Branson, Virgin Group reputations at centre of $250 million London court clash
By Sam Tobin LONDON British billionaire Richard Branson severely damaged Virgin Group's reputation by residing in a tax
2023-07-03 21:41
Goldman Sachs raises over $15 billion for secondary private equity deals
By Saeed Azhar NEW YORK Goldman Sachs' asset management arm said two funds have closed, raising more than
2023-09-20 19:17
Jurgen Klopp explains why touchline ban can be 'super helpful'
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp explains the benefits of being handed a touchline ban - the German will be in the stands against Aston Villa after recent comments made about referee Paul Tierney.
2023-05-20 01:45
British girl shot dead in France ‘by neighbour who complained about noise and cutting trees’
A pensioner arrested after a British schoolgirl was shot dead in France had allegedly been in a dispute with the neighbouring family for years. Details of the build-up to Saturday’s attack emerged following the killing of the 11-year-old - who has been named as Solenne Thornton by French authorities. Her parents were also shot during while enjoying a family barbecue in the French hamlet of Saint-Herbot. The victim’s father Adrien Thornton is in critical condition and her mother Rachel was also wounded. Solenne’s sister Celeste watched in horror as her older sibling was shot while playing on swings, before the eight-year-old ran from the scene screaming: “My sister is dead, my sister is dead.” French police launched an investigation for the murder of a child under 15, and two attempted murders. A 71-year-old Dutchman, who has not been named, is in custody along with his wife after both were arrested by firearms officers. Have you been affected by this story? If so email tara.cobham@independent.co.uk Officers from the GIGN – the Gendarme National Intervention Group – arrived to support local police during the fatal incident. “The shooter locked himself in his home after the shooting so there was a brief siege,” a source said. “After some negotiation, the suspect gave himself up without a struggle, and he was arrested, alongside his wife. He had retired to Saint-Herbot around six years ago.” Marguerite Bleuzen, Mayor of Plonévez-du-Faou, revealed there had been ‘some trouble with a neighbour dispute’ between the two families since at least 2020, while locals claimed the pensioner had previously threatened the family with a .22 rifle the same year. “That’s what the dispute three years ago was all about – police were called because he was threatening the family with his rifle,” one unnamed resident said. “The two families were always arguing, and the rifle escalated matters, but nobody ever believed that he would use it.” The weapon was a licensed hunting rifle, and no effort was made to confiscate it by the police, or council officials. The Dutchman - whose wife was said to be a “pleasant neighbour who said hello to people” - was described as “gruff and withdrawn”, regularly complaining about the family cutting down trees to make way for children’s play equipment, including swings. “He was also regularly upset about the noise the family made, even though it didn’t bother anyone else – it was mainly just kids having a nice time,” a resident said. Following an official intervention three years ago, there had been “no emergency”, but Ms Bleuzen was aware that arguments continued to simmer. “I intervened with my deputies when we were elected,” she said. “There was a problem with the land around their properties, and with noise pollution – it started from there. “I think they all had a little trouble getting on with each other.” Ms Bleuzen added: “The family was well known and liked. There is a village fête every year and they always came. “It’s incomprehensible to have shot a child. No one can understand how that could have happened.” All of the Thorntons were in the garden of their property when shots were fired at around 9pm on Saturday. They had lived in the property – a converted sawmill close to the local Catholic Church – for around five years. Mr Thornton was well known around the hamlet and surrounding countryside for helping out with DIY tasks, while Mrs Thornton was a home help. Solenne was believed to be a pupil at Jean Jaurès College, in the town of Huelgoat. Quimper prosecutor Carine Halley said: “An investigation has been opened into the murder of a minor under 15, and two attempted murders.” She said she believed the Thorntons were originally from the Manchester area. The UK Foreign Office said it aware of the shooting and “offering consulate assistance”. Read More Watchdog: Nuclear states modernize their weapons, Chinese arsenal is growing Paris street submerged by water as heavy rain hits French capital From GPS-guided bombs to electronic warfare, Russia improves its weaponry in Ukraine France shooting – latest: British girl killed during barbecue in Brittany as father fights for life British girl, 11, shot dead as she played on swings in family home in France Man accused of knife attack on four children in Annecy held on attempted murder charges
2023-06-12 20:43
The next phase of the Fed's historic inflation fight is waiting for rate cuts
The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates to their highest level in 22 years in an aggressive bid to curb inflation, and there's a chance that more rate increases may still be on tap if the economy's strength causes inflation to rebound.
2023-08-20 19:21
Duran Duran promise special guests if they get to play Glastonbury
Duran Duran singer Simon Le Bon says the band have the ambition to play Glastonbury and are waiting to get the call from organisers Michael and Emily Eavis.
2023-11-11 18:00
Murder probe launched as mother ‘dived into sea to save son’ after fall from ferry
A potential murder investigation has been launched after a Polish woman and her seven-year-old son plunged from a ferry into the sea, prosecutors say. The pair were travelling from Sweden to Poland when the child fell into the water, Swedish authorities said. His 36-year-old mother jumped overboard in an attempt to save him, they said. The two were later winched to a helicopter and taken to a Swedish hospital but later died. A rescue operation, involving a thermal imaging camera and both Swedish and Polish rescue crews, was launched when the alarm was raised. The Swedish ferry, the Stena Spirit, had been in the Baltic Sea, midway through its journey to Gdynia in Poland from Karlskrona in Sweden when the pair fell, officials said. The country’s prosecution chiefs said on Friday they had launched a preliminary investigation in which the criminal charge was murder, but added that no suspect had been identified. “The investigation aims to try to clarify what happened,” prosecutor Stina Brindmark said. Polish police issued an appeal to passengers asking for information on how the accident happened. The mother was in the water for 59 minutes before being picked up, and her son 66 minutes, Polish website Fakt reported. It said resuscitation was started immediately but the two could not be revived. Police questioned the crew of the ferry to reconstruct events, but officers have not made contact with anyone who saw what happened, according to Fakt. Stefan Elfstrom, spokesman for Stena Line, said someone on the ferry raised the alarm. “Items have been found that belong to these people, but not the people themselves,” he said of the woman and child. “Then the alarm went off, the crew looked at the surveillance cameras and saw that two people had fallen into the water. “There is little information on whether there were relatives or people who knew the two people on the ferry. However, someone noticed that two people were missing.” Confirming the deaths, spokesman Mariusz Ciarka said: “Unfortunately, in the morning we received information from the Swedish side that we have to pass on this terrible news to the family, because both the boy and the woman are dead.” Breaking news: more follows Read More Fear of no end to riots in France after police killing of teen: ‘It’s getting worse’ Where are the French riots and why are they happening? UK issues France travel warning after looting across city - live Fear of no end to riots in France after police killing of teen: ‘It’s getting worse’ Where are the French riots and why are they happening? UK issues France travel warning after looting across city - live
2023-06-30 23:51
DeSantis won't meet with Biden during president's trip to survey Idalia damage
Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office says he’s not going to meet with President Joe Biden when the Democrat flies to Florida this weekend to survey damage from Hurricane Idalia, suggesting that doing so could hinder disaster response because of the logistics involved
2023-09-02 06:45
MLB power rankings: Seattle Mariners jump as top 10 gets a shakeup under Braves, Dodgers
While the top three spots in this week's MLB Power Rankings didn't change, there was plenty of shifting under them, thanks in part to the red-hot Seattle Mariners.
2023-08-28 21:30
NATO says peacekeepers 'unwavering' as Kosovo tensions flare
NATO on Sunday underlined the "unwavering" commitment of its KFOR peacekeeping force to its duties in Kosovo as tensions flare with pressure building on Serbia over the...
2023-06-18 17:56
EA Sports FC 24 Radioactive Promo Leaked for Thunderstruck Follow-up
EA Sports FC 24's next promotion is apparently Radioactive according to community leaks. Here's what you need to know including a leaked card design, popular players that could be included, and a prospective release date.
2023-11-28 04:27
Failure of single component caused Washington seaplane crash that killed 10, NTSB says
U.S. investigators have confirmed that a mechanical issue caused the seaplane crash that killed 10 people off an island in Washington state last year
2023-10-06 09:32
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