MALDIVES
Divers' bodies recovered
The last two bodies of Italian divers killed in the deadliest-ever diving accident have been recovered, a government spokesperson said yesterday, completing recovery efforts. The divers were among a group of five who entered a deepwater cave for exploration last week, after being granted the necessary permit to research soft corals in the Devana Kandu site. Maldivian authorities are investigating multiple possible causes behind their deaths, including whether the group descended far deeper than expected. “A preliminary identification has confirmed the identities of the Italians and work will go on to confirm via DNA through Interpol and other partners,†spokesman Mohamed Hussain Shareef said.
Photo: Maldives President's Media Division via EPA
CHINA
Floods kill at least 25
Rescue workers yesterday used boats or swam through floodwaters to evacuate people in waterlogged areas across central and southwest China after torrential rain killed at least 25 people and shut businesses, schools and transportation links. Heavy rain is expected to continue across southern and central parts of the country, including the Jiangxi, Anhui, Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou, Guangdong and Hainan provinces and the Guangxi autonomous region, with high risks of landslides, flash floods and severe urban flooding and waterlogging, authorities said. “A new round of rainfall will arrive tomorrow, bringing significant precipitation to many areas in both the north and south,†the China Meteorological Administration said.
SPAIN
Billionaire's son released
The son of Isak Andic, the billionaire founder of the Spanish fashion brand Mango, on Tuesday posted bail of 1 million euros (US$1.2 million) following his arrest for alleged homicide in connection with a renewed investigation into the death of his father in 2024. Andic, 71, was hiking with his son, Jonathan Andic, in the mountains near Barcelona when he fell about 150m down a cliff and died in December 2024. Jonathan Andic, 45, who is the vice chairman of Mango, one of Spain's biggest retailers, was the only witness. Police opened an investigation, but closed it a few weeks later. It was reopened in March last year, and in October, police confirmed the death was being investigated as a possible homicide. Jonathan Andic was taken to a court in Martorell, where the case is being investigated.
AUSTRALIA
Frog found in lettuce
When Australian farmer Rhys Smoker announced he had found a live frog in a bag of lettuce, his roommates did not believe him. Smoker had been preparing a steak and salad dinner on Saturday for the three people who share his house in Esperance in Western Australia when he spotted the frog among the leaves inside the sealed plastic bag he had bought from a supermarket, housemate Laura Jones said on Tuesday. “He's like: ‘Oh Bro, there's a frog in the lettuce.' And we're like: ‘No, you're taking the mick, like that's not real,'†Jones said. Smoker brought the bag into the lounge room to show Jones and her partner Billy Le Pine. “Obviously there's a little frog hiding out and, yeah, we all had a little laugh about it,†Jones said. Le Pine said they named the frog Greg before releasing it at a pond near the house. “We thought we'd give him a wee send-off tune as we played Crazy Frog for him,†Le Pine told Australian Broadcasting Corp. Crazy Frog is a Swedish CGI-animated character and Eurodance musician.
