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Une attaque au pistolet et au couteau au Japon fait quatre morts

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La police japonaise a arrêté vendredi un suspect qui s’était terré dans un immeuble après avoir prétendument tué quatre personnes, dont deux policiers, lors d’une attaque à l’arme à feu et au couteau.

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Russia links Moscow attack to ‘Ukrainian nationalists’; US rubbishes claim

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Russia said Thursday it had evidence the perpetrators of last week’s massacre at a concert hall outside Moscow were linked to “Ukrainian nationalists”, a claim that the United States called nonsense.

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President Vladimir Putin and his security services continue to allege Kyiv and the West were involved somehow in last Friday’s attack, despite an Islamic State (IS) group affiliate having claimed responsibility.

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Putin said Saturday that 11 people had been detained after gunmen stormed the Crocus City Hall, setting the building alight and killing at least 143 people.

“As a result of work with the detained terrorists, examination of the technical devices seized from them and analysis of information on financial transactions, evidence of their links with Ukrainian nationalists has been obtained,” Russia’s Investigative Committee said on Thursday.

It alleged the suspects had received “significant amounts of money and cryptocurrency from Ukraine” and said another man “involved in financing the terrorists” had been identified and detained.

“Investigators will ask the court to remand him in custody,” it said.

Ukraine and its Western allies have branded as absurd accusations they were involved.

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“My uncle used to say … that the best manure salesmen often carry their samples in their mouths,” US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Thursday.

“Russian officials seem to be pretty good manure salesmen,” Kirby said, denouncing what he called Russia’s “nonsense propaganda.”

‘Completely inappropriate’

The four suspected assailants – with bruises and cuts on their swollen faces – were dragged into a Moscow courtroom Sunday, all of whom were from Tajikistan, Russian media reported.

Russia’s FSB security service said it arrested the gunmen while they were trying to flee to Ukraine, a claim seemingly disputed by Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko, who said they were headed for his country first.

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Islamic State (IS) jihadists have said several times since Friday that they were responsible, and IS-affiliated media channels have published graphic videos of the gunmen inside the venue.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov gave no indication on Thursday that Putin planned to visit the family members of those killed.

The Russian leader was seen lighting a candle for the victims at a Moscow church last week, but has not visited the scene of the massacre or publicly met with any victims.

“If any contacts are necessary, we will inform you accordingly,” Peskov said, when asked if Putin planned to meet family members of the dead.

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He also said Putin did not plan to visit Crocus City Hall, where rescuers had for the past week been searching the rubble for bodies.

“In these days it would be completely inappropriate to carry out any fact-finding trips, because this would simply interfere with the work,” he said.

(AFP)

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Insurance market Lloyd’s of London toasts best result ‘in recent history’ with £10.7bn profit

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  • The world’s biggest insurance marketplace rebounded to a £10.7bn profit
  • In the group’s underwriting arm, its profits swelled from £2.6bn to £5.9bn 

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Lloyd’s of London has achieved its strongest annual results ‘in recent history’ after swinging to a bumper profit from a loss the prior year. 

The world’s biggest insurance marketplace, whose roots date back to a 17th-century coffee house, rebounded to a £10.7billion profit last year after making an £800million pre-tax loss in 2022. 

It credited the performance to higher interest rates and an ‘unwind of the previously booked mark-to-market loss’.

Recovery: Insurance marketplace Lloyd's of London, whose roots date back to a 17th-century coffee house, rebounded to a £10.7billion profit last year

Recovery: Insurance marketplace Lloyd's of London, whose roots date back to a 17th-century coffee house, rebounded to a £10.7billion profit last year

Recovery: Insurance marketplace Lloyd’s of London, whose roots date back to a 17th-century coffee house, rebounded to a £10.7billion profit last year

In the group’s underwriting arm, its profits swelled from £2.6billion to £5.9billion due to falling costs from large risks and natural catastrophe claims.

This helped boost the company’s combined ratio – the difference between written premiums and payouts – by nearly eight percentage points to 84 per cent, its highest level for 16 years.

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A ratio below 100 per cent denotes a profit, while any figure above that number represents a loss.

Gross written premiums at Lloyd’s totalled £52.1billion, an 11.6 per cent increase on the previous year and its third consecutive year of double-digit growth.

John Neal, chief executive of Lloyd’s, said: ‘The results we’re reporting today are our best in recent history, with an outstanding underwriting result underpinned by a strong and resilient balance sheet.

‘Our ability to attract – and provide returns on – capital is vital to ensuring we can support our customers through uncertainty.’

In the past few years, the insurance market has doled out billions in claims related to the Ukraine war, especially for aircraft stranded in Russia.

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It has also taken losses from a significant number of extreme weather events; in 2023, these included the Turkey-Syria Earthquake, Hawaii’s August wildfires, and Cyclone Gabrielle in Oceania.

Lloyd’s of London’s results come a few weeks after two of its insurers, Beazley and Hiscox, both reported record annual profits and launched major share buybacks.

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Fallen cryptocurrency mogul Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in jail

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Disgraced cryptocurrency wunderkind Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in jail on Thursday following his conviction in one of the biggest financial fraud cases in history.

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US prosecutors were seeking a prison term of 40-50 years after a New York jury found Bankman-Fried, known by his initials SBF, guilty in November following a five-week trial that probed the one-time high roller’s spectacular fall.

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During the hearing Bankman-Fried told the courtroom that he was “sorry about what happened at every stage. And there are things I should’ve done and things I shouldn’t have.”

They “built something beautiful,” Bankman-Fried said. “And I threw it all away.”

The final sentence was meted out by US District Judge Lewis Kaplan who used the hearing to carefully walk through the financial crimes committed by Bankman-Fried.

There was “never a word of remorse for the commission of a terrible crime,” the judge said, adding that there was a risk Bankman-Fried would commit crimes again.

With the sentencing now done, Bankman-Fried’s lawyers said they would appeal his conviction.

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Calling Bankman-Fried’s seven-count conviction reflective of the defendant’s “unmatched greed and hubris,” the government’s sentencing request argued for significant jail time in light of fraud it estimates at more than $10 billion.

Bankman-Fried’s attorneys depicted their client as a diligent young man motivated by philanthropy who got in over his head, calling the government’s proposed sentence “barbaric.”

Their portrayal is similar to the one SBF’s defense presented at trial – which was quickly rejected by jurors after just five hours of deliberation.

Bankman-Fried’s defense team had asked for six years in prison, a sentence that would return him “promptly to a productive role in society,” said the attorneys led by Marc Mukasey.

FTX Implosion

A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a billionaire before the age of 30, Bankman-Fried conquered the crypto world at breakneck speed, turning FTX, a small start-up he cofounded in 2019, into the world’s second largest exchange platform.

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But in November 2022, the FTX empire imploded, unable to cope with massive withdrawal requests from customers panicked to learn that some of the funds stored at the company had been committed to risky operations at Bankman-Fried’s personal hedge fund, Alameda Research.


During the trial, some of Bankman-Fried’s closest associates said that he was key to all the decisions that saw $8 billion vanish from FTX.

This group included Caroline Ellison, the former Alameda CEO and Bankman-Fried’s on-and-off-again girlfriend, who testified that Alameda had stolen “around $14 billion” from FTX clients and that Bankman-Fried “directed me to commit those crimes.”

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Filings from the prosecution and defense offered starkly different takes on Bankman-Fried, the son of two well-regarded law professors at tony Stanford University.

“The lack of contrition is galling,” said US Attorney Damian Williams, who took issue with the image of Bankman-Fried as “selfless” and “altruistic,” as championed by the defense, noting he used funds for “luxury” real estate, donations to rub shoulders with political leaders, a Super Bowl television ad and “access to celebrities.”

The defense’s statement describes Bankman-Fried as “wracked” with remorse over the implosion of FTX.

Recovered funds

Bankman-Fried’s attorneys also pointed to statements from FTX’s current leaders expressing confidence that FTX customers and creditors would get back their money, saying in the brief that “the harm to customers, lenders and investors is zero.”

That argument drew a scathing response from FTX Trading Chief Executive John Ray, who said ongoing recoveries of ill-gotten gains do not make up for fraud.

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“That things he stole… were successfully recovered through the efforts of a dedicated group” of professionals “does not mean the things were not stolen,” Ray said in a letter to the court.

“What it means is that we got some of them back.”

(AFP)

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From caves to lagoons and lost-in-time islands: Britain’s top 15 stunning ‘off the beaten track’ locations to explore this Easter revealed. So how many have YOU visited?

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Want to make your Easter bucket list a bit more egg-citing?

Then hop along to one of the spots here, listed in a ranking of Britain’s top 15 off-the-beaten-track destinations.

This hotlist was identified by Jeep and a team of experts from Ordnance Survey. They are all pinpointed on an interactive ‘Get Lost with Jeep Compass’ digital map and help form a list of 100 hidden gems.

The top 15 list includes Britain’s only desert, a magical wood, a bay with black sand, the home of England’s largest grey seal colony and an island that feels like it belongs in a bygone era.

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The list follows research by Jeep detailing how nearly a third of UK adults (30 per cent) have explored little of Britain to date – the equivalent of 16million people – yet 80 per cent want to see more of the country. The study found that 24 per cent of Brits have never visited Scotland (13million) and 17 per cent (nine million) have never been to Wales.

Scroll down to see pictures of the top 15 and have your say on the best of the best in MailOnline Travel’s poll at the bottom.

Hike up Schiehallion mountain in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, and you'll be rewarded with 'breathtaking views of the Scottish Highlands', says Ordnance Survey. OS grid reference: NN 71382 54788

Hike up Schiehallion mountain in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, and you'll be rewarded with 'breathtaking views of the Scottish Highlands', says Ordnance Survey. OS grid reference: NN 71382 54788

Hike up Schiehallion mountain in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, and you’ll be rewarded with ‘breathtaking views of the Scottish Highlands’, says Ordnance Survey. OS grid reference: NN 71382 54788

Pictured here is Old Winchester Hill in England's South Downs National Park. The spot is both a nature reserve and an Iron Age hillfort, notes Ordnance Survey, which adds that the area has its own herd of Herdwick sheep, a breed usually only found in the Lake District. OS grid reference: SU 64077 20578

Pictured here is Old Winchester Hill in England's South Downs National Park. The spot is both a nature reserve and an Iron Age hillfort, notes Ordnance Survey, which adds that the area has its own herd of Herdwick sheep, a breed usually only found in the Lake District. OS grid reference: SU 64077 20578

Pictured here is Old Winchester Hill in England’s South Downs National Park. The spot is both a nature reserve and an Iron Age hillfort, notes Ordnance Survey, which adds that the area has its own herd of Herdwick sheep, a breed usually only found in the Lake District. OS grid reference: SU 64077 20578

Behold Porthgain Blue Lagoon in Pembrokeshire, Wales, which is accessible by foot or by sea. Ordnance Survey recommends taking a walk across the nearby cliffs for 'breathtaking views'. OS grid reference: SM 79483 31496

Behold Porthgain Blue Lagoon in Pembrokeshire, Wales, which is accessible by foot or by sea. Ordnance Survey recommends taking a walk across the nearby cliffs for 'breathtaking views'. OS grid reference: SM 79483 31496

Behold Porthgain Blue Lagoon in Pembrokeshire, Wales, which is accessible by foot or by sea. Ordnance Survey recommends taking a walk across the nearby cliffs for ‘breathtaking views’. OS grid reference: SM 79483 31496

Above is the island of Eilean na Moine, a 'must-visit' for Harry Potter fans, as it provided the location for Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore's grave in the Deathly Hallows Part 2 movie. It's located on Loch Eilt, which Ordnance Survey describes as 'stunning'. OS grid reference: NM 79000 82647

Above is the island of Eilean na Moine, a 'must-visit' for Harry Potter fans, as it provided the location for Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore's grave in the Deathly Hallows Part 2 movie. It's located on Loch Eilt, which Ordnance Survey describes as 'stunning'. OS grid reference: NM 79000 82647

Above is the island of Eilean na Moine, a ‘must-visit’ for Harry Potter fans, as it provided the location for Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore’s grave in the Deathly Hallows Part 2 movie. It’s located on Loch Eilt, which Ordnance Survey describes as ‘stunning’. OS grid reference: NM 79000 82647

Above is 'pristine' Three Cliffs Bay in Swansea, which is framed by limestone cliffs and boasts a beach with dunes and a salt marsh that OS notes can be explored at low tide. OS grid reference: SS 53498 87797

Above is 'pristine' Three Cliffs Bay in Swansea, which is framed by limestone cliffs and boasts a beach with dunes and a salt marsh that OS notes can be explored at low tide. OS grid reference: SS 53498 87797

Above is ‘pristine’ Three Cliffs Bay in Swansea, which is framed by limestone cliffs and boasts a beach with dunes and a salt marsh that OS notes can be explored at low tide. OS grid reference: SS 53498 87797

Tranquil Talisker Bay on the Isle of Skye mesmerises with its black volcanic sands. OS grid reference: NG 30755 30447

Tranquil Talisker Bay on the Isle of Skye mesmerises with its black volcanic sands. OS grid reference: NG 30755 30447

Tranquil Talisker Bay on the Isle of Skye mesmerises with its black volcanic sands. OS grid reference: NG 30755 30447

This is Gaping Gill in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, which yorkshiredales.org.uk points out is one of the largest underground chambers in Britain. The main chamber, it explains, is 129m (423ft) long and 31m (101ft) high. OS Grid Reference: SD 75130 72733

This is Gaping Gill in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, which yorkshiredales.org.uk points out is one of the largest underground chambers in Britain. The main chamber, it explains, is 129m (423ft) long and 31m (101ft) high. OS Grid Reference: SD 75130 72733
Reelig Glen near Inverness is now Britain's tallest tree with a height of 217.10ft (66.4m). OS grid reference: NH 55727 42941

Reelig Glen near Inverness is now Britain's tallest tree with a height of 217.10ft (66.4m). OS grid reference: NH 55727 42941

LEFT: This is Gaping Gill in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, which yorkshiredales.org.uk points out is one of the largest underground chambers in Britain. The main chamber, it explains, is 129m (423ft) long and 31m (101ft) high. OS Grid Reference: SD 75130 72733. RIGHT: Reelig Glen near Inverness is now Britain’s tallest tree with a height of 217.10ft (66.4m). OS grid reference: NH 55727 42941 

Ordnance Survey claims that being on the north-west coast of Iona, above, an island in the Inner Hebrides with a population of just 170, 'feels like stepping back in time'. OS grid reference: NM 26307 24671

Ordnance Survey claims that being on the north-west coast of Iona, above, an island in the Inner Hebrides with a population of just 170, 'feels like stepping back in time'. OS grid reference: NM 26307 24671

Ordnance Survey claims that being on the north-west coast of Iona, above, an island in the Inner Hebrides with a population of just 170, ‘feels like stepping back in time’. OS grid reference: NM 26307 24671

Chartists Cave in Powys, Wales, is reached via 'a challenging walk from the village of Llangynidr', but there's a reward - 'the best of the Welsh countryside'. OS grid reference: SO 127152

Chartists Cave in Powys, Wales, is reached via 'a challenging walk from the village of Llangynidr', but there's a reward - 'the best of the Welsh countryside'. OS grid reference: SO 127152

Chartists Cave in Powys, Wales, is reached via ‘a challenging walk from the village of Llangynidr’, but there’s a reward – ‘the best of the Welsh countryside’. OS grid reference: SO 127152

Behold spellbinding Wistman's Wood, a temperate rainforest in Devon's breathtaking Dartmoor National Park. OS grid reference: SX 61447 77874

Behold spellbinding Wistman's Wood, a temperate rainforest in Devon's breathtaking Dartmoor National Park. OS grid reference: SX 61447 77874

Behold spellbinding Wistman’s Wood, a temperate rainforest in Devon’s breathtaking Dartmoor National Park. OS grid reference: SX 61447 77874 

Blakeney Point in Norfolk is a 'magical place' that's home to England's largest grey seal colony, with over 4,000 pups born each winter. OS grid reference: TG 01075 45966

Blakeney Point in Norfolk is a 'magical place' that's home to England's largest grey seal colony, with over 4,000 pups born each winter. OS grid reference: TG 01075 45966

Blakeney Point in Norfolk is a ‘magical place’ that’s home to England’s largest grey seal colony, with over 4,000 pups born each winter. OS grid reference: TG 01075 45966 

Above is Watkins Path Pools in Snowdonia - a superb spot for wild swimming, notes OS. OS grid reference: SH 62645 51654

Above is Watkins Path Pools in Snowdonia - a superb spot for wild swimming, notes OS. OS grid reference: SH 62645 51654

Above is Watkins Path Pools in Snowdonia – a superb spot for wild swimming, notes OS. OS grid reference: SH 62645 51654

Montgomery Castle, perched on a crag above the Georgian town of Montgomery in Wales, dates back to the 13th century. However, it was demolished in 1649 and has been an eye-catching cluster of ruins ever since.  OS grid reference: SO 21883 96830

Montgomery Castle, perched on a crag above the Georgian town of Montgomery in Wales, dates back to the 13th century. However, it was demolished in 1649 and has been an eye-catching cluster of ruins ever since.  OS grid reference: SO 21883 96830

Montgomery Castle, perched on a crag above the Georgian town of Montgomery in Wales, dates back to the 13th century. However, it was demolished in 1649 and has been an eye-catching cluster of ruins ever since.  OS grid reference: SO 21883 96830

Dungeness in Kent is sometimes referred to as Britain's only desert. It's a tiny fishing town with a 'surreal' landscape peppered with abandoned boats and fishing huts. There's a disused railway, too. OS grid reference: TR 08901 16953

Dungeness in Kent is sometimes referred to as Britain's only desert. It's a tiny fishing town with a 'surreal' landscape peppered with abandoned boats and fishing huts. There's a disused railway, too. OS grid reference: TR 08901 16953

Dungeness in Kent is sometimes referred to as Britain’s only desert. It’s a tiny fishing town with a ‘surreal’ landscape peppered with abandoned boats and fishing huts. There’s a disused railway, too. OS grid reference: TR 08901 16953

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Quirk in US maritime law may be key to liability in Baltimore bridge disaster

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The investigation continues to determine why a container ship, the Dali, smashed into a pillar of the 2.6 km span of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key bridge in early morning darkness on Tuesday, causing it to collapse and leaving six construction workers presumed dead.

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However, establishing the precise cause of the accident will be just the first step in untangling the question of who will shoulder the financial cost of the disaster, which will be considerable. 

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John Neal, chief executive of the leading global insurer Lloyds of London, told British media on Thursday that the accident is “certainly going to be one of the largest marine losses in history”.  

Mathilde Jakobsen, senior director of analytics at the credit rating agency AM Best, agreed, noting that “while the total cost of the bridge collapse and associated claims will not be clear for some time, it is likely to run into the billions of dollars”. 

The tragedy could lead to up to $4 billion in insurance claims, Morningstar DBRS said.

Reinsurers – insurers that handle risks that are too large for insurance companies to handle alone – “will bear the bulk of the insured cost of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore”, according to Jakobsen. 

The Dali’s insurer, Britannia P&I Club, is part of a global group of mutual insurance organisations that pool liability for the shipping industry. 

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Known as protection and indemnity (P&I) clubs, they provide “liability cover for most shipping vessels” and “collectively insure approximately 90% of the world’s ocean-going tonnage”, notes Jakobsen.  

Insurance claims from the bridge collapse will take a long time to determine and involve the families of those who died, the injured, those suffering damage to property, cargo and the cost of the indefinite closure of the Port of Baltimore, one of the busiest on the US eastern seaboard.  

Maritime law from the 19th century

But according to the maritime lawyer John Fulweiler, the Dali’s owners, Singapore-based Grace Ocean Private, will certainly try to limit their liability from lawsuits by using a 19th century US maritime law that he calls “a powerful tool that favours vessel owners”.  

The law was originally meant to prevent shipping companies from having to pay overwhelming losses from accidents at sea. 

The ship’s owners, Fulweiler told FRANCE by email, can petition federal court under the Limitation of Liability Act of 1851, and bring all potential claims against them “into a single courtroom before a single federal judge”.  

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“When the Act is triggered, the court issues an order halting all claims that might be pending in other forums,” notes Fulweiler. 

“It’s an old piece of legislation” that produces “a lot of injustices,” says Fulweiler, by capping the ship owner’s liability to a sum equal to the “post-incident value of the vessel” and the earnings it collected from carrying the freight on board. 

The wreckage wrought by the Dali is estimated to far exceed its current value.  

According to Fulweiler, “the murky waters of the marine world give amplified lobbying power to those representing marine insurers and vessel owners”. 

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)

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How ultra-rare conjoined twins Abby and Brittany Hensel drive, eat and have sex

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America’s most famous conjoined twins are back in the news today after it was revealed one of them had gotten married.

Abby Hensel – who shot to fame on a reality TV series with sister Brittany – quietly tied the knot with an army veteran in 2021. 

It has led many to speculate how the sisters carry out day-to-day activities, including intimate ones.

Abby and Brittany, 34, from Minnesota, are one of only a handful of sets of dicephalus twins in history, meaning they have two heads and two hearts but share a single body from the waist down – including their genitals.

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Although Brittany – the left twin – can’t feel anything on the right side of the body and Abigail – the right twin – can’t feel anything on her left, instinctively their limbs move as if coordinated by one person, even when typing e-mails on the computer.

This means they are able to do most things a nonconjoined person can do, including driving and cooking, and they’ve also mastered things like playing the piano.

The pair passed their driving test on their 16th birthday, with each twin using one arm to control the steering wheel

The pair passed their driving test on their 16th birthday, with each twin using one arm to control the steering wheel

The pair passed their driving test on their 16th birthday, with each twin using one arm to control the steering wheel

'Abby takes over the pedals and the shifter, we both steer, and I take over the blinker and the lights,' Brittany (on the right) said

'Abby takes over the pedals and the shifter, we both steer, and I take over the blinker and the lights,' Brittany (on the right) said

‘Abby takes over the pedals and the shifter, we both steer, and I take over the blinker and the lights,’ Brittany (on the right) said

The sisters (pictured) are now both fifth grade teachers at an elementary school in New Brighton, Minnesota, where they teach math

The sisters (pictured) are now both fifth grade teachers at an elementary school in New Brighton, Minnesota, where they teach math

The sisters (pictured) are now both fifth grade teachers at an elementary school in New Brighton, Minnesota, where they teach math

For tasks such as replying to emails, they use the keyboard and respond as one, anticipating each other’s feelings with little verbal communication between them.

As for driving, the twins passed their driving test on their 16th birthday – a mind-boggling feat of teamwork with each twin using one arm to control the steering wheel.

The pair share a single body, and from the waist down, all their organs, including the intestine, bladder and reproductive organs, are shared

The pair share a single body, and from the waist down, all their organs, including the intestine, bladder and reproductive organs, are shared

The pair share a single body, and from the waist down, all their organs, including the intestine, bladder and reproductive organs, are shared

‘Abby takes over the pedals and the shifter, we both steer, and I take over the blinker and the lights,’ Brittany said.

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When they took their driving test, their mother Patty, a registered nurse, conceded there could have been a problem.

She said: ‘I don’t know what would happen if they got pulled over for speeding. Would they each get a ticket or just Abby because it’s her foot on the accelerator?’

The twins also stunned doctors with their astonishing co-ordination while playing the piano, with Abigail taking the right-hand parts and Brittany the left. 

Growing up, they enjoyed sports such as bowling, volleyball, cycling, softball and swimming.

But how the pair handle intimacy is the question many are intrigued to know the answer to.

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Abby Hensel (pictured left), now 34, got married to nurse and former US veteran Josh Bowling (pictured right) back in 2021

Abby Hensel (pictured left), now 34, got married to nurse and former US veteran Josh Bowling (pictured right) back in 2021

Abby Hensel (pictured left), now 34, got married to nurse and former US veteran Josh Bowling (pictured right) back in 2021 

Abby's relationship with Josh, who is a father-of-one, has gone under the radar until now, with the twins leading a quieter life out of the spotlight in the past 10 years

Abby's relationship with Josh, who is a father-of-one, has gone under the radar until now, with the twins leading a quieter life out of the spotlight in the past 10 years

Abby’s relationship with Josh, who is a father-of-one, has gone under the radar until now, with the twins leading a quieter life out of the spotlight in the past 10 years

Abby (pictured right) dancing with her groom at her wedding day, while wearing a stunning white lace dress

Abby (pictured right) dancing with her groom at her wedding day, while wearing a stunning white lace dress

Abby (pictured right) dancing with her groom at her wedding day, while wearing a stunning white lace dress

One may assume that, like everyone else, conjoined twins experience sexual desires – but some don’t.

Conjoined twins Lupita and Carmen Andrare, 23, born in Mexico but living in Connecticut, US, have the same physical makeup to Abby and Brittany.

While Carmen has a boyfriend named Daniel, Lupita is asexual, meaning she is not sexually attracted to others.

But even Carmen and Daniel are not sexually intimate, with Carmen describing their bond as more of a ‘close friendship’ in an interview with Jubilee. 

Famous conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker, from Thailand, were joined only by a bit of liver and skin, and so had separate genitals.

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They both married separately, and judging by the fact that Chang had 10 children, while Eng had 12, it is safe to say they both had sex.

People have speculated that while one was ‘busy’ with their wife, the other one must have tried to sleep, read or ignore what was going on, to give as much privacy and dignity as possible.

With Abby and Brittany, who share the bottom-half of their body, it is slightly different.

During their TLC show (pictured), the twins displayed an astonishing sense of co-ordination, with each using one arm to perform tasks, including playing the piano and sport

During their TLC show (pictured), the twins displayed an astonishing sense of co-ordination, with each using one arm to perform tasks, including playing the piano and sport
During their TLC show (pictured), the twins displayed an astonishing sense of co-ordination, with each using one arm to perform tasks, including playing the piano and sport

During their TLC show (pictured), the twins displayed an astonishing sense of co-ordination, with each using one arm to perform tasks, including playing the piano and sport

During their TLC show (pictured), the twins displayed an astonishing sense of co-ordination, with each using one arm to perform tasks, including playing the piano and sport

The pair (pictured as children) share a single body, and from the waist down, all their organs, including the intestine, bladder and reproductive organs, are shared

The pair (pictured as children) share a single body, and from the waist down, all their organs, including the intestine, bladder and reproductive organs, are shared

The pair (pictured as children) share a single body, and from the waist down, all their organs, including the intestine, bladder and reproductive organs, are shared

Abby and her sister Brittany (pictured during their childhood), one of only a few sets of dicephalus twins in history to survive infancy, rose to fame on their eponymous TLC show which chronicled their major life events, including their high school graduation and job hunting

Abby and her sister Brittany (pictured during their childhood), one of only a few sets of dicephalus twins in history to survive infancy, rose to fame on their eponymous TLC show which chronicled their major life events, including their high school graduation and job hunting

Abby and her sister Brittany (pictured during their childhood), one of only a few sets of dicephalus twins in history to survive infancy, rose to fame on their eponymous TLC show which chronicled their major life events, including their high school graduation and job hunting

Like most conjoined twins, Abby and Brittany have never publicly spoken about their sex life, despite immense public curiosity.

As the Hensel twins share one set of genitals, they would both feel any touching down there, wrote Alice Dreger, a professor of clinical medical humanities and bioethics at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, in The Atlantic.

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As for whether both would experience an orgasm at the same time, we don’t know, she said.

Because there is significant variability of each twin’s ‘feeling’ in different body parts, it is ‘hard to guess how any conjoinment will turn out in practice,’ Professor Derger said.

Some have speculated that dicephalus twins would both experience a simultaneous orgasm, given that they share the same sexual organ, with the same nerves, muscles and blood vessels.

What about kissing? Will both sisters feel it if one is kissed? 

Professor Dreger wrote: ‘The biology geek in me wants to answer that the happy hormones that come from a good kiss probably work their way to both brains. 

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‘But the student of human nature in me says that when your sister gets kissed and you don’t, it’s quite possible that the unhappy hormones end up standing at the gate.’

Professor Dreger said that from her studies, she assumes conjoined twins likely have less sex than average people, not just because finding a partner is harder but because they may not need romantic partners to have sex with as much as everyone else does.

Over the years, she added, many twins have described their experience of being conjoined as like being attached to a soul mate, so they may feel less need for a romantic relationship with another person.

As for eating, the twins tend to have separate meals, but sometimes share a single meal for convenience, for example, each taking a bite out of the same hot dog

As for eating, the twins tend to have separate meals, but sometimes share a single meal for convenience, for example, each taking a bite out of the same hot dog

As for eating, the twins tend to have separate meals, but sometimes share a single meal for convenience, for example, each taking a bite out of the same hot dog

The girls are shown graduating from Bethel University in Minnesota in the first episode of their reality show

The girls are shown graduating from Bethel University in Minnesota in the first episode of their reality show

The girls are shown graduating from Bethel University in Minnesota in the first episode of their reality show

Another looming question is will the Hensel’s have children – a choice they must both make in tandem because they share one reproductive system? 

There is no medical reason why they shouldn’t be able to have children, and they have in the past said they would like to start a family.

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As for eating, the twins tend to have separate meals, but sometimes share a single meal for convenience, for example, each taking a bite out of the same hot dog.

The twins have two digestive systems including two separate esophagus’ and stomachs, but share a large intestine, small intestine, bladder and excretion system.

It is rare for twins conjoined the way that Abby and Brittany are to survive into adulthood, but despite this they are in good health, without heart defects or organ failure.

When the Hensel twins were born on March 7, 1990, in Minnesota, doctors warned their parents Patty and Mike that they were unlikely to survive the night. But that prediction was to prove wildly wrong.

Their parents Patty and Mike never once considered having the twins separated, because of the risk both might die or be left with such severe disabilities their quality of life would be compromised.

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Separation surgery success for conjoined twins depends on where the twins are joined. 

According to previous reports, only once have the Hensel twins talked about separation – in childhood – when Abigail became bored and restless after Brittany fell ill with pneumonia and was confined to bed.

She started to suggest being separated from her sister, but when Brittany began to cry Abigail reassured her that everything was fine and that they’d never be parted.

Conjoined twins occur when siblings have their skin or internal organs fused together, which affects around one in 200,000 live births.

It is caused by a fertilized egg beginning to split into two embryos a few weeks after conception, but the process stops before it is complete.

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The most common type is twins joined at the chest or abdomen.

Doctors can only tell which organs the siblings share, and therefore plan surgery, after they are born. At least one twin survives 75 percent of the time. Just one set of twins in every 40,000 is born connected in some way to each other and only one per cent of those survive beyond the first year.

The Hensel girls are the rarest form of conjoined twins, the result of a single fertilized egg which failed to separate properly in the womb, resulting in dicephalic parapagus – where the twins have two heads and a single body with two arms and two legs.

They have two spines (which join at the pelvis), two hearts, two esophagi, two stomachs, three kidneys, two gall bladders, four lungs (two of which are joined), one liver, one ribcage, a shared circulatory system and partially shared nervous systems.

From the waist down, all organs, including the intestine, bladder and reproductive organs, are shared.

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In infancy, a third undeveloped arm was removed from the twins’ chest and aged 12 they underwent surgery to correct scoliosis – curvature of the spine – and expand their chest cavity to prevent future breathing difficulties.

Abby and Brittany face a common stigma that they are one person instead of two.

When growing up, they, like many twins, had very different personalities and tastes. Abigail, the feisty, stubborn one, liked orange juice for breakfast, while Brittany, the joker of the family, would only touch milk.

Speaking previously, Brittany, who alongside her sibling graduated from Bethel University in Minnesota, said: ‘Believe me, we are totally different people.’

It has not been unknown for the twins to go out in a specially made top with two different necklines – to reflect their unique tastes – and leggings with each leg a contrasting color and a different shoe on each foot.

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International

Off the deep end: France’s love of swimming pools

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With more than 3 million private swimming pools, France has more “piscines” than any other nation in Europe. We find out why the sector has been booming for years and how the government is using AI to crack down on illegal pools. We also look into the challenges, benefits and heritage of France’s public swimming pools.  

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International

Sandro Tonali suffers new blow as Newcastle midfielder is charged by the FA while serving 10-month ban for allegedly placing 50 BETS between August and October

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  • Sandro Tonali joined Newcastle last summer in a £52million move from AC Milan
  • He is currently suspeneded for 10 months for betting breaches in Italy
  • Forest coach Steven Reid should get a touchline BAN for the rest of the season for his appalling tirade towards a referee – Listen to It’s All Kicking Off

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Sandro Tonali is likely to escape an additional gambling ban, despite being hit with 50 fresh allegations of betting on football matches AFTER his transfer to Newcastle.

The Italy midfielder is already serving a 10-month suspension – set to expire on August 27 – having admitted to breaking gambling rules in his home country.

Tonali, who joined the Magpies for £52million from AC Milan in July, was given the worldwide ban by Italian authorities in October.

The Football Association then launched their own investigation and they have now confirmed the 23-year-old has been charged with misconduct in relation to 50 bets on games between August 12 and October 12 of last year. 

He made his Newcastle debut on August 12, scoring in a 5-1 win over Aston Villa, and was first questioned in Italy on October 12. He later told investigators he had a gambling addiction.

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Newcastle's Sandro Tonali has been charged by the FA for 50 breaches of their betting rules

Newcastle's Sandro Tonali has been charged by the FA for 50 breaches of their betting rules

Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali has been charged by the FA for 50 breaches of their betting rules  

In a statement, the FA said the breaches had been made between August and October 2023

In a statement, the FA said the breaches had been made between August and October 2023

In a statement, the FA said the breaches had been made between August and October 2023

Eddie Howe's side are set to be without their £52m summer signing until August amid the ban

Eddie Howe's side are set to be without their £52m summer signing until August amid the ban

Eddie Howe’s side are set to be without their £52m summer signing until August amid the ban  

Tonali has co-operated with the FA and handed over all materials relating to their probe in November. It led to fears inside St James’ Park that their marquee summer signing could be missing for a period beyond August.

However, Mail Sport understands Newcastle expect the FA to treat the new allegations as one period of betting activity – including the breaches in Italy – meaning any punishment will be served concurrently.

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An FA statement read: ‘Sandro Tonali has been charged with misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of the FA’s Betting Rules.

‘It’s alleged that the Newcastle United midfielder breached FA Rule E8 50 times by placing bets on football matches between 12 August 2023 and 12 October 2023. Sandro Tonali has until 5 April 2024 to respond.’

Tonali has been allowed to train with Newcastle since his ban and it is thought he will continue to do so. However, he is not permitted to play in friendly matches, except behind closed doors.

The club conducted their own investigation, led by former sporting director Dan Ashworth, into why they did not know about Tonali’s gambling problems before they signed him. It was concluded that the nature of an addiction means it is hidden, and their due diligence was as thorough as it could be.

But this latest development is another blow for Newcastle and Eddie Howe, who has only been able to use the player in 12 matches, and the club cannot be sure of the outcome of the charges until the conclusion of the FA investigation.

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Italian football authorities said an agreement was reached for Tonali to serve a 10-month ban

Italian football authorities said an agreement was reached for Tonali to serve a 10-month ban

Italian football authorities said an agreement was reached for Tonali to serve a 10-month ban

Mail Sport revealed in November that the FA were investigating whether Tonali had continued to bet on football matches while under their jurisdiction

Mail Sport revealed in November that the FA were investigating whether Tonali had continued to bet on football matches while under their jurisdiction

Mail Sport revealed in November that the FA were investigating whether Tonali had continued to bet on football matches while under their jurisdiction 

Tonali (left) has continued to train with Newcastle's first team as he serves his ban

Tonali (left) has continued to train with Newcastle's first team as he serves his ban

Tonali (left) has continued to train with Newcastle’s first team as he serves his ban 

Newcastle said in a statement: ‘Newcastle United acknowledges a misconduct charge received by Sandro Tonali in respect of alleged breaches of FA Betting Rules.

‘Sandro continues to fully comply with relevant investigations and he retains the club’s full support. Due to this ongoing process, Sandro and Newcastle United are unable to offer further comment at this time.’

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International

France takes down fake website inviting volunteers to ‘enlist in Ukraine’

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French authorities have uncovered a website containing a fake recruitment drive for French volunteers to join the war in Ukraine, the defence ministry said on Thursday.

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1 min

The site has now been taken down by French services, a government source, who asked not to be named, told AFP without giving further details on the nature of the operation.

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The site, which is now inaccessible, said 200,000 French people were invited to “enlist in Ukraine”, with immigrants given priority.

A link to the site – that resembled the French army’s genuine recruitment portal – had been posted on X, formerly Twitter, the French defence ministry said.

“The site is a fake government site,” the ministry said, also on X, “and has been reposted by malevolent accounts as part of a disinformation campaign”.


The ministry did not name any suspects in the website spoof, but a government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the site bore “the hallmarks of a Russian or pro-Russian effort as part of a disinformation campaign claiming that the French army is preparing to send troops to Ukraine”.

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French President Emmanuel Macron angered the Russian leadership last month by hardening his tone on the conflict sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, refusing to rule out sending ground troops and insisting Europe had to do all that was needed for a Russian defeat.

Similar recent examples of disinformation posts included pictures of French army convoys wrongly presented as moving towards the Ukrainian border, the official said.

The fake website invited potential recruits to contact “unit commander Paul” for information about joining.

The defence ministry and government cyber units are investigating, ministry staff told AFP.

The French government has recently stepped up efforts to denounce and fight what it says are Russian disinformation and destabilisation campaigns aimed at undermining French public support for Ukraine in its war against Russia.

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(AFP)

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International

Stephen Bear arrives late to revenge porn confiscation hearing where shamed reality star will be told how much money he must pay for posting sex-tape of ex-girlfriend Georgia Harrision on OnlyFans

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Disgraced reality TV star Stephen Bear arrived at court 15 mintues late today to hear how much money he must pay for posting a sex-tape of his former partner Georgia Harrision on his OnlyFans website.

The former Celebrity Big Brother winner wore a pink opened-neck shirt, grey trousers and designer slippers as he walked into Chelmsford Crown Court at 2.15pm for a 2pm hearing.

His former partner, Love Island contestant Ms Harrison, had arrived on time.

Judge Christopher Morgan, who will decide how much of the estimated £22,300 profit Bear made from the pornography must pay to the state, was forced to delay proceedings.

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On January 26 this year, Bear was found to have profited £22,305.46 from the CCTV footage from August 2, 2020. 

At the time of the video, Bear was posing as ‘a billionaire’ on his Twitter and YouTube accounts but was ‘in fact heavily overdrawn’, Essex Police financial investigator Laura Mackenzie told the court in January.

Prosecutor Andrew Bousfield added ‘despite pretending to be a billionaire, his most valuable asset at the time was selling sexual videos’.

His main asset at the time was £60,000 in owning his house, the court heard.

His OnlyFans subscriber count was said to have jumped 43 per cent as a result of the video, from 1,061 when it was uploaded on November 8, 2020 to 1,883 by the time his account was de-activated on December 8.

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The footage was available to subscribers behind a $9.99 (£7.84) paywall on his profile ‘@hollywoodbear’.

Stephen Bear arriving in an open pink shirt at Chelmsford Crown Court

Stephen Bear arriving in an open pink shirt at Chelmsford Crown Court

Stephen Bear arriving in an open pink shirt at Chelmsford Crown Court

Georgia Harrison (centre) arriving at court

Georgia Harrison (centre) arriving at court

Georgia Harrison (centre) arriving at court 

There was said to have been a ‘jump up’ in the $9.99 purchases when the footage started ‘go viral’ and Ms Harrison became aware of it.

A total of 273 subscribers purchased the video and, following the standard 20 per cent cut to OnlyFans, this earned him £1,650.98, the court heard.

After the video was posted he adjusted his subscription fee, from a range of $7.50 (£5.89) to $50 (£39.28).

Through extra subscribers drawn in by the video, he was found to have earned £15,440.28, on top of the £1,650.98 earned through the paywall, Ms Mackenzie told the court.

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Calculations on how much Bear earned from the video were debated during the hearing, and the judge noted that this was troubled by the convicted sex offender refusing take the stand and provide evidence.

Judge Christopher Morgan accepted Ms Mackenzie’s valuation of his profits, and acknowledged it was difficult to deduce precisely what each new subscriber sought when they joined his account after the video’s release.

He said: ‘He had, by the time the account had been set up, filmed himself and Georgia Harrison, that material being the subject of the criminal charges that he faced.

Bear giving a thumbs-up as he arrives at Chelmsford Crown Court

Bear giving a thumbs-up as he arrives at Chelmsford Crown Court

Bear giving a thumbs-up as he arrives at Chelmsford Crown Court

Ms Harrison arrives at Bear's revenge porn confiscation hearing

Ms Harrison arrives at Bear's revenge porn confiscation hearing

Ms Harrison arrives at Bear’s revenge porn confiscation hearing

‘The defendant plainly intended that that material would be placed onto his OnlyFans account.’

The OnlyFans hearing in January then moved immediately into a second case regarding a fence around Bear’s property that Epping Forest District Council claims is too tall.

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It was reiterated that Bear was unemployed and had no immediate prospects of getting a job.

His defence barrister in the second hearing said: ‘He doesn’t have a car to his name – we ask for a modest financial penalty, there seems to be little purpose in hammering him with significant financial penalty.

‘As of today, there isn’t employment, and there isn’t a guaranteed contract (of employment), but certainly the impression is that he’s dedicated to making a lawful professional career.’

Judge Morgan acknowledged that he had ‘no certain or paid employment’ at present, but was satisfied Bear could pay the money.

He was ordered to pay a £500 fine and £4,707.05 in costs in 56 days.

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