Tessera

As Ukraine keeps striking Russian oil infrastructure, Russia continues to target Ukrainian civilians. Here is the apartment of our colleague Yanina Korniienko in Kyiv. Yesterday there was a strike nearby. Windows blown in, with glass shards all over her bed. The wall of the building cracked.

As Ukraine keeps striking Russian oil infrastructure, Russia continues to target Ukrainian civilians. Here is the apartment of our colleague Yanina Korniienko in Kyiv. Yesterday there was a strike nearby. Windows blown in, with glass shards all over her bed. The wall of the building cracked.

British intelligence says nearly 500k Russian soldiers have been killed. They don’t say how they arrived at this figure. Previous estimates have been lower — CSIS and Meduza estimated between 250-350K. But those methodologies are known to be undercounts. www.gchq.gov.uk/news/directo...

Director GCHQ warns UK at ‘moment of consequence’ in inaugural Annual lecture

Director GCHQ Anne Keast-Butler delivered the first Annual Lecture at Bletchley Park

gchq.gov.uk

Last night my almost-3-year-old said “Mama says tram and Papa says трамвай!” 🥹🥹🥹 the world is going to blow her mind

As Putin again rains death and destruction down on Kyiv, we’re publishing an investigation, based on newly leaked documents, into Russia’s influence operations in Europe. 👇 www.occrp.org/en/investiga...

Leaked Documents Reveal Russian ‘Cognitive Strikes’ Against the West — Including Islamophobic ‘Pig Head’ Attacks in Paris

Leaked chats and documents showcase the Russian presidential administration’s role in false-flag vandalism attacks and election interference campaigns in Europe and beyond.

occrp.org

As Putin again rains death and destruction down on Kyiv, we’re publishing an investigation, based on newly leaked documents, into Russia’s influence operations in Europe. 👇 www.occrp.org/en/investiga...

Leaked Documents Reveal Russian ‘Cognitive Strikes’ Against the West — Including Islamophobic ‘Pig Head’ Attacks in Paris

Leaked chats and documents showcase the Russian presidential administration’s role in false-flag vandalism attacks and election interference campaigns in Europe and beyond.

occrp.org

This is so freaking cool. In Hindu temple architecture, this essay explains, "modern affluence has enabled a more faithful embodiment of architectural tradition rather than a departure from it." With beautiful examples. www.worksinprogress.news/p/modern-hin...

Modern Hindu Temples

Most ancient architectural traditions have withered, but one is enjoying a golden age: Hindu temple architecture.

worksinprogress.news

Just learned about an English-Russian pidgin language in which the word for an (English) sailor — "asej" — came from the English habit of exclaiming "I say!" all the time. How can anyone not think the world is a beautiful place? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomba...

Solombala English - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

dutch names just continue to be incredible

Russians took out 5x more cash over the May holiday than last year, setting a 15-year record, because of mass internet outages. www.rbc.ru/finances/13/...

rbc.ru

Russian calls itself "the great and mighty." German is "the language of poets and thinkers." What other languages have grandiose titles for themselves?

My 2-year-old loves the workhorse Dutch trains so much ("Я люблю хороший синий и желтый поезд!"), I can't wait to take her on a really beautiful train. edition.cnn.com/2025/03/18/t...

France unveils ‘incredible’ new high-speed TGV trains with double-decker dining car | CNN

The stylish new fleet, which has caused an online stir thanks to its “70s space age vibes,” will enter service on the Paris-Lyon-Marseilles line in 2026.

edition.cnn.com

is this anything?

Anyone familiar with Roman Anin, publisher of Russian investigative outlet Important Stories, knows that he's careful to a fault. He doesn't overdramatize or exaggerate. Still, he calls their latest scoop "one of the most important pieces of news about Russia in recent times." What's the news? 👇

Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project@occrp.org · 3mo ago

Big scoop here 👇

BREAKING: Unprecedented security measures have been instituted in the Kremlin in recent weeks as Vladimir Putin anticipates a possible coup or assassination attempt — including a drone strike from within. That's according to a European intel agency: www.occrp.org/en/news/secu...

“Imagine that there was a Soviet bloc-aligned “east Netherlands” akin to the GDR. Generate an image of what a city in it might look like in the late 80s.”

actually, capitalism is good

my kingdom for a Chipotle in Leidseplein #amsterdamposting

NEW: We’ve just published an investigation that shows how Russia recruits teenagers on occupied Ukrainian territory to become pro-Moscow infowarriors. The Young Correspondents program, ostensibly a journalism club, is part of Yunarmia, a militarized mass youth organization. 👇

NEW: We’ve just published an investigation that shows how Russia recruits teenagers on occupied Ukrainian territory to become pro-Moscow infowarriors. The Young Correspondents program, ostensibly a journalism club, is part of Yunarmia, a militarized mass youth organization. 👇

My two-year-old’s Russo-Dutch cries of “Oy, wat is dat?!” are so charming, I hope she never loses them.

Zorka Milin @zorkamilin.bsky.social · 4mo ago

love this way of pointing out a landmark/museum

Thanks for highlighting this news. Just to clarify, while yesterday's committee vote was unfortunate, it is just one step: a full House vote is yet to come, and no repeal legislation has even been introduced in the Senate. CTA is far from done, and we will keep defending it every step of the way.

Looks like the Corporate Transparency Act is on the way out. Among other things, it required US companies to report their beneficial owners to Treasury — really important for enabling law enforcement to identify criminals hiding behind shell companies! www.occrp.org/en/news/us-c...

US Congressional Committee Chips Away at Corporate Transparency Act

In a vote split down partisan lines, Republicans on a key committee on Tuesday began the process of replacing the Corporate Transparency Act’s requirements to disclose the true owners of shell compani...

occrp.org

Looks like the Corporate Transparency Act is on the way out. Among other things, it required US companies to report their beneficial owners to Treasury — really important for enabling law enforcement to identify criminals hiding behind shell companies! www.occrp.org/en/news/us-c...

US Congressional Committee Chips Away at Corporate Transparency Act

In a vote split down partisan lines, Republicans on a key committee on Tuesday began the process of replacing the Corporate Transparency Act’s requirements to disclose the true owners of shell compani...

occrp.org

Edward Walker @gnuggat.bsky.social · 4mo ago

You love to see it!!! 🚲🚲🚲

On the hard road ahead for Magyar. 🤞 NB: “Most fundamental is the issue of weakened institutions. The Polish courts, for example, were so thoroughly undermined that to this day no one knows what to do with them… Attempts to restore balance are fraught with the risk of repeating previous practices.”

Ilya Lozovsky@ichbinilya.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Proud to publish this view on Hungary from a Polish colleague. "As we learned, PiS left a staggering amount of traps and landmines for its successors — and many have proved impossible to defuse. Fidesz, which ruled for twice as long, has done the same in Hungary." www.occrp.org/en/feature/a...