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☆ War, reforms and a possible successor? Here's what we could see from 6 more years of Putin
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Analysts share their views on what we can expect now that Putin has strengthened his grip on power, with the Ukraine war, domestic economic reforms and a possible government reshuffle key factors to watch. Having cleared more of a procedural hurdle than a real test of his policies and popularity in the election, Putin will have more freedom to advance contentious reforms at home, analysts note. Russian President Vladimir Putin delivering an annual address to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, at Moscow's Gostiny Dvor, in Moscow on Feb. 29, 2024. MOSCOW, RUSSIA - JANUARY 8: (RUSSIA OUT) A woman eats hot corn while walking along the Red Square near the Kremlin, as air temperatures dropped to -18 degrees Celcius, January,8 2024, in Moscow, Russia. However, with the dynamics of the war now shifting in Russia's favor, Putin might feel more confident with the reshuffle.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Natalia Kolesnikova, Vladimir Putin's, Putin, embolden Putin, Liam Peach, Jose Colon, Anton Siluanov, Tursa, Adeline Van Houtte, Donald Trump, Dmitry Peskov, Peach, he's, Sergei Shoigu, Sergei Lavrov, Mikhail Mishustin, Dmitry Medvedev, Gavriil Organizations: Afp, Getty, Kremlin, Commission, Analysts, U.S, Capital Economics, Anadolu, Anadolu Agency, Economist Intelligence Unit, Federal Assembly, Russian Federation, New, Putin, Security Council, Sputnik Locations: Crimea, Red, Moscow, Russia, Russian, Central, Ukraine, Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, Eastern Europe, Europe, U.S, Russia's, MOSCOW, RUSSIA

☆ Basking in his Russian election win, Putin talks about political nemesis Alexei Navalny's 'sad' death for the first time
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin was upbeat after winning a fifth term in power in Russia's presidential election over the weekend. He chose the moment to make his first public remarks on the death of his political nemesis, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, mentioning his name for the first time in years. Navalny's family and supporters accused Putin of ordering Navalny's death. He also used the moment to make his first public comments on Navalny's death, and mentioning his most vocal critic's name for the first time in public in years. Putin won Russian presidential election with 87.97% of the vote, first official results showed Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Alexei Navalny, Putin, Natalia Kolesnikova, —, Laudator Ursula von der Leyen, Bambi, NBC's Keir Simmons, Navalny, Mr Navalny, Navalny's, Maria Pevchikh, airbrushing Organizations: Afp, Getty, Navalny, European Commission, Bavaria Film Studios, NBC, Russian, Moscow Times, Putin's, Ukraine, Reuters, Commission, Anadolu Locations: Russia, Moscow, U.S

☆ Finland follows France and raises possibility of deploying troops to Ukraine, says report
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Finland's Foreign Minister says the West shouldn't rule out deploying troops against Russia. AdvertisementFinland's Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said the West can't rule out the possibility of deploying troops against Russia, Politico reports. "We are not right now sending any troops and not willing to discuss that," she said. He again said that sending Western troops into Ukraine shouldn't be ruled out, though he said the current situation doesn't require it, AP reported. Despite the Biden administration's firm stance against sending US troops to Ukraine, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stressed on Friday that the decision ultimately lies with individual nations.

Persons: Elina Valtonen, Macron, —, Valtonen, Emmanuel Macron, Le Monde, Olaf Scholz, Putin, Vladimir Putin, ALEXANDER NEMENOV, Ukraine shouldn't, Jonathan NACKSTRAND, Ivo Daalder, Kurt Volker, John Kirby Organizations: Finland's, Politico, Service, NATO, Stalin's Red Army, Getty, Reuters, AP, NATO Nordic, AFP, Biden, National Security Locations: Russia, Finland, Sweden, Soviet Union, Moscow, Paris, Ukraine, Russian, Swedish, AFP Ukraine, Avdiivka

☆ Russians vote in an election that Putin will win, but the Kremlin is looking for a landslide victory
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Mikhail Svetlov/Getty ImagesThere are no surprises over who will win Russia's presidential election this coming weekend with incumbent, Vladimir Putin, set to win a fifth term in office, keeping him in power until at least 2030. The heavily stage-managed vote taking place from Friday to Sunday is not expected to throw up any nasty surprises for the Kremlin which told CNBC months ago that it was confident Putin would win the vote comfortably. That's particularly the case in a country where Russian opposition figures are not represented on the ballot paper or in mainstream politics, with most activists having fled the country. "According to official data, Putin received 77.5% of valid votes in the 2018 presidential election that saw a turnout of 67.5%. Russian opposition activists, most in self-imposed exile in order to evade arrest, imprisonment or attack, have also condemned the election.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Mikhail Svetlov, Putin, That's, Alexei Navalny, there's, Vladislav Davankov, Leonid Slutsky, Nikolay Kharitonov, Russia's, Yekaterina Duntsova, Boris Nadezhdin, Andrei Kolesnikov, —, Diego Herrera Carcedo, Andreas Tursa, Russian Federation's, Yulia Navalnaya, Dmitrii, we're Organizations: Kremlin, CNBC, New People, Liberal Democratic Party, Communist Party, Russia's, Commission, Levada, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Putin, Teneo, Russian Democratic Society, Festival Locations: Kremlin, Ukraine, Russia, Klishchiivka, Donetsk Oblast, Europe, Kyiv, Crimea, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk, Russian, London, Sirius, Sochi, Stavropolsky Krai, Krasnodar Krai

☆ Fintech Naro wants to take advantage of Europe's ETF boom. Check out the 10-slide pitch deck it used to raise $3 million.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Naro, a German fintech startup, has raised $3 million in pre-seed funding. Cologne-based Naro, founded in 2022, wants to take advantage of the boom in exchange-traded funds — or ETF — products in Europe to offer white-label services to various banks, funds, and brokers. Naro's pre-seed funding round was led by Berlin's La Famiglia alongside Discovery Ventures, plus investment from Robin Capital, Angel Invest, and various angels. Funding will go towards expanding the startup's current team of 10 staff as it looks to partner with potential customers looking to build out products within their existing infrastructure. Naro's business plan subsequently changed from its original slides, you can see a version of its pre-seed pitch deck below:

Persons: Chris Püllen, Püllen, Naro's, Berlin's La Organizations: Business, Trade Republic, Discovery Ventures, Robin Capital, Angel Invest, Credit Suisse Locations: Naro, Cologne, Europe, Germany

☆ A tax expert shares 3 little-known concepts every real-estate investor should know about, including one that could eliminate capital gains taxes
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

"It's section 1250 in the tax code, and that tax rate is 25% at the federal level, regardless of whatever marginal income tax bracket you're in." In addition to owing capital gains tax on the $500,000 of appreciation they experience, they're also subject to depreciation recapture tax. As a DST investor, you essentially own fractions of the investment properties, typically high-grade institutional properties, owned by the trust. A step-up in basis can reduce or eliminate capital gains taxesA "step-up in basis" can help heirs reduce or even eliminate capital gains taxes. That means, if the surviving spouse wants to sell, they can save big on capital gains taxes.

Persons: —, Austin Bowlin, they're, Bowlin, aren't Organizations: Service, Real, Business, IRS, Midwest, Investors Locations: Delaware, Texas, Arizona , California , Idaho , Louisiana , Nevada , New Mexico , Texas, Washington, Wisconsin

☆ Moscow's ties to Beijing are paying off as Russian firms flourish amid lucrative deals with China
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Yuheng Zhan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Some Russian companies are seeing their business boom thanks to trade with China, Reuters reported. Analysts warn of China's potential losses if sanctions extend to companies there that do business with Russia. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . As China buys more Russian energy supplies, Chinese companies are supplying Russian firms with machinery and vehicles, Reuters said. AdvertisementStill, experts warn of underlying risks in Russia's economic reliance on China, as China may have much to lose if sanctions extend to domestic companies.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov Organizations: Reuters, Service, China, Volkswagen, Renault, Chery Locations: China, Beijing, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow

☆ Bananarama hasn't heard Taylor Swift's 'Cruel Summer,' but they wish she'd covered their song with the same name instead
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Amanda Goh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Bananarama members say they haven't heard Taylor Swift's "Cruel Summer." "I would have preferred her recording mine, because then I could have made some of her money," Keren Woodward told Billboard. AdvertisementBananarama — who has a song called "Cruel Summer" — says they haven't heard Taylor Swift's hit of the same name. AdvertisementSwift's "Cruel Summer" hit the top of Billboard's Hot 100 chart in October 2023, four years after it was released. "Deja Vu," a song off Rodrigo's debut album "Sour" was embroiled in a copyright controversy after fans noted the similarities between the song and Swift's "Cruel Summer."

Persons: Taylor, Keren Woodward, —, Bananarama —, haven't, Taylor Swift's, Sara Dallin, Dallin, hasn't, Woodward, I've, Swift, It's, Olivia Rodrigo, Rodrigo, Swift —, Jack Antonoff, Anne Clark, Vincent —, Clark, Nigro Organizations: Billboard, Service, British Locations: Irish

☆ Putin Says Russia Ready for Nuclear War, but 'Not Everything Rushing to It'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( March | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - Russia remains in a state of combat readiness and is fully ready for a nuclear war, but not "everything is rushing to it" at present, President Vladimir Putin said in remarks published on Wednesday. "From a military-technical point of view, we are, of course, ready," Putin told Rossiya-1 television and news agency RIA in response to a question whether the country was really ready for a nuclear war. The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 96 Images"Therefore, I don’t think that here everything is rushing to it (nuclear confrontation), but we are ready for this." If the United States conducted nuclear tests, Russia might do the same, he added in the wide-ranging interview. However, Putin said Russia had never faced a need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, where the conflict has raged since February 2022.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Rossiya, Lidia Kelly, Christopher Cushing, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Reuters Locations: Russia, Ukraine, United States, Melbourne

A leading state television channel opened with its host railing against the West and NATO. THE KREMLIN MEDIA DIETThe Kremlin regularly meets with the heads of TV stations to give “special instructions on what can be said on air,” said Ovsyannikova. State television broadcasts dull debates between representatives of Putin's opponents. GRANULES OF TRUTHRussian propaganda is “sophisticated and multifaceted,” said Francis Scarr, a journalist who analyzes Russian television for BBC Monitoring. Even those soothed by the Kremlin’s propaganda also could long for a real choice at the polls.

Persons: Alexei Navalny, Vladimir Putin, Putin, whittle, ”, PUTIN’S, Anna Politkovskaya, Evan Gershkovich, “, Marina Ovsyannikova, Sam Greene, Half, Jade McGlynn, —, Francis Scarr, McGlynn, Greene Organizations: West, NATO, NTV, Russia, Center for, Levada, King's College, Putin, State, BBC Monitoring, Kremlin Locations: Ukraine, Russia, State, Victoria, Russian, Crimea, Soviet, Washington, West, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, King's College London, RUSSIAN

☆ Lupita Nyong'o's icy blue dress at the 2024 Academy Awards was a nod to the gown she wore when she won her Oscar in 2014
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Amanda Goh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Lupita Nyong'o wore an icy blue Armani Privè gown at the 2024 Oscars. AdvertisementLupita Nyong'o dazzled at the 2024 Oscars in an icy blue Armani Privè gown that was inspired by the dress she wore at the awards a decade earlier. Lupita Nyong'o poses in a pale blue gown in the press room at the 86th annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. AdvertisementNyong'o is not the only celebrity to wear an outfit that was inspired by a previous look to the 2024 Oscars. Marlee Matlin's sparkly purple gown at the 2024 Oscars was a tribute to the lavender dress she wore at the 1987 awards.

Persons: Lupita Nyong'o, Marlee Matlin, —, dazzled, Zanna Roberts Rassi, Oscar, Jason LaVeris, WireImage, Micaela Erlanger, Erlanger, Marlee, Sarah Morris, Bob Riha, Matlin Organizations: Service, Dolby Theatre Locations: Hollywood , California

☆ Russia says its democracy is the best in the world, days after Putin's only real political rival died in prison
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declared Russia's democracy "the best" in the world. Navalny died in prison, and Russian elections are widely regarded as anything but free and fair. AdvertisementRussia's democracy is the best in the world and it won't tolerate criticism of it, the Kremlin's top spokesperson said on Wednesday. "Our democracy is the best, and we will continue to build it," he said, per Ukrainska Pravda's translation. Russian presidential elections, set to begin in 10 days, are also widely regarded as a foregone conclusion.

Persons: Dmitry Peskov, Putin's, Alexey Navalny, Navalny, —, Vladimir Putin, Boris Nadezhdin, Alexei Navalny, Associated Press Navalny, Roman Ivanov Organizations: Service, Moscow Times, Associated Press, Kremlin, Telegraph, Economist Intelligence Unit Locations: Moscow, Russia, —, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Ukraine

☆ France and Moldova to Sign Defence and Economic Accords on Thursday, Paris Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( March | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS (Reuters) - Moldova and France will sign defence and economic cooperation accords during a visit by Moldovan President Maia Sandu to Paris on Thursday, the French presidency said in a statement. Western powers are seeking to increase support for Moldova amid what they fear are increasing efforts by Russia to destabilise Moldova. In parallel to Sandu's visit, Western states will hold an audio call hosted by France to discuss increasing support for Ukraine, but also Moldova. To Ukraine's west, fellow former Soviet republic Moldova has a tiny defence budget and has long had tense relations with Moscow. It added that a defence cooperation agreement and a road map for cooperation in the economic field would be signed during the visit.

Persons: Maia Sandu, Macron, Sandu, John Irish, Kevin Liffey Organizations: PARIS, Moldovan, European Locations: Moldova, France, Paris, Russia, destabilise Moldova, Ukraine, Soviet, Moscow, Transdniestria, Republic of Moldova, Moldovan, European Chisinau

☆ Real-estate investors are using a little-known tax strategy the IRS approved in 2004 to exchange properties for a more passive investment while deferring taxes indefinitely: 'Most people don't even kn
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Austin Bowlin, a CPA and partner at Real Estate Transition Solutions, is finding this out among his investor clients. "But a 1031 exchange in and of itself isn't the sole answer because now they have to figure out, 'What would I exchange into?'" If they buy another investment property, they're back where they started: actively managing a different property. And, thanks to a 2004 ruling by the IRS, DSTs are 1031 exchange eligible. That said, "most of those risks are what the owners are accustomed to, having owned and managed investment real estate.

Persons: —, It's, Austin Bowlin, they're, He'll Organizations: Service, Business, CPA, Real, Delaware Statutory Trust, IRS, SEC Locations: California, Delaware, Texas, Florida, Washington, Nevada

☆ The Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine was shot 5 times while less than 500 feet away from a police station: WSJ
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Maksym Kuzminov was a Russian helicopter pilot who defected to Ukraine in August. AdvertisementMaksym Kuzminov, the 28-year-old Russian helicopter pilot who defected to Ukraine in August and later moved to Spain, was shot five times while less than 500 feet away from a local police station, The Wall Street Journal reported. A medic found five small-caliber shots, one of which directly hit his heart, revealing the accuracy with which the perpetrator killed Kuzminov, according to the report. Western intelligence officials and a former Russian intelligence officer told The Journal last year that Nikolai Patrushev, a close associate of Putin, orchestrated his death. AdvertisementFollowing reports of Kuzminov's death, Moscow's foreign intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin appeared to support the Russian pilot's fate.

Persons: Maksym Kuzminov, Kuzminov, —, Maksym, Vladimir Putin's, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Nikolai Patrushev, Putin, Alexey Navalny, Navalny, Joe Biden, Sergei Naryshkin, Naryshkin Organizations: Service, Street Journal, Russian, Biden Administration, TASS Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Spain, Villajoyosa, Moscow

☆ NATO navies can exploit a Russian fear and keep Putin from invading more neighbors
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Today, NATO's naval power is far superior to Russia's. NATO may dominate the oceans, but that may not be much help if Russian tanks invade the Baltic States or Poland. Or more specifically, use naval power to scare Moscow into allocating its scarce resources to defending its huge coastlines rather than invading neighbors. "Rather than naval combat per se, the purpose of Russian sea power is to ensure that the Russian state can compete and engage in conflict safely and effectively," the essay said. In 2024, the fear is that NATO ships could launch long-range guided missiles at the Russian heartland.

Persons: Napoleon, Hitler fumed, Russia —, Kaushal, Rene Balletta, Alfred Thayer Mahan, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Channel, Royal Navy, NATO, Alliance, Britain's Royal United Services Institute, Russian Navy, Black, Century, Russia, Russian Army and Aerospace Forces, West, Baltic, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: British, Russia, Baltic States, Poland, Moscow, Britain, Europe, Asia, Russian, Crimean, Sevastopol, Ukraine, Russia's, Finland, Norway, Forbes

☆ This tense showdown between Hunter Biden and Matt Gaetz over drug use is quite something
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz and Hunter Biden crossed swords over drug use during a deposition. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementA new transcript shows the tense moment Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida decided to go after Hunter Biden with probing questions about drugs — and what happened next. Gaetz asked, referencing the Ukrainian energy company that Hunter Biden had served as a board member for. "I will answer it this way: I have been absolutely transparent about my drug use," Hunter told Gaetz on Wednesday.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Hunter Biden, Gaetz, Hunter, he'd, —, Biden, Joe Biden, Oklahoma Sen, Markwayne Mullin, Mullin, CNN's Manu Raju, Mullin's, Hunter hasn't Organizations: Service, GOP, CNN, Gaetz, Business Insider Locations: Florida, Ukrainian, Oklahoma

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Putin delivers State of the Nation address to Russian lawmakers, troops and journalists
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Russia's Elections Commission said that the pro-Kremlin United Russia part had won local elections in four regions of Ukraine occupied by Russian forces, in a vote dismissed by Kyiv. Germany, the U.K., Spain, Poland and NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg were among those denying that sending ground troops into Ukraine was an option. The Kremlin had warned earlier Tuesday that such a move would lead to an "inevitable" conflict between NATO and Russia. Since then, state-run Russian media has been dominated by Russian officials relishing the obvious division in NATO, and Macron's apparent misreading of the NATO mood music. She claimed NATO countries' denials that they planned to send their ground troops into Ukraine showed the West had "betrayed Ukraine and will continue to use and betray it," repeating Moscow's baseless claims that Western countries are using Ukraine to destroy Russia.

Persons: Alexander NEMENOV, ALEXANDER NEMENOV, Emmanuel Macron, Jens Stoltenberg, Macron, Vyacheslav Volodin, Volodin, Maria Zakharova, — Holly Ellyatt Organizations: Commission, Kremlin, Kyiv, Getty Images, NATO, NATO's, Foreign Ministry, Ukraine —, Russian Foreign, Sputnik, Tass Locations: St, Basil's, Moscow, Russia's, Kremlin United Russia, Ukraine, AFP, Germany, Spain, Poland, Russia, NATO, Russian

☆ German warship accidentally opened fire on an American drone, nearly costing the US another Reaper in its Red Sea fight
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Jake Epstein | Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A German warship accidentally tried to shoot down a US military combat drone this week. The frigate Hessen targeted the MQ-9 Reaper as it was on a mission around the Red Sea, a US official said. AdvertisementA German warship accidentally targeted an American combat drone that was operating around the Red Sea earlier this week, but a malfunction spared the US from losing another Reaper drone. A missile launches from a US Navy destroyer in the Red Sea earlier this month. Screengrab/US Central Command via XMeanwhile, with this week's engagements — which saw Germany shoot down the two Houthi drones — Berlin joins the US, UK, and France in eliminating deadly threats launched by the rebels.

Persons: —, Boris Pistorius, Sina Schuldt, Aspides, Dwight D Organizations: Service, Berlin's, Airmen, Squadron, Nevada, Air, Bomb, US Air Force, Victoria, US Central Command, Hessen, Getty, Hellfire, Prosperity Guardian, EU, US Navy, Central Command, Eisenhower Carrier Strike Locations: Hessen, American, Sachsen, Germany, Red, Yemen, Russia, France

☆ Opinion: What it means to be born Black in Germany
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Opinion Josephine Apraku | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

It is hard to group Black Germans — sometimes also referred to as Afro-Germans — under one umbrella; there is no one description that encompasses the diversity of Black people here. The same year I was born, a seminal work about Black Germans, “Showing Our Colors: Afro-German Women Speak Out,” was published. I think that these are precisely the times when Black community, Black alliances and Black spaces are so important. In 2020, the Black Student Union at the University of Bremen renamed February “Black Our Story Month,” and has been holding Black History Month events every year since, creating visibility for the complexity of Black experiences. The Black community in Germany celebrated its first Black History Month in 1990.

Persons: Josephine Apraku, I’m, I’ve, ” Josephine Apraku Dahahm Choi It’s, there’s, ” Josephine Apraku, ”, Christian Mang, Audre Lorde, Lorde, Roma, Sinti, — that’s, Steffi Loos, Schwarzer, George Floyd, Black, — Organizations: African Studies, CNN, Berlin CNN, Black, Africa, Free University of Berlin, CDU, Christian Democratic Union, Black Student Union, University of Bremen, ISD, of Black People, White Locations: Berlin, Germany, Black, East Germany, Angola, Ethiopia, Mozambique, German, Ghana, Europe, Territories, Namibia, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Cameroon, Togo, ” Josephine Apraku Germany, France, Belgium, Great Britain, United States, Tiergarten, Black Germans, Deutschland

☆ Sony World Photography Awards 2024: The year’s best images unveiled
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Oscar Holland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Images of a rhino in captivity, a Slovakian spa facility and a German finger wrestling champion are among the finalists and shortlisted entries in the prestigious Sony World Photography Awards 2024. The World Photography Awards organizes several different competitions each year, including youth and student prizes, with its national and regional winners unveiled last month. Liang Chen/Sony World Photography AwardsA photo by Angelika Jakob shows Josef Utzschneider, light heavyweight champion in the German finger wrestling championship. Angelika Jakob/Sony World Photography AwardsAn image by James Rokop, official photographer for the USA Artistic Swimming team. Helen McLain/Sony World Photography AwardsHaider Khan documented two rhinos in captivity in Germany and India.

Persons: Monica Allende, Karol Pałka, Nick Ng, Sujata Setia, Diana, Nygren, Diana Cheren Nygren, Brent Stirton, Jens Juul's, Jens Juul, Maurizio Di Pietro's, Maurizio Di Pietro, Katie Orlinksy's, Katie Orlinsky, Eddo Hartmann, Ekrem Sahin, Angelika Kollin's, Angelika Kollin, Adali Schell, Liang Chen, Angelika Jakob, Josef Utzschneider, James Rokop, Beth Galton, Helen McLain, Haider Khan Organizations: CNN, Sony, London’s Somerset House, World, Soviet Union, USA Locations: Slovakian, German, London’s, Uganda, Nairobi, Kenya, Roskilde, Denmark, Anaktuvuk, Kazakhstan, Soviet, Guangdong province, Germany, India

☆ An ex-KGB agent says every American that Putin can imprison is 'an asset that you can trade' as Moscow detains a US ballerina
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

AdvertisementEvery US citizen detained by Russia gives the Kremlin an "asset that you can trade," ex-KGB agent Jack Barsky said. Barsky, a former sleeper agent for Soviet intelligence in the 1970s and 1980s, told Fox News' Martha MacCallum on Monday that the practice of arresting Americans for this purpose is "nothing new." "That happened during Stalin's time, all the way through today. Because, you know, an American in prison is an asset that you can trade," said Barsky on MacCallum's "The Story." This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: Jack Barsky, Martha MacCallum Organizations: Fox News, Business Locations: Russia

☆ NATO countries scramble to deny ground troops will go into Ukraine after Moscow warns of 'inevitable' conflict
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

France's suggestion that Ukraine's allies could potentially send ground troops into Ukraine has caused indignation and outrage in Russia, with officials warning that it could provoke a direct conflict between Russia and NATO member states. Eyebrows were raised Monday when French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that European heads of state and Western officials, who met in Paris on Monday, had talked about the possibility of sending ground troops into Ukraine. "There is no consensus today to officially, openly, and with endorsement, send troops on the ground. Moscow was quick to seize on the comments, with the Kremlin's Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov telling reporters Tuesday that if European NATO members sent troops to fight in Ukraine it would make a conflict between Russia and NATO inevitable. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also weighed in, advising any countries considering sending troops to Ukraine to "use their heads," news agency TASS added.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Dmitry Peskov, Sergei Lavrov, Lavrov Organizations: NATO, Kremlin's, TASS Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Western, Paris, Moscow, Europe

☆ Russia offering African governments 'regime survival package' in exchange for resources, research says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso - Jan. 20, 2023: A banner of Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen during a protest to support the Burkina Faso President Captain Ibrahim Traore and to demand the departure of France's ambassador and military forces. Russia's military intelligence service is offering African governments a "regime survival package" that provides military and diplomatic support in exchange for access to strategically important natural resources, according to a new report. Russia's Defense Ministry was not available to comment on the report's findings when contacted by CNBC. Wagner has for many years been a key component of the Kremlin's efforts to grow its influence in politically unstable countries across central Africa and the Sahel, including the Central African Republic, Mali, Burkina Faso and Sudan. The report's authors Jack Watling, Oleksandr V Danylyuk and Nick Reynolds explained that the GRU chose to divide Wagner's activities in two.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Captain Ibrahim Traore, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Jack Watling, Oleksandr V Danylyuk, Nick Reynolds Organizations: Royal United Services Institute, Wagner Group, Russia's Defense, CNBC, Central African, Volunteer Corps, Russian Military of Defense Locations: OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso, Africa, Central African Republic, Mali, Sudan, Ukraine

☆ Putin needs to keep Russia in a 'permanent' state of war to stay in power, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Russian President Vladimir Putin needs to ensure his country stays in a permanent state of war to consolidate his power, according to a new book from Marie Mendras, a professor at Sciences Po University's Paris School of International Affairs. "He has the logic of a paranoid leader," Mendras told France 24 on Monday. It's unlikely Russia will be witnessing a major revolution or rebellion because it's a "dangerous dictatorship," said Mendras. Russia's war against Ukraine triggered sweeping Western sanctions against Moscow, isolating its economy and weakening Russia diplomatically.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Marie Mendras, Mendras, Putin, Boris Yeltsin —, Alexey Navalny, Navalny Organizations: Service, Sciences Po University's Paris School of International Affairs, France, Guerre permanente, Moscow, EU Locations: Russia, Guerre, Chechnya , Georgia, Donbas, Syria, Ukraine, It's

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