Latest news with #Russian-speaking
New York Post
6 hours ago
- Business
- New York Post
Beloved NYC watch repair-shop owner defies eviction, gentrification — by working from his car: ‘I don't want to stop working'
Takes a licking — keeps on ticking. For 42 years, David's Shoe & Watch Repair shop was a staple at the corner of Hudson and Barrow in NYC's West Village — repairing timepieces and mending soles for generations of loyal, local customers. Through it all, proprietor Raphael 'David' Davidson endured. Gentrification, COVID-19, brutal rent hikes — even a move down the block last year into the dry cleaners couldn't stop the faithful watch man from tending to the ever-evolving neighborhood's needs. Or, so it seemed. It was 1982 when the Russian-speaking immigrant from Uzbekistan first hung out a shingle at 460 Hudson St. — nearly 40 good years before serious trouble for the family-run spot reared its head in the form of the 2020 pandemic. 20 20 'For six months I was closed, and I applied for a loan, but I couldn't get any loan because I work alone,' the 80-year-old told The Post. 'Me and my son, we work together for ourselves.' He explained that he applied for the same financial relief that many other businesses did at the time — but that his small size worked against him. With the $4,200 monthly rent still due and little money coming in, his bills ballooned to roughly $65,000. The government eventually sent him a paltry $1,500 — all going straight to the landlord. 20 20 That same landlord tried to evict him just as business was getting back to normal — even taking David to court over the amount of rent owed. A judge ordered payments of $5,000 until the lease ended, back in June 2024 — with no offer to extend. New Yorkers in the close-knit community were saddened and shocked to hear the historic shop was shutting down, and they set up a GoFundMe page and a petition that amassed nearly 300 signatures and over $16,000. And for a while, it looked like a victory, albeit a qualified one — with the Acme Cleaners just up the street at 508 Hudson willing to free up a small amount of space to keep neighborhood tradition alive. A great idea — but ultimately impractical, David said. 'All my tools, machinery, everything was in the shop. I couldn't take anything,' he said. 'I just took some of the tools for repair and watches there, but all the machinery that was there for thousands and thousands of dollars, I couldn't take it because I didn't have room.' 20 20 Then, there was the working environment — a no-go for the aging octogenarian. 'For six months I was working, but they use chemicals over there. I couldn't take it,' David confessed. But the dedicated area fixture wasn't about to give up — taking his business fully mobile earlier this year. Now, David can be found at the corner of Hudson and Christopher every Sunday — working from his car. 20 20 20 20 There, steps from where he operated all those years, the most loyal locals line up to drop off their afflicted accessories, which David takes to his home-based workshop, returning the items the following week. 'I lost most of my customers, but I have some that have known me for a long time, and they wait for Sunday for me,' he shared. 'They come because they know I do a good job and give good prices and provide good service,' David said. 'They've known me for many, many years, so I keep those customers long enough — and they keep me busy also.' David Cohn is just one of the many customers who have come to find the service invaluable — over a period of nearly two decades, he's stopped by for watch repair, shoe repairs, even valuations of his most treasured timepieces. 'He's very trustworthy,' Cohn, also 80, said. 'And his son was also just as gentle as him and just as helpful. 20 20 20 20 'It's a shame to lose an institution that's been around for as long as his,' he added. 'It's just a shame that the apparatus of the landlord is destroying the mom-and-pop-ness of the community.' On average, David gets about 10 customers over four hours every Sunday — but after a video of him recently went viral on Instagram, his phone started blowing up with messages from potential new customers. 'I think we're going to have some new customers,' he told The Post. 'I'll find out Sunday.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kate DePetro (@katedepetro) 20 20 Once the video started gaining traction, a new GoFundMe was set up — 'for whatever that next chapter becomes,' the fundraising page said. 'We want to make sure he and his wife have the support they need — because for 42 years, David showed up for New York,' organizer Kate DePetro wrote. As of Monday morning, July 21, the GoFundMe has received 2,000 donations and raised just shy of $50,000 toward a $60,000 goal. DePetro revealed that outcome to him on Sunday in a new Instagram post. 'No way,' the surprised senior said. 20 20 20 Even without that boost, David had planned on sticking with the new arrangement for 'as long as [he] can.' 'I don't want to stop working,' David told The Post. 'My Social Security is very little, so it's not enough if I don't work,' he shared. 'My wife and I retired, and all the kids, nobody's home. I don't make much money, but at least I keep this running and keep me busy. I can pay my home rent.'
New York Post
a day ago
- Business
- New York Post
Beloved watch repair-shop owner defies eviction, gentrification: 'I don't want to stop working'
Takes a licking — keeps on ticking. For 42 years, David's Shoe & Watch Repair shop was a staple at the corner of Hudson and Barrow in NYC's West Village — repairing timepieces and mending soles for generations of loyal, local customers. Through it all, proprietor Raphael 'David' Davidson endured. Gentrification, COVID-19, brutal rent hikes — even a move down the block last year into the dry cleaners couldn't stop the faithful watch man from tending to the ever-evolving neighborhood's needs. Advertisement Or, so it seemed. It was 1982 when the Russian-speaking immigrant from Uzbekistan first hung out a shingle at 460 Hudson St. — nearly 40 good years before serious trouble for the family-run spot reared its head in the form of the 2020 pandemic. 19 A customer gives Raphael 'David' Davidson a shoe for repair beside of his car on Sunday afternoon. Stefano Giovannini for Advertisement 19 Patrons surround David's makeshift car-trunk workroom on Hudson. Stefano Giovannini for 'For six months I was closed, and I applied for a loan, but I couldn't get any loan because I work alone,' the 80-year-old told The Post. 'Me and my son, we work together for ourselves.' He explained that he applied for the same financial relief that many other businesses did at the time — but that his small size worked against him. With his $4,200 monthly rent due and little money coming in, his bills ballooned to roughly $65,000. The government eventually sent him a paltry $1,500 — all going straight to the landlord. Advertisement 19 David is shown working in his shop in 2008. Michael Sofronski 19 He is now drawing faithful customers to his car, where he keeps some of his tools. Stefano Giovannini for That same landlord tried to evict him just as business was getting back to normal — even taking David to court over the amount of rent owed. A judge ordered payments of $5,000 until the lease ended, back in June 2024 — with no offer to extend. New Yorkers in the close-knit community were saddened and shocked to hear the historic shop was shutting down, and they set up a GoFundMe page and a petition that amassed nearly 300 signatures and over $16,000. Advertisement And for a while, it looked like a victory, albeit a qualified one — with the Acme Cleaners just up the street at 508 Hudson willing to free up a small amount of space to keep neighborhood tradition alive. A great idea — but ultimately impractical, David said. 'All my tools, machinery, everything was in the shop. I couldn't take anything,' he said. 'I just took some of the tools for repair and watches there, but all the machinery that was there for thousands and thousands of dollars, I couldn't take it because I didn't have room.' 19 David toils away in his storefront workshop in 2022. Billy Becerra / NY Post 19 The longtime store was previously located at 460 Hudson. Michael Sofronski 19 David, shown in 2008, has been in the trade for 42 years. Michael Sofronski Then, there was the working environment — a no-go for the aging octogenarian. 'For six months I was working, but they use chemicals over there. I couldn't take it,' David confessed. Advertisement But the dedicated area fixture wasn't about to give up — taking his business fully mobile earlier this year. Now, David can be found at the corner of Hudson and Christopher every Sunday — working from his car. 19 Customers wait in line as David welcomes their business. Stefano Giovannini for 19 Customer Cassandra Bucalo brought several shoes for repair on Sunday. Stefano Giovannini for Advertisement 19 David had a stream of visitors during his four-hour stint. Stefano Giovannini for 19 His weekly visit to the street outside of his former shop brings NYC residents in need of shoe and watch repairs. Stefano Giovannini for There, steps from where he operated all those years, the most loyal locals line up to drop off their afflicted accessories, which David takes to his home-based workshop, returning the items the following week. 'I lost most of my customers, but I have some that have known me for a long time, and they wait for Sunday for me,' he shared. Advertisement 'They come because they know I do a good job and give good prices and provide good service,' David said. 'They've known me for many, many years, so I keep those customers long enough — and they keep me busy also.' David Cohn is just one of the many customers who have come to find the service invaluable — over a period of nearly two decades, he's stopped by for watch repair, shoe repairs, even valuations of his most treasured timepieces. 'He's very trustworthy,' Cohn, also 80, said. 'And his son was also just as gentle as him and just as helpful. 19 David takes a closer look at a watch brought to him on Sunday. Stefano Giovannini for Advertisement 19 These are just some of the tools he uses. Stefano Giovannini for 19 David inspects a woman's ring on Sunday. Stefano Giovannini for 19 David shows off a June 2024 blog post about him by the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. Stefano Giovannini for 'It's a shame to lose an institution that's been around for as long as his,' he added. 'It's just a shame that the apparatus of the landlord is destroying the mom-and-pop-ness of the community.' On average, David gets about 10 customers over four hours every Sunday — but after a video of him recently went viral on Instagram, his phone started blowing up with messages from potential new customers. 'I think we're going to have some new customers,' he told The Post. 'I'll find out Sunday.' 19 Ashwin Nirantar exchanges money with David for a watch fix. Stefano Giovannini for 19 Nirantar beams with his repaired timepiece. Stefano Giovannini for Once the video started gaining traction, a new GoFundMe was set up — 'for whatever that next chapter becomes,' the fundraising page said. 'We want to make sure he and his wife have the support they need — because for 42 years, David showed up for New York,' organizer Kate DePetro wrote. As of Monday morning, July 21, the GoFundMe has received 2,000 donations and raised just shy of $50,000 toward a $60,000 goal. DePetro revealed that outcome to him on Sunday in a new Instagram post. 'No way,' the surprised senior said. 19 David takes a closer look at a watch in need of work. Stefano Giovannini for 19 David poses with satisfied customers Patrick Fuller and Elena Hanissian. Stefano Giovannini for Even without that boost, David had planned on sticking with the new arrangement for 'as long as [he] can.' 'I don't want to stop working,' David told The Post. 'My Social Security is very little, so it's not enough if I don't work,' he shared. 'My wife and I retired, and all the kids, nobody's home. I don't make much money, but at least I keep this running and keep me busy. I can pay my home rent.' David can be found on the corner of Hudson and Christopher every Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
6 days ago
- Politics
Pro-Russia cybercrime network targeted by European law enforcement
LONDON -- Law enforcement officials in Europe said they had coordinated the dismantling of an international pro-Russian cybercrime network, arresting two members, issuing warrants for others in Russia and disrupting the group's main infrastructure. The network, known as NoName057(16), was alleged to have targeted Ukraine and countries that supported Kyiv in its fight against the Russian invasion, Europol said in a statement Wednesday. The group was alleged to have recruited volunteers via "pro-Russian channels, forums, and even niche chat groups on social media and messaging apps." "Individuals acting for NoName057(16) are mainly Russian-speaking sympathisers who use automated tools to carry out distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks," Europol said in a statement. Two people were arrested, one in France and one in Spain, officials said of the 3-day operation. Seven other arrest warrants were issued, including six by Germany for alleged hackers living in Russia, Europol said. "The group, which professed support for the Russian Federation since the start of the war of aggression against Ukraine, executed multiple DDoS attacks during high-level political events in Europe," the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, or Eurojust, said in a statement posted to social media. The FBI in the United States was among the law enforcement agencies who took action against the group, Europol said. Europol and Eurojust, the European Union's top law-enforcement agencies, coordinated the operation, which they called "Eastwood." They were joined by authorities from Czechia, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the Netherlands. The hacking group was estimated to have mobilized some 4,000 users to support their operations, Eurojust said. Europol and other law enforcement agencies sent some 1,000 alleged supporters messages notifying them of "their legal liability," Europol said. Investigators said they disrupted more than 100 servers used by the group, along with a "major part" of the group's main infrastructure. Law enforcement officers searched two dozen houses throughout Europe and questioned people in Germany, France, Italy, Poland and Spain, according to Europol. The pro-Russian group was accused of a series of hacks, including attacking banks and government offices in Sweden, along with perpetrating waves of cyber attacks in Germany and elsewhere. The attacks in Germany targeted some 230 organizations and businesses, including 'arms factories, power suppliers and government organizations,' according to Eurojust. "In Switzerland, multiple attacks were also carried out in June 2023, during a Ukrainian video-message addressed to the Joint Parliament, and in June 2024, during the Peace Summit for Ukraine at Bürgenstock," Europol said.
Euractiv
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Euractiv
Brussels amps up fight against Russian disinformation in Moldova
The Commission is ramping up its efforts to fight Russian disinformation by supporting a new fact-checking and disinformation hub in Moldova, as well as coordinating with Moldovan authorities before the country holds parliamentary elections in September. Moldova, which has been eyeing EU membership since 2022, is a prime target for Russian disinformation threats, with part of the country being Russian-speaking. Moscow's info-ops there have also dialled up since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Now, with elections looming, concerns are growing over fresh attempts at Russian interference. The EU certainly does not want to see any repeat of the events that tainted Moldova's presidential elections and a referendum on EU accession last year. Moscow-backed disinformation campaigns were accused of targeting democratic processes, while local police warned of a vast vote-buying scheme involving a Russian-backed fugitive oligarch. This is why the EU is taking steps to learn from past mistakes – including parachuting in its Tech Commissioner, Henna Virkkunen, who will liaise with Moldovan authorities in person on Tuesday. The EU's executive has also announced a new fact-checking hub, called FACT, with the goal of being able to identify and track disinformation threats more rapidly. The hub, coordinated under the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO), is a multi-country initiative led by Context Romania, an independent media start-up. "We aim to address disinformation challenges by integrating cross-border investigative journalism, AI-assisted fact-checking, and targeted media literacy initiatives," Mădălina Voinea from Contexte told Euractiv. Moscow's 'lab' for testing disinformation Moldova is often seen as a testing ground for Russian disinformation campaigns, according to Elena Calistru, who runs Funky Citizens, a civil society organisation working on disinformation in Moldova and Romania. This can include Russia testing "strategies, tactics and narratives," she added. Funky Citizens worked on monitoring disinformation threats during elections in both countries last year. Given the close linguistic and cultural ties – Romanian is the official language in both Romania and Moldova – disinformation narratives often cross borders. The 2024 Romanian elections were annulled due to suspicions of Russian interference. Calistru explained that similar strategies had first been observed in Moldova. The biggest threats, she said, came from coordinated campaigns aimed at eroding trust in Moldova's democratic institutions and the EU referendum held last year. Voinea noted that challenges to Moldova's democracy are becoming "increasingly sophisticated". "We're observing heightened external pressure and a strategic blend of destabilisation tactics, from amplifying internal divisions to more direct forms of interference," she said. One prominent tactic, according to Calistru, was the use of fake news ecosystems – referred to as the 'matrioshka strategy' – deployed in Moldova last year. Other threats included political corruption involving leaders allegedly paid by Russia, orchestrated provocations or violence, and fake pro-EU or nationalist parties reportedly financed by Russia, she added. Stress test In June, a so-called 'stress test' organised by the Commission together with the Moldovan government took place. These exercises, which can also be run under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), simulate digital hybrid threats to test how well major platforms can respond. In the case of Moldova – where the DSA does not apply – Meta, Google, TikTok and Microsoft voluntarily participated in the simulation alongside fact-checkers, civil society groups and government officials to prepare for the September elections. FACT's overarching goal is to focus on countering Russian propaganda and anti-Ukraine narratives, Voinea said. The current focus is on building local partnerships, mapping actors and threats, using AI monitoring tools, and flagging early warning signals. Funky Citizens is also developing a "live monitoring system with a human-in-the-loop approach" to identify disinformation narratives and actors online. The hope among fact-checkers and civil society is that such initiatives – including Commission-led stress tests – will improve responsiveness so that disinformation campaigns can be flagged to major social media platforms immediately. If falsehoods can be intercepted early, they are less likely to have a corrosive impact on democratic processes. (nl, aw)
Business Recorder
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Recorder
‘Superman' applauded by netizens for being ‘anti-Israel'
Movie-goers are applauding director Tim Gunn for the subliminal messaging in 'Superman', where it supposedly depicts Israel's aggression in Gaza. The new Warner Bros film which opened this weekend in theatres, as already drawn plenty reactions about its storyline and how is it 'anti-Israel'. The plot depicts Superman (David Corenswet) having just prevented the fictional land of Boravia - an Eastern European country indicated by its Russian-speaking leaders and onion-domed buildings - from invading Jarhanpur, a country with a primarily brown-skinned population. New 'Superman' muscles to $217 million at global box office Although Gunn said he was not thinking of the Middle East when he wrote the film, the internet has been awash with comments with people comparing Boravia to Israel and Jarhanpur to Palestine. Some users point out that the images of Boravian soldiers in full military gear encroaching on a crowd of Jarhanpurian civilians brings to mind scenes of IDF soldiers invading civilian hospitals and schools in Gaza.
