Exiled Russian billionaire business tycoon Boris Berezovsky was found dead, around 3p.m. G.M.T. Saturday, at his home, outside of London, in the U.K. Mr Berezovsky, 67, was a wanted man in Russia. He had lived in self-imposed exile in the U.K. since 2000 when his fortunes fell under President Putin. Before this Berezovsky was a powerful figure in Russia and had enjoyed privileges as a close ally of Boris Yeltsin.

Police cordoned off Berezovsky's home in Ascot, Berkshire following his unexplained death and launched an investigation. In the early stages of the investigation reports claimed that he was found dead in his bath, by a bodyguard. It has since been revealed Boris was found dead on his bathroom floor.

Early Sunday, in the U.K. police sealed off Berezovsky's property and checked it for hazards. They stressed this was a precautionary measure and reassured neighbors they were not at risk. Chemical and radiation experts assisted the police.

Sky News reported Sunday a police statement as saying "Specially trained officers are currently at the scene, including Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) trained officers, who are carrying out a number of searches as a precaution. "The body of the man is still in the property at this time."

So, why the chemical and radiation checks? Former Moscow agent Alexander Litvinenko was killed by Polonium-210 poison in London in 2006. The killer is unknown but some in the media accused Berezovsky. He fought and won a court case to clear his name in 2010 but there are recent allegations online.

CNN reported Sunday "Berezovsky, a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, blamed the Kremlin for the 2006 death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, who died after being poisoned by the radioactive material polonium-210. In a deathbed statement, Litvinenko blamed Putin, an accusation the Kremlin strongly denied. For years, Berezovsky bankrolled the effort of Litvinenko's widow to push for an inquest into her husband's death".

Boris denied any involvement in Litvinenko's death claiming the two men were kindred-spirits, once both were living in exile.

Berezovsky was one of the so-called Russian Oligarchs. He was a powerful man in Yeltsin's Russia building up a large fortune, at a time when ordinary Russians' incomes dropped. In recent years in Britain his wealth has declined. He lost a costly court case against Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich, in 2012.

The court case allegedly left Boris a broken man. There were soon reports that he was suffering depression, yearned to return to Russia and that his death was suicide.

On Sunday police announced the Berkshire mansion of Mr Berezovsky safe. No evidence of biological, nuclear or radioactive contamination was found during the extensive search. Although some in Russia were already reporting that Berezovsky committed suicide, British police issued no confirmation of the cause of death.

Tuesday it was revealed that Berezovsky was found on the floor of his bathroom, with injuries consistent with hanging. A post-mortem examination, autopsy, found hanging injuries.

MSN News reports Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Brown saying: "Scenes of crime officers are carrying out further forensic examinations at the property and these are expected to last several days. "A cordon will remain in place until this work has been completed, to protect the scene. While this important investigative work continues, we are unable to comment on any items found within the property. I would like to reiterate that we have no evidence of any third-party involvement at this stage."

Chemical experts joined the investigation after the paramedic who pronounced Boris dead at the scene raised a radiation alarm. As the paramedic left Berezovsky's property a radiation detector he was wearing sounded an alarm.

Thursday an inquest into his death opened. The inquest heard that Boris was found dead on the bathroom floor, with a ligature round his neck, He had injuries consistent with hanging. The inquest was soon adjourned however until investigations are complete.

Opinion

There are still many unanswered questions. Speculation is bound to follow. Was a third-party involved in the death of Berezovsky? Was it really suicide, or was it murder? Will it be one of those cases which is never truly resolved?

Updates will follow in due course.

R.I.P.

Sources:
Sky News
The Independent
CNN
MSN
BBC

Exiled Russian billionaire business tycoon Boris Berezovsky has been found dead at his home, outside of London, in the U.K. Mr Berezovsky, 67, was a wanted man in Russia. He had lived in self-imposed exile in the U.K. since 2000 when his fortunes fell under President Putin. Before this Berezovsky was a powerful figure in Russia and had enjoyed priviledges as a close ally of Boris Yeltsin.

Berezovsky's home in Ascot, Berkshire, was cordoned off by police following his death Saturday. His death is being treat as unexplained and an investigation has begun. The police investigation is in its early stages but early reports claim that he was found dead in his bath, by a bodyguard.

Early Sunday, in the U.K. there are reports that Berezovsky's property is sealed off as police check it for hazards. They have stressed this is a cautionery measure and reassured neighbors they are not at risk. Chemical and radiation experts are assisting the police.

Sky News reports Sunday a police statement as saying "Specially trained officers are currently at the scene, including Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) trained officers, who are carrying out a number of searches as a precaution. "The body of the man is still in the property at this time."

So, why the chemical and radiation checks? Former Moscow agent Alexander Litvinenko was killed by Polonium-210 poison in London in 2006. The killer is unknown but Berezovsky was accused by some in the media. He fought and won a court case to clear his name in 2010 but there are recent allegation online.

CNN reports Sunday "Berezovsky, a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, blamed the Kremlin for the 2006 death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, who died after being poisoned by the radioactive material polonium-210. In a deathbed statement, Litvinenko blamed Putin, an accusation the Kremlin strongly denied. For years, Berezovsky bankrolled the effort of Litvinenko's widow to push for an inquest into her husband's death".

Boris denied any involvement in Litvinenko's death claiming the two men were kindred spirirts once exiled.

Berezovsky was one of the so-called Russian Oligarchs. He was a powerful man in Yeltsin's Russia building up a large fortune, at a time when ordinary Russians' incomes dropped. In recent years in Britain his wealth has declined. He lost a costly court case against Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich, in 2012.

The court case allegedly left Boris a broken man. There are reports that he was depressed, yearned to return to Russia and that his death was suicide.

Updates to follow...

Sources:

Sky News

The Independent

CNN

Monday morning news reports in the UK reported that one of the suspects held in the December high-profile rape case in Delhi, India, is dead. Ram Singh, 35, was found hanged in his cell in Tihar jail, a high-security prison. Sky News reports that Ram was in solitary confinement on suicide watch but, if that was the case, his lawyer's response is rather baffling.

Ram Singh's lawyer, VK Anand, said he was informed about his client's death by police. "This is shocking news. There were no circumstances to suggest that he would commit suicide. He was happy with the trial, it was going on smoothly," said Anand in one media report. The trial of all the suspects is underway.

The father of the 23-year-old rape victim, who died in a Singapore hospital two weeks after the attack, reportedly said, "We don't understand how could the police fail to protect Ram Singh? They knew he was the prime accused in my daughter's case. How could they let him choose the way he wanted to die? The police have failed and I wonder what will happen to the case now."

Police claim that Singh's death will not affect the trial, in spite of the circumstances. Ram Singh's legal team however question whether it was suicide or their client was murdered.

Singh was the regular driver of a white bus used during the day to transport schoolchildren. Allegedly, on the night of Dec. 16 he drove this private bus, which ultimately picked up the student, and her friend, becoming the scene of the terrible rape and attack.

Opinion

The brutal rape of a 23-year-old woman in Delhi, in December, focused media attention on the city and the high incidence of brutal rape in India. It is not a new problem. Sadly, there are many reports of girls, teenagers and women being raped, and sometimes murdered in India. Many rapes occur in small villages and do not attract the amount of media attention as the December Delhi rape.

Why was the December rape so different?

The beating and rape of the couple was a horrendous attack by a group of men, but it was not the first such attack.

A male friend of the victim was also brutally attacked; but there are many other reports of equally horrific attacks and murders. Many have come to the conclusion that it was the middle-class status of the victim, a medical student, which attracted media eyes.

The victim deserves justice, but so do the many other females who suffer a similar fate. It is time that India stood firm against the treatment and abuse of women.

Whilst many in India, including women, demand the death sentence and tough sentencing for convicted rapists their words could be hollow. Apprehending the attackers and ensuring that a trial is held does not happen often enough.

Is justice going to be served in this case?

Sources and resources

Sky News

Related reading:

Latest gang rape and murder in India

It has been reported today that 26-year-old  Reddit co-owner, hacker and Internet activist, Aaron Swartz, has committed suicide January 11, 2013.  The news broke when his uncle, Michael Wolf, commented to The Tech.

The Tech reports this was confirmed  “The tragic and heartbreaking information you received is, regrettably, true,” confirmed Swartz’ attorney, Elliot R. Peters of Kecker and Van Nest, in an email to The Tech.

Aaron who was also an Internet activist co-founded Demand Progress, a political action group that campaigns against Internet censorship. From a youg age Aaron showed himself to be a 'computer whizz kid'. Aged 14 Swartz co-authored the now widely-used RSS 1.0 specification.

Swartz had brushes with the law. CNN reports,

Reddit is a hugely popular website that enables users to post images ad links and rate them. An online message board. Today, after the news of the suicide became public, one Reddit user wrote, "Great minds carry heavy burdens."

In spite of his young age Aaron had fought a long battle with depression. He admitted in the past to having experienced suicidal thoughts.

RIP

When Raul Moat went on the rampage in the UK in July 2010 he left behind a trail of devastation. His actions changed some people's lives forever. One was PC David Rathband who was blinded as he went about his police duties. Shot in the face and shoulder David's life rapidly changed, forever. He faced many challenges and along the way became an author and set up his own charity. 

Lately though friends had been concerned about David's state of mind and well being. Today, March 1, 2012, the news broke that David has been found dead at his home in Northumberland. Police were called to his home yesterday evening. The police are not looking for any person in connection with David's death.

David had struggled to resume his life after being blinded by Moat. Last Summer he and his wife separated after reports of violence at his home.On the day in question he had visited the hospital to have more lead pellets removed from his face. 

People in the UK were continually amazed by David's charitable work, in aid of oother officers who had suffered terrible injuries, and his bravery. Family members had become concerned about David lately though and it is generally believed that he was suffering from PTSD, post traumatic stress disorder. Did he receive enough support and care?

Tributes have been pouring in for David today including ones from police officials and UK PM David Cameron. David fought bravely to rebuild his life but it was not to be. Murderer Raul Moat in some ways become a hero after his dastardly deeds. Misplaced heroism would not have helped David to cope.

In March of 2011 David was even taunted by one Kelsey Donkin. As he was walking into court to face the trial of Moat's accomplices she showed off in front of friends. She loudly proclaimed, Bang Bang, whilst making shotgun gestures at David. He was understandably upset having to leave the court due to the affect this had on him. Donkin went before a court for her actions. In the end she was fined and received a 12-month supervision order. She reportedly realised that her actions were wrong and had written to David to apologise.

PC Rathband faced "black" every morning as he had no sight at all. It was reported that attempts to restore any sight had failed. 
 Early reports indicate that David committed suicide.

RIP to a hero and condolences to the family