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The Star
19 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Star
At least 14 injured in Russia's overnight attack on Ukraine's Odesa
KYIV (Reuters) -At least 14 people were injured when Russian drones attacked the Ukrainian Black Sea city of Odesa overnight, damaging high-rise buildings and railway infrastructure, local authorities said on Friday. Odesa is Ukraine's largest Black Sea port, key for imports and exports, and has been under constant missile and drone attacks by Russia since the war began. "Despite the active work of air defence forces, there is damage to civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, a higher education institution, a gas pipeline and private cars," local governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram messenger. Kiper released photos of burning houses and charred high-rise buildings. Local emergencies service said that during the attack there were at least 10 drone strikes on residential buildings, causing massive fires. Ukraine's air force said on Friday that Russia had launched 86 drones on Ukraine overnight. The military noted its air defence units shot down 34 drones while another 36 drones were lost - in reference to the Ukrainian military using electronic warfare to redirect them - or they were drone simulators that did not carry warheads. However, the military reported that drones hit 8 locations. Ukrainian state railways Ukrzaliznytsia reported that Odesa railway station was damaged during the attack, with power wires and rails damaged. Russian drones also attacked Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine overnight, damaging several private and multi-storey houses, Kharkiv officials said. (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Straits Times
19 minutes ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
At least 14 injured in Russia's overnight attack on Ukraine's Odesa
At least 14 injured in Russia's overnight attack on Ukraine's Odesa KYIV - At least 14 people were injured when Russian drones attacked the Ukrainian Black Sea city of Odesa overnight, damaging high-rise buildings and railway infrastructure, local authorities said on Friday. Odesa is Ukraine's largest Black Sea port, key for imports and exports, and has been under constant missile and drone attacks by Russia since the war began. "Despite the active work of air defence forces, there is damage to civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, a higher education institution, a gas pipeline and private cars," local governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram messenger. Kiper released photos of burning houses and charred high-rise buildings. Local emergencies service said that during the attack there were at least 10 drone strikes on residential buildings, causing massive fires. Ukraine's air force said on Friday that Russia had launched 86 drones on Ukraine overnight. The military noted its air defence units shot down 34 drones while another 36 drones were lost - in reference to the Ukrainian military using electronic warfare to redirect them - or they were drone simulators that did not carry warheads. However, the military reported that drones hit 8 locations. Ukrainian state railways Ukrzaliznytsia reported that Odesa railway station was damaged during the attack, with power wires and rails damaged. Russian drones also attacked Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine overnight, damaging several private and multi-storey houses, Kharkiv officials said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
NZ Herald
33 minutes ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Russian tech billionaire Pavel Durov claims to have fathered 100 children
As birthrates around the world tumble, one Russian technology tycoon is doing his best to reverse the trend. Pavel Durov, the entrepreneur behind controversial messaging app Telegram, claims he has fathered more than 100 children and has promised to split his fortune between them equally when he dies. Durov, the
Russia Today
38 minutes ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Durov divvies-up his billions for his kids
Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov has announced plans to leave his fortune to the more than 100 children he has fathered. However, they won't have access to their inheritance until 30 years from now, the Russian-born entrepreneur told French newspaper Le Point on Wednesday. Durov, who holds Russian, French, UAE, and St. Kitts and Nevis passports, said he is the official father of six children with three different partners – though he added that he has fathered over 100 children in 12 countries through sperm donation. 'I recently wrote my will... I decided that my children will not have access to my fortune until thirty years have passed, starting today,' the 40-year-old told the outlet. He said he wants his children 'to live like normal people, to build themselves up on their own, to learn to trust themselves, to be able to create – not to be dependent on a bank account.' His fortune currently stands at $17.1 billion, according to Forbes, which puts him at number 133 among the world's richest people. Last year, Telegram – which has over a billion active users – posted a record $540 million in profit, marking a sharp turnaround from a $173 million loss the previous year. Durov added that he makes no distinction between his children, saying those who were conceived naturally and those who came from his sperm donations 'will all have the same rights.' He noted that his work involves risks, and that 'defending freedoms earns you many enemies, including within powerful states.' He added that he wants to protect his children and the company he created. 'I want Telegram to always remain true to the values I stand for,' Durov said. He stated that a nonprofit foundation would take over Telegram's management in the event of his 'disappearance,' adding that the main goal is to ensure the platform remains independent while respecting privacy and freedom of speech. Durov stressed that he remains Telegram's sole shareholder, owning 100% of the company, 'the only way to guarantee Telegram's complete independence.' Last year, Durov was arrested in France and placed under judicial supervision over alleged complicity in crimes linked to Telegram users. The entrepreneur, whose company is based in Dubai, was released on €5 million ($5.46 million) bail and was temporarily allowed to leave France in mid-March with judicial approval.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Telegram boss says he has fathered more than 100 children
The multi-billionaire founder of instant messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, says he has fathered more than 100 children. "The clinic, where I started donating sperm 15 years ago to help a friend, told me that more than 100 babies had been conceived this way in 12 countries," Mr Durov told French political magazine Le Point. Mr Durov, who says he is the "official father" of six other children with three different partners, added that all of his offspring will share his estimated $13.9bn (£10.3bn) fortune. He also reiterated that he denies any wrongdoing in connection with serious criminal charges he faces in France. "They are all my children and will all have the same rights! I don't want them to tear each other apart after my death," Mr Durov said. But the self-exiled Russian technology tycoon told the magazine that none of his children would have access to their inheritance for 30 years. "I want them to live like normal people, to build themselves up alone, to learn to trust themselves, to be able to create, not to be dependent on a bank account," he said. The 40-year-old said he had written a will now because his job "involves risks – defending freedoms earns you many enemies, including within powerful states". His app, Telegram, known for its focus on privacy and encrypted messaging, has more than a billion monthly active users. Mr Durov also addressed criminal charges he faces in France, where he was arrested last year after being accused of failing to properly moderate the app to reduce criminality. He has denied failing to cooperate with law enforcement over drug trafficking, child sexual abuse content and fraud. Telegram has previously denied having insufficient moderation. In the Le Point interview he described the charges as "totally absurd". "Just because criminals use our messaging service among many others doesn't make those who run it criminals," he added.
