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British actor Julian Sands has gone missing while hiking in Californian mountains.

The 65-year-old star of several Oscar-nominated films disappeared last Friday evening in southern California.

He was reported missing by his wife when he did not return home from hiking on Mount Baldy in the San Gabriel mountains, which has been experiencing freezing temperatues and bad weather conditions in recent days.

Teams have been searching for him since the weekend but avalanche risks and trail conditions meant ground crews were pulled off the mountain on Saturday evening.

Officials have managed to find a car they believe belongs to Mr Sands.

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s department said in a statement: “We continue to search by helicopter and drones when the weather permits.”

The spokesperson added that additional ground searches would be scheduled when the weather improves and conditions were safer for rescue crews.

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Mr Sands, who grew up in Yorkshire, is known for his roles in Arachnophobia, Leaving Las Vegas and Warlock – as well as TV appearances on 24, Smallville and Banshee.

He has lived in Los Angeles since 2020, and most recently played the chief medical officer in the 2021 drama Benediction starring Jack Lowden and Peter Capaldi.

In 2011, he developed a show with John Malkovich for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and starred in the Oscar-nominated English-language version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo with Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara.

He appeared opposite Helena Bonham Carter in the 1985 James Ivory film A Room with a View.

Over the course of his four-decade career, he has appeared in more than 150 movies and television show.

From 1984 to 1987, he was married to journalist Sarah Sands, who has previously edited the Evening Standard and BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. They have one son together.

Mr Sands also shares two daughters with journalist Evgenia Citkowitz. They married in 1990.

He told the Guardian in 2018 that he was fixated with mountain climbing and being more adventurous as he grew older.

“The truth is, once you have been around long enough and have some experience, confidence and independence, there is a tremendous letting go of the things that are intrusive in your career: ambition, narcissism, jealousy, vanity, insecurity. You can spend a lot of time trying to stay a young actor. It doesn’t allow for emotional maturity. It’s infantilising,” he said.

Friends and fellow actors have been pouring their pleas over social media.

Samuel West, actor in Notting Hill and Van Helsing tweeted: “Please, please let Julian Sands be okay. A friend and an inspiration. Awful news.”

British film producer Cassian Elwes tweeted he was “devastated” that Julian was missing.

He continued: “A very close family friend who was an adventurer in everything he did. I’ve said many prayers.”

Mount Baldy is a 10,000ft peak located northeast of Los Angeles in the Angeles National Forest.

The sheriff’s department said two people died adevnturing in the area in recent weeks, with its search and rescue teams responding to 14 emergency calls.

They also urged hikers to “think twice and heed warnings” following a string of intense winter storms that have brought flooding and major snowfall to California.

Authorities are also understood to be searching for another missing hiker who disappeared in same area where Mr Sands was last seen.

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Kemi Badenoch calls on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq over property allegations

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Kemi Badenoch calls on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq over property allegations

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.

It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.

He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.

Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.

“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.

“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”

Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.

Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.

Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.

Kemi Badenoch
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Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister

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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.

She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.

On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.

“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”

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Search area widened for missing sisters in Aberdeen

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Search area widened for missing sisters in Aberdeen

Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.

Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.

The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.

Eliza and Henrietta Huszti who were last seen on CCTV in Market Street.
Pic: Police Scotland/PA
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Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA

They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.

Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.

SN screengrab aberdeen city showing Victoria Bridge (looking north towards market street) re: missing sisters Eliza and Henrietta Huszti
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The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee

SN screengrab aberdeen city showing boat club. A potential location of missing sisters Eliza and Henrietta Huszti
Ingest_23_NM23_RGR_15_SAF_MISSING_SISTERS_ABERDEEN_GVS_ABERDEEN
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The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee

Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.

Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.

datawrapper map of aberdeen city showing location of police searches for missing sisters Eliza and Henrietta Huszti

Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.

“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”

The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.

Henrietta  Huszti who along with her sister, Eliza, were last seen on CCTV in Market Street.
Pic: Police Scotland/PA
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Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland

Eliza Huszti.
Pic: Police Scotland/PA
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Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland

Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.

Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.

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Katie Piper reveals artificial eye decision – 16 years after acid attack

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Katie Piper reveals artificial eye decision - 16 years after acid attack

TV presenter Katie Piper has revealed her decision to get an artificial eye, 16 years after an acid attack that left her with life-changing injuries and partial blindness.

The Loose Women panellist, 41, is an advocate for those with burns and disfigurement injuries.

She shared a video of her being fitted with the prosthetic on Instagram.

Piper said: “After many years battling with my eye health, I’ve reached the end of the road somewhat, and the decision has been made to try a prosthetic eye shell.

“This marks the start of a journey to have an artificial eye, with an incredible medical team behind me.

“As always I’m incredibly grateful to all those in the NHS and private health care system for their talent and kindness.

“I will share my journey, I’m hopeful and nervous about being able to tolerate it and would love to hear from any of you in the comments if you’ve been on this journey or have any advice.”

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Commenting on the post, presenter Lisa Snowdon said Piper was a “warrior” and a “true inspiration”.

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Piper has undergone hundreds of operations after suffering an acid attack arranged by her ex-boyfriend in March 2008.

She gave up her right to anonymity and made a documentary in 2009 called Katie: My Beautiful Face.

Piper also founded the Katie Piper Foundation which supports survivors of life-changing burns and scars, and has received an honorary doctorate from the Royal College of Surgeons to mark her ground-breaking work.

She was made an OBE in 2021 for her services to charity and burn victims.

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