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Guardia Civil/Handout via REUTERSMADRID, June 1 (Reuters) - Spanish police raided three clandestine tobacco factories early this year, seizing nearly 40 million euros ($44 million) worth of tobacco leaf and illicit cigarettes. This operation is one of dozens across the EU that regional policing and anti-fraud agencies say have driven seizures of illicit cigarettes to record levels. It may have been further accelerated by the war in Ukraine, which for years has been a production hub and transit route for illicit tobacco, OLAF added. TOBACCO INVESTIGATORSThe industry has responded by hiring investigators to research illicit operations and share intelligence with European authorities, executives at Japan Tobacco, BAT and Imperial Brands told Reuters. "A good many workers from Ukraine have been found in these illegal factories," Japan Tobacco's Byrne said about counterfeiting operations across the EU.

Persons: who'd, OLAF, Cyrille Olive, Philip Morris, Olive, Europol, Vincent Byrne, Byrne, Japan Tobacco's Winston, Alex McDonald, Ernesto Bianchi, McDonald, Japan Tobacco's Byrne, They're, they're, Richa Naidu, Emma Pinedo, Emilio Parodi, Matt Scuffham Organizations: Guardia Civil, REUTERS, Spanish, EU, BAT, Imperial Brands, Japan Tobacco, Philip Morris International, Reuters, Marlboro, America's Dunhill, Supplies, Investigators, Mobile, Thomson Locations: Seville, Spain, Guardia, REUTERS MADRID, Alfaro, Europe, Ukraine, British American, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Denmark, Czech Republic, Ireland, Japan, China, Asia, EU, Russia, Belarus, Roda de Ter, Barcelona, Spanish, Italy, Pomezia, Russian, Moldovan, London, Madrid, Milan

☆ Title contender Rybakina marches past teenager Noskova into third round
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Karolos Grohmann | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 1, 2023 Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina in action during her second round match against Czech Republic's Linda Noskova REUTERS/Lisi NiesnerPARIS, June 1 (Reuters) - Fourth seed Elena Rybakina booked her third round spot with a 6-3 6-3 victory over rising Czech teenager Linda Noskova on Thursday, confirming her status as one of the front-runners for the title. Rybakina, a member of the new 'Big three' along with fellow title contenders, world number one Iga Swiatek and second seed Aryna Sabalenka, struggled with Noskova's powerful serve and thundering forehand. It was instead Noskova who carved out two break points at 3-3 but Rybakina, who won the title at Indian Wells and Rome this season while also reaching the final at the Miami Open, saved them both. She responded in kind at the very next game to break Noskova and go 5-3 up before clinching the match with an ace on her fourth match point. Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Roland Garros, Elena Rybakina, Linda Noskova, Lisi Niesner PARIS, Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Karolos Grohmann, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Czech, Wimbledon, French, Miami, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Czech, Indian Wells, Rome

☆ India's 6.1% GDP growth in January-March quarter shouldn't have come as a surprise, JPMorgan says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailIndia's 6.1% GDP growth in January-March quarter shouldn't have come as a surprise, JPMorgan saysJahangir Aziz of the investment bank says other emerging markets have "all been surprising on the upside, barring … Taiwan, Czech Republic and South Africa."

Persons: Jahangir Aziz Organizations: … Locations: … Taiwan, Czech Republic, South Africa

☆ Stephens puts down marker on 'favourite court in the world'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Karolos Grohmann | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 29, 2023 Sloane Stephens of the U.S. celebrates winning her first round match against Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoynePARIS, May 29 (Reuters) - Sloane Stephens relished every moment she spent on her favourite court in the world as the she cruised to a 6-0 6-4 first-round victory over former world number one Karolina Pliskova on Monday to put down an early marker at the French Open. "This is my favourite court in the world and I am super happy to be back," said Stephens, currently ranked 30th. Stephens came into the tournament in improving form on clay after winning her first WTA 125 event and reaching the semi-finals on clay in Rabat last week. "To start like that on your favourite court and favourite surface is great. I wanted to get matches under my belt this year (before the tournament) and I was feeling confident," Stephens said.

South Korean companies do not disclose the unit prices for their weapons, which are often sold with support vehicles and spare parts. That will include building South Korean arms on license in Poland, officials in Seoul and Warsaw said. "It may work for some countries at very, very low volume," he added of Polish-brokered South Korean weapons sales, discussing challenges the joint operation might face. The 2022 arms deal began with South Korean companies signing a framework agreement with the Polish government. Seoul has since approved at least some South Korean weapons components for use in Ukraine.

Belarus is being used as a key staging ground for Russia's war in Ukraine, which Moscow terms a "special operation". When asked if she was ready to be number one, she smiled and said: "Yes, I think so. Unlike the other three, Tsitsipas has yet to win a Grand Slam and he begins his campaign against Czech Republic's Jiri Vesely. "It's all about getting into the mindset of the Roland Garros final that I had here (in 2021)," he said. I just need to get a few good first matches to keep believing that I actually can do something this year."

☆ Maria Perez breaks women's 35km race walk world record by an astonishing 29 seconds
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —There’s breaking world records, and then there’s demolishing them – which is what Maria Perez did at the European Race Walking Team Championships on Sunday. The Spaniard broke the women’s 35km race walk word record by an astonishing 29 seconds, beating the mark set by Peru’s Kimberly Garcia in March. Perez crossed the line in two hours, 37 minutes and 15 seconds in Podebrady, Czech Republic, more than eight minutes ahead of her nearest challenger, compatriot Raquel Gonzales. According to European Athletics, the last Spaniard to break a world record in track and field was Francisco Fernandez in the 10,000m race walk in 2008. “It is a nice feeling to finish the race and the time is a big reward for this,” Perez said, per European Athletics.

☆ Ukrainian firms venture abroad for growth as war hits home
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Olena Harmash | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The ongoing conflict has prompted several Ukrainian firms to focus abroad to reduce their reliance on a shrinking home market and to tap into the millions of people who have left. Ukraine, which had a pre-war population of about 40 million, has seen its domestic economy turned upside down, with corporate investments and growth now rare. "Our choice was to go to Poland, mainly because Poland hosts now the highest number of Ukrainians who fled from the war." In September, 8.5% of all companies opened in Poland had Ukrainian capital, compared with 0.8% in January 2022. "The main goal is to grow abroad much faster than we planned for ourselves in the pre-war period," Vovk said.

☆ Factbox: Why Ukraine is bidding for F-16 jets and will it succeed?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

WHAT KIND OF FIGHTER JETS COULD UKRAINE GET? Ukraine wants F-16s, which it says are "four or five times" more effective than Soviet-era jets it currently has. However, Polish President Andrzej Duda reiterated on Tuesday that Poland has too few F-16 jets to be able to give any to Ukraine. Britain will not send jets to Ukraine, a spokesperson for Sunak has said, since Britain does not have the F-16s that Ukraine wants. Denmark said in February it was "open" to the idea of sending fighter jets to Ukraine.

☆ Czechs cancel Soviet-era decrees giving Russian embassy free land
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PRAGUE, May 17 (Reuters) - The Czech government on Wednesday cancelled Soviet-era decrees that granted the Russian embassy free use of land in Prague and other cities, a further step in a more than two-year diplomatic spat with Moscow worsened by the war in Ukraine. The Russian embassy in Prague did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Russia will now have to pay leases to use of the land, the foreign ministry said. Prague has been a strong supporter of Ukraine since Russia invaded on February 2022 and has supplied it with military aid. The Czech parliament designated "the current Russian regime as terrorist" in November.

☆ Italy and EU allies "have the numbers" to block Euro 7 emission rules, Salvini says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

VERONA (Italy), May 16 (Reuters) - Italy's transport minister said on Tuesday that Italy and its allies in the European Union can block the Euro 7 regulation which tightens vehicle emission limits for pollutants including nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide from 2025. The proposed Euro 7 regulation was "clearly wrong" and not even helpful from an environmental pint of view, said Italy's Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, the leader of the League coalition party in Italy's right-wing government. "Italy, with France, Czech Republic, Romania, Portugal, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Poland and Hungary, has the numbers to block this leap in the dark," Salvini said during an automotive dealer conference in Verona. European carmakers have been fighting back against the proposed emission regulations they argue are too costly, rushed and unnecessary. The European Commission says are needed to cut harmful emissions and prevent a repeat of the Dieselgate scandal.

☆ ON Semiconductor mulls $2 bln investment in electric vehicle chip production
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Stephen Nellis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 16 (Reuters) - ON Semiconductor Corp (ON.O) is considering investing $2 billion in boosting production of silicon carbide chips that are widely used to help extend the range of electric vehicles, company executives said on Tuesday. The company makes more than half of its own chips internally and has invested in a full supply chain for energy efficient silicon carbide chips, making both the raw materials and finished chips in-house. Trent said that increased silicon carbide production would happen at one of the company's existing sites, rather building a new factory, to save costs. At a financial analyst day on Thursday, executives said they aim to capture 40% of the silicon carbide automotive chip market by 2027. Over the same time period, ON Semiconductor expects to expand free cash flows from $1.6 billion in 2022 to $3.5 billion to $4 billion by 2027.

☆ Seville to host 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Tennis - Billie Jean King Cup Finals - Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - November 9, 2022 General view of the trophy during the group stage match between Italy's Jasmine Paolini and... Read moreLONDON, May 10 (Reuters) - Seville will host the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Finals, the International Tennis Federation announced on Wednesday. The showpiece women's team event, featuring 12 nations, will take place from Nov. 7-12. It is the first time since 2008 that Spain has hosted the finals of the competition, known until 2020 as the Fed Cup. Teams will compete in four round-robin groups of three, with the four group winners progressing to the semi-finals. Seville will also host the Finals in 2024.

☆ Czech president: Ukraine could have our L-159 jets
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PRAGUE, May 10 (Reuters) - The Czech Republic could give Ukraine some of its L-159 fighter jets to support its planned counter-offensive, Czech President Petr Pavel was quoted as saying on Wednesday. "It is worth considering whether we could provide Ukraine with our L-159 aircraft," Pavel told Czech public radio in an interview. "As direct combat support aircraft, (the planes) could also help Ukraine significantly in the counteroffensive," he said. Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte said last week that talks on a potential donation of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine were progressing, but no decision has been made. Slovakia and Poland provided Ukraine with Soviet-era MIG-29 fighter jets in March.

☆ Factbox: Who qualified in the first Eurovision semi-final?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LIVERPOOL, England, May 9 (Reuters) - The first semi-final of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest was held in Liverpool, northern England, on Tuesday. Ten of the 15 countries performing went through to Saturday's Grand Final. They will join 10 qualifiers from Thursday's second semi-final, last year's winner Ukraine, and the "big five" - Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain - in the Grand Final. WHICH COUNTRIES QUALIFIED? Malta, Latvia, Ireland, Azerbaijan and the NetherlandsReporting by Paul Sandle, Editing by Rosalba O'BrienOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ China poses greatest risk to Europe's carmakers - Allianz Trade study
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Allianz SE FollowTesla Inc FollowLONDON, May 9 (Reuters) - Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) pose the greatest risk to Europe's carmakers and could cost them 7 billion euros ($7.7 billion) a year in lost profits by 2030 unless policymakers take action, according to an Allianz Trade report. Europe's carmakers face a dual threat from the prospect of falling sales of their own vehicles in China, where local EV makers have been growing market share, and from rising sales of imported Chinese EVs - made by Chinese or Western carmakers. A crowded market for all-electric SUVs in China is putting pressure on local carmakers to export more vehicles to Europe. "The stakes are high for Europe's automotive industry: four out of five cars sold in Europe are assembled locally," the report added. The report said the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) had made Europe a target for Chinese exports.

Prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February last year, Ukraine ran its nuclear reactors on Russian fuel, producing 55% of the country's electricity. Cameco, like Energoatom, can adjust how much uranium it delivers on two years' notice, Kotin said. Contracted uranium prices are typically higher than spot prices, meaning that Cameco may take a discount if Ukraine purchases less uranium due to the war's impact, Carter said. Kotin said Energoatom will buy Cameco's uranium at a price based equally on a fixed price and a market price. BIG POTENTIAL REWARDSWhile Ukraine will rely on Cameco for uranium, it has struck separate deals for further processing.

☆ Richardson storms to 100m win in Diamond League, Kerley wins 200m
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"Like I said it before, I had to be kicked out from another 100 metres race, so I had to do my best no matter what. I am really happy with my race, third place is a good start and the time is decent," she said. "I feel really good, today was challenging for all athletes but I'm still satisfied with my result," Chopra said. The Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch, who won silver in Tokyo, finished second again -- four centimetres shy of Chopra's mark. "It was an exciting race but a little bit windy, so I decided to not push too much and just focus on winning the race," Kipyegon said.

☆ Brno: Eight people die after fire breaks out in Czech city
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

CNN —Eight people have died in the city of Brno, the Czech Republic, after a large fire broke out early on Thursday in an area frequented by homeless people, Czech police said. A spokesperson said the fire started overnight at a site of 12 interconnected mobile cabins near a residential complex in Brno, the second largest Czech city. The cabins were used as a dormitory for construction workers in the past, but have been abandoned for some time. The spokesperson added police believe the eight victims were likely homeless people sheltering in the cabins. “The fire has tragic consequences, we found eight victims inside,” the fire service said in the statement.

☆ IMF warns of 'disorderly' house price corrections in Europe as interest rates move higher
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

STOCKHOLM, Sweden — The International Monetary Fund warned Friday of "disorderly" house price corrections in Europe, at a time when the region is struggling to bring down inflation. "House price declines could accelerate if markets reprice inflation risks and financial conditions tighten more than expected. Mortgage payments might go up as well, as central banks increase interest rates in efforts to reduce inflation levels. "Empirical models linking house prices to their fundamental drivers point to an overvaluation of 15–20% in most European countries. Therefore, with mortgage rates still on the rise and real incomes dented by inflation, house prices have been declining recently in many markets," the Fund said.

Persons: Banks Organizations: Monetary Fund, IMF Locations: STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Europe, Czech Republic, Denmark

☆ Iranian drones used by Russia in Ukraine are powered by stolen Western tech, research shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Russia wants Iranian drones and ballistic missiles; Iran wants Russian investment and trade. And for the Russians, Iranian drones are a bargain substitute for much more costly missiles, stocks of which are dwindling, according to Western officials. Last October, the head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, said Russia had ordered about 1,700 Iranian drones of different types. “These modifications have prevented investigators from identifying the acquisition networks facilitating the international supply of key components into Iran,” CAR says. CARThe revenues from the sale of hundreds of Shahed-136 drones to Russia will likely be reinvested in further improving the industry.

☆ Frontline Ukrainian soldiers say they are running low on ammo and can only fire a few rounds with their most effective guns
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Ukrainian soldier in Bakhmut said they were low on ammunition and had to limit their firing. Officials in Europe are worried Ukraine doesn't have enough supplies to push back Russian forces. Russian troops have been slowly pushing back Ukraine's troops for months, in what commanders on both sides have called a "meat grinder." Another Ukrainian soldier in the area told the BBC that his men had to ration rounds on their L119 light artillery gun. NATO's chief, Jens Stoltenberg, also gave a warning in February that Ukraine was using ammunition faster than its allies could produce it.

☆ 34-year-old ditched the U.S. for Europe and now spends just $1906/month—raising 3 kids: 'I'm saving more money than ever'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Dr. Alison Opalko-Berry | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

I'm an adjunct professor, content creator, and happy mother of three kids — a 13-year-old, 2-year-old and 18-month-old. Some semesters were so packed that I had to drop my son off at daycare at 5:30 a.m. Even with three kids and higher housing costs, I'm saving more money than ever. Any money that we have left goes into saving up for our first house. The benefits of raising kids in Germany

[1/2] A Vietnamese officer tries a weapon at the stalls of Czech security firms, including Colt, at the Vietnam International Defence Expo 2022 in Hanoi, Vietnam, December 8, 2022. REUTERS/Khanh VuHANOI, April 24 (Reuters) - Vietnam is in talks with the Czech Republic for military supplies, including aircraft, radars, upgrades of armoured vehicles and firearms, a Czech government source told Reuters, as Hanoi aims at diversifying its mostly Russian arsenal. Hanoi ordered a dozen L-39NG light-combat aircraft in 2021 from Czech manufacturer Aero Vodochody, with delivery to begin this year. Of the 15 companies that composed the Czech business delegation, four were security firms. The Vietnam foreign ministry and the Czech embassy in Hanoi had no immediate comment.

LONDON, April 21 (Reuters) - African countries are lining up to approve a new vaccine for malaria, with 20 million doses available for them to buy this year, the shot’s manufacturer told Reuters. African countries that do not have extensive resources for drug regulation have previously relied on the U.N. agency to initially review new medicines. "We expect many more countries to come through," Mary Hamel, the WHO's malaria vaccine implementation head, told the expert meeting on Tuesday. “We are committed to making the R21 vaccine available to people who need it most,” Poonawalla said. FUNDING DOUBTSThe moves are a further sign that African countries want to exert their own pharmaceutical oversight after COVID-19 exposed inequity in vaccine supply.

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