## Former top Russian official admits the country is over Putin and can 'imagine a future without him'

Authored by fortune.com

In other words, Russia’s elites found a subtle way to no longer express solidarity with Putin, describing what “he” does rather than what “we” do.

“The irony is that Mr. Putin started the war to preserve power and the system he has created,” the official wrote.

“Now, for the first time since the conflict began, Russians are starting to imagine a future without him.”.

As companies and other borrowers struggle to service debt, defaults have climbed and warnings of a financial crisis have multiplied.

“It is not that the elites have suddenly discovered a taste for the rule of law or democracy,” the op-ed said.

“People are required to be loyal without being told what future that loyalty serves,” the official said.

“The system can persist for as long as Mr. Putin remains in power,” the former Russian official wrote in the Economist. »

### Europa-Park (Germany) amusement park will become smoke-free starting June 1st, 2026

Authored by europapark.de

Following an amendment to the Smoke-Free Environment Law in Baden-Württemberg, new legal regulations on smoking will apply to theme parks in future.

From 1 June 2026, smoking at Europa-Park will therefore only be permitted in designated smoking areas.

To help guests familiarise themselves with the new situation in good time, designated smoking areas will be set up in the park from the start of the season on 28 March 2026. »

### New York high school's graduating class breaks school record with 21 valedictorians

Authored by abc7.com

New York high school's graduating class breaks school record with 21 valedictorians.

JERICHO, Long Island -- Whoever said perfection is overrated, has never met the 21 valedictorians from this year's graduating class at Jericho High School in New York.

There were many nights where I wondered why I was putting myself through this," said Jericho High School Valedictorian Riya Shah. »

### Take-Two CEO says the original Borderlands' art style overhaul cost a year of dev time and $50 million: 'Had we not done that, Borderlands wouldn't have been a hit'

Authored by pcgamer.com

CEO of publisher Take-Two, Strauss Zelnick, said in a recent interview with podcaster David Senra that the game's final look took a big overhaul that cost $50 million dollars and an extra year of development time.

"We had not turned around the company yet, we had very limited capital, and we were developing a game that was about to be released two months later, which is to say it's done.

I mean, we had spent a lot of money," he said in the interview. »

### Justice Department announces nearly $1.8B fund to compensate Trump allies in a deal to drop IRS suit

Authored by apnews.com

Blanche is expected to be pressed on the fund when he testifies Tuesday on Capitol Hill about the Justice Department budget.

His Justice Department since then has approved payouts to supporters entangled in the Trump-Russia investigation and investigated and prosecuted some of his perceived adversaries.

In defending the deal, the Justice Department pointed to a fund established by the Obama administration to compensate Native American farmers who said they had experienced racial discrimination. »

## In pictures

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