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French designer giants suspend sales in Russia

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French luxury giants have joined other firms in announcing they will suspend sales in Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. LVMH, Hermes, Kering and Chanel have decided to temporarily shut their shops in Russia, the firms said on Friday. It follows calls from Ukrainian high-end stores to “stand up” following the invasion of the country. Luxury retailers have so far largely been left out of sanctions introduced by Western governments. But many have found doing business and fulfilling orders in the region more difficult, after measures introduced by the UK, European Union and US. The maker of pricey Birkin

Ukraine war: Ukraine can absolutely win against Russia – Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has told the BBC that he is convinced Ukraine can win its war with Russia. He could not say how long the conflict would last, but insisted that Ukraine’s defeat was not inevitable. Mr Blinken praised the “extraordinary resilience” of the Ukrainian people. “If it’s the intention of Moscow to try somehow to topple the government and install its own puppet regime, 45 million Ukrainians are going to reject that one way or the other,” he said. The war has already not gone as Russian President Vladimir Putin might have planned, he added. Stiff

Boris Johnson returns lockdown party questionnaire to police

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Boris Johnson has returned his questionnaire about allegations of Downing Street lockdown breaches to the police. The PM was one of more than 50 people to be sent the document by the Metropolitan Police, which is looking at potential Covid rule-breaking. Mr Johnson had until 22:00 GMT on Friday to answer the survey. He has said he did not believe he was breaking any rules, but apologised “for the things we simply didn’t get right”. Mr Johnson has received legal advice about his response. The Met has said a fine would be issued to anyone found to have breached Covid

Ferry fire: Eleven missing as hundreds rescued off Corfu

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Eleven people are missing after a ferry burst into flames near the Greek island of Corfu on Friday, authorities say. Rescue boats rushed to evacuate the 290 people on board the Euroferry Olympia, including two lorry drivers trapped inside the hold. The ferry had left Igoumenitsa in Greece for the Italian port of Brindisi when a fire broke out on a car deck. The captain told everyone to leave as the ferry was engulfed in flames and began billowing thick plumes of smoke. The Greek coastguard said 239 passengers and 51 crew had been on the ferry, owned by Italian

Storm Eunice: Three people killed as strong winds sweep across UK

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Three people have died in one of the worst storms to hit the UK in decades. Fierce winds from Storm Eunice toppled trees and sent debris flying, causing the deaths of a woman in her 30s in London, a man in his 20s in Hampshire, and a man in his 50s in Merseyside. A 122mph gust on the Isle of Wight set a provisional record in England, while the storm closed schools, disrupted travel and tore off roofs. About 400,000 homes were without power as of Friday night. Five people died elsewhere in Europe. Coastal areas of south-west England and

Prince Harry says UK still his home as he bids for police security on visits

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Lawyers for Prince Harry say the UK will always be his home, amid a row over whether he can have police security when he visits from the US. In a first hearing of his action against the home secretary, lawyers told the High Court he didn’t feel safe visiting under current arrangements. He wants to pay for police security for himself and his family while in the UK. Government lawyers said his offer was “irrelevant” to how officials took decisions over Royal Family security. During Friday’s hearing, which was focused on what parts of the case should be kept confidential,

Brad Pitt sues Angelina Jolie over vineyard where they got married

Brad Pitt is suing his ex-wife Angelina Jolie for selling her stake in the French vineyard they bought together. The couple purchased a controlling interest in Chateau Miraval in 2008 and got married there six years later. Pitt says he and his former wife agreed not to sell their stakes in the venue without the permission of the other. But Jolie sold her share to a spirits manufacturer owned by a Russian oligarch, according to the lawsuit. Jolie has not yet commented. Lawyers for the Oscar-winning actor said Chateau Miraval, comprising a home and vineyard in the south of France,

Ukraine: What are Russia’s possible attack routes?

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Moscow insists it is not planning to invade Ukraine, but the US says Russia could attack “at any time”. On Tuesday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We think they have a huge preparation ready to go. “Everybody can see what the potential routes in are.” Military analysts agree that with about 150,000 troops near the Ukraine border, Russia has a range of options, should it decide to strike. The Belarus option If Russia’s goal is full regime change in Ukraine, an assault from the north is highly possible, according to Michael Kofman, of the US-based CNA research organisation. Russia

Kamila Valieva: Anger and sympathy as 15-year-old breaks down at Winter Olympics

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In the end it became one of the most uncomfortable, unpleasant moments of sport in recent memory. After a week of outrage following a failed drugs test, 15-year-old Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva left the ice in tears as her controversial Olympics came to a distressing conclusion. “It should never have happened,” said former Olympic champion Robin Cousins, who himself was overcome by emotion during his commentary. Elsewhere, there was anger and sympathy as Valieva’s Games came to an end… Who is Valieva? Valieva came into the Beijing Games as the biggest star in a highly-rated Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) squad.

Winter Olympics: Men’s curling team guarantee Great Britain silver medal at least

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Great Britain have their first medal of the Winter Olympics after the men’s curling team defeated the United States 8-4 in a nail-biting semi-final to guarantee at least silver. Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie and Hammy McMillan stole one in the penultimate end and held out. The Scottish quartet will play Sweden for gold at 06:05 GMT on Saturday. Thirteen days in, it ends concerns the British team might finish without a medal for the first time since 1992. Eve Muirhead’s women’s side will have the chance to replicate the men’s achievement when they play Sweden at 12:05 on

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