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Putin Calls Musk a 'Real Genius' Amid Satellite Talks
· Confirmed
In Short: Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Elon Musk as a 'real genius' during the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, according to the BBC and Lbc.
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Elon Musk as a 'real genius' during the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, according to the BBC and Lbc. Putin highlighted the close contact between Russia and Musk's American partners regarding satellite technology.
The BBC reported that Putin made the remarks after a presentation by Russian Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev, who discussed Russia's efforts to build its own satellite system like Starlink. Shadayev said Moscow had launched more than 30 satellites, while the BBC noted that Starlink has launched roughly 13,000 satellites.
Lbc and the Independent reported that Putin emphasized the importance of coordination between Rassvet and Starlink satellites to avoid interference in orbit. Putin said, 'Elon Musk is a genius, he's just a real genius,' according to the Independent.
The Themoscowtimes reported that Putin told delegates on the sidelines of the summit, 'We’re only taking our first steps,' referring to Rassvet, a state-backed domestic satellite constellation designed to compete with Starlink.
The Russian Embassy in South Africa stated that Rassvet is 'Russia's Starlink alternative' and 'marks only the country's first steps in this field,' according to the BBC.
Despite political tensions, Putin noted that Russia and the US are working together on space issues, including with Musk, according to the BBC and Themoscowtimes.
The BBC and Lbc reported that Putin's comments about Rassvet and Starlink were made as the US and Russia appear to be growing closer, even as it approaches five years since Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The BBC and Themoscowtimes noted that Putin's public call for coordination in space follows allegations from U.S. diplomats that Russia engaged in 'deliberately reckless' behavior with a Russian military satellite near a U.S.-registered, Finnish-operated radar satellite.
The BBC and Lbc reported that Putin added it was important for Russia to be in contact with Musk so Rassvet and Starlink satellites do not 'interfere with each other in orbit.'
The BBC and Lbc reported that Putin's comments about Rassvet and Starlink were made as the US and Russia appear to be growing closer, even as it approaches five years since Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The BBC and Lbc reported that Putin's comments about Rassvet and Starlink were made as the US and Russia appear to be growing closer, even as it approaches five years since Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The BBC and Lbc reported that Putin's comments about Rassvet and Starlink were made as the US and Russia appear to be growing closer, even as it approaches five years since Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Background
During the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Elon Musk, calling him a 'genius' and highlighting the close contact between Russia and Musk's American partners regarding satellite technology.
Real Genius is a 1985 American science fiction comedy film directed by Martha Coolidge, written by Neal Israel, Pat Proft, and PJ Torokvei, and starring Val Kilmer and Gabriel Jarret.
What's confirmed
- Elon Musk is a "real genius", Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday after revealing the two are in "close" contact about satellite technology. The remarks came during the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, during which Putin discussed Russia's own satellite internet project Rassvet, which provides internet connections to people from satellites. "He's a genius, a real genius," Putin said of Musk, according to a translation of his remarks by the BBC. "We are in close contact with our American partners, including Mr. Musk."
- "We and our American partners value this mutually, and despite all the political questions, we are working hard," he said.
- The Russian president made the remark at a summit with African leaders in Moscow, during which Putin discussed Russia's efforts to build its own rival Rassvet satellite network Vladimir Putin has hailed Elon Musk as a "genius" and revealed he is in touch with the Space X boss as Russia develops its answer to Starlink. The Russian president made the remark at a summit with African leaders in Moscow, during which Putin discussed Russia's efforts to build its own rival Rassvet satellite network. "Elon Musk is a genius, he's just a real genius," Putin said.
- His comments came after a presentation by Russian Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev, who said Moscow had launched more than 30 satellites as it builds its own Starlink equivalent.
What's still developing
- If, like me, your automatic response to “You know, um, something strange happened to me this morning …” *is* “Was it a dream where you see yourself standing in sort of sun-god robes on a pyramid with a thousand naked women screaming and throwing little pickles at you?,” then chances are you’ve already pre-ordered the 4K UHD edition of Real Genius.
- Home › Recommendation › Films To Watch › 37 years after release, “Real Genius” remains just as hilarious and topical as ever.
- Thanks to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, fans such as myself can now enjoy Real Genius with a brand-new 4K UHD release that includes Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, plus brand-new bonus features.
- The leap from regular high school to PTU is a lot for Mitch, but, with the help of Chris, Mitch eventually finds a home among like-minded classmates “Ick” Ikagami (Mark Kamiyama), Jordan (Michele Meyrink), and Chris himself.
- (Just because she’s having a good time, doesn’t mean she knew who her partner was.) A year later, though, a savior arrived in the form of Val Kilmer’s Chris Knight, a brilliant mind with a sharp tongue who allies himself with good people, in Martha Coolidge’s Real Genius.
- In 2024, shortly before the presidential election, it was revealed by reporting in The Wall Street Journal that Musk had been in “regular contact” with Putin since late 2022.
- Back in 2023, the Russian president called Musk an “outstanding person” and a “talented businessman.” The timing was significant, as Russia had invaded Ukraine in early 2022 and Musk received criticism for throttling Starlink so that Ukraine couldn’t fight back against the invasion.
- “I’m worried about where we’re going. Just don’t even start me,” Richardson tells host Al Letson.
- “Trump is named over 38,000 times in the Epstein files, as are other members of his administration and his close associates—with accusations of rape, child rape, assault, trafficking and more,” Campaign for New York Health executive director Melanie D’Arrigo wrote.
- Musk and Putin have been communicating since at least 2021, and Russia sarcastically offered the tech oligarch asylum when he and President Trump were feuding last year.
- “When Val walked into the room, I knew ‘Chris Knight’ was there. He was charismatic, energetic, and funny,” director Martha Coolidge told Rolling Stone shortly after Kilmer’s death.
- Prescott has appeared in countless films and TV shows since Real Genius premiered, including Spaceballs (1987), Michael Clayton (2007) and Burn After Reading (2008).
Sources
- BBClink
- Banglanews24link
- Elements of Madnesslink
- Gizmodolink
- Kyivindependentlink
- Lbclink
- Mother Joneslink
- NPRlink
- Newrepubliclink
- Peoplelink
- Themoscowtimeslink
- Independentlink
- WarpBeat — background on Putin Praises Musk as 'Genius' Amid Starlink Disruptions link
- Wikipedia — background on Real Genius link
- The Mayday Network — video link