French prosecutors have launched an investigation into a billionaire who is the world’s second-richest person over his links to a Russian oligarch. Bernard Arnault, co-founder and chief executive of luxury-goods group Louis Vuitton (LVMH), is being investigated amid allegations of money-laundering. The Paris public prosecutor’s office says it is investigating financial transactions involving the French billionaire and businessman Nikolai Sarkisov. Mr Arnault’s spokesperson declined to comment. The inquiry is centred on property purchase in Courchevel, a ski resort in the French Alps known for being a playground for the ultra-rich, the prosecutors said. Mr Sarkisov acquired property there via a transaction in which Mr Arnault, through one of his companies, had provided a loan, according to French daily paper Le Monde, citing the Tracfin financial-intelligence unit. It said the 55-year old Russian billionaire had acquired 14 housing units from a single seller in 2018 for €16m (£13.9m) in a complex deal involving companies based in France, Luxembourg and Cyprus. Tracfin, part of the French justice system focused on combating money-laundering, has yet to determine whether any crime had been committed, a source close to the investigation said. Mr Arnault’s LVMH group owns handbag brand Louis Vuitton, Moët champagne, Hennessy cognac, the jeweller Tiffany’s and the watchmaker Tag Heuer, among many others. His fortune is thought to be worth $164bn (£134bn), according to financial experts at Bloomberg. Mr Sarkisov’s RESO-Garantia insurance company in Moscow could not be immediately reached for comment. Le Monde cited a person close to Mr Arnault as saying the transaction had been carried out in full respect of French law. In 2019, the French tycoon, who is the richest person in Europe and second-richest after Elon Musk, pledged 200 million euros (£173m) for the restoration of Notre Dame after it was devastated by fire. Breaking news: more follows Read More First Abrams tanks arrive from US in boost for Kyiv – live Europe sweeps opening session in Ryder Cup to put USA in 4-0 hole Putin recruits former Wagner commander ‘Grey Hair’ Troshev First Abrams tanks arrive from US in boost for Kyiv – live Europe sweeps opening session in Ryder Cup to put USA in 4-0 hole Putin recruits former Wagner commander ‘Grey Hair’ Troshev

The Londonderry School Board unanimously voted to suspend the high school's cheerleading program without any further delay

Jenson Button won the Formula One world title on this day in 2009 after a fifth-place finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix. A combination of brilliant driving and dramatic incidents saw the Brawn GP driver elevated into fifth spot at Interlagos, while rivals Sebastian Vettel and Rubens Barrichello finished fourth and eighth, respectively. That left Button with a 15-point cushion over Vettel, with Barrichello two points further back with just one race remaining. He became the 10th British driver to win the top prize in motor racing, inheriting the crown from compatriot Lewis Hamilton, the 2008 champion. The 29-year-old Button may not have wrapped it up in the way he would have liked, having won six of the first seven races of the season, but his Brawn team also claimed the constructors’ title just over 10 months after they appeared to be on the scrapheap when Honda pulled out of the sport. The tears and the champagne flowed at the end of 71 laps, with Button’s father John admitting he and his son “cried like babies” when theyembraced each other after the race. “You don’t win the world championship and feel relief, you feel ecstatic,” Jenson Button said. “All the memories, good and bad, go through your mind, not just from this year, but previous years in the sport, especially this year. “I had such a great start to the season and then the last few races were pretty stressful for me because the pace was there, but we struggled a few times. “This team has done staggeringly well and what we’ve achieved this season after the winter we’ve had is exceptional, and I don’t think there has been a season like it in Formula One. “It’s great to be sat here as world champion and I personally think I thoroughly deserve it. I’ve been the best over 16 races and that’s what world titles are all about.” Button completed the 2009 season with a third-place finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix two weeks later, finishing 11 points clear of Vettel. He moved to McLaren the following season and was runner-up to Vettel in the 2011 title race. He retired from F1 in 2017. Read More FIA to review Qatar GP as ‘dangerous’ temperatures prompt driver complaints Lewis Hamilton and George Russell vent anger on radio after collision in Qatar Lewis Hamilton crashes out after first-corner collision with George Russell In his own words: Christian Horner on world champion Max Verstappen Angry Lance Stroll shoves personal trainer and storms out of interview Max Verstappen fastest in Qatar practice as he closes in on world championship

King Charles III is to address French lawmakers, meet with sports groups in Paris northern suburbs and pay a visit to Notre-Dame cathedral as part of his state visit to France

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Liverpool fans have been left in despair at the club’s latest signing after an announcement on the team’s website revealed how they will get the next generation of fans on board. With the football transfer season well underway, teams have been making various signings with their fans quick to comment on whether they agree with them or not. Liverpool fans appear to have unanimously agreed that their new one is the “worst signing ever” after announcing the club is collaborating with YouTube kids star, Blippi. Blippi is an American YouTube character aimed at preschool age and has become a worldwide sensation with over a billion monthly views on streaming sites. Liverpool announced: “Blippi’s latest adventure is a fun way to introduce the Reds to pre-schoolers across the globe. “Alongside this episode, LFC and Blippi have also collaborated on a new retail range that launches on July 10, available exclusively through LFC’s official retail channels. This is the first time Blippi has collaborated with a sports team outside the USA.” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter On Twitter, one fan shared a clip of Blippi at Anfield and called it “the worst signing we’ve ever made”. In the clip, an overwhelmingly enthusiastic Blippi addressed LFC families, but for some the collab seems a stretch too far. One Liverpool fan wrote: “Really hope we get relegated for this cringy crap.” Another said: “If we're s**te again next season, this f**kers gettin' the blame.” But, others saw the silver lining, with one arguing: “Would still take him over [Harry] Maguire.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

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An extract from Sir Elton John’s memoir has gone viral again after his closing set at Glastonbury festival on Sunday (June 25). The passage was shared on Twitter by user Carl Woodward who added the caption: “I often think about Elton John’s memoir.” The extract from John's 2019 autobiography Me says: “I don't need a psychiatrist to tell me that material possessions aren't a replacement for love or personal happiness. I've spent enough miserable, lonely nights in houses filled with beautiful things to have worked that out for myself a long time ago. “And I really don't recommend going shopping in the depressing aftermath of a three-day cocaine binge, unless you want to wake up the next day confronted by bags and bags filled with absolute crap you don't actually remember buying. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter “Or, in my case, you wake up the next morning to a phone call informing you that you've bought a tram. Not a model tram. An actual tram. “A Melbourne W2 class drop-centre combination tram, that the voice at the end of the phone is now informing you has to be shipped from Australia to Britain, where it can only be delivered to your house by hanging it from two Chinook helicopters.” It has prompted an outpouring of affection for the pop star on social media. One person replied: “Brilliant book! Like being at the pub with him whilst he tells anecdote after anecdote.” Another person added: “I loved his memoir. One of the best things I've read in ages.” One other commenter said: “The Legend has such style!” The best bit? He still has the tram, according to a tweet by the original poster. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.