Chile storm survivor reveals shock and guilt after friend’s death

A survivor of a snowstorm in Chile has spoken of his feelings of guilt and shock over the death of his friend who died that day alongside four other people.

Victoria Bond, 40, from Cornwall, went into hypothermic cardiac arrest after being rescued on a homemade stretcher, Christian Aldridge said.

She was among five people found dead last Tuesday after winds of over 120mph hit the Patagonia region in Torres del Paine National Park in southern Chile.

Mr Aldridge, 41, from Newquay in Cornwall, was with Ms Bond and three other British friends hoping to complete the O Circuit hiking trail. The five were part of a larger group of around 30 hikers who faced the storm that was equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane.

He told Sky News how he became separated from Ms Bond, but later managed to find some of the rest of the group.

At base camp, they realised some members were missing and organised a search party. The volunteer rescuers found three bodies.

“We’re relieved to be alive, of course, but devastated because we’ve lost one of our best friends and one of the most amazing people I’ve met,” he said.

“And we’re all carrying around with us a huge amount of grief, shock and guilt. We keep replaying everything that happened that day and asking, what could we have done differently? And it’s overwhelming and it still doesn’t feel real.”

Mr Aldridge added: “They recovered one of [the hikers] and she was still alive at the time and brought her down on a homemade stretcher that the rest of us in the camp made from sleeping mats, polystyrene and walking poles.

“There were fortunately medics in these volunteer groups, but unfortunately she went into hypothermic cardiac arrest. She was shot twice and they worked on her for an hour, but she didn’t make it through.”

Along with Ms Bond, two German and two Mexican citizens died, according to Chilean authorities.

Adam Walker, a friend of Ms Bond’s, described her death as utterly heartbreaking.

Mr Walker said: “Victoria was one of those rare people who made everything brighter just by being there.

“Kind, passionate and full of warmth, she was a little bundle of infectious energy and you couldn’t help but be lifted by her presence.”

‘Next generation’ treatment to cure leukaemia given NHS approval

A radical “living medicine” treatment which has the potential to cure leukaemia has been given NHS approval.

Obe-cel, hailed as a “next generation” immunotherapy treatment, works by genetically modifying cells to enable the body’s own immune system to recognise and attack cancer.

A clinical trial of 94 people found that 77 per cent given the treatment went into remission, with more than half of those then showing no signs of detectable cancer after three and a half years.

Obe-cel, also known as Aucatzyl, which only needs to be administered to patients once and has fewer side effects than other treatments, is now recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), for those aged 26 or over.

Nice said the treatment could help more than 150 people over the next three years who have relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), and currently have limited treatment options.

The treatment is based on CAR T-cell treatment therapy, in which a specially engineered immune cell is designed to hunt down and destroy cancer cells. In the lab, scientists take T-cells from a patient’s blood and add a new gene which equips the T-cells with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), which helps them recognise and attack cancer cells they normally wouldn’t detect.

Those receiving the new treatment will be administered two doses of Obe-cel intravenously, 10 days apart, at selected specialist CAR T-cell centres across England.

Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, said: “This cutting-edge therapy has shown real promise in trials and could give patients with this aggressive form of leukaemia a chance to live free from cancer for longer – and, for some, it could offer the hope of a cure.

“This ‘living medicine’ boosts a patient’s own immune system and then guides T-cells towards the cancer to kill it.”

He added: “It is fantastic to have another pioneering option available on the NHS, adding to our range of CAR T-cell therapies which are helping people with blood cancers live longer, healthier lives.”

Harry Brown, a 19-year-old student from Harrogate, who was treated with Obe-cel as part of a clinical trial in 2024, has spoken of the impact the new drug has had on his life.

He said: “I feel so lucky to have had access to such a wondrous treatment.

“Not only did it work better than my doctors thought it would, it worked without many of the horrible side-effects you can get from other treatments.

“The biggest thing it offers is hope. When you’re facing a situation like mine, hope is the most valuable thing you can have.”

The new treatment was developed by Autolus, a University College London spinout company. Dr Claire Roddie, UCL Hospital consultant haematologist and associate professor at the UCL Cancer Institute, said: “I am delighted to hear of Nice’s decision.

“Many more patients now stand to benefit from this CAR T-cell therapy on the NHS and we are still working to widen its application. The many people involved in this work can feel immensely proud of this achievement, which will help save the lives of many more patients.”

Health minister, Ashley Dalton, said: “This pioneering treatment is excellent news for patients and their families, demonstrating how the NHS is at the forefront of medical innovation.”

Fiona Hazell, chief executive at Leukaemia UK, said: “We are delighted that this therapy will be available on the NHS and this is a significant step forward in expanding treatment options for people living with leukaemia.”

Greta Thunberg banned from Venice after activists dye canal green

Climate activist Greta Thunberg was banned from Venice for 48 hours and fined £132 after she and fellow Extinction Rebellion activists dyed the Grand Canal green in a protest over the weekend.

Thirty-five other activists received the same punishment. The activists said they used an environmentally harmless dye to draw attention to the “massive effects of climate collapse.”

The protest took place to coincide with the conclusion of the Cop30 United Nations climate conference in Brazil.

The group also displayed a banner reading “Stop Ecocide” from the Rialto Bridge and staged a flash-mob in which protesters, dressed in red with veils over their faces, walked slowly through crowds of tourists.

Luca Zaia, governor of the Veneto region, criticised the action as “a disrespectful act towards our city, its history and its fragility.”

He added: “It’s a gesture that risks having consequences for the environment.”

Some tourists, however, described the protest as legitimate and said it highlighted the failure of world leaders to tackle climate change effectively.

Extinction Rebellion said similar demonstrations had taken place in ten Italian cities, including dyeing fountains in Genoa and Padova and rivers in Turin, Bologna and Taranto.

The group criticised the Italian government, led by prime minister Giorgia Meloni, for opposing ambitious climate measures at Cop30.

United Nations climate talks appeared to be nearing a conclusion after spilling into overtime, with a result likely to disappoint countries and advocates for stronger action to wean the world from the coal, oil and gas that is heating the planet.

Several observers told the Associated Press that the general framework of a deal is formed, but some sticking points still remain.

“The deal informally is there from what we know,” said former Philippines negotiator Jasper Inventor, now at Greenpeace International. “It’s a weak outcome.”

Cop30 President André Corrêa do Lago told Amazonia Vox Saturday morning that there is a deal that will take a while to explain because so much is in it.

But a proposal for a road map to transition away from fossil fuels — which more than 80 countries called for, as did Brazil’s president — will not be in there.

Instead, a fossil fuel transition plan will be in a separate proposal issued later by do Lago’s team that won’t carry the same weight as a deal accepted by nations at United Nations conference.

BBC ‘too slow’ responding to Panorama Trump edit as senior staff dismiss reports of a coup

BBC officials were “too slow” to act over a Panorama edit that appeared to show US president Donald Trump inciting violence, its chairman has said.

Appearing in front of the Commons culture, media and sport committee on Monday, Samir Shah said in hindsight the corporation should have apologised earlier for the edit, which spliced clips of Mr Trump’s speech together to look as if he had told supporters he was going to walk to the US Capitol with them to “fight like hell”.

Fallout over the edit saw former BBC director general Tim Davie resign alongside head of news Deborah Turness. But Mr Shah told the panel he had “spent a great deal of time” trying to stop Mr Davie from resigning, adding he had the board’s “full confidence throughout”.

Reports following the pair’s resignations suggested board member Sir Robbie Gibb had led a “broad-level orchestrated coup” at the broadcaster. But speaking to MPs on Monday, Sir Gibb blasted the claims as “complete nonsense” and denied leading a charge against Mr Davie.

The committee also heard from Michael Prescott, the author of a leaked memo on impartiality at the corporation, who said Mr Davie had a “blind spot” when it came to editorial failings at the broadcaster. He added Mr Davie was a “supreme talent” but failed to get on top of “incipient problems” at the corporation before he resigned in the wake of the memo becoming public.

But Mr Prescott insisted the broadcaster is not institutionally biased.

Mr Prescott told MPs that Mr Davie “seemed to me to be doing a first rate job across 80 or 90 per cent of the portfolio”, but added: “It was just that he had this blind spot on editorial failings. I think it’s a bit of a tragedy he’s gone.

“I thought he was a supreme talent, but he had this blind spot.”

He added he believed the reputation of US president Donald Trump has “probably not” been tarnished by the Panorama edit.

Asked if the documentary had harmed Mr Trump’s image, Mr Prescott said: “I should probably restrain myself a little bit, given that there is a potential legal action.

“All I could say is, I can’t think of anything I agree with Donald Trump on.”

Pressed on the subject again, and asked if he agrees that Mr Trump’s reputation has been tarnished, he said: “Probably not.”

Asked whether he thinks it was right for Mr Davie to have resigned, Mr Prescott told MPs: “I would have hoped they’d get on top of these problems, start sorting them out in a systemic and more methodical way, and everything would have been fine.”

But he insisted he wrote the memo because he is a “strong supporter of the BBC”, saying there was “no party politics” behind his decision.

“The BBC employs talented professionals across all of its factual and non-factual programmes, and most people in this country, certainly myself included, might go as far as to say that they love the BBC,” he said.

“What troubled me was that during my three years on the BBC standards committee, we kept seeing incipient problems which I thought were not being tackled properly. And, indeed, I thought the problems were getting worse.”

He added: “There was no ideology at play here, no party politics. I just want [the BBC] to be impartial, accurate and fair.”

Asked if he thinks the broadcaster is institutionally biased, Mr Prescott said: “No I don’t… I do not think it’s institutionally biased.

“Let’s be very clear. Tons of stuff that that the BBC does is world class, both factual programming and non-factual programming.”

Appearing later in front of the select committee, chair Samir Shah said he does “not think the director general should have resigned”.

He argued that Ms Turness’s decision to resign was an “honourable and proper act”, saying that he “applauds her for doing so”.

But Mr Shah added: “I do not think that that meant that the director general had also to resign … the board wishes that the director general had not resigned. He had our full confidence throughout.”

The BBC chair also denied that concerns raised by Mr Prescott were ignored, saying the broadcaster took “detailed actions” in response to his memo.

“I don’t think this committee should think I ignored Mr Prescott. I did not. I think he raised some important questions we need to answer”, Mr Shah said.

He added: “In fact, the executive took many actions, detailed actions. So it wasn’t just a case of a report coming out and a defensive reaction. That just is not an accurate account of what happened.”

Mr Shah said he believes the BBC can be slow to respond to allegations against it: “I think there is an issue about how quickly we respond, the speed of our response, why we do not do it quickly enough.”

He added he believes people who “want to have a go at the BBC” can “use” mistakes it makes to criticise the corporation.

It came after Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said Mr Prescott’s report on the Panorama video exposed “institutional bias that cannot be swept away with two resignations”, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claimed “the BBC has been institutionally biased for decades”.

Mr Prescott’s memo highlighted concerns about the way clips of Mr Trump’s speech on 6 January 2021 were spliced together to make it appear he had told supporters he was going to walk to the US Capitol with them to “fight like hell”.

After the report was made public, the US president threatened the BBC with a billion-dollar litigation, while US regulator the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched an investigation.

While Sir Keir Starmer is under growing pressure to intervene on the row, it emerged on Monday that he ducked raising the legal challenge when he spoke to the US president on over the weekend.

The 30-minute call between Mr Trump and the prime minister focused on Ukraine, according to the readout, with sources admitting he did not discuss the BBC.

How Everton showed the right ‘fight’ after Gueye’s moment of madness

A slap in the face from Idrissa Gueye became a kick in the teeth for Ruben Amorim. The stinging blow was not the one that brought perhaps the season’s strangest sending off. Not as Manchester United’s unbeaten run came to an abrupt, abject end. If ignominy seemed to belong to Everton when Gueye was shown the red card, theirs was a defiant glory. The team who fought each other beat the team with no fight.

On a night of unexpected incidents, a footballer was sent off for violent conduct against a team-mate and David Moyes won at Old Trafford. Some may wonder which was the odder.

For Moyes, this was an 18th Premier League game as a visiting manager, dating back to 2002, and a belated first triumph. Even when Everton prevailed here in 2013, Moyes was the losing United manager. If good things come to those who wait, few have waited longer than the Scot to punch the Old Trafford air in celebration at the final whistle. A magnificent, memorable triumph came courtesy of a spectacular goal by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. “An amazing result,” said Moyes. The context made it all the more remarkable.

Because when a furious Gueye was expelled, logic suggested that the day would never come, that Moyes, seemingly ill-fated when in charge of United, was doomed to be on his return. But as he could smile: “I’ve tried coming here with 11 men and not get over the line.” He was down to 10 when the inquest after Bruno Fernandes whipped a shot wide took on a peculiar turn. Gueye was sent off for cuffing his own teammate Michael Keane around the ear. If there were shades of Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer for Newcastle in 2005, there was also bemusement.

“I think if you asked anyone in the crowd they would be surprised it would be a red card,” Moyes said, and Amorim argued it should not have been. But referee Tony Harrington took the view that making contact with the face met the definition required for a dismissal. As lipreaders could realise, Keane showed no sympathy when the red card was flashed, giving Gueye a two-word message to dispatch him to the dressing room.

The Senegalese had to be restrained by Iliman Ndiaye and Jordan Pickford before he left the pitch but he was, Dewsbury-Hall reported, contrite at the interval. “It was just a moment of madness,” the scorer said. “It was obviously avoidable. All I can say is Idrissa apologised to us all at half-time.” He thanked his colleagues at the final whistle, according to Moyes.

And yet, if anyone was affected by Gueye’s exit, it was United. They had never previously lost a Premier League game at Old Trafford against 10 men. They were, though, strangely subdued, as though baffled what to do with their numerical advantage. Meanwhile, a calmness descended upon Everton. Keane, who could have been forgiven for being distracted by his part in the dismissal – and he had shoved Gueye in return – was outstanding. He had willing allies in James Tarkowski, his centre-back sidekick, Pickford, who was terrific when required, and Jack Grealish, tracking back to defend at the far post.

Meanwhile, the man who slotted in for Gueye doubled up as the match-winner. Repurposed as a central midfielder, Dewsbury-Hall nevertheless got forward to great effect, weaving his way between Fernandes and Leny Yoro to curl in a wonderful shot. “I didn’t even know I had that in my locker,” he said. His second Everton goal is destined for a place in their folklore.

As a team, they showed great maturity to adapt and adjust to the loss of their two senior citizens. Seamus Coleman’s 433rd Everton appearance drew him level with Dixie Dean but it lasted less than 10 minutes before the veteran went off. Coleman departed in disappointment, Gueye in something closer to disgrace soon after.

Meanwhile, United were minus Matheus Cunha. He was unable to turn on the Altrincham Christmas lights, United incapable of illuminating Old Trafford. “Twenty minutes into the game, a red card for opponent; we need to win that, no matter what,” said Amorim. As he admitted, they deserved to lose. They did too little.

In the first half, Pickford had one save of note, from Fernandes. Then Amorim brought on Mason Mount, moving Amad to wing-back, giving United presence on the flanks. They penned Everton in. Pickford became busier.

He parried an effort by Bryan Mbeumo, Mount then curling wide from the rebound. Fernandes stabbed over the bar. The goalkeeper’s best saves came from Joshua Zirkzee’s headers. The forward, starting for the first time in 225 days, is yet to score a league goal in 2025.

But while United chalked up 25 shots, too few were clearcut chances. They never really looked like scoring. A year to the day since Amorim’s first game in charge, it suggested reports of their progress were exaggerated. As United missed the chance to go fifth, Everton leapfrogged Liverpool in the table. It was another detail for them to enjoy.

The Evertonians were buoyant, Old Trafford echoing to the Spirit Of The Blues. Gueye apart, they had the right kind of fight. “I like my players fighting each other, if someone didn’t do the right action,” insisted Moyes. “I hope my players when they lose the ball, they fight each other,” added Amorim. It was a distinctly unusual end to a distinctly unusual night.

Cruise through Cajun Country on this unforgettable Louisiana road trip

A circular route from New Orleans takes you north along the Mississippi through Louisiana’s River Parishes to Baton Rouge. Loop through Lafayette and Houma on Highway 90, before returning to New Orleans. Whilst the 300-mile road trip can be done in a week, a fortnight or more best suits the southern laidback spirit to truly discover treasures along the way.

Best planned for early spring, when Louisiana jumps to its feet with music festivals and parties, or in the calmer autumn months when food festivals, gumbo cook-offs, and fall colours light up the oak-lined avenues. Here’s what not to miss en route…

New Orleans gives main character energy, even though the state capital, Baton Rouge, sits just 80 miles west along the river. Start the journey here with a day (or night) lost in the French Quarter, where lacy iron balconies and pastel facades are the backdrop to Jackson Square street performers and jazz music on every corner. Grab a coffee and oh-so-light powdered sugar beignet at Café du Monde, to fuel exploration of the city’s great cultural institutions, such as The National WWII Museum or the evocative Historic Voodoo Museum. Ride the St. Charles Streetcar past moss-draped oaks and stately mansions in the Garden District, or explore the city by foot to find your own adventure.

For a quirky day trip, drive across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway – the world’s longest continuous bridge over water, according to the Guinness World Records – to find Abita Mystery House in Abita Springs; a curious folk-art installation of animated miniature towns and oddities from the mind of local inventor, John Preble.

Follow the Mississippi River north towards Baton Rouge, with a few stops en route. Explore Houmas House Estate and Gardens: once one of the largest sugar plantations in the country, visitors can now dine at one of the many restaurants and take guided tours showcasing the extensively-restored manor house and expansive gardens. Whitney Plantation, about 30 miles downriver gives a heartbreaking and evocative account of enslavement, and visiting these two plantations gives a sense of how both sides lived.

Baton Rouge emerges like a stately figurehead, rocking on the porch at the top of the Great River Road. A hub for art, music and politics, Baton Rouge is also a food mecca with fine dining, soul food, and the Red Stick Farmers Market – filled with homemade goods on the weekend. The gothic inspired Old State Capitol museum wouldn’t look out of place in a medieval fairytale, whilst climbing the current State Capitol building’s tower unravels views of the Mississippi river snaking through the landscape below.

Drive 55 miles westward, and find yourself in Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge – halfway along Interstate 10. The conservation area protects over 15,000 acres of hardwood forest and swamp habitat; spot alligators paddling through the bayous riverways, bird watch for woodpeckers, wrens and warblers, or just take in the impressive scenery.

Follow the sound of zydeco music down the Interstate to the dance halls of Lafayette. The heart of Cajun and Creole country, Lafayette is the ultimate place to tap your feet to this blend of French accordion and Afro-Caribbean beats. Louisiana’s French history is very much alive, as French conversations linger in the porchlight or come to life in Vermilionville folk museum, the re-creation of a 19th-century Acadiana village. Lafayette is also a food lover’s paradise. Try spicy boudin sausage from a roadside meat market, feast on gumbo as dark as a bayou at dusk, or savor po’boys and crawfish étouffée stew at a local café.

U.S. Highway 90 takes you southeast to the coastal wetlands of Houma. If you like it spicy, make a stop off in New Iberia and follow the pepper-scented air to Avery Island, home to the world’s only Tabasco factory and the botanical Jungle Garden of conservationist and hot sauce founder, Edward Avery McIlhenny.

As you travel further south, sing along with the southern leopard frogs on a guided swamp tour, spot another alligator, or drop into Houma’s Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum to hear the story of shrimpers, oystermen, and how this slice of coastline has been shaped by cultural, industrial and ecological events.

With a suitcase full of memories and joie de vivre, head back to New Orleans. Every mile offers a detour worth taking; from the turbulent history and uplifting music, to watery labyrinths and astounding swamp wildlife. A Louisiana road trip invites you to slow down and enjoy a journey into the true Deep South.

For more travel inspiration and information visit Explore Louisiana

Man charged with murder of two women and rape of third

A man has been charged with the murders of two women and the rape of a third in a string of incidents across London.

Simon Levy, 40, has been charged with killing 53-year-old Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo, who died in the Aylesbury Estate, south-east London, on 17 March. The Metropolitan Police said he has also been charged with the murder of Sheryl Wilkins, 39, who died on Sunday, 24 August on High Road, Tottenham.

He was brought into police custody for questioning on 4 September and was further arrested there in connection with the rape of a woman in High Road, Tottenham on 21 January. The force said Levy, of Beaufoy Road, Tottenham, has also been charged with two counts of rape, grievous bodily harm, and intentional suffocation in relation to that incident.

It added all three cases are now being treated as part of a “single, joined investigation” which is set to be heard at the Old Bailey next year.

Officers are now appealing for information as part of what they called a “complex” investigation, and have asked anyone who has relevant information or who may have not yet reported incidents to come forward.

Commander Clair Kelland, who leads the Met’s Public Protection Team, said: “As the lead for public protection at the Met, one of our main priorities is to better protect women and girls.

“The investigation into Simon Levy is one of great complexity. We are working closely with partners across relevant boroughs, including Haringey and Southwark, to encourage reporting and raise awareness of the support we can provide to victim-survivors.

“Whether you are a victim-survivor, or someone with information, we urge you to come forward and speak to us.”

Jaswant Narwal of the Crown Prosecution Service added: “Following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service, the Crown Prosecution Service has made the decision to prosecute Simon Levy for the murder of Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo, a 54-year-old-woman from Colombia.

“Simon Levy will appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 25 November 2025. We remind all concerned that proceedings against the defendant are active and he has a right to a fair trial.”

People can contact the Metropolitan Police’s incident room directly on 07751 700 330 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Tory row erupts over jibe comparing Reform logo to Nazi badge

Kemi Badenoch has defended the Tory chair, Kevin Hollinrake, after a row erupted within her own party over his jibe comparing the logo of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK to a Nazi badge.

The clash was sparked after Mr Hollinrake posted a link to a Wikipedia entry about a badge handed out to members of Adolf Hitler’s party in response to a social media post from Nigel Farage showing a Reform emblem.

Suella Braverman, the former Tory home secretary, hit out, saying, “Comparing Reform and their supporters to Nazis is wrong, irresponsible and highly counter-productive… Kevin does not speak for me.”

Ms Badenoch risked throwing fuel on the fire by highlighting the case last week of Nathan Gill, Reform’s former leader in Wales, who was sentenced to 10 years in jail for accepting pro-Russia bribes.

After Mr Farage tweeted his party’s new logo, with the caption “coming soon”, Mr Hollinrake appeared to liken it to the Golden Party Badge, which the Nazi Party gave to members as an award for long service.

Ms Braverman, whose husband recently quit Reform after an internal party row, said: “I expect this from Labour, not the Conservatives. Let’s raise the level of debate: criticise the policies, even challenge the people or their actions. But comparing Reform and their supporters to Nazis is wrong, irresponsible and highly counter-productive. Kevin does not speak for me.”

Speaking to journalists at the Confederation of British Industry conference in London, Ms Badenoch defended her chair’s actions, saying: “Kevin Hollinrake made a joke. Reform spend a lot of time online abusing other politicians. I think they have much bigger problems.” She also mentioned the case of Gill, adding that it was “a much, much, much bigger issue than any tweet”.

A key ally of Mr Farage finally broke Reform UK’s silence over Gill on Sunday. Zia Yusuf, the former party chair and a key member of Reform’s leadership, said it was “unreasonable” to link Gill’s crime with the softer stance that his party and Mr Farage have taken on Vladimir Putin’s Russia and their criticism of the Ukraine war.

Mr Yusuf described Gill as “treasonous, horrific, awful” in an interview with Sir Trevor Phillips on his Sunday morning political show on Sky News.

At the Old Bailey on Friday, Gill was sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison after previously pleading guilty to eight counts of bribery on dates between December 2018 and July 2019.

Ms Justice Cheema-Grubb handed down the sentence, saying the harm he had caused was “profound” and that he had “fundamentally compromised” the integrity of a legislative body for “substantial” financial gain.