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Russian-owned superyacht seized in London is owned by Motiv Telecom founder

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Paul Murphy , Jim Pickard and Philip Georgiadis in London

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A £38mn superyacht, detained by police at London’s Canary Wharf on Tuesday morning under the UK’s sanctions regime against Russia, is ultimately owned by the founder of Motiv Telecom, a small mobile phone network in the Urals region, the Financial Times has established.

Described by friends as an “EU citizen”, Vitaly Vasilievich Kochetkov owns the 58-metre Phi through Portsmouth Maritime, a Kitts & Nevis company that in turn controls a Malta-registered yacht charter business, Hexagon Yachting Limited.

The Russian businessman owns two other superyachts, Aurelia and Phi Phantom, which are also both Malta-flagged and are currently moored at Porto di Imperia in Italy, according to documents seen by the FT.

The UK government said it had seized the vessel under the Russian sanctions regime, although Kochetkov is not on any sanctions list. It did not name him and only disclosed that the vessel belonged to a “Russian businessman” as it hailed the seizure of the first superyacht in UK waters as part of the sanctions.

It added that the ownership of the yacht was “deliberately well-hidden” and that it was first identified as being potentially linked to Russia on March 13.

A government source later said the yacht was nominally owned by someone called Sergei Georgievich Naumenko, but that officials were still trying to work out the real ownership. “He [Naumenko] doesn’t have assets commensurate with this gin palace,” he added.

The Department for Transport, which worked with the National Crime Agency and Border Force to identify the vessel, confirmed the yacht was registered to a company based in St Kitts and Nevis but sailed under the Maltese flag.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps hailed the impounding of the vessel as turning “an icon of Russia’s power and wealth into a clear and stark warning to Putin and his cronies”.  

A government source said: “This yacht detention is the product of weeks of enquiries, spanning the world, by the National Crime Agency and other agencies. The ownership of many of these vessels and private aircraft is buried in shell companies or shielded by pretend owners. It is the oligarch equivalent of the Russian matryoshka doll — where each layer conceals another, and then another.”

The Phi was in London for a World Superyacht Awards judging panel event on Monday and was due to depart from Canary Wharf at midday on Tuesday. A member of the yacht crew told the FT that four police officers had boarded the vessel that morning and politely explained what was happening, before Shapps arrived moments later with a TV crew.

He described Shapps’ comments as “attention-seeking” and called the transport secretary’s claim that the boat’s Maltese registration was part of an attempt to hide ownership as “simply idiotic”. He added that as transport secretary “Shapps should know that Malta is one of the premium flag-states globally”.

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Contrary to claims from government sources that the Phi’s owner was close to Putin, Kochetkov appears to have been sharply at odds with the Russian state. According to Russian media, in early 2021 Russian law enforcement opened a criminal investigation into the parent company of Motiv Telecom, Yekaterinburg-2000, alleging tax evasion.

Neither Kochetkov nor Naumenko could be reached for comment.

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Russian oligarch’s £38m superyacht back in London a year after being seized

Tuesday, March 28th, 2023

Written by: Marine Industry News

A superyacht reportedly owned by a Russian oligarch has been spotted at London’s Canary Wharf — a year after the vessel was seized under sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.

Alongside several eyewitness reports, AIS data confirms that, as of 28 March 2023, the £38m megayacht Phi is moored in Canary Wharf, east London.

The ultimate ownership of the Phi had been well hidden. The company the ship is registered to is based in St Kitts and Nevis, and the vessel carried Maltese flags.

In March 2022, the UK government detained Phi in Canary Wharf , just hours before it was set to leave the capital following a superyacht awards ceremony.

At the time, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the unnamed owner was “not currently sanctioned” but is a businessman who has “close connections” to Russian President Vladimir Putin. While initial reports in British outlets claimed the vessel is owned by Russian businessman Sergei Georgievich Naumenko, the Financial Times reported the ultimate owner as Vitaly Vasilievich Kochetkov, the founder of Motiv Telecom.

Arriving on the vessel for a photocall after the yacht was detained last year, Shapps declared the move a ‘warning’ to Russia.

“We’ve detained a £38m superyacht and turned an icon of Russia’s power and wealth into a clear and stark warning to Putin and his cronies,” he said. “Detaining Phi, proves, yet again, that we can and will take the strongest possible action against those seeking to benefit from Russian connections.”

Yet despite the detention and unclear ownership, Phi remains in Canary Wharf. One Londoner has posted a photo of Phi on the Reddit forum this week, asking: “Whose yacht is docked in Canary Wharf?”

One user clarifies: “Yea it’s on my running route and has been over in that corner of the dock for almost a year now. It used to come and go I think, and dock a bit closer to everything else.”

The 58.5-metre  Phi  has a freshwater swimming pool and an ‘infinite wine cellar’ – created by reflections of mirrors –according to the website of its builder Royal Huisman .  Phi  is the third-biggest yacht built by the prestigious Dutch shipyard, and also has its own 36-metre shadow vessel. It made its maiden voyage from the Netherlands to London in December 2021.

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2 responses to “russian oligarch’s £38m superyacht back in london a year after being seized”.

Completely illegal seizure of property which casts doubt on 400 years of UK property law. Seizure if sanctioned individual’s property is understandable if debatable but this one is indefensible and just a publicity stunt by a weak and shallow UK government

Uncanny that the tender is a Ukrainian built rib that the Russians bombed the factory of last June! Disgraceful

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Mystery Russian superyacht worth £38m seized in London in 'warning to Putin'

UK officials boarded Phi - owned by a Russian businessman - in Canary Wharf, east London, on Tuesday and detained it under sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine

• 17:30, 29 Mar 2022
• Updated 17:49, 29 Mar 2022

A superyacht has been detained in London as part of sanctions against Russia , Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced.

UK officials boarded Phi - owned by a Russian businessman - in Canary Wharf, east London on Tuesday.

The vessel is the first to be detained in the UK under sanctions imposed because of the war in Ukraine .

Phi - named after the mathematical concept - made her maiden voyage last year after being built in the Netherlands.

She is 58.5 metres long and features what is described as an "infinite wine cellar" and a freshwater swimming pool.

The vessel was in London for a superyacht awards ceremony and was due to depart at noon on Tuesday.

Do you know who owns this super yacht? Email [email protected]

Mr Shapps said: "Today we've detained a £38 million superyacht and turned an icon of Russia's power and wealth into a clear and stark warning to Putin and his cronies.

"Detaining the Phi proves, yet again, that we can and will take the strongest possible action against those seeking to benefit from connections to Putin's regime."

The Phi seemed largely abandoned with just one crew member spotted on board, while boxes and bin liners full of cleaning products lay on the dock beside.

Boat mechanic, Inigo Lapwood, 28, lives on a barge in the North Quay where the superyacht has been docked since arriving in the capital on December 11.

He said: “It’s been there for around three months, it arrived here on 11 December last year.

“There’s lots of boats and yachts like that which turn up here so it’s not that unusual, it’s not even the most impressive one I’ve seen here.

“It’s just a display of wealth, when you’ve got a boat like that the only purpose is to show it off.

“There’s probably about a dozen members of crew on board, there’s six faces I regularly see. They spend most of their time just cleaning the boat, I’ve never seen the owner.”

Boat International reported that the Phi set sail from Royal Huisman's build facility in Vollenhove, Netherlands, in November.

Royal Huisman chief executive Jan Timmerman described the delivery as "a moment of great pride".

"It is also bittersweet, having to say farewell to PHI, as her creation has been part of our daily lives for several years. At the same time, we know that PHI and her shadow vessel will conquer the oceans."

The Department for Transport (DfT) said it worked with the National Crime Agency and the Border Force Maritime Investigation Bureau to identify and detain the vessel.

It refused to reveal the name of her owner, stating that he is "a Russian businessman".

The department described Phi's ownership as "deliberately well hidden".

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She is registered to a company based in the Caribbean dual-island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and carries a Maltese flag.

The DfT said it is "looking at a number of other vessels" and hopes its "strong stance sends an example to international partners".

It comes after Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov claimed he managed to dodge UK sanctions by putting his UK properties and yacht out of the law’s reach.

A spokesman for the billionaire, who has had ties to Arsenal and Everton football clubs, said most of his UK assets were transferred into trusts before Boris Johnson imposed sanctions.

Ministers sanctioned Mr Usmanov earlier this month because of his “close links to the Kremlin” as they seek to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin for waging war.

The Government said he owns Beechwood House in Highgate, north-west London, and estimated it is worth £48 million, as well as the 16th century Sutton Place estate in Surrey.

But a spokesman, quoted by the BBC and the Guardian, said most of his UK property and his yacht had already been “long ago transferred into irrevocable trusts”.

“From that point on, Mr Usmanov did not own them, nor was he able to manage them or deal with their sale, but could only use them on a rental basis. Mr Usmanov withdrew from the beneficiaries of the trusts, donating his beneficial rights to his family,” he added.

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UK detains £38m superyacht owned by Russian businessman and docked in London’s Canary Wharf

The luxury vessel was in london for a superyacht awards ceremony, article bookmarked.

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The government today announced it has ordered its first detention of a superyacht in UK waters.

The £38m vessel is owned by an unnamed Russian businessman, the ownership of which ministers said is “deliberately well hidden”.

The luxury ship was in London for a superyacht awards ceremony and was due to depart at noon on Tuesday.

It comes as peace talks are underway over the war in Russia and Ukraine .

The transport secretary described the move as “a clear and stark warning to Putin and his cronies”.

Phi, a vibrant blue superyacht, is reported to be double the size of the other boats docked around it at Canary Wharf , east London.

The 58.5m-long ship features an “infinite wine cellar” and a “patented” freshwater swimming pool.

Speaking to the PA news agency, Grant Shapps said: “Now the ship is being held, it won’t be going anywhere.

“It was here for refit ... and it’s just another indication that we will not stand by whilst Putin’s cronies are allowed to sail around the world in these kinds of yachts and people in Ukraine are suffering.

“When you see what he’s doing to Ukraine, when you see what he’s doing to people’s lives, it can’t be right to have a yacht like this here in London, able to just sail away and that is why we’ve impounded it, and denied it ability to go anywhere right now, and it’s another indication of how seriously we take these matters.”

He added: “Detaining the Phi proves, yet again, that we can and will take the strongest possible action against those seeking to benefit from connections to Putin’s regime.”

The Department for Transport (DfT) worked alongside with the National Crime Agency and the Border Force Maritime Investigation Bureau to identify and detain the vessel.

It refused to reveal the name of its owner, stating that he is “a Russian businessman”.

The boat is registered to a company based in the Caribbean dual-island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and carries a Maltese flag.

The DfT said it is “looking at a number of other vessels” and hopes its “strong stance sends an example to international partners”.

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The National

In the dock: Oligarch’s stranded superyacht haunts the UK's drive for Russia sanctions

The phi remains moored in london after sergei naumenko lost the latest round in his legal battle to get it back.

01 March, 2024

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News | London

UK seizes superyacht of unknown Russian businessman docked in London

A superyacht believed to be owned by a Russian businessman has been seized by UK authorities, Grant Shapps has confirmed.

The superyacht, known as Phi, was boarded by UK authorities in Canary Wharf , where it was docked on Tuesday.

The Transport Secretary said the yacht is reportedly valued at £38million and had been in London for an awards ceremony.

The 58.5 metre vessel contains a freshwater swimming pool and a wine cellar and was due to leave at 12pm.

Mr Shapps said: "Today we’ve detained a £38 million superyacht and turned an icon of Russia’s power and wealth into a clear and stark warning to Putin and his cronies.

"Detaining the Phi proves, yet again, that we can and will take the strongest possible action against those seeking to benefit from connections to Putin’s regime."

The Department for Transport (DfT) said it worked with the National Crime Agency and the Border Force Maritime Investigation Bureau to identify and detain the vessel.

The name of the Russian businessman linked to the yacht is unknown but the vessel is believed to be registered to a company based in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The DfT said it will look into more vessels to detain as part of the UK’s sanctions programme against Russian businessmen with links to Vladimir Putin.

Mr Shapps added: “Now the ship is being held, it won’t be going anywhere.

"It was here for refit, won’t be going anywhere, and it’s just another indication that we will not stand by whilst Putin’s cronies are allowed to sail around the world in these kinds of yachts and people in Ukraine are suffering.

"When you see what he’s doing to Ukraine, when you see what he’s doing to people’s lives, it can’t be right to have a yacht like this here in London, able to just sail away and that is why we’ve impounded it, and denied it ability to go anywhere right now, and it’s another indication of how seriously we take these matters."

Last week the UK announced a further 65 new sanctions against Russian individuals and entities.

The Government has now sanctioned more than 1,000 individuals and entities following the invasion of Ukraine.

Among those most recently sanctioned were individuals linked to the Wagner Group, a mercenary organisation and Polina Kovaleva, the Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov’s stepdaughter, who reportedly owns a £4m house in London.

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Russian oligarch’s £38million superyacht is DETAINED in London’s Canary Wharf by UK Government

• Published : 12:41, 29 Mar 2022
• Updated : 17:00, 29 Mar 2022

A RUSSIAN oligarch's £38million superyacht has today been detained in London's Canary Wharf by the UK Government.

Officers from the National Crime Agency this morning stormed the 200ft cruiser Phi and told the skipper it was being impounded.

Phi -capable of 20 knots - is owned by an unnamed Russian businessman and boasts an "infinite wine cellar" and freshwater swimming pool.

It is the first mega-yacht to be detained in the UK under sanctions imposed to punish Putin for waging a bloody war.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "Today we've detained a £38million superyacht and turned an icon of Russia's power and wealth into a clear and stark warning to Putin and his cronies.

"Detaining the Phi proves, yet again, that we can and will take the strongest possible action against those seeking to benefit from connections to Putin's regime."

The National Crime Agency's corruption taskforce identified the owner, whose identity they said was "deliberately well-hidden".

While the owner is not himself subject to British sanctions , Shapps has the power to order Russian-linked ships be detained.

Phi is registered to a company based in the Caribbean dual-island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and carries a Maltese flag.

Named after the Greek letter, Phi is the third-biggest yacht built by prestigious shipbuilders Royal Huisman and it was launched last year.

The DfT said it is "looking at a number of other vessels" and hopes its "strong stance sends an example to international partners".

Andy Devine, from the NCA, said: "Today’s activity demonstrates the NCA’s ability to react at pace. We have surged officers to establish the Combatting Kleptocracy Cell, and the results of this are already bearing fruit.

"The NCA plays a vital role in targeting suspect assets, pursuing enablers of illicit wealth and supporting Government partners in the delivery of the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine."

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Trying to sell Russian oligarch's seized luxury assets is running into trouble

Jackie Northam

After Western governments seized millions in assets from Russian oligarchs, a question remains: What should be done with their yachts?

Copyright © 2024 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Here are the superyachts seized from Russian oligarchs

As part of an international pressure campaign on Russia, authorities from around the world have seized more than a half-dozen superyachts belonging to billionaire oligarchs allied with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The yacht seizures since the Feb. 24 invasion are "just the beginning," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters in March, as an international task force worked to identify further assets that can be seized or frozen.

“The Justice Department will be relentless in our efforts to hold accountable those who facilitate the death and destruction we are witnessing in Ukraine,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said of the ongoing efforts in May.

Here are the superyachts government officials have seized since Russia invaded Ukraine last month.

The Justice Department announced May 5 that the Fijian government had seized billionaire oligarch Suleiman Kerimov 's 348-foot yacht Amadea. The vessel, which is valued at more than $300 million , arrived in Fiji last month. Kerimov, who's worth an estimated $14 billion and has ties to the Russian government, was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department over alleged money laundering in 2018.

Special features on the sprawling yacht include a helipad, infinity pool, a jacuzzi and multiple bars, according to a report in Boat International . It can accommodate 16 overnight guests in addition to 36 crew members, the report said.

In April, Spanish law-enforcement officials seized a 255-foot yacht called the Tango, which Justice Department says is owned by oligarch Viktor Vekselberg. Vekselberg is an aluminum magnate who the Treasury Department says has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Tango is worth an estimated $90 million, prosecutors said , and Vekselberg allegedly purchased it through shell companies. The 11-year-old yacht has seven staterooms and reportedly includes amenities such as a pool, gym and beauty salon .

Authorities in Italy seized a 215-foot superyacht called the Lady M this month. It's owned by Alexei Mordashov, Russia's richest businessman, and it’s estimated to be worth $27 million . The vessel, which requires a crew of 14, has six guest cabins , a pool and a gym.

But it pales in comparison to another of Mordashov's yachts, the $500 million Nord . The 464-foot vessel, which has two helipads and a waterfall and can accommodate 36 guests, was anchored this month in the Seychelles, where the U.S. and European Union sanctions don’t apply.

Italian officials also seized the 132-foot superyacht Lena, owned by the energy magnate Gennady Timchenko. Estimated to be worth $8 million, it has five cabins and can accommodate 10 guests.

SY A — short for Sailing Yacht A — is one of the world's largest superyachts. Valued at over $440 million, the 469-foot vessel, owned by the fertilizer magnate Andrey Melnichenko, has eight decks, multiple elevators, an underwater observation area and the world's tallest masts . It was seized in the Italian port of Trieste.

Authorities in Spain seized Sergei Chemezov's Valerie, a 279-foot superyacht that had been moored in Barcelona. Chemezov , a former KGB officer, heads the state conglomerate Rostec. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez touted the seizure on La Sexta television. “We are talking about a yacht that we estimate is worth $140 million,” Sanchez said.

Officials in France announced this month that they had seized the 289-foot Amore Vero, which was undergoing repairs in a shipyard near Marseille. When they arrived, authorities said, they found the crew preparing for an urgent departure, even though the repair work was scheduled to last through April. The $120 million boat, which has seven cabins , is linked to Igor Sechin, described by the U.S. Treasury Department as a close ally of Putin's.

Dareh Gregorian is a politics reporter for NBC News.

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London-Based Ship Registry Helps Russia Oil Tankers Keep Running

Three oil tankers that are under British sanctions for transporting Russian petroleum are sailing under the flag of a nation that bases its operations in London.

The Galaxy, the Liberty and the Rigel, all of which moved barrels for Moscow this year, have switched to sail under the flag of Barbados, one of the world’s more-reputable vessel-registration nations, industry data show. The Barbados Maritime Ship Registry is based at the country’s High Commission in London, which has diplomatic immunity.

The London connection will nevertheless be awkward for the British government, which designated all three tankers this summer for the role they played in helping to destabilize Ukraine. At that point, they had different names, were owned by the Russian state tanker company Sovcomflot, and sailed under the flag of Gabon.

Merchant ships will very often sail under what are known as open registries in countries that are unrelated to where the vessels are beneficially owned. This can be to make compliance with international maritime regulations more efficient and cost effective. Those so-called flag states have an important role to play in ensuring industry safety standards.

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office referred questions to the Treasury. The Treasury didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Giovanni Ciniglio, the chief executive officer of the Barbados registry, confirmed the ships are provisionally registered under the country’s flag, but declined to comment further.

As well as specific sanctions on the ships, the UK is also participating in a price cap on Russian oil. Under the Group of Seven initiative, companies aren’t allowed to provide key services for Russian shipments unless the cargoes being transported cost at – or below – certain thresholds. In the case of crude oil, that limit is $60 a barrel.

To get a Barbadian flag is good news for the three tankers. The country is on a so-called White List, published by the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, of nations that maintain higher standards of ship safety. Gabon doesn’t have a ranking.

Since the UK sanctions, ownership of two of the tankers has switched to “unknown” entities on maritime databases.

The Liberty, formerly NS Laguna, loaded a cargo of Russian Urals crude at Primorsk on the Baltic Sea on Aug. 16 and is now in the English Channel. Its ultimate destination is India, according to shipping information gathered by Bloomberg.

The Rigel, formerly Primorsky Prospect, recently entered the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal after delivering a cargo of Russian crude to India.

The Galaxy, formerly Korolev Prospect, arrived off Russia’s Arctic port of Murmansk on Aug. 12 after transiting the Northern Sea Route from the Bering Strait.

It is one of two ships that were previously named as entering a long-term charter to Russia’s Sakhalin 2 project. Before taking up that role it requires modification, work that it may be about to undergo at Murmansk.

Photograph: An oil tanker sail at sunset. Photo credit: Marcelo del Pozo/Bloomberg

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What we know about the Bayesian superyacht that sank

The Bayesian, which capsized in the early hours of Monday, was an award-winning yacht with the second-tallest mast in the world.

News reporter @niamhielynch

Friday 23 August 2024 12:37, UK

The Bayesian, an award-winning superyacht, sank during bad weather off the coast of Sicily in the early hours of Monday.

On Thursday, authorities confirmed divers had found the bodies of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, Morgan Stanley International boss Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy, and one of Mr Lynch's lawyers Chris Morvillo, and his wife Neda.

Recaldo Thomas, the on-board chef, was the first to be confirmed dead earlier this week.

Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, was rescued along with 14 others - including Charlotte Golunski, a mother who told la Repubblica she held her one-year-old baby above the waves to save her from drowning.

Mr Lynch's 18-year-old daughter Hannah is missing, but believed to be the seventh body recovered from the wreckage on Friday.

But what do we know about the ship?

The British-flagged 56-metre ship - previously called the Salute - was built in 2008 by Italian shipyard Perini Navi, and refitted in 2020.

More on Superyacht Sinking

Captain of superyacht that sank off Italian coast questioned as prosecutors open manslaughter investigation

Mike Lynch's court-appointed guard pays tribute to him and daughter Hannah

Superyacht rescue efforts impressive to observe - but this was a tragedy from the beginning

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• Superyacht sinking

Its 72-metre mast was the world's tallest aluminium mast, and the second-tallest overall. The yacht could reach a maximum speed of 15 knots and weighed 543 tonnes.

The French design house Remi Tessier fitted out the Japanese-style interior decor, with touches of light and dark beige and dark wood furnishings, as well as a teak deck.

It won the best exterior styling at The World Superyacht Awards in 2009, and best interior at the International Superyacht Society Awards 2008.

It had six guest bedrooms - one master, three doubles, and two twins - holding 12 people, and could carry another 10 crew members.

Pictures show air conditioning units in several of the bedrooms, which could counter expert claims open windows may have caused water to rush in and tip the boat over faster.

Shipspotting.com says it was owned by a firm called Revtom Limited. Mike Lynch's wife, Ms Bacares, is named as the sole shareholder of the firm on company documents.

Read more from Sky News: Lynch's co-defendant dies after being hit by car We can learn from Lynch's unsuccessful prosecution

The yacht's name would resonate with Mr Lynch because his PhD thesis and the software that made his fortune involved a statistical method known as Bayesian inference, based on an 18th-century theory, which helps forecasters predict outcomes more reliably.

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It was listed for rent for up to €195,000 (£166,000) a week, according to online charter sites.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

No one knows source of stealth disease that’s killed four so far in Milan

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The hunt is on for the source of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak that’s killed four and hospitalised dozens in Milan, Italy .

At least 53 cases of the lung infection have been confirmed in two regions of northern Italy , both within the metropolitan area of Milan.

Local authorities are deploying chemicals to disinfect the city’s water supply in a bid to reduce transmission.

But despite extensive testing of the supply systems of both private residences and cooling towers, a source for the outbreak has not yet been determined.

The outbreak since April 11 appears to be limited to two areas of Milan, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

It said: ‘Infection risk is limited to people residing in or visiting the localised geographical area of the outbreak source.’

Legionnaires’ disease is spread by bacteria carried in tiny water droplets, found in air conditioning systems, hot tubs, humidifiers, and even taps and showers that aren’t often used.

This usually occurs in offices, hotels or hospitals rather than your own home, and you can’t catch it from drinking water, other people with the infection, or from ponds, lakes or rivers.

If you do catch it, the first signs are ‘flu-like symptoms’ such as a dry cough and fever, which can develop into pneumonia.

Around 90% of people exposed to legionella bacteria do not experience symptoms.

But up to 15% of those who do become ill can suffer from severe disease that usually clears in a few weeks.

People aged over 50, smokers and those with chronic lung conditions or who are immuno-compromised are at higher risk of developing the disease.

Of the 53 cases confirmed in Milan, 91% had existing risk factors. This includes the four who died, who were all aged over 70 years and had comorbidities.

It can be treated with antibiotics, oxygen and a machine to help you breathe, if you need to be hospitalised.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

MORE : Urgent warning over banned herbal tea sold on TikTok

MORE : Mike Lynch ‘was planning to investigate Lucy Letby trial before yacht tragedy’

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The Evening

Democrats are upbeat, but face a tough race ahead.

Also, Powell said the “time has come” for interest rate cuts. Here’s the latest at the end of Friday.

By Matthew Cullen

In Chicago, where thousands of Democrats spent the week celebrating their nomination of Kamala Harris for president, confidence has been overflowing.

“The mood in Chicago was just really ebullient,” said Jess Bidgood, who writes the On Politics newsletter and spent the week at the convention. Some delegates even suggested that Harris would glide to victory .

But joy in the summer does not always last, or translate to votes in the fall . Just look at Republicans, Jess said. They were riding high at their convention last month, just after Trump survived an assassination attempt and before President Biden stepped aside. Now polls show Harris with a narrow lead .

Harris and other top Democrats seem to be well aware that things can change. Rather than basking in her momentum, the vice president concluded the convention last night with a serious speech designed to reassure Americans of her values and appeal to voters who might know little about her .

We will soon learn from polls if Harris’s convention strategy worked. But one of the biggest moments of the campaign may still be ahead of us, when Harris and Donald Trump meet for their first debate on Sept. 10. “Democrats are really counting on Harris having a strong debate,” Jess told me. “It could be a real turning point.”

Here’s what else to know:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his campaign for president and endorsed Trump .

Abortion ballot measures have mobilized Democratic voters. This year will be their biggest test yet .

Protests over Gaza at the Democratic convention were not as big or disruptive as expected.

Do you have questions about the election? Send them to us, and we’ll find the answers .

Stay up-to-date: Live coverage | Poll tracker | The “Run-Up” podcast | On Politics newsletter

Powell said the ‘time has come’ for interest rate cuts

Jerome Powell, the chair of the Federal Reserve, indicated today that the central bank was on track to lower borrowing costs at its meeting next month . For more than a year, the Fed has been holding interest rates at 5.3 percent, the highest level in more than two decades, to combat inflation. Now, Powell said, “The time has come for policy to adjust.”

While Powell stopped short of giving a clear hint at how large that move might be, he forcefully underscored that policymakers would act in order to protect the job market.

Ukraine ramped up its attacks in Russia

Ukrainian forces now control more than 400 square miles in the Kursk region of Russia, where they are fighting to isolate a large group of Russian soldiers. They have also launched a series of strikes at airfields, ports and oil depots in other parts of the country in an effort to degrade the Kremlin’s war effort. We mapped out Ukraine’s incursion , which has succeeded far beyond expectations.

However, Ukraine has yet to fulfill a key goal: drawing a significant number of Russian units from eastern Ukraine, where Kyiv’s forces continue to struggle. American officials are not convinced that Ukraine intends to hold its position in Russia long term .

In related news, Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, visited Ukraine in a potential step toward peace talks .

More top news

Immigration: Sixteen Republican-led states sued to stop a federal program that could give legal status to undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens .

Diplomacy: Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser, will travel to China next week .

Housing: The Justice Department filed an antitrust suit against RealPage, accusing the real estate software company of creating an illegal pricing scheme to overcharge tenants.

Middle East: Mediators plan to resume talks for a cease-fire agreement in Gaza next week , Israel said.

Italy: A final body was recovered from a yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily this week.

Bangladesh: Floods have killed at least 13 people and affected millions of others in the country’s northeast.

New York: The supply of drinking water for parts of Long Island is under threat , according to a new federal report.

Sports: The Paralympics will no longer ban competitors from displaying Olympic ring tattoos, ending a yearslong prohibition .

TIME TO UNWIND

Zoë kravitz was frustrated, so she made a movie.

Seven years ago, Zoë Kravitz, the actress and daughter of Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz, sat down at a cafe in London and started writing her first screenplay. It was a way, she said, to express her frustrations around discomfort that women are meant to endure in their lives — and then told to smile through it.

Eventually, it turned into “Blink Twice,” a horror-mystery film that’s in theaters today.

For more: Here are the nine other movies our critics are talking about this week.

Ace your kids’ school lunches this year

During their child’s school years, parents can pack more than 1,000 lunches, which can become pretty monotonous. So we came up with some tips to keep things fresh , like inviting your child to help you pack the night before and organizing your kitchen the way a chef would.

Just remember: School-lunch traditions can be at odds with basic food safety rules around perishable items. If you’re including anything that you would put in the refrigerator, stuff in two ice packs as well.

Dinner table topics

Calling all bird-watchers: Scientists made a list of birds that have not been seen in years, and asked us to help find them.

Lost its magic: After David Copperfield vanished from New York, his neighbors said he left his once-ornate condominium in disrepair .

Girl vs. the boys: Horse racing is starved for star power. Thorpedo Anna is hoping to change that .

Charging guests: Would you pay to attend a wedding ?

WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND

Cook: College football season is beginning. We have all the tailgate recipes you might need .

Watch: John Woo’s remake of “The Killer” is a Times Critic’s Pick .

Read: Here are six new books we recommend this week .

Listen: On the Culture Desk podcast, we look at poetry that inspired some of Beyoncé’s work .

Explore: There is so much to love at Cleveland’s museums .

Avoid: Pharmacists want you to stop making these medication mistakes .

Compete: Take this week’s news quiz .

Play: Here are today’s Spelling Bee , Wordle and Mini Crossword . Find all of our games here .

ONE LAST THING

Designing for 74 square feet.

Beatriz Ramo López de Angulo, an architect living in the Netherlands, was so inspired by a minuscule cabin built by the modernist master Le Corbusier that she decided to turn a 74-square-foot storage space in her building in Rotterdam into a livable retreat.

The walls are bright and patterned, and the apartment is split into “rooms,” including a sleeping loft and — surprisingly — a black marble spa area with a whirlpool bath and an infrared sauna. Check out the space .

Have a maximized weekend.

Thanks for reading. I’ll be back on Monday. — Matthew

Kirsten Luce was our photo editor today.

We welcome your feedback. Write to us at [email protected] .

Matthew Cullen is the lead writer of The Evening , a Times newsletter covering the day’s top stories every weekday. More about Matthew Cullen