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Swiss bar owners questioned by victims’ lawyers over fire tragedy

Lawyers have interrogated Jacques Moretti in connection with the fatal New Year’s Day blaze in Crans-Montana, which resulted in the loss of 41 lives.

On Wednesday, lawyers representing the families of victims of the New Year's Day fire in Crans-Montana questioned Swiss bar owner Jacques Moretti, seeking answers about the disaster that claimed 41 lives and injured 115 people.

A bearded man with no hair and an anorak on the left arrives with a woman to his right with brown hair
Jacques and Jessica Moretti said nothing as they arrived for the hearing in Sion on Wednesday

Accompanied by his wife, Jessica, Moretti arrived at the hearing in Sion, where her lawyer, Yaël Hayat, characterized the proceedings as a crucial moment in the investigation, with Jessica Moretti scheduled to face questioning the following day.

Prior to the hearing, a mother who lost her son in the fire expressed her desire for clarity on the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, speaking to Swiss television.

Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, whose 16-year-old son Arthur perished in the fire, emphasized the importance of uncovering the truth, stating, "What's important is that the whole truth comes out."

In an interview with public broadcaster SRF, Brodard-Sitre called for accountability, saying, "There must be no more lies… I want everyone to take responsibility," and stressing that political considerations were irrelevant to her.

Jacques and Jessica Moretti are currently under investigation for involuntary manslaughter, bodily harm, and arson through negligence, although neither is being detained, with Mr. Moretti having been released on bail last month.

A woman cries holding a white flower
Laetitia Brodard-Sitre's 16-year-old son Arthur died in the fire at Crans-Montana

According to Jessica Moretti's lawyer, Yaël Hayat, the couple has consistently acknowledged their role in the tragedy at Le Constellation bar and is cooperating with the investigation, as reported to French radio.

Hayat noted that, as owners of the premises, the Morettis bear responsibility for the events that occurred, but emphasized that the inquiry must determine the underlying causes of the tragedy.

The couple has faced criticism from former employees regarding safety lapses that have come to light since the fire, including concerns about the use of sparkling candles and the condition of the bar's ceiling.

An investigation has revealed that the use of sparkling candles in champagne bottles may have ignited the ceiling, and footage has surfaced showing an employee using snooker cues to adjust sound-proofing foam on the ceiling weeks before the fire.

It has been reported that no fire inspection had taken place at the bar since 2019, and a former security officer at Crans-Montana's town hall testified that local authorities had not closed any establishments due to fire risks until recently.

The former security officer stated that he had only inspected La Constellation twice, in 2018 and 2019, and that the acoustic foam on the ceiling, which contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, was not included in his fire safety assessments.

The victims of the New Year's Day fire included many teenagers, with ages ranging from 14 to 39, and it has been reported that a locked service door hindered evacuation efforts as the fire spread at approximately 01:30.

The death toll from the disaster rose to 41 a month later, when an 18-year-old Swiss man succumbed to his injuries.

Mélanie Van de Velde, a survivor of the fire, posted an open letter three days before the hearing, describing the extent of her injuries, including 40% burns, and the resulting physical and emotional trauma.

In her letter, Van de Velde detailed the challenges of her recovery, including the frequent changing of dressings and the pain associated with each treatment, and expressed her sadness at the permanent disfigurement she has suffered.

Van de Velde also questioned the state of justice in the case, suggesting that responsibility had been obscured and that accountability was lacking.

Leila Micheloud, the mother of two daughters injured in the fire, attended the hearing in Sion, stating that her presence was intended to humanize the victims and emphasize that they are "not just names on a list."

Micheloud explained that she had chosen to attend the hearing to represent her children, who are among the victims, and to seek justice on their behalf.

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Prince Andrew’s BBC Interview Contrasted with New Insights from Epstein Emails

The Epstein files’ recent release has led to renewed examination of statements made by Prince Andrew in 2019.

The recent release of the Epstein files has prompted a re-examination of statements made by Prince Andrew during a 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, which may now be subject to renewed scrutiny.

A review of the interview by BBC journalists Sean Coughlan and Sarah Campbell has been conducted, comparing Prince Andrew's responses with emails allegedly exchanged by the prince, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is under increasing pressure from US authorities and the family of Virginia Giuffre, who has made prominent allegations against him, to provide testimony in the US regarding his connection to Jeffrey Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted financier, was found guilty in 2008 of soliciting prostitution from a minor and took his own life in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges.

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Serie A to air on BBC with live coverage of Scottish matches

A new multi-game rights deal has enabled the BBC to broadcast live coverage of matches featuring several Scotland internationals, including Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson, Che Adams, Lennon Miller, Kieron Bowie, and Josh Doig, starting this Sunday.

A number of Scottish players, including Che Adams, Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lennon Miller, and Lewis Ferguson, are currently competing in Italy's top division, Serie A.

The upcoming Serie A match between Torino and Bologna will be a notable fixture, featuring several Scottish players.

The match is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 15 February, with a kick-off time of 17:00 GMT, at a venue that will be announced.

Fans can catch the live coverage of the match on BBC Alba, starting from 16:50.

A growing list of Scottish players, including Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson, Che Adams, Lennon Miller, Josh Doig, and Kieron Bowie, are making a name for themselves in Serie A.

With a record number of Scots playing in Italy's top flight, the BBC is now providing live coverage of their matches, allowing fans to follow their favorite players.

As part of a new package, the BBC will broadcast eight live Serie A matches, showcasing the talents of Scottish players as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup.

The first match to be broadcast on BBC Alba will be the encounter between Torino, featuring striker Che Adams, and Bologna, featuring midfielder Lewis Ferguson, on Sunday, with a 17:00 GMT kick-off.

Bologna will be looking to bounce back from five consecutive domestic defeats, despite recent impressive results in the Europa League and against Celtic.

During their recent run, Bologna drew 2-2 with Celtic and secured a 3-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League.

Torino, on the other hand, has only managed one win in their last five outings but will be seeking to build on their recent 2-2 draw against Fiorentina.

Scotland's Nations League campaign is set to begin in Slovenia.

Clarke has confirmed that Barnes will not be making a switch to Scotland.

Scotland is scheduled to face Switzerland in the Nations League.

Future BBC Alba broadcasts will feature matches involving Napoli's Scottish duo, Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour, who is nearing a return from injury, as well as Lennon Miller's Udinese, Josh Doig's Sassuolo, and Kieron Bowie's Hellas Verona.

The number of Scottish players in Serie A has reached a record high, with the likes of Liam Henderson, who has played for several Italian clubs, now competing in Serie B.

Further details of the Serie A matches to be broadcast on BBC Alba will be announced in the coming weeks.

Margaret Cameron, director of content at BBC Alba, expressed her excitement about the opportunity for Scottish fans to watch their favorite players in action, free-to-air, ahead of the World Cup.

Presenter Alex O'Henley is looking forward to hosting the coverage of what he describes as a "golden era" for Scottish players in Italy.

With the World Cup approaching, O'Henley believes it's an exciting time for Scottish fans to follow the fortunes of their players in Italy.

Kieron Bowie made his debut for Verona against Pisa.

Che Adams, who was born in Leicester, has established himself as a key player for Scotland, earning 45 caps and scoring 11 goals since switching allegiances in 2021.

This season, Adams has scored six goals in 26 appearances for Torino, who currently sit 13th in the Serie A table.

Kieron Bowie, who began his career with Raith Rovers, has risen to prominence with Hibernian, scoring nine goals in 30 appearances before joining Hellas Verona in January.

Bowie made his debut for Verona in a 0-0 draw against Pisa, earning his first start for the club.

Josh Doig, who started his career with Hibernian, has become a regular player in Serie A, first with Verona and now with Sassuolo, earning one cap for Scotland.

Doig has made 24 appearances, including 20 starts, for Sassuolo this season.

Lewis Ferguson, who began his career with Hamilton Academical, has become a key player for Bologna, earning 21 caps for Scotland and leading his team to a Coppa Italia final win over AC Milan.

Ferguson has made 29 appearances, including 21 starts, for Bologna this season, helping the team to eighth place in the table.

Billy Gilmour, who started his career with Rangers, has played for several clubs, including Chelsea and Norwich City, before joining Napoli in 2024, where he won his first league title.

Gilmour has been limited to 12 appearances, including six starts, this season due to injury, but is nearing a return to action.

Scott McTominay, who came through Manchester United's youth ranks, has become a key player for Napoli, earning 67 caps for Scotland and scoring 14 goals, including a notable overhead kick against Denmark.

McTominay has made 34 appearances for Napoli this season, scoring 10 goals and helping the team to a strong position in the table.

Lennon Miller, who began his career with Motherwell, has made a promising start to his career, earning four caps for Scotland and joining Udinese in August.

Miller has made 14 appearances, including six starts, for Udinese this season.

Fans can stay up-to-date with their favorite clubs through BBC Sport.

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GB men’s curling team suffers upset defeat to Italy

At the 2026 Winter Olympics, Great Britain’s men’s curling team mounted a comeback against Italy following a disappointing beginning, ultimately falling short in their inaugural match.

Despite a valiant comeback, Team GB ultimately fell short as Italy held their composure to secure the win in the final end.

A dismal start to the match proved costly for Team GB's men, as they suffered their first defeat of the Winter Olympics at the hands of host nation Italy, despite a spirited fightback in the packed Cortina Curling Stadium.

Following victories in their first two matches, including a win over the Swedish rink that beat them in the gold-medal match four years ago, Team GB entered their second high-profile encounter in as many days in a confident position.

However, a disastrous opening end, in which Italy stole four points, left Team GB trailing and facing an uphill battle in front of a boisterous home crowd.

The British team, currently ranked number one in the world, gradually regained their footing and managed to level the score by the ninth end.

Ultimately, Italy maintained their composure in the final end to emerge victorious, winning 9-7 and adding Team GB to their list of scalps, which already included the Swedes.

"We had to dig deep and play some solid curling, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to get us over the line," Team GB lead Hammy McMillan said in an interview with BBC Sport.

With seven wins from nine round-robin matches guaranteeing a spot in the semi-finals, Team GB remains in a strong position, although fewer wins may still be sufficient to advance.

The women's team is set to take to the ice next, facing South Korea in their second match at 13:05 GMT, while the men will return to action on Saturday against the Czech Republic at the same time.

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The looks of shock on the faces of Team GB's curlers told the story of a disastrous opening end.

With a stone in play, Mouat attempted a risky shot in an effort to claim two points, but it backfired, resulting in none of Team GB's stones in the house and four Italian stones in position.

However, the Scottish quartet, ranked number one in the world, quickly regained their composure and got back to their game.

The teams exchanged singles before a impressive final throw by Mouat, aided by a measurement to determine which stone was closest to the button, allowed Team GB to claim two points and narrow the gap to 5-3.

Another excellent team effort, which included a well-judged throw by Mouat, a solid sweep by Hammy McMillan and Bobby Lammie, and Grant Hardie's strategic expertise, forced Italy to concede a point in the fourth end, reducing the deficit to a single point at the break.

Italy blanked the sixth end and added two points in the seventh to rebuild their lead, but Team GB fought back with two points of their own, remarkably levelling the score with one end remaining after a steal.

The match came down to the final end, but Italy held their nerve to secure the win, prompting a deafening roar from the crowd.

"It's an incredible experience, and we need to get used to it," McMillan added, describing the electric atmosphere as "surreal" and "cool," more akin to a football match than a typical curling crowd.

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