DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Here’s what we learned from the European elections as a far-right surge upends national politics
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Far-right parties across the continent had strong showings, but their momentum did not cause the center ground of European politics to cave in – as many had predicted. Those gains did materialize; far-right groups were expected to secure a record number of seats in the European Parliament, dealing a major blow to the continent’s establishment leaders. Most of the far-right gains were concentrated in countries that elect large numbers of seats: France, Italy and Germany. Several other far-right parties are among the non-aligned (NI) group, predicted to secure 45 seats. The center holdsDespite a far-right surge, the centrist European People’s Party (EPP) was the biggest single winner on Sunday night.

Persons: –, Maximilian Krah, Ursula von der Leyen, ”, Von der Leyen, ” Von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, Marine Le, ” Macron, Marion Maréchal, Jordan Bardella, Alexander De Croo, ” De Croo, Meloni, Tusk, Giorgia Meloni, Brothers, Benito Mussolini, von der Leyen, Donald Tusk’s, Viktor Orbán, Bas Organizations: CNN, Green, Nazi, European People’s Party, EPP, Progressive Alliance of Socialists, Commission, Ukraine, Marine, Assembly, French, Ministry, Italy’s, Italy, Law and Justice, PiS, European, Fidesz, Greens, Bas Eickhout, EFA, European Green Party, European Commission Locations: –, France, Europe, Italy, Germany, Brussels, France’s, “, Ukraine, Poland

☆ The far-right is set to make huge gains in European election. It could define the next five years of European politics
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

EU politics has always relied on awkward alliances between countries and political ideologies that represent vastly different electorates. Francois Greuez/SIPA/APThe European Parliament is the place where this is most visible at an EU level. Most of the lawmakers (known as MEPs) belong to a political party in their own country. ECR and ID are typical of European Parliament parties in that they are home to a pretty broad group of conservatives. The European Parliament can often seem like looks like a boring, bureaucratic blob, tediously grinding its way through process.

Persons: Francois Greuez, Angela Merkel, Christoph Reichwein, David Cameron, Georgia Meloni, Viktor Orban, Orban, Ursula von der Leyen, Giorgia Meloni, Hungary's Viktor Orban, –, Geert Wilders Organizations: CNN, European Union, National Rally, European, European People’s Party, EPP, European Conservatives, Politico, British, Brexit, Georgia, Ukraine, Russia EU, EU, SS, Nazi, Dursun, ERC, European Commission, Kremlin Locations: United States, South Africa, Mexico, Taiwan, Ukraine, China, EU, France, Belgian, Brussels, Hungary, Russia, Italian, Anadolu, United Kingdom, Germany, Europe, Netherlands, Europe’s

☆ Oil alliance OPEC+ could extend production cuts this weekend as focus shifts away from Middle East tensions, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Thomas Coex | Afp | Getty ImagesThe oil-producing Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies could extend existing output cuts this week, delegates and analysts told CNBC, even as focus shifts from Middle East tensions to summer demand. OPEC+ producers are currently implementing a combined 5.86 million barrels per day of supply cuts. And then August is the peak month for tightness," Viktor Katona, lead crude analyst at Kpler, told CNBC. "However, I think that the market right now has priced in a full extension of the voluntary cuts. A high-inflation environment and tight monetary policy in turn reined in oil demand, but central banks have signaled readiness to lower interest rates in the second half of the year.

Persons: Thomas Coex, Viktor Katona, overproducers, Jorge Leon, Yemen's, Tamas Varga Organizations: Organization of, Petroleum, Afp, Getty, CNBC, Energy, Market Research, PVM Oil Associates, United Arab Emirates Locations: OPEC, Vienna, China, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Paris, Ukraine, Gaza, Red, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Guyana, Brazil, Canada

CNN —European allies of former US President Donald Trump have rallied around him in support following his historic conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The conviction – which has been heralded as a somber moment for America with wide-reaching implications – has been painted by Trump’s allies in Europe as political persecution, aimed at derailing his bid to return to White House. Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini called Trump’s conviction “judicial harassment” in a post on X, while Hungarian President Viktor Orban urged him to “keep on fighting” for the presidency. Meanwhile, Russia suggested there was a political conspiracy at play, despite Trump being convicted by a jury. “This is visible to the whole world with the naked eye.”Other countries, sticking to protocol, declined to comment on Trump’s conviction.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump’s, Matteo Salvini, Viktor Orban, “, ”, Trump, Salvini, Orbán, ” “, Vladimir Putin’s, Dmitry Peskov, Rishi Sunak, Christian Wagner Organizations: CNN, White, Trump, America, British Locations: –, Europe, Manhattan, Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, Italy, Russia

Two weeks after being shot and seriously wounded in an assassination attempt, Prime Minister Robert Fico of Slovakia was released from the hospital on Thursday and taken to his home in Bratislava, the capital. Miriam Lapunikova, the director of the hospital in central Slovakia where Mr. Fico underwent several rounds of surgery, told the TV3 television station that the prime minister’s condition had stabilized sufficiently for him to continue treatment at his residence. Mr. Fico, a combative populist who took office in October after eking out a narrow victory in a parliamentary election, has not spoken publicly since he was shot on May 15 in the Slovak town of Handlova during a meeting with supporters. His return to Bratislava suggested that he would resume control of a government that opponents have accused of eroding democracy and of putting Slovakia on the same authoritarian path taken by Prime Minister Viktor Orban in neighboring Hungary.

Persons: Robert Fico, Miriam Lapunikova, Fico, eking, Viktor Orban Organizations: TV3 Locations: Slovakia, Bratislava, Slovak, Handlova, Hungary

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Russian-occupied territory comes under attack; Hungary accused of blocking Ukraine support
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban delivers his speech at the occasion of Hungary's Revolution and Independence Day outside the Hungarian National Museum on March 15, 2024 in Budapest, Hungary. EU foreign ministers are increasingly frustrated with Hungary's frequent opposition to measures by the bloc that are meant to provide aid to Ukraine and kick start EU accession talks for Kyiv. Lithuania's foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis accused Budapest of implementing a "systematic approach towards any efforts by the EU to have any meaningful role in foreign affairs." The Russian-occupied eastern Ukrainian territory of Luhansk came under attack overnight, Russian officials said, causing a fire and drawing emergency services to the scene. A senior Russian diplomat said he suspected the attack was followed by a second shelling of the area by Ukrainian forces.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Gabrielius Landsbergis Organizations: Hungarian National Museum, Kyiv, EU, CNBC Locations: Budapest, Hungary, Ukraine, Luhansk, Russian, Ukrainian

☆ Opinion | I’ve Seen the Biden-Trump Rematch Before, and It Was Scary
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-27 | by ( Mikhail Zygar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

His advisers, adamant that he is the only bulwark against a formidable opponent, insist that his candidacy is crucial for the survival of democracy. That aged president is not Joe Biden but Boris Yeltsin. As I watch the American presidential campaign unfold, I’ve been constantly reminded of their contest. Back in the ’90s, Russia stood at a crossroads, seemingly faced with a clear choice: democracy or tyranny. The country’s young democracy was at stake.

Persons: isn’t, Joe Biden, Boris Yeltsin, Donald Trump, Gennady Zyuganov, I’ve, Vladimir Putin, Boris Yeltsin’s, Viktor Chernomyrdin, Boris Nemtsov —, Yeltsin Organizations: Communist, Communists Locations: America, Russia

☆ Russia-Ukraine war: Putin signals he’s open to peace talks, but Ukraine is right to be wary
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-25 | by ( Nick Paton Walsh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Eastern Ukraine CNN —Russian President Vladimir Putin’s signaling this week that he is open to peace talks should be viewed with vast, overshadowing caveats, and the weight of Ukraine’s - and the West’s - past experience of Russian diplomacy. Putin questioned the legitimacy of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, who Moscow has repeatedly assailed, after Kyiv had to delay elections because of the very war Putin started. Zelensky has said he hopes China - Russia’s most potent ally but only partial supporter in the Ukraine war - will attend. Putin may be talking peace now to suggest to Beijing to not be involved in diplomacy about Russia without Russia present. Valentyn Ogirenko/ReutersUkraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said Friday that Putin’s hints at peace talks were directly aimed at sabotaging the summit.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, Putin, Moscow’s, Alexander Lukashenko, Volodymyr Zelensky, Viktor Yanukovich, Russian Yanukovich, Lukashenko, Tatyana Makeyeva, –, Zelensky, Valentyn Ogirenko, Dmytro Kuleba, “ Putin, Ukraine ”, MAGA, Dmitri Peskov, Donald Trump, ferociously Organizations: Eastern, Eastern Ukraine CNN —, Reuters, Belarus ’, Kremlin, Kyiv, European Union, NATO, Kharkiv, Reuters Ukraine’s Foreign, Ukraine, American, MAGA Republicans, Congress Locations: Eastern Ukraine, Moscow, Ukraine, Kharkiv, Russia, Istanbul, Kyiv, Donetsk, Belarus, Russian, Syria, Debaltseve, Switzerland, China, Beijing, Valentyn, West, Europe, United States, France, Baltic

☆ Putin's favorite NATO member wants to 'redefine' membership so it doesn't have to help Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Hungary's prime minister said officials are working to "redefine" his country's NATO membership. The aim is to not have to "take part in NATO actions outside NATO territory," Viktor Orbán said. The change would likely allow Hungary to avoid being involved in future NATO assistance to Ukraine. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementThe NATO member most aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to alter its membership in the Western military alliance so that it can avoid aiding Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion.

Persons: Hungary's, Viktor Orbán, —, Vladimir Putin, Ukraine's Organizations: NATO, Service, Bloomberg, Business Locations: Hungary, Ukraine

☆ Trump removes video referencing ‘unified Reich,’ but his Nazi allusions are long-standing
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Donald Trump dabbles in Nazi allusions too often for it to be a coincidence. But the term “Reich,” which means a kind of empire, is also synonymous with the later Third Reich of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany. Some of Trump’s rhetoric suggests an ignorance of history and his own self-obsession. Some of Trump’s rhetoric seems designed to get a rise from his opponents and the media. And as extreme as a second Trump term might be, the Nazi Germany comparison feels extreme.

Persons: Donald Trump dabbles, Reich, Adolf Hitler’s, Trump, Joe Biden, Hitler, Mein, hasn’t, Donald Trump’s, Donald J, Trump Trump, John Kelly, CNN’s Jim Sciutto, Powers, ” Kelly, “, ’, ” Sciutto, Kelly, Steven Cheung, John Bolton, He’s, Biden, ”, Viktor Orbán, Vladimir Putin’s Organizations: CNN, GOP, Trump, Truth, White House, Nazi, Baby Boomers Locations: Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany, Gestapo, United States, Charlottesville , Virginia, Boston, Nazi Germany, Hungarian, Russian, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Eastern Europe, Nazi, Normandy

☆ PGA Championship analysis: 10 notes to know on Xander Schauffele’s win
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Justin Ray | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

AdvertisementHere are the top numbers and notes to know from the final round of the 106th PGA Championship. At 20-under, DeChambeau became the first player to shoot minus-20 or lower in a major championship and not win. Morikawa was looking to join Woods as the only men to win the PGA Championship twice in their first five tries in the stroke play era. Tied with Morikawa in fourth place was Thomas Detry, who enjoyed the best finish of his young major championship career. One day after recording his first over-par score since August, Scottie Scheffler finished his chaotic PGA Championship week with a more familiar 65.

Persons: it’s, Xander Schauffele, Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks, he’s, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Woods, DeChambeau, Brendan Steele, McIlroy, — DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Jack Nicklaus, That’s, Viktor Hovland, Henrik Stenson, Johnson, Collin Morikawa, Morikawa, Thomas Detry, Scottie Scheffler’s, Matt Stone, Scottie Scheffler, Scheffler, Tom Watson, Justin Thomas, Thomas, JT, Wanamaker, Jordan Spieth, Spieth, Martin Kaymer, Larry Nelson, Hal Sutton, Ben Crenshaw, Andy Lyons Organizations: Valhalla Golf, PGA, 106th PGA, Bethpage, Valhalla, U.S . Amateur, PGA Championship, Riviera, Mexico, American Express, Puerto Rico, PGA Tour, Amateur, Big, Scheffler, Southern Hills, U.S, U.S ., 124th U.S ., Getty Locations: Valhalla, Vidanta, U.S, Pinehurst, Illinois, USA, Kentucky, Koepka, Shinnecock, Bellerive

☆ PGA Championship: Xander Schauffele holds his nerve to clinch long-awaited first major
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —American golfer Xander Schauffele won the 106th PGA Championship on Sunday, holding off compatriot Bryson DeChambeau in a nail-biting finale to clinch a long-awaited first major title. A final round six-under 65 was just enough to clinch a maiden major title for Schauffele, shredding his unwanted title as one of the most talented golfers to never win one of golf’s four flagship events. Andrew Redington/Getty ImagesDeChambeau laments his ‘B’ gameA fired up DeChambeau played a near-perfect round to push Schauffele to the death, shooting a bogey-free 64 as he hunted a second major crown. 1 and tournament favorite Scottie Scheffler before Friday’s second round. Scheffler escapes a bunker during the final round.

Persons: Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, LIV Golf’s DeChambeau, Schauffele, Wanamaker, “ It’s, I’ve, ‘, ” “, ’, Andrew Redington, DeChambeau, Xander, ” DeChambeau, “, Norway’s Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa, bogeying, Belgium’s Thomas Detry, Scottie Scheffler, Scheffler, Adam Cairns, Reuters “ I’m, ” Scheffler, Schauffele’s bogeyless, Hovland, lasering, ”, birdies, Scott Taetsch, LIV Organizations: CNN, 106th, Valhalla Golf Club, Masters, Reuters, PGA, Pinehurst, Country Club, America Locations: American, Louisville , Kentucky, Lousville, USA, Texas, North Carolina, Valhalla, Hovland

☆ Xander Schauffele wins PGA Championship for first career major victory
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Brody Miller | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Schauffele, golf’s beacon of unrewarded consistency, won the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club on Sunday for his first career major victory. He did it in one of the more memorable ways possible, sinking a six-foot birdie putt on 18 with the entirety of the crowd watching. AdvertisementIt was the lowest score in major championship history. 10, his only dropped score of the day, could have been it for his major championship chances. He played on two Ryder Cup teams and only Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie and Steve Stricker had spent more weeks in the world top 10 without a major win.

Persons: Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, “, It’s, ” Schauffele, Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, he’d, Viktor Hovland, DeChambeau, Bryson, …, —, eason, olin, ontgomerie, ake Organizations: PGA, Valhalla Golf, CBS, ust Locations: LOUISVILLE, Ky

☆ PGA Championship: Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele top crowded leaderboard
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Gabherzig | Hugh Kellenberger | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Scottie Scheffler has dropped off, but a crowded leaderboard still exists after Round 3 of the PGA Championship on Saturday. AdvertisementSchauffele, seeking his first major championship, has led after each round of the PGA Championship, but shares it for the first time with Morikawa, who is looking for major No. Shane Lowry (who shot a PGA Championship record-tying 62), Bryson DeChambeau and Viktor Hovland are tied for fourth at 13-under. Theegala ticking off his first major championship and contending on the biggest stage of his career. Justin Rose becoming the first Englishman to win the PGA Championship in 100 years.

Persons: — Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Schauffele, Morikawa, Sahith, Shane Lowry, Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, Justin Rose, Robert MacIntyre, Dean Burmester, Scheffler, bogeys, Ted Scott, Scott, Lowry, Hovland, Joe Mayo, MacIntyre, Hodges, Andrew Redington Organizations: PGA, Valhalla Golf Club, Ryder, Scheffler, Valhalla Locations: LOUISVILLE, Ky

☆ Who’s going to win the PGA Championship? Breaking down a crowded leaderboard
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Brody Miller | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +13 min

Follow live coverage of the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship todayLOUISVILLE, Ky. — Justin Thomas predicted it so perfectly. Six of the biggest names in golf are within two shots of the lead on Sunday at the year’s second major championship. It served as a reminder — just as his hot start at the Masters did — of the truth about DeChambeau: Golf hated DeChambeau. That combined with a PGA Championship win to add to his 2013 U.S. Open win at Merion takes Rose from solid career to one of the best European golfers of the century. It coming at a PGA Championship (often viewed as the lowest of the four majors) wouldn’t help.

Persons: — Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson’s, Rickie Fowler’s, There’s, ” Thomas, Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, Shane Lowry, Ryder, it’s, Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, Morikawa, hasn’t, Scheffler, Schauffele, Xander, He’s, he’s, Sahith Theegala, DeChambeau, It’s, —, ake, ike, hick, lew, Å berg, eason, ron, H, aturday,, ory, cIlroy Organizations: Valhalla, birdies, Bryson DeChambeau EAGLES, ust Locations: LOUISVILLE, Ky, Valhalla, ”, Louisville, COVID, iewed, ife

☆ PGA Championship: Shane Lowry comes within inches of major scoring record as Scottie Scheffler splutters
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

I knew what was at stake,” Lowry, chasing a second major crown after Open Championship glory in 2019, told reporters. Lowry is among the chasing pack bunched behind the American trio, joined by 2020 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and Norway’s world No. Just five strokes separate Schauffele and Morikawa from the six golfers level in tied-10th. Matt York/APScheffler slidesYet tournament favorite Scottie Scheffler, one shot behind Spieth in tied-24th, will require even greater heroics after enduring a grueling two-over 73. ET (5:15 p.m. BST) Sunday, with leading duo Schauffele and Morikawa the last pair out at 2:35 p.m.

Persons: Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Lowry, “, ” Lowry, ”, Andy Lyons, Schauffele, Rickie Fowler, Africa’s Branden Grace, Morikawa, ” Schauffele, ” Morikawa, Theegala, Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, Jordan Spieth, Matt York, Scottie Scheffler, Spieth, Ted Scott, toiled, Scheffler, Jeff Roberson, Mark Hubbard Organizations: CNN, PGA, Golf, –, “, Getty Locations: Lousville

☆ Opinion | The Authoritarians Have the Momentum
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( David Brooks | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The central struggle in the world right now is between liberalism and authoritarianism. In this contest, we liberals should be wiping the floor with those guys! Modi seems to be on the verge of re-election. Over the last two centuries liberalism has evolved into a system that respects human dignity and celebrates individual choice. As other moral systems, like religion, have withered in many people’s lives, liberalism itself has expanded to fill the hole in people’s souls.

Persons: Donald Trump, Viktor Orban, Narendra Modi, Tayyip Erdogan, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Trump, Modi, ” Alexandre Lefebvre, isn’t Locations: Iran, Russia

Sergey Dolzhenko/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, NATO’s Jens Stoltenberg and other European leaders are condemning the attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: "Shocked and appalled by the shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico. My thoughts are with PM Fico, his family,” she said on X.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky: "The attack on Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico is appalling. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni: "I learned with deep shock the news of the cowardly attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez: “Horrified and outraged at the attack on the Slovak Prime Minister.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Zuzana Caputova, Sergey Dolzhenko, NATO’s Jens Stoltenberg, Robert Fico, Jens Stoltenberg, Ursula von der, “, Fico, ”, state's, Zelensky, Viktor Orban, ” Orban, Giorgia, Pedro Sanchez, ” Sanchez Organizations: Slovak, NATO, European, Slovakia’s, Spanish, Slovak Prime Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Slovakia, Hungarian, Spain

☆ Who is Robert Fico, the Slovakian Prime Minister?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Matthew Mpoke Bigg | More About Matthew Mpoke Bigg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Robert Fico, 59, has played a pivotal role in Slovakian politics in the years since it gained independence in 1993 and has served as prime minister longer than any other leader. The country gained independence amid the so-called Velvet Revolution, a series of popular and nonviolent protests against the Communist Party in what was at that time still Czechoslovakia. Mr. Fico, who had been a Communist Party member while it was in power, founded the Smer party in the late 1990s and began the first of his three terms as prime minister in 2006. The Smer party, which started out on the political left but has increasingly embraced right-wing views on immigration and cultural issues, has always governed as part of a coalition. Much of the international focus on Mr. Fico’s leadership in recent years has focused on his ties to President Vladimir Putin of Russia and to Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary, Slovakia’s southern neighbor.

Persons: Robert Fico, Fico, Vladimir Putin of, Viktor Orban of Hungary Organizations: Communist Party Locations: Czechoslovakia, Slovakia, Vladimir Putin of Russia

☆ Live Updates: Slovakia’s Prime Minister in ‘Life-Threatening’ Condition After Shooting
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Cassandra Vinograd | Pavol Strba | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Slovakia’s populist prime minister, Robert Fico, was shot and seriously wounded on Wednesday in what the government called an assassination attempt. A post on the prime minister’s official and verified Facebook page said that Mr. Fico was in “life-threatening condition” after sustaining “multiple” gunshot wounds. Local media reported that the attack unfolded in the central Slovak town of Handlova, where Mr. Fico, a veteran politician, had been meeting with supporters. Mr. Fico has aligned with the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orban, in opposing aid to Ukraine and challenging mainstream opinions within the European Union. On Wednesday, Mr. Orban was quick to send well wishes to Mr. Fico, whom he called “my friend.”“We pray for his health and quick recovery,” Mr. Orban wrote on social media.

Persons: Robert Fico, Fico, “, Zuzana Caputova, ”, Caputova, Viktor Orban, Orban, Mr, Ursula von der Leyen Organizations: Local, Facebook, Reuters, European Union, European Commission Locations: Slovak, Handlova, Russia, Ukraine, United States

☆ Robert Fico: Slovakia’s PM in life-threatening condition after being shot multiple times
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico was in a life-threatening condition in hospital Wednesday after he was shot multiple times in an assassination attempt. Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico attends a European Council summit in Brussels, on April 18, 2024. Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP via Getty Images/FILEFico previously served as Slovakia’s prime minister for more than a decade, first between 2006 and 2010 and then again from 2012 to 2018. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, tweeted: “I strongly condemn the vile attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico. My thoughts are with PM Fico, his family.”And Hungarian Prime Minister Orban added: “I was deeply shocked by the heinous attack against my friend, Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Persons: CNN —, Robert Fico, Fico, Zuzana Čaputová, “ I’m, Roberto Fico, ” Čaputová, upend, “, ”, Vladimir Putin, Viktor Orban, Kenzo Tribouillard, Jan Kuciak, Martina Kušnírová, Kuciak, Ursula von der Leyen, Orban Organizations: CNN, CNN — Slovakia’s, Facebook, Ukraine, NATO, Kremlin, Hungary’s, European Union, Slovakia's, Getty Locations: Handlova, Banska Bystrica, Bratislava, Slovak, Ukraine, Brussels, AFP, Hungarian

☆ Freetrade, Britain's answer to Robinhood, says its CEO is stepping down
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

s LONDON — The boss of U.K. stock trading service Freetrade is stepping down and leaving the company with immediate effect, the company told CNBC exclusively Monday. Dodds remains the largest individual shareholder in Freetrade, owning a roughly 12% stake, according to company filings. Freetrade is default alive and ready to take on the incumbent platforms in the UK with self-sustaining growth," Dodds said. Dodds added: "I'm very happy to say Viktor will be stepping up to take over the helm as CEO. Nebehaj, Freetrade's incoming CEO, applauded Dodds' eight-year run as CEO and said that "it's natural that different stages of a company's growth require different leaders."

Persons: Adam Dodds, Davide Fioranell, Viktor Nebehaj, Nebehaj, Dodds, he'll, Rafael Henrique, " Dodds, Viktor, Perry Blacher, Freetrade, it's Organizations: CNBC, GameStop Locations: Freetrade, U.S

☆ China’s Xi Jinping highlights Europe’s divisions ahead of expected Putin visit
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Chinese state media played up the warm diplomacy, with headlines proclaiming China’s “ironclad” bond with Serbia and “golden friendship” with Hungary. Both are sure to closely watch any summit between Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in China, expected to happen soon. Chinese leader Xi Jinping is welcomed at the airport in Belgrade on May 7 for his two-day state visit. Xi also marketed a shared worldview during his meeting with Orban in Hungary, which is a member of both the EU and NATO. Chinese leader Xi Jinping talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest on May 9.

Persons: Xi, Peng Liyuan, Aleksandar Vucic, Viktor Orban, China’s, Vucic, Orban –, Emmanuel Macron, Ursula von der, Vladimir Putin, Orban, Hungary “, ’ ”, Philippe Le Corre, ”, Putin, Le Corre, Xi Jinping, Dimitrije Goll, Xi’s, Serbia’s Vucic, ” Vucic, Bruno Le Maire, BYD, Liu Dongshu, Vivien Cher Benko, Tamas Matura, Mark Rutte, Olaf Scholz, Matura, Von der, “ Orban, Gabor Scheiring Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Russia, Ukraine, China, Europe …, Asia Society, Center for, Forum, Anadolu, Getty, EU, NATO, ”, Xi, Hong Kong’s City University ., Hungarian, Central, Dutch, Georgetown University Locations: Hong Kong, France, Ukraine, China, Belgrade, Budapest, Paris, Serbian, Hungarian, Serbia, Hungary, Europe, Russia, Russian, ”, Europe … Hungary, Center for China, Beijing, United States, EU, Hong, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, Moscow, Qatar, “ Hungary

☆ Aiming for Rosier Ties, Xi Wraps Up Europe Visit
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Andrew Higgins | Chris Buckley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, received a gift of fine cognac at the Élysée Palace in Paris and was cheered in Belgrade by Serbians waving Chinese flags, albeit most of them were bused-in government workers. And by the time he left Hungary on Friday at the end of a six-day European tour, the clouds over his country’s relations with the West looked much less dark, at least from China’s perspective. Mr. Xi told President Emmanuel Macron of France that relations would be “as vibrant and thriving as springtime.” At his next stop, he said the “tree of China-Serbia friendship will grow tall and sturdy.” In Hungary, Mr. Xi told Prime Minister Viktor Orban that their countries were poised to “embark on a golden voyage.”The Chinese state-run news media, never less than glowing about Mr. Xi, went to strenuous lengths to present his European meetings as a triumph.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Xi, Emmanuel Macron, Viktor Orban Locations: Paris, Belgrade, Hungary, France, China, Serbia

☆ In Budapest, Xi Hails a ‘Deep Friendship’ With Hungary
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Andrew Higgins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Xi Jinping of China on Thursday found another safe zone in a continent increasingly wary of his country, meeting in Budapest with the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orban, the European Union’s perennial odd-man-out as a vocal supporter of warm relations with both China and Russia. As happened at his previous stop in Serbia, Mr. Xi received a rapturous welcome and was spared from protesters, with his motorcade from the airport on Wednesday evening taking a roundabout route into the Hungarian capital, avoiding Tibetan protesters. Police banned a protest planned for Thursday in the center of Budapest and a large Tibetan flag that had been hoisted on a hill overlooking the venue of a welcome reception was covered with a Chinese one. In an article in Magyar Nemzet, which is controlled by Mr. Orban’s governing Fidesz party, Mr. Xi gushed about his “deep friendship” with Hungarian leaders and described Hungary as a trusted “traveling companion” on what he called a “golden voyage” that had taken relations to their “best period of history.” Hungary, he noted, was “the No. 1 target in the central Eastern European region for Chinese investment.”

Persons: Xi Jinping, Viktor Orban, Xi, Orban’s, Xi gushed, ” Organizations: Police, Fidesz, ” Locations: China, Budapest, Russia, Serbia, Magyar, Hungary, ” Hungary

Search resuls for: "viktor"

25 mentions found