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☆ Right-wing influencers say they were dupes in an alleged Russian influence operation. They’re keeping their millions, for now
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-13 | by ( Jon Passantino | Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The right-wing social media stars who were allegedly paid millions of dollars in a nefarious Russian influence operation to shape public opinion around the 2024 US presidential election are remaining mum. Tenet Media boasts a slate of high-profile right-wing, pro-Trump commentators including Tim Pool, Dave Rubin, Benny Johnson and several others. The influencers all say they are “victims,” and that the FBI has contacted them for voluntary interviews. The Tenet co-founder then wrote to the Russian state media staffers, stressing that the personality was “really insisting on seeing some materials (profile, article, whatever) on Eduard before (he) feels comfortable moving forward. Two Russian state media employees, Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, were charged by the Justice Department with money laundering and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

Persons: Tim Pool, Dave Rubin, Benny Johnson, Rubin, Johnson, Brandon Van Grack, Robert Mueller’s, Pool, —, “ We’ve, ”, Ben Shapiro, “, Tenet, Eduard Grigoriann, “ Grigoriann, Eduard, ” Rubin, Lauren Chen, Liam Donovan, Grigoriann, Chen, Donovan, Kostiantyn Kalashnikov, Elena Afanasyeva, Van Grack, CNN’s Hadas Gold Organizations: CNN, Justice Department, Tenet Media, Kremlin, Trump, RT, FBI, Pool, Tenet, Justice Locations: Tennessee, Russian, Russia, Brussels

In mid-December 2005, back when U.S.-Russia relations remained on relatively friendly terms, a new media channel called Russia Today began broadcasting English-language news. “It’s a very good start,” Russian President Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying of Russia Today at the time. In subsequent years, Russia Today would rebrand to RT, expand into other languages, and even open a studio in Washington, D.C. in 2010. The Tennessee company was not named in the indictment but appears to be Tenet Media, according to a review by NBC News of details included in the indictment. Instead of shuttering, the state media organization found alternate ways to distribute content, including a social media bot farm, the DOJ said in a July news release outlining its efforts to remove the content.

Persons: “, Vladimir Putin, Russia wasn’t, Margarita Simonyan, Elena Mikhaylovna Afanasyeva, Kostiantyn Kalashnikov, Melanie Smith, We’ve, there’s, ” Smith, ”, Eduard Grigoriann, Lauren Southern, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Darren Linvill, ” Linvill, ” Simonyan Organizations: Russia Today, RIA, U.S, Institute for Strategic, NBC News, Kremlin, RT, Government, Tenet Media, NBC, YouTube, Justice Department, WikiLeaks, RT America, DirecTV, DOJ, Clemson University’s, Espanol Locations: Russia, RIA Novosti, Washington ,, U.S, Europe, Tennessee, London, Ukraine, America

☆ How some of the biggest right-wing media stars ended up as unwitting puppets of Russian propaganda
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-07 | by ( Hadas Gold | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Now, the Justice Department is alleging that some of the biggest stars in right-wing social media were, unwittingly, part of a sinister Russian operation to influence the 2024 US election. What is Tenet Media? “Overt shilling”The Russians also pushed Tenet to promote videos that were going viral on social media, according to the indictment. Tenet Media has not responded to requests for comment and stopped posting content on Wednesday. After the 2016 US presidential election, congressional and federal investigations showed Moscow had successfully co-opted unwitting Americans to stage protests, run social media accounts and host events at its behest.

Persons: CNN — They’re, weren’t, Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, Lauren Southern, Tayler Hansen, Matt Christiansen, Dave Rubin, Johnson, MAGA influencers, Rubin, Glenn Beck’s, Enrique Tarrio, Jack Posobiec, Pool, Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr, Christiansen, Lauren Chen, Liam Donovan, Chen, Donovan, ”, Donald Trump’s, Vladimir Putin, Viktor Orban, Evgenia Novozhenina, “, Trump, Q, Justin Trudeau, Putin, Trudeau, Israel, ” Rubin, Eduard Grigoriann, “ Grigoriann, Tenet, Tucker Carlson, Carlson fawned, I’ll, Nina Jankowicz, ’, unvarnished ’, Renee DiResta, Donie O’Sullivan Organizations: CNN, Justice, Justice Department, Tenet Media, Kremlin, Vice Media, Independent, Young Turks, YouTube, Tenet, Google, Proud Boys, Blaze Media, Ukraine, The Justice Department, Republican Party, Trump, Democrats, ”, United, ISIS, Hungary's, Reuters “, Canadian, Hamas, FBI, Fox News, American Sunlight, Media, DOJ, Soviet, Stanford Internet Observatory Locations: Tennessee, Russia, Ukraine, ”, “ Ukraine, United States, Moscow, Russian, Colorado, American

CNN —Russian state media claimed Sunday that American rapper and producer Kanye West is visiting Moscow, but CNN has not been able to independently verify he is actually there. West, who now goes by Ye, arrived in Moscow on a private visit, according to the brand team for Russian designer Gosha Rubchinskiy, state media TASS reported. West himself allegedly posted on the Russian social media website VK on Sunday saying, “Hi, Moscow,” according to state media RIA Novosti. Several videos have emerged in Russian media purporting to show West and his security guards in Moscow, but he is not clearly identifiable in the footage. Luzhniki Stadium told Russian state media that there is no information about a Kanye West concert set to take place in the capital.

Persons: Kanye West, Ye, Gosha Rubchinskiy, Rubchinskiy, West, Hi, Yana Rudkovskaya, West’s, “, ”, Eduard Ratnikov Organizations: CNN, TASS, VK, Novosti, Luzhniki, Kanye, TCI Locations: Moscow, West, Russian, ”, American, Ukraine

☆ World’s 50 Best Restaurants for 2024 revealed
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Karla Cripps | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Any doubts that Spain remains the fine dining center of the world may just have evaporated with the revealing of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants for 2024 list. As for the event’s host country, the US had two restaurants on this year’s 50 Best list. Three restaurants from Tokyo were awarded, with eatery Sézanne (voted Asia’s best restaurant in 2024) ranking the highest in the Japanese capital, at 15. Restaurants can only win the top prize once, after which they’re entered into a separate “Best of the Best” program. The world’s 50 best restaurants 20241.

Persons: –, Barcelona’s, it’s, Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch, El, Victor Arguinzoniz, Paris, Bruno Verjus, Diverxo –, Lima’s, Gaggan Anand, York City’s Atomix, SingleThread, they’re, Osteria Francescana, Asador, Don Julio, Quique, São, Tim Raue, Jane, Le, Schloss, Hiša Franko Organizations: CNN, Wynn, Sézanne, Restaurants Academy, of, Trèsind Locations: Spain, Las Vegas, Spanish, Bilbao, Peruvian, Mexico, North America, Mexico City, Vegas, Paris, Bangkok, Thai, York, Healdsburg, California’s Sonoma Valley, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Noma, Copenhagen, London, Modena, Italy, Mirazur, Menton, France, of Lima , Peru, Disfrutar, Barcelona, Madrid, Lima, Peru, New York City, Quintonil, Denmark, Thailand, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Dubai, UAE, Japan, England, Sangro, Steirereck, Vienna, Austria, Suhring, Odette, Singapore, Bogotá, Colombia, São Paulo, Brazil, Santiago, Chile, Berlin, Germany, Belcanto, Lisbon, Portugal, Rosetta, Frantzén, Stockholm, Sweden, Antwerp, Belgium, Rio de Janeiro, Sorn, Piazza, Alba, Le Du, Ikoyi, Seoul, South Korea, , California, Switzerland, Kobarid, Slovenia, Cape Town , South Africa

☆ Russian oil refinery partially suspends operations after drone attack, as thermal energy plants are damaged in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Lauren Said-Moorhouse | Olga Voitovych | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A Russian oil refinery in the southern Krasnodar region was impacted by a suspected Ukrainian drone attack on Saturday, according to local officials. Meanwhile in Ukraine, four thermal energy plants were “severely damaged” after Russian attacks overnight, according to a statement from DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company. DTEK said that its thermal power plants have been attacked more than 170 times since the beginning of the war. A video surfaced online showing the head of the Belarusian KGB security service alleging the two medical facilities were housing soldiers. Videos shared online showed medical personnel hurrying to move patients and equipment to ambulances that were awaiting to receive them.

Persons: Veniamin Kondratyev, Eduard Trudnev, Trudnev, ”, Kondratyev, Herman Halushchenko, Halushchenko, Serhii Lysak, Lysak, ” Svitlana Onyshchuk, DTEK, Mykola Oleshchuk, Ivan Tertel, Vitali Klitschko, hurrying, Klitschko Organizations: CNN, Regional, Kyiv, TASS, Slavyansk ECO Group, Russia’s Ministry of Defense, Ukraine’s Energy, Facebook, Frankivsk, Ivano, Ukrainian Air Force, Ukraine, Hospitals, Belarusian KGB, ”, Security Service of Ukraine Locations: Krasnodar, Ukrainian, Slavyansk, Kuban, Krasnodar Krai, Russia’s, Ukraine, DTEK, Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano, Lviv, Dnipro, Kryvyi, Rih, ”, Russia, Belarus, Belarusian, Kyiv, “

☆ US has spent about $20 million to maintain superyacht seized from a Russian oligarch
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Kara Scannell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The US government is spending nearly $1 million a month to maintain a luxury superyacht seized from a sanctioned Russian oligarch as part of the Justice Department’s effort to put pressure on the Kremlin. The superyacht was seized while docked in a port in Fiji in 2022 by local law enforcement officials and the FBI. Now, federal prosecutors have asked a judge for permission to sell the vessel saying its expenses are excessive and has cost the government about $20 million, according to recent court filings. The monthly costs total roughly $600,000 to maintain the yacht, plus $144,000 in insurance, according to court records. Maintaining the Amadea is certainly expensive, and Claimants never intended for U.S. taxpayers to shoulder that burden.

Persons: Suleiman Kerimov, Eduard Khudainatov, they’ve “ Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, FBI, US Marshals Service, Millemarin Investments, ” Prosecutors Locations: Russian, Fiji, San Diego

☆ The US wants to auction off an oligarch's seized $300 million yacht that's been racking up $600,000 a month in maintenance
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The US wants to auction a $300 million superyacht seized from a Russian oligarch due to high maintenance costs. Another Russian oligarch, Eduard Khudainatov, claims to own the yacht and wants it back. AdvertisementThe US wants to sell a $300 million superyacht seized from a Russian oligarch because it's getting too expensive to maintain it, a court filing from Friday shows. The problem is that another Russian oligarch, Eduard Khudainatov, claims to own the yacht and wants the vessel back. They told Bloomberg in a statement that the seizure was "unlawful" and that their client would pay the US back for the maintenance of the Amadea yacht.

Persons: Suleiman Kerimov, Eduard Khudainatov, —, it's, Amadea, Khudainatov hasn't Organizations: Service, US Department of Justice, US, Khudainatov, Bloomberg, Court, Southern District of Locations: Fiji, Russian, Southern District, Southern District of New York

☆ Sam Altman enters his power era
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Michael Cogley | Riddhi Kanetkar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A failed coup at OpenAI saw Sam Altman return as CEO and stronger than ever. The botched coup of OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has seemingly reinforced his power. Even more astonishingly, Altman lacks the one obvious lever of power that keeps founder-CEOs like Mark Zuckerberg in power: controlling shares in his company. "He's really, really, really good at both being understood, but also understanding and asking thoughtful questions." They acted in their best interest," one OpenAI staffer posted on Blind, a social network site where employees can post anonymously.

Persons: Sam Altman, Altman, —, Mark Zuckerberg, Eduard Cristea, — Mira Murati, Satya Nadella, Greg Brockman, Vinod Khosla, Dan Siroker, Paul Graham, Holofy's, Cristea, Sam, OpenAI, would've, Altman OpenAI, Ilya Sutskever, we've, — Ilya Sutskever, Sutskever, Ilya, we'd, it's Organizations: Service, Microsoft, Stanford, New York Times Locations: OpenAI, Silicon Valley, Silicon

☆ Anti-Semitic riot in Russia's Dagestan leaves some local Jews shaken
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/5] A view of gravestones at a Jewish cemetery in the ancient city of Derbent on the Caspian Sea coast in the Caucasus region of Dagestan, Russia, November 2, 2023. With row after row of gravestones engraved with the Star of David or portraits and pictures of the dead, Derbent's Jewish cemetery gives an indication of how large this coastal city's Jewish population once was. One of a string of enclaves of so-called Mountain Jews that pepper both Russia's Caucasus and neighbouring Azerbaijan, Derbent's Jews still speak a dialect of Persian that evokes their hometown's rich history. Today there are barely 2,000 Jews still living in Dagestan, once home to 10 times that." Alexander Fedotov, who was visiting Derbent's Jewish cemetery with Zoya Solomonova, said he thought the airport riot had been planned by someone intent on spoiling ties between Russia and Israel.

Persons: Kazbek Basayev, Zoya Solomonova, Vladimir Putin, David, Derbent's, Derbent, Shneor Segal, Alexander Fedotov, Eduard Ilgiyaev, I've, I'm, Andrew Osborn, Felix Light, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, West, Star, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Derbent, Caucasus, Dagestan, Russia, St Petersburg, Makhachkala, Tel Aviv, Gaza, Ukraine, Soviet Union, Israel, Moscow, Chechnya, Azerbaijan

☆ Russian recruiter Headhunter offers shareholders buyback after Nasdaq delisting
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A job seeker walks past a sign of the Headhunter recruitment site at a local job fair in the southern city of Stavropol, Russia October 25, 2017. REUTERS/Eduard Korniyenko/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Russian recruiting agency Headhunter said it had offered holders of its ordinary shares and American Depositary Shares (ADSs) held outside Russia's depository infrastructure the chance to sell back their holdings or exchange them for newly issued shares. Headhunter was previously listed on the U.S. Nasdaq exchange, but its shares were suspended soon after Moscow despatched troops to Ukraine in February 2022, and subsequently delisted. Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Kevin LiffeyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Eduard Korniyenko, Headhunter, Kevin Liffey Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Nasdaq, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Stavropol, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine

☆ The US wants a Russian oligarch's seized $300 million superyacht that features an infinity pool, a movie theater, and a helicopter landing pad
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Paul Squire | Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US has filed a civil forfeiture case against a $300 million superyacht it alleges is owned by a Russian oligarch. The superyacht was seized in Fiji in 2022 and features an infinity pool and a helicopter landing pad. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementThe ship was then seized by the US Department of Justice and moved to California where it remains docked. Khudainatov's lawyers told Reuters that they've filed a lawsuit in the US as well seeking to get the superyacht back.

Persons: Suleiman Kerimov, —, Damian Williams, Kerimov, Vladimir Putin, Williams, Andrew Adams, Adams, Eduard Khudainatov, hasn't, they've Organizations: US, Service, BBC, US Department of Justice, Reuters Locations: Russian, Fiji, Ukraine, Vladivostok, North Korea, California

☆ US Says It Wants Forfeiture of Billionaire Russian Oligarch's $300 Million Superyacht
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Luc CohenNEW YORK (Reuters) - The United States on Monday sought the forfeiture of a $300 million superyacht it says is controlled by billionaire Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, who is under U.S. sanctions. He amassed much of his wealth through a stake in Russian gold producer Polyus. Kerimov was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2014 and 2018 in response to Russia's activities in Syria and Ukraine. Those sanctions barred Kerimov from accessing the U.S. financial system. A spokesman for Khudainatov said in a statement on Monday that the vessel was "unlawfully seized" by the DOJ.

Persons: Luc Cohen NEW, Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, Vladimir Putin, Kerimov, Polyus, Eduard Khudainatov, Evgeny Kochman, Kochman, Khudainatov, Luc Cohen, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Luc Cohen NEW YORK, Authorities, Ukraine, Forbes, U.S . Treasury Department, U.S . Department of Justice, Millemarin Investments, Yachts, Prosecutors, DOJ Locations: United States, U.S, Fiji, Washington, Moscow, Manhattan, United, San Diego, Ukraine, Syria, Russian, Millemarin, New York

☆ Brazil World Cup qualifying: Spectacular bicycle kick ends Brazil’s remarkable home winning streak as Venezuela earns shock draw
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Eduard Bello’s audacious bicycle kick earned Venezuela a shock draw against Brazil in World Cup qualifying, ending the Seleção’s remarkable home winning streak. Brazil hadn’t failed to win a home World Cup qualifier since drawing 2-2 against Uruguay in March 2016, but Bello’s stunning strike with just five minutes remaining earned Venezuela a famous point. Argentina and Peru have only managed a draw each, while Ecuador and Chile have lost every World Cup qualifier they have played in Brazil. The Seleção has still never lost a home World Cup qualifier, in what must be one of the most impressive records in all of sport. However, the draw drops Brazil into second place behind Argentina after the Albiceleste maintained its 100% record so far with a 1-0 win over Paraguay.

Persons: CNN — Eduard Bello’s, Brazil hadn’t, Gabriel Magalhães, Vinícius Jr, Bello, Jefferson Savarino’s, Pedro Vilela, Brazil –, Darwin, Kevin Rodríguez’s Organizations: CNN, Venezuela, Brazil, Uruguay, Arsenal Locations: Brazil, Venezuela, Neymar’s, Uruguay, Colombia, Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, La Paz

☆ German museum employee swaps painting for fake and sells original to fund ‘luxury lifestyle’
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Christy Choi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A German museum employee swapped out a painting with a fake and then sold the original to buy luxury goods, including a Rolls Royce and expensive wristwatches, according to a Munich court. During that time, he stole “Das Märchen vom Froschkönig” (The Tale of the Frog Prince) by Franz von Stuck, replaced it with a fake and put the original up for auction. He lied to a Munich auction house, saying the painting had once belonged to his grandparents or great-grandparents. “Das Märchen vom Froschkönig” (The Tale of the Frog Prince) by Franz von Stuck. One of the works was sold via auction and the other was purchased directly by the auction house, netting him another 11,490 euros ($12,184).

Persons: ” “, ”, “ Das, Franz von Stuck, Eduard von Grützner, Franz von Defregger, “ Organizations: CNN, Royce, Deutsches Museum, Ketterer, ” Locations: Munich, Swiss

☆ Slovak election: A NATO country could soon have a pro-Russian leader
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Fico previously served as Slovakia’s prime minister for more than a decade, first between 2006 and 2010 and then again from 2012 to 2018. Heger continued as a caretaker prime minister but he, too, ended up quitting in May and was replaced by a technocrat, Ludovit Odor. Eduard Heger, pictured in Tallinn, Estonia, in November 2022, resigned as caretaker prime minister in May. In the Czech Republic, which used to form one country with Slovakia, 71% of people blame Russia for the war. “The government took a very quick and firm decision — and I’d say in doing so found itself on the right side of the history — to support Ukraine,” he said.

Persons: Robert Fico’s, Kyiv’s, “, ”, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Fico, Grigorij, Jan Kuciak, Martina Kušnírová, Kuciak, Igor Matovič, Matovič, Eduard Heger, Heger, Ints Kalnins, ” Mesežnikov, “ SMER, GlobSec, —, Dominika Hajdu, Mesežnikov Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, NATO, Institute of Public Affairs, Voters, Independent, Republika, for Democracy, Resilience, Austro, Ukraine, “, it’s, European Union Locations: Slovakia, Russia, Ukraine, Slovak, Moscow, SMER, Tallinn, Estonia, ” Slovakia, Bratislava, Baltic, Czech Republic, States, Hungary, Trianon, “ Slovakia

☆ Fact Check-Sleeping intern in office prank image mistaken for dead man
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An image of co-workers surrounding their sleeping colleague, who is slumped in his chair with his eyes closed and mouth open, is being falsely claimed online to show a deceased man. The image, here, is being shared with a caption that suggests the sleeping man suffered a cardiac arrest and died, and his unwitting colleagues had gathered for a prank photo. And it just went downhill from there.”Paraschivescu also told Reuters via Facebook Messenger in January 2022 that he is the man in the picture and is very much alive. Gsoft posted the same photo on Facebook in February 2016 (here), joking in French in the caption: “And yes, it happened at GSOFT. The man was sleeping, not dead.

Persons: he’d, Eduard Paraschivescu, ” Paraschivescu, ”, Gsoft, Read Organizations: Gsoft, Huffington, Reuters, Facebook Locations: Montreal, Canada, GSOFT

"It is not going to be easy for them (Russia)," said one industry executive with knowledge of grains exports. Last year, Russia exported a record volume of wheat on ships chartered from international companies and traders. "Most of what is coming out is dealt with by Russian traders using (shadow) fleet ships, which international traders would not touch". The Black Sea remains a critical area for Russian exports, with other locations more complicated and costly. Russia's Black Sea terminals handle about 70% of the country's grain exports.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Eduard Zernin, Zernin, Cargill, Louis Dreyfus, Viterra, Dreyfus, Bunge, Denmark's, Mike Salthouse, Rosagroleasing, Victoria Mitchell, Jonathan Saul, Nigel Hunt, Polina Devitt, Gus Trompiz, Frank Jack Daniel Our Organizations: General's, REUTERS, Russia's, Grain, Reuters, International Grains Council, Russian, Control, Thomson Locations: Russian, Odesa, Ukraine, Russia Russia, Moscow, Africa, Novorossiysk, Russia's Union, Russia, Turkey, China, Denmark's NORDEN, Bulgaria, Romania, United States, Europe, Taman, Russia's, ., London, Paris

☆ A $700 million superyacht linked to Putin was seized in Italy last year. It's being treated to a refurb while it waits, and authorities won't say who's paying for it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Scheherazade, a $700 million superyacht linked to Russian President Putin, is being refitted in Italy. Italy seized the yacht in 2022 following sweeping sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine war. A $700 million superyacht reportedly linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin is sitting in an Italian port and being refitted on the unnamed owner's dime, the Financial Times reported Sunday. US authorities believe the superyacht could belong to Putin, The New York Times reported in March last year. Other Russian oligarch-linked yachts that have been seized include the $81 million Alfa Nero and the $48 million Phi.

Persons: Putin, Vladimir Putin, It's, Eduard Khudainatov, Alexei Navalny, Nero Organizations: Russia, Financial Times, Marina di, Sea Group, Bloomberg, The New York Times, Kremlin, Phi, Italian Sea Group Locations: Italy, Ukraine, Marina, Milan, Russian

☆ Russian state TV attacks mutiny leader Prigozhin, says investigation still live
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Andrew Osborn | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

July 5 (Reuters) - Russian state TV on Wednesday launched a fierce attack on Yevgeny Prigozhin, the exiled mercenary leader of an aborted armed mutiny last month, and said an investigation into what had happened was still being vigorously pursued. Under the agreement which ended the mutiny, Prigozhin, whose aim had been to topple the defence minister and chief of the General Staff for what he cast as their incompetent prosecution of the war, was meant to relocate to neighbouring Belarus. Images of armed Russian law enforcement agents entering Prigozhin's office were shown. "I consider that the creation of Yevgeny Prigozhin's image as a people's hero was all done by media fed by Yevgeny Prigozhin," said Petrov, referring to media outlets financed by Prigozhin. The programme showed what it said were multiple passports which Prigozhin had used and which carried different names.

Persons: Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Wagner, Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Popov, Eduard Petrov, Petrov, Yevgeny, Putin, Andrew Osborn, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Wednesday, Kremlin, General Staff, Prigozhin, Thomson Locations: Russian, Rostov, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Belarus, St Petersburg

☆ Smaller valuations and a lack of ego helped Spain's startup scene avoid some of Europe's shocking collapse in VC funding, investors say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Spain's startup scene has evaded some of the collapse in VC funding that has rocked Europe in 2023. Smaller check sizes and a lack of "ego" has somewhat protected the ecosystem, investors say. Smaller valuations, check sizes, and a distinct lack of ego helped Spain's startup scene evade some of the shocking collapse in venture capital funding that has rocked Europe so far this year. Smaller rounds give Spain's startups an edge in the downturnWhat correction was felt was eased by the fact there is less "ego" in Spain's ecosystem, according to Max Bray, an investor at early-stage firm K Fund. As well as the birth of local growth funds, investors see corporations playing a role in closing the funding gap.

Persons: SoftBank, Catalyst, Pablo Pedrejón, Max Bray, Dalia Silberstein, Pedro Arribas Gridilla, Juliette Simonin, Margarita Albors, Tasmin Lockwood, Bray, Marc Sabas, Fund's Bray, Wallbox cofounders Enric Asunción, Eduard Castañeda, Glovo, Wallbox, Oscar Pierre, Ship2B's Sabas, Danae Vara, Danae Vara Ship2B, hasn't, Sabas, CVCs, There's, Félix Ortega, K Fund's Bray, Sérgio Massano Organizations: Accel, Pedrejón, Venture, Fund, Esade Center, Social, Foundation, Spanish, K Fund, Investors, Danae Vara Ship2B Ventures, Investment, Corporations, Barcelona Activa, Telefónica, BBVA, Proeduca Locations: Europe, Spain, Madrid, France, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Seaya, Bray, Vara, Barcelona, Silicon, London

☆ Spanish researchers aim to 'trick nature' with artificial womb
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Horaci Garcia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BARCELONA, June 29 (Reuters) - Researchers in Barcelona are trying to "trick nature" by creating an artificial womb for extremely premature babies after tests on animals kept foetuses alive for 12 days. Their artificial placenta prototype recreates a protective environment with a translucent container made of biocompatible material inside which the foetus' lungs, intestines and brain can continue to develop. Babies born after six months of pregnancy or less are considered extremely premature with a high risk of death or disability. It's a challenge, it's extremely delicate to achieve this, to trick nature to make this possible," Gratacos said. "Although it is an exciting development, the artificial placenta is not intended to replace a natural placenta," Werner said.

Persons: Eduard Gratacos, Gratacos, Kelly Werner, Werner, Horaci Garcia, Emma Pinedo, David Latona, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Reuters, Fundacion La Caixa, Caixabank, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Columbia University, Science Media Centre, Thomson Locations: BARCELONA, Barcelona, Spanish

☆ Slovak caretaker PM quits months before early elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Heger is due to meet President Zuzana Caputova, who has the power to appoint a new caretaker prime minister, later on Sunday. Heger has faced opposition calls to make way for a technocrat administration to lead the central European country until early elections to take place in September. Polls find the public favours the biggest opposition party, which is led by former prime minister Robert Fico and has opposed increasing military aid to neighbouring Ukraine. Heger lost a no-confidence vote in December last year and in January he agreed to early elections as the best solution, leaving him in a caretaker role. It was not certain whether Caputova would name a new prime minister on Sunday.

☆ Slovak's caretaker PM quits after political wrangling
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 7 (Reuters) - Slovakia's Prime Minister Eduard Heger said on Sunday he had asked the president to relieve him of his duties, after ministers' resignations weakened his cabinet that is serving in a caretaker capacity before elections in September. Heger is due to meet President Zuzana Caputova, who has the power to appoint a new caretaker prime minister, later on Sunday. Heger has faced calls from the opposition to make way for a technocrat administration to lead the central European country until early elections to take place in September. In common with other European states, Slovakia has provided households and companies with payments to mitigate the impact of high energy costs and wider inflation. Reporting by Jason Hovet in Prague Editing by Peter GraffOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Slovak foreign minister quits in fresh blow to ailing cabinet
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 5 (Reuters) - Slovakia's foreign minister offered his resignation on Friday, the president said, dealing a fresh blow to the centre-right cabinet which has already been serving in a caretaker capacity ahead of elections in September. Rastislav Kacer's departure follows a string of other ministerial resignations and piles pressure on Prime Minister Eduard Heger, who had been facing mounting opposition calls to quit and make way for a technocrat government. Caputova, whose role gives her the power to appoint a new prime minister, said she would discuss the situation with Heger and parliament speaker Boris Kollar on her return. SaS joined a leftist opposition party in voting through a no-confidence motion in December, accusing the government of not helping people cope with the higher energy costs. The prime minister said he would not comment until he meets the president.

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