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Bar Refaeli Wedding: Israel Row over No-Fly Zone at Venue

Lisa.Felice
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Bar Refaeli Wedding: Israel Row over No-Fly Zone at Venue

Supermodel Bar Refaeli’s request to close Israel’s air space over her wedding venue has sparked a row between the country’s transport minister and the civil aviation authority (CAA).

The CAA had agreed to close the skies over the hotel in northern Israel.

However, Transport Minister Yisrael Katz then threatened to sack the CAA boss if he did not overturn that decision.

In the end, the skies stayed open to all air traffic during Thursday’s wedding, Israeli media reported.

Photo Instagram
Photo Instagram

Bar Refaeli, 30, Israel’s most famous supermodel, married billionaire Israeli businessman Adi Ezra at the Carmel Forest resort near Haifa.

According to Israeli media reports, Bar Refaeli and Adi Ezra were planning to have five drones, two helicopters and an observation balloon circling the venue, some for photographic purposes.

The CAA initially agreed to the couple’s request for a ban, citing safety reasons.

However, Minister Yisrael Katz on September 20 overturned that decision saying: “The skies belong to all Israeli citizens and we can’t offer special treatment for this event over other events.”

Israeli pilots had also objected to the ban.

On September 22, according to Israeli media, the CAA, appearing to disregard Yisrael Katz’s comments, announced a no-fly zone would be in place for safety reasons from 17:00 on September 24 to 02:00 on September 25.

Yisrael Katz reportedly told CAA chief Joel Feldschuh: “If the skies are not open above Bar Refaeli’s wedding – you will be removed from your post.”

On Thursday evening the transport ministry told The Jerusalem Post that the skies had stayed open to all air traffic.

The Times of Israel reported the rabbi was flown in by helicopter for the ceremony.

Forbes Israel has ranked Bar Refaeli as Israel’s top-earning model reporting revenue of nearly $16 million in 2013 when she appeared in a lucrative Super Bowl advert.

She has hosted Israeli X Factor and modeled for brands including Desigual and Escada.

A former girlfriend of actor Leonardo DiCaprio, Bar Refaeli prompted criticism in 2003 when it was reported she had opted not to finish her compulsory military service.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oee7dJHtJiE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E9XrG0AY4I

Start Marketing Your Business Online: 5 Things You Can Do in 30 Days

Ricky Robinson
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Start Marketing Your Business Online: 5 Things You Can Do in 30 Days

Blogging, social media, SEO, online advertising — digital marketing comes with a long to-do list — which is the last thing a busy business owner needs. You’re already responsible for product development, customer service, management, and accounting, but you also have to promote your company and your product.

Instead of trying to plan and execute the perfect digital marketing strategy, start with a few high-yield, low-labor online marketing tactics. Even with your packed schedule, you can squeeze in these five tasks within the next 30 days.Online Marketing

1. Update Your Business Listings

Listing your business in many places with a correctly spelled business name, along with an accurate address and phone number, makes it easy for customers to find you. Another nice benefit of improving your business listings: It’s good for local SEO.

  1. Create a consistent name, address, and phone number (NAP) format for your company. If you use a CMS, copy and paste it into a widget so it populates every page. Make sure it also appears on your “Contact Me” page.
  2. Check your existing social profiles. Add your NAP to business social media profiles, and include a link to your website.
  3. Add your name to relevant directories. Submit your updated NAP to professional organization member directories, local small business listings sites, and other high-quality sites that will refer customers to your business.
  4. List your business information with search engines. Submit your listing to Google My Business, Bing Places, and Yahoo Local. Be sure to follow up on any verification requests.

2. Optimize Your Business Web Pages and Social Profiles

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Incorporating specific keywords into your business Web pages and improving how your site looks in search can improve your search rankings and send additional traffic your way. It’s also a great first step toward developing a solid SEO strategy.

  1. Research some keywords related to your business. Visit your Google Webmaster Tools page, choose your website, and find Search Analytics under search traffic. Look at queries people used to find your site, which will give you some initial keyword ideas. Plug your ideas into Ubersuggest or Wordstream’s free keyword tool to generate a list of keyword ideas. Also, research your competitors’ sites to see which keywords they rely on to attract search traffic. Once you have some keyword ideas, incorporate them into your Web pages and social media profiles without overstuffing your text with keywords.
  2. Create better title tags and meta descriptions. If you use WordPress, add the SEO by Yoast plugin, and fill in title tags and meta descriptions for each page. Incorporate your keywords, and make them compelling so people won’t be able to resist clicking. Website content writing at a very high level may require the services of a professional copywriter.

3. Write One Blog Post Per Week

Weekly blogging serves up fresh content for search engines every week and consistent content to share on social networks. Seeing what you know written down and shared also accomplishes other important goals, such as increasing your confidence, fine-tuning your marketing message, and creating new opportunities to communicate with customers.

4. Develop a Social Media Routineimage005

Social media can become an inescapable time vortex if you’re not careful, but you can’t avoid it either. Try these tips to manage business social media in fewer than 20 minutes per day:

  1. Check the day’s activities. Respond to notifications, mentions, requests for connections, customer service queries, and other immediate issues.
  2. Browse your feeds. Scroll through your feeds and hashtags relevant to you to catch the latest news.
  3. Post something. Share a link, make a comment, or offer a promotion related to your company. If you use a tool like HootSuite or Buffer, you can create multiple posts and schedule them ahead of time.
  4. See which posts and shares performed best for you, and learn more about your followers. Repeat your successes, and keep experimenting as you learn more about your audience.

5. Spend $1 per Day on Facebook Ads

Facebook has outstanding demographic targeting tools to put your business in front of prospective customers. Spend $30 this month experimenting with Facebook ads. Next month, keep experimenting before moving onto Twitter promoted tweets or Google AdWords.

The key to getting started with online marketing is simple: just get started. You’ll be surprised by how much you’ll accomplish when you take the 30-day challenge.

Vladimir Putin Phones Elton John to Propose Meeting After Prank Call

Sonia Pantiss
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Vladimir Putin Phones Elton John to Propose Meeting After Prank Call

Vladimir Putin has phoned Elton John and proposed a meeting, according to the Kremlin.

Elton John has said he wants to talk to the Russian president about his “ridiculous” attitude to gay rights.

The British star previously fell victim to pranksters who impersonated Vladimir Putin on the phone.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian media that President Vladimir Putin had this time called Elton John and asked him not to be offended by the hoax.Vladimir Putin calls Elton John

Vladimir Putin said on September 24 he was ready to meet Elton John – when their schedules allowed it – and discuss “any issues of interest” to the singer, Dmitry Peskov said.

Russia has faced international criticism for its laws against gay rights.

A report by Human Rights Watch in 2014 said Russia was failing to prevent and prosecute homophobic violence amid a rise in attacks against minorities.

Prankster Vladimir Krasnov admitted his involvement in the hoax phone call to Elton John.

He told Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda that he made the call with his sidekick Alexei Stolyarov, known as “Lexus”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Bf-x7JYJts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueGQt9aTZB4

Pope Francis Addresses Joint Meeting of US Congress

Diane A. Wade
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Pope Francis Addresses Joint Meeting of US Congress

Pope Francis has made a historic address to US Congress, where he received a warm welcome from more than 500 lawmakers, justices and officials.

He has become the first pope to address a joint meeting of the US Congress.

The Pope was greeted at the Capitol by Speaker of the House John Boehner, who is Catholic, and then entered the chamber to thunderous applause.

The pontiff began his speech by warning of the dangers of “ideological extremism”.

He emphasized the importance of welcoming immigrants.

Pope Francis said the world is facing a refugee crisis of a magnitude not seen since World War Two, and noted that thousands travel north into the US for a better life every year.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

“We must not be taken aback by their numbers, but rather view them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best we can to their situation,” he said.

Pope Francis also related the work of lawmakers to that of Moses, saying they had a responsibility to promote unity through “just legislation”.

The pontiff said the world must be attentive to “fundamentalism, whether religious or of any other kind” but also touched on economic inequality saying “even in the developed world, the effects of unjust structure and actions are all too apparent”.

During his speech, Pope Francis renewed calls for “the global abolition of the death penalty” saying criminals should be rehabilitated.

He also reaffirmed his “esteem and appreciation” to the indigenous people of the Americas who faced “turbulent and violent” contacts with colonizing powers.

Noting that most Congress members were the descendents of migrants, Pope Francis urged them to “treat others with the same passion and compassion with which we want to be treated”.

After finishing with the words “God bless America”, Pope Francis received a prolonged standing ovation.

Thousands of people have gathered on the West Lawn of the Capitol hoping to see the Pope.

Sitting behind the Pope was Vice President Joe Biden and John Boehner, the first and second in line to the presidency, who are both Roman Catholics.

John Boehner, a Republican, is a former altar boy who invited the Pope to speak after failing to persuade his two predecessors to do likewise. He has ruled out fears that Pope Francis – who has a reputation for being politically engaged – will stir up controversy.

“The Pope transcends all of this,” John Boehner wrote in an online essay.

“He appeals to our better angels and brings us back to our daily obligations. The best thing we can all do is listen, open our hearts to his message and reflect on his example.”

Later on the day, Pope Francis is due to share a meal with homeless people.

VW Admits Using Same Fake Emissions Test in Europe

Clyde K. Valle
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VW Admits Using Same Fake Emissions Test in Europe

VW has admitted using the same fake emissions test in Europe as it used to falsify results in the US, Germany’s Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt says.

It was not known how many of the 11 million vehicles affected were in Europe, Alexander Dobrindt said.

He also said other manufacturers’ vehicles would be checked.

The scandal began unfolding on September 18 when Volkswagen said it had used software in the US to provide false emission test results.

Alexander Dobrindt said he had been told vehicles with 1.6 and 2.0 liter diesel engines are “affected by the manipulations that are being talked about”.

Photo Volkswagen
Photo Volkswagen

VW’s Jetta, Beetle, Golf and Audi A3 models in the US from 2009 to 2015, and the Passat from 2014-15, were fitted with the devices which produced doctored results. However, diesel cars are far more popular in Europe than in the US.

Alexander Dobrindt also said random tests would be conducted on cars made by manufacturers other than VW: “It is clear that the Federal Office for Motor Traffic will not exclusively concentrate on the VW models in question but that it will also carry out random tests on vehicles made by other carmakers.”

The value of the world’s largest automaker has shrunk by around 30% since the scandal was revealed.

Separately, BMW shares dropped by 10% on reports the false tests had been used by other automakers.

BMW issued a statement denying the report, saying the “group does not manipulate or rig any emissions tests”.

“We observe the legal requirements in each country and adhere to all local testing requirements,” it continued.

Volkswagen is setting aside €6.5 billion to cover the costs of the scandal.

VW CEO Martin Winterkorn resigned following the revelation.

Martin Winterkorn said he was “shocked” by recent events and was “not aware of any wrongdoing on my part”.

VW’s supervisory board said it would announce Martin Winterkorn’s successor at a board meeting on September 25.

There has been speculation in German media that Matthias Mueller would be named as VW’s next chief executive. He is head of Porsche, which is part of the Volkswagen group of companies.

German public prosecutors are considering an investigation into VW emissions case, with US authorities also said to be planning criminal investigations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7m0dpsigrQ

China Police Arrest 19,000 Triad Suspects in Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong

Nancy Clayson
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China Police Arrest 19,000 Triad Suspects in Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong

Chinese police have arrested 19,000 suspects in a three-month cross-border anti-triad operation in Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong province, state media say.

Police said triad gangs were increasingly expanding into mainland China.

The organized-crime involved includes drug dealing, gambling and prostitution.

Triads are transnational crime groups, often based in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, but operating globally.

Photo Tumblr
Photo Tumblr

“The message we want to send out to the public is that police have zero tolerance for organized crimes and any other illegal activities,” Au Chin-chau, chief superintendent of Hong Kong police’s Organized Crime and Triad Bureau told journalists.

Illegal loans were also found to be a new source of income for the gangs, he said.

Reports said 4,343 people, 1,177 of them from mainland China, were arrested by police in Hong Kong, where more than 7,500 properties were searched.

In Hong Kong, police seized $102 million Hong Kong dollars ($13 million) in cash, along with drugs, pirated DVDs, weapons and contraband cigarettes worth HK$67 million.

In neighboring Guangdong province, more than 11,000 suspects were arrested.

In Macau, almost 4,000 people were picked up by police.

The crime-sweep, part of a regular operation codenamed Thunderbolt 15, was reportedly the longest joint operation of its kind, and a model for increasing cross-border police cooperation in the future, state media said.

North Korea Blames US for Europe Refugee Crisis

Nancy Clayson
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North Korea Blames US for Europe Refugee Crisis

North Korea has blamed the “evil” United States for triggering Europe’s worst refugee crisis since WW II.

In a lengthy screed denouncing “intolerable” criticism of Pyongyang’s human rights record, a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman argued that the US should be the real focus of censure.

“The US is an evil empire… committing all sorts of human rights abuses,” the spokesman said in a statement carried by North Korea’s official KCNA news agency on September 24.

Photo KCNA
Photo KCNA

As an example, the spokesman cited the plight of the hundreds of thousands of refugees from war zones like Syria and Afghanistan who are seeking shelter in European countries.

“It is the US which caused the serious refugee issue sweeping the whole of Europe,” he said.

“As the US started wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and other parts of the world, and fostered civil wars under the pretexts of ‘war on terrorism’ and establishment of ‘democracy,’ refugees have been on a sharp increase,” he added.

North Korea, by contrast was a “cradle of happy life”, the spokesman said.

The statement was a response to a recent discussion of North Korean rights violations at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

A report published in 2014 by a special UN commission accused North Korea of committing human rights violations “without parallel in the contemporary world”.

Mecca Stampede UPDATE: At least 717 Hajj Pilgrims Killed in Mina Incident

Diane A. Wade
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Mecca Stampede UPDATE: At least 717 Hajj Pilgrims Killed in Mina Incident

More than 700 people taking part in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage have been killed in a stampede near the Islamic holy city of Mecca, officials in Saudi Arabia say.

Besides 717 deaths, other 805 people were injured in the incident at Mina, which occurred as two million pilgrims were taking part in the Hajj’s last major rite.

They converge on Mina to throw stones at pillars representing the devil.

Preparations for the Hajj were marred when a crane collapsed at Mecca’s Grand Mosque this month, killing 109 people.

Mina, a large valley about 3 miles from Mecca, is the location of the three Jamarat pillars and also houses more than 160,000 tents where pilgrims spend the night during the pilgrimage.

The Saudi civil defense directorate said in a statement that the stampede occurred on September 24 at the junction of Street 204 and Street 223, as pilgrims walked towards the five-story structure which surrounds the pillars, known as the Jamarat Bridge.Mina stampede Mecca

The incident happened when there was a “sudden increase” in the number of pilgrims heading towards pillars, the statement said.

This “resulted in a stampede among the pilgrims and the collapse of a large number of them”, it added.

Security personnel and the Saudi Red Crescent were “immediately” deployed to prevent more people heading towards the area, the directorate said.

The hundreds of wounded have been taken to four hospitals in the area.

Amateur video and photographs posted on social media showed the bodies of dozens of pilgrims on the ground. They were all dressed in the simple white garments worn during the Hajj.

The civil defense directorate said the victims were of “different nationalities”, without providing details.

Iran’s state news agency, Irna, said at least 43 Iranians were among the dead.

Many pilgrims from Niger were also killed.

Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV reported that the head of the central Hajj committee, Prince Khaled al-Faisal, had blamed the stampede on “some pilgrims with African nationalities”.

The head of Iran’s Hajj organization, Said Ohadi, told Irna that two routes to the Jamarat pillars had been inexplicably closed off by the Saudi authorities, resulting in the build-up in pilgrims.

Today’s stampede was the deadliest at the Hajj since 2006, when more than 360 pilgrims were killed in the same area.

The Saudi authorities have spent billions of dollars on improving transport and other infrastructure in the area in an attempt to try to prevent such incidents.

The Hajj is the fifth and final pillar of Islam. It is the journey that every able-bodied adult Muslim must undertake at least once in their lives if they can afford it.

Hajj Pilgrimage 2015: At Least 310 Killed in Mina Stampede

Diane A. Wade
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Hajj Pilgrimage 2015: At Least 310 Killed in Mina Stampede

More than 300 people taking part in the Hajj pilgrimage have been killed in a stampede near the Islamic holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabian officials say.

Another 450 people were injured in the incident at Mina, between Mount Arafat and Mecca’s Grand Mosque.

Photo NBC News
Photo NBC News

The stampede occurred as more than a million pilgrims were taking part in the last major rite of the Hajj.

Earlier this month, a crane collapsed at Mecca’s Grand Mosque, killing 109 people and injuring some 400 others.

The Hajj had been largely incident-free for the past nine years as a result of a series of safety improvements made the Saudi authorities.

In 2006, a stampede during the symbolic stoning of the devil at Mina left 364 pilgrims dead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFrwgeruxnE

Xi Jinping Meets Top Tech CEO’s in Seattle

Clyde K. Valle
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Xi Jinping Meets Top Tech CEO’s in Seattle

China’s President Xi Jinping has met US tech leaders in Seattle.

He has promised to strengthen protections on intellectual property and clear obstacles to investment in China.

Speaking at the Seattle meeting, Xi Jinping said: “Without reform, there will be no driving force; without opening up, there will be no progress.”

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Apple CEO Tim Cook were among those attending.

US tech companies are eager to tap into China’s massive market of consumers.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Xi Jinping addressed recent China’s recent economic troubles, and said the government was taking steps to address it.

However, the president said: “I believe in the long run that the fundamentals of the Chinese economy are good.”

Xi Jinping stressed that reaching agreements to ensure continued robust international trade was a top priority.

US officials have said the two countries have made progress in negotiating a new trade agreement, but key issues remain unresolved.

Former US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson moderated a closed-door discussion with more than 30 business leaders before Xi Jinping’s public remarks.

Representatives from Twitter, Facebook and Google were notably missing from the event as China blocks those companies’ websites.

However, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg joined Jeff Bezos and President Xi Jinping later on the day as they toured Microsoft’s corporate campus in suburban Seattle.

Xi Jinping travels to Washington DC on September 24 to meet President Barack Obama.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aZVxG3-LOo

Usher Secretly Married Grace Miguel After Six Years of Dating

Lisa.Felice
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Usher Secretly Married Grace Miguel After Six Years of Dating

Usher and his long-time girlfriend Grace Miguel secretly married prior to jetting off to Cuba for their honeymoon over Labor Day weekend, UsMagazine.com reported.

Usher, 36, who got engaged to Grace Miguel in January after approximately six years of dating.

Photo Instagram
Photo Instagram

Usher and Grace Miguel were originally planning to exchange vows during a lavish ceremony in front of 100 guests in Atlanta, but decided to elope instead, according to the insider.

The singer was previously married to Tameka Foster for two years until 2009. They have two sons together, Naviyd Ely, 6, and Usher Raymond V, 7.

Usher secured primary custody of their children following his split from Tameka Foster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rw29eT-3EA

Chris Brown’s Australia Tour May Be Canceled over Domestic Violence Charges

Sonia Pantiss
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Chris Brown’s Australia Tour May Be Canceled over Domestic Violence Charges

Chris Brown may be blocked from entering Australia because of his domestic violence conviction.

The singer’s announcement last week he would tour in December sparked criticism on social media and an online petition.

The Federal government said on September 24 it was reviewing Chris Brown’s visa application in light of his conviction.

Australia’s Minister for Women, Senator Michaelia Cash, said the government was not afraid to “say no”.

Photo Instagram
Photo Instagram

“People need to understand, if you are going to commit domestic violence and you want to travel around the world, there are going to be countries that say to you, <<You cannot come in because you are not of the character that we expect in Australia>>,” Michaelia Cash said.

The senator’s comments were made at a press conference in Melbourne where PM Malcolm Turnbull announced a national domestic violence prevention program.

The review of Chris Brown’s visa follows the Australian government’s decision earlier this year to refuse a visa for world champion boxer Floyd Mayweather on similar grounds.

Floyd Mayweather, 37, had been booked for dinner and nightclub appearances in Sydney and Melbourne in January.

He has a criminal record, which includes serving two months in jail in 2012, after pleading guilty to an assault on his former partner in front of their children.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6YRwDqAGzY

Pope Francis in US: Junipero Serra Canonization

Diane A. Wade
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Pope Francis in US: Junipero Serra Canonization

Pope Francis has canonized 18th-Century missionary Junipero Serra, in a move cheered by Hispanic Catholics but criticized by some Native Americans.

Junipero Serra, who lived in what is now California, is the first person to be made a saint in the US.

Latino churchgoers have said honoring Junipero Serra is an overdue acknowledgment of the American Church’s Hispanic history.

However, Native American groups have accused Junipero Serra of helping wipe out indigenous people and their culture.

Junipero Serra was a Franciscan friar who brought Christianity to California. Native Americans there say he was instrumental in the killing of thousands of people by the Spanish conquerors.

But his defenders insist he worked as a moderating influence.Junipero Serra canonization

Pope Francis, who is on his first official visit to the US, defended Junipero Serra saying he helped protect native peoples.

“[Junipero Serra] was the embodiment of a Church which goes forth,” Pope Francis said on September 23.

“Today, like him, may we be able to say: Forward. Let’s keep moving forward.”

Pope Francis – speaking in his native Spanish – made the announcement during a Mass in Washington attended by about 25,000 people.

The Pope had “fast-tracked” his canonization, meaning that there was no need to show proof of two miracles.

Earlier, the pontiff called for further action on climate change saying that it was “a critical moment of history”, on the first day of his visit to the US.

Speaking at the White House, Pope Francis said the problem could “no longer be left to a future generation”.

President Barack Obama said the Pope reminded people “that we have a sacred obligation to protect our planet”.

The environmental issue is divisive in the US, with one Republican congressman boycotting the Pope’s speech to Congress on September 24 because of the pontiff’s stance.

All the leading Republican presidential hopefuls say tackling climate change will hurt the economy.

At the White House large crowds gathered on the South Lawn to greet the pontiff. Officials said over 11,000 tickets had been issued, but noted that the crowd was even larger.

After the Pope spoke, he held a private meeting with the president at the White House Oval Office before the Pope embarked on a parade in a specially outfitted jeep known as the “Popemobile”.

The pontiff will also visit New York and Philadelphia.

Pope Francis, who has sought to bring Catholics back to the Church with a more inclusive message, is very popular in the US and is expected to draw massive crowds.

Romanov Family Murder Case Reopened in Russia

James J. Williams
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Romanov Family Murder Case Reopened in Russia

Russia has reopened the 1918 murder case of Tsar Nicolas II and his family, the Romanovs.

The bones of Russia’s last tsar, Nicholas II, and his wife, reburied in a St Petersburg cathedral, will be re-examined.

Revolutionary Bolsheviks killed the Romanovs in a cellar in the Urals region.

The Investigative Committee, a state body, says new checks are needed in order to verify the remains of four other Romanov family members.

The Russian Orthodox Church requested the new investigation in July – despite the fact that the murder case had been closed in 1998.

Some church members remain unconvinced that the buried remains are those of Tsar Nicholas and Tsarina Alexandra.Romanovs murder case reopened 2015

The Romanovs were ousted from power and exiled in 1917, shortly before the communist Bolsheviks overthrew the provisional government.

Tsar Nicholas II, Tsarina Alexandra, their four daughters – grand duchesses Anastasia, Maria, Olga and Tatiana – their son, the Tsarevich Alexei and four royal staff members were murdered at a remote house in Yekaterinburg in 1918.

The remains of nine victims were found in a mass grave in 1993. But the remains of Tsarevich Alexei and Grand Duchess Maria were found in 2007 at a different spot. DNA tests identified them as the murdered royals.

Tsar Nicholas, Tsarina Alexandra and three daughters were formally reburied at St Petersburg’s Peter and Paul Cathedral on July 17, 1998 – the 80th anniversary of the murder. They were canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in 2000.

The new investigation is focusing on the remains of four Romanovs. They are: Tsarevich Alexei, Grand Duchess Maria – both kept at the Russian State Archive – Alexandra’s sister the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Fyodorovna, and Nicholas’s grandfather, former Tsar Alexander II, who was assassinated in 1881.

Only now can investigators get access to Duchess Elizabeth’s remains, which are in Jerusalem.

Investigators want to examine spots of blood on the greatcoat of Alexander II. He was killed by a bomb thrown by a “People’s Will” revolutionary, and buried in his military uniform in the Peter and Paul Cathedral.

Documents from the so-called “White Guards Investigation” concerning the 1918 murder will also be studied. They came to light in the past four years.

Egypt: Al Jazeera Journalists Freed After Presidential Pardon

Roy Siemens
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Egypt: Al Jazeera Journalists Freed After Presidential Pardon

Jailed Al Jazeera journalists Mohammed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed have been freed after receiving pardons from Egypt’s President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.

Egyptian-Canadian Mohammed Fahmy and Egyptian Baher Mohamed were among 100 prisoners whose release was ordered.

Egypt’s state media said a third person from the case was also pardoned. It is not clear if this is the Australian Peter Greste, who was deported in February.

They were sentenced to three years in prison last month after a retrial.

Prosecutors accused them of collaborating with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood after the overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi by the military in 2013.

The journalists denied the allegation and said they were simply reporting the news. Legal experts said the charges were unfounded and politically motivated.Al Jazeera journalists Egypt

A statement from President Abdul Fatah al-Sisi’s office issued on September 23 said Mohammed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed were named on a decree pardoning 100 young people “who had received final court sentences, having been convicted on the grounds of violating the anti-protest law and assaulting police forces”.

“Other prisoners were pardoned due to their health conditions and on humanitarian grounds,” the statement added.

Also named were the prominent activists Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif, who were jailed in 2014 for taking part in an “illegal protest”.

After the pardons were first reported, a tweet from Mohammed Fahmy’s account said: “Thank you to all the supporters sending us the news, we have heard and are very happy. AJ Staff is Free!”

Al Jazeera said in a report on its website that it “continues to demand all charges and sentences against its journalists are dropped”, noting that Peter Greste and six other employees had been convicted in absentia.

The pardons were issued by President Abdul Fatah al-Sisi ahead of the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha and a day before he travels to New York to address the UN General Assembly.

The president had said he would be willing to pardon the Al Jazeera journalists once the judicial process had ended.

Mohammed Fahmy, who renounced his Egyptian citizenship to qualify for deportation in February, was expected to leave for Canada following his release.

Joe Biden Tops Presidential Choice for a Quarter of Democrats in New Poll

Nancy Clayson
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Joe Biden Tops Presidential Choice for a Quarter of Democrats in New Poll

According to a recent Bloomberg Poll, Vice President Joe Biden tops presidential choice for one in four Americans who are registered Democrats or lean.

The poll findings released on September 23 represent a notable achievement for an as-yet undeclared candidate, suggest concerns about Hillary Clinton’s candidacy and raise the prospect of a competitive three-way race for the Democratic presidential nomination, Bloomberg reports.

According to the national poll, Hillary Clinton is now the top choice of 33% of registered Democrats and those who lean Democrat.Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton in polls

Joe Biden places second with 25% and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is at 24%. The other three Democratic candidates combined are the top choice for less than 4% of that base.

Recent polls in states that will host the earliest contests of the presidential campaign, Iowa and New Hampshire, have shown Bernie Sanders closing in on and, in some cases, surpassing Hillary Clinton with Joe Biden in a more distant third place.

As Hillary Clinton’s numbers have dropped, Joe Biden has been openly mulling a late entry into the race.

However, Joe Biden is delaying a decision to allow himself and his family an opportunity to grieve the death of his son, Beau, to brain cancer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r-PUy4jKjg

Donald Trump to Sue Club for Growth over Attack Ad

Nancy Clayson
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Donald Trump to Sue Club for Growth over Attack Ad

Donald Trump has threatened to sue the conservative Club for Growth for its ad campaign in which the Republican presidential hopeful for his liberal economic policy positions.

On September 22, Donald Trump’s presidential campaign released a cease and desist letter sent by the tycoon’s general counsel, Alan Garten, to Club for Growth President David McIntosh.

In the letter written on the letterhead of Donald Trump’s business conglomerate, Alan Garten says the conservative group has misrepresented the billionaire’s views on taxes by taking an old statement that he would like to hike taxes across the board on the “superwealthy,” a view that Trump’s campaign claims he no longer holds.

Earlier this year, the Club for Growth asked for a $1 million donation from Donald Trump, which he declined.

The letter closes with an ultimatum: “In the interest of avoiding what will certainly be a costly litigation process, we are prepared to offer you the one-time opportunity to rectify this matter by providing us with your prompt written assurances that (i) you have stopped running the Attack Ads; and (ii) you will not generate or disseminate any misleading or inaccurate information or make any factually baseless accusations… with respect to my client at any point in the future.”

Photo AP
Photo AP

If the Club for Growth refuses to heed Donald Trump’s warnings, his counsel threatens: “We will commence a multi-million dollar lawsuit against you personally and your organization … as well as pursue all other remedies available to us at law or in equity.”

Club for Growth Action released a statement on September 22 responding to the Trump organization’s letter saying the ad campaign will continue.

“Tough guy Donald Trump starts whining when his liberal record is revealed,” said David McIntosh.

“Trump has advocated higher taxes numerous times over many years, just like he’s advocated for universal health care, the Wall Street bailout, and expanded government powers to take private property. 

“Trump’s own statements prove that our ads are accurate. They will continue to run. We suggest that Donald grow up, stop whining, and try to defend his liberal record.”

On September 15, the Club for Growth’s political arm held a press conference at the National Press Club in D.C. to announce it was launching a $1 million ad campaign in Iowa, branding Donald Trump “the worst kind of politician.”

The two ads highlight Donald Trump’s past statements that he identifies as a Democrat and that he has supported using eminent domain to take private property.

Donald Trump, one of the ads says, is “playing us for chumps”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OEijvTi0NE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRZ8jBlLGm8

VW Emissions Scandal: CEO Martin Winterkorn Resigns

Clyde K. Valle
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VW Emissions Scandal: CEO Martin Winterkorn Resigns

VW CEO Martin Winterkorn has resigned after the revelation that the world’s largest automaker manipulated US diesel car emissions tests.

Martin Winterkorn said he was “shocked” by recent events and that Volkswagen needed a “fresh start”.

He added that he was “not not aware of any wrong doing on my part” but was acting in the interest of the company.

VW has already said that it is setting aside €6.5 billion to cover the costs of the scandal.

The world’s biggest carmaker admitted last week that it deceived US regulators in exhaust emissions tests by installing a device to give more positive results.

VW said later that it affected 11 million vehicles worldwide.

“I am clearing the way for a fresh start with my resignation,” Martin Winterkorn said in his statement.VW CEO Martin Winterkorn resigns

He said he was “stunned” at the scale of the misconduct in the group but that he was confident that VW would overcome this “grave crisis”.

“The process of clarification and transparency must continue. This is the only way to win back trust,” he continued.

In a separate statement, VW’s supervisory board said they would announce Martin Winterkorn’s successor at a board meeting on September 25, adding that it was “expecting further personnel consequences in the next days” as a result of its own investigations.

“The internal group investigations are continuing at a high tempo,” it said.

“All participants in these proceedings that has resulted in unmeasurable harm for Volkswagen will be subject to the full consequences.”

The board also said that it would voluntarily submit a complaint to the state prosecutors.

“In the view of the Executive Committee criminal proceedings may be relevant due to the irregularities,” its statement said.

German public prosecutors have already said they are considering an investigation, with US authorities also said to be planning criminal investigations.

In addition, VW faces fines of up to $18 billion by the regulator, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

VW’s shares have tumbled some 30% since the beginning of the week in response to the scandal.

Pope Francis Speech at White House Welcoming Ceremony

Diane A. Wade
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Pope Francis Speech at White House Welcoming Ceremony

On the first day of his visit to the US, Pope Francis has called for further action on climate change saying that it was “a critical moment of history”.

Speaking to a crowd of more than 11,000 people on the White House South Lawn, Pope Francis said the problem could “no longer be left to a future generation”.

President Barack Obama said Pope Francis reminded people “that we have a sacred obligation to protect our planet”.

The pontiff will later conduct the first canonization on US soil.

Following the speech, the two leaders met behind closed doors in the Oval Office.

Speaking in English – one of the few times the Argentine pontiff is expected to do so during the week’s many events – Pope Francis praised President Barack Obama for recent proposals aimed at tackling air pollution.

Photo Getty Imagez
Photo Getty Imagez

Time remains to make the changes required, Pope Francis said, in a speech that also called for protecting religious liberty and stamping out discrimination.

The environmental issue is a divisive one in US politics, with one Republican congressman boycotting Pope Francis’ speech to Congress on September 24 because of the pontiff’s stance.

All the leading Republican presidential candidates oppose action to tackle climate change because they say it will hurt the economy.

The morning began with the pontiff emerging from the Apostolic Nunciature – the Holy See’s equivalent of an embassy – around 09:00 local time.

Clad in his traditional white cassock, Pope Francis spent several minutes greeting well-wishers who had assembled behind temporary fencing in front of the diplomatic complex.

After shaking hands and giving hugs and kisses to the largely young crowd, the pope boarded a modest hatchback trailed by a convoy of large security vehicles and made the 15-minute drive through Washington on streets that had been cleared of traffic for the occasion.

At the White House large crowds gathered on the South Lawn to greet Pope Francis. Officials said over 11,000 tickets had been issued, but noted that the crowd was even larger.

A cadre of Obama administration officials and a military color guard flanked a stage set up outside the South Portico – among the most rare and respectful diplomatic ceremonies that the US government can offer visiting dignitaries.

Following a military color guard and the playing of the Holy See and US national anthems, President Barack Obama welcomed Pope Francis with brief remarks.

The canonization on September 23 will be part of a Spanish-language Mass to be held at the largest Roman Catholic church in North America, and will elevate to sainthood the Spanish missionary who brought Christianity to what is now the US west coast.

At the afternoon Mass, Junipero Serra, a Spanish Franciscan who founded a mission in California in the 18th Century, will become the first Hispanic saint in the US.

But the decision to canonize the missionary has been criticized by some Native Americans, who view him as someone who aggressively imposed Catholicism on their ancestors.

Pope Francis has in the past apologized for the treatment of indigenous people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4iDF0RPXgU

Leaving Kids Alone: How Long is Too Long?

Dana R
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Leaving Kids Alone: How Long is Too Long?

When it comes to leaving kids alone, how long is too long? That’s the question being asked by many after several reported cases of parents getting in trouble with the law for leaving their children alone. Most legislation on the matter is vague. Take the state of Illinois, for example. The law says children under 14 are considered willfully abandoned if left alone for any “unreasonable” amount of time.

That such an open-ended law could end up on the books indicates a case-by-case approach, but it doesn’t always seem to work. Natasha, a mother living in the Chicago area, says she let her three sons, aged eleven, nine, and five, play at the park opposite her apartment complex. There weren’t out even out of her sight—she was watching them from her window—and yet charges of neglect were brought against her, resulting in a serious disruption to her life.

kids-alone
Photo source: media.rd.com

“I can’t go on field trips with my sons because they do background checks,” she says. “My kids know I’m a great mom to them.” To fight the charges, she was forced to give up her plans for nursing school.

“Letting your kids go to the park, we don’t think any of that constitutes blatant disregard as the law defines it,” said Diane Redleaf, one of the family attorneys representing Natasha.

Natasha’s story isn’t unique. In April of this year, Danielle and Alexander Meitiv had to wrestle their kids from Children’s Protective Services after allowing them to walk home from the park. In Florida, two parents were hit with felony neglect charges after neighbors reported their son was playing basketball alone in the backyard for an hour and a half. They say they were running late that day, and weren’t home in time to unlock the door for their son.

Natasha says she hopes her case will set a precedent for others. “Even if it doesn’t come off my record, other people shouldn’t have to go through what I went through.”

Redleaf added: “We have opened the door to rampant calls against people in circumstances that are in no way neglect and we have to put some guidelines down on paper and in practice,” said Redleaf. “And only if they blatantly disregard their duty as parents should the state step in.”

Cases like Natasha have inspired the “free-range” movement—a loose collection of activists and organizations that seek to prevent these kinds of incidents from happening. Some of them want to change legislation to give more leeway to parents.

“A Free-Range Kid is a kid who gets treated as a smart, young, capable individual, not an invalid who needs constant attention and help,” writes Lenore Skenazy, a mother and free-range kid activist living in New York City. She’s the author of a popular book called “Free-Range Kids: How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children (Without Going Nuts with Worry)”, and the star of the Canadian television show World’s Worst Mom.

In a piece for The Atlantic, Skenazy reported only 13 percent of children in the U.S. walk to school, and only six percent of 9-13 year olds play outside in a given week.

Responding to a scathing report issued by Redleaf’s Family Defense Center, Illinois’ Department of Children and Family Services stated:

“Ultimately the Department of Children and Family Services considers all allegations of inadequate supervision on a case by case basis, because what may be appropriate under certain circumstances may be considered child neglect in others.”

They added that parents and caregivers should “consider all the risks involved when thinking about leaving children alone and to recognize the signs, such as maturity, acceptance of responsibility and awareness of the needs of others, when a child shows that he or she may be ready.”

VW Emissions Scandal: World’s Largest Automaker Facing Multiple Investigations in US

Clyde K. Valle
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VW Emissions Scandal: World’s Largest Automaker Facing Multiple Investigations in US

According to new reports, world’s biggest automaker Volkswagen is facing multiple investigations in the US, including a criminal probe from the Department of Justice.

They follow an admission by the German carmaker that it deceived US regulators in exhaust emissions tests.

A DoJ criminal investigation would be serious, as federal authorities can bring charges with severe penalties against a company and individuals.

Late on Tuesday, September 22, New York state’s top lawyer announced an investigation.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said he would collaborate with other states to enforce consumer and environmental law.

“No company should be allowed to evade our environmental laws or promise consumers a fake bill of goods,” Eric Schneiderman said in a statement announcing the probe.Volkswagen Diesel emissions scandal

Meanwhile the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board are investigating the way VW cheated tests to measure the amount of pollutants coming from its diesel cars.

VW said 11 million vehicles worldwide were involved and it was setting aside €6.5 billion to cover costs of the scandal.

According to news agencies Bloomberg and AFP, the DoJ is looking into the issue, which raises the possibility of the company and individual executives facing criminal charges.

However, the DoJ often extracts hefty payments from companies to settle criminal charges.

VW is due to hold a supervisory board meeting on September 25.

Reports say VW CEO Martin Winterkorn will appear before a select group of board members before then, possibly on September 23.

On September 22, Martin Winterkorn issued a fresh apology for the test-rigging, saying he was “endlessly sorry” for the “manipulation”.

The boss of Volkswagen’s US business, Michael Horn, has also admitted the company “totally screwed up”.

VW shares were down almost 17% on September 22 in Frankfurt, after losing 19% on September 21.

Academic Stress Leads to More College Football Injuries, According to Research

Dana R
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Academic Stress Leads to More College Football Injuries, According to Research

J.Bryan Mann wanted to know what was behind an increase of injuries among University of Missouri football players. At the time, he was an assistant director of strength and conditioning at the university, and is now an assistant professor of physical therapy. He began studying the problem, running analyses to determine the root cause. But none of the models he tried seemed to explain the rash of injuries. “We ran everything we could possibly think of,” he told The Huffington Post, “We found nothing.”

Finally, Mann decided to see if there was a correlation between the increased injuries and the dates they occurred. The results stunned him. He noticed that football players were more likely to be injured during certain parts of the year. Training season saw a big spike in injuries, but this was more or less to be expected. What really caught Mann’s eye was the injury spike during exam weeks.

College Football Injuries
Photo Source: www.carolinahuddle.com

Looking to corroborate his research, Mann took his findings to Brick Johnson, a fellow professor at the school who specializes in health psychology. The two enlisted the help of other professors, and together they produced the paper called The effect of physical and academic stress on illness and injury in division 1 college football players.

The researchers found that players were three times as likely to suffer an injury during periods of high academic stress, such as midterm exams and finals.

“Stress is a syndrome, and all stress affects the body the same way, although not to the same intensity,” Mann writes. “So it doesn’t matter if the stress is coming from practice, from strength training, from conditioning, from academics, from relationships, from monetary [issues], from any of those means. It’s going to affect the body in the same way. And we’ve only got so much resistance that we can give before something starts to break.”

The effects of stress on illness have been studied for quite some time, but the relationship between the two is far from fully understood. Based on Mann’s and similar findings, many schools have begun trying to reduce the amount of academic stress their student-athletes face during the school year. The Pac-12 Conference, for example, advocates health and promotes wellness of their athletes. A report from the conference found that, although the majority of students were satisfied with conditions for student-athletes, many of them were working with schedules that prevented a full night’s sleep. “Sleep is the number one thing their athletic time commitments prevent them from doing, ultimately hindering their athletic and academic performance,” the Pac-12 report stated.

Mann hopes his study will inspire other universities to look into the issue. “We can’t account for when somebody’s significant other breaks up with them. We can’t account for financial problems that the athlete’s family has,” said Mann. “But you know what we can account for? Whenever there’s going to be a test.”

Mann recommends coaches relax training and practice schedules when they conflict with periods of high academic stress. “They cannot say, ‘Campus you are not having tests. That’s absolutely ridiculous,” he said. “But what they can say is, ‘Look, instead of two hours of practice maybe we go an hour and a half, an hour and forty five. Maybe we pick some drills that work more on the technical and tactical side rather than the physical side of sport preparation for the week. It’s just small changes like that.”

Mann believes that coaches should view student-athletes as equal parts student, and equal parts athlete. The numbers don’t lie, either—athletes perform better when they’re under less stress. Otherwise, college campuses face the very real possibility of going head-to-head with a personal injury attorney. Time will tell how these findings factor into decisions by college administrators.

Yogi Berra Dies at the Age of 90

Clyde K. Valle
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Yogi Berra Dies at the Age of 90

Baseball legend Yogi Berra has died at the age of 90.

The Yankees icon was said to have inspired the cartoon character Yogi Bear.

The Yogi Berra Museum announced that the Hall of Fame catcher had died on September 22.

Yogi Berra spent almost all of his 19-year career with the New York Yankees. He was a three-time Most Valuable Player and 13-time World Series champion.

He was also known for his humorous and paradoxical quotes.Baseball legend Yogi Berra dead

They included “it ain’t over till it’s over” and “half the lies they tell about me aren’t true”.

Tributes have already begun to pour in from the world of baseball.

The New York Yankees tweeted simply: “We have lost an icon.”

Major League Baseball tweeted: “We mourn the passing of Yankees icon and Hall of Famer Yogi Berra.”

Yogi Berra launched a defamation lawsuit over the Hanna-Barbera cartoon Yogi Bear, although he later withdrew it.

The management said the name was a coincidence, but it was widely believed he was the inspiration.

Yogi Berra is said to have been given the nickname Yogi by a friend who saw him sitting cross-legged and looking like a meditating yogi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD9N7oPGVQo

Xi Jinping US Trip: Foreign Companies Welcomed in China amid Economic Reforms

Clyde K. Valle
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Xi Jinping US Trip: Foreign Companies Welcomed in China amid Economic Reforms

China’s President Xi Jinping has sought to reassure US business leaders during a speech on his first visit to the US.

In a Seattle speech covering China’s economic reforms and cyber crime, Xi Jinping said foreign companies were welcome in his country, and that Beijing would not manipulate its currency to boost exports.

The Chinese president also denied Beijing engages in hacking but said China would co-operate with Washington on the issue.

Both issues have strained US-China relations in recent years.

Hacking and economic reforms are likely to come up when Xi Jinping meets President Barack Obama on September 25.

Photo New York Times
Photo New York Times

Xi Jinping, who is on his first state visit to the US, told a dinner meeting of business leaders that ensuring robust international trade was a top priority.

“China will never close its open door to the outside world,” Xi Jinping said.

In response to US allegations that China-linked hackers have been behind a massive data security breach of government databases as well as attacks on private firms, Xi Jinping said Beijing was not involved.

He also said cyber-theft was a crime and should be punished.

“The Chinese government will not in whatever form engage in commercial thefts or encourage or support such attempts by anyone,” the Chinese president said.

Ahead of his visit, business leaders re-iterated the difficulties US companies have operating in China and the deteriorating outlook for the economy.

China’s economy, which has grown rapidly in recent years, is beginning to slow, causing global concern about a fall in demand for global goods.

Recent dramatic losses on the Chinese stock markets, despite government interventions, have led to questions over how well the government is managing the slowdown.

President Xi Jinping will be hosted at the White House for a state dinner on September 25, and is due to give a speech to the UN General Assembly in New York on September 28.

Sergei Pugachev Files $12 Billion Compensation Claim Against Russian State

Clyde K. Valle
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Sergei Pugachev Files $12 Billion Compensation Claim Against Russian State

Russian oligarch Sergei Pugachev has announced he filed a $12 billion compensation claim against the Russian state.

In the claim at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, the tycoon once known as Putin’s banker said Russia had carved up his empire after he fell out with President Vladimir Putin.

Russia accuses Sergei Pugachev, 52, of embezzling millions of dollars.

An Interpol arrest warrant has been issued for him at Moscow’s request.

Sergei Pugachev denies the charges.

The tycoon – who once estimated his business empire was worth $15 billion – announced his move against Russia on September 22 in Paris.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Sergei Pugachev told Reuters that Vladimir Putin’s allies had “expropriated my assets” following the 2008 global financial crisis and then pursued him in courts on charges of embezzlement and asset misappropriation.

He also said that he had feared for his life after falling out with Vladimir Putin.

Sergei Pugachev – the founder of Mezhprombank – said his case resembled that of Yukos, Russia’s now defunct oil producer giant.

In 2014, The Hague court ruled that Russia should pay $50 billion in damages to former Yukos shareholders. It said Russian officials had manipulated the legal system to bankrupt Yukos and jailed its boss Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

Russia said it would appeal against the ruling.

Meanwhile in Russia, a court in May ordered Sergei Pugachev’s arrest on embezzlement charges. The oligarch is accused of knowingly bankrupting his own bank.

Sergei Pugachev left Russia in 2011 and since then has been living in Britain and France.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not commented on Sergei Pugachev’s compensation claim in The Hague court.

However, Dmitry Peskov said investigations in Russia against Sergei Pugachev had nothing to do with the tycoon’s relations with President Vladimir Putin.

“If I am not mistaken, Pugachev is on a wanted list, after all, and, of course, the investigative and search work… has nothing to do with friendly or unfriendly relations,” Dmitry Peskov told Russia’s Ekho Moskvy radio station

“Therefore, here I would absolutely not mix these two issues,” he added.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnyQhDrIAFk

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