abuse of this drug or this class of substances in sport,” Dr Olivier Rabin, WADA’s senior director of science and medicine, told Sky News.

“So we keep an eye on them because there’s been a change in paradigm in the way weight can be controlled because of those drugs. So there is an interest from all sides, from the performance enhancing aspects and health protection of the athletes with this class of substances [and] will they end up being on the [banned] list.”

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WADA would need to find that athletes are using the drugs to boost performances and that their health is being risked or the spirit of fair sport is being violated.

Dr Rabin said in a recent interview that a decision could be taken by the end of this year or in 2027, adding: “Possibly before the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.”

Experts say endurance athletes could benefit most.

The drugs make you feel fuller, so you want to eat less, and that can cause energy deficiency. It means muscles might not absorb enough nutrients and other necessary drugs.

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What happens when you come off weight loss jabs?

But there are welfare issues too, with athletes facing pressure to take the drugs.

Kate Seary, co-founder of the Kyniska Advocacy for safe sport, said: “In many ways a more invisible issue is GLP-1s being used to control the weight of athletes.

“There are toxic environments where the idea that thin equals fast, thin equals powerful, or even thin equals beautiful in sport are still really present.

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“And that is because they’re under a number of wider pressures within the sport system. I think I would always go along the lines of banning it until we know the long-term consequences.”

Read more:
Women dominate weight loss jab take-up
Weight loss drugs ‘may need to be continued for life’

The jabs are also a concern for Dr Ian Beasley, the former medical chief for England football teams and a Team GB Olympics physician.

“When you’re trying to look for minimal gains and try to get up to the next step, you might try it,” he said.

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“If you wanted to cheat, could you take it during a close season and then reap the benefits during the season? And how would you be able to measure that? I think these are the questions that WADA are grappling with that make life very difficult.”

Exemptions could be granted for athletes really needing anti-obesity jabs, for example, in cases of diabetics to control weight issues.

But the fear is that the authorities are playing catch-up with athletes potentially already using the medication.

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