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☆ Russia minted 22 new billionaires last year, even as the West slapped sanctions on the country to try to cripple it financially
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia minted 22 new billionaires in 2022, per Forbes World's Billionaires List. There are now 105 Russian billionaires worth $474 billion collectively — up from $320 billion on-year. The fortunes of some Russian billionaires have been boosted by high commodity prices. In the US, 735 billionaires saw $200 billion wiped off their collective net worth between March 2022 and 2023, per Forbes. In China, 735 billionaires saw their net worth crash by $300 billion in the same period, per Forbes.

☆ Thousands of Czechs turn out for anti-government protest
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Demonstrators take part in an anti-government protest rally in Prague, Czech Republic, April 16, 2023. REUTERS/Eva KorinkovaPRAGUE, April 16 (Reuters) - Thousands of Czechs demonstrated in Prague's central square on Sunday, calling on the government to quit as they protested over high inflation and energy prices. Police did not give estimates of the size of the protest, named "Czechia against poverty". The Czech Republic, like other countries in Europe, has been hit by rising inflation that has soared into double digits in the past year and high energy prices that are cutting into household budgets. Reporting by Eva Korinkova, writing by Jason Hovet; Editing by Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ NHL roundup: Connor McDavid hits 150 points in Oilers' win
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +12 min

Tomas Hertl scored, and James Reimer made 29 saves for the Sharks, who have lost seven straight against the Oilers. McDavid notched his 150th point when he scored with 1:44 left in the opening period for a 2-1 lead. Jesper Bratt scored the lone goal and MacKenzie Blackwood made 38 stops for the Devils, who had won back-to-back games. Avalanche 4, Kings 3Denis Malgin scored two goals for visiting Colorado in a win against Los Angeles. Alex Nylander, Danton Heinen and Evgeni Malkin each scored a goal and Tristan Jarry made 19 saves for the Penguins.

☆ Russia's Alfa Bank follows in VTB footsteps with record 2022 loss
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Alfa Bank had made a net profit of 136.6 billion roubles in 2021, a record year for Russian banking sector profits. Provision costs for possible loan losses jumped about five times to 167.4 billion roubles, Alfa Bank's report said. However, net interest income rose to 211.7 billion roubles from 175.8 billion roubles in 2021 and Alfa Bank's assets increased to 5.82 trillion roubles, from 5.62 trillion roubles. Alfa Bank did not respond to a request for comment. Sanctioned Russian businessmen Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven are in talks over selling their stake in Alfa Bank to their longtime business partner and its co-founder Andrei Kosogov.

☆ NHL roundup: Bruins clinch league's best record
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Pastrnak took Hampus Lindholm's feed into the offensive zone and finished with the backhand for his 53rd goal of the season. Tyler Bertuzzi scored the lone Bruins goal of regulation, tying the game in the second period. Mario Ferraro had a goal and an assist and Oskar Lindblom and Tomas Hertl also scored for San Jose. Defenseman Henry Thrun, making his NHL debut after starring at Harvard, added two assists, and James Reimer finished with 23 saves. Blues 5, Blackhawks 3Brandon Saad scored one goal and set up another as St. Louis handed host Chicago its seventh straight loss.

☆ East Europe governments urge tech firms to fight disinformation
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

PRAGUE, March 29 (Reuters) - Ukraine and seven other central and eastern European nations have called on the world's top tech firms to act to fight disinformation on their social media platforms by hostile powers which they say undermine peace and stability. "Big tech companies should be vigilant and resist being used as means of advancing such goals. The letter was signed by the prime ministers of Ukraine, Moldova, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and released by Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala's office. The Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA), whose members include Meta, Twitter and Google (GOOGL.O) among others, said it backed measures to fight disinformation such as Europe's Digital Services Act (DSA). Platforms should dedicate enough staff and funding for content moderation, address the growing threat of deepfakes and artificial intelligence-generated disinformation, it said.

☆ Czech parliament speaker, in Taiwan, says we'll always stand with you
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] The Speaker of the Chamber of the Deputies of Czech Republic Marketa Pekarova Adamova makes a speech at the Parliament in Taipei, Taiwan March 28, 2023. REUTERS/Ann WangTAIPEI, March 28 (Reuters) - The speaker of the lower chamber of the Czech parliament told Taiwanese lawmakers on Tuesday that her country and Taiwan are bound together by freedom and democracy, pledging to always stand with the island's people. Addressing Taiwan's parliament, Marketa Pekarova Adamova said Taiwan and the Czech Republic share the same story. Although the Czech Republic does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Pekarova Adamova is visiting with a delegation of some 150, mostly businesspeople. Pekarova Adamova's trip to Taiwan follows one by Senate speaker Milos Vystrcil in 2020.

☆ Taiwan welcomes large Czech delegation after Honduras shifts allegiance to China
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The roughly 150-person Czech delegation arrived in Taipei on Saturday, led by the speaker of the lower chamber of the Czech parliament, Marketa Pekarova Adamova. "This visit of the delegation to Taiwan certainly represents that Taiwan is in a democratic alliance," she said. Pekarova Adamova, who is due to meet Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen later on Monday, told the business forum that Taiwan was a crucial investment partner for her country. "Taiwan is not only an important economic partner but also a friendly and democratic partner and deserves our attention and support." Newly elected Czech president Petr Pavel drew a sharp rebuke from Beijing in January after taking a call from Tsai, a clear shift from his predecessor's attempts to win Chinese business.

☆ Poland says it will send MiG fighter jets to Ukraine 'in the next few days'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Poland will be the first NATO member to supply about a dozen fighter jets to Ukraine. This makes Poland the first NATO member to supply fighter jets to Ukraine. This plea for fighter jets has been a longstanding request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. But Poland's decision to supply military jets to Ukraine may not push other allies to do the same. A White House representative said President Joe Biden has not changed his mind on not giving Ukraine fighter jets.

☆ Fridman, Aven in talks over selling stake in Russia's Alfa Bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 10 (Reuters) - Sanctioned Russian businessmen Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven are in discussions over selling their stake in private Russian lender Alfa Bank to longtime business partner and Alfa Bank co-founder Andrei Kosogov, the bank said on Friday. "As far as we know, such a deal is indeed being worked out," Alfa Bank said. Alfa Bank has been placed under Western sanctions, imposed in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year. Fridman and Aven are seeking to have the personal sanctions on them removed. "Neither Andrei Kosogov nor the seller are under sanctions, so it is likely that the approval of the deal by foreign regulators will not be needed," Alfa Bank said.

☆ Exclusive: After $15 billion award, sultan's heirs target Malaysian properties in Paris
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Rozanna Latiff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Paris properties are only the third set of Malaysian assets that the heirs have publicly acknowledged going after. On Monday, French bailiffs attempted to evaluate the three properties in preparation of a sale, the lawyers said. A Malaysian law ministry spokesperson said the bailiffs appeared at the Malaysian embassy in Paris but were turned away. "To the extent that Malaysians blocked entry to the bailiffs, they are in open defiance of a French court order," Cohen said. The Malaysian government and the French court, the Tribunal Judiciaire de Paris, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

☆ NHL roundup: Bruins bounce Rangers for 10th straight win
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

At the end of a board battle behind Elliott in the second period, Hinostroza one-timed his second goal off a pass from Casey Mittelstadt at 5:35 for Buffalo's first lead. Captain Dylan Larkin scored in the second period and Magnus Hellberg made 32 saves for the Red Wings, who have lost five straight games (0-4-1). Bennett, who had missed six straight games, scored one goal. Capitals 8, Sharks 3Craig Smith scored twice in Washington's four-goal second period and the visitors rallied for a win against San Jose. Predators 3, Blackhawks 1Philip Tomasino, Tyson Barrie and Colton Sissons scored for visiting Nashville in a win against Chicago.

☆ NHL roundup: Bruins become fastest to 100 points
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

With their ninth consecutive win, the Bruins improved to 48-8-5 on the season and became the fastest team in NHL history to record 100 points, doing so in 61 games. Charlie Coyle, Brandon Carlo and David Krejci each recorded two assists while Patrice Bergeron and Connor Clifton also scored goals. Casey Mittelstadt scored the lone goal and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 35 saves for the Sabres, who dropped their second straight. The Lightning are 2-3-3 in their past eight games and have lost three straight for the first time. The Stars gave goalie Matt Murray his NHL debut, and he finished with 19 saves for the win.

☆ NHL roundup: Connor McDavid's 49th, 50th goals can't stop Bruins
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Edmonton's Connor McDavid scored twice for the first 50-goal season of his NHL career. Rantanen has goals in five straight games and MacKinnon recorded at least a point in his eighth consecutive game. Andrei Kuzmenko scored the winner 48 seconds into the overtime for the Canucks, who are 3-1-1 in their past five games. Isac Lundestrom, Jakob Silfverberg and Troy Terry also scored goals for the Ducks, with Silfverberg recording his 150th in an Anaheim uniform. Tyler Johnson and Andreas Athanasiou each scored goals for the Blackhawks, who saw their season-best five-game winning streak come to an end.

☆ NHL roundup: Roope Hintz's SO goal lifts Stars past Knights
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Rookie Wyatt Johnston also scored a goal and Jamie Benn added two assists for the Stars. Eichel and Michael Amadio both scored goals for Vegas, which saw its five-game home winning streak snapped. Patrik Laine had a goal with two assists and Kirill Marchenko scored twice for the Blue Jackets, who swept the two-game season series from Edmonton. It was Oshie's first career game with a goal, assist and a fight, known as a Gordie Howe hat trick. Tyler Toffoli scored, Jacob Markstrom turned away 18 shots and Nazem Kadri had an assist in his return to Colorado.

☆ Malaysia's Anwar eyes smaller deficit in first budget, tightens spending
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Anwar, in the report, said he will launch measures to strengthen the governance of public finances, and gradually reduce Malaysia's debt. Malaysia had earlier forecast 2023 growth at 4%-5%. Government expenditure this year is expected to total 386.1 billion ringgit ($87.11 billion), lower than last year's preliminary spending estimate of 395.2 billion ringgit. Revenue is expected to drop to 291.5 billion ringgit from 294.4 billion ringgit. State oil company Petronas (PETR.UL) is expected to pay the government a dividend of 40 billion ringgit, higher than the previous government's projection of 35 billion ringgit.

☆ Czechs have sent 89 tanks, hundreds of pieces of heavy machinery to Ukraine -PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WARSAW, Feb 22 (Reuters) - The Czech Republic has supplied hundreds of pieces of heavy military equipment to Ukraine over the past year, including 89 tanks, and will continue supporting efforts to aid Kyiv, the country's prime minister said on Wednesday. The Czech Republic has been one of Kyiv's earliest and strongest backers. The U.S. embassy in Prague last week said the United States would provide $200 million to the Czech Republic for military upgrades and replacement of equipment sent to Ukraine. The Czech Republic has also agreed to repair Ukraine's armoured vehicles as part of it help to the country. "We will continue to support Ukraine's efforts to this end, as long as necessary," the countries' statement said.

☆ NHL roundup: Ryan O’Reilly's hat trick leads Leafs
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

O'Reilly's goals -- his first since joining Toronto in a trade with St. Louis last Friday -- marked his fourth career hat trick. John Tavares added a goal and three assists, William Nylander had a goal and an assist, and Michael Bunting also scored for Toronto. 700, has collected nine points (five goals, four assists) during a six-game point streak. The Canucks scored goals just 51 seconds apart late in the third period to tie it 4-4. Tampa Bay stretched its franchise-record home point streak to 15 games (14-0-1).

☆ Czech group PPF takes 9.1% stake in Germany's ProSiebensat.1
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PRAGUE/BERLIN, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Czech investment group PPF has taken a 9.1% stake in ProSiebensat.1 (PSMGn.DE), PPF said on Tuesday, becoming the German broadcaster's second-largest investor behind Italy's MFE-MediaforEurope (MFEB.MI). "PPF believes the digital transformation of ProSieben will create value for all shareholders," privately-owned PPF said in a statement. "PPF is looking forward to liaising with the management and supervisory board of ProSieben in this digitalization process." The group, which also owns the CME group that operates dozens of channels in six central and east European markets, is now controlled by Kellner's widow, Renata Kellnerova. Reporting by Jan Lopatka, Klaus Lauer and Christoph Steitz Editing by Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Blinken to talk aid, Nordic NATO bid in visit to quake-hit Turkey
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( Humeyra Pamuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives for a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, February. Since the earthquake, the United States has sent a search and rescue team to Turkey, medical supplies, concrete-breaking machinery, and additional funding of $85 million in humanitarian aid that also covers Syria. While the United States has praised Turkey for some of its actions during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it remains worried over its close relationship with Moscow, experts say. "There will be no transfer of F-16s if Erdogan continues to deny admission to Finland and Sweden ... Ibrahim Kalin, Erdogan's chief foreign policy advisor, said last month he hoped the F-16 deal would not become "hostage" to the NATO memberships of Sweden and Finland.

☆ NHL roundup: Rangers escape 3-goal hole, edge Oilers in SO
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/4] Feb 17, 2023; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; New York Rangers forward Alexis Lafreniere (13) scores the shoot-out winning goal against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Jack Campbell (36) at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY SportsFebruary 18 - Alexis Lafreniere scored the deciding goal of the shootout to give the New York Rangers a 5-4 comeback win over the host Edmonton Oilers on Friday. The Rangers trailed 3-0 and 4-1 in the first period, but chipped away and won their seventh straight game. The Oilers are winless (0-1-2) in their last three games, but have still collected points in 13 of their last 14 games (9-1-4). The Oilers scored four goals in the third period of their last game with the Rangers, a 4-3 victory on Nov. 26 in New York.

☆ Petronas units in Luxembourg seized again in $15 bln arbitration dispute
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Rozanna Latiff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

It obtained a stay on the award in France but the ruling remains enforceable overseas under a United Nations treaty on arbitration. The Petronas Azerbaijan (Shah Deniz) and Petronas South Caucasus units were first seized in July 2022, but the Malaysian government said last month that the order had been set aside by a Luxembourg district court. On Tuesday, Luxembourg court bailiffs issued a second seizure order on the units and related bank accounts, court documents shared by the heirs' lawyer, Paul Cohen, showed. The Luxembourg court could not be immediately reached for comment. The heirs say they were not involved in the incursion and sought arbitration over the suspension of payments.

☆ NHL roundup: Auston Matthews' return boosts Leafs
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/6] Feb 15, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander (88) battles for the puck with Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Caleb Jones (82) in front of Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazek (34) during the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY SportsFebruary 16 - Auston Matthews had a goal and an assist in his return after missing five games with a sprained knee, helping the Toronto Maple Leafs earn a 5-2 win over the visiting Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. The Maple Leafs went 2-3-0 while Matthews was out. Conor Timmins added a goal, and the Maple Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov made 27 saves. Lazar and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson left due to lower-body injuries, and goalie Arturs Silovs stopped 22 shots in his NHL debut.

☆ NHL roundup: Adrian Kempe, Kings pound Penguins
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

Mika Zibanejad scored his 27th goal, Kaapo Kakko also found the net and Vincent Trocheck and Jimmy Vesey each added two assists. Carolina's Sebastian Aho saw his six-game goal streak end. Blues 6, Coyotes 5 (OT)Ryan O'Reilly scored the winning goal 1:02 into overtime to lift St. Louis past visiting Arizona. Scott Wedgewood made 28 saves in his first appearance since blanking the Los Angeles Kings 4-0 on Jan. 19. Jonatan Berggren scored two goals, Filip Hronek scored a goal, and Ben Chiarot had two assists for the Red Wings.

☆ NHL roundup: Sharks end Lightning's record home win streak
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The Sharks controlled play for most of the three-on-three session, and Karlsson helped the visitors post their second straight win with a slick diagonal pass that Meier easily netted at 2:19. Meier finished with two goals and an assist while Karlsson notched a goal and two helpers. The Penguins killed off a penalty in overtime, then scored during a delayed penalty call. Adin Hill didn't work too hard in stopping 16 shots to record his career-high 11th win. Vatrano scored with a backhand off a feed from Isac Lundestrom to end Anaheim's eight-game losing streak against the Blackhawks.

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