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☆ Airline SAS extends deadline for equity fundraising
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TT News Agency/Johan Nilsson via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 11 (Reuters) - Scandinavian airline SAS (SAS.ST), battling to emerge from bankruptcy protection, said on Monday it was extending the deadline for final bids for its equity fundraising by a week to Sept. 25 at the request of bidders. SAS said in May the U.S. court had approved a revised plan to raise equity. Denmark has said it is willing to increase its stake in SAS to around 30% from around 22%, if others investors were to take a majority stake. Reuters reported in May that U.S. asset manager Apollo Global Management Inc (APO.N) planned to apply for approval from Swedish and Danish regulators to take a majority stake in SAS as part its rescue plan. Earlier this month, SAS, which has been under bankruptcy protection since July 2022, posted its first quarterly pretax profit since late 2019.

Persons: Johan Nilsson, Jacob Pedersen, Pedersen, Urvi Dugar, Gokul, David Evans, Mark Potter, Susan Fenton Organizations: SAS Airbus, Kastrup, Scandinavian Airlines, TT News Agency, REUTERS, Scandinavian, SAS, Reuters, Apollo Global Management Inc, Marie Mannes, Thomson Locations: Kastrup, Denmark, Sweden, Bengaluru, Stockholm

☆ In a US showdown with China, there are some missions with no special-operations 'easy button'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Special-operations forces have been a centerpiece of US military operations for two decades. US leaders should remember that special operators aren't suited for some tasks, one expert says. But in an era of strategic competition with China, there are some missions with no special-ops "easy button," according to David Ucko, a professor and expert on irregular warfare. First, the US special-operations community should consolidate its core strengths, particularly irregular warfare, which is "highly relevant" to strategic competition with China. US Navy SEALs train with Philippine Navy special-operations and Australian army special-operations troops in Palawan in April 2022.

Persons: David Ucko, David Devich, Ucko, US Army John F, Mario A, Ramirez, Jared N, Stavros Atlamazoglou Organizations: Service, US Special Forces, US Army, Royal United Services Institute, China, Air Force, RAF Mildenhall, US Air Force, Tech, Westin Warburton, Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, State, Justice, Treasury, US Navy, Philippine Navy, US Marine Corps, Army Green Beret, Philippine National Police, Coast Guard, British SAS, Commonwealth, Group, SAS, Allies, Army Delta Force, Delta Force, US Army Rangers, US Army Green Berets, Psychological Operations, Boat Service, Hellenic Army, 575th Marine Battalion, Army, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins, School, International Locations: China, Wall, Silicon, SOF, Afghanistan's Ghazni, British, Russia, North Carolina, Palawan, Ukraine, Taiwan, North Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, Johns

☆ UK's Instem shares pop on $257 mln take-private deal from French firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 30 (Reuters) - Shares in Instem Plc (INS.L) soared over 39% on Wednesday after the British life sciences software company agreed to a take-private deal with French private equity firm Archimed SAS for 203 million pounds ($256.5 million). Under the terms of the deal with Ichor Management, a company controlled by Archimed, each Instem shareholder will get 833 pence in cash, representing a premium of 41% to the stock's last close. The offer, which Instem's board recommended shareholders accept, caps multiple rejected proposals from Archimed since March. Healthcare-focused investment firm Archimed has more than 8 billion euros of assets under management and investments in 32 healthcare companies. ($1 = 0.7916 pounds)Reporting by Prerna Bedi in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia Cheema and Eileen SorengOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Archimed, Prerna Bedi, Sonia Cheema, Eileen Soreng Organizations: Instem Plc, SAS, Ichor Management, Archimed, Healthcare, Thomson Locations: London, Archimed, Staffordshire, Bengaluru

☆ How A.I. can help create jobs for humans, not just automate them
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Rachel Curry | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

In this article UPWK Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTMemorystockphoto | Istock | Getty ImagesFor organizations creating a long-term strategy around generative artificial intelligence, the technology has the capacity to create jobs for humans, not just automate them. Then there are even more nuanced roles, such as AI ethicists (whose job is, essentially, to maintain a responsible AI framework). Not only are there more types of jobs as a result of the generative AI boom, but companies are actually hiring more because of the generative AI surge. That's why experts say upskilling existing employees is essential to any organization's AI integration. AI is fast — business consulting firm Accenture's report on so-called "AI maturity" predicts that AI transformation will occur 13% faster than overall digital transformation through 2024.

Persons: Margaret Lilani, upskilling, Ger Doyle, Doyle, " Doyle, Lilani, onboarding, it's Organizations: Istock, AI, Hire, SAS, Talent Survey

☆ Australia war hero appeals court ruling of complicity in Afghan murders
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Byron Kaye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

But a Federal Court judge ruled on June 1 that the newspapers had proven most of their allegations. read moreRoberts-Smith filed an appeal on July 11, the court said in a website post, without providing any further details. "We believe the Federal Court's judgment is comprehensive and categorical," Chessell said in a statement." "It's a terrible outcome and it's the incorrect outcome," he was quoted telling Nine's television arm. "We will look at (the judgement) and consider whether or not we need to file an appeal," he said at the time.

Persons: Ben Roberts, Smith, Roberts, James Chessell, Chessell, Byron Kaye, Robert Birsel Organizations: SYDNEY, SAS, Victoria Cross, Nine Entertainment, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Afghanistan

☆ Wrexham's Hollywood owners join group buying into Alpine F1
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, June 26 (Reuters) - Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are joining Otro Capital and RedBird Capital Partners in an investor group taking a 24% equity stake in Alpine Racing, the Formula One team's parent company Renault announced on Monday. The 200 million euro ($218.10 million) deal values British-based Alpine Racing at around $900 million following the investment. Alec Scheiner, the co-founder and partner of Otro Capital, will join Alpine Racing's board of directors. Renault said Alpine Racing SAS, the French entity that makes the team's power units in Viry-Châtillon, will remain entirely owned by the carmaker. "Otro Capital, RedBird Capital Partners and Maximum Effort Investments, as international players with strong track record in the sports industry, will bring their recognised expertise to boost our media and marketing strategy, essential to support our sporting performance over the long term.

Persons: Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney, Alec Scheiner, Reynolds, Michael B, Jordan, McElhenney, Renault, Huntsman, Goldman Sachs, Gerry Cardinale, RedBird, Laurent Rossi, Alan Baldwin, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Otro Capital, RedBird Capital Partners, Alpine Racing, Renault, Otro, Alpine, McElhenney, Wrexham, Welsh soccer, English Football League, Main Street Advisors, Fenway Sports Group, Premier League, Liverpool, Boston Red Sox baseball, Toulouse, AC Milan, New York Yankees, Formula, Benetton, Alpine Racing SAS, Thomson Locations: Alpine, Philadelphia, Wrexham, North America, Enstone, England, Viry

☆ Travel experiences you can only enjoy while you’re young
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

But if you’re still in your teens or 20s, it’s worth knowing about some of the amazing discounts, experiences and adventures only available to those under 30. From discount air fares to working vacation visas, we’ve rounded up some of the best travel experiences to enjoy while you’re young. “It’s 100% worth using the pass whilst you can get the youth discount,” Landon tells CNN Travel. Thurman absentmindedly Googled working working holiday visas, and to her surprise, realized the scheme “was so straightforward to apply for.”“I realized that the only barrier was me and my decision whether or not to apply,” Thurman recalls. If you’re not enrolled in college but you’re still under 30, the International Youth Travel Card could be an alternative.

Persons: CNN —, you’re, There’s, Kofi Landon, Kofi Landon Kofi Landon, Landon, he’d, Landon reckons, ” Landon, “, ”, Tammy Thurman, don’t, –, jetted, Thurman enviously, Thurman absentmindedly, ” “, ” Thurman, Thurman, it’s, she’s, who’s, you’ve, doesn’t, Markus Mainka, Gideon Hagström Lung, He’s, Hagström Lung, Lung Organizations: CNN, EU, Travelers, CNN Travel, Canada, Walt Disney World, Cathay Pacific, Eiffel, SAS, Emirates, Scandinavian Airlines Locations: Europe, Paris, Berlin, Venice, there’s, Prague, Czech Republic, Manchester, Lake Bled, Slovenia, Australia, Tasmania, South Korea, Portugal, Iceland, Canada, France, Ireland, Sydney, London, Melbourne, Emirates, Florence’s Uffizi, Helsinki, Finland, New York City, New York, Stockholm, Copenhagen

☆ Half a Year After the COP Agreement on Nature, Companies Are Increasingly Looking at Their Biodiversity Impact
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Joshua Kirby | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +8 min

While mandatory reporting on nature may still be a long way off, for some companies, measuring their impact on nature makes good business sense. “Not enough companies are actually measuring their corporate biodiversity impact,” said Steve Kennedy, associate professor in business sustainability at the Rotterdam School of Management. Biodiversity impact, on the other hand, remains a more nebulous concept, with widespread uncertainty about what to measure and how to measure it. While biodiversity impact remains difficult to assess, more complete data can help, said Zoe Balmforth, co-founder of biodiversity-data startup Pivotal. And companies will soon have a final framework on which to base their voluntary biodiversity reporting.

Persons: Jennifer Motles, Philip Morris, Motles, Katie Critchlow, Rémy Cointreau, Eric Vallat, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, ”, Steve Kennedy, Kennedy, “ It’s, “, ” Philip Morris International’s, Nicolo Filippo Rosso, Zoe Balmforth, Balmforth, Cameron Frayling, Frayling, U.N, JULIAN HABER, Kering, PMI’s Motles, Joshua Kirby Organizations: Philip Morris International, Data, Sustainable Business, Fund, Nature, PMI, Rotterdam School of Management . Companies, SAS, Bloomberg, World Bank, REUTERS Governments, United Nations ’, pharma, GSK, Gucci Locations: Montreal, American, of Mexico, Lake Erie, Colombia, Kunming, Canada, joshua.kirby

☆ The world’s most eco-conscious airlines
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Elissa Garay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —Most sustainability experts will scoff at the idea of “sustainable” and “airlines” in the same sentence. In 2022, an Airbus wide-body Beluga XL transport aircraft was filled with Sustainable Aviation Fuel" (SAF) for the first time. WiderøeNorway-based Widerøe, the largest regional airline in Scandinavia, says it is on track to become one of the world’s first fully emissions-free airlines. Alaska AirlinesAlaska Airlines has invested heavily in Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty ImagesWhile most major global airlines are targeting 2050 for net-zero carbon emissions, Alaska Airlines intends to meet that target as soon as 2040.

Persons: ”, Pedro Piris, Sola Zheng, Sina Schuldt, Nicolas Jammes, ” Akbar Al Baker, “, Zheng, –, that’s, it’s, Beata Zawrzel, Fabrizio Gandolfo, Nicolas Economou, Bauer, Griffin, It’s Organizations: CNN, Environmental Defense Fund, International Council, Clean Transportation, Commercial, International Air Transport Association, UN, Airbus, Beluga XL, Sustainable Aviation, Qatar Airways, SAF, European Union, Google, Environmental Defense, Airlines, United Airlines United, Aerospace, United, Flight Fund, Widerøe Norway, Widerøe, Royce, SAS SAS, Scandinavian, SAS, Wizz, Wizz Air, Etihad Airways Etihad, Getty, Etihad Airways, United Arab Emirates, Boeing, Etihad, Alaska Airlines Alaska Airlines, Aviation Fuels, AaronP, Alaska Airlines, Air Canada Canadian, Air Canada Locations: Europe, Denmark, Sweden, ICCT, Scandinavia, Norway, Canada

☆ Exclusive: Mondelez 'singled out' in boycott over Russia business, exec says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

"If you look in most kitchen cupboards, you will see many products from food and beverage companies that have not exited Russia." Mondelez rivals in chocolate including Nestle (NESN.S) still operate in Russia as do many other consumer products companies. Reuters GraphicsShipments of all Mondelez products to Russia jumped to 45 million kilograms from 28.7 million kilograms in the same time periods, according to the data. Mondelez also said Thursday it was continuing to reduce its activities in Russia and expects further volume and sales declines. Jan Kæraa Rasmussen, head of environmental, social and governance (ESG) and sustainability at Mondelez investor PensionDanmark, said the Danish pension fund considers the "downscaling of their business in Russia a progression.

Persons: Vinzenz Gruber, Gruber, Mondelez, Mondelez's, Nestle, Nestle didn't, Jan Kæraa Rasmussen, PensionDanmark, Rasmussen, Jessica DiNapoli, Maurice Tamman, Terje Solsvik, Anna Driver Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Mondelez, SAS, Ukraine's National Agency for, Facebook, Russian Embassy, Nestle, confectionary, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Thomson Locations: Europe, Russia, Nordics, Sweden, Norway, Nordic, Ukraine, Russian, Washington ,, Danish, New York

☆ Oreo-maker Mondelez faces Nordic backlash over Russia business
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

OSLO, June 12 (Reuters) - Mondelez International (MDLZ.O), facing a widening corporate boycott in the Nordic region over its continued presence in Russia, said late on Sunday it had asked to meet with the Norwegian government to protect its local business. Airlines SAS and Norwegian Air, railway group SJ, hotel chain Strawberry, retailer Elkjop, shipping group Fjord Line and the Norwegian Football Association were among those announcing in recent days that they would stop selling Mondelez products. Although some Western companies sold their Russian assets after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine last year, others such as Mondelez have stayed despite pushback from employees in other countries. Nordic companies said their decision stop selling Mondelez products was based on an announcement this year by Ukraine's National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption to blacklist the snack maker and other groups. Mondelez said it maintained "limited" activity in Russia while halting investment and advertising, and had condemned the war.

Persons: Mondelez, Terje Solsvik, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Mondelez, Airlines SAS, Norwegian Air, SJ, Norwegian Football Association, Ukraine's National Agency for, Coop Norge, Thomson Locations: OSLO, Nordic, Russia, Norwegian, Norway, Sweden, Ukraine, U.S

☆ Former Australian SAS veteran loses defamation case over reports of Afghan execution
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Byron Kaye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The ruling marks a win for media outlets seeking greater accountability for Australia's military, typically bound by confidentiality. A 2020 report found credible evidence that members of Australia's Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) killed dozens of unarmed prisoners in the lengthy Afghan war. Roberts-Smith sued the papers for portraying him as someone who "broke the moral and legal rules of military engagement". The papers had reported that Roberts-Smith pressured a lower-ranking Australian soldier to execute an elderly, unarmed Afghan to "blood the rookie", said Judge Besanko, adding they proved that account true. "This case is an important reminder that we need courageous public interest journalism to help us get there."

Persons: Ben Roberts, Smith, Anthony Besanko, Roberts, Judge Besanko, James Chessell, Chessell, Arthur Moses, Besanko, inadvertentely, Fiona Nelson, Byron Kaye, Shri Navaratnam, Michael Perry Organizations: SYDNEY, SAS, Australia's Special Air Service Regiment, China, Victoria Cross, Australian, Sydney Morning Herald, Canberra Times, Nine Entertainment Co, Australian Centre for International, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Afghanistan, Afghan, Australian, Australia

☆ Australia's most decorated soldier loses multiple defamation claims against media who alleged war crimes
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

In some cases, he found the papers established contextual truth, which is also a defense under Australia’s Defamation Act. “Today is a day of some small justice for the Afghan victims of Ben Roberts-Smith,” said McKenzie. Ali Jan was a husband … He was kicked off a cliff by Ben Roberts-Smith, and he was murdered with Ben Roberts-Smith’s participation. Claims of violent acts committed by elite troops were echoed in the Brereton Report, a four-year investigation into the alleged war crimes in Afghanistan released in November 2020. The responsibility for these atrocities does not end with Ben Roberts-Smith,” he said.

Persons: Australia CNN —, solider, –, Anthony Besanko, Besanko, Ben Roberts, Smith, Roberts, ”, James Chessell, newsrooms, ” Chessell, Peter Bartlett, MinterEllison, “, Nick McKenzie, Chris Masters, McKenzie, “ Ali Jan, Ali Jan, …, ” Besanko, Angus Campbell, Campbell “, unreservedly ”, It’s Organizations: Australia CNN, Federal Court, Sydney Morning Herald, Canberra Times, Australia’s, Cross, SAS, Nine, CNN, Australian, Australian Defence Force Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Afghanistan, Bali , Indonesia, Sydney, “

☆ World’s best airline for 2023 named by AirlineRatings.com
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket/Getty ImagesAfter a couple of years of reduced air travel in the wake of the pandemic, travelers returned to the air in 2022 to significant airline chaos – canceled flights, lost luggage and overstretched staff. And interestingly, while Air New Zealand came out on top for 2023, Thomas said the results were close among the top five. Singapore Airlines took the fifth spot on AirlineRatings.com's 2023 list and also won the Best First Class award. Johannes P. Christo/Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesAbu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways is number 3 on AirlineRatings.com’s 2023 list. Singapore Airlines, named top in the Best First Class award and the Excellence in Long Haul Travel - Southeast Asia award, took fifth place overall.

Persons: AirlineRatings.com, –, ” Geoffrey Thomas, ” AirlineRatings.com, Marcos del Mazo, Thomas, Johannes P Organizations: CNN, Air, Zealand, CNN Travel, Zealand’s, Qatar Airways, Air New Zealand, Business, Catering, Long, Singapore Airlines, Christo, Anadolu Agency, Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways, Korean, North, ” Air, New, Civil Aviation Authority, Auckland International Airport, Etihad Airways, Qantas, Virgin, Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa, SAS, TAP, All Nippon Airways, Delta Air, Air Canada, British Airways, Jet, JAL, Vietnam Airlines, Turkish Airlines, KLM, . Alaska Airlines, United Airlines Locations: Australia, North Asia, Asia, Zealand, Auckland, AirlineRatings.com’s, Virgin Australia, Swiss, TAP Portugal

CNN —As the Colombian military frantically searches for four children missing after a jungle plane crash over two weeks ago, new details are emerging about the plane’s history – and local concerns over the safety of air travel in that part of the Amazon. Colombian Military Forces/ReutersIndigenous activists who mourned the deaths in a statement earlier this week said the crash was no surprise, accusing airline companies operating in the Amazon of chasing profits and the Colombian government of failing to uphold safety standards. Speaking to CNN, OPIAC president Julio Cesar Lopez pointed out that the ill-fated plane had previously crashed in the same region, on July 25, 2021. The report states that the plane was built in 1982 and, prior to the 2021 crash, had accumulated over 10 thousand flight hours. Relatives say the children knew the jungle well, and are holding out hope that they will be found alive.

☆ Judge dismisses another lawsuit against Ed Sheeran
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Lauren Del Valle | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The suit was filed in 2018 after SAS unsuccessfully tried to join in as a plaintiff in the Townsend family’s suit. Still, the legal battle over “Thinking Out Loud” is not over for Sheeran and his co-defendants. Representatives for Sheeran declined to comment on Stanton’s dismissal of the case. Another lawsuit that splintered from the original SAS suit against Sheeran and his co-defendants is also still pending in Manhattan federal court. Pullman says the sound recording of “Let’s Get It On” coupled with its sheet music, both of which are registered with the US Copyright Office, will prove their case against Sheeran.

☆ Airline SAS's rescue moves closer as court clears fundraising plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 15 (Reuters) - SAS's (SAS.ST) rescue has moved a step closer after a U.S. court approved a revised plan from the Scandinavian airline to raise equity. The long-suffering airline filed for U.S Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last year. The court approval of the fundraising proposal - a key element of the "SAS Forward" rescue plan - means investors may start placing bids for a stake in the airline. In the updated plan, SAS said that without the support of Denmark the emergence from Chapter 11 "will face significant uncertainty, cost, and delay." It said it now planned to complete the Chapter 11 process "in the latter part of the second half of 2023".

☆ Sweden's SAS receives US court approval for equity bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 15 (Reuters) - Sweden's SAS AB (SAS.ST) said on Monday the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York has approved equity solicitation procedures which will allow the airline to secure available terms and conditions for new equity capital. The final deadline for potential investors to bid will take place in approximately 13 weeks, the company said. "We will conduct a competitive and broad solicitation process to secure equity capital that will help drive our airline forward and facilitate our emergence from the Chapter 11 process," Anko van der Werff, president and chief executive officer of SAS said. Last month, the Scandinavian airline had initiated steps to raise equity and bids as part of its ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the United States. The airline earlier said the final sum would depend on the bidding process and generation of additional liquidity by the airline.

BRUSSELS, May 10 (Reuters) - Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) suffered a setback on Wednesday after Europe's second-highest court sided with Ryanair (RYA.I) and annulled a European Union competition regulator's decision clearing its state bailout. The court also ruled in Ryanair's favour on Wednesday against pandemic state aid measures for SAS (SAS.ST), saying recapitalisation measures did not include sufficient measures to incentivise the Swedish and Danish governments to exit quickly. "We have seen the ruling by the General Court in the EU and will now review the content of the ruling as well as possible ways to proceed. Lufthansa and several other European airlines received state aid following a protracted travel slump due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of which were approved by the EU executive subject to conditions. The Commission can appeal to the Court of the Justice of the European Union, Europe's highest, on points of law.

☆ EU's Vestager says 'all options on the table' after Lufthansa/SAS rulings
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The court sided with Ryanair (RYA.I) in annulling the EU's decision clearing the German government's 6-billion-euro ($6.6 billion) rescue package for Lufthansa. EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said she was analysing the rulings as a matter of urgency, aware of the uncertainty on the market. "While it is too early to give any indication as to what the appropriate course of action may be, at this stage all options are on the table," Vestager said in a statement. "There is no immediate and direct link between today's judgments and the ongoing work on the future restructuring of SAS." Reporting by Foo Yun Chee, Writing by Gabriela Baczynska, Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Slovak caretaker PM quits months before early elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Heger is due to meet President Zuzana Caputova, who has the power to appoint a new caretaker prime minister, later on Sunday. Heger has faced opposition calls to make way for a technocrat administration to lead the central European country until early elections to take place in September. Polls find the public favours the biggest opposition party, which is led by former prime minister Robert Fico and has opposed increasing military aid to neighbouring Ukraine. Heger lost a no-confidence vote in December last year and in January he agreed to early elections as the best solution, leaving him in a caretaker role. It was not certain whether Caputova would name a new prime minister on Sunday.

☆ Slovak's caretaker PM quits after political wrangling
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 7 (Reuters) - Slovakia's Prime Minister Eduard Heger said on Sunday he had asked the president to relieve him of his duties, after ministers' resignations weakened his cabinet that is serving in a caretaker capacity before elections in September. Heger is due to meet President Zuzana Caputova, who has the power to appoint a new caretaker prime minister, later on Sunday. Heger has faced calls from the opposition to make way for a technocrat administration to lead the central European country until early elections to take place in September. In common with other European states, Slovakia has provided households and companies with payments to mitigate the impact of high energy costs and wider inflation. Reporting by Jason Hovet in Prague Editing by Peter GraffOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Slovak foreign minister quits in fresh blow to ailing cabinet
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 5 (Reuters) - Slovakia's foreign minister offered his resignation on Friday, the president said, dealing a fresh blow to the centre-right cabinet which has already been serving in a caretaker capacity ahead of elections in September. Rastislav Kacer's departure follows a string of other ministerial resignations and piles pressure on Prime Minister Eduard Heger, who had been facing mounting opposition calls to quit and make way for a technocrat government. Caputova, whose role gives her the power to appoint a new prime minister, said she would discuss the situation with Heger and parliament speaker Boris Kollar on her return. SaS joined a leftist opposition party in voting through a no-confidence motion in December, accusing the government of not helping people cope with the higher energy costs. The prime minister said he would not comment until he meets the president.

SAS has lost almost 60% of its value since it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last July, seeking to slash costs and debt after wage talks with pilots collapsed. Apollo will mainly work with aviation regulators in Sweden and Denmark to secure approval, the first source said. The move comes as the airline looks for large investors and seeks to raise equity as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan. Denmark's finance ministry told Reuters it was looking for one or more shareholders to take a majority stake in SAS. The company also became the largest shareholder in Mexican airline Aeromexico (GRPAF.PK) in 2020 following Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

☆ Moscow's 'special' forces: An inside look at how Russia's famed Spetsnaz really operate
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Mark Galeotti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +24 min

Russia's Spetsnaz forces are often depicted as a kind of Russian super troops. Osprey PublishingMost countries' special forces emphasize physical fitness, determination and aggression. Special people, for special tasksMembers of the Russian military's 16th Separate Special Purpose Brigade during an exercise in 2018. Even so, being better than most of the Soviet army's miserable and recalcitrant conscript forces did not make most of them truly special, special forces. The special operations commandMembers of Russian's 22nd Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade during an exercise in November 2017.

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