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☆ Soccer-In year of drama, World Cup shines spotlight on growth in the sport
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Manasi Pathak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Dec 20 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi's World Cup fairytale lit up the year in soccer as heroics and heartbreak at the finals captivated fans and highlighted the growth of the world's most popular sport despite the criticism of host country Qatar's human rights record. With matches played in air-conditioned stadiums to cope with the heat of the desert state and no beer on tap in stadiums, spectators experienced a World Cup like never before. Playing in a fifth World Cup for Argentina, the incomparable Messi once again left everyone in awe of his magical powers on the field as he smashed records and delivered on the hopes of a nation, bringing the World Cup home after 36 years. The South American giants were handed a shock defeat by Saudi Arabia in their first group game, which statisticians Gracenote credited as the biggest upset in World Cup history. With every continent represented in the World Cup last 16, the most diverse knockout stage in the tournament's history was evidence of the sport's expanding reach.

☆ Pope in 2013 signed resignation letter in case of bad health
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ROME, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Pope Francis revealed in a new interview published on Sunday that after he was elected in 2013 he signed a letter of resignation to be used if someday severe and permanent health problems made it impossible to carry out his duties. Francis, who turned 86 on Saturday and appears to be in good health except for a knee ailment, made the comment in an interview with the Spanish newspaper ABC. Francis said he gave the letter to then Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who was a holdover from the previous papacy of Benedict XVI. Bertone remained in the position for about six months after Francis was elected on March 13, 2013. Francis has often said that he would resign if health impaired him from running the 1.3 billion-member Roman Catholic Church.

☆ Pope Francis orders return of Parthenon sculptures to Greece
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

VATICAN CITY, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Pope Francis has decided to return to Greece three 2,500-year-old pieces of the Parthenon that have been in the papal collections of the Vatican Museums for more than a century. The pieces are being returned to Greece as London and Athens continue an artistic tug of war over the so-called Elgin Marbles. Greece has repeatedly called for the permanent return from the British Museum of the 2,500-year-old sculptures, which British diplomat Lord Elgin removed from the Parthenon temple in the early 19th century when he was ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Greece's then-ruler. Earlier this month a Greek newspaper reported that a deal to return the marbles to Greece was close, but the Greek government said it was not imminent. In March, the United Nations' cultural agency UNESCO urged Greece and Britain to reach a settlement.

The Special Technology Centre did not respond to a written request for comment. Russia's Ministry of Defence did not respond to questions from Reuters about the impact of sanctions and its relationship to the Special Technology Centre. Reached by phone, Alexey Terentyev, a top scientist and major shareholder at the Special Technology Centre, said the war has forced it to focus on making drones. Those corporate records show iLogic is based at the same St Petersburg office address as the Special Technology Centre. In a brief telephone interview, Roman Agafonnikov, chief executive officer of the Special Technology Centre, said he didn't know anything about iLogic.

☆ Making the case for anchovies
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Casey Barber | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Bagna cauda, the Italian dipping sauce made from anchovies, garlic, butter and olive oil, is traditionally served with crudités as an appetizer. Bagna cauda is an Italian dipping sauce for vegetables made from anchovies, garlic, butter and olive oil. Anchovies in pastaFinally, the same strategy of dissolving the umami flavors of anchovies in a sauce comes into play when making a rich and comforting pasta. When buying anchoviesWhen choosing a tin or jar of anchovies, Roman said to make sure the anchovies are oil-packed, salt-cured anchovy fillets, not brined, pickled or whole anchovies. Though the ingredients in each container should be the same — anchovies, salt and olive oil — the fillets will vary in saltiness, taste and texture.

☆ The cofounder of venture capital firm Target Global left after his Russian oligarch father was sanctioned
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Shona Ghosh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Alexander Frolov, the son of a sanctioned Russian oligarch, has left his tech investment firm. The UK sanctioned Alexander Frolov Senior on November 2. Alexander Frolov, the son of a sanctioned Russian oligarch, has left the venture capital firm he cofounded and ran, Target Global, amid ongoing concerns about Russian money flowing into European tech startups. The move was first reported by German publication FinanceFwd and was confirmed to Insider Monday by a spokesman for Target Global. The UK sanctioned Russian oligarch Alexander Frolov, formerly CEO of steel-mining firm Evraz, in November 2022.

BROOKLYN—I heard the MC call my name and felt my legs carry me toward the stage. I’d never competed in a pun contest, much less in front of hundreds of people at an event considered the Roman Colosseum of punditry. My stage presence could be described as lacking. I had done basically no preparation. I did, however, have one thing going for me: I was actually a robot.

☆ Archaeologists have discovered full-color portraits of Egyptian mummies in ancient Philadelphia
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Archaeologists have uncovered the first full-color portraits of mummies in over a century. Researchers found the two full portraits of Egyptian mummies and fragments of others at the Gerza excavation site in Fayoum, Egypt, making these artworks the first of their kind to be discovered in over 115 years. English archaeologist Flinders Petrie was the last to find similar artwork when he discovered 146 mummy portraits at a Roman cemetery in 1911, Artnet News reports. The collection of paintings, known as the Fayoum portraits, portrays some of the wealthiest people that existed in these ancient communities. A statement from the Egyptian government explains that pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphus (309–246 B.C.)

The US was unable to deliver on the request for the ex-colonel, Vadim Krasikov, because he is serving out a life sentence for murder in Germany. The US made several other offers to the Russians, sources said, to try to get them to agree to include Whelan in the swap. The US also offered to trade Roman Seleznev, a convicted Russian cyber-criminal currently serving a 14-year sentence in the US, sources said. But Bélot said he could see Vinnik being part of prisoner swap negotiations in the future. “They [Vinnik and Whelan] make part of the possible ‘candidates’ for the next swap,” Bélot said in a text message to CNN.

☆ Who is Prince Heinrich XIII of Reuss? Germany's far-right coup plotter explained
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Patrick-Smith-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Patrick Smith | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Heinrich XIII, 71, belongs to the House of Reuss, an ancient royal lineage that ruled parts of what is now Thuringia in central Germany for hundreds of years until 1918. In an eccentric quirk dating back to the 12th century, male heirs to the Reuss throne are all called Heinrich, followed by a number. Heinrich may claim the hereditary title, but the House of Reuss is less than pleased with him. The House of Reuss disowned Heinrich XIII even before Wednesday’s arrest. In short, Heinrich XIII argues that Germany as we know it doesn’t exist.

☆ Ancient Egyptian mummies were found with gold tongues meant to help them talk with the god of the underworld
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ancient Egyptian mummies were discovered buried with gold tongues in their mouths. Some of the mummies were also originally coated with gold flakes. It is the latest in a series of mummies found with gold tongues in the mouth. Last year, archaeologists reported finding mummies with gold tongues twice, once in El Bahnasa, about 136 miles south of Cairo, and once in Alexandria. Gold flakes were also found on the bones of some of the remains, per the Facebook post, suggesting their bodies were sprinkled with gold.

☆ Dig at U.K. housing site yields major 7th century treasures
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Experts say the necklace, uncovered with other items near Northampton in central England, is part of the most significant early medieval burial of a woman ever found in the U.K. But scientists say her long-buried trove will shed new light on life in 7th century England, a time when Christianity was battling with paganism for people’s allegiance. On one of the last days of the 10-week dig, site supervisor Levente-Bence Balázs noticed something glinting in the dirt. It is adorned with tiny, astonishingly well-preserved likenesses of human heads with blue glass eyes, who may represent Christ’s apostles. Once archaeologists have finished their work, the plan is for the items to be displayed in a local museum.

☆ Heinrich XIII: the prince suspected of plotting to be German kaiser in coup
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Sarah Marsh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BERLIN, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss is one of the last descendents of a dynasty that once ruled over swathes of eastern Germany. He is suspected of hoping to become the country's new leader in a violent coup to overthrow the democratic order. Neither the House of Reuss nor Prince Reuss' Office responded to requests for comment. "If things didn’t work well, you just went to the prince," Heinrich said. Police also searched his hunting lodge in Thueringen where he was suspected of stockpiling weapons, according to the Ostthueringer newspaper.

A blast hit an airbase inside Russia on Tuesday, the latest in a series of apparent Ukrainian drone attacks that showcase an ability to strike at the heart of Russian territory and suggest a new boldness in Kyiv's fight against Moscow's war. An airfield at Kursk in southwest Russia, near the Ukrainian border, was ablaze on Tuesday morning, with regional governor Roman Starovoit saying the incident was the result of a drone attack. The Engels base houses Russia's strategic bombing fleet of tu-160 and tu-95 planes, which have been used on long-range bombing missions to Ukraine and can be adapted to carry nuclear weapons. "It’s important from a morale point of view that some Russian strategic resources are being targeted." Russia has the firepower to carry on bombing Ukraine, he added.

☆ Russia appears to have run out of the deadly Iranian-made drones it's been using to terrorize Ukraine, Western officials say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia appears to be out of Iranian-made drones, Western officials said Tuesday. US officials had warned over the summer that Iran was preparing to send drones to Russia, and then the weapons first saw battlefield action in early September. A Russian drone, considered by Ukrainian authorities to be an Iranian-made Shahed-136, over Kyiv on October 17, 2022. These 440-pound weapons are relatively slow, fly at low altitudes, and carry a small explosive payload, according to Western intelligence. It's not immediately clear how many Iranian-made drones Russia had in it's arsenal.

CNN —A series of attacks deep inside Russia this week have raised the stakes for Moscow at a time when its war on Ukraine is faltering. Russia has said that Ukrainian drones carried out three strikes on its air bases, yet two of the targets are hundreds of miles inside Russian territory and beyond the reach of Ukraine’s declared drone arsenal. Russia said it was targeted in three separate drone attacks on Monday and Tuesday. Russia said a second drone flew to the city of Engels, around 500 miles southeast of the capital, before attacking an air base with the same name. However, they have so far refused to provide Kyiv with long-range attack drones, fearing that strikes inside Russian territory would escalate the war and draw them directly into a conflict with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

☆ Explosions rock Russian military airbases; new strikes hit Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Mithil Aggarwal | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Explosions rocked two Russian military airbases hundreds of miles from the border with Ukraine on Monday, according to local officials and state media. Russian authorities said they were investigating the media reports about the explosions on the base. A Tu-95 strategic bomber from the Russian air force prepares to take off from an air base in Engels, Russia on Jan. 24, 2022. AP“Engels airfield is one of the most important bases of Russian air forces,” said Ukrainian interior ministry adviser Anton Gerashchenko in a tweet. Analysts said it was unclear that the new wave of Russian strikes were in any way retaliation for the blasts at the airbases.

☆ Blasts Hit Russian Air Bases as Moscow Launches Missile Barrage on Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Jared Malsin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Explosions hit two Russian air bases on Monday, while Ukrainian officials hinted at a capability to strike deeper within Russian territory and Moscow launched a major barrage of missiles at Ukrainian cities. Russian authorities said they were investigating the cause of an explosion at a military base near the city of Engels in Russia’s Saratov region. The regional governor, Roman Busargin, said law-enforcement agencies are investigating the incident and that no civilians were hurt.

☆ Biden administration looks to oil and gas execs to help bolster Ukraine energy assets
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] People sit in a pub lit with candles during a power outage after critical civil infrastructure was hit by Russian missile attacks, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Lviv, Ukraine November 24, 2022. REUTERS/Roman Baluk/File PhotoDec 5 (Reuters) - The Biden administration is convening a virtual meeting on Thursday with oil and gas executives to discuss how the United States can support Ukrainian energy infrastructure, according to a letter seen by Reuters. The meeting comes as Russia seeks to cut off Ukraine’s energy supplies and infrastructure as winter approaches with missile attacks. "As you know Ukrainian energy assets are being aggressively targeted in an effort to take advantage of the winter's coldest temperatures and harshest weather conditions. Together, we can help to boost Ukrainian resilience," wrote David Turk, U.S. deputy secretary of energy, in a letter to oil and gas executives.

CNN —Explosions at two Russian air bases Monday have focused attention on Ukraine’s efforts to develop longer-range combat drones. The Russian Defense Ministry says the attacks were carried out by Ukrainian drones, which it claims were brought down by Russian air defenses. Imagery – both satellite and photographs – indicates some damage was done to Russian military planes at one base in Ryazan region. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has offered no official comment on the explosions, and the Ukrainian government has not acknowledged adding long-range attack drones to its arsenal. The two bases hit, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, are hundreds of miles inside Russian territory and beyond the reach of Ukraine’s declared arsenal of drones.

☆ White House to ask oil and gas execs to support Ukraine energy infrastructure
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Roman Baluk/File PhotoDec 5 (Reuters) - The Biden administration is convening a virtual meeting on Thursday with oil and gas executives to discuss how the United States can support Ukrainian energy infrastructure, according to a letter seen by Reuters. The meeting comes as Russia seeks to cut off Ukraine’s energy supplies and destroy infrastructure as winter approaches with missile attacks. "As you know Ukrainian energy assets are being aggressively targeted in an effort to take advantage of the winter's coldest temperatures and harshest weather conditions. Together, we can help to boost Ukrainian resilience," wrote David Turk, U.S. deputy secretary of energy, in a letter to oil and gas executives. It involves members of the Oil and Natural Gas Sector Coordinating Council, which includes 26 trade associations.

☆ Blasts reported at two Russian airbases far from Ukraine, three killed
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

State-owned RIA news agency said six others were injured in the tanker explosion in Ryazan, 185 km (115 miles) southeast of Moscow. The Engels base is about 730 km (455 miles) southeast of Moscow. It is one of two strategic bomber bases housing Russia's air-delivered nuclear capability, the other being in Amur region in the Russian Far East. Ukraine has previously demonstrated the ability to strike strategic Russian targets far beyond the 1,100 km-long front line in south and eastern Ukraine. In August, at least seven Russian warplanes were destroyed by explosions at a Russian airbase on the southwest coast of Russian-annexed Crimea.

☆ There's 'a lot of upside' for tech, investment firm says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThere's 'a lot of upside' for tech, investment firm saysPer Roman, co-founder and managing partner of GP Bullhound, discusses the outlook for the tech sector and says "the height of political risk is a real awakening for the technology industry."

☆ Blasts reported at Russian air base where satellite images showed an 'unusual' amount of activity
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Explosions were reported Monday at a military air base inside Russia. Last week, Der Spiegel reported that an "unusual" amount of activity was occurring at the base. The Russian Ministry of Defense later issued a statement attributing the blasts a Ukrainian attack. Images posted Monday by the commercial satellite firm Maxar shows the base hosting the Tu-160 as well as the Tu-95, or Bear, strategic bomber. The base is also home to strategic bombers.

☆ Elon Musk and AOC finally agree on something: both have mocked Sam Bankman-Fried's lowly League of Legends rank
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk mocked FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried for his low League of Legends ranking. Nuff said," Musk tweeted on Saturday, reminding users of Bankman-Fried's surprisingly low rank of Bronze III in the game. His goading of Bankman-Fried marks him as an unlikely ally to LoL player and Democrat congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, who previously mocked Bankman-Fried's rank as his empire crumbled around him. Bankman-Fried's Bronze is the second-lowest rank. "I play a lot more than you'd expect from someone who routinely trades off sleep vs work," Bankman-Fried tweeted, suggesting it was an outlet to help him switch off.

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