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Binance Holdings Ltd.’s attempt to turn the page on costly regulatory violations faces a test in Thailand, where

Britain’s antitrust watchdog will investigate a two-tier pricing system developing in supermarkets as a result of loyalty programs

By Harry Robertson and Rae Wee LONDON/SINGAPORE The U.S. dollar ticked up on Wednesday after falling to its

Several bank regulators dissatisfied with the European Central Bank’s tough stance on shareholder payouts are getting ready to

By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Mohammemd Salem and Henriette Chacar GAZA/JERUSALEM Hamas and Israel were expected to release more hostages

French authorities arrested the leader of a multinational tantric yoga organization Tuesday on suspicion of indoctrinating female followers for sexual exploitation. The Romanian guru at the heart of the Atman Yoga Federation was detained during a massive morning police operation across the Paris region, according to a French judicial official, who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation. The French official identified the man as Gregorian B., whom French media identified as Gregorian Bivolaru, 71, an internationally known yoga teacher and author. The Altman federation, which is headquartered in England, runs yoga courses and yoga teacher trainings. According to the French official, the investigation into Bivolaru and the yoga federation, which also is known as the Movement for Spiritual Integration into the Absolute, began after reports of psychological manipulation and sexual exploitation within the organization. Former MISA members alerted authorities to the alleged abuses. Bivolaru is being charged with human trafficking, organized kidnapping, rape, and organized abuse of weakness by members of a sect, according to French authorities. International police agency Interpol also has issued a notice for Bivolaru's arrest on behalf of authorities in Finland, where he is wanted for alleged aggravated trafficking in human beings. The Altman federation's website and other sites on Bivolaru allege that he is the victim of a wide-ranging plot to discredit him. The raids in France involved 175 police officers and resulted in 40 other arrests across the French capital, Seine-et-Marne, Val-de-Marne, and the Alpes-Maritimes. The operation targeted several locations used by the organization, where women were reportedly indoctrinated and coerced into sexual practices. The locations, described as “ashrams,” served as housing for women selected by Bivolaru for initiation into tantric yoga practices, according to French authorities. Bivolaru, who was convicted of raping a minor in his native Romania, founded MISA in 1990. The organization expanded internationally as the Atman Yoga Federation. The French investigation found evidence that students were coerced into sexual activities that included participating in explicit video chats for monetary gain, according to the judicial official. These alleged activities, purportedly carried out under the pretense of tantric yoga teachings, formed a part of an intricate system of financial exploitation and control, the official said. ___ Associated Press writer John Leicester contributed Read More Stock market today: Asian shares mostly fall after Wall Street rallies Australia proposes new laws to detain potentially dangerous migrants who can't be deported New Zealand leader plans to ban cellphone use in schools and end tobacco controls in first 100 days A Hong Kong Court hears final arguments in subversion trial of pro-democracy activists Finland plans to close its entire border with Russia Rosalynn Carter set for funeral and burial in the town where she and her husband were born

Almost 100 earthquakes shook Iceland from midnight today, as the country remains apprehensive about an imminent eruption. The strongest earthquake with a magnitude of 3.35 hit Vatnafjoll in South Iceland this morning at 5.56am, report the Icelandic Met Office. Yesterday night a seismic swarm started around the dike intrusion just north of the evacuated town of Grindavik. The Icelandic Met Office continues to warn of the “persistent likelihood of an imminent eruption”. In its latest update, the forecaster said there were around 100 earthquakes on Monday, with a “swarm” near the town which lasted just over an hour before midnight. A fortnight ago, Grindavik was evacuated after magma-induced seismic activity tore vast chasms through the streets of the town. While hundreds of earthquakes are still hitting the surrounding area daily, “seismic activity continues to decrease”, said the Icelandic Met Office, adding: “The likelihood of an imminent volcanic eruption diminishes with time.” However, one civil protection official told theThe Independent “It is still dangerous here ... I have never seen anything like it before. Usually we will have a few minutes warning to get out, but with the weather like it is today, we have even less.” Read More What to do with Grindavík: Has Iceland’s #1 selfie spot just emerged out of the ground? Is it safe to travel to Iceland? Your rights if you have a holiday booked Every resident of an Icelandic town was evacuated due to a volcano. Daring rescuers went back to save the pets

By Richard Valdmanis Hundreds of Catholic institutions around the globe have announced plans to divest their finances of

Finland has announced it will close its last remaining border crossing with Russia amid concerns that Moscow is using migrants as part of “hybrid warfare” to destabilise the Nordic country following its entry into NATO. “The government has decided to close all the crossing points on the entire (830-mile) eastern border,” prime minister Petteri Orpo told reporters, saying Finland faced an “exceptional” situation that the government blames on Moscow for orchestrating. The Kremlin has denied encouraging migrants to enter Finland and says it regrets the Finnish border closures. It comes as multiple drones were fired towards Kyiv on Tuesday evening, causing air raid sirens to go off and sending civilians down into the bomb shelters. A Ukrainian monitoring group announced the presence of a handful of drones at around 9pm local time heading towards southern regions of Kyiv Oblast. Russia appears to have stepped up its assault on Ukrainian hubs hundreds of miles from the frontline in the last fortnight. Last winter, a similar trend occured as Russia tried to destroy critical infrastructure across the country. Read More Ukraine spy chief’s wife treated for metal poisoning as Putin rants at West for ‘plundering’ Russia Ukraine spy chief's wife undergoes treatment for suspected poisoning with heavy metals Ukrainian emergency workers tow ambulance from snow as storm kills at least five

Finland will close its last remaining road border with Russia due to concerns over migration, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said Tuesday, accusing Moscow of undermining Finland's national security. Finland already closed seven of its eight of the checkpoints along its long border Russia this month following a surge in arrivals of migrants from the Middle East and Africa. The government accuses Moscow of ushering the migrants toward the Finnish border. “The government has decided to close the entire eastern border," Orpo told reporters, saying the country faced an "exceptional" situation. “We don’t accept any attempt to undermine our national security," he said. Finnish authorities say about 900 migrants crossed the border from Russia this month, significantly more than normal. It has accused Russia of trying to create a migration crisis in Finland following the Nordic nation's entry into NATO this year. Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said the last border crossing for vehicle traffic that remains open, Raja-Jooseppi in Finland's Arctic north, would close at midnight Wednesday. A railway crossing between the two countries remains open but for cargo traffic only. Read More Ukraine war: Finland closes 830-mile eastern border as Kyiv suffers drone attack Climate contradictions key at UN talks. Less future warming projected, yet there's more current pain US gas prices have fallen or remained steady for 10 weeks straight. Here's why

Jack Ma urged Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. to correct course in a surprise internal memo, in which the

SYDNEY New Zealand's new government will introduce legislation to reform the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's mandate and