UN condemns terror attack, offers condolences to victims’ families
On Monday (8 September), two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a bus stop on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Police described the incident as a “terrori...
A British man accused of running a $100 million fake wine loan scam pleaded not guilty in New York, denying claims that he sold investors a vintage collection that didn’t exist. The high-stakes fraud allegedly duped victims with promises of rare bottles and big returns.
James Wellesley, 58, also known as Andrew Fuller, pleaded not guilty Friday in Brooklyn to wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy charges.
He was ordered held without bail at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center after fighting extradition from Britain.
Wellesley and co-defendant Stephen Burton, 60, also British and held in the same jail, face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Prosecutors say that between June 2017 and February 2019, the men persuaded victims to invest $99.4 million in loans brokered by their company Bordeaux Cellars, claiming the loans were secured by an inventory of over 25,000 rare wine bottles, including Domaine de la Romanee-Conti and Chateau Lafleur.
However, Bordeaux Cellars controlled far fewer bottles than claimed, only 217 in March 2018, prosecutors said.
The defendants allegedly used new loan proceeds to pay interest to some investors and for personal expenses.
The scheme unraveled when interest payments stopped.
The case is U.S. v Burton et al, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 22-cr-00079.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Violent clashes broke out on Monday in Nepal between police and protesters demonstrating against a social media ban and alleged corruption.
On Monday (8 September), two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a bus stop on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Police described the incident as a “terrorist attack,” reporting that six people were killed and several others injured.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has proposed the creation of a unicameral parliament in the country. Speaking to the nation on Monday at the parliament in Astana, he said the reform would have a “serious positive impact” on the country’s socio-economic development.
U.S. defence secretary Pete Hegseth and joint chiefs of staff chairman Dan Caine made a surprise visit to Puerto Rico on Monday, marking the first trip by senior Pentagon officials since Washington increased its military presence in the Caribbean, heightening tensions with Venezuela.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment