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National News

Bono Pressure to look macho stopped me from admitting love of Abba

U2 frontman Bono has said the pressure to look “macho” as a young man stopped him from admitting he enjoyed the music of Abba. The singer, 62, said he did not have the “courage” to “own up” to liking the Swedish pop superstars but now was able to see that “you can’t be empirical about everything in art”. Bono spoke alongside guitarist The Edge, 61, during an hour-long special for BBC Radio 2’s Piano Room, where they played songs fromRead More

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National News

Gregor Townsend believes Scotland can cope without Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg

Gregor Townsend is confident Scotland will be able to cope without influential backs Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations match at home to Italy. The experienced pair are missing through injuries that forced them off in the closing stages of last weekend’s defeat by Ireland. Blair Kinghorn will replace Russell at stand-off and Ollie Smith will take the place of full-back Hogg, as was the case in one of last summer’s Tests against Argentina. Asked ifRead More

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National News

Richard Bransons Virgin Orbit pauses operations while it seeks extra funds

Richard Branson’s satellite launch firm Virgin Orbit has paused operations, the company said, amid reports that it is working to secure additional funding. The news comes after the company, which is based in California, failed in its first ever satellite mission from UK soil in January. In a statement, the company said: “Virgin Orbit is initiating a company-wide operational pause, effective (from) March 16 2023, and anticipates providing an update on go-forward operations in the coming weeks.” The changes wereRead More

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National News

Governments 2030 electric vehicle target difficult to reach

That's according to the Duke of Richmond The Government’s ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2030 could be “difficult” to achieve, the Duke of Richmond has said. The duke, who owns the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex where popular motoring events including the annual Festival of Speed and Revival are held, expressed his concerns over the target to transition to electric cars as he launched the venue’s 2023 motorsport calendar. He told the PA news agency:Read More

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National News

Currys cuts profit outlook again on Nordic woes

Electronics retail chain Currys has trimmed its profit guidance for the second time in just over three months, as trading woes in Scandinavia continue to affect the group. It has hired a new chief executive of the Nordics business as it ramps up overhaul efforts for the division, where it admitted the performance remains “very challenging”. Currys said the Nordics’ troubles were offsetting “strengthening” trading in the UK and Ireland and would leave profits sharply lower. It said underlying pre-taxRead More

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National News

Levi Colwill up for the cup after Brighton deliver derby success against Palace

Brighton defender Levi Colwill wants to build on their derby success against Crystal Palace by reaching the FA Cup semi-finals. Solly March’s first-half goal settled the grudge match on the south coast to keep the Seagulls in the hunt for Europe next season. But they will put the race for the top four on the backburner this weekend when they take on Sky Bet League Two club Grimsby in the last eight of the cup. Colwill returned to the BrightonRead More

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National News

Jurgen Klopp focusing on massive task ahead as Liverpool target top four push

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is targeting a decisive week early next month which he believes will define not only this season but the next. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is targeting a decisive week early next month which he believes will define not only this season but the next. His side’s exit from the Champions League after a 1-0 defeat in the Bernabeu saw them lose 6-2 on aggregate to Real Madrid, leaving them with just the option of securing aRead More

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National News

Pentagon shows footage of Russian aircraft dumping fuel on US drone

The Pentagon has released footage of what it says was a Russian aircraft pouring fuel on a US Air Force surveillance drone and clipping its propeller in international air space over the Black Sea. The 42-second video shows a Russian Su-27 approaching the back of the MQ-9 drone and beginning to release fuel as it passes, the Pentagon said, apparently aimed at blinding its optical instruments and driving it out of the area. On a second approach, either the sameRead More

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National News

Poland detains Russian spies aiming to sabotage supply of weapons to Ukraine

Polish security services have detained members of a Russian espionage ring, authorities said, alleging they were preparing acts of sabotage in Poland and had been monitoring railway lines used to transport weapons into Ukraine. Polish security services have detained members of a Russian espionage ring, authorities said, alleging they were preparing acts of sabotage in Poland and had been monitoring railway lines used to transport weapons into Ukraine. Interior minister Mariusz Kaminski said the Internal Security Agency had arrested nineRead More

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