Latest news with #KSD
Russia Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Russia Today
Ukrainians up in arms over author of ‘mail-order bride Elena Zelenska' novel
A Ukrainian publishing house has destroyed books by American romance writer Sophie Lark, who was accused of praising Russia and disparaging Ukrainians. The Kharkov-based publisher KSD canceled the release of the Ukrainian translation of Lark's novel Brutal Prince following an outcry on social media. Ukrainian bloggers took issue with her 2024 'romantic thriller' Monarch, whose main character is named Elena Zelenska – almost like the real-life wife of Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, Elena Zelenskaya. In the novel, Zelenska is described as 'the world's most unlikely mail-order bride,' according to the book's description on Amazon. Other users claimed the author was 'romanticizing the Russian mafia' in her other books and depicting Crimea as Russian territory. Some labeled Lark 'a fan of Russia,' accused her of promoting 'pro-Russian' narratives, and claimed she called for 'the murder of Cossacks' in her novel Anastasia, which centers on the Russian imperial Romanov dynasty. In a statement issued on Friday, KSD admitted that the decision to publish Lark's book 'was a mistake.' 'After thoroughly examining the situation and not receiving a response from the author, we have decided to destroy all 30,000 copies of the book and cancel the contract for the entire six-book series,' the publisher said on Facebook. 'It is important for us to remain responsible not only in our publishing decisions, but also in our moral principles.' Ukraine has banned multiple books, films, and songs under its laws prohibiting 'the propaganda of Russian imperial policies.' It has also removed monuments and renamed streets as part of its 'de-Communization' and 'decolonization' campaigns. The government recently announced plans to remove Russian writers, poets, and composers from the school curriculum. In March, US publisher Bloom Books pulled Lark's novel Sparrow and Vine after some readers described parts of the dialogue as racist and criticized lines in which characters praised tech billionaire Elon Musk. Lark apologized at the time, saying she had intended to write 'flawed' characters.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
KSD Capital and Intain Partner to Build an Efficient Marketplace for High-Quality Originators and Community Banks
SAN ANTONIO, May 13, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KSD Capital, an investment firm focused on connecting originators and community banks with innovative funding solutions, has entered into a strategic partnership with Intain, a technology company that advances trust and automation in structured finance through its IntainMARKETS platform. This collaboration aims to streamline the funding process, shorten deal times, and foster greater transparency in how community banks and originators work together. Using IntainMARKETS, transactions that often require weeks of back-and-forth can now be completed more quickly. The platform's digital ledger ensures that all loan data is accurate and easy to trace, giving originators a clear path to capital and allowing community banks to review verified assets in real time. Funding requests and computations will be automated. By digitizing the flow of information, both sides can eliminate costly manual work and reduce the risk of errors. "This partnership with Intain makes it easier for originators to access the capital they need while helping community banks identify and invest in high quality assets," said Will Davis, President and Co-founder at KSD Capital. "At KSD we are continuously exploring ways to improve funding process for our partners, and together with Intain, we're creating a more efficient marketplace where every party can move with speed and confidence." "We're excited to work with KSD Capital to simplify structured finance," said Siddhartha, Founder & CEO at Intain. "By automating processes and providing a secure, shared ledger, IntainMARKETS ensures that everyone involved has the information they need when they need it, building a solid foundation of trust." The partnership begins with four existing credit facilities, involving multiple originators and participating banks, being onboarded onto the IntainMARKETS platform. To learn more about KSD Capital, visit and for details about Intain and its IntainMARKETS platform, visit Statements in this release reflect current expectations and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Actual outcomes may differ. About Intain Intain provides digital infrastructure to enhance trust, transparency, and efficiency in structured finance. More than 250,000 loans have been verified using artificial intelligence through Intain's platforms, and over $20 billion in structured finance transactions have been onboarded for integrated data operations. By connecting issuers, investors, and other stakeholders on a common blockchain network and automating operations through AI, Intain is building the digital future of structured finance. About KSD Capital KSD Capital is a bank advisory and financial services firm that helps community banks access high-quality small business loan portfolios originated through online lending platforms. Founded by experienced community bankers, KSD provides strategic planning, regulatory support, due diligence, and servicing solutions that enable banks to deploy capital efficiently and improve financial performance. View source version on Contacts Media Contact (Intain) Siddhartha, CEOexplore@ | +1 551 344 7728
