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FL EX IBLE LUXURY. ENDLESS EX PLORATION.

An anthology of our rich history and product portfolio, the EX 60 embodies flexible luxury and endless adventure. Our team of Design, Engineering and Manufacturing experts combined learning from our popular LS Series alongside the established success of our Coupe models to maximize exterior enjoyment, while still providing all the comforts and amenities needed for extended stays.

POWER TO PERFORM

In longstanding partnership and experience with Volvo Penta, IPS units pair with the latest Volvo technology including Electronic Vessel Control and Interceptor Trim System with Active Ride Control. Engineered to reduce noise and vibration, no detail has been overlooked on the EX 60.

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Infinite Possibilities

Inspired luxury.

A true reflection of each owner and their unique boating lifestyle, the 60 offers customer flexibility alongside elevated luxury. With a variety of different cockpit modules focused on cruising, entertaining or enjoying your favorite water sports to choose from, create an exterior layout entirely and exclusively of your selection.

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Power & Motoryacht: Sea Trial & Review Feburary 2022

PMY's Dan Harding shares his experience aboard the EX 60 on her voyage from Holland to Chicago.

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• The Concept of the X60

The new X60 features unique characteristics and cultivates well-being on board.

This new yacht will be unveiled over the course of this new season. Today, you will discover the design concept of the X60: voluminous living spaces, bright lighting, and easy flow of movement on board.

A Unique Architecture Featuring Volume and Comfort on BoarD

Designed by Garroni Design, the architecture of the X60 is unique.  Like the X70, she reinvents space on board, breaking with established codes with asymmetrical sidedecks on the main deck. On this model, passage forward is made via the port sidedeck or via the helm station.

This architecture enables the yacht to benefit from a real gain in both interior and exterior space. The Infinity cockpit opens onto an extraordinarily spacious saloon, perfect for taking advantage of each moment on board.

The low centre of gravity lends the hull of the boat unequalled stability for exceptional comfort on board.

Optimised Flow of Movement and Synergy with the Sea

The X60 also benefits from an open design to fully benefit from fresh air and proximity to the sea. This model offers numerous living areas and features especially designed for enjoying life on the water with all the comforts of home.

A Redesigned Flybridge

Fully equipped, the flybridge is 30 % larger than a flybridge on a traditional 60-footer, a truly luxurious living space offering a unique panoramic view of the horizon.

Multiple available configurations make the X60 a yacht that can be entirely personalised, able to satisfy all the needs and preferences of its owners.  An ideal gathering place and easy to access, this vast flybridge features, in addition to generous storage, a central galley and a dining area. 

An Innovative Beach Club for Shared Moments

The Beach Club of the X60 presents an additional living area for relaxing in unparalleled proximity to the water.  This new living space features a large sundeck, a shower, indirect lighting, and an independent sound system for shared moments of unforgettable entertainment.

A New Concept for the Forward Deck

For entertaining, functionality, and contemporary style, the forward deck is a new space for relaxation crafted for comfort and well-being. At dawn, between swims, or at the end of the day, to admire a spectacular sunset, the entire family can take advantage of this superb lounging area.

A Reconsidered Interior Layout

On the interior of the X60 , PRESTIGE reinterprets the layout and distribution of space.

The fully equipped, open central galley, with hidden storage accessible at the push of a button, is at the heart of life on board.

Near the helm, a cosy saloon provides a seating area for relaxing or to accompany the pilot.

The owner's cabin features a private access from the main deck.  The lower deck houses the VIP and Guest cabins, as well as several bathrooms, for maximum comfort.

Interconnected spaces have been designed to favour easy circulation.

Fine Materials and Finishes

Carefully selected, high quality materials and finishes evoke timeless luxury.

Particulier attention is paid to the woodwork, to the joints and polish of stainless steel. Finishes are perfected to the smallest details. Interior decoration is by Valentina Militerno , whose creative interior design is featured in luxury villas.

In the selection of materials, colours, and fabrics, the decorator defines each yacht as an exceptional place.

The forms, geometry, and colours are unexpected, far from the traditional references of yachting. Furnishings have been selected from prestigious brands:  Duvivier sofas, Roda sun loungers, Bowers & Wilkins audio systems… The leather, by Foglizzio, is also of exceptional quality.

To learn more, please contact your nearest PRESTIGE dealer

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X-Yachts X46: Best Full-Size Cruiser 45 to 55 Feet

• By Herb McCormick
• Updated: December 9, 2019

The big-boat classes in the 2020 Boat of the Year competition presented some big problems for the judging panel. Take the Full-Size Cruiser 45 to 55 Feet fleet, with a quartet of extremely solid contenders across a wide range of price points and with different design briefs and objectives, ranging from versatile performance-style cruisers to a dedicated bluewater passagemaker. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

At $550,000, the Bavaria C50 packed a lot of punch into a 50-footer. “It’s billed as a family cruiser, and features twin helms and a single rudder,” judge Dan Spurr said. “The representative who presented the boat emphasized the division between the entertainment area and the cockpit and working areas, and that cockpit really resonated with me—for a bigger boat, it’s very efficient to sail.” The Bavaria also struck a chord with fellow judge Ed Sherman: “I’ve been watching the evolution of Bavarias since they first started coming to the United States, and they’ve come a long way. Everything about them is significantly better than the earlier boats, and you get a lot of features for the price. It’s a player in this group.”

From a value standpoint, the Elan Impression 41.5 left a strong, good impression on the judging panel. Judge Ralph Naranjo was particularly enamored with the overall build quality of the hull laminate. “It’s an ­ISO-approved Category A offshore boat; they did a really nice job with the vacuum infusion,” he said. “I was crawling in those aft lockers looking at the autopilot arrangement, and could see how well the deck elements and bulkheads went in. And the autopilot installation was great, with an excellent stainless-steel bracket that was bolted and cantilevered to catch both the deck and the bulkhead. The autopilot and rams have to take a huge amount of thrust or push/pull; they need to be in there securely. And they were.”

It was clearly going to take an outstanding vessel to sway the panel’s opinions. It turned out there was not only one other formidable yacht to choose from, but two.

“The Amel 50 is truly an oceangoing globe-trotter,” Sherman said, speaking about the latest, highly anticipated model from the long-standing stalwart French builder. “With a signature watertight forward crash bulkhead, a centrally located sea chest for easily isolating a leak and shutting it down, to a globally conscious shore-power system that can deal with 50 or 60 hertz and 120 or ­230-240 volts, Amel has designed a boat that will have you covered wherever your travels take you. For those who want to cruise in luxury, this is the boat.”

“Amel has long been one of the only worldwide ­companies to offer what is essentially a ‘ready to cruise’ boat,” Spurr said. “The boat can be operated entirely from the security of the cockpit, which has a windshield and hardtop, like many solo offshore racers. Some of my colleagues didn’t like this feature, feeling it isolated the helm from feeling the weather. The boat is not inexpensive, but it also seemed to have the highest-quality finish.”

“To me, it’s more of a motorsailer than a traditional cruising sailboat,” Naranjo said. “Her performance under sail is somewhat limited by a fairly high displacement and a modest sail area. She is easy to handle, though, because of her power-assisted sail ­trimming and setting capabilities.”

Sailing prowess is never a debatable issue with X-Yachts, however, and after treating the judges to a world-class sailing experience, they ­ultimately decided that the X-Yachts X46 was the Best Full-Size Cruiser 45 to 55 Feet for 2020. (It was a back-to-back winning effort from X-Yachts; in 2019, X-Yachts’ X49 was also honored as the Best Full-Size Cruiser.)

“This was just a joy to sail,” Sherman said. “A ­performance sailing boat in every sense —very close-winded. It was everything I’ve come to expect from X-Yachts. They are put together by real craftspeople who take a great deal of concern in everything they do. So many little things. For instance, the wiring connections behind the panel board are all bent to 90 degrees and secured in place, and they hand-solder the solid copper bus links between the switches. This is all labor-intensive stuff that you just don’t see on most boats. They’ve always been known for using top-quality gear, and they certainly didn’t cut any corners here.

“X-Yachts are put ­together by real craftspeople who take a lot of pride in their work.”

“The epoxy resin they use in the layup is going to last forever, and the post-cure process is just top shelf,” Sherman continued. “I mean, what can I say? And I believe the pricing is actually pretty darn good. This boat costs $740,000, which is nothing to laugh at—it’s a significant amount of money. But when you compare it dollarwise to some of the other boats out there of similar lengths, you know what? It kind of stands out. And so, yes, I’m a fan. I’ve always been.”

“Like all X-Yachts, it has a unique feature in the construction, with a steel grid that sits on stringers with a balanced lifting point where you can actually lift the entire boat with a crane, with a strop that comes down through a hatch,” Spurr said. “The quality of construction all around seemed very good, with the keel actually bolted to the grid. Basically, we were told that you can’t lose the keel on this boat, which is pretty remarkable. And it’s really a handsome boat all the way around.”

Not to mention, when the final votes were cast, it was a winning one.

See All Winners:

2020 Boats of the Year

Other Winners:

• Overall Boat of the Year
• Best Performance Cruiser
• Best Midsize Cruiser Under 45 feet
• Best Full-size Cruiser
• Best Full-size Cruiser Over 55 Feet
• Best Midsize Cruising Catamaran
• Best Full-size Multihull
• Best Charter Boat
• Most Innovative
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Prestige’s asymmetrical X60 is surprisingly different to her big sister

• December 8, 2022

Set to arrive in this region in 2023 through Asia Yachting, the new Prestige X60 is full of surprises, including just how different she is to her big sister. By John Higginson.

The X60 is the second model in Prestige X-Line

Prestige’s new X60 has a hard act to follow. Her elder sister, the X70, was a revolution for both the market and the French builder, renowned for its classic F-Line and S-Line ranges up to the 690 and a world leader in the 40-60ft motor yachts sector.

The X70 broke the mould, shaking things up with its forward-raked windscreen, infinity cockpit and widebody superstructure, a radical new concept executed by Italy’s Garroni Design, which has designed all Prestige models since the brand emerged as a Jeanneau offshoot in 1989.

A full-beam saloon and no side decks were among major points of difference for the X70, while the upgraded furnishings, décor and details elevated the image of Prestige, which has also rolled out the new interior styling on its 690 flybridge motor yacht.

The X60 is also by Garroni Design

The four-cabin X70 was a remarkable start for the X-Line, which has now widened its range with the three-cabin X60, a model that shares many of the winning features of the flagship yet is surprisingly different in so many ways.

Erwin Bamps, Brand Director of Prestige since November 2018, explains: “The X60 is the second model in the X-Line, so it had to be coherent with the concepts we introduced on the X70. These include greater connectivity, meaning the easy level of circulation around a monohull boat, while inside there’s a higher level of finishing and finesse, and a richness of materials.

“On the X70, it was possible to use the full beam for the main-deck interior because of its proportions. However, on the X60, we chose an asymmetric design with one side deck, which offered the best solution to gain interior space on the main deck and yet give accessibility from the aft cockpit to the foredeck.”

The beach club features a drop-down sofa

From afar, the X60 is recognisable as an X-Line model, with a reverse windscreen and dark wheelhouse roof, although new touches include replacing the hard top’s side supports with double carbon poles.

The iconic beach club is reassuringly similar and features a hydraulic swim platform with built-in steps to port, a hot and cold shower, as well as a fold-down sofa that allows guests to sit and lounge comfortably by the water.

The large infinity cockpit has multiple furniture options

Like on the X70, the oversized teak platform is overlooked by aft-facing seating and an infinity cockpit, so guests enjoy views of the sea and beach club through the clear glass balustrade.

FUN FOREDECK, FAB FLYBRIDGE Once you reach the main deck, however, the differences to the X70 start to become apparent. Most notable is that the X60 isn’t a full widebody but instead has one side deck, to port.

The X60 features one side deck, to port

This passageway leads to the foredeck, which is one of the X60’s signature features and can also be accessed by a short starboard side deck starting by the indoor helm. A world away from the flat foredeck on the X70, the X60 features a beautiful sunken bow lounge, with seating and sunpads plus drinks holders on both sides of a movable octagon-shaped teak table.

The central pads on each side include a fold-up backrest, while the forward two pads on both sides can be removed to reveal four storage lockers. For cover, a canopy can be erected using four poles inserted into deck holes.

The clever sunken foredeck lounge

“The foredeck is not just for sunbathing but a proper outdoor social area, like you have in the cockpit or flybridge. It gives you another entertainment space for people to meet, to have a drink,” Bamps says. “If you have six or eight people, groups can split up around the boat and find their own space when they want to.”

The flybridge, accessed by starboard stairs from the cockpit, spans an area of 26sqm (280ft), which Prestige says is 30 per cent bigger than the flybridge on the comparably sized 590 F-Line flybridge model.

The large flybridge has a huge wet bar

The area covered by an electric sunroof features an athwartships dining table and chairs by Roda Teka.

Forward is a fitted L-shaped sofa to starboard, while to port is an outdoor galley with a grill, fridge, sink and storage, and a twin helm station with Garmin screens, autopilot and VHF. Unlike the X70, there are no stairs to the foredeck.

The aft area is clear for loose furniture

The aft flybridge area is clear of fixtures but includes, as standard, an island lounger with movable, weighted backrests, while options include sunbeds or two island loungers either side of a drinks table.

BREEZY INDOOR-OUTDOOR LIVING On the main deck, there are also furniture options for the aft cockpit, with an island lounger again the standard option.

However, the X-Line’s features include an extra-long cockpit and although it’s not as noticeable on the X60, there’s enough room to complement the island lounger with an optional dining table and loose chairs, offering another alfresco dining area and increasing the social options.

The saloon features a sliding door to port

In contrast to Prestige’s F-Line and S-Line models, which have an aft-galley layout, the X-Line is more in line with larger luxury motor yachts by having the galley forward.

Along with the starboard side deck, the saloon on the X60 is among the major differences compared to the X70, although both models feature interiors designed with Italian Valentina Militerno de Romedis.

Instead of the saloon spanning one side of the hull to the other, the inclusion of a side deck on the X60 reduces the relative indoor space, although Prestige has offset this by including a sliding glass door to port, meaning the saloon is truly open to the sun and breeze on two sides.

The X60 focuses on indoor-outdoor living

Prestige says the semi-widebody design provides interior width not found on another 60ft monohull, yet that feels slightly undermined when you enter the interior, as the private staircase to the master suite – a brand signature – reduces the width of the living area by a metre or so.

“On the X60, we couldn’t use the full beam for the interior because the staircase to the top would have been too steep and you’d lose too much space on the flybridge if you had two accesses,” Bamps says. “However, the sliding side door in the saloon combined with the two sliding doors aft allow you to sit inside yet feel as though you’re outside.”

SOFT INTERIOR LUXURY The saloon includes two beige Duvivier sofas: a two-seat version to port and an L-shaped one to starboard, where there’s also a foldable table.

The galley has high-low storage cabinets

The full-height glass door and window to port are complemented by large windows starboard and forward, so guests can enjoy panoramic views including through to the windscreen as well as plenty of natural light.

The interior features hardwood oak flooring and Walnut woodwork, and the detailing is top-drawer, in line with the X70. To starboard, aft of the slightly raised helm station, is an open, three-sided galley, which has a three-zone induction cooktop, microwave/grill and – a personal favourite – two high-low storage units that can electrically descend to provide a flush countertop when needed.

To port is more storage, a fridge-freezer and another Laminam ceramic worktop, while forward is a raised L-shaped sofa, offering companion seating for the skipper and a nice cosy snug for reading, with great views outside and inside the boat.

The port side offers a raised corner sofa

The raised helm has a dark-leather bench seat and includes a joystick as part of the Zeus drive package, the option of two 12-inch or 16-inch standalone screens, and a full-height door to the short side deck.

CABINS SUPREME However, Prestige’s upgraded fabrics, finishes and detailing are arguably best showcased in the stunning guest cabins, led by the magnificent full-beam master suite, which features super-soft carpeting and beautifully combines soothing natural colours with wood, velvet and a variety of tactile surfaces.

The full-beam master suite

Accessed by a wide staircase and situated midships – not in the bow, as on the X70 – the master has a forward-facing bed, a sofa to port and storage on both sides, with the whole room benefiting from huge hull windows plus port holes on both sides. The mood lighting including above, behind and below the bed is discreet and elegant.

Forward is a TV flanked by two sliding doors. The starboard one leads to a bathroom with a Corian countertop and plenty of mirrors, while the port one accesses an elegant walk-in wardrobe, with both rooms having access to the central rain shower.

The TV is flanked by doors to the wardrobe and bathroom

The two guest cabins are reached from the stairs beside the lower helm and the VIP could be a contender for best in class. The double bed, which can ‘scissor’ into singles, sits lower than is usual for a cabin in the bow, feeling more like a conventional cabin than one squeezed too far up into the forepeak.

The room also benefits from a skylight and, like the master, is beautifully finished and well equipped, featuring wardrobes and storage on both sides, a gorgeous standalone vanity to port, and an en-suite bathroom to starboard.

The forward VIP suite is among best in class

The bathroom can be used as the day head and potentially shared by those staying in the port-side guest cabin, which has twin beds that can slide together and the option of an en-suite bathroom to replace the VIP cabin’s port cupboard.

Although designed with owner-operators in mind, the X60 is a big yacht so there’s a comfortable crew cabin aft of the engine room, which houses twin 600hp Cummins engines that provide comfortable performance, with a top speed of 25 knots and a cruising speed of 20. Onboard technology includes Groupe Beneteau’s Ship Control and Seanapps systems.

The first X60 in Asia arrives in 2023

The first unit in Asia has already been secured by Asia Yachting and is scheduled for a mid-2023 arrival to the delight of Tanguy Tertrais, the Hong Kong-based APAC Sales Director for Prestige and Jeanneau.

“We’re really looking forward to having one more X-Line unit in this part of the world,” Tertrais says. “We strongly believe the X-Line perfectly suits the demand here, with reinvented space on board for greater volume and a design that’s more open to the sea.” www.prestige-yachts.com www.asiayachting.net

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A look at the most expensive superyachts at the Palm Beach yacht show and their insane features, from basketball courts on deck to ice baths and saunas

• The Palm Beach International Boat Show kicks off later this week.
• Eight megayachts are expected to be on display for would-be buyers and charter customers.
• These are the show's biggest yachts — and how many millions of dollars they are going for.

The Palm Beach International Boat Show — the yacht world's flashiest event stateside — is returning this year with over 800 boats for both deep-pocketed potential owners and window shoppers to peruse.

While it's impossible to know what exactly will be on display until the show begins on Thursday, it's expected that eight megayachts — generally defined as ships over 60 meters long — will be docked at the show and at nearby marinas like the Rybovich Marina in the ritzy Florida town.

Some of these are for sale at eye-popping prices, but others are available to charter in case you fancy living like a billionaire for a week or two this summer (and if you have six figures to spare on a vacation).

These are the eight biggest yachts that will be at the Palm Beach International Boat Show and nearby marinas, in size order.

Nero: 90.1 meters

Price: From $497,000 a week (charter) Standout features: Pizza ovens, beauty salon, massage room, resistance pool

Reportedly owned by Irish billionaire Denis O'Brien, Nero is modeled after J.P. Morgan's 1930s ship , and was built in 2007 and updated in 2021.

She now boasts a gym on her sundeck with multiple cardio machines and a beauty salon, and has an on-board beautician for manicure, pedicure, hair, and massage needs. There's also an upgraded movie theater, two new pizza ovens, and both a pool and a jacuzzi.

For those who want to go overboard, she has more than a dozen toys, including a waterslide, Jet Ski, and flyboard.

Victorious: 85 meters

Price: From $876,600 a week in the summer and $950,000 a week in the winter Standout features: Hammam (Turkish bath), wine cellar, wood-burning fireplace, children's playroom

Victorious brings a party vibe to the yacht show. With a beach club on board, a wine cellar, a cigar clubroom , multiple bars, and a lounge with a piano, the vessel is made for entertaining. Plus, there's a playroom and movie theater to entertain the kids.

For tamer charter clients, Victorious has a suite of wellness features such as a gym, massage room, beauty salon and hammam — perhaps a custom request of her owner, Turkish businessman Vural Ak.

She also boasts a treasure trove of water toys, including Jet Skis, jetsurfs, inflatable kayaks, and scuba equipment.

Casino Royale: 72 meters

Price: TBD Special Features: Infinity pool, helipad, private jacuzzi

Purchased and refitted by car dealer magnate John Staluppi last year, Casino Royale is the latest of his James Bond-inspired yachts (he's also owned an Octopussy and a Skyfall, among others).

Casino Royale has a helipad that turns into a dancefloor, an infinity pool, and a wellness center with a gym and sauna. The owner's cabin has its own deck, which features a private bar and jacuzzi.

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However, the boat's price isn't listed, and while she's not necessarily officially for sale, that might change depending on who's prepared to buy, Mr. Bond.

Talisman C: 70.6 meters

Price: $60 million (or from $567,000 a week to charter) Special features: Massage and beauty room, private library

Likely the largest yacht for sale (not just charter) at the show, the Talisman C is a 2011 six-bedroom boat. The owner's cabin comes with an en suite bathroom, dressing room, private library, and crystal chandeliers.

Amenities include a gym, a beauty room, oversized jacuzzi, and a fully equipped bar. Her crew of 19 includes a trained masseuse, and the toy room comes equipped with a wakeboard, eFoil , and WaveRunners.

Joy: 70 meters

Price: From $650,000 a week Special features: Disco club, basketball court, onboard fitness instructor

Superyacht Joy testifies to the fact that owners want as many on-board experiences as they can get.

There's an expansive suite of fitness features, including a basketball court (don't shoot that hoop too hard!), a personal trainer on staff, boxing equipment, and a handful of machines. For post-workout winddowns, there's a spa with a steam room and onboard masseuse. And for entertainment, there's both an outdoor and indoor cinema, and a disco club.

Triumph: 65.4 meters

Price: From $707,600 a week in the summer and $650,000 a week in the winter Special features: Sauna, helipad, banana boat

This 2021 superyacht is named after Triumph motorcycles — a reported favorite of her rumored owner, British businessman Chris Dawson — and even has one on display as an art piece in the upper deck's lounge. The primary suite is 1,400 square feet and has its own study , and there's a sauna, an indoor-outdoor gym, a helipad, and a massage room spread among her six decks.

She boasts an "armada of water toys," including two kinds of Jet Skis, electric water bikes, and a banana boat.

Seanna: 64.5 meters

Price: $54,000,000 (or from $462,000 a week to charter) Special features: marble foyer, movie room, sundeck pool

The recently refurbished Seanna is available for sale and charter.

Her indoor-outdoor gym is on sea level so that passengers can take a dip after a session with the onboard personal trainer. There's also a sundeck pool, a helipad, a two-room massage facility, and, for the more cerebral guests, a library with an electric fireplace.

There are a number of toys on board, including a popular water trampoline and two WaveRunners.

Come Together: 60 meters

Price: $65,000,000 Special Features: DJ and videographer on board, ice bath, sauna

Next-to-new yacht Come Together is looking for a new owner after doing charters during the 2023 season.

The Beatles' influence is evident beyond the yacht's name, with guitars dotting the sky lounge and a crewmember who doubles as a DJ. There's also an outdoor cinema and bar for entertainment and an ice bath and sauna for the day after the party. The owner's suite has a private study and lounge, and each guest cabin has its own ensuite.

The sale includes a number of toys, like Jet Skis, kayaks, and Seabobs.

Watch: Inside the world's biggest cruise ship that just set sail

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March 23, 2024 Shooting at Moscow concert venue leaves over 130 dead

By Chris Lau, Andrew Raine , Catherine Nicholls, Issy Ronald, Lauren Said-Moorhouse and Tori B. Powell , CNN

Our live coverage of the Moscow concert venue shooting has moved here.

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un sends condolences to Russia’s Putin over deadly Moscow attack

From CNN’s Sophie Jeong and Manveena Suri

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has offered his condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin following the deadly concert attack in Moscow, state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Sunday.

Kim “expressed deep condolences and sympathy” to Putin, the Russian people, the victims and their families on the news of heavy casualties caused by a “large-scale terrorist attack in (the) Moscow region,” KCNA reported.

North Korea opposes “all sorts of terrorism and nothing can justify the heinous terrorism threatening human life,” Kim said in the KCNA report. “Our people regard the misfortune and sorrow of the friendly Russian people as their own pain.”

ISIS releases graphic video they claim shows Russia concert hall attack

From CNN's Kareem El Damanhoury and Paul Murphy

ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq released a graphic video on Saturday that purports to show Friday’s attack at a concert hall in suburban Moscow recorded by one of the attackers, suggesting the perpetrators had a direct link to ISIS in order to be able to send the video.

CNN has geolocated it to the concert hall and notes that its identifying metadata has been erased.

The video, which is about 90 seconds long, shows four attackers with their faces blurred and voices distorted in what appears to be the Crocus City Hall complex.

The video shows one attacker signaling to another gunman, who then walks past a door where people are hiding and opens fire on them.

Bodies and blood can be seen on the floor, with fire raging at a distance.

The video also shows one of the attackers slitting the throat of a man lying on his back.

The video ends with the four attackers walking away inside the building as smoke can be seen at a distance.

On Friday, ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, according to a short statement published by Amaq.

On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested Ukraine was behind the attack, stating the perpetrators had “tried to hide and moved towards Ukraine, where, according to preliminary data, a window was prepared for them on the Ukrainian side to cross the border.”

Ukraine has vehemently denied any connection to Friday's attack.

Company that owns Crocus City Hall venue calls attack a "monstrous tragedy"

From CNN's Masha Angelova

The Russian company Crocus International, which owns Crocus City Hall, expressed its deep condolences in a statement Sunday to the victims of the terrorist attack at the concert hall in the Moscow region Friday, which left more than 130 people dead.

"Together with the whole of Russia, we mourn the dead and hope for a speedy recovery of those who’ve suffered in this monstrous tragedy," the company said. "In these difficult days, we are doing and will do everything possible to help the authorities and special services with their difficult work, and together with the whole country help victims of the terrorist attack."

The statement thanked concert-goers, partners and artists for their support and assistance.

"Special thanks to the concert hall team, who acted professionally, clearly, and heroically in a crisis situation, and thanks to this, managed to save most of the guests and employees who were in Crocus City Hall that evening," it continued.

White House says there was "no Ukrainian involvement whatsoever" in Moscow region onslaught

From CNN's Natasha Bertrand and Samantha Waldenberg

US Vice President Kamala Harris and the White House National Security Council said there is no evidence that Ukraine is behind the attack at a concert hall near Moscow.

“There is no, whatsoever, any evidence — and in fact, what we know to be the case is that ISIS-K is actually, by all accounts, responsible for what happened,” Harris said in an interview with ABC News. “What has happened is an act of terrorism and the number of people who've been killed is obviously a tragedy and we should all send our condolences to those families."

National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said:

"In early March, the US government shared information with Russia about a planned terrorist attack in Moscow. We also issued a public advisory to Americans in Russia on March 7. ISIS bears sole responsibility for this attack. There was no Ukrainian involvement whatsoever."

US had warned Russia ISIS was determined to attack | CNN

Here's what you should know about the moscow area concert venue shooting.

From CNN staff

A Friday night attack at Crocus City Hall, a popular concert venue complex near Moscow, left more than 130 people killed and even more wounded after assailants stormed the venue with guns and incendiary devices. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, without providing evidence.

Four suspects involved in the attack were detained in the Bryansk region and taken to Moscow, where they are now in the custody of Russia's Investigative Committee, Russian state media TASS reported Saturday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said "miserable" Russian President Vladimir Putin waited   overnight before publicly addressing Russians, only to accuse   Ukraine of having a hand in the terror attack at a concert hall near Moscow.

Here are other headlines you should know:

• More on the attack: According to the interior ministry, “all terrorists detained in the Bryansk region are foreign citizens ,” Russian state media reported. RIA Novosti published on Telegram the purported confession of one of the apprehended men. CNN cannot independently verify the RIA Novosti report or the statements made by the alleged attacker, which may have been made under duress.
• Ukraine vehemently denies any connection: Defense Intelligence of Ukraine spokesperson Andrii Yusov firmly denied his country had anything to do with the terror attack. Earlier Saturday, Putin  told the Russian people  that the perpetrators had “tried to hide and moved towards Ukraine, where, according to preliminary data, a window was prepared for them on the Ukrainian side to cross the border." A handful of Russian officials have suggested  without evidence  that Ukraine may have been involved in the attack as well.
• Global reactions: Leaders around the world — such as the French, Israeli and Turkish presidents — have expressed their condolences and condemnation of the onslaught. The United States “ strongly condemns ” the shooting, according to the White House and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also denounced the attack , stressing that ISIS is a significant global threat at a news conference Saturday.
• Belarus claims it thwarted suspects: Belarusian special services helped Russia prevent the "terrorists" who allegedly carried out the deadly attack from escaping across the border Friday night, the country's ambassador in Moscow said.
• Estimated damage total: The total estimated damage to the Moscow region's Crocus City Hall after Friday's terror attack is between 9.5-11.4 billion rubles, or approximately $103-124 million, according to a shopping union vice president, as reported by Russian state media RIA Novosti.

Zelensky accuses Putin of trying to blame concert hall attack on Ukraine

From CNN's Maria Kostenko

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said "miserable" Russian President Vladimir Putin waited overnight before publicly addressing Russians, only to accuse Ukraine of having a hand in the terror attack at a concert hall near Moscow.

On Saturday, Putin told the Russian people that the perpetrators of the Crocus City Hall attack had “tried to hide and moved towards Ukraine, where, according to preliminary data, a window was prepared for them on the Ukrainian side to cross the border.”

Zelensky and several Ukrainian officials have vehemently denied Ukraine has any kind of involvement in the attack.

In his nightly address, Zelensky also said that Russians "have come to Ukraine, burn our cities – and try to blame Ukraine."

Zelensky added that if the Russian people do "not ask any questions to their security and intelligence agencies, then Putin will try to turn such a situation to his personal advantage again."

More background: The terror group ISIS claimed responsibility for Russia's attack, according to a short statement published by ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq on Telegram Friday. ISIS has not provided evidence to support the claim.

Earlier this week, Putin had dismissed warnings by the US embassy that there could be terrorist attacks on large groups, telling the Federal Security Service (FSB) that the embassy warnings were "provocative" and "outright blackmail."

White House "strongly condemns" Moscow region terror attack

From CNN’s Samantha Waldenberg

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement Saturday that the United States “strongly condemns” the terrorist attack at a concert venue complex near Moscow that left at least 133 people dead.

She added that ISIS, which has claimed responsibility for the attack without providing evidence, is a “common terrorist enemy that must be defeated everywhere.”

“We extend our deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones and to those who were injured or affected by these unconscionable attacks against innocent civilians," Jean-Pierre said in a statement issued by the White House. "ISIS is a common terrorist enemy that must be defeated everywhere."

4 suspects in Friday's attack are being questioned by Russian investigators, state media reports

Four suspects in Friday's terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall were detained in the Bryansk region and taken to Moscow, where they are now in the custody of Russia's Investigative Committee, Russian state media TASS reported Saturday.

The suspects were brought in two prisoner transport vehicles, which are still in the courtyard of the committee, a TASS correspondent reported. This indicates that the suspects are being interrogated and the investigation is ongoing, according to TASS.

In the coming days, investigators are expected to file a court motion asking for imprisonment as the chosen preventative measure. All four suspects face life imprisonment, TASS reports.

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Gunmen Kill 60 at Concert Hall Outside Moscow, Russian Authorities Say

The Islamic State claimed the attack, the deadliest in the Moscow region in more than a decade.

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By Valerie Hopkins ,  Ivan Nechepurenko ,  Aric Toler and Anton Troianovski

• March 22, 2024

Several camouflage-clad gunmen opened fire at a popular concert venue on the outskirts of Moscow on Friday night, killing about 60 people and wounding more than 100, Russian authorities said, making it the deadliest attack in the capital region in more than a decade.

Hours after the mayhem began, the Russian national guard said its officers were still looking for the attackers. State media agencies reported that there had been up to five perpetrators.

As gunshots boomed through the building containing the concert hall, one of the largest and most popular music venues in the Moscow area, fire erupted in the upper floors of the structure, and the blaze intensified after an explosion, causing the roof to collapse.

The Islamic State, through an affiliated news agency, claimed responsibility. U.S. security officials, including a senior counterterrorism official, said they believed the attack was carried out by the Islamic State in Khorasan , a branch of the terrorist group that is active in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Multiple videos posted on social media and verified by The New York Times show several people entering Crocus City Hall, a sprawling shopping and entertainment complex in suburban Krasnogorsk, northwest of Moscow, and firing rifles. Other videos show people running past bloodied victims lying on the floor or screaming at the sound of gunshots, while photos show bodies lined up outside the building.

A woman who gave her name only as Marina said in a text message that she was standing in line for a concert outside, in the cold, about 8 p.m. when people without overcoats started running out of the building, saying they had heard shots.

“As soon as I heard automatic rifle shots, I started running, too,” she said.

The state news agency TASS reported that emergency services had dispatched helicopters to try to rescue people from the building’s roof, where flames and smoke could be seen billowing into the night sky.

At least 115 people were hospitalized after the attack, five of them children, according to the Russian minister of health, Mikhail Murashko. The injured include 60 adult patients in serious condition, the minister said. Another 30 people were treated and released.

The Russian leader, Vladimir V. Putin, made no immediate direct public statement, issuing only a statement through a deputy prime minister, Tatyana Golikova, that expressed hopes for the recovery of the injured and gratitude to the doctors treating them.

Russia’s Investigative Committee, the country’s equivalent to the F.B.I., said it had opened a criminal case into a terrorist act and dispatched its investigators to the site. RIA Novosti said that a special police unit was working inside the building.

John F. Kirby, a spokesman for President Biden’s National Security Council, told reporters that the White House had “no indication at this time that Ukraine or Ukrainians were involved.” Mykhailo Podolyak, a top adviser to Ukraine’s presidential office, said in a video statement that “Ukraine has absolutely nothing to do” with the attack.

On March 7, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued a security alert that warned that its personnel were “monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts.” The statement, which did not say anything about the extremists’ affiliation, warned Americans that an attack could take place in the next 48 hours.

Pro-Kremlin voices seized on the U.S. Embassy’s warning to paint America as trying to scare Russians. On March 19, Mr. Putin called the statement “obvious blackmail” made with “the intention to intimidate and destabilize our society.”

The attack on Friday was connected to the March 7 warning, according to American officials briefed on the matter. They added that the United States alerted Russia privately at the time about intelligence it had about Islamic State activity.

Statements of condolence and outrage came from around the world, including the leader of China, Xi Jinping, and governments of the United States and other countries that are at odds with Russia. Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, who died in a Russian prison last month, said on social media, “All those involved in this crime must be found and brought to justice.”

The attack came on a day when 165 missiles and drones attacked Ukraine, constituting what the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, said was “the largest attack against Ukraine’s energy grid since the start of Russia’s war.”

The attack began around 8 p.m. local time, minutes before a sold-out performance by the veteran rock band Piknik was scheduled to start. The concert hall has 6,200 seats, according to its website.

“At least three people in camouflage burst into the ground floor of Crocus City Hall and opened fire with automatic weapons” and threw incendiary devices, a correspondent for RIA Novosti reported from the scene. “There are definitely wounded.”

In videos filmed inside the concert hall, audience members are heard screaming and seen crouching as repeated gunshots echo outside the hall.

Russia’s emergency service said it had sent 130 vehicles to the scene and three helicopters to drop water on the blaze that gutted the upper floors. The fire was mostly extinguished shortly before 5 a.m. Saturday, according to the regional governor, Andrey Vorobyov.

Shootings are rare in Russia, where the state tightly regulates the possession of firearms. One of the deadliest ones occurred in 2022, when a gunman killed 18 people and wounded 23 others in a school in the town of Izhevsk.

However, attacks have struck across the Russia in recent decades, events that the authorities often described as terrorism. A 2011 suicide bombing at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport killed 37 people, and two coordinated suicide bombings in Moscow subway stations in 2010 killed about 40 people.

In 2004, 172 people died in a siege at a Moscow theater by Chechen separatists. The police pumped a sedative gas into the theater to incapacitate the attackers, but the gas killed 132 hostages.

The complex where the attack took place on Friday was developed by the Azerbaijan-born billionaire Aras Agalarov, whose son, Emin, is a famous pop star. Former President Donald Trump held the Miss Universe pageant at the same complex in 2013, and world-famous performers like Eric Clapton, Dua Lipa and Sia have also performed there.

Alina Lobzina , Julian E. Barnes , Neil MacFarquhar and Victoria Kim contributed reporting.

Valerie Hopkins covers the war in Ukraine and how the conflict is changing Russia, Ukraine, Europe and the United States. She is based in Moscow. More about Valerie Hopkins

Ivan Nechepurenko covers Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, the countries of the Caucasus, and Central Asia. He is based in Moscow. More about Ivan Nechepurenko

Aric Toler is a reporter on the Visual Investigations team at The Times where he uses emerging techniques of discovery to analyze open source information. More about Aric Toler

Anton Troianovski is the Moscow bureau chief for The Times. He writes about Russia, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. More about Anton Troianovski

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Greek authorities seize 3.75 million capsules of contraband nerve pain drug pregabalin

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ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek authorities said Saturday they seized more than three tons of the prescription nerve pain drug pregabalin and impounded a yacht registered in the United Kingdom.

The operation took place Thursday night at the port of Lavrio, 70 kilometers (43 miles) southeast of Athens, the coast guard said.

On the yacht, the coast guard found 3.75 million capsules of Nervigesic, a brand name used by Indian pharmaceuticals firm HAB Pharma for pregabalin. The capsules were packaged in 500 cardboard boxes weighing nearly 3.15 tons, the statement said.

Pregabalin is used to treat nerve pain caused by a variety of conditions, such as diabetes and shingles, and also to treat a type of seizure called partial seizure because it has its origin at a single location in the brain.

The raid was ordered based on information from Greece’s “National Intelligence Agency about the activity of networks of Egyptian nationals in Greek territory,” the statement said.

The yacht and its contents remain at the Lavrio port while local authorities conduct an investigation, the coast guard said.

Luxury yacht skipper loses $400k in scam, faces accused ‘money mule’ in court, says deception ruined his life

Lane nichols.

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Far North commercial skipper Tim Michalick lost $400,000 in an investment scam. He is speaking publicly to highlight flaws in the banking system and deficient customer protections. Photo / Jenny Ling

Sitting in court just metres from the man accused of laundering his stolen $400,000, Tim Michalick felt disgust and “burning hot anger”.

“It was really stressful. I just can’t describe my hatred towards that person. In my opinion, he’s the lowest of the low.”

Michalick, 43 - a luxury yacht skipper based in Kerikeri - thought his family’s life savings were being invested in a low-risk term deposit with HSBC bank.

In fact his money had been sent to an account allegedly controlled by a disbarred Auckland lawyer who is now facing 11 money laundering charges and, if convicted, up to seven years in jail.

Michalick lost the money in January last year and realised he’d been scammed the following month. He said the last 13 months had been a roller coaster of emotions as he came to terms with the sophisticated fraud and tried to navigate a banking regulatory system which he compares to “Swiss cheese.

“This has ruined my f***en life. It’s been so hard and I’ve been on a steady decline since [being scammed]. It’s really turned my life upside down.

“I’ve got the court case coming up. I’m just struggling at the moment to be honest. I ran out of steam at the end of last year and I’ve been running off fumes.”

The Herald revealed Michalick’s story in an investigation last June . At the time he remained anonymous, concerned about the impact going public would have on his personal and professional life.

But Michalick now wants to tell his story openly due to frustrations about the banking sector’s accountability, the ability of criminals to target unsuspecting Kiwis through the country’s deficient payment system with impunity, and what he describes as a “flimsy” and ineffective Banking Ombudsman Scheme leaving some victims without hope.

“All the reasons why I didn’t go public initially still apply. But do I sit back and miss out on opportunities to tell New Zealand what’s going on, or do I go hell for leather to do my bit for all those poor people who are going to be taken advantage of?

“I would be doing the banks a favour if I didn’t come forward.”

‘Sick to my stomach’

Michalick sent his money from his ASB account to what he thought was a Kiwibank “cooling off” account set up under his own name - writing “HSBC term deposit” in the payment reference field.

After Michalick alerted the banks and police to the fraud, Kiwibank was able to recover about half the money. The rest was allegedly used by the suspected mule to pay private school fees or transferred to other accounts.

When the $200,000 was refunded, Kiwibank included the company’s name that received Michalick’s money. He Googled it to find the sole director was the disgraced lawyer whose career downfall had been reported by media.

He is still shocked this man was able to open an account and allegedly use it to conduct criminal activity without being detected by Kiwibank’s fraud security systems.

“The fact he was allegedly operating this long without any oversight from the bank makes me sick to my stomach.”

Michalick handed a dossier of information about the man to police but it took months for stretched fraud investigators to lay charges.

Michalick also complained to the Banking Ombudsman about why a supposed HSBC term deposit payment going to Kiwibank did not raise suspicions with ASB, and about what he believes was Kiwibank “harbouring” a mule account that was allegedly used to launder stolen money.

The Banking Ombudsman dismissed the complaint about ASB, ruling the bank was not at fault. Regarding Kiwibank, the Banking Ombudsman said its current remit prevented it from investigating the actions of receiving banks.

Deflated, Michalick sought a review, but the Banking Ombudsman declined to reopen his complaint this month.

He also complained to the Reserve Bank, claiming Kiwibank had breached anti-money laundering rules through alleged failures to check the customer’s background or monitor the account activity to prevent fraud.

However, the Reserve Bank found Kiwibank was not at fault.

Michalick told the Herald he believed the regulatory system was utterly deficient, with victims left to carry the blame.

“They’re allowing customers to operate without any scrutiny or restrictions on their banking activity and there’s no one I can turn to to hold them to account.

“My only option is to run a private civil case against Kiwibank which costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, and that just can’t be done.”

He believed the Banking Ombudsman scheme was “completely flimsy”. Though it was meant to investigate the banks, two major banks’ CEOs were board members and the banking sector helped draft the scheme’s terms of reference, Michalick said.

He claimed complaints weren’t assessed on a “fair playing field” and believed the scheme wasn’t independent or working to protect consumer rights.

Michalick said he had drawn strength from other victims who were brave enough to tell their stories publicly.

He also thanked the Herald for its coverage, which was a “driving force” in promoting change.

Kiwibank, Banking Ombudsman respond

A Kiwibank spokeswoman said it immediately froze the recipient account when alerted to the fraud and tried to recover funds.

Kiwibank had co-operated with the police investigation and was satisfied it completed all required anti-money laundering checks and that its customer “met the requirements”.

The spokeswoman said there was nothing about Michalick’s transactions to trigger the bank’s security warnings.

Banking Ombudsman Nicola Sladden said she had considerable sympathy for scam victims who often lost life-changing amounts of money.

She strongly refuted Michalick’s criticisms.

The scheme was an independent dispute resolution body which must apply the rules in force at the time of a complaint. Current rules did not require banks to reimburse authorised payment scam victims unless the bank had missed “red flags”.

“We do not make the fraud reimbursement rules. We apply them.”

Sladden’s office had repeatedly urged the Government to review fraud reimbursement laws and strengthen consumer protections.

She said a recent review found the scheme was “highly effective” and operated with “integrity and professionalism”.

The composition of the scheme’s board gave equal representation to banks and consumers, with an independent chair casting the deciding vote.

Sladden said she was “ deeply concerned” about victims’ money being laundered through domestic mule accounts.

But her office was not responsible for supervising the anti-money laundering regime. This was the purview of the Reserve Bank, Financial Markets Authority and Department of Internal Affairs.

Under its terms of reference, her office could not investigate complaints about recipient banks, as they usually provided no “direct service” to complainants.

Receiving banks could not share information about recipient account holders due to privacy laws.

Sladden’s office was considering a review of its terms of reference to consider complaints about payee banks, but this was “likely premature” until they had clear duties to scam victims, she said.

Lane Nichols is a senior journalist and deputy head of news based in Auckland. Before joining the Herald in 2012, he spent a decade at Wellington’s Dominion Post and the Nelson Mail.

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