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LEVI, Finland (AP) — Slovakian skier Petra Vlhova built a big lead in the first run of a women’s World Cup slalom Sunday, a day after winning a race on the same hill by a huge margin. Vlhova led second-placed Mikaela Shiffrin by 0.76 seconds as the pair looked set to continue their dominance in the event. No other skier has won the traditional season-opening slalom in Finnish Lapland since 2016. “I felt good, I did perfect in the steep part compared to yesterday first run,” said Vlhova, who is the Olympic champion and has 20 World Cup wins in slalom. Only once in her career has she failed to get a podium result in any of her first three World Cup races – in 2011-12, her debut season on the circuit.

Persons: LEVI, Petra Vlhova, Vlhova, “, ”, Sara Hector of Sweden, Lena Duerr, Shiffrin, Levi, ___ Organizations: — Slovakian, Olympic Locations: Finland, Lapland, Austria

[1/2] An Ericsson sign is seen at the third China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, China November 5, 2020. REUTERS/Aly Song Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Electronics makers Siemens (SIEGn.DE), Ericsson (ERICb.ST) and Schneider Electric (SCHN.PA), along with industry group DigitalEurope warned on Monday that onerous proposed EU rules targeting cybersecurity risks of smart devices could disrupt supply chains on a scale similar to during the pandemic. They said disruptions could hit millions of products, ranging from washing machines to toys, cybersecurity products, as well as vital components for heat pumps, cooling machines and high-tech manufacturing. "We risk creating a COVID-style blockage in European supply chains, disrupting the single market and harming our competitiveness," the companies said. They also want more flexibility to self-assess cybersecurity risks.

Persons: Aly, Thierry Breton, Vera Jourova, Robert Bosch, Foo Yun Chee, Rod Nickel Organizations: Ericsson, China, REUTERS, Rights, Electronics, Siemens, Schneider, European, European Union, Nokia, Robert, Robert Bosch GmbH, EU, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights BRUSSELS, EU, Slovakian

☆ Slovakia tightens Hungary border in 'chain reaction' as migrant arrivals rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Slovakia's checks on its border with Hungary will start on Thursday and last 10 days. The Czech Republic, Poland and Austria already started temporary controls on their borders with Slovakia on Wednesday, while Germany introduced new controls with Poland and the Czech Republic last week. Odor, serving as a caretaker until a new government takes office following an election on Sunday, had previously resisted calls to impose border controls. "Poland is before elections, such rhetoric appears, and then the Czech Republic reacts and so does Austria. Slovakia's government said nearly 40,000 illegal migrants have passed into Slovakia since the start of the year.

Persons: Bernadett Szabo, Robert Fico, Jan Lopatka, Jason Hovet, Deborah Kyvrikosaios Organizations: Migrants, REUTERS, Slovak, Thomson Locations: Slovakia, Hungary, Chl'aba, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, East, Afghanistan, Germany, Western Europe, Central

☆ Kyiv brushes off US, Slovakia wobbles as EU ministers come to town
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Olena Harmash | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell shake hands before EU-Ukraine foreign ministers meeting, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 2, 2023. Monday's meeting in Kyiv was touted by Borrell as an historic first, and provided striking photo opportunities for a succession of ministers in front of EU flags in the war-time capital. Several high profile right-wing Trump supporters in Congress have called for a halt to Ukraine aid. President Joe Biden's administration says it expects the House to pass a measure to keep aid to Ukraine flowing. In Europe, pro-Russian former prime minister Fico won the most votes in an election in Slovakia on Sunday and will get a first chance to form a government.

Persons: Dmytro Kuleba, Josep Borrell, Robert Fico, Kuleba, Annalena Baerbock, Dmitry Peskov, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden's, Biden, Fico, Russia's Peskov, Peter Graff, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Ukrainian Foreign, Union Foreign, EU, Press, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of, REUTERS Acquire, Russian, U.S . Congress, U.S, Congressional, Borrell, Kyiv, German, Republican, Trump, Congress, Republicans, Democrats, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Handout, Germany, Russia, KYIV, Slovakia, United States, Russian Slovakian, Moscow, Washington, America, Europe, Russian, NATO

☆ Republican blockade of Ukraine aid and Slovakia’s election play into Putin’s hands
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Fico anchored his campaign on his anti-US rhetoric, vows to stop sending weapons to Ukraine and a pledge to thwart Kyiv’s NATO ambitions. The GOP tide against Ukraine gathers strengthZelensky’s visit to Washington to shore up Ukraine aid last month looks prescient. At Republican campaign events, voters often voice antipathy to sending billions of dollars to Ukraine, and polls show rising public skepticism. Still, for now, there is a bipartisan Washington majority in favor of Ukraine aid, although the chaos in the GOP raises questions about how it will be delivered. So we’ve got to find a way that we can do this together.”But if McCarthy is toppled and replaced by a more radical speaker, Ukraine could run out of luck.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy didn’t, Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden, McCarthy, Robert Fico’s, Fico, –, Putin, Donald Trump, Fico’s, Trump, embolden Putin, “ Putin, Mike Quigley, “, ”, Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene, “ Joe Biden, Dmytro Kuleba, ” Kuleba, “ They’re, we’ve Organizations: CNN, Russia, Ukraine, Republican, NATO, Ukraine –, Kyiv, Brexit, “, Soviet MiG, European Union, GOP, Democratic, Illinois, Congressional Ukraine Caucus, Democrat, Rep, Trump Georgia Rep, Foreign, CBS, Trump Locations: Ukraine, Slovakia, US, Poland, Warsaw, Western, Kyiv, France, Germany, “ Slovakia, Slovakian, Russia, Soviet, United States, Turkey, Sweden, Moscow, Czechoslovakia, Soviet Union, Bratislava, Washington, Biden’s, Florida, ” Ukraine

☆ Opinion: The US Congress, Slovakian voters just threw Ukraine under the bus
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( David A. Andelman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

David A. Andelman CNNBoth appear to have thrown Ukraine and its war with Russia under the bus. Nationwide, Fico himself was the largest single vote-getter, while three of the top five are members of his anti-Ukraine party. They said they’re going to support Ukraine in a separate vote,” Biden said. Only 52% of French voters and 49% of German voters are in favor of offering EU membership to Ukraine. Quick action by Congress is needed to stem further erosion — or even the possible collapse — of determined support for Ukraine across the western democracies.

Persons: David A, CNN —, Vladimir Putin, Robert Fico, Fico, Michal Šimečka, Volodymyr Zelensky, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin —, Zelensky, Joe Biden, Republicans –, ” Biden, “, Viktor Orban, “ Guess, ” Orban, Tomas Benedikovic, ” Fico, Orban —, Mateusz Morawiecki, ” Poland’s, Donald Tusk, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Putin, Marine Le, Turkey, Hungary’s Orban, Slovakia’s Fico, waffling Organizations: CNN, French Legion of, The New York Times, CBS News, Russian, Russia, Nationwide, Ukraine Progresivne, Ukraine, United Nations General Assembly, Republicans, Putin, Slovak, Getty, European Union, NATO, Law, Justice Party, Polsat, European Council, Social Democratic, National Rally, Kremlin, Congress Locations: Slovakia, Ukraine, Russia, Russian, Fico, Washington, New York, Bratislava, Hungary, AFP, Luhansk, Poland, Europe, Germany, France, Sweden, United States

☆ Police fined a car owner after a speed camera appeared to show a dog behind the wheel
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A photograph taken by a speed camera in Slovakia appeared to show a dog behind the wheel of a car. Police said the vehicle owner claimed that his dog had suddenly jumped onto his lap. AdvertisementAdvertisementPolice in Slovakia have fined the owner of a car after a speed camera appeared to show a dog behind the wheel. The image captured by a speed camera appears to show only a dog in the driver's seat. AdvertisementAdvertisementA 31-year-old man, who was actually driving the vehicle, claimed that his dog had suddenly leapt onto his lap, according to the police.

Persons: —, hadn't Organizations: Police, Service, Facebook, USA Locations: Slovakia, Šterusy

☆ WTA roundup: Greet Minnen, Yulia Putintseva advance in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The unseeded Putintseva eliminated third seed Tatjana Maria of Germany 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-0. Putintseva converted six of 12 break points and saved nine of 11, overcoming Maria's 6-1 edge in aces. Minnen, the seventh seed, ousted fourth seed Lucia Bronzetti of Italy 6-7 (8), 6-4, 6-1. Top seed Magda Linette of Poland avoided the upset in defeating fifth seed Rebeka Masarova of Spain 7-5, 7-6 (6). In the semifinals, Dolehide will face countrywoman Sofia Kenin, who was a 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-1 winner over Canada's Leylah Fernandez on Thursday.

Persons: Belgium's, Minnen, Venus Williams, Shannon Stapleton, Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva, Putintseva, Tatjana Maria, Lucia Bronzetti, Magda Linette, Rebeka, China's Xiyu Wang, Wang, Linette, Caroline Dolehide, Martina Trevisan, Dolehide, Trevisan, countrywoman Sofia Kenin, Canada's Leylah Fernandez, Maria Sakkari, Colombia's Emiliana Arango, Caroline Garcia of Organizations: Tennis, U.S, REUTERS, Guangzhou, Slovakian Viktoria Hruncakova, Guadalajara Open Akron, Caroline Garcia of France, Victoria Azarenka, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, China, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Putintseva, Guadalajara, Mexico

Were he to follow through on his promise, it would represent a sea-change for Slovakia, until now a staunch ally of its eastern neighbour Ukraine in its war against Russia. Bratislava has supplied weapons and offered strong political support to Kyiv within the European Union and NATO. Western diplomats and officials in Kyiv also say a small country like Slovakia can only go so far in upending EU and NATO policy. Disinformation, meanwhile, has spread, undermining public support for Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion of 2022, said Katarina Klingova of think-tank Globsec. The hoax was debunked, but the reaction pointed to the influence that false information surrounding the Ukraine war has among Slovakia's 5.5 million population.

Persons: Robert Fico, Radovan Stoklasa, Robert Fico's, Fico, Eleonora Tanacova, Viktor Orban, Orban, Katarina Klingova, Klingova, Andrew Gray, Thomas Balmforth, Mike Collett, White, Gareth Jones Organizations: REUTERS, NATO, EU, European Union, Russia, Moscow, Hungarian, Progressive, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: Banovce nad Bebravou, Slovakia, Russian, Ukraine Brussels, Ukraine, Slovakian, Russia, Bratislava, Kyiv, Crimea, EU, Brussels, Moscow, Donbas, Luhansk, Western, Europe, Hungary, Progressive Slovakia

A view shows the placards of the political parties in front of the European Central Bank (ECB) building in Frankfurt, Germany, September 14, 2023. The central bank for the 20 countries that use the euro has already raised interest rates 10 times to record levels but inflation remains well above its 2% target. ECB President Christine Lagarde said last week that policymakers had not discussed the bond-buying schemes at their latest policy meeting. She described the PEPP as the ECB's "first line of defence" to preserve policy transmission - central bank jargon for bond market stability in the most indebted countries. Slovenian central bank governor Bostjan Vasle recently backed selling bonds bought under the ECB's older Asset Purchase Programme, which is less flexible than the PEPP.

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, Christine Lagarde, Bostjan Vasle, Peter Kazimir, Catherine Evans Organizations: European Central Bank, REUTERS, Central Bank, Reuters, ECB, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Italy, FRANKFURT, Athens, Slovenian, PEPP, Sintra

☆ Putin and Kim Jong Un have been trading letters as secret talks on getting North Korean weapons into Russia's hands are 'actively advancing,' White House says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Arms negotiations between Russia and North Korea are "advancing," a White House official said. Several months later, the White House disclosed that Russia had gone as far as to offer food to impoverished North Korea in exchange for military aid. He asserted that the US will take action by sanctioning individuals and entities "working to facilitate arms deals between these two countries." The Biden administration's new warning about Russia's quest for military support on Wednesday comes as Ukrainian forces continue to make slow and steady territorial gains amid their grueling counteroffensive in the eastern and southern regions. Despite criticism and concerns from some in the West about Ukraine's progress, Washington and its NATO allies have asserted their commitment to providing Kyiv with military support.

Persons: Putin, Kim Jong Un, Sergei Shoigu, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong, John Kirby, Shoigu's, Kirby, Biden, Washington, We're, Bram Janssen, Janet Yellen Organizations: White, Service, Russia, Defense, Artillery, North, National Security, DPRK, Democratic People's, Russia's, Russian, Korean Central News Agency, KCNA, REUTERS, US, Wagner Group, Kremlin, White House, United Nations, AP, US Treasury Department, Slovakian, NATO, Pentagon Locations: Russia, North Korea, Wall, Silicon, Russia North Korea, Moscow, Ukraine, Russian, Pyongyang, North Korean, Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Iran, DPRK, Washington

☆ Russia and North Korea in ‘Actively Advancing’ Talks on Weapons, U.S. Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Constant Méheut | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

The White House has accused North Korea of supplying rockets and missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine, which Pyongyang has denied. North Korea and Iran are largely cut off from international commerce because of American and international sanctions, meaning neither country has much to lose by making deals with Russia. “What we’re seeing in this counteroffensive is it’s a gunfight and both sides are blazing away with artillery,” Mr. Kirby said. Putin has achieved — let me count it — zero of his strategic goals in Ukraine,” Mr. Kirby said. Also on Wednesday, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea, apparently a reaction to joint military drills by the United States and South Korea.

Persons: John F, Kirby, Vladimir V, Putin, Kim Jong, ” Mr, “, Mr, Kirby’s, Iran —, Biden, Kim, “ Mr, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, ” Organizations: National Security Council, North Korean, ”, United, United States, Slovakian, United Nations Locations: States, Russia, North Korea, Moscow, Ukraine, Pyongyang, United States, Iran, U.S, Korea, China, Beijing, Ukrainian, South Korea, Japan, Britain

☆ There was a surprise marriage proposal at the World Athletics Championship after 35km race walk
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The road to a marriage proposal can be a long and winding one. Both Dominik Černý and Hana Burzalova were in Budapest, Hungary, competing for their country in the race walking events for men and women at the World Athletics Championships. Černý celebrated with a fist pump to the sky after slipping the ring onto the 22-year-old’s finger. The couple posed for photos shortly afterwards, with Burzalova proudly showing off her new ring for the cameras. They might have not won any medals in their respective race walking events, but both Černý and Burzalova will travel home with a much more meaningful memento.

Persons: Dominik Černý, Hana Burzalova, Černý, Álvaro Martín, Burzalova, Joel Marklund, Bildbyran, Černý – Organizations: CNN, Zuma Locations: Budapest, Hungary

☆ UN peacekeepers hurt in Cyprus buffer zone clash with Turkish forces
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

U.N. peackeepers were manhandled by personnel in Turkish Cypriot police and military uniforms, a witness said. Turkish Cypriot bulldozers had moved U.N. trucks, cement bollards and barbed wire in the United Nations-administered buffer zone splitting the island. The controversy is centred around plans by Turkish Cypriot authorities to build a road traversing the territory which the United Nations says is under its control. Turkish Cypriot authorities are planning to build an 11.5 km road linking Pyla/Pile to a neighbouring community which lies in breakaway north Cyprus. It had been in talks with Turkish Cypriot authorities over their plans, and work had started without the requisite agreement from the U.N., Siddique said.

Persons: Scuffles, Aleem Siddique, Siddique, Michele Kambas, Angus MacSwan Organizations: United Nations, Turkish Cypriot, . Security, UN, Greek Cypriot, The United Nations, Turkish, Thomson Locations: NICOSIA, Turkish Cypriot, Cyprus, Turkish, British, United States, Britain, France, United, Pyla, United Nations, Greek

☆ In a desperate scramble for ammo, Russia's defense chief flew all the way to North Korea to beg for some of theirs
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russia's defense chief traveled to North Korea recently to try and secure more ammunition. Shoigu went to Pyongyang "in a bid to convince North Korea to sell munitions to Russia to support Russia's war," Kirby added. Kirby said on Thursday that any arms deal between Russia and North Korea would be in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un walks with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Pyongyang, North Korea, on July 27, 2023. Iran has outfitted Russia's military with explosive drones that Moscow has used for nearly a year to attack Ukrainian cities and the country's civil infrastructure.

Persons: Vladimir Putin's, Biden, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, Kim Jong Un, John Kirby, Kirby, Li Hongzhong, Kim, Kim Jong, Putin, he's, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, there's Organizations: White, US, Service, Russian, North, DPRK, Ukraine, National Security, Democratic People's, Chinese Communist Party, Russia's, Korean Central News Agency, KCNA, REUTERS, Korean, Wagner Group, US Treasury Department, Slovakian, United Nations, Russian Defense Locations: North Korea, Ukraine, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Moscow, North Korean, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Pyongyang, REUTERS North Korea, Korea, Iran, China, Washington, Beijing

☆ Senate panel probes billionaire Leon Black's $158 million in payments to Jeffrey Epstein
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A Senate panel on Tuesday revealed a yearlong investigation into Apollo Global Management co-founder Leon Black's ties to the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, with a focus on $158 million Black allegedly paid Epstein for tax and estate planning services. The probe into Black's tax schemes is one of a series of investigations by the committee into how ultra-wealthy people skirt their tax bills, Wyden's letter said. The committee's latest round of questions are "inappropriately invasive" and potentially overstep the panel's oversight role, Black's memo contended. Overnight, the U.S. Virgin Islands lobbed new accusations against JPMorgan Chase in a lawsuit accusing the bank of enabling Epstein's criminal activity. Both the Virgin Islands and JPMorgan filed motions overnight for partial summary judgment in the lawsuit.

Persons: Leon Black, Leon Black's, Jeffrey Epstein, Epstein, Ron Wyden, Black, Wyden, Wealth Management David Brigstocke Organizations: Apollo Global Management, Milken Institute Global Conference, U.S . Virgin, JPMorgan Chase, JPMorgan, Asset, Wealth Management, Virgin Islands Locations: Beverly Hills , California, U.S, Slovakian

☆ Russia revives oil exports to North Korea as US sounds alarm on more arms sales for Ukraine war
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia has revived its oil trade with long-time ally North Korea as the Kremlin's war on Ukraine drags on. Russia has exported 67,000 barrels of oil to North Korea since December, a UN report said. North Korea has been accused of sending Russia weapons for its war in Ukraine. A State Department spokesperson told Reuters that the US had confirmed North Korea delivered weapons, including rockets and missiles, to the Russia's Wagner mercenary group in November. The UN has banned North Korea from selling arms, though it has reportedly provided weapons to Iran, Syria, and Uganda.

Persons: —, Wagner, Kim Jung Un, Vladimir Putin Organizations: UN, Service, Russia, United, Bloomberg, State Department, Reuters, US, Slovakian, North Korean Locations: Russia, North Korea, Ukraine, United Nations, Pyongyang, Moscow, Korea, Iran, Syria, Uganda

☆ US concerned North Korea plans to deliver more weapons to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, June 12 (Reuters) - The United States is concerned that North Korea is planning to deliver more weapons to Russia, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said on Monday after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to bolster strategic cooperation with Moscow. Earlier on Monday, North Korea's KCNA state news agency said Kim made the pledge in a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin marking Russia's National Day. "We are concerned that the DPRK is planning to deliver more military equipment to Russia," the spokesperson added, using the initials of North Korea's official name. North Korea has sought to forge closer ties with the Kremlin and backed Moscow after it invaded Ukraine last year, blaming the "hegemonic policy" and "high-handedness" of the United States and the West. The United States said in March it had new information that Russia was actively seeking to acquire additional weapons from North Korea in exchange for food aid.

Persons: Kim Jong, Kim, Vladimir Putin, KCNA, Wagner, Hyonhee Shin, Stephen Coates Organizations: U.S . State Department, North, The State Department, United States, Kremlin, United, Thomson Locations: United States, Korea, Russia, U.S, Moscow, Russian, Ukraine, United, North Korea, Washington

☆ Gauff charges past Schmiedlova into quarter-finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 5, 2023 Coco Gauff of the U.S. in action during her fourth round match against Slovakia's Anna Karolina Schmiedlova REUTERS/Benoit TessierPARIS, June 5 (Reuters) - Last year's French Open runner-up Coco Gauff overcame an early wobble to outclass Slovakian Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 7-5 6-2 and reach the quarter-finals, where she could face a potential rematch with holder Iga Swiatek. Gauff won her previous clash with Schmiedlova in Madrid last year, dropping only two games, and the American made a quick start again with a break in the opening game to pull away and leave her 100th-ranked opponent facing an uphill task. The 19-year-old Gauff tightened her grip in the next set, working the angles and deploying the drop shot to devastating effect as she closed out the victory without any more drama. Gauff will now await the winner of the fourth round match between world number one Swiatek and Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Paris; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Roland Garros, Coco Gauff, Slovakia's Anna Karolina Schmiedlova REUTERS, Benoit Tessier PARIS, Slovakian Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, Iga Swiatek, Gauff, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Ken Ferris Organizations: Slovakian, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Madrid, American

☆ Ruud, Swiatek gain momentum at French Open as Sinner punished
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

In a normal match I would have won 6-3 6-2, but here you have the chance to fight like he did. Up next for Andreeva is 19-year-old Coco Gauff - a player who knows all about negotiating instant stardom, with last year's runner-up having subdued Julia Grabher 6-2 6-3 to set up the third-round showdown. American Kayla Day made no secret of her success after a stunning 6-2 4-6 6-4 win over compatriot Madison Keys, thanking her Czech roots for enhancing her tennis skills. Next for the 22nd seed is American 12th seed Frances Tiafoe, who beat Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev 3-6 6-3 7-5 6-2. French presence in the singles' draws was ended altogether in the last match of the day when Arthur Rinderknech was knocked out by American ninth seed Taylor Fritz 2-6 6-4 6-3 6-4.

Persons: Roland Garros, Norway's Casper Ruud, Sweden's Elias Ymer, Gauff tames, Casper Ruud, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, Linda Noskova, Ruud, Rafa Nadal, Giulio Zeppieri, Zhang Zhizhen, Thiago Agustin Tirante, Suzanne Lenglen, Claire Liu, Mirra Andreeva, Frenchwoman Diane Parry, Karatantcheva, Coco Gauff, Julia Grabher, Kayla Day, Madison Keys, Daniel Altmaier, Altmaier, We've, Alexander Zverev, Slovakian Alex Molcan, Frances Tiafoe, Aslan Karatsev, Coric, Pedro Cachin, Alex de Minaur, Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Arthur Rinderknech, Taylor Fritz, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Julien Pretot, Pritha Sarkar, Ken Ferris Organizations: Sweden's Elias Ymer REUTERS, Wimbledon, Argentine, Croatian, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, PARIS, Czech, Prague, Slovakian, American, Tunisian

☆ Factbox: Companies invest in EV battery factories in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Below are recent investments announced by companies:GERMANYSweden's Northvolt said on May 13 it will invest 3-5 billion euros ($3.3-5.5 billion) in an EV battery plant in Heide in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein as long as subsidies are approved. Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) plans to build six battery factories in Europe totalling 240 gigawatt (GWh) of capacity by 2030. Production at its first battery plant, "SalzGiga", in Salzgitter in the Lower Saxony region will start in 2025. Slovakian battery manufacturer InoBat said last October it had signed a declaration of intent with the Spanish government to set up an EV battery factory in central Spain's city Valladolid, expected to cost 3 billion euros. POLANDLG Chem EV battery in Wroclaw started production in the second half of 2017, with a capacity of 100,000 batteries per year.

Persons: Helena Soderpalm, GERMANY Sweden's Northvolt, China's CATL, Germany's, Mercedes Benz, Elon Musk, Berclau, Taiwan's ProLogium, Jean, Luc Monfort, Mata, BASQUEVOLT, InoBat, China's BYD, AEHRA, Poland's, Alessandro Parodi, Tiago Brandao, Matteo Allievi, Barbara Lewis, Milla Nissi Organizations: REUTERS, Volkswagen, EV, Germany's BASF, Automotive Cells Company, ACC, Stellantis, Tesla, FRANCE Joint, France, Renault, Basque Country, Spanish, India's Tata Group, ITALY Joint, POLAND LG, European Commission, SWEDEN Northvolt's Skelleftea, Thomson Locations: Vasteras, Sweden, Europe, Asia, United States, GERMANY, Heide, Schleswig, Holstein, Salzgitter, Lower Saxony, China, Erfurt, Thuringia, Schwarzheide, Brandenburg ., Ludwigsfelde, Berlin, Kaiserslautern, Rhineland, Palatinate, Gigafactory, FRANCE, Billy, France, Dunkirk, Douai, Ruitz, Ergué, Quimper, Montreal, SPAIN Spain, Europe's, Germany, Navalmoral de, Extremadura, Sagunto, Valencia, Spain, Basque, Slovakian, Spain's, Valladolid, Britain, ITALY, Termoli, POLAND, Wroclaw, HUNGARY

☆ Slovakian Martin banned for 14 months after failing dope test
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 27 (Reuters) - Slovakian tennis player Andrej Martin has been suspended for 14 months for failing a doping test, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said on Thursday. The 33-year-old Martin, who reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of 93 in 2020, tested positive for an anabolic agent at the Bratislava Open in June. Martin's ban was reduced from the stipulated period of four years after he satisfied an independent tribunal that the offence was not intentional. "Martin's floorball team mate admitted that he added ostarine drops to his water bottle. The Independent Tribunal considered Martin's statement to be plausible."

☆ Ukraine's fighter jet fleet is slowly growing, but its weapons to bring down Russian jets are dwindling, leaked US document shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The jets will bolster Ukraine's fighter fleet, which is still under fire from Russia's larger air force. But air-defense ammunition is a more urgent need, one underscored in recently leaked US documents. Berlin approved Warsaw's request to send jets to Ukraine on Thursday, the same day it was received. Both air forces have shifted tactics and now operate farther from the front line, playing to the advantage of the Russian aircraft, which have an edge at longer ranges. Without the threat posed by those interceptor missiles, Russian aircraft would have greater freedom to attack Ukrainian aircraft and bomb Ukrainian targets, including in support of Russian front-line troops, the leaked document says.

Humanity will prevail," Zelenskiy said, leading a ceremony at which the Ukrainian flag was raised in Bucha. Zelenskiy described Bucha as a "symbol of the atrocities" of Russian occupying forces. Fighting rages on in the east and south of Ukraine, where Russian forces hold swathes of territory captured after they invaded on Feb. 24, 2022. Ukrainian forces have dug in and held out for now in the city of Bakhmut and are expected to launch a counteroffensive soon. This is part of Russia's planned strategy to destroy Ukraine as a state and Ukrainians as a nation," he said.

The Treasury said that Mkrtychev's negotiations with North Korean and Russian officials "detailed mutually beneficial cooperation," adding that Mkrtychev confirmed Russia's readiness to receive military equipment from North Korea with senior Russian officials. Russia's embassy in Washington and North Korea's mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In December, the White House said private Russian military company, the Wagner Group, took delivery of an arms shipment from North Korea to help bolster Russian forces in Ukraine. In November, after the White House said Pyongyang was covertly supplying Russia with a "significant" number of artillery shells, North Korea said it had never had arms dealings with Russia and has no plans to do so. Reporting By Arshad Mohammed, Daphne Psaledakis and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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