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Within days of Russia launching its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, its economy went into meltdown. The rouble plunged to an all-time low against the dollar and would have dropped even further if the central bank had not spent billions on propping up the currency. The country's main stock exchange lost a third of its value and the MSCI index of shares in Russian companies traded in London and New York dropped by 45 per cent. As the months went by, Western companies pulled out of Russia and, by the end of the year, this capital flight totalled a whopping £239billion.

Shirtless Boris Becker displayed a painful-looking elbow injury as he strolled on the beach in Costa Rica with his fiancée Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro on Wednesday. The former world No. 1 tennis player, 56, is thought to have jetted to Costa Rica to take part in the upcoming Netflix survival show Bear Hunt with Bear Grylls that will be hosted by Holly Willoughby. His elbow looked swollen as he relaxed on the sand in his blue trunks after in 2020, it was claimed that Boris had been suffering from what's known as 'Student's Elbow'.

David Hughes, 27, shot the two dogs after they had run rampant around his farm shortly before lambing season and gone into his barn to kill the sheep 'for fun'. Police were called to the private agricultural land at Rhosllanerchrugog in March 2023 as the farmer brought out his shotgun as he could hear his sheep being killed by the dogs. Their bodycam video captured the moment four shots rang out to kill the beasts - and then the heartbreaking scenes of their attack - which saw 22 pregnant sheep killed and another 48 injured during the mass mauling. Mr Hughes was forced to shoot the two dogs dead before they could harm any more of the animals in the farmyard massacre.

There might be another actress under 30 with a more varied and exciting set of credits than Anya Taylor-Joy but if there is, it's hard to think who. And now, to the chess prodigy she played in the hit TV drama The Queen's Gambit, to the possessed 17th century Puritan in The Witch (2015) and the abused 1960s nightclub singer in Last Night In Soho (2021), she adds a post-apocalyptic warrior queen. It was probably only a matter of time. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which had its world premiere last night at the Cannes Film Festival, is an absolute blast from start to finish, a worthy prequel to that high-octane 2015 blockbuster Mad Max: Fury Road. It is utterly stunning on the eye, decidedly loud on the ear, and a thousand-watt jolt to the spirits. I loved it. Taylor-Joy is fabulous as Furiosa, the alpha-female with much to be furious about, likewise Alyla Browne who plays the title role as a girl. But as ever the prize laurels belong to Australian director George Miller, pushing 80 now yet still firmly in command of the petrol-soaked dystopian world he created 45 years ago in the original Mad Max.

Cannes Film Festival got into full swing on Wednesday night with the Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga premiere which brought out a host of stars posing on the iconic red carpet. Anya-Taylor Joy looked every inch the leading lady as she made her arrival, wearing a stunning strapless gown with a corset-style top.  The actress, 28, - who takes over as the younger Furiosa in the upcoming film which is set between 15 and 20 years before the events of Mad Max: Fury Road - showed off her fashion credentials in the gold number which was adorned with crystals and teamed with a statement silver necklace.

Sophie Turner has revealed that having kids was the 'best thing for her relationship with her body' after her past eating disorder struggles with bulimia. Game of Thrones actress, 28, shares two daughters - Willa, three, and Delphine, 18 months, - with her ex husband Joe Jonas filed for divorce from her last September after four years of marriage. And she has now reflected on how pregnancy and raising a newborn was transformative for how she looked at and treated her body.

A benefits cheat who was secretly filmed completing three mile runs when she claimed she could barely walk has been jailed for two years. Annette Bond was paid almost £70,000 in benefits over ten years after claiming she could barely stand up due to multiple sclerosis.

Meghan Markle has said she sees herself in the young girls she met in Nigeria and she hopes to 'empower them' for the future. Speaking to People Magazine,  the Duchess of Sussex, 42, said her quasi-royal tour was 'incredibly memorable and special' and that the 'best souvenir' to take with her was the memories she made. Speaking of the young children she met on the trip, which included visits to two schools, Meghan said: 'I saw myself in them. I see the potential in all of these young girls - and, by the way, in these young boys as well,' She also compared it to her children Prince Archie , five, and Princess Lilibet, two.'It's what we see in our own children - to give them that promise and excitement for their futures.'

Sascha and Maja Wensing, both 40, were sentenced to life after the body of their daughter Lea (inset bottom) was found in Germany's Rhine-Herne canal close to their apartment in Dinslaken. Her horrific ordeal took place last October when the parents decided to lock Lea in the basement of their apartment building. They then embarked upon a regimen of torture that lasted for six days. Shocking messages between the pair revealed during court proceedings showed how the Wensings hated their daughter and conspired to kill her.

Watch the moment King Charles gave a playful response to Maya Jama after she apologised for breaking royal protocol by touching him at the Princes' Trust years ago.  The Love Island host, 29, greeted the King and Queen Camilla as she attended the Sovereign's Creative Industries Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. Maya said: 'Lovely, nice to meet you. Well, I've actually met you before, a long time ago. About something with the Princes' Trust and I touched you. I wasn't supposed to. This time I won't.' 

A woman told to 'stop stressing' when one of her twins died, in utero. Another dismissed as an 'anxious mother', whose baby later lost its life. And new mums left for hours in blood-soaked sheets. Sadly, none of the accounts of appalling care too many receive from our NHS maternity services - outlined in this week's damning report from the UK's first parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma - came as a surprise to me.

Rory McIlroy refused to take questions about his divorce from wife Erica Stoll on Wednesday as he faced the media for the first time since announcing the news. The Northern Irishman has been the talk of Valhalla since it was revealed that he is splitting from his wife of five years, just days ahead of the PGA Championship. In a statement, McIlroy's team 'stressed Rory's desire to ensure this difficult time is as respectful and amicable as possible', before adding that he 'will not be making any further comment'.

After the Northern Irish star filed for divorce from his wife of seven years in a Florida court, fans will be left wondering who gets what in the terms of the sealed pre-nuptial agreement. In what is surely the biggest split of the year so far in the world of sport, fans may be left wondering about how such a settlement may pan out - particularly considering that the 35-year-old, Holywood-born golfer appeared on the Sunday Times Rich List last year with an estimated net worth of £200 million.

SIMON JORDAN Tyson Fury has the chance to become the undisputed, greatest heavyweight of his generation when he takes on Oleksandr Usyk this weekend. He has already proven himself to be a brilliant boxer. Someone who lifted the heavyweight division, scattered the belts and gave everyone an opportunity when he beat Wladimir Klitschko. But a lot of the time he's not the easiest to like, despite the apparent popularity of Netflix's At Home With The Furys. That doesn't mean you can't compartmentalise it though. I can separate Fury's behaviour from his ability - as an athlete he's fantastic, as a statesman in sport not so much.

Loaded magazine has announced it's set to make a comeback in digital form - nine years after it went out of print. The controversial publication was known for its non-PC humour and scantily clad female celebrity cover stars, such as Elizabeth Hurley (pictured left) and Sophie Anderton (pictured centre). But as the British magazine, which had the strapline 'for men who should know better', marks 30 years since it was first published with 'a digital rebellion' via the website loadedworld.com, what happened to the lads' mags glamorous pin-ups. From Cat Deeley, Louise Redknapp and Nell McAndrew (pictured right) to Michelle Marsh, Gail Porter and Abi Titmuss, we take a look at where the cover stars of the '90s and noughties are now...

Meanwhile, attendees at a vigil for hostages of Hamas were branded 'kid murderers' and one academic supervisor is said to have told his student: ' Israel is a terrorist state.' Complaints have been ignored, with some advised to simply 'leave Oxford' if they felt uncomfortable. It comes after Pro-Palestine protesters set up encampments at Oxford, demanding the university cut any financial ties with Israel.

JAN MOIR: No surprise that Emma Barnett 's debut on the Today programme ( BBC Radio 4) was confident, assured and polished, but did we have to suffer quite so many moments of cheery self-reverence? From opening sentence to last, Emma took every opportunity to spotlight her maiden voyage on the good ship Today. 'Here on my first shift on the Today programme it is lovely to be here,' she declared, just after the 6am pips. 'I won't make you blush on our first exchange,' she said to one reporter. When she asked Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers, if he felt his opinions are being heard, she added: 'Beyond coming on this esteemed programme that I am getting to grips with this morning.'

King Charles continued his busy week of events by attending a service of dedication for the Order of the British Empire with Queen Camilla in London today. The monarch and his wife walked up the steps of St Paul's Cathedral for the event where they joined nearly 2,000 people who are holders of various royal honours. It comes after Charles attended the unveiling of a new portrait at Buckingham Palace yesterday afternoon which followed a morning investiture at Windsor Castle . And on Monday he officially handed over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to his son Prince William on a visit to its base in Middle Wallop, Hampshire. Charles has jumped back into public-facing royal duties in recent weeks after being given the all-clear to do so by doctors while his cancer treatment continues.

King Charles and Queen Camilla grinned as they greeted their many guests in London today - including Maya Jama , Tess Daly , Dame Arlene Phillips and Vernon Kay - who were all dressed to perfection. Charles looked dapper in a three-piece suit which included a grey blazer and matching trousers along with a pink silk waistcoat, patterned tie and black polished shoes. The 75-year-old - who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer - tied the look together with a black top hat and came prepared for the unpredictable British weather with an umbrella. Queen Camilla looked regal and cut a sophisticated figure in a long-sleeved baby pink flared dress with fringe detailing.

Nathan Jon 'Vodkaman' Leonard, 43, sadly passed away on April 3 last year with pneumonia, COVID and a heart attack. On Monday, his family scattered his ashes on at the Uzunyalı beach in Marmaris, Turkey as a touching tribute. However, the ceremony also shocked locals as cremation is not legal in the country, sparking a health alert. Mr Leonard was born in Hull on February 19, 1980 to Peter and Mandy Leonard, who he also lived with.

Phillip Schofield looked deep in thought as he was seen for the first time on Wednesday, since he broke his year long social media silence. The former This Morning host, 62, has heavily hinted a TV comeback after he stepped out with TV royalty Declan Donnelly last week as well as making a social media return this week.

Ali Hamsa Yusuf, 22, was caught on surveillance footage creeping up behind his boss at an Amazon warehouse in in West Jefferson, Ohio. The trainee security guard had been in the job two weeks when he attempted to murder his supervisor police said. Heart-stopping footage shows Yusuf saunter up behind his target while he sits at his desk fire twice after the gun jammed the first time. The trainee then fled the scene and was later killed in a shootout with the cops.

Good news! The highly-anticipated first trailer for the movie version of the musical Wicked has arrived - showcasing the impressive vocal talents of lead stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.  The film will be released in theatres on November 27 this year, and cost a whopping $145 million to make.  It has a starry cast including Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Peter Dinklage and Bowen Yang. 

International holidaymakers flying to Delhi can now buckle up in Air India's new flagship aircraft - the Airbus A350 - which is now operating between Dubai and the Indian capital, as well as on domestic routes. Inside, they feature brand-new cabins that are part of a $400million (£315million) refurbishment programme. To discover if this is money well spent, travel experts from The Points Guy put all three A350 cabins to the test simultaneously, filming their experiences in business class, premium economy and economy on a domestic flight from Bengaluru Airport to Delhi.

Kelly Clarkson has recently admitted to taking a weight loss drug, having previously denied it. EVE SIMMONS says celebrities' mistruths about their weight and diets are not harmless...as she discovered during her eating disorder struggle.

Ava, 25, who describes herself as 'New Jersey trash,' previously explained how she merely wanted to show the Irish people her 'home-grown potatoes' after displaying her assets at the public attraction. The portal was installed as a way to bring people together via technology but has since been shut down temporarily due to 'inappropriate behavior,' according to the Dublin City Council. Ava has now revealed the extent of the backlash she has faced in light of her daring display - but insists that 'boobs are harmless.'

Penny Lancaster put on a leggy display as she attended the opening night of Fawlty Towers: The Play with her rarely seen brother Oliver. The former model, 53, looked effortlessly stylish in a chic black minidress with floral print, featuring long sleeves and a thigh-skimming hemline which showed off her long legs.  The wife of rock legend Rod Stewart added a boost to her height with dusty pink strappy heels and sported a bronzed tan. 

Former Olympic figure skater Midori Ito, 54, won an international title at the ISU International Adult Championship in Oberstdorf, Germany on Tuesday. She retired 32 years ago and is known as the first woman to successfully land a triple Axel jump combination. She is also the 1989 world champion and a 1992 Olympic silver medalist, and is recognized as one of the best figure skaters of all time.

Alicia Duncan (right) from Abbotsford, Canada, spoke to Liz Carr for Tuesday night's BBC documentary, Better Off Dead? Her mother Donna Duncan (pictured left with her daughter), 61, was involved in a minor car accident, resulting in concussion. Her health declined in the months that followed, but the exact cause remained a mystery. However, she was 'not terminal', nor was she 'facing imminent death' - but rather was suffering from mental health issues, Alicia stressed.

Franz-Geoffrey Ordonia and girlfriend Leilani Magaoay had gathered their friends and family for the party in Honolulu, Hawaii. The announcement was tailored specifically for fitness enthusiast Franz as he dropped heavy weights onto bags of colored powder which would reveal if the baby was a boy or girl. But things did not go to plan.

The incident happened Saturday, when members of the Havener family were outside in their yard soaking in the spring weather. Sat on their back patio, April and her husband Greg were joined by their nine-year-old daughter and two other family members - before coming face-to face with the carnivorous cat. The family's regular feline, Tuxie, was also in the area - and was the first to encounter the uninvited guest He can be seen darting away from the cougar in the heart-pounding clip, before eventually leading it to the family.

'Plebes' at the U.S. Naval Academy banded together on Wednesday to participate in the Herndon Climb, a tradition that has been going on for more than eight decades. Around 1,175 underclassmen worked together to scale the 21-foot monument, which had been slicked in vegetable shortening, to replace a 'Dixie cup' hat with the more formal cap reserved for upperclassmen. Hoses aimed at the recruits doused them in a relentless spray of cold water. Twenty-year-old Ben Leisegang helped the class come out victorious after a grueling two years, 19 minutes and 11 seconds.