Today show host Savannah Guthrie called on the public for help and detailed the ongoing “nightmare” of her mother Nancy’s kidnapping in an Instagram video posted on Monday.

“We believe our mom is still out there,” Guthrie said in the video. “We need your help. Law enforcement is working tirelessly, around the clock, trying to bring her home, trying to find her.”

“We are at an hour of desperation and we need your help,” she added.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the evening of January 31 in Tucson, Arizona, where she lives, according to family members.

Authorities have not publicly announced any suspect in the 84-year-old’s disappearance.

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The FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case.

The Guthrie family and media outlets have reportedly received ransom requests, purportedly from the kidnappers, demanding millions of dollars in cryptocurrency.

One such note, sent to CNN affiliate KGUN, reportedly demanded $6 million and threatened Nancy Guthrie’s life if a 5 p.m. Monday deadline was not met.

Police have not publicly confirmed the details of the reported ransom notes.

In a video from Savannah Guthrie and her siblings released over the weekend, the broadcaster addressed her mother’s kidnappers, saying the family had “received your message” and “will pay.”

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“We beg you now to return our mother to us, so that we can celebrate with her,” Guthrie said in the clip.

The Guthrie family has publicly asked for proof “without a doubt” that Nancy Guthrie is alive.

The FBI has said it is up to the Guthrie family to decide how to respond to the requests.

“While we advise and recommend from a law enforcement perspective, any action taken on any ransom is ultimately decided by the family,” Heith Janke, FBI special agent in charge of the bureau’s Phoenix office, told NPR.

Guthrie returned to her Tucson home around 9:50pm on January 31, after eating dinner and playing games with relatives.

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She was not present at church the following morning, alerting family members to her disappearance.

Her front doorbell camera was disconnected around 1:47am on Sunday morning, and software detected a person on the camera shortly afterward, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Office.

Police found drops of blood on Guthrie’s front porch.

A pacemaker belonging to the 84-year-old, who takes daily medication and has limited mobility, was disconnected from a cell phone app around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, according to police.

Neno Dolmajian was brutally attacked by a group of men on the street who kicked his head “like a football” before his death.

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A tourist was savagely beaten to death on a street after his head was “treated like a football”, the victim’s sister has claimed in court.

Neno Dolmajian, 42, had come to Ireland from Canada to see Liam Gallagher play. However, the solo traveller was brutally beaten on O’Connell Street in Dublin on June 23, 2024, after encountering a group of men.

Though treated in intensive care, he tragically died from his injuries at Mater Hospital nine days after the assault on July 2, reports Dublin Live.

His grief-stricken sister, Maral Dolmajian told Central Criminal Court that her brother had the “soul and sensitivity of an artist”, was curious about the world and loved to learn as much as he could.

Ms Dolmajian said he was kicked at full force in the face by one of the men after an argument broke out. She added the loss has completely destroyed her family.

Ms Dolmajian said: “My parents have always gone above and beyond to help family and friends. They have always been the most generous with their time and energy. The consequence of all this goodness, all these good deeds, was their only son being killed. Their son who wouldn’t even hurt a fly. Their son who had never gotten into fights, who got on with everyone and was loved by everyone.”

She said bad things happen to good people, and her brother was a “good person, kind, funny, thoughtful and a joy to be around. He made people feel seen and valued. Everyone loved him.”

Ms Dolmajian said she lives with the “unbearable guilt” that she was not able to keep her brother safe and thinks of his final moments every day: “How he was punched and shoved to the ground and kicked in the head at full force… I think about how Ionut Danca treated my brother’s head like a football. I think about how unnecessary and violent it was. I wonder what kind of person would do that, and why? Why would they be that violent towards someone they just met?”

Her brother’s life had value, she said, and he did not deserve to die in the manner he did. “He deserved to live a long and happy life, but his life was taken from him, it was taken from us.”

She asked Mr Justice Paul McDermott to impose a sentence on his killer that reflects the violence her brother suffered and acknowledges the family’s loss.

Ionut Danca (25) pleaded guilty last year to the unlawful killing of Neno Dolmajian on July 2, 2024 at O’Connell St Upper.

Danca’s co-accused, Madalin Ghiuzan (24), pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Dolmajian, causing him harm at Cathal Brugha St, Dublin 1.

Danca, a construction worker from Romania but with an address at Rathdown Square, North Circular Road, Dublin 7 had previously been charged with murder. Ghiuzan, originally from Romania but with an address at Summerhill Parade, Dublin 1, had a manslaughter charge brought against him.

Following the guilty pleas, the murder charge against Danca and the manslaughter charge against Ghiuzan are not being pursued by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Sgt Donal Byrne today told prosecutor Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing SC that the victim was a Canadian national of Armenian heritage. He had an interest in music and playing the guitar and was travelling alone. He arrived in Ireland in June 2024, was staying at the Ivy Exchange and was due to leave on July 2.

On the day he suffered the fatal injury, Mr Dolmijan was drinking and after midnight, he encountered a number of males, including the two defendants, outside the Living Room nightclub on Cathal Brugha St. There was a row during which Ghiuzan punched and pushed Mr Domijian, causing him to fall to the ground.

He remained on the ground for more than one minute and struggled to get back to his feet, the garda said. Mr Dolmijian then followed the group to O’Connell St where there was a further series of interactions in which Mr Dolmijian was again pushed to the ground before Danca delivered a “running kick straight to the face” of the deceased.

Eoin Lawlor SC, for Danca, said his client was initially trying to act as a peacemaker and displayed no aggression. He said something changed either as a result of Mr Dolmajian striking the accused or insulting his family.

He said his client accepts that what he did was wrong and has written a “sincere apology” to the deceased’s family. He asked the court to consider a reference by Danca’s employer describing him as having an “exemplary work ethic”. He has no previous convictions, wants to create a good life for himself and his partner and is unlikely to come before the courts again, Mr Lawlor said.

Morgan Shelley SC, for Ghiuzan, said but for the “extremely tragic” events that followed his client’s assault on Mr Dolmajian, his case might have been dealt with in the lower courts. He asked Mr Justice McDermott to consider imposing a fully suspended sentence. The court will deliver sentence next Tuesday, February 17.

Heppni Bakeri, in Swinegate, is taking orders for personalised pink palmiers in the run-up to February 14.

Known for their distinctive heart shape, palmiers are made with puff pastry and sugar – and in the case of Heppni Bakeri delicious Edinburgh butter and pink icing.

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Speaking about this, business owner India Luck said: “With so much doom and gloom in the world, we wanted to add a little extra magic to Valentine’s Day.

“We are now taking order for our special Valentine’s palmiers.

“These can be customised and will the make the perfect Valentine’s Day gift!”

The palmiers are made three days in advance and can be decorated with personalised icing (Image: Supplied)

According to India, the palmiers take three days to make – a process which involves making the dough, laminating it with butter to build up their characteristic layers and proving overnight.

She explained: “We bake the pastry on day three.

“It’s a long process and one that takes a lot of care and hard work.

“Sadly, we aren’t making vegan or gluten-free options with the palmiers, but we have lots of alternative options in store.”

All orders must be made by Thursday, February 12.

To place yours, please email india@heppnibakeri.co.uk.

Whether you’re a widow, widower or divorcee, the thought of online dating can feel daunting. However, more and more people are turning to the internet to find romance. Roughly 16 per cent of UK adults met their long-term partner online, according to Statista. Among them, there are lots of singles over 50 using dating sites to find a companion.

So here’s how to navigate your online dating life with expert advice from psychologist and dating coach Dr Pam Spurr, and sex and relationship coach Angela Vossen.

How do I know if I’m ready to date again?

Coming out of any relationship is hard. If you’re hoping to date after a divorce, bereavement or break up, it can take a long time to feel ready to date again. Dr Spurr advises taking your time.

“Many people feel bruised, even traumatised, after coming out of a long-term relationship or having been bereaved,” she explains. “Your feelings naturally vary from day to day about whether you’re ready to get back out to look for love – or even for fun. A crucial factor is if you’ve come to the point where you have more good days compared to bad days”.

Dr Spurr explains that good days are the days on which you feel more optimistic about life generally, and you find your thoughts turning to meeting someone new. “That’s an important sign that you are healing,” she says. “However, if you’re still feeling deeply insecure or are riddled with self-doubt about your worthiness, take your time. When you feel worthy, you will find someone worthy of you”. 

Feeling heartbroken? Learn how to get over a break up

How to start dating online for seniors

If you’re new to online dating, it can feel intimidating at first. The secret is taking things step by step so that you do things at your own pace. The first step, however, should be choosing a senior dating site that will help match you with like-minded people. This will narrow your search and ensure your dating experience is more successful.

Step 1: Create an online profile

Once you’ve decided on a dating service and signed up, you’ll be asked to write a dating profile. This should reflect who you are along with your passions, values and what you seek in a partner. 

Try to be authentic rather than creating a fantasy version of yourself. If you exaggerate your accomplishments, your date will only feel deceived once they get to know you. Likewise, don’t be tempted to use a photo of yourself from 10 years ago. 

Step 2: Spark meaningful chats with potential dates

Once you have signed up to a senior dating site and created a profile, you will be free to start looking at other people’s profiles and sending messages to anyone that catches your attention. But how can you initiate a conversation after an introduction? 

“When messaging people on dating sites, ask open-ended questions to spark meaningful chats,” says Angela. A good example would be, ‘I can see you enjoy travel. What place have you always wanted to visit but haven’t yet?’ or “tell me more about your love of tennis? Did you watch the US Open?” If things go really well and the chat seems to flow naturally, you may decide to organise a phone chat or ask them out on a date. An initial chat over the phone can help gauge how well you get on and how easily the conversation flows. If this goes well, meeting in person may feel less nerve wracking and a little less ‘blind’. 

Step 3: Prioritise your safety

“While most people are well intentioned online, it’s important to protect your safety,” advises Ms Vossen. “Keep personal details private (like where you live or your social media profiles) until you’ve met in person and built trust”. You should also arrange first dates in public places, share your plans with a friend, and trust your instincts if something feels off. 

If the first date or two doesn’t quite hit the mark, try not to be too disappointed and remember that you can say no to another date. Ms Vossen says: “Be patient – online dating takes time, but with practice, you’ll gain confidence and enjoy the journey”.

Traditional ways to meet senior singles

Of course, couples continue to meet in a manner that predates online dating sites. If you’re keen to join the dating scene but find the online world overwhelming, there are plenty of ways to meet people in real life. 

1. Holidays and group trips

We are often our best selves on holiday, so it’s the ideal place to find a single senior woman or to meet men if the opportunity presents itself. Why not organise a trip on which you meet new people while doing what you love, whether that’s cycling, walking, sightseeing or just travelling around a new part of the world. There are many escorted tours that cater to specific age groups and interests. They also take away the stress of organising a trip yourself.

“An organised holiday or trip can be a great place to meet someone new and there are many organisations offering these for the over 50s,” says Dr Spur.  “A word of caution though, you can spend a lot of money and there’s no guarantee that you will meet that special person. However, if it’s a place you’ve wanted to travel to then go with the mindset that you’re going to have a great trip. If you meet someone, that’s an added bonus”. 

2. Activities and social groups 

​The Beachdale Guesthouse at 2 Brooklands, Filey, is set to become a four-bed residential house following the approval of plans.

​The three-storey terrace, which is in the town’s conservation area, was a guesthouse with a private living area for the owners and five ensuite bedrooms for visitors.

​North Yorkshire Council’s tourism officer said the guesthouse had not been a member of Visit North Yorkshire “for a number of years” and as such, the organisation did not have any data on the level of bookings on which to base a decision.

​The officer added that they did not currently have enough occupancy data “elsewhere within Filey to either support or object to the application on the basis of change of use”.

​However, the officer considered that there is a “sufficient level of serviced accommodation within Filey to not warrant an objection”.

​Brooklands, where the property is located, was constructed between 1890 and 1914, according to a planning report.

​“The appearance of the terrace is reflective of that period, and the terraces were originally constructed as dwellings, although there is evidence that some of the units are now used as flats,” it notes.

​No objections were made by the Highway Authority, which said that “there is not expected to be an increase in vehicle movements as a result of the development”.

​Planning officers concluded that there are “a number of existing guesthouses in the area and the loss of the guesthouse subject to this application would not have a material impact on the demand for this type of application”.

​The council added that it did not have “any data to counteract this argument”.

​The application was approved by NYC, subject to conditions.

Ruud Gullit has backed former Arsenal captain Robin van Persie to manage Manchester United ‘at some point’.

Van Persie established himself as one of Arsenal’s greatest ever goalscorers after being signed by Arsene Wenger in 2004.

The Netherlands international scored 132 goals in 278 games for the Gunners, including Arsenal’s most in a Premier League season and calendar year.

After a breakdown in his relationship with Arsenal bosses, Van Persie completed a controversial move to Manchester United in 2012 and enjoyed three productive seasons at Old Trafford.

His 30-goal campaign in his first year at United helped Sir Alex Ferguson’s side win the Premier League title and saw him bag a second consecutive Golden Boot award.

As an integral member of the last Manchester United side to lift the Premier League trophy, Van Persie is still remembered fondly at Old Trafford.

His compatriot Gullit, a former Ballon d’Or winner, believes Van Persie has developed into a ‘great manager’ since hanging up his boots and ‘hopes’ he takes charge of the Red Devils ‘one day’.

Van Persie, 43, began his managerial career at Eredivisie side Heerenveen and has been at Dutch giants Feyenoord since the start of 2025.

‘It would be great if Robin van Persie became the manager of Manchester United in the future,’ Gullit told Gambling Insider. ‘I definitely hope that happens at some point!

‘Robin is a great manager, but he’s struggling a little bit at Feyenoord at the moment. I feel like the expectations for him are very high because of the career he had, so he’s under the spotlight a lot more than other managers in the Eredivisie.

‘He’s under fire over here in Holland at the moment, but I hope he’s given time to rectify it and prove how good he is.

‘Look what happened with Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United – they kept him, and look how good he ended up being!

‘Down the line however, I think it would be great for Robin to manage at Old Trafford one day.’

Manchester United will appoint Ruben Amorim’s permanent replacement in the summer after sacking the Portuguese boss last month.

Michael Carrick was placed in temporary charge of United and has overseen four successive wins to take the club back into the Champions League places.

Manchester United beat ten-man Tottenham 2-0 on Saturday and return to Premier League action on Tuesday night against relegation-battlers West Ham.

United could only draw 1-1 with West Ham when the two teams last met in one of Amorim’s last games before his sacking.

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MORE: Ruud Gullit hails Arsenal star as ‘one of the finest players in the Premier League’

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Today, the Press approached the four Labour MPs in our region- York Central’s Rachael Maskell, York Outer’s Luke Charters and Selby MP Keir Mather.

As previously reported, the four MPs were all asked by the Press whether or not they supported Sir Keir staying on as Labour leader and PM and if he did go, who should replace him.

They were also asked whether the resignation of his Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney changed anything and when might the PM resign.

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First to respond was Luke Charters who condemned both Jeffrey Epstein and Lord Mandelson, saying getting on with the jobs of being MP was his “relentless focus.”

However, his statement did not contain any mention of his support or otherwise of the  PM, even though that was directly asked for.

Next came Rachael Maskell, who simply responded: “With the PM about to address the Parliamentary Labour Party, I will listen carefully to what he has to say to understand how he proposes to take things forward.”

Just now a statement released by Alison Hume, who won Scarborough and Whitby from the Conservatives in July 2024 said: “I was elected eighteen months ago as part of a Labour government tasked with delivering the change this country wanted to see after years of decline.

“We are starting to see the positive impacts that only a Labour government can make; free school meals and breakfast clubs, renters’ rights, the Employment Rights Act.

“This is not the time for a leadership election.  The Prime Minister has my full support. We have a five year mandate from the British people and we must not waste a second on in-fighting. The last thing we need is the kind of instability we said we would get rid of.

She added: “My main priority, as always, is working hard for the people of Scarborough, Whitby and villages.”

As the Press previously reported, Downing Street has been rocked by the resignations of Sir Keir’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and his Director of Communications Tim Allan.

This afternoon Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar called for Sir Keir Starmer to stand down, however he has been backed by Labour Deputy Lucy Powell.

The Prime Minister is set to address Labour MPs about the Mandelson affair and his leadership later today.

Keir Mather has yet to respond.

American skier Lindsey Vonn says she has “no regrets” after a crash in the women’s downhill competition at the Winter Olympics resulted in a “complex tibia fracture” which will require multiple surgeries.

The 41-year-old’s arm got stuck in a gate just 13 seconds into her run on Sunday at Olimpia delle Tofane in Cortina, throwing her off balance.

She was treated on the slope for a lengthy period before being airlifted off the piste to Ca Foncello hospital in Treviso, where she had surgery on a fractured left leg.

The 2010 Olympic downhill champion was already racing with ruptured ligaments in her left knee but was determined to compete in her fifth and final Games.

“Yesterday my Olympic dream did not finish the way I dreamt it would,” she said in a post on Instagram on Monday.

“It wasn’t a story book ending or a fairytale, it was just life. I dared to dream and had worked so hard to achieve it.

“While yesterday did not end the way I had hoped, and despite the intense physical pain it caused, I have no regrets.

“Standing in the starting gate yesterday was an incredible feeling that I will never forget. Knowing I stood there having a chance to win was a victory in and of itself.”

Vonn crashed in Switzerland in the final race before the Olympics nine days before competing in the downhill event in Italy.

In a media conference on Wednesday, she confirmed she had torn her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) but expressed determination to compete.

The two-time world champion says the torn ACL and her previous injuries, including a partial right knee replacement, “had nothing to do with my crash whatsoever”.

Vonn’s decision to race has led to widespread praise for her bravery but also criticism about the dangers and potential risk of permanent damage.

“It always was and always will be an incredibly dangerous sport. And similar to ski racing, we take risks in life,” she said.

“We dream. We love. We jump. And sometimes we fall. Sometimes our hearts are broken. Sometimes we don’t achieve the dreams we know we could have. But that is also the beauty of life; we can try.

“I hope if you take away anything from my journey it’s that you all have the courage to dare greatly. Life is too short not to take chances on yourself. Because the only failure in life is not trying.

“I tried. I dreamt. I jumped.”

Timothy Horrigan, 42, has been recalled for breaching his licence conditions following his release from prison on Tuesday (February 3).

Extensive enquiries to find Horrigan, police said, have been ongoing in connection with a non-molestation order.

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An appeal has since been launched by North Yorkshire Police – who said they believed Horrigan to be in the Harrogate, Ripon and Northallerton areas.

Horrigan, who is described as white, 6ft tall, with dark-coloured greying hair and of a medium build, also has links to Hull and Bradford.

A force spokesperson said: “For immediate sightings of Horrigan, please call North Yorkshire Police on 999.

“Information can also be provided by calling us on 101. 

“Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website.

“Please quote reference number 12260021139 when providing details.”

Ukranian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych claims the International Olympic Committee has banned his helmet featuring images of people killed in the war in his home country, in a decision that “breaks my heart”.

The 26-year-old wore the helmet during a Winter Olympics training session in Cortina, and had promised before the Games to use the event as a platform to keep attention on the conflict.

The IOC is yet to confirm publicly if it has banned the helmet.

“The IOC has banned the use of my helmet at official training sessions and competitions,” said Heraskevych, who was a Ukraine flagbearer in Friday’s opening ceremony, on Instagram, external.

“A decision that simply breaks my heart. The feeling that the IOC is betraying those athletes who were part of the Olympic movement, not allowing them to be honoured on the sports arena where these athletes will never be able to step again.

“Despite precedents in modern times and in the past when the IOC allowed such tributes, this time they decided to set special rules just for Ukraine.”

Heraskevych told Reuters that many of those pictured on his helmet were athletes including teenage weightlifter Alina Peregudova, boxer Pavlo Ishchenko and ice hockey player Oleksiy Loginov, and stated some of them were his friends.

Heraskevych said Toshio Tsurunaga, the IOC representative in charge of communications between athletes, national Olympic committees and the IOC, had been to the athletes’ village to tell him.

“He said it’s because of rule 50,” Heraskevych told Reuters.

Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter states that “no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas”.

He said earlier on Monday that the IOC had contacted Ukraine’s Olympic Committee over the helmet.

The IOC said it had not received any official request to use the helmet in competition, which starts on 12 February.

Meanwhile, Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Heraskevych “for reminding the world of the price of our struggle” in a post on X, external.

The post continued: “This truth cannot be inconvenient, inappropriate, or called a ‘political demonstration at a sporting event’. It is a reminder to the entire world of what modern Russia is.”

Heraskevych, Ukraine’s first skeleton athlete, held up a ‘No War in Ukraine’ sign at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, days before Russia’s 2022 invasion of the country.

Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter states: “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”

Heraskevych had said he intended to respect Olympic rules which prohibit political demonstrations at venues while still raising awareness about the war in Ukraine at the Games.

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 athletes from Russia and Belarus were largely banned from international sport, but there has since been a gradual return to competition.

The IOC cleared 13 athletes from Russia, external to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs) in Milan-Cortina.

BBC Sport has approached the IOC for comment.