Connect with us

Published

on

Actor John Malkovich has described the disappearance of friend and co-star Julian Sands as a “very sad event”.

Sands, 65, was reported missing in the Mount Baldy area of the San Gabriel mountains in California more than five weeks ago.

The British actor failed to return from a hike and his hiking partner Kevin Ryan said at the time that it was obvious “something has gone wrong”.

Phone pings appeared to show he was on the move two days after he was reported missing.

There have been a number of searches, on foot and from the air, with state and federal agencies involved, but he has yet to be found.

Speaking at a press conference at the Berlin International Film Festival, Malkovich, who is set to star alongside Sands in the upcoming German-Moroccan historical drama Seneca, said he was “very close” to the actor.

“I’m a godfather to his son from his first wife, Sarah, who I know very well, and I introduced him to his second wife,” he said.

“We were close forever, ever since we met in 1983 on the set of The Killing Fields. It’s a very sad event.”

Julian Sands and John Malkovich in The Killing Fields
Image:
Julian Sands and John Malkovich in The Killing Fields

Sands was previously married to Sarah, a former editor of the London Evening Standard and BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, in 1987 and is now married to playwright Evgenia Citkowitz.

Authorities have vowed to “bring closure” to the actor’s family, after more than five weeks of searching.

The San Bernardino sheriff’s department said on Monday that further ground searches for Sands over the weekend had yielded no results.

The force added that an imminent storm in the region meant that search efforts would now be delayed “for some time”.

Actor Julian Sands and wife Evgenia Citkowitz in California in 2015
Image:
Actor Julian Sands and wife Evgenia Citkowitz in California in 2015

“On 18 February, over 20 members of the Fontana sheriff’s station and the West Valley search and rescue team conducted a ground search in the Mt Baldy area,” a spokesperson said.

“The crew members focused on the area where the California Highway Patrol’s Recco device hit on a possible electronic device on 25 January.

“Unfortunately, nothing was found that would lead to the discovery of Mr Sands.

Read more:
Search for Julian Sands hampered by bad weather
Actor’s family thank search team for ‘heroic efforts’

“With the imminent storm approaching, ground searches for Mr Sands will be delayed for some time.”

The spokesperson added: “Our goal is to bring closure to the family of Mr Sands and, when we can, we will try this again.”

The sheriff’s department previously said it remained “hopeful” of finding the actor, but admitted that the outcome of the searches may now “not be what we would like”.

The actor’s family have praised the “heroic” efforts of Californian authorities involved in the searches, and were “deeply touched” by the support they had received.

Sands was born in Yorkshire and moved to Los Angeles in 2020.

He has starred in films such as Warlock, Room With A View and Leaving Las Vegas, along with roles on TV programmes Smallville and 24.

Continue Reading

UK

King praises response to ‘lawless’ UK riots in Christmas message – as he gives ‘personal’ thanks to medics

Published

on

By

King praises response to 'lawless' UK riots in Christmas message - as he gives 'personal' thanks to medics

The King has praised the community response to the “anger and lawlessness” of this summer’s riots in towns and cities around the UK in his annual Christmas message.

Charles, 76, also used the message, filmed by Sky News at the chapel of the former Middlesex Hospital in central London, to thank doctors and nurses who cared for him and his daughter-in-law the Princess of Wales through their cancer treatment this year.

Drawing on the Nativity story’s theme of listening to others, the King said: “Through listening, we learn to respect our differences, to defeat prejudice, and to open up new possibilities.

“I felt a deep sense of pride here in the United Kingdom when, in response to anger and lawlessness in several towns this summer, communities came together, not to repeat these behaviours, but to repair.

“To repair not just buildings, but relationships. And, most importantly, to repair trust; by listening and, through understanding, deciding how to act for the good of all.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla followed by  the Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, the Prince of Wales and Prince George attending the Christmas Day.
Pic: PA
Image:
King Charles and Queen Camilla attend church at Sandringham on Christmas morning. Pic: PA

Read more:
Sky News behind the scenes of King’s message
King jokes he’s ‘still alive’

Almost 1,000 people were arrested during the summer riots, which came in response to misinformation around the deadly stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport in July.

The King visited the Merseyside town after the killings and the ensuing disorder, during which rioters attacked hotels housing migrants.

His final public engagement of the year was in Walthamstow, east London, where thousands gathered in a counter-protest to condemn the rioting this summer.

The King’s Christmas message spoke of the need to support one another, as “all of us go through some form of suffering at some stage in our life – be it mental or physical”.

“The degree to which we help one another – and draw support from each other, be we people of faith or of none – is a measure of our civilisation as nations,” he said.

He added that “those who dedicate their lives to helping others… continually impress me” and he is “thinking especially of the many thousands of professionals and volunteers here in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth who, with their skills and out of the goodness of their heart, care for others – often at some cost to themselves”.

Pic: PA
Image:
The Prince and Princess of Wales with their children Louis, Charlotte and George on Christmas Day. Pic: PA

Reflecting on his cancer treatment, which will continue into next year, he gave his “special, heartfelt thanks to the selfless doctors and nurses who, this year, have supported me and other members of my family through the uncertainties and anxieties of illness, and have helped provide the strength, care and comfort we have needed”.

He also thanked members of the public for their well-wishes after he and the Princess of Wales, 42, returned to public duties in April and September respectively – following courses of cancer treatment.

They and other members of the Royal Family attended church near the Sandringham estate in Norfolk on Christmas morning.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

How Sky News filmed the King’s message

Thoughts with people in ‘Middle East, central Europe and Africa’

The King began his message by recalling his visit to 80th anniversary D-Day commemorations with the Queen in June.

He described meeting “remarkable veterans” and noted that “during previous commemorations we were able to console ourselves with the thought that these tragic events seldom happen in the modern era”.

But he said: “On this Christmas Day, we cannot help but think of those for whom the devastating effects of conflict – in the Middle East, in central Europe, in Africa and elsewhere – pose a daily threat to so many people’s lives and livelihoods.”

He thanked humanitarian organisations working in conflict zones and referenced the gospels’ references to conflict and the “values with which we can overcome” them.

Signing off, he wished “you and all those you love a most joyful and peaceful Christmas”.

Continue Reading

UK

Man arrested for ‘attempted murder’ after car drives into group on London pavement

Published

on

By

Man arrested for 'attempted murder' after car drives into group on London pavement

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a car was driven on to the pavement in central London in the early hours of Christmas Day.

Four people were taken to hospital after the incident on Shaftesbury Avenue, with one said to be in a life-threatening condition.

Metropolitan Police officers were called to reports of a crash and a car driving on the wrong side of the road at 12.45am.

In a statement, police said the incident was isolated and not terror related.

A cordon is in place outside the Sondheim Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, which is the London home of the musical Les Miserables. Shaftesbury Avenue is at the heart of London‘s West End and the city’s theatre district.

Blood, a jacket, pair of shoes and a hat are visible on the pavement inside the cordon.

Read more from Sky News:
Armed police shoot and kill man on Christmas Eve
Dozens dead as plane crashes in Kazakhstan

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said the force “responded quickly” and arrested a man “within minutes”.

“It’s believed that the suspect was involved in an altercation at a nightclub prior to getting in his car and mounting the pavement,” he added.

Officers are appealing for anyone with information relating to the incident to get in touch.

Continue Reading

UK

Man, 39, shot dead by armed police in Redditch

Published

on

By

Man, 39, shot dead by armed police in Redditch

A man with a knife was shot dead by armed police in Redditch after “several hours” of negotiations on Christmas Eve, police have said.

West Mercia Police were called to a property in Fownhope Close, Redditch, at around 2pm on Christmas Eve to reports of a man with a knife.

Police negotiators arrived at the scene in Worcestershire and “attempts were made to resolve the situation by engaging the man over several hours”.

But at 7.40pm the 39 year old was shot by armed police – and he was pronounced dead just after 8pm.

No one else was inside the property at the time, the force added.

A mandatory referral to the police watchdog – the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) – has been made and an investigation been launched.

West Mercia Police’s assistant chief constable Grant Willis described it as a “tragic incident”.

More on Worcestershire

“We do not underestimate the shock and concern this may cause the local community and I want to reassure residents that we are following all appropriate procedures, this included making an immediate referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), as is mandatory and right,” he said.

“We will support their investigation, which will include providing all information we hold, including body worn camera footage.”

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

Continue Reading

Trending