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AHEAD Acquires vCORE Technology Partners, Continuing Strategic Expansion – Business Wire

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AHEAD, a leading provider of enterprise cloud services, today announced the acquisition of vCORE Technology Partners. The acquisition will strengthen AHEADs presence in the Southwestern U.S., a process that began with AHEADs acquisition of systems integrator, Kovarus, in 2020. vCORE brings top-tier talent and high-profile clients to the AHEAD portfolio, creating a business with more than $2 billion in gross revenues this year, more than $200 million in professional and managed services revenues, and more than 1,300 employees800 of which are in engineering or client service roles.

The addition of vCORE to the AHEAD family solidifies our position as a premier provider of digital business platforms in the U.S., said Daniel Adamany, founder and CEO of AHEAD. Together, well better meet the end-to-end needs of our enterprise clients and help them accelerate their transformations to more agile and innovative cloud-native businesses.

Founded in 2010, Scottsdale-based vCORE strengthens AHEADs presence in the western U.S., particularly in Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, California, and Hawaii. The addition of vCORE will deepen AHEADs service offerings, including robust managed services, and bolster its market leadership in digital business infrastructure.

From its inception, vCORE has been all about leveraging the right technology to deliver tremendous business value to our clients, and our capability to succeed in that mission will only grow as we join the AHEAD team, said Steve Leavitt, vCORE founder and CEO. Our two organizations already share a similar culturebuilt upon a commitment to deliver excellent customer service while giving back to the communities in which we work and live. Im excited for the new opportunities that the AHEAD platform, a larger portfolio of digital solutions, will bring to our colleagues and our clients.

AHEAD continues to grow organically at a very fast pace but has also expanded over the last three years through mergers and acquisitions, including Link Solutions Group (2019), Data Blue (2019), Sovereign Systems (2019), Platform Consulting Group (2020), Kovarus (2020), RoundTower Technologies (2020), and data and analytics consultant, Vertical Trail (2021).

About AHEAD

AHEAD builds platforms for digital business. Combining cloud-native capabilities in software and data engineering with an unparalleled track record of modernizing infrastructure, we are uniquely positioned to help clients accelerate the promise of digital transformation. Learn more at ahead.com and follow us on Twitter @ahead.

About vCORE Technology Partners

vCORE Technology Partners provides customized IT solutions and services for more than 100 companies across the U.S. and Canada. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., vCORE was launched in 2010 and has since enjoyed industry-leading growth. The vCORE team includes proven experts in IT solutions, including network infrastructure, cloud storage, data protection and proactive managed services. Clients include multibillion-dollar media companies, major health-care providers, technology giants, data centers and others. Learn more at vcore.com.

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MSRvantage Leverages Blockchain to Transform the Logistics Industry – Siliconindia.com

MSRvantage, a start-up, was founded by MSRcosmos, a company located in the United States. The start-up provides AI-enabled blockchain solutions such as anti-counterfeit management, intelligent supply chain solutions through improved traceability, asset digitization, and reward deployment, among others. It is all set to fundamentally transform the logistics industry by leveraging Artificial Intelligence and blockchain to overcome the myriad of challenges faced by the industry, like supply chain management, maintenance of documents, and coordinating the management of vehicles at multiple places.

Globally, there is an increasing demand for supply chain and logistics solutions. Due to insufficient visibility of a product's origin, asset mishandling, limited transparency, and authentication and security concerns, the global supply chain business face various challenges. This has resulted in more knowledge and examination of the supply chain than ever before. This examination has shown the modern supply chain's fragility, and many organisations have simply found themselves unable to quickly adapt, triggering a crisis in and of itself. While managing the finances and operations, almost two-thirds of logistics expenditures are accounted for by fuel and freight. To boost the bottom line, supply chain and logistics managers must optimize those expenses. MSRvantagesBlockchain technology has the capacity to overcome all these challenges as it offers transparent and reliable data that can assist shippers in transitioning from reacting to market changes to controlling transportation costs and outcomes proactively and effectively. Shippers can establish a revolutionary strategy for their firm by introducing greater transparency into fuel and freight expenses.

MSRvantage also offers exceptionally efficient Supply Chain Management as it utilizes blockchain to facilitate communication among parties which makes the process more straightforward, with shorter lead times, less redundancy, fewer delays, and, ultimately, a leaner supply chain. Blockchain also ensures that quality standards are met, giving the seller greater control over the manufacturing of the product from beginning to end.

MSRvantage also offers Blockchain as the ideal tool for managing the extensive databases on clients, partners, delivery history, and catalogs that every logistics firm maintains as every transaction that occurs on a blockchain network is accessible to everyone on the network. Nothing can be eliminated if it is not detected. This transparency eliminates areas of fraud, such as double brokering. With blockchain shippers can securely track the creation and modification times of a document or transaction using the widespread practice of notarization and nonrepudiation, verifying authenticity.

Geolocation tracking is an unquestionable necessity for operating automobiles in the logistics industry as it ensures reliability. MSRvantagefulfils this requirement by utilizing blockchain for coordinating the management of vehicles at multiple places as ELDs can communicate a stream of driver behaviour and route data to a blockchain. Combining this information with traffic and weather data provides carriers and shippers with a tool for improving routing.

MSRvantage also ensures supply chain transparency, which is one of the utmost priorities of the logistics industry, and it necessitates the collaboration of numerous stakeholders toward a single goal. This becomes even more difficult in a global and fast-paced setting. Their blockchain is the perfect technology for overcoming this challenge as it is a distributed database that encourages genuine transparency. Accurate data collected digitally enhance responsibility and confidence amongst parties. This results in a simplified process with shorter lead times, less redundancy, fewer delays, and, eventually, a leaner supply chain.Blockchain also ensures that quality standards are met, providing greater control over logistics.

Mr.SivaGopal M, Founder & Chairman at MSRvantage commented on why Blockchain is the future of the logistics industry, Sustainability is emerging as one of the top priorities of all industries, and this includes the logistics industry as well. MSRvantage can help save significant amounts of energy, reducing carbon emissions, without sacrificing profits and industry development, by making the supply chain more transparent and efficient with services like smart contracts, tracing solutions, asset digitization, incentives, and loyalty programmes. This is why it is a matter of time before the entire industry adopts Blockchain technology, as sustainability will become increasingly important in the future.

MSRvantage'sBlockchain, as a digital ledger, can help to reduce energy consumption by creating a database that can store vehicle information to aid in the selection of the proper fuel for the right vehicle. Furthermore, Blockchain and the Internet of Things may be utilised for vehicle-to-vehicle communication, allowing freight vehicles to communicate as a platoon, enhancing safety and fuel efficiency.

What the logistics industry requires above all else is security, which MSRvantage can provide as their blockchain is built on the concept of secure "blocks", which are temporally maintained versions of the document that are linked to prior blocks. As a result, they are extremely secure and impossible to counterfeit. This is significant because as data storage moves to the cloud, there is a pressing need to protect cloud data and applications. Failure to manage cloud access exposes organizations to major IT risks, such as giving users excessive privileges or, worse, leaving cloud storage repositories open and accessible to anybody. Employee inventory theft, particularly at distribution centres, continues to be a major concern to supply chains. Because blockchain provides a good authentication route with verification, no one can tamper with the data. Furthermore, because it is possible to keep track of all deliveries and track them in real-time, blockchain has the capability to dramatically improve the consumer experience in the logistics business.

Another issue that businesses face is the difficulty to dispute high accessorial rates. Carriers are invoicing accessorial such as residential, liftgate, and inside deliveries more than ever before, which can make audits a frustrating and time-consuming procedure. MSRvantagesblockchain can assist the logistics industry in the resolution of freight transportation disputes. Disputes are unavoidable in cargo shipping. This can occur if the products are misplaced or arrive late. Disputes are difficult to resolve and might persist for weeks before they are resolved. All of this necessitates an increase in the company's resource spend. With immutable data and real-time cargo information, their blockchain services can help resolve conflicts more quickly. Many disagreements may be resolved in minutes using automation and reliable data. It also assists businesses in resolving client issues.

By implementing MSRvantage'sblockchain into its supply chain, the logistics sector stands to reap a plethora of benefits. The combination of lower costs, more efficiency, and increased security make blockchain an excellent fit for the logistics business. The need for AI-enabled Blockchain will continue to rise as the logistics sector acknowledges this, and MSRvantage will be at the forefront of meeting it.

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Cryptocurrency gaining momentum in Colorado | FOX21 News Colorado

DENVER (KDVR) Colorado is paving the way to become the first state to accept crypto for the payment of state taxes and fees, meaning new research is showing us a first-hand look at how popular the currency is becoming.

Although Bitcoin has been around for a decade now, brand new data from The Penny Hoarder shows two out of three investment app users began investing in cryptocurrency during the pandemic.

In fact, 71% of survey respondents ages 18 to 24 got started in 2020 or 2021.

The research goes on to show over half of the respondents among all age groups surveyed said they had little to no investing experience prior to using an app.

Another interesting nugget from the survey: in the 18 to 24 age group, 48% say they used TikTok to get investing advice.

With any kind of financial decisions or education you want to have multiple sources of information, said Rachel Christian, a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. Like Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, things like that. If you have a few influencers on TikTok that give great, well-rounded advice, thats great to kind of get your feet wet. But before you start putting big money in, make sure youre getting financial advice from other sources besides TikTok.

To take a look at the complete survey, click here.

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Biden executive order on cryptocurrency expected this week – ABC News

President Joe Biden is expected to sign an executive order on cryptocurrency this week that will mark the first step toward regulating how digital currency is traded

By FATIMA HUSSEIN and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press

March 7, 2022, 11:38 PM

3 min read

WASHINGTON -- President Joe Biden is expected to sign an executive order on cryptocurrency this week that will mark the first step toward regulating how digital currency is traded.

The move comes as administration officials have raised concerns in recent weeks about Russias use of cryptocurrency to evade the impact of crushing sanctions in response to its invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions have sent the ruble to historic lows and have closed the country's stock market.

Two people familiar with the process said the executive order on cryptocurrency was expected to be issued this week and it had been in the works long before the war. Both people spoke on condition of anonymity to preview the order.

The order is expected to describe what government agencies, including the Treasury Department, need to do to develop policies and regulations on digital currencies. It is expected to include a request for the State Department to ensure that American cryptocurrency laws are aligned with those of U.S. allies and will ask the Financial Stability Oversight Council which monitors the stability of the U.S. financial system to study illicit finance concerns.

Additionally, the order will explore the possibility of a new central bank digital currency. The Federal Reserve issued a paper on the topic in January that explores the risks and benefits of U.S.-backed digital currency.

Implicit in the order will be that cryptocurrency will remain a part of the U.S. economy for years to come. The White House's plans to move forward with the executive order were first reported by Bloomberg News.

While U.S. officials have played down the significance of cryptocurrency to Russias ability to evade sanctions, it remains a concern.

We will continue to look at how the sanctions work and evaluate whether or not there are liquid leakages and we have the possibility to address them. I often hear cryptocurrency mentioned and that is a channel to be watched, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said last week.

A senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the president's national security team has already been on the lookout for the use and creation of front companies and alternative financial institutions that Moscow might try to employ to get around sanctions.

Crypto is one of several spaces that the Biden administration is looking to shore up as it tries to make certain that sanctions on Russia have maximum impact. The official said past experiences in Iran and Venezuela with sanctions evasion are informing the administrations efforts. Additional export controls and new sanction targets are also expected to be unveiled in the days and weeks ahead to counter Russian sanction evasion efforts, the official said.

On Monday, Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued an alert advising financial institutions to be vigilant" against any efforts to evade sanctions in connection with Russia's war in Ukraine.

Although we have not seen widespread evasion of our sanctions using methods such as cryptocurrency, prompt reporting of suspicious activity contributes to our national security and our efforts to support Ukraine and its people, Acting Director Him Das said in a statement.

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Here’s the Cryptocurrency That Ethereum Whales Are Buying More of Than Shiba Inu – The Motley Fool

Which cryptocurrency doEthereum (CRYPTO:ETH) whales (individuals with a lot of money invested) like the most? The answer, of course, is Ethereum itself. However, Ethereum whales also are betting on other cryptocurrencies.

Shiba Inu (CRYPTO:SHIB) ranks high on the list. In late February, Ethereum whales owned more than $1.3 billion of the digital token, according to whale-tracking website WhaleStats. Today, the figure tops $1.5 billion.

But Shiba Inu isn't at the top of the non-Ethereum list for these whales. Here's the cryptocurrency Ethereum whales are buying even more of.

Image source: Getty Images.

As of March 4, Ethereum whales owned more than $1.6 billion of FTX Token (CRYPTO:FTT). The digital token makes up nearly 18% of the whales' non-Ethereum holdings.

In one sense, it might be surprising that FTX Token (FTT) is Ethereum whales' No. 2 favorite token after Ether. FTT ranks only 26th among cryptocurrencies based on market cap. Shiba Inu comes in much higher at No. 14.

There are plenty of well-known and widely adopted cryptocurrencies with greater market caps than FTT. So why aren't Ethereum whales scooping them up instead? There's a simple explanation.

FTT is the native token of the FTX crypto-trading exchange. This exchange has become very popular with futures traders.

CoinRanking.com lists FTX as fourth among crypto exchanges based on trading volume. FTX also comes in at No. 4 on CoinGecko's ranking of crypto exchanges based on its proprietary trust score. This score includes web traffic, liquidity, trading activity, a cybersecurity evaluation, and more.

Any Ethereum whales who use the FTX exchange have incentives to build up their positions in FTT. The digital token can be used as collateral for positions in futures. The FTX exchange reduces futures fees for traders who hold a specified amount of FTT for a specified time. And those who hold enough FTT can get rebates on all of their over-the-counter trading on the FTX exchange.

But FTT isn't completely joined at the hip with FTX. Ethereum whales could buy the digital token on other exchanges as well. For example, Binance (the top-ranked crypto exchange based on trading volume) supports buying FTT with several other digital tokens, including its own native Binance Coin.

Ethereum whales don't like just Ether, FTX Token, and Shiba Inu. They own more than $826 million worth of USD Coin (CRYPTO:USDC), one of the top stablecoins on the market. Another stablecoin, Tether (CRYPTO:USDT), also ranks high on the list. Ethereum whales hold more than $434 million of Tether.

Some of the Ethereum whales appear to be fans of Polygon (CRYPTO:MATIC) as well, owning nearly $380 million of the cryptocurrency. Polygon is built on the Ethereum blockchain and extends the blockchain into a multichain network.

If you're wondering if Ethereum whales are into gaming coins at all, the answer is yes. They currently own nearly $330 million of Decentraland (CRYPTO:MANA) tokens. Decentraland has emerged as one of the leading metaverse cryptocurrencies.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the official recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium advisory service. Were motley! Questioning an investing thesis -- even one of our own -- helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer.

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Cryptocurrency To Be Accepted As Currency In Swiss City Of Lugano – NDTV Profit

Lugano, a city in Switzerland, is adopting cryptocurrency as a means for payment of taxes

Lugano, a city in Switzerland, is adopting cryptocurrency as a means for payment of taxes, goods, and services, as part of a new collaboration with the provider of the Tether (USDT) stablecoin. Citizens in the Italian-speaking province will be able to pay for public service fees and taxes with Bitcoin, according to city director Pietro Poretti, who co-announced the news alongside Mayor Michele Foletti and CTO of Tether Paolo Ardoino in a live-streamed event a few days ago. Over 200 merchants have already partnered with the city to promote bitcoin and Lightning payments.

Ardoino even tweeted about the same a few days ago. He shared a 15-second video that outlined all the things that you can pay for within few months in the city.

Residents of Lugano will be able to transact, invest, and pay taxes using Bitcoin, USDT Tether, and LVGA token after these three cryptocurrencies were approved as de facto legal tender in the city.

Watch the video here:

Because it is tied to the US Dollar, the USDT Tether is a stablecoin, which means its value remains relatively stable in comparison to other cryptocurrencies. The LVGA token, which was created by the city itself, is the country's third cryptocurrency that has been recognised as de facto legal tender.

The collaboration between Lugano and Tether has been termed Lugano's Plan B'. It intends to develop Lugano into a hub for blockchain adoption in Europe.

El Salvador has already recognised Bitcoin the world's largest and oldest cryptocurrency as legal tender. El Salvador's move in September 2021, when the country became the first to recognise a cryptocurrency as de-facto money, may have accelerated Lugano's decision. Lugano's new rule is very similar to El Salvador's. Lugano wants its businesses to be able to utilise cryptos for routine transactions without difficulty. In El Salvador, however, only Bitcoin is accepted as legal tender.

Over 500 students studying cryptocurrency and Decentralized Finance (DeFi) may also get scholarships from Lugano.

Lugano will also host the Bitcoin World Forum conference in October this year.

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Want to Invest in Cryptocurrency? Consider This Stock, Which Grew 545% in 2021 – The Motley Fool

Cryptocurrencies were one of the hottest trends in 2021 as they made their way into individual investors' portfolios. A study published by the University of Chicago in July 2021 reported that 13% of Americans surveyed traded cryptocurrency during the 12 months prior, and while that is less than the 24% of Americans who traded stocks over the same period, it still shows that crypto is being adopted by more than a small niche group of investors.

However, deciding which cryptocurrency to invest in can be extremely difficult, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track cryptocurrencies can sometimes charge egregiously high fees. For example, the Bitwise 10 Crypto Index Fund (OTC: BITW) charges a 2.5% expense ratio -- meaning it takes $25 for every $1,000 invested each year. This is much higher than traditional stock market ETFs like the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (NYSEMKT: VTI), which has an expense ratio of just 0.03%.

If you want to avoid these high fees, but aren't ready to invest directly into cryptocurrency, Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN) might be a better alternative to dip your toes in the water. The company is the leading crypto trading platform for individual investors and traders, along with institutional investors. On top of that, the company's revenue is well diversified, making it a smart way to invest in this fast-growing industry. With its major growth and impressive profitability, Coinbase might be the perfect crypto play for you.

Image source: Getty Images.

There are plenty of competing platforms, but Coinbase is the primary platform that serves day traders, long-term investors, and even institutional investors. In 2021, the company had 11.4 million monthly transacting users (MTUs), and a total user count of 89 million. Importantly, the company is gaining steam among institutional investors: Its institutional investor count jumped 50% year over year in 2021.

The company's high user count has led it to become one of the largest crypto platforms in the market in terms of its assets on the platform. The company had $278 billion in assets at the end of 2021, which is almost three times larger than Robinhood Markets(NASDAQ: HOOD), which totaled $98 billion by the year's end -- and that includes all of its assets like stocks and options -- showing just how dominant Coinbase is in the crypto industry.

As the industry leader, Coinbase has benefited immensely from the major price growth in cryptocurrency, driven by Bitcoinand Ethereum.

Bitcoin Price data by YCharts

Coinbase has capitalized on this explosive growth, putting up jaw-dropping financial figures consistently over the past year. In 2021, Coinbase's revenue skyrocketed 545% compared to 2020 to $7.36 billion. What's even more impressive is that the company has been able to grow its profitability even faster. For the full year, its net income soared 1,025% year over year to $3.6 billion, while its free cash flow -- which primarily consisted of growth in custodial funds -- reached $10.7 billion over the same period.

What is critical about this revenue growth is that it is diversified across many different cryptocurrencies. The company made only 46% of its transaction revenue from Bitcoin and Ethereum activity in 2021, with the rest coming from other cryptos. This declined compared to 2020, when Bitcoin and Ethereum made up 56% of transaction revenue, and is significantly lower than other trading platforms.

Robinhood, for example, had 32% of its total revenue come from just one cryptocurrency, Dogecoin, in the second quarter of 2021.Severe reliance on trading activity from just one coin can result in top-line volatility and pose a risk to the business, similar to severe customer concentration. Therefore, it is good to see Coinbase's reliance on Ethereum and Bitcoin shrinking.

Coinbase thrives on trading volatility and price appreciation, both of which have declined in the first quarter of 2022. This could cause MTUs to fall from 11.4 million in 2021 to as low as 5 million in 2022. On the flip side, however, management believes MTUs have the potential to grow as high as 15 million for the coming year, showing how unpredictable the crypto space can be. In 2022, its average revenue per transacting user will likely drop to pre-2021 levels, meaning it could range anywhere from $34 to $55.

2022 might be a period of slower growth for Coinbase, but over the long term, it's looking to expand its platform -- along with its lead over competitors. The company is experimenting with a subscription service with access to commission-free trading and 24/7 customer support. Coinbase is also building a non-fungible token (NFT) platform, and it is even working on allowing users to create decentralized applications.

Coinbase is quickly becoming the one-stop shop for every service someone may need in the decentralized world. Shares trade at just 13 times earnings -- a steal for a company with the brand name and market leadership that Coinbase has. With that, its fast growth, and aggressive investments in its future, Coinbase looks like a great way to invest in cryptocurrency.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the official recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium advisory service. Were motley! Questioning an investing thesis -- even one of our own -- helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer.

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UAE: World Government Summit to bring global cryptocurrency players – wknd.

Summit to discuss challenges and opportunities of the next 10 years

Published: Mon 7 Mar 2022, 5:54 PM

Last updated: Mon 7 Mar 2022, 9:11 PM

World Government Summit, which will take place at Expo 2020 Dubai on March 29 and 30, will explore challenges and opportunities facing the governments as well as bring regulators and private cryptocurrency players together at one platform, said a senior official on Monday.

Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAEs Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, said one of the main focuses of the summit is to look at what are the key challenges and opportunities that the public and private sector will face over the next decade.

What makes this summit very unique is that it convenes private sector leaders in cryptocurrency space as well as government regulators in an open dialogue because the current gap that exists is that regulators are not talking with the actual (cryptocurrency) leaders working in the private space to see where the opportunities are. The only way to bridge the gap and to overcome challenges is to make use of the opportunities to ensure we have an open dialogue and see where the common ground exists between the two players and how to put first regulations and the first step to move forward, Al Olama told Khaleej Times in an interview on the sidelines a press conference held to announce agenda of the upcoming World Government Summit.

He said the Summit will look at the challenges and opportunities that the government, as well as the key sectors, would face over the next 10 years and how they should be dealt with.

The two-day summit will also discuss the Covid-19 and how to overcome the next pandemic, as well as what the world should do for the safety and security of the people throughout the world.

Al Olama pointed out that the summit will also showcase the best in-class services and opportunities that are in the metaverse and key challenges that the governments are going to face in this field.

ALSO READ:

The metaverse is not for everyone and it is not an easy world to go into but we believe this is going to be accelerating in terms of ease of access and ease of use. So what governments should do today to prepare for future tomorrow that has metaverse as a key component of creating a better economy and provide better services, added Al Olama.

We want this summit to be a meeting point of the greatest investors, thinkers and leaders. We are also going to celebrate The Best Minister in the World. That is an award which will be given to the minister who created the most positive change and made the world a better place, he added.

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WNBA star Brittney Griner is the latest pawn on Putins chess board – The Dallas Morning News

In recent days, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to imprison journalists who dare to report truthfully about Russias merciless invasion of Ukraine. His police also have arrested scores of anti-invasion protesters across Russia. Nor is it a secret that for years Putin has imprisoned hundreds of political dissidents with remarkable impunity.

Now the latest target and pawn in Putins mayhem seems to be Brittney Griner, the former Baylor University basketball star and WNBA player from Houston.

As she was leaving Russia last month, Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport and charged with transporting vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage, a drug offense that could draw a 10-year prison sentence. While little else about the incident is known publicly, including when exactly it occurred, this smacks of Putin returning to a familiar playbook of trumped up arrests and detentions to seek concessions and political leverage.

American detainees in Russia receiving harsh treatment from their judicial system is not uncommon, which is why the U.S. State Department intensified calls for Americans to leave Russia immediately to avoid potential for harassment against U.S. citizens by Russian government security officials. In addition to Griner, two other Americans are being held in Russia for offenses that U.S. officials say are trumped up.

Paul Whelan, a BorgWarner executive, is serving a 16-year prison sentence for espionage for allegedly possessing a flash drive of Russian secrets. Whelan, who was arrested in 2018 and later convicted in a secret trial, says he received the flash drive from an acquaintance and thought it contained family photos.

Trevor Reed, a North Texan and former Marine security guard, was convicted in 2020 and sentenced to nine years in prison on charges of intentionally endangering the lives of police after a night of drinking. U.S. officials said the evidence was so flimsy and preposterous. Reeds family in Granbury says he is suffering from tuberculosis and has been denied medicine, phone calls with his relatives, or written communications with his attorneys in recent weeks. His parents told The Dallas Morning News that they were disappointed after the White House declined their request to meet with President Joe Biden when he visits Fort Worth Tuesday.

Griner, who like many WNBA players was playing overseas for a payday that is much larger than they could earn in the United States, apparently was the only player still in Russia and Ukraine, according to a WNBA spokeswoman. Her prominence may have made her a convenient target.

Griner, Reed and Whelan should be released and allowed to return to the United States.

Although the United States promises to provide every possible assistance, getting detained American citizens out of Russia during a time of heightened tensions figures to be a very heavy lift.

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ECU suspends the Russian and Belarusian Chess Federations – ChessBase

Press release by the European Chess Union

The Board of the European Chess Union met in extraordinary session on Thursday, 3rd of March to discuss the situation in Ukraine and appropriate measures.

The European Chess Union strongly condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the involvement of Belarus, and expresses its solidarity and support for the Ukrainian people. We feel deep sorrow for all the victims of the war and their families.

The ECU condemns the members of the chess community who have expressed their support for the brutal and unacceptable invasion of Ukraine.

Facing the World Champions

During his career, Vlastimil Hort, who himself belongs to the same generation as Bobby Fischer, met no less than eight world champions over the board. In the early 60s he crossed swords with Mihail Tal, and at the end of the eighties he was sitting over the board from Garry Kasparov. Between the two there were meetings with chess legends Botvinnik, Petrosian, Smyslov, Spassky, Fischer and Karpov.

The ECU is setting up a special communication channel for any person or entity willing to assist the Ukrainian #Chess Community. For this purpose, the special hashtag #supportUkraineChess has been established. Already several offers of assistance have been received from European federations.

The ECU Board, taking in consideration the recent decisions of FIDE Council, the recommendations of the IOC and acting within its constitutional powers declares:

*Official application to FIDE: federations@fide.com

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