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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — The Slovak government signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday with Chinese electric vehicle battery maker Gotion High-Tech and its local partner, InoBat, to build a car battery plant in Slovakia. The two companies formed Gotion InoBat Batteries, a Chinese-Slovak venture to build the plant in the town of Surany, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of Bratislava. German car giant Volkswagen is the largest shareholder in Gotion High-Tech with a 24.77% stake. Volkswagen has a car plant in Slovakia. Gotion High-Tech began production in its first European plant in Gottingen, Germany, in September.

Organizations: Tech, Volkswagen Locations: BRATISLAVA, Slovakia, Surany, Bratislava, Gotion, Gottingen, Germany

[1/2] Supporters of Dutch far-right politician and leader of the PVV party Geert Wilders react to the exit poll and early results in the Dutch parliamentary elections, in The Hague, Netherlands November 22, 2023. The historic election victory that the PVV achieved on Wednesday exceeded all expectations," Dutch center-right daily NRC said. Congratulations to Geert Wilders on winning the Dutch elections," Orban said late on Wednesday. CONCERNIslamic and Moroccan organisations expressed concerns about Wilders' victory. "The distress and fear are enormous," Habib el Kaddouri, who heads an organisation representing Dutch Moroccans, told Dutch news agency ANP.

Persons: Geert Wilders, Yves Herman Acquire, Viktor Orban, Wilders, Mark Rutte, Pieter Omtzigt, Robert Fico, Giorgia, Orban, Pen, Rutte's, Habib el Kaddouri, party's Omtzigt, Dilan Yesilgoz, wouldn't, Bart Meijer, Charlotte van Campenhout, Anthony Deutsch, Ingrid Melander Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Hungary's, Freedom Party, Labour, Green, People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, NRC, VVD, Dutch, ANP, Thomson Locations: Dutch, The Hague, Netherlands, EU, Europe, Ukraine, Hague, Slovakia, Italy, France, Moroccan

☆ Hungary Gets Ukrainian Truck Queues as Protests Clog Polish, Slovak Crossings
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

In Slovakia, the main border crossing with Ukraine was also blocked on Tuesday, although the country's haulers' union called it the action of a single truck. The group has still warned it could join Polish truckers in protest. The spillover of long border queues hit Hungary on Wednesday, with the main border crossing, Zahony, seeing long queues of trucks waiting to enter Ukraine. Polish truckers will also begin blocking the Medyka crossing together with farmers on Thursday, a protest organizer said. On Sunday, Ukrainian authorities said about 3,000 mostly Ukrainian trucks, including those carrying fuel and humanitarian aid, were stuck on the Polish side of the border.

Persons: haulers, Trucks, Dennik, Boldizsar Gyori, Jason Hovet, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Truckers, European Union, Authorities, Hungarian Tax, Customs Authority, EU Locations: BUDAPEST, Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Slovak, Hungarian

☆ Hungary gets Ukrainian truck queues as protests clog Polish, Slovak crossings
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Persons: haulers, Trucks, Dennik, Boldizsar Gyori, Jason Hovet, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Truckers, European Union, Authorities, Hungarian Tax, Customs Authority, EU, Thomson Locations: BUDAPEST, Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Slovak, Hungarian

☆ Slovak parliament confirms government promising to halt Ukraine military aid
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Slovakia's newly appointed Prime Minister Robert Fico attends the new cabinet's inauguration, at the Presidential Palace in Bratislava, Slovakia, October 25, 2023. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 21 (Reuters) - Slovakia's parliament confirmed Prime Minister Robert Fico's government on Tuesday, backing a policy agenda that promises to halt state military aid to Ukraine, slowly reduce budget deficits and impose a new bank tax. Fico's governing coalition combines his leftist, socially conservative SMER-SSD party with a smaller leftist party and a small nationalist party. The coalition adopted its policy programme last week, and parliament supported it in a vote of confidence on Tuesday. The programme promises a special tax on banking profits and measures to cut interest rates on mortgages.

Persons: Slovakia's, Robert Fico, Radovan Stoklasa, Robert Fico's, Fico, Zuzana Caputova, Jason Hovet, Jan Lopatka, Timothy Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Bratislava, Slovakia, Ukraine

☆ How Electricity Is Changing Around the World
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Nadja Popovich | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

Fossil Clean Fossil CleanWorld electricity generationHow Electricity Is Changing Around the WorldCarbon-free electricity has never been more plentiful. Where Fossil-Fueled Power Is Still Growing Today trend Over Last Decade Declining fossil power Mostly clean already Plateau or other trend Rising fossil power Circles are sized by the amount of total power generated by each country in 2021-22. trend Over Last Decade Mostly clean already Declining fossil power Plateau or other trend Rising fossil power Circles are sized by the amount of total power generated by each country in 2021-22. Note: Total generation data is shown through 2022 for the countries that have power generation data available through that year. (The country’s per person electricity generation is still much lower than America’s.) “But the upfront cost is a barrier.”Millions of people around the world also continue to go without access to any form of electricity.

Persons: It’s, ”, Dave Jones, —, Faran Rana, Nancy Haegel Organizations: Nuclear, Wind, Oil Gas Coal United States European Union United, United, Oil Gas Coal, Energy, International Renewable Energy Agency, United States, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Oil Gas Coal Argentina Australia Austria Bangladesh Belgium Brazil Bulgaria Canada Chile China Colombia Czechia Denmark Ecuador Egypt Finland France Germany Greece Hungary India Indonesia Iran Ireland Italy Japan Kazakhstan Kuwait Malaysia Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russian Federation Saudi, Oil Gas Coal Argentina Australia Austria Bangladesh Belgium Brazil Bulgaria Canada Chile China Colombia Czechia Denmark Ecuador Egypt Finland France Germany Greece Hungary India Indonesia Iran Ireland Italy Japan Kazakhstan Kuwait Malaysia Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russian Federation Saudi Arabia Serbia Singapore Slovakia South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Thailand Turkey Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United Locations: China, India, United States, Europe, London, Oil Gas Coal United States European Union United Kingdom Australia, Australia, Oil Gas Coal China India Indonesia Malaysia, Asia, Indonesia, Oil Gas Coal Argentina Australia Austria Bangladesh Belgium Brazil Bulgaria Canada Chile China Colombia Czechia Denmark Ecuador Egypt Finland France Germany Greece Hungary India Indonesia Iran Ireland Italy Japan Kazakhstan Kuwait Malaysia Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Peru Philippines Poland Portugal, Oil Gas Coal Argentina Australia Austria Bangladesh Belgium Brazil Bulgaria Canada Chile China Colombia Czechia Denmark Ecuador Egypt Finland France Germany Greece Hungary India Indonesia Iran Ireland Italy Japan Kazakhstan Kuwait Malaysia Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russian Federation Saudi Arabia Serbia Singapore Slovakia South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Thailand Turkey Ukraine, Oil Gas Coal Argentina Australia Austria Bangladesh Belgium Brazil Bulgaria Canada Chile China Colombia Czechia Denmark Ecuador Egypt Finland France Germany Greece Hungary India Indonesia Iran Ireland Italy Japan Kazakhstan Kuwait Malaysia Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russian Federation Saudi Arabia Serbia Singapore Slovakia South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Thailand Turkey Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Vietnam

☆ Slovakia's New PM Fico Stops Talking to Some Media Amid Rift
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stopped communication with four leading domestic news outlets on Monday after accusing them of failing to provide truthful information, widening a rift with some independent media groups. Fico became prime minister for a fourth time last month at the head of a leftist-nationalist coalition after an election in which he attacked liberal policies, Slovakia's Western allies and media that is critical of him and his SMER party. "As long as the cited media outlets do not begin to fulfil their legal obligations, Prime Minister R. Fico is interrupting any communication with them," the government office said in an emailed statement. While he had not barred journalists, halting communication contravened laws ensuring that media are kept informed by the authorities, he added. Pavol Szalai of Reporters Without Borders said Fico was subjecting Slovakia's democracy to a "crash test".

Persons: Robert Fico, Fico, Jan Kuciak, Kuciak, R, Dennik, Matus Kostolny, Kostolny, Beata Balogova, Jason Hovet, Gareth Jones Organizations: Reuters, Slovak, TV, Facebook, Borders, Government

☆ See the best evening gowns at the 2023 Miss Universe competition
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Alex Rees | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Benjamin Askinas/Courtesy Miss Universe Miss Bolivia, Estefany Rivero. Benjamin Askinas/Courtesy Miss Universe Miss Brazil, Maria Brechane. Benjamin Askinas/Courtesy Miss Universe Miss Bulgaria, Yuliia Pavlikova. Benjamin Askinas/Courtesy Miss Universe Miss Slovakia, Kinga Puhová Benjamin Askinas/Courtesy Miss Universe Miss South Africa, Bryoni Govender. The 2023 Miss Universe pageant also marks longtime Miss Universe Organization President Paula Shugart’s last year.

☆ Miss Universe 2023 preliminary: Highlights from the national costume competition
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Alex Rees | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

That’s a serious question, but with a delightfully nonsensical answer: All served as inspiration for national costumes on display during the 2023 Miss Universe pageant’s preliminary competition. (Specifically, those were the looks donned by Miss Great Britain, Miss Philippines, Miss Dominican Republic and, yes, Miss Switzerland.) Eighty-four countries are represented at this year’s Miss Universe, which is taking place in the El Salvadoran capital of San Salvador. Miss Nepal, Jane Garrett, is one of the first “curvy” women to compete at Miss Universe; Erica Robin, meanwhile, is the first woman to represent Pakistan at the pageant. Hector Vivas/Getty ImagesTrue to form for the competition, Miss France ventured into Moulin Rouge's costume department.

Persons: Miss Great, Miss Nepal, Jane Garrett, Erica Robin, R’Bonney Gabriel, Hector Vivas, Miss Brazil, El Salvador's, Alex Peña, Ireland's, carnations, Miss Nigeria's, Miss Curaçao's, Marina Machete, Miss Malaysia, Serena Lee, Jordanne Levy, Moulin, Anntonia Porsild, Bryoni Natalie Govender, Miss Mongolia's Organizations: CNN, Swiss Guard, Miss, El, Oxford English, Miss Netherlands, Games, country's Air Force, Images Locations: Miss Great Britain, Miss Philippines, Miss Dominican Republic, Miss Switzerland, El Salvadoran, San Salvador, Netherlands, Portugal, Miss, Pakistan, USA, Miss Iceland, Venezuelan American, Costa Rica, Miss Portugal, Honduras, Jamaica, Thailand, South Africa

☆ Smugglers are helping Ukrainians pretend they have injuries or kids to get out of going to war
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Smugglers are using Telegram groups to sell their services to Ukrainian draft dodgers, per the BBC. AdvertisementSmugglers are using Telegram to sell their services to Ukrainian men trying to flee the army's compulsory military conscription, according to a BBC investigation . The reporter, named Andrey by the outlet, spent a month corresponding with smugglers as a prospective Ukrainian draft dodger. Services being offered included creating fake medical exemptions, adding pretend children to families, and organizing illegal border crossings, Andrey told the outlet. Smugglers told Andrey that the price included a bribe for the official making them, he said — a sign of the persisting corruption among Ukrainian officials.

Persons: —, Andrey, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence didn't, Venislavskyi Organizations: dodgers, BBC . Services, Service, BBC, dodger, Services, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, National Security Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, Romania, Moldova, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia

☆ Slovakia cruise past Iceland to qualify for Euro 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 16 (Reuters) - Slovakia recovered from a goal down to beat Iceland 4-2 at home in Group J on Thursday, becoming the latest country to secure a place at next year's European Championship. Juraj Kucka equalised at the half-hour mark before Ondrej Duda completed the turnaround six minutes later, slotting home a penalty after Kristian Hlynsson fouled him. After the break, Slovakia dominated, with Lukas Haraslin scoring two minutes into the second half and completing his brace eight minutes later with a curled shot from the edge of the box. The victory ensures a top-two finish for Slovakia in Group J along with already-qualified Portugal. Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; Editing by Frank PingueOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Iceland's Orri Oskarsson, Juraj Kucka, Ondrej Duda, Kristian Hlynsson, Lukas Haraslin, Gudjohnsen, Tommy Lund, Frank Pingue Organizations: Iceland, Thomson Locations: Slovakia, Portugal, Gdansk

☆ Luxembourg sweep past Bosnia 4-1 to enter Euro playoffs
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LUXEMBOURG, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Luxembourg thumped Bosnia 4-1 on Thursday but fell short of a top-two finish in Group J after Slovakia beat Iceland 4-2, leaving both teams in the hunt for a place for Euro 2024 in the play-offs. The home side took the lead after six minutes when Mathias Olesen's header flew into the top right-hand corner of Nikola Vasilj's goal. A late Renato Gojkovic goal gave the Bosnians some breathing space in added time before Rodrigues scored his second goal two minutes later. Already-qualified Portugal topped Group J with 25 points after nine matches, while Slovakia is second with 19 points. Luxembourg and Bosnia still have a chance to go through the playoffs.

Persons: Mathias Olesen's, Nikola Vasilj's, Gerson Rodrigues, Amir Hadziahmetovic, Leandro Barreiro, Nihad Mujakic, Dirk Carlson's, Renato Gojkovic, Rodrigues, Angelica Medina, Julien Pretot Organizations: Luxembourg thumped, Slovakia, Iceland, Thomson Locations: LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg, Luxembourg thumped Bosnia, Portugal, Slovakia, Bosnia, Mexico City

☆ I left NYC and moved to Eastern Europe after my divorce — but here's what I wish I would've done differently
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Katka Lapelosova | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Katka Lapelosová moved to Serbia in October 2020 after her divorce. Then I fell in love with my best friend from high school, who had never left Long Island, and everything changed. Our nearly 10-year relationship was fantastic and filled with many wonderful memories including a few trips to Europe. AdvertisementSerbia really surprised me and moving here has been interestingLapelosová drove around Serbia and found the countryside very beautiful. Courtesy of Katka LapelosováWhile I love living abroad, it can definitely get lonely, and I still get homesick.

Persons: Katka Lapelosová, Lapelosová, would've, she'll, —, I'm, wasn't, I'd, I've, Lapelosová I've, Serbia —, don't, There's, it's, Belgrade haven't Organizations: Service, Belgrade —, Yorker, EU Locations: Serbia, Yorker, Prague, Long, Europe, EU, Balkans, Serbian, Belgrade, Italy, Spain, Greece, Slovakia, Saint Sava Temple, New York City, Paris, Barcelona, Siberia, Syria, Croatia, Malta

☆ Poland's Allegro sees higher holiday-quarter earnings after Q3 core profit beat
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 16 (Reuters) - Poland's biggest e-commerce platform Allegro (ALEP.WA) said on Thursday it expects earnings to rise 20%-23% year-on-year at home in the crucial holiday quarter, after its third-quarter core profit topped expectations. Allegro's adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 32.4% to 778 million zlotys ($191.7 million) in the Polish market, compared to 760 million zlotys expected in a company-compiled consensus. Gross merchandise value (GMV), an industry metric used to measure transaction volumes, rose in Poland by 10.5% to 13.3 billion zlotys in the reporting quarter. The number of active buyers in Poland grew for a sixth consecutive quarter to 14.5 million, it added. ($1 = 4.0587 zlotys)Reporting by Anna Pruchnicka; Editing by Kim Coghill and Varun H KOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Roy Perticucci, Perticucci, Gross, Anna Pruchnicka, Kim Coghill, Varun Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Poland

☆ Ronaldo scores as Portugal beat Liechtenstein 2-0
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 16 (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo found the back of the net to help Portugal beat Liechtenstein 2-0 in Group J clash on Thursday as the 38-year-old tied Belgium's Romelu Lukaku as the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign's top scorer. With their spot for the finals already secured, Portugal are on top of their group on 27 points, eight ahead of second-placed Slovakia. Liechtenstein are bottom with no points after nine games. Ronaldo extended his lead as the all-time top scorer in international soccer by moving up to 128 goals in 204 matches. Joao Cancelo extended their lead in the 56th minute, taking advantage of a blunder by goalkeeper Benjamin Buechel, who was out of position, to striked into the empty net.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lukaku, Roberto Martinez, Diogo Jota's, Ronaldo, Joao Cancelo, Benjamin Buechel, Fernando Kallas, Julien Pretot Organizations: Portugal, Liechtenstein, Thomson Locations: Portugal, Slovakia, Liechtenstein, striked

☆ German regulator eyes Ozempic export ban amid shortages across Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Ludwig Burger | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Use of Ozempic for weight loss has caused shortages across Europe. Novo Nordisk, which has earmarked $6 billion to boost production in Denmark, said last week the industry was far from being able to produce enough weight-loss drugs to meet global demand. The German association of drug wholesale distributors PHAGRO said in a statement that there was no certainty that exports were causing the shortages. Portugal, Poland, Romania, Belgium, Slovakia and Spain, in turn, have rules in place that likely make it impossible to export the drug, Affordable Medicines said. It also urged "all relevant actors" not to export the drugs.

Persons: George Frey REFILE, Spiegel, Lilly, Karl Broich, Eli Lilly's, tirzepatide, BfArM's Broich, Broich, PHAGRO, Germany's BfArM, Ludwig Burger, Miranda Murray, Patricia Weiss, Matthias Williams, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Novo Nordisk, Pharmacy, REUTERS, BfArM, EU, Novo Nordisk's, Spiegel, European Union, Medicines, Thomson Locations: Provo , Utah, U.S, FRANKFURT, United States, Europe, Britain, Belgium, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Medicines Europe, Austria, France, Greece, Czech Republic, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Frankfurt, Berlin

☆ New Slovak government eyes tax, spending hikes, slow deficit reduction
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Slovakia's newly appointed Prime Minister Robert Fico attends the new cabinet's inauguration, at the Presidential Palace in Bratislava, Slovakia, October 25, 2023. The programme promised a special tax on banking profits and measures to cut interest rates on mortgages. The programme also set out plans for increasing tax levels for higher earners, on real estate -- especially second and third homes -- and on alcohol and tobacco. The goal is to help fund a slow consolidation of the public budget as the budget gap is expected to be nearly 7% of gross domestic product. ($1 = 0.9373 euros)Reporting by Jan Lopatka in Prague, Editing by Timothy HeritageOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Slovakia's, Robert Fico, Radovan Stoklasa, Fico, Erik Tomas, Jan Lopatka, Timothy Organizations: REUTERS, Ukraine, European, Social, European Union, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Bratislava, Slovakia, European Union, Ukraine, Prague

☆ The top Christmas markets for 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +22 min

Basel Christmas Market, SwitzerlandBasel Christmas Market is made up of decorated stalls selling Christmas spices, decorations and candles. Strasbourg Christmas Market, FranceOne of Europe’s oldest Christmas markets, Strasbourg began back in 1570, but it’s evolved considerably since then. Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square Christmas markets, Prague, Czech RepublicTo say the city of Prague goes all out at Christmas is something of an understatement. Skansen’s Christmas Market, StockholmStockholm isn’t exactly lacking when it comes to Christmas markets, but none are more traditional than Skansen. St. Stephen’s Basilica and Vörösmarty Square markets, Budapest, HungaryBudapest has two main festive markets: St. Stephen’s Basilica Christmas market, or Advent Bazilika, and Vörösmarty Square Christmas market.

Persons: Wiener, Wiener Christkindlmarkt, it’s, Kleber, Laia Ros, Wenceslas, Santa Llucia, Mercati Natale, Piazza Santa, there’s, you’ll, Walt Disney, Lucia’s, Tuomaan, Emperor Alexander II, Santa Claus, Bazilika, Germany Gendarmenmarkt, Massimo Borchi, Dom, Deutscher Dom, Bavaria’s, Gendarmenmarkt, Jeff J Mitchell, Scott, Dominika, Glowny, Adam Mickiewicz, Steve Russell, Colin Miller, Manhattan’s, Josephine Shaw Lowell Fountain Organizations: CNN, City Hall, Basel, Switzerland Basel Christmas, Getty, Belgium’s, Bourse, Monnaie, Sainte, Marche aux Poissons, Fira, Barcelona Cathedral, Santa, Cisco Pelay, Piazza Santa Croce, Santa Croce, Tivoli Gardens, Estonia Estonia's, Markkinat, Vörösmarty, Nuremberg, Hyde, London Hyde, Food, Edinburgh, Scotland Scottish, Street Gardens, Scottish, Street, Edinburgh Castle, Andrew, George, East, Poland Krakow Christmas, Bratislava, Slovakian, Distillery, Toronto Star, Toronto, Distillery District, , New York Skaters, Bank of America, The Bank of America, Christkindlmarket Chicago, Daley, RiverEdge, Christkindlmarket Locations: Vienna, Germany, Switzerland, Singapore, New York, Austria, Barfüsserplatz, St, Basel, Strasbourg, France, Belgium, Brussels, Sainte Catherine, Marche, Belgian, Place, Prague, Czech Republic, Czech, Old, Santa Llucia, Barcelona, Santa, Florence, Italy, Heidelberg, Piazza del, Zagreb, Croatia, Advent, Tivoli , Copenhagen, Denmark, Danish, Tivoli, Tallinn, Estonia, Estonia Estonia's Tallinn, Estonian, Stockholm Stockholm, Djurgarden, Skansen’s, Tuomaan Markkinat, Helsinki, Ryhor, Helsinki’s, Stephen’s, Budapest, Hungary Budapest, Gendarmenmarkt, Capital, Berlin, Nuremberg, London, United Kingdom, Christmas, Edinburgh, Krakow, Poland Krakow, Polish, Europe, Mary’s, Slovakia, Bratislava, Bay, Toronto, Distillery, Bryant, , New, Manhattan’s Bryant, Chicago, Windy City, Aurora

☆ Ukraine's security service raided a factory in Ukraine making uniforms for the Russian national ski team, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A factory in western Ukraine was caught making uniforms for Russia's national ski team. Ukraine's security service said it found a production line for the ski team in Zakarpattia Oblast. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementA factory in Ukraine was caught making uniforms for Russia's national ski team, Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) said, per The Kyiv Post. The SBU said it had found evidence of a production line for the ski team operating within a factory located in the Zakarpattia Oblast in western Ukraine, per the report.

Persons: —, Viktor Mykyta Organizations: national, Service, Ukraine's Security, Zakarpattia Regional, Kyiv Post, Russian Federation, United Nations Locations: Ukraine, Zakarpattia Oblast, Kyiv, Russia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Mukachevo

In a series of reports on countries wanting to join the bloc's ranks, the EU’s executive branch recommended that war-ravaged Ukraine should be permitted to open membership talks, once it’s addressed some shortfalls. “Moldova is the subject of constant destabilization efforts against its democracy,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. For 20 years, the prospect of EU membership has been a powerful driver of pro-democratic reform in aspiring countries. The commission said that it should only start membership talks after more progress is made. The country started its EU membership talks in 2005, but they have ground to a halt in recent years.

Persons: it’s, “, Ursula von der Leyen, ”, von der Leyen, Turkey's, backsliding Organizations: —, European Union, European Commission, Georgia, EU, Kosovo –, Kyiv “ Locations: BRUSSELS, — Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine, Brussels, Hungary, Slovakia, Balkans, Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnian, Turkey, Europe

☆ New Slovak government rejects final military aid package for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Then designated Prime Minister Robert Fico walks on the day of the new cabinet's inauguration at the Presidential Palace in Bratislava, Slovakia, October 25, 2023. Fico's government rejected the package at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, according to the government's website. Fico ran a campaign criticising Western military support for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia, and backs pushing for peace talks, a line similar to Hungary's leader Viktor Orban but rejected by Kyiv. Slovakia, which shares a border with Ukraine in its east, had sent military aid in 13 packages and worth 671 million euros to Kyiv since Russia's attack in February 2022 before Fico's appointment. Diplomats have said army stocks have been largely depleted so a halt in official military aid may have limited impact.

Persons: Robert Fico, Radovan Stoklasa, Fico's, Fico, Viktor Orban, Jason Hovet, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, NATO, Kyiv, SNS, Diplomats, Thomson Locations: Bratislava, Slovakia, Ukraine, Kyiv, Russian, Russia, Prague

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s intelligence agency took credit for a car bombing Wednesday that killed a member of the Russia-backed authority in the illegally annexed Luhansk region. He had survived a car bombing on Feb. 21, 2022, three days before Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It said that the killing was a warning that “traitors to Ukraine and collaborators with terrorist Russia in temporarily occupied territories … will receive just retribution! Russia-backed insurgents declared a separatist Luhansk People’s Republic in 2014 and fought Ukrainian forces relying on Moscow’s military and political support. The previous government was a staunch supporter of Ukraine, sending it arms worth 671 million euros ($717 million).

Persons: Mikhail Filiponenko, Filiponenko, Robert Fico, Fico, ___ Karel Janicek, Yuras Organizations: Local, Main Intelligence, Ministry of Defense, European Union Locations: KYIV, Ukraine, Russia, Luhansk, Luhansk People’s Republic, Donetsk, Bahatyr, Kharkiv, Kupiansk, Kherson, Beryslav, Prague, Tallinn, Estonia, russia, ukraine

☆ Volkswagen puts off east European gigafactory amid sluggish EV demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Volkswagen logo is seen during the New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 5, 2023. It said earlier this year it was in no rush to make a decision. Czech officials said on Wednesday they would start offering their proposed site for Volkswagen's battery plant to other investors, saying they could not afford to wait any longer for a decision. "We cannot continue to hold the land for this project," Fiala told a news conference. Industry minister Jozef Sikela said talks were happening with five investors, with two of those projects on a similar scale to Volkswagen's plans.

Persons: David, Dee, Delgado, Oliver Blume, BEV, Blume, Petr Fiala, Fiala, Jozef Sikela, Jason Hovet, Louise Heavens, Mark Potter Organizations: New York, REUTERS, Rights, Volkswagen, Volkswagen's, Skoda Auto, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Europe, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Salzgitter, Germany, Valencia, Spain, St, Thomas, Canada, Volkswagen's Czech, Czech

☆ Oil could soar to record high of $150 if Israel-Hamas war escalates further, World Bank says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Picture taken on May 3, 2022 shows a general view of Slovakia's largest mineral oil refinery Slovnaft in Bratislava, Slovakia. Record high oil prices could be on the horizon in the event of a conflagration of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the World Bank cautioned. Should the conflict expand beyond the borders of the Gaza Strip to a repeat of the Arab oil embargo in 1973, oil prices could surge to $157 per barrel, the World Bank noted in its latest Commodity Markets Outlook report. The highest price of oil on record was in July 2008, when Brent traded as high as $147.5 per barrel, according to data from LSEG. "In a 'large disruption' scenario — comparable to the Arab oil embargo in 1973 — the global oil supply would shrink by 6 million to 8 million barrels per day," the World Bank said.

Persons: Brent Organizations: World Bank, Markets Locations: Bratislava, Slovakia, Israel, Gaza

The winner of the lucrative contract will then have an option to build three more nuclear reactors in the country. Last year, the Czech government excluded Russia’s energy giant Rosatom and China’s CNG from the tender process on security grounds. Political Cartoons View All 1227 ImagesPrime Minister Petr Fiala said Russian participation in the project, which is critical for the Czech Republic's energy security, was “unimaginable” following the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine. The Czech Republic already relies on six nuclear reactors to generate more than a third of its total electricity. In a separate deal, CEZ had signed a deal with U.S. energy giant Westinghouse Electric Co. to supply nuclear fuel for the Dukovany nuclear plant, eliminating dependence on Russia for such fuel.

Persons: Korea’s, CEZ, Petr Fiala Organizations: U.S, Westinghouse, France’s EdF, Union, Westinghouse Electric Co Locations: PRAGUE, Czech, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Dukovany, Austria, Germany, Central Europe, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Russia

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