The death toll resulting from a volcanic eruption in Indonesia has risen to 22, as rescuers discovered an additional nine bodies. The search for the 10 missing hikers on Mount Marapi, initially halted due to safety concerns, resumed on Tuesday. By afternoon, officials reported the recovery of nine bodies, with one still missing, while twelve injured hikers received treatment in hospitals.
The Air Force has confirmed that a search team investigating the tragic crash of a U.S. military aircraft off the coast of Japan last week has discovered wreckage and located the remains of five missing crew members. The incident involved an Osprey CV-22B "tiltrotor" aircraft carrying eight crew members, which crashed near the island of Yakushima on November 29.
In a communication to its workforce, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek announced a significant workforce reduction of 17%, a move aimed at mitigating costs and adapting to a deceleration in growth. Ek highlighted that the company had oversaturated its employee count in 2020 and 2021, during a period of accessible capital and substantial tech company investments.
Kyle Sinckler, the England and Bristol prop, has raised a pertinent issue within the realm of international rugby, indicating that Owen Farrell's decision to prioritize mental wellbeing and step back from the 2024 Six Nations may be a precursor to more players taking similar breaks. Sinckler, an experienced player with 68 caps, is advocating for a more comprehensive support system from rugby authorities to help athletes navigate the substantial pressures associated with playing for England.
Paul Heckingbottom is on the verge of being dismissed as the manager of Sheffield United within the next 24 hours. Following a 5-0 defeat at Burnley on Saturday, the team finds itself at the bottom of the Premier League with just five points from 14 games, having lost 11 matches. Heckingbottom, who became the permanent manager in November 2021 after guiding United to the top flight with a second-place Championship finish, criticized the club's decision to sell key players in the summer. Chris Wilder, a former manager, is among the top contenders for the managerial position.
Billie Eilish has called for an end to discussions about her sexuality after she accused a magazine of inadvertently revealing it. The singer, known for "Bad Guy," hinted at her attraction to women in a recent cover interview with Variety. During the magazine's Hitmakers awards, she was questioned on camera about whether she had intended to come out.
Actress Florence Pugh encountered an unsettling incident on Sunday when a thrown object struck her in the face during a Comic Con event in Brazil. Video footage captured the moment while she was on stage promoting her upcoming film Dune: Part Two with co-stars Zendaya, Austin Butler, and Timothée Chalamet. The footage reveals an object thrown from the audience hitting the 27-year-old Oscar-nominated actress in her right eye.
The plight of a young Chinese couple, whose struggles to secure home ownership reflect the economic downturn in the country, has captured the attention of the nation. Zhang Yiliang and Dong Lijun, both in their 30s, have chronicled the past two years of their lives on their Douyin account, "Liangliang Lijun couple," amassing over 400,000 followers. The initial joy of purchasing a flat turned into turmoil, including disputes with the property developer and allegations of assault and video censorship. Their experiences resonated with many ordinary Chinese citizens, mirroring the challenges faced amid a property crisis and sluggish economy.
Eleven hikers were discovered lifeless in the vicinity of Indonesia's Mount Marapi volcano following a weekend eruption, according to rescuers. Twelve others remain unaccounted for, and the search was halted on Monday due to a subsequent smaller eruption. Despite the main eruption on Sunday affecting 75 hikers in the area, most were successfully evacuated. Mount Marapi emitted a 3km (9,800ft) ash cloud, casting a shadow over the sky and covering nearby villages in ash. As one of Indonesia's 127 active volcanoes, Mount Marapi is popular among hikers; however, the deadliest eruption occurred in 1979, claiming 60 lives.
Approximately half of the buildings in northern Gaza were damaged or destroyed during Israel's offensive in response to the October 7 Hamas attack. Yasmine Abu Rujileh, 23, and Khalil Al Najjar, 26, who got married just a month before the conflict began, found their home in ruins, symbolizing the impact on many families. A data analysis reveals that around 50% of buildings in Gaza City and the north suffered damage or destruction, while in the south, particularly Khan Younis, the damage ranged from 10% to 15%. The analysis, based on imagery from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite, highlights the extensive devastation.