The subsidiary is also accused of complicity in crimes against humanity and endangering lives in Syria.

Last year, Lafarge admitted paying groups in the country in order to keep a factory operating in Northern Syria as violence mounted after 2011.

However, Lafarge says it will appeal against some of the charges.

Eight former managers of the company are also being formally investigated.

An internal investigation last year found evidence the factory provided funding to local armed groups in order to stay open.

The investigation concluded that those in charge of the Jalabiya plant had taken "unacceptable" measures in order to keep the plant open and protect employees.

Various armed factions "controlled or sought to control" the area, it said.

At the time, Syria was subject to EU sanctions imposed on President Bashar al-Assad's government, which lost control of large swathes of the country to various armed groups.

The plant closed in 2014 and a year later LafargeHolcim was formed.

The company is a global giant, employing 80,000 in around 80 countries.

LafargeHolcim chairman, Beat Hess, said in a statement: "We truly regret what has happened in the Syria subsidiary and after learning about it took immediate and firm actions.

"None of the individuals put under investigation is today with the company."

The former managers under investigation include LafargeHolcim's first chief executive, Eric Olsen. He has denied doing anything wrong.

Earlier today, M.Enkhbold, Speaker of Parliament, addressing the house during the opening ceremony of parliament, denied the Washington Post’s allegation. M.Enkhbold said, the case had been investigated not only by Mongolia's Independent Authority against Corruption, but an investigation team including the General Intelligence Authority and the National Police Agency. The State General Prosecutor's Office dismissed the case. The Speaker said: 'I have worked as a leader of Mongolian People’s Party before and after 2016 parliamentary election. I did not take any money from anyone for promoting so-and-so to a position.’

Sh.Batkhuu has been detained for three months in the 461st detention centre where he has been under investigation by Mongolia’s anti-corruption agency in connection to his offering the Erdenet Mining Corporation up as collateral for 109 million USD loan obtained from the South African Standard Bank.

The case began to be heavily publicised after the London Court of International Arbitration ruled in favour of the South African Standard Bank

The Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry of Mongolia announced this at a press conference for local media on Thursday, reports Xinhua.

Sumiyabazar Dolgorsuren, minister of the mining and heavy industry, said that production of the main products of mining and extractive industries was up by 23.7 per cent, which is the main cause of the growth of industrial production.

In particular, coal production of the East Asian country increased by 48 per cent, and the volume of iron ore production went up 12.6 per cent against the corresponding period of 2017.

Currently, over 72.2 per cent of Mongolia's total industrial production is accounted for by mining industry products.

The minister said that the production volume of copper concentrate for this period increased by 3.0 per cent, and fluorite concentrate grew 39.5 per cent.

As for crude oil production, it fell by 9.0 per cent compared to the same period last year.

"First of all, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all participating countries for sending their military servicemen to the multinational military exercise," Mongolian Prime Minister Ukhnaa Hurelsukh said at the closing ceremony of the military exercise.

"Peace and tranquility are the foundation of a nation's development. Therefore, Mongolia always welcomes any initiative to strengthen international and regional peace and security, and actively participates in the UN (United Nations) peacekeeping operations," he said.

A total of 1,400 military personnel from 26 countries, including Mongolia, the United States, China, Russia, Germany, Bhutan and Qatar have participated in the two-week-long military exercise.

Bhutan and Qatar's military servicemen have for the first time participated in the exercise.

Khaan Quest 2018 consisted of a command post exercise and a field training exercise focusing on peacekeeping and stability operations. Individual events include checkpoint control, combat casualty care, water patrolling and civilian protection.

Within the framework of Khaan Quest 2018, the participants provided medical treatment to more than 1,000 citizens.

In addition, cultural and sports events were held during the exercise, with the aim of promoting the traditions and customs of all participating countries.

The peacekeeping exercise was launched in 2003 by the Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF) in cooperation with the then U.S. Pacific Command and a United Nations peace support fund. It expanded to a multinational drill in 2006.

The settlement closes a dispute that started in 2011 when Apple accused Samsung (SSNLF) of "slavishly" copying the iPhone's design and software features. A jury awarded Apple (AAPL) $539 million in May, leaving Samsung with an outstanding balance of $140 million it owed Apple. It was not clear Wednesday how much more, if anything, Apple will receive.

Litigating the case cost the two world's two largest smartphone makers hundreds of millions of dollars and resulted in several rulings and appeals. In 2012, a jury ruled that Samsung must pay Apple more than $1 billion for copying various hardware and software features of the iPhone and iPad. A federal judge later reduced that penalty by $450 million.

Their fight eventually landed in the Supreme Court, which in 2016 reversed an appeals court ruling that Samsung must pay $399 million for patent infringement. Justices sent the case back to the lower court to sort out the financial penalty.

A representative for Apple declined to comment beyond referring CNNMoney to a statement the company released last month following the jury award.

"This case has always been about more than money," the company said at the time. "Apple ignited the smartphone revolution with iPhone and it is a fact that Samsung blatantly copied our design. It is important that we continue to protect the hard work and innovation of so many people at Apple."

Samsung declined to comment.

Ultimately, jurors found Samsung had infringed on the majority of the patents in question -- including software features like double-tap zooming and scrolling. Many devices also infringed on hardware style or icon setup. Although "Apple won most of the battles," Samsung found way to "design around" the patents Apple claimed it copied, said Michael Risch, a patent law professor at Villanova University.

"One lesson is consumers will drive tech more than patents. Samsung went where it thought consumers wanted ... and Apple stayed with its distinctive smaller shape for a much longer period than Samsung," Risch said. "Sometimes patent can drive innovation in ways we may not have expected."

CNNMoney (New York)
First published June 27, 2018: 4:55 PM ET

Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho appeared at a prosecutors' office in Seoul on Thursday morning.

He told reporters outside the building that he will face the investigation in good faith.

South Korean media report Cho and his sister allegedly evaded about 50 billion won, or more than 44 million dollars, in taxes on their inheritance of their father's overseas assets.

The Cho family has made scandalous headlines in recent years.
Cho's eldest daughter was criticized in 2014 for ordering her flight back to the gate before takeoff because she was unhappy with the way her nuts were served. The episode is known the "nut rage" incident.

His younger daughter was questioned by police on suspicion of assault after she reportedly lost her temper during a meeting and threw a drink in the participants' faces.

Both daughters later stepped down from their executive posts at Korean Air.

Cho's wife was also questioned by police last month on suspicion of assault for reportedly shoving workers at a construction site

The bill on free land in Vologda will be introduced in the regional parliament in September and is likely to be introduced starting January. According to the program launched in Russia’s Far East, free land can be used for any lawful purpose, but the new owners cannot rent, sell, or give the land away for five years.

Foreigners are also eligible to use the land, but the registration of full property rights is only possible after the recipient becomes a naturalized citizen. The program started in June 2016 for the local populations of the Far East, and from February 2017 it became available for all Russians.

Vologda will give out 468,000 hectares of vacant agricultural land in 14 remote areas of the region. These lands will be used for farming and raising livestock.

Russia has about 43 million hectares of farmland that is not used for its intended purpose. President Vladimir Putin ordered the land be given out to Russian citizens.

The area of Vologda region is split between the basins of the White Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the Caspian Sea. Lake Onega, one of the biggest freshwater lakes in Europe, is located in the region.