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☆ European countries tighten borders
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

These countries have reinstated stricter checks:* Austria introduced checks at its border with the Czech Republic in October, set to last until Dec. 6. * Denmark in August tightened border control for arrivals, including those from Schengen countries, at Copenhagen airport to boost security after incidents of Koran burnings. * Germany announced controls in September on its land borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland, set to stay in place until Dec. 4. * Sweden strengthened checks in August on its borders, giving border police more power including body searches and increased use of electronic surveillance. * France as of November reintroduced controls on its borders with Schengen members, citing what it called terrorism threats.

Persons: Fabrizio Bensch, Berlin, Matteo Piantedosi, Gerald Darmanin, Olivier Sorgho, Stéphanie, Milla Nissi, Frances Kerry Organizations: REUTERS, European, Austria, EU, Kremlin, Thomson Locations: Forst, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hungary, Ukraine, Denmark, Copenhagen, Poland, Switzerland, Berlin, East, Italy, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden, France, Belgian, Brussels, Africa, Croatia, Finland, Russia, Helsinki, Moscow, Gdansk

☆ Factbox-European Countries Tighten Borders
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

Persons: Berlin, Matteo Piantedosi, Gerald Darmanin, Olivier Sorgho, Stéphanie, Milla Nissi, Frances Kerry Organizations: Reuters, European, Austria, EU, Kremlin Locations: Austria, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hungary, Ukraine, Denmark, Copenhagen, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Berlin, East, Italy, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden, France, Belgian, Brussels, Africa, Croatia, Finland, Russia, Helsinki, Moscow, Gdansk

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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

SEOUL, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Operations at Kia Corp's (000270.KS) assembly plant in South Korea have been suspended due to disruptions in parts supplies, the carmaker said on Wednesday. Poongki Industrial Co Ltd, a Kia supplier that makes chassis parts, suffered a fatal accident that resulted in the death of one worker on Tuesday and halted its own operations, causing supply disruptions at Kia's plant, a Kia spokesperson said. Labour authorities are investigating the accident, putting a halt to forklift truck operations at the Kia supplier's factory, a labour ministry spokesperson said. Kia is checking on alternative sources for Poongki's components, according to the Kia spokesperson. The plant located in the southwestern city of Gwangju produces about 2,000 vehicles a day, according to media reports.

Persons: Kia Corp's, Poongki, Kia, Lee Jae, Heekyong Yang, Ed Davies Organizations: Kia, Poongki Industrial Co Ltd, Labour, Eugene Investment, Securities, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, Gwangju

☆ 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

☆ 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

Overall EU support for Ukraine has totalled almost 83 billion euros since Russia invaded in February 2022, the Brussels-based executive European Commission said this week. Slovakia's Robert Fico, attending his first EU summit since being appointed for his fourth term as prime minister on Wednesday, adopted a similar line. Orban has also said he would not endorse in its current form the proposed EU budget revision, which includes the 50 billion in new aid for Kyiv. Fico said there was endemic corruption in Ukraine and demanded that any new EU aid include guarantees that the funds not be misappropriated, according to a statement from his office. "The questions are, what type of aid and how it is used, how we are sure, the European Union is sure, that this aid is used efficiently," he said.

Persons: Fico, Orban, Olaf Scholz, Slovakia's Robert Fico, Vladimir Putin, Nikolai Denkov, Jan Strupczewski, Phil Blenkinsop, Bart Meijer, Tassilo Hummel, Marine Strauss, Krisztina, Jason Hovet, Miranda Murray, Gabriela Baczynska, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Ukraine New, Union, EU, Ukraine, European Commission, Russia, Kyiv, European Union, European, Bulgarian, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Ukraine New Slovak, Ukraine BRUSSELS, Russian, Hungary, Slovakia, Brussels, Russia, SLOVAKIA, HUNGARY Hungary, Budapest, Bratislava, European Union

☆ Slovakia's Fico will not support more military aid to Ukraine at EU summit -Slovak media
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 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 Acquire Licensing RightsOct 26 (Reuters) - Slovakia's newly appointed Prime Minister Robert Fico will not back further military aid for Ukraine nor support further sanctions against Russia at his first European Union summit, Slovak media cited him as saying on Thursday. Fico campaigned heavily in a September election on pledges to halt Slovakia's military aid to Ukraine, make foreign policy independent, and protect borders from illegal migrants. The EU and its member countries have provided billions of euros in assistance to Ukraine since Russian forces invaded in February last year. Fico has pledged repeatedly to halt military aid for Ukraine, after previous Slovak governments shipped military hardware including fighter jets, an S-300 air defence system, and fighting and de-mining vehicles to Ukraine.

Persons: Slovakia's, Robert Fico, Radovan Stoklasa, Fico, Dennik, Viktor Orban, Jason Hovet, Deborah Kyvrikosaios Organizations: REUTERS, Russia, Union, European Union, Ukraine, EU, year's, Pravda, Hungarian, Kyiv, Thomson Locations: Bratislava, Slovakia, Ukraine, Brussels, Israel, Russian, United States, Prague

☆ Slovakia's Fico appointed prime minister for fourth time
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Slovakia's designated Prime Minister Robert Fico and Slovakia's President Zuzana Caputova attend the new cabinet's inauguration, at the Presidential Palace in Bratislava, Slovakia, October 25, 2023. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa Acquire Licensing RightsOct 25 (Reuters) - Leftist leader Robert Fico was appointed Slovakia's prime minister on Wednesday for the fourth time, after pledging in his election campaign to end military support for Ukraine and criticising sanctions on Russia. President Zuzana Caputova appointed Fico and his cabinet after his SMER-SSD party won the Sept. 30 election and formed a coalition with the centre-left HLAS and nationalist SNS parties. Fico quit as prime minister in 2018 amid mass public protests against corruption after a journalist was murdered. Both Ukraine and migration may be among topics at an EU summit on Thursday and Friday that Fico will attend.

Persons: Robert Fico, Zuzana Caputova, Radovan Stoklasa, Fico, Viktor Orban, Orban, Jan Lopatka, Toby Chopra, Kevin Liffey Organizations: REUTERS, Ukraine, SNS, EU, NATO, Thomson Locations: Bratislava, Slovakia, Russia, Ukraine, U.S, Europe, Brussels, United States, Prague

As demand has slowed in countries such as the United States, Nokia and rival Ericsson (ERICb.ST) have tried to offset some of the weakness with higher sales to India, a low-margin market. Nokia is targeting savings of between 800 million euros ($842 million) and 1.2 billion euros by 2026, its deadline to deliver a long-term comparable operating margin plan of at least 14%. Nokia expects at least 400 million euros of savings in 2024, and a further 300 million euros in 2025. Quarterly comparable net sales fell to 4.98 billion euros from 6.24 billion last year, missing an estimate of 5.67 billion euros according to a LSEG poll. "There are signs here and there that demand would start to pick up again but it's too early to call it a broad-based trend," Lundmark said.

Persons: Albert Gea, Pekka Lundmark, Lundmark, it's, Supantha Mukherjee, Anne Kauranen, Anna Ringstrom, Clarence Fernandez, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Mobile World Congress, REUTERS, STOCKHOLM, Nokia, Ericsson, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Spain, American, HELSINKI, Finnish, United States, India, North American, China, Stockholm, Helsinki

HELSINKI (AP) — Telecom gear maker Nokia said Thursday that it is planning to cut up to 14,000 jobs worldwide, or 16% of its workforce, as part of a push to reduce costs following a plunge in third-quarter sales and profit. The company said it is aiming to slash 800 million euros ($843 billion) to 1.2 billion euros in costs by the end of 2026. That is expected to lead to a reduction from 86,000 employees to between 72,000 and 77,000 over that time period. Nokia’s third-quarter sales plummeted 20%, to 4.98 billion euros from 6.24 billion in the same three-month period last year. The company’s biggest unit by revenue — the mobile networks business — declined 24% to 2.16 billion euros, driven mainly by weakness in the North American market.

Persons: it's, Pekka Lundmark, Lundmark, China’s, ” Lundmark, — Organizations: HELSINKI, — Telecom, Nokia, Ericsson, China’s Huawei, South, Samsung, “, North, North America nosedived Locations: Finnish, North American, North America, India

☆ Nokia to cut up to 14,000 jobs after 69% profit plunge
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Nokia new logo displayed on mobile, with Nokia logo on screen. Nokia on Thursday said it would cut up to 14,000 jobs as part of a cost reduction plan following a plunge in third-quarter earnings. It is targeting to lower its cost base on a gross basis from 2023 by between 800 million euros ($842.5 billion) and 1.2 billion euros by the end of 2026. The substantial layoffs come after Nokia reported third-quarter net sales declined 20% year-on-year to 4.98 billion euros. Profit over the period plunged by 69% year-on-year to 133 million euros.

Organizations: Nokia, Ericsson

☆ Slovakia's SMER party to sign agreement on forming new government on Monday
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SMER-SSD party leader Robert Fico arrives to the party's headquarters, after the country's early parliamentary elections, in Bratislava, Slovakia, October 1, 2023. REUTERS/Eva Kornikova/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 16 (Reuters) - Slovakia's former Prime Minister Robert Fico and his SMER-SSD party will sign a coalition agreement to form a new government with the centre-left HLAS and nationalist SNS parties on Monday, SMER said. Fico, a three-time prime minister, won an election on Sept. 30 with pledges to halt military aid to Ukraine and criticism of sanctions on Russia. He struck a deal with the coalition parties last week and is expected to lead a new government. The coalition agreement was set to be signed at 1 p.m. (1100 GMT).

Persons: Robert Fico, Eva Kornikova, SMER, Jason Hovet, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, SNS, Thomson Locations: Bratislava, Slovakia, Ukraine, Russia, Prague

☆ Slovakia's populist ex-PM Fico seals coalition deal for new government
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Jason Hovet | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SMER-SSD party leader Robert Fico arrives to the party's headquarters, after the country's early parliamentary elections, in Bratislava, Slovakia, October 1, 2023. REUTERS/Eva Kornikova/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 16 (Reuters) - Slovak former prime minister Robert Fico and his party signed a coalition deal on Monday to form a new government expected to go slow on cutting high deficits and reduce support to neighbour Ukraine. Fico said his priorities would include boosting living standards and a foreign policy consistent with Slovakia's EU and NATO membership - but focused on protecting national interests. Fico has a tense relationship with Caputova, whom he has called a U.S. puppet acting as U.S. financier and philanthropist George Soros' proxy. Reporting by Jason Hovet in Prague; editing by Alex Richardson, Mark Heinrich and Tomasz JanowskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Robert Fico, Eva Kornikova, Viktor Orban, Zuzana Caputova, Fico, Caputova, George Soros, opposition's, Jason Hovet, Alex Richardson, Mark Heinrich, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: REUTERS, Ukraine, Hungarian, Kyiv, Democracy, Slovak National Party, European Union, NATO, EU, Thomson Locations: Bratislava, Slovakia, Slovak, Ukraine, Fico, U.S, Poland, Prague

☆ Slovakia's SMER Party to Sign Agreement on Forming New Government on Monday
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

(Reuters) - Slovakia's former Prime Minister Robert Fico and his SMER-SSD party will sign a coalition agreement to form a new government with the centre-left HLAS and nationalist SNS parties on Monday, SMER said. Fico, a three-time prime minister, won an election on Sept. 30 with pledges to halt military aid to Ukraine and criticism of sanctions on Russia. He struck a deal with the coalition parties last week and is expected to lead a new government. The coalition agreement was set to be signed at 1 p.m. (1100 GMT). The parties are seeking to have an administration in place ahead of a European Union summit on Oct. 26-27 where Ukraine will be high on the agenda.

Persons: Robert Fico, SMER, Jason Hovet, Alex Richardson Organizations: Reuters, SNS Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Prague

☆ Poland, Czech Republic extend border controls with Slovakia
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Polish soldiers guard along a temporary checkpoint at the Slovakia-Poland border, as seen from the village Skalite, Slovakia, October 4, 2023. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWARSAW, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Poland and the Czech Republic will extend temporary controls on their borders with Slovakia into November as countries seek to restrict the flow of illegal migrants. The Polish government has decided to extend the controls by 20 days to Nov. 2, the interior ministry said in a statement. On Wednesday, Slovakia extended its own border controls with Hungary until Nov. 3. Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria and Germany are all part of the EU's Schengen open-border zone.

Persons: Radovan Stoklasa, Mariusz Kaminski, Kaminski, Slovakia's, Anna Wlodarczak, Jason Hovet, Deborah Kyvrikosaios, Gareth Jones Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Union, Justice, Thomson Locations: Slovakia, Poland, Czech Republic, Czech, Austria, East, Afghanistan, Germany, Hungary, Serbia, EU, Europe, Warsaw, Prague

☆ Kia Corp unveils three smaller-medium-sized EVs to speed its electrification ambitions
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Heekyong Yang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Kia Corp (000270.KS) on Thursday unveiled three new small-to-medium sized electric vehicles (EV) to attract a wider range of customers in an effort to expedite its electrification strategies. The production of the EV5 will take place in both China and South Korea, Kia said, adding that the EV5 in China and South Korea would have different battery types. Kia did not disclose the detailed driving range of the EV5 for South Korea, adding that it will be tailored to meet market demands. Analysts said Kia's push to launch more affordable EVs is timely as an increasing number of car buyers are looking to purchase price friendly EVs. "While those early adopters have preferred more expensive premium electric vehicles, as EVs have become more popular among more general public, consumer needs for more affordable EVs have significantly grown," said Lee Jae-il, an analyst at Eugene Investment & Securities.

Persons: Kia, Song Ho Sung, ”, Spencer Cho, Lee Jae, Heekyong Yang, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Kia Corp, South, Kia, Global, Analysts, Eugene Investment, Securities, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, China

☆ Union at Kia Corp suspends strike action to resume talks with company
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Heekyong Yang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The union and Kia's management had been holding talks for three months over wage increases and an extension of the retirement age. Earlier, the union said it would limit working hours for six working days from Oct. 12 after negotiations stalled, in what would have been the first industrial action at Kia in three years. Kia declined to comment on the industrial action. Last month, the union at South Korea's second largest automaker with more than 26,600 members said 92.3% of its members had approved strike action unless the management accepts their demands. Because the deals with Hyundai Motor and affiliate Hyundai Mobis (012330.KS) were concluded without any industrial action, Kia's unions are likely to avoid any major industrial action, analysts said.

Persons: Kim Hong, Kia Corp's, Lee Jae, Heekyong Yang, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Kia Corp, REUTERS, Rights, Kia, Reuters, South, Hyundai Motor, Hyundai Mobis, Eugene Investment, Securities, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, KS, South Korea's

☆ Kia Corp's unionised workers to go on partial strike over wages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Heekyong Yang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of Kia Corp is seen on its electric vehicle EV6 during a photo opportunity in Seoul, South Korea, June 1, 2021. Last month, the union at South Korea's No.2 automaker with more than 26,600 members said 92.3% of its members had approved strike action unless the management accept the demands. The union said it would work regular hours on days when they are holding talks with the management. Kia declined to comment on the strike. Shares in Kia Corp were trading up 0.7%, versus the benchmark KOSPI's (.KS11) 2.1% rise as of 0217 GMT.

Persons: Kim Hong, Kia Corp's, Kia, Lee Jae, Heekyong Yang, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Kia Corp, REUTERS, Rights, Kia, South, Hyundai Motor, Hyundai Mobis, Eugene Investment, Securities, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, KS

☆ Slovakia's Fico strikes deal on coalition after election win
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Jan Lopatka | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A Fico-led government would move Slovakia closer to Hungary at a time when the European Union and other Western countries have tried to keep unity on support for Ukraine. The memorandum did not specify any foreign policy details. He has not been specific on commercial supplies from the country's defence industry which include ammunition and heavy equipment makers. Prior to the election, also said he wanted to re-negotiate a defence cooperation treaty with Washington. Reporting by Jan Lopatka and Jason Hovet in Prague; Editing by Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Robert Fico, Zuzana Caputova, Radovan Stoklasa, Fico, Viktor Orban, Jan Lopatka, Jason Hovet, Emelia Sithole Organizations: REUTERS, EU's, Ukraine Coalition, Ukraine, Democracy, European Union, Justice, SNS, NATO, Washington, EU, Hungarian, Diplomats, Thomson Locations: Bratislava, Slovakia, Ukraine, Russia, Hungary, Slovak Republic, Prague

☆ Vodafone to create Open RAN chip sets with Intel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Vodafone (VOD.L) underlined its commitment to Open RAN networks on Monday by confirming it would create purpose-built chipset architecture for the nascent technology with Intel (INTC.O). Open RAN allows mobile operators to mix and match equipment from various suppliers, potentially increasing flexibility. Vodafone agreed in 2022 to work with U.S. chipmaker Intel on the potential to design its own chip architecture. Vodafone and Orange said on Monday they had successfully made 4G calls over a cluster of sites in a rural area near Bucharest based on Open RAN technology. In Italy, Vodafone said a pilot with Nokia aimed to prove that Nokia's Open RAN solution could achieve the same functionality and performance as its purpose built RAN.

Persons: Toby Melville, Santiago Tenorio, Tenorio, Paul Sandle, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Vodafone, REUTERS, Intel, RAN, Nokia, Ericsson, Huawei, Orange, Samsung, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Romania, Italy, Malaga, Spain, Madrid, Bucharest, Dell

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