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Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov reveals the 3 pieces of advice he got from his dad, an expert in Ancient Rome
Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, shared three pieces of advice his dad gave him for leading the messaging app. "A month ago, my father — a leading expert in Ancient Roman literature — turned 80. I asked what advice I should pass to the next generation," the Russian entrepreneur wrote in a post on X on Thursday. Valery Durov was head of classical philology — the study of language in historical sources — at St Petersburg State University until 2013, the year Pavel cofounded the encrypted messaging service with his brother Nikolai. Durov shared his father's advice on the 12th anniversary of Telegram's founding. He said his father's first tip was to lead by example because, "People — especially kids — follow what you do, not what you say." "Watching my father work tirelessly on numerous books and scientific papers showed me and my brother the meaning of dedication and inspired us to work hard too," Durov added. Durov said his father's second piece of advice was to focus on the positive. "Growing up in post-war Leningrad, my father learned to control emotions to be a positive force for his family, colleagues, and society," Durov wrote. "He taught me to frame thoughts in ways that bring the most good, even in hard times." The tech billionaire said his father's final advice stemmed from his study and translation of figures like Julius Caesar and Seneca. Valery Durov advised prioritising conscience, his son wrote on X, because he believed a person's moral compass, "unlike intelligence or creativity, is the ultimate human quality that will not lose value even in the age of AI," he said. Durov said in March that the app has a billion active users and called WhatsApp "a cheap, watered-down imitation of Telegram." Durov was arrested in France last August over claims Telegram was being used by criminals to facilitate money laundering, drug trafficking, and other offenses. He later said the app had faced some "growing pains" that made it easier for criminals to abuse but added, "Claims in some media that Telegram is some sort of anarchic paradise are absolutely untrue."
The Citizen
27-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
St Petersburg's serene splendour belies a nation at war
Russia's cultural capital St Petersburg exudes peace and beauty, masking the harsh reality of a country entangled in conflict. The captivating sense of calmness, the throngs of people milling about and the huge traffic volumes throughout St Petersburg belies the reality that Russia is in a state of war. St Petersburg is a sprawling cosmopolitan city. It is regarded as the mecca of Russia's culture and heritage, an epicentre of values as well as a haven of Russia's rich history. The city of Peter the Great The identity of being Russian can be easily located to a way of life in the majestic St Petersburg, sometimes referred to affectionately as 'St P'. Museums and art galleries decorate the city founded by Peter the Great in the 17th century. Born in Moscow in 1672, Peter the Great was first the Tsar of Russia and later became Russia's first Emperor from 1721 until his death in 1725, aged only 52 years and four months. His statue riding a horse overlooks the majestic Neva River around which St Petersburg is built. The architecture of the multi-storey buildings is clearly influenced by two factors – war and weather. Weather extremes and river life shape the urban experience Perimeter walls are as wide as nearly one metre. Ferocious winter weather, particularly around January to March, can see temperatures dropping to as low as -35°C. However, in the present summer season, dozens of boats travel with the Neva River's current in one direction, forming a beautiful flotilla. At times they travel pretty close to each other ferrying holiday makers from one end to the other. From Leningrad to modern St P: a city steeped in legacy and economics The metropolis was previously known as Leningrad until it was renamed back to its original name in modernity. ALSO READ: Anton Kobyakov: The quiet power behind Putin's Russia It plays host to the annual St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Russia's flagship trade and investment mega event. This year, up to 24 000 delegates from 144 countries participated in SPIEF, signing deals to the tune of 6.3 trillion roubles (about R1.4 trillion), according to the organisers. South Africa's delegation was led by Deputy President Paul Mashatile, accompanied by eight ministers and business leaders. Mashatile delivered a public lecture at St Petersburg State University, the alma mater of legendary Russian leader Lenin, as well as the incumbent, President Vladimir Putin. Sacred scars St Petersburg also has a proud history of resistance. At its centre in Isak Square lies the famous Cathedral of St Isaac. The majestic cathedral is worshipped for surviving 148 bombs fired by Hitler's Nazi Germany's army that attacked during WWII from 1939-1945. Some of the cathedral's huge pillars bear evidence of the scars from the bomb attacks. The Russian authorities have elected to leave the pillars unrepaired as a symbol and constant reminder of the spirit of resilience. A law-abiding city Standing in front of the cathedral and facing the nearby Presidential Library, hundreds of vehicles can be seen throughout the six-lane wide roads. Men, women and children chill in the leafy parks. Everything looks oh so plush. Clearly-marked police vehicles incessantly drive past at high speed, with their siren blaring. At various intersections, uniformed traffic officers assist with traffic controls. Noticeably, there is no jay-walking. Pedestrians cross the roads only at the appropriate spots. The vivid respect for the law and for one another is hard to miss. Beneath the statue of Peter the Great tourists, by a large margin Russians, take turns taking photographs. ALSO READ: Cannes and caviar: Who is SA's Second Lady Humile Mashatile? Leisure and legacy on the water The statue of Peter the Great who founded the city takes pride of place. Picture: iStock You simply cannot claim to have visited St P without posing for pictures with the founder of the city. And then, there's the English Embankment. It runs along the Neva River, which I found to be too large to be described as a river. Instead, it looks more like a lake. Several canals spring from various spots to pour their waters into the Neva River, which itself runs for a total of 392km to neighbouring Finland, recently a new Nato member. Along the English Embankment tourists have fun. Ice creams, cold drinks, lovers and friends alike all mingle harmoniously to share in the enjoyment of St P. The midnight marvel of Palace Bridge On the horizon, the green-painted Palace Bridge serves to assist vehicles and pedestrians to cross from either side to the other. The bridge is famous for the magic it performs every day at midnight. The heavy steel structure that makes up the Palace Bridge separates in the middle. Slowly, one half moves to the left and other half to the right. It is an incredible show to watch. It is hard not to scream in awe of the magic. The practice is a carryover from an old tradition, when the tallest ships had to be accommodated to pass through the bridge. Although the ships no longer exist, St Petersburg has retained the practice, which is a hugely popular attraction for locals and visitors alike. There was a musical concert for the 20 000-plus delegates to SPIEF. It took place at Palace Square, in front of Hermitage Museum. The singing, dance and camaraderie once again triggered in me the lingering question – is Russia at war? NOW READ: Russia warns US against 'military intervention' in Iran-Israel war
Metro
20-06-2025
- Business
- Metro
Russian tech billionaire Pavel Durov claims to have over 100 children
A Russian-born billionaire has claimed to have fathered more than 100 children, and said they will all share his £10,000,000,000 fortune. Pavel Durov, 40, became a billionaire after creating the messaging app Telegram, but has now told French media that despite being the 'official father' of six, he has more than 100 others. He said he began donating sperm 15 years ago to help a friend, who revealed more than 100 babies were conceived by him in 12 countries. 'They are all my children and will all have the same rights! I don't want them to tear each other apart after my death,' he told Le Point. His plethora of children might be promised part of his fortune, but they won't be able to access it for 30 years, he added. 'I want them to live like normal people, to build themselves up alone, to learn to trust themselves, to be able to create, not to be dependent on a bank account,' Durov added. Pavel Durov was born to Russian parents in St Petersburg on October 10, 1984. He attended St Petersburg State University before creating 'Russian Facebook'. Durov founded the so-called Russian Facebook – named VK – as well as Telegram messenger, which is used for communications by both sides in the Ukrainian war. Durov left Russia in 2014, just a year after setting up the encrypted messaging app with his brother, due to pressure from Russian security services. Durov's fortune is estimated by Forbes at $15.5 billion. He's been living in self-imposed exile since 2014, basing himself out of Dubai, France, St Kitts, and other countries. Durov made headlines last year when he was banned from leaving France after he was charged with allowing alleged criminal activity on his messaging app Telegram. More Trending It was alleged that Pavel Durov's platform is used for child sex abuse material and drug trafficking, and that Telegram refused to cooperate with investigators when legally required. One investigator told AFP they were surprised Durov entered France despite the warrant against him, adding 'enough of Telegram's impunity'. Russia, however, has branded the arrest as politically motivated and proof of a double standard on freedom of speech in the West. But this has raised some eyebrows, given that Russian authorities have tried to ban Telegram, and Durov has been in self-imposed exile since 2014 due to conflicts with the Russian government. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Russia 'upgrades' its nuclear sites closest to the UK MORE: All 9 countries on the UK Foreign Office 'no go' travel list MORE: Putin's dirty new war tactic revealed in grim photos
