Russian Oligarchs’ Frozen Yachts | The S&P 500 Firm Split Over The War | Ford’s EV Focus

Plus: First He Fought The Russians Online. Now He’s Fighting Them On Kyiv’s Streets.

Good morning.

European Union sanctions are starting to bite Russian oligarchs, with billionaires’ yachts seized in Germany and France. We’re also covering how a conflict over the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine split a S&P 500 firm and Ford’s decision to spin off its electric vehicles business in a new unit. Finally, don’t miss this story about a 30-year-old CEO who went from fighting against Russian misinformation online to taking up arms to protect the Ukrainian capital.

In The News Today

Belurusian and Russian athletes are now banned from the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, the organizing committee announced, revising a prior decision. Follow our live blog for the latest news on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The House Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol wrote in a court filing that there is evidence to suggest former President Donald Trump and his allies may have broken the law in an attempt to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election. 

Top Take-Aways

German authorities seized billionaire Alisher Usmanov’s 512-foot yacht Dilbar (his mother’s name) valued at nearly $600 million, according to three sources in the yacht industry. French authorities also took control of Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin’s 280-feet yacht Amore Vero (Italian for “true love”).

A public spat between American software engineering company EPAM Systems’ executives and some of its employees over how to react to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine comes as the company continues efforts to bring its staff located near the frontlines to safety.

Airbnb says thousands of hosts have expressed interest in housing those displaced by the war in Ukraine, contributing to the company’s goal of hosting 100,000 refugees. For those who remain in Ukrainian cities under attack from the Russian army, the day is dictated by the sound of air-raid sirens. 

Florida teen Jack Sweeney rose to internet fame by tracking the private jets of billionaires such as Elon Musk. He is now following the movements of planes owned by Russian oligarchs, but the aviation industry wants to close the workaround enabling Sweeney’s activities.

Fracking billionaire Harold Hamm’s oil company Continental Resources will invest $250 million in a project to capture and inject 8 million tons of carbon dioxide a year into the rocks beneath North Dakota.

Ford Motor Co. spun off its electric vehicle business into a new division called Model e, which will focus on racing Elon Musk’s Tesla, General Motors and other global rivals in the race to dominate the fast-moving market.

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Maryland-based vaccine manufacturer Novavax said Monday that its Covid vaccine showed strong protection against Covid-19 infection over a six month period following the second dose.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s display of courage and defiance in the face of the Russian invasion has inspired many across the world. Here are the leadership lessons he demonstrated. 

When you’re not working in the same building as your colleagues, getting an answer from them isn’t as easy as walking up to their desks. Here are five tips to help you obtain an immediate response and elevate your request above the noise.

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