Strauss-Kahn not to run for president elections

Former IMF chief, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who was charged with sexual assault on a hotel maid, said in an interview on the French TV-channel TF1 that he will not run for presidency in 2012.

Strauss-Kahn was considered French President Nicolas Sarkozy's greatest rival until May when the sexual assault case against Strauss-Kahn was opened.

The case was opened on May 14 after 32-year-old maid Nafissatou Diallo alleged that the man had assaulted her sexually at the Sofitel New York Hotel. Strauss-Kahn, 62, pleaded not guilty and said any sexual contact had been with mutual consent.

The case was closed after prosecutors had filed papers to drop all the charges against Strauss-Kahn, citing the alleged victim's lack of credibility. Diallo later admitted lying to a grand jury about the events surrounding the alleged attack.

"I would like to be a candidate," he said. "I thought my post in the IMF gave me a new view of the situation in France, and on its difficulties and benefits against the background of globalization. But it is all in the past, I am definitely not a candidate any longer. However, I still believe that the victory of the left-wing is essential for our country."

Strauss-Kahn also commented on the sexual encounter with the maid saying that "what happened was more than an inappropriate relation" and called it a "moral failing."

After spending a few days in prison upon his arrest, Strauss-Kahn was released on a $1 million bail and put under house arrest.

In early July, prosecutors said Diallo had lied to the authorities when obtaining refugee status, and also lied to tax and social security officials and to the grand jury after taking an oath.

The judge intended to close the case, but Diallo's lawyers said they had proof of Strauss-Kahn's guilt.

Starauss-Kahn reiterated that Diallo lied. He said there was "no act of aggression, no violence."

Former IMF chief has also dismissed a French journalist's claims he tried to rape her during a 2003 interview calling them "imaginary."

Eleanor Mondale, daughter of former vice president, dead at 51

Eleanor Mondale, the vivacious daughter of former Vice President Walter Mondale who carved out her own reputation as an entertainment reporter, radio show host and gossip magnet, has died at her home in Minnesota. She was 51.

Mondale family spokeswoman Lynda Pedersen said she died Saturday. She had been diagnosed with brain cancer years earlier.

Mondale had been off the air at WCCO-AM in Minneapolis since March 19, 2009, when she announced that her brain cancer had returned a second time. She had surgery to remove the tumor Aug. 12, 2009, at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and a posting on her CaringBridge website declared the surgery a success.

Mondale, the middle of three children born to Walter and Joan Mondale, stumped for her father in his failed campaign to unseat President Ronald Reagan in 1984. She also made calls in 2002 in her father's last campaign, when the former vice president took the ballot slot of Sen. Paul Wellstone, who died in a plane crash just days before the election.

A striking blonde known on the party circuit when she was younger, Eleanor Mondale also attracted gossip. Her dalliance with the late rock musician Warren Zevon was detailed in "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon," a posthumous biography published by Zevon's ex-wife in 2007.

In 1998, CBS News reported that Mondale was one of four women Monica Lewinsky expressed resentment toward in taped conversations because of attention President Bill Clinton paid to them. (Mondale issued a statement saying her relationship with the president and his wife, Hillary, was "purely a friendship.")

Mondale started as an aspiring actress, with bit parts in TV's "Three's Company" and "Dynasty." She got her start in broadcasting as an entertainment reporter at WCCO-TV in Minneapolis in 1989, but left after only eight months when a Twin Cities magazine was about to publish an article called, "Walter and Joan's Wild Child." The Star Tribune reported that Mondale denied she was forced out.

In the article in Mpls.St. Paul magazine, Mondale was quoted as saying "I like to get wild. But it's not murder, and I don't do drugs."

After stints at Minneapolis radio station WLOL-FM, on cable television at E! Entertainment and ESPN and network TV on CBS' "This Morning," she returned to Minnesota in 2006 to co-host a weekday morning show on WCCO-AM with Susie Jones.

In 2005, Mondale was diagnosed with brain cancer after she suffered two seizures during a camping trip. The tumor nearly disappeared after Mondale had chemotherapy and radiation, but her cancer returned in 2008. She underwent surgery that time and was able to return to WCCO but eventually had to take disability leave to treat the recurrence.

Mondale was married three times: to Chicago Bears offensive lineman Keith Van Horne, to fellow DJ Greg Thunder and to Twin Cities rock musician Chan Poling of The Suburbs. Mondale and Poling married in 2005, shortly after her cancer was diagnosed, and lived on a farm near Prior Lake in the southern Twin Cities.

Main news of September 18

Russia:

* The captain of the Tu-134 plane that crashed in June, 2011 in northern Russia killing 47 people was drunk, Russian Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said in Vesti Nedeli program on Rossiya TV-channel

* Firefighters and rescuers have extinguished all forest fires in Siberia as they put out the remaining 16 wildfires on an area of 46.45 hectares in the region in the past 24 hours, the regional emergencies center said

 

World:

* Former IMF chief, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who was charged with sexual assault on a hotel maid, said in an interview on the French TV-channel TF1 that he will not run for presidency in 2012

* U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday will propose a higher tax for individuals making more than $1 million a year in a bid to cut the budget deficit, The New York Times reported, referring to administration officials

* The Syrian leadership firmly intends to move along the path of radical reforms, Russia's Federation Council Deputy Speaker Ilyas Umakhanov said after his meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad

* Libya's interim government forces have taken control of the airport and a major air base in Sirte, the hometown of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and one of the last strongholds of his loyalist forces, the BBC reported, referring to rebel fighters

* Release of the two U.S. men arrested in Iran in 2009 on spying charges is delayed as a judge who must sign bail papers is on vacation, world media reported

* Somali pirates have released a Vietnamese-owned cargo ship with 24 crewmembers seized in January this year, Chinese news agency Xinhua reported, referring to a regional maritime official

* At least 11 people died, with dozens received injures as an earthquake hit northeastern India, world media reported

* At least 10 people died with another 22 are missing after a landslide caused by heavy rain in northwestern China, Chinese official news agency Xinhua said

* At least eight people were killed and over 50 injured after two trucks used to carry passengers fell into deep ravines in two road accidents in the north and north-west of Guatemala, a spokesman for the local rescue service said

* A Russian minority party won 1/3 of the vote in the Latvian early parliamentary elections, the country's central election commission confirmed

 

Business:

* German engineering and industrial giant Siemens will withdraw entirely from the nuclear business in response to the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan in March this year, chief executive Peter Loescher said in an interview with Spiegel magazine

Federal Security Service officer killed in North Caucasus

A Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officer has been killed in the capital of the Russian North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, investigators said on Monday.

"The incident occurred at about 11 p.m. Moscow time [1900 GMT] Sunday. An unknown assailant shot FSB Lieutenant Colonel Magomedov on a Makhachkala street," a spokesman said.

"The officer died of the wounds he received. The criminal escaped," he said.

An investigation is underway.

More that a decade after the end of a federal war against separatists in Chechnya, Russian security forces continue to fight militants, who stage frequent attacks on security forces, police and civilians, in other regions in the area, including Dagestan.

Obama to propose new tax for millionaires

President Obama on Sunday will urge Congress to impose a new minimum tax rate for millionaires, a White House official said Saturday.

The aim of the proposal, first reported by the New York Times, is to ensure that individuals making more than a million bucks pay at least the same percentage as middle-income taxpayers.

The measure will be dubbed the Buffett Rule, a nod to billionaire investor Warren Buffett's public complaints about the uber-wealthy paying less in federal income taxes than middle-income workers.

Obama plans to announce the new tax rate as part of his long-term deficit reduction plan. It would be in addition to the $447 billion in new tax revenue that Obama is seeking to cover the costs of his new jobs plan.

The proposal will come as a special joint congressional committee works to hammer out a bipartisan budget deal by the end of November.

Obama will not specify a rate or provide other details, The Times reported. The new rate will affect only 0.3% of taxpayers, administration officials said.

The tax is likely among the most contentious changes Obama will propose in seeking an overhaul of the federal income tax code.

Obama's plan is expected to face stiff opposition from Republicans unwilling to raise taxes.

In a speech on Thursday, House Speaker John Boehner reiterated that he would oppose any tax hikes.

With News Wire Services

Armenian PM to hold talks in Brussels

An Armenian government delegation led by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan will start a working visit to Brussels on Monday, the government press service reported.

During the visit, Sargsyan is expected to meet with European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule, Valery Safaryan, the head of the Belgian-Armenian Chamber of Commerce, and other officials.

The delegation also comprises Armenian Finance Minister Vache Gabrielyan, Economy Minister Tigran Davidyan and other officials.

Russian Press at a Glance, Monday, September 19, 2011

POLITICS

After his dramatic resignation from the Right Cause party last week, billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov has backtracked by saying he is not challenging the country's leadership but just one of two competing Kremlin camps.

(The Moscow Times)

Former Mayor Yury Luzhkov offered a voice of cautious dissent in a rare interview, denouncing all political parties but Yabloko and saying the Kremlin still owes him an explanation for his ouster.

(The Moscow Times)

Ex-Right Cause party leader Mikhail Prokhorov said the key reason for party split was probably the desire of new party leaders to get control of the party's money he provided.

(Kommersant)

A regular round of association talks between Ukraine and the EU kicks off in Brussels. The trial of former premier Yulia Tymoshenko could hinder Kiev's integration plans.

(Moskovskiye Novosti)

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin disagreed with his deputy Alexei Kudrin that taxes will be raised. Kudrin enjoys more trust from businesspeople.

(Vedomosti)

Russian regions struck deals worth 900 billion rubles ($29.5bn) at the international investment forum in the southern Russian city of Sochi.

(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)

SOCIETY

A criminal case dating back four years led to serious differences between the Supreme Court and the Moscow City Court.

(Kommersant)

Jailed former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky said that if Prime Minister Vladimir Putin remains at Russia's helm, hopes for reform will be extinguished and the country's brightest people will emigrate in droves.

(The Moscow Times)

OIL & GAS

The lineup of partners to build the huge and controversial South Stream pipeline took its final shape Friday as Germany's BASF and France's EDF agreed to join Gazprom and Italy's Eni in the project, in a critical step toward its accomplishment.

(The Moscow Times)

IT

The Federal Service for Registration, Cadastre and Carthography will create a large database of high-resolution photographs of the Earth.

(Vedomosti)

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