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HAVANA (AP) — Until recently, the space was the one-car garage of a private home in Cuba’s capital, Havana. Yet despite their modest setup, their prices are far from affordable, even for a doctor or a teacher, who make about 7,000 Cuban pesos a month (about $28 in the parallel market). Political Cartoons View All 1247 ImagesFor example, one kilo (2.2 pounds) of powdered milk from the Czech Republic costs 2,000 Cuban pesos (about $8). “I retired with 2,200 (Cuban pesos a month or $8.80) last year and I can’t even buy a package of chicken," she said. The novelty is that the small shops like the one in Vedado and bigger bodegas like the “Cuban Costco” are entirely private and accept payments in Cuban pesos.

Persons: ” Ania Espinosa, Espinosa, Ingracia Virgen Cruzata, “, Goya, ”, Pedro Freyre, Akerman, That’s, Freyre Organizations: —, Cuban Costco, Akerman Consulting, Miami Law School Locations: HAVANA, Cuba’s, Havana, El, Cuba, Cuban, Vedado, Czech Republic, U.S, Uruguay, Florida, America, Caribbean

☆ Czech government freezes Russian state's real-estate assets
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The government press office said the EU country widened its national sanctions list to include a Russian company, which is controlled by the Russian presidential administration, and is in charge of managing Russian assets abroad. "The company's commercial activities are as of today illegal, as well as circumventing and violating this sanction, and its entire assets in the Czech Republic have been frozen," it said. In the Czech Republic, the Russian company manages a number of real estate properties, the Czech government said. The Czech sanctions list goes beyond the EU's sanctions packages and includes six other entities or persons. The Czech Republic has been among the strongest backers of Ukraine since the February 2022 full invasion by Russia.

Persons: Stringer, Putin, CTK, Jan Lipavsky, Jan Lopatka, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia region, Czech, Czech Republic, EU, Russian, Russia, Prague

☆ Czech Government Freezes Russian State's Real-Estate Assets
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

PRAGUE (Reuters) - The Czech government said on Wednesday it froze Russian state-owned properties in the Czech Republic, expanding a sanctions list set up in retaliation for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The government press office said the EU country widened its national sanctions list to include a Russian company, which is controlled by the Russian presidential administration, and is in charge of managing Russian assets abroad. "The company's commercial activities are as of today illegal, as well as circumventing and violating this sanction, and its entire assets in the Czech Republic have been frozen," it said. In the Czech Republic, the Russian company manages a number of real estate properties, the Czech government said. The Czech sanctions list goes beyond the EU's sanctions packages and includes six other entities or persons.

Persons: Putin, CTK, Jan Lipavsky, Jan Lopatka, Matthew Lewis Locations: PRAGUE, Czech, Czech Republic, Ukraine, EU, Russian, Russia, Prague

UKRAINE DIVERSIONReuters spoke to around a half dozen Czech and Polish defence companies and government officials who described renewed efforts to carve out a bigger share of the African arms market as the Ukraine conflict diverts Russia's attention. Privately-held defence and civil manufacturing company Czechoslovak Group - the biggest Czech defence company - said its ability to maintain and modernize armoured vehicles using Soviet-era standards has helped it win business in Africa. ...in Poland where our stand was visited by numerous delegations from African countries that appeared here for the first time," WB Group spokesman Remigiusz Wilk said. The effort to supply Ukraine has pushed Czech companies to boost production and expand supply lines, something Czech-based independent defence analyst Lukas Visingr said has burnished the region's reputation. "The Czech arms industry is stepping up its efforts towards certain African countries still using Soviet-style equipment but who start to see Russia as a problematic supplier," Visingr said.

Persons: David W Cerny, Jiri Hynek, Filip Kulstrunk, Andrej Cirtek, Pieter Wezeman, Sebastian Chwalek, –, Remigiusz Wilk, Petr Fiala, Tomas Pojar, Tomas Kopecny, Kopecny, Lukas Visingr, Visingr, Michael Kahn, Anna Koper, Alex Richardson Organizations: Aero Vodochody, REUTERS, Western, Central, Russia Czech, Defence, Western NATO, Warsaw, Defence and Security Industry Association of, Reuters, Aero, Privately, Czechoslovak Group, CSG, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, WB Group, WB, Ivory, Thomson Locations: Odolena Voda, Czech Republic, Russia, Africa, PRAGUE, WARSAW, European, Western, Czechoslovakia, Czech, UKRAINE, Polish, Ukraine, Stockholm, China, Saharan Africa, Poland's, Poland, Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, Prague, Mozambique

☆ Billie Jean King Cup: Leylah Fernandez guides Canada to first ever title
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Leylah Fernandez led Canada to a first ever Billie Jean King Cup triumph on Sunday, securing the title with a 6-2 6-3 win over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini. Canada won the Billie Jean King Cup, formerly known as the Fed Cup, for the first time. It’s a dream come true.”Canada’s victory comes just a year after the men clinched the country’s first Davis Cup title. Fernandez was undefeated over the week as she guided Canada to victory. After Fernandez’s victory, the Canadian team was presented with the trophy by Billie Jean King, as well as blue jackets like those regularly worn by the legendary tennis star.

Persons: CNN — Leylah Fernandez, Billie Jean King, Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, Fernandez, ” Fernandez, CNN Sport’s Patrick Snell, “ Billie Jean King, “ We’re, Marina Stakusic, Martina Trevisan, Matt McNulty, Heidi El Tabakh, Magdalena Fręch, “, ” Stakusic, hasn’t, El Tabakh, ” El Tabakh, Marcelo Del Pozo Organizations: CNN, Canada, Czech, Billie Jean King Cup, Fed, Reuters, Canadian Locations: Canada, Poland, Spain, Czech Republic, Italy

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

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

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

☆ The night train revolution has been hailed as an alternative to airplanes. Here’s how that’s going
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Ben Jones | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Wherever they run, night trains are complicated, labor intensive and expensive to operate – one of the major reasons they went into decline in the first place. The $770 million contract could eventually see up to 370 new overnight carriages introduced to update Italy’s entire overnight train fleet. “Politicians must be clear: the night train market will be effectively closed for a very long time,” he says. So, what does all this mean for the much-vaunted night train revolution? With the honorable exception of government-subsidized Nightjet, which plans to expand rapidly over the next five years, European night train services have yet to match the hype.

Persons: Love, James Brown, David Bowie, Ray Charles, –, they’ve, Charisius, Agatha Christie, James Bond, Mark Smith, ”, “, ÖBB, “ Superliner, Kuleshova, Smith, it’s, Alex Halada, Nick Brooks Organizations: CNN, Orient Express, Austrian Federal Railways, Swiss Federal Railways, Deutsche Bahn, Italian State Railways, Amtrak, California Zephyr, European, Bloomberg, Getty, Regiojet, Compagnie Internationale des, VIA Rail, European Union, Frankfurt, Eurostar, EU Rail, EU Locations: Europe, Russia, Scandinavia, Vienna, Hamburg, Germany, Austria, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, France, Sweden, Milan, Sicily, Messina, Europe’s, United States, Berlin, Stockholm, Denmark, Czech, Prague, Croatia’s, London, Dresden, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Spain, Venice, Florence, Rome, Madrid, Porto, Portugal, Edinburgh, Zurich, AFP, EU

☆ Doubles powerhouse Krejcikova, Siniakova part ways
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Tennis - Billie Jean King Cup Finals - Estadio de La Cartuja, Seville, Spain - November 11, 2023 Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski and Leylah Fernandez celebrate after winning their doubles match against Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova REUTERS/Marcelo Del Pozo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 12 (Reuters) - Dynamic Czech duo Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova will not play doubles together during the 2024 season, the WTA said on its website on Sunday, pausing their hugely successful partnership after collecting seven Grand Slam titles together. The pair won in San Diego in September but lost to Canadians Gabriela Dabrowski and Leylah Fernandez at the Billie Jean King Cup this weekend. Siniakova initiated the split after an injury-marred 2023, according to media reports, but did not rule out a potential reunion. The Olympic doubles champions picked up their seventh Grand Slam title at the Australian Open this year. Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Billie Jean King, Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski, Leylah Fernandez, Krejcikova, Katerina Siniakova REUTERS, Marcelo Del Pozo, Barbora Krejcikova, Katerina Siniakova, Gabriela Dabrowski, Siniakova, Amy Tennery, Ken Ferris Organizations: La, Czech, WTA, Thomson Locations: Seville, Spain, San Diego, New York

SEVILLE, Spain (AP) — Leylah Fernandez and Marina Stakusic won their singles matches as Canada beat Italy 2-0 to claim its first-ever Billie Jean King Cup on Sunday. Stakusic, ranked 258th in the world, put Canada ahead by defeating No. Canada had beaten 11-time champion Czech Republic in the semifinals, while four-time champion Italy advanced past Slovenia for its first final appearance since 2013. Political Cartoons View All 1240 ImagesCanada, captained by Heidi El Tabakh, is the 13th nation to win the Billie Jean King Cup, and the second new champion after Switzerland’s triumph in Glasgow a year ago. The Canada men's team is the current Davis Cup champion.

Persons: — Leylah Fernandez, Marina Stakusic, Billie Jean King, Stakusic, Martina Trevisan, Fernandez, Jasmine Paolini, Davis, Heidi El Tabakh, Iga Swiatek, ___ Organizations: Canada, Italy, Billie Jean King Cup, La, Czech, Davis, WTA Locations: SEVILLE, Spain, Canada, Seville, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Glasgow, United States, Switzerland, Cancun , Mexico

☆ Fernandez seals Canada's first BJK Cup title
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

After the 21-year-old converted match point the Canadian team celebrated wildly on court in front of their jubilant fans. It was then over to Fernandez who duly claimed her fourth singles win of the week by outclassing Paolini. Canada's team will receive $2.4 million in prize money -- a record for the women's team event formerly known as the Fed Cup. "Congratulations to Canada for capturing their first Billie Jean King Cup title," King said. Canada are the 13th nation to win the Billie Jean King Cup and the second new champions in two years following Switzerland’s triumph in Glasgow 12 months ago.

Persons: Billie Jean King, Marina Stakusic, Italy's Martina Trevisan, Marcelo Del Pozo, Leylah Fernandez, Jasmine Paolini, Heidi El Tabakh, Martina Trevisan, Trevisan, Stakusic, Fernandez, outclassing Paolini, Marketa Vondrousova, Gabriela Dabrowski, Barbora Krejcikova, Katerina Siniakova, American King, King, Martyn Herman, Hugh Lawson, Ken Ferris Organizations: La, U.S ., WTA, Wimbledon, Fed, Billie Jean King Cup, Thomson Locations: Seville, Spain, SEVILLE, Canada, Italy, Czech Republic, Czech, American, Glasgow

☆ 'True European': Former top Czech diplomat Schwarzenberg dies
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

PRAGUE, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Former Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, one of the leading figures in the country's post-Communist era, has died, officials said on Sunday. Schwarzenberg was born into a prestigious Czech family and became a senior aide to his friend Vaclav Havel after the former dissident won the country's first free election in 1990. He later served twice as foreign minister between 2007 and 2013. The Vaclav Havel Library, which Schwarzenberg co-founded, said he died on Saturday, calling him a "patriot and true European". Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said on X that Schwarzenberg was an "unwavering advocate" of democracy and the European idea.

Persons: Karel Schwarzenberg, Schwarzenberg, Vaclav Havel, Miroslav Kalousek, Havel, Alexander Schallenberg, Milos Zeman, Jason Hovet, Jan Lopatka, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Vaclav Havel Library, Communists, Television, Foreign Ministry, Austrian, Thomson Locations: PRAGUE, Czech, Europe, Vienna, Czech Republic, Schwarzenberg, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Central European

☆ World War Two veterans eye 80th anniversary of D-Day as Europe salutes war dead
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Tim Hepher | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"Thirty of us went out, 16 including my brother got back, five of us got captured and nine got killed," Hay said. He is now an active ambassador for the nearby British Normandy Memorial, overlooking Gold Beach in the UK sector. Until two years ago, Britain was alone among allies on the Western front in not having a dedicated Normandy memorial. The 30-million-pound ($37 million) memorial was financed by fines levied on banks by the British government, as well as private donations. In a forest near Regensburg, Germany, guns approached from the West and the German commanding officer accepted the war was over.

Persons: Ken Hay, Tim Hepher, Hay, Britain's King Charles III, Emmanuel Macron, Sacha Marsac, Thomas Hardwyre Milligan, Sidney Bates, VIII, I've, Kevin Liffey Organizations: Normandy, Juno, Royal International Air, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Normandy, Fairford, Britain, France, Nazi, English, Essex, Gold, Ver, Mer, British, Hay, Czech Republic, Regensburg, Germany

☆ Italy overcome spirited Slovenia to reach BJK Cup final
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEVILLE, Spain, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Jasmine Paolini defeated Tamara Zidansek and Martina Trevisan beat Kaja Juvan as Italy secured a 2-0 victory over Slovenia in Seville on Saturday to reach the Billie Jean King Cup final and stay on course for their fifth crown in the team competition. Trevisan earlier put Italy in front in their quest to make the final of the event for a sixth time with a battling 7-6(6) 6-3 victory over Slovenian world number 104 Juvan. "I have to say that today was really tough," Trevisan said as Italy tasted success in their first semi-final appearance in the competition since 2014. Italy's last triumph in the competition came 10 years ago, and they could face stiff competition in Sunday's title clash. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jasmine Paolini, Tamara Zidansek, Martina Trevisan, Kaja Juvan, Billie Jean King, Paolini, Trevisan, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Slovenia, Billie Jean King Cup, Estadio, la, Slovenian, Czech, United States, Thomson Locations: SEVILLE, Spain, Italy, Seville, Czech Republic, Canada, Bengaluru

☆ Private jets of Russian oligarchs keep flying but not to Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Gleb Stolyarov | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

A view shows the Boeing 737-700 BBJ (plane number RA-73890) private aircraft on the tarmac of the Pulkovo International Airport in Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 14, 2023. The Boeing linked to Yevtushenkov was among at least 50 private jets re-registered under the Russian flag since the February 2022 invasion, according to previously unreported national aircraft registry data up to early August reviewed by Reuters. Several of the repatriated private jets were associated with prominent politicians and business figures, according to two senior Russian aviation industry sources, who were not authorised to speak to the media and spoke on condition of anonymity. Because of sanctions, Russian planes are prohibited from entering the 27-country European Union, where Russia's oligarchs previously flew frequently for business and leisure and where many private jets linked to them were registered before the war, tail numbers show. VEB, Uralkali and Mazepin did not respond to requests for comment on the registration of the jets in Russia.

Persons: Luba, Vladimir Yevtushenkov, Yevtushenkov, Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Mazepin, Putin, Igor Shuvalov, Mazepin, Gleb Stolyarov, Mike Collett, White, Frank Jack Daniel Our Organizations: Boeing, Pulkovo, REUTERS, Soviet, Reuters, Sistema, Ministry, Transport, JETS, Russian, Union, Bombardier Challenger, Uralkali, Bombardier, VEB.RF, VEB, EU, United Arab, Thomson Locations: Saint Petersburg, Russia, Riviera, Belarus, oligarch, Ukraine, Turkey, Dubai, China, Russian, Maldives, Seychelles, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Yevtushenkov, United Kingdom, Aruba, of, Uralkali, UAE, Prague, Bishkek, States, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Italy, United Arab Emirates, Latvia, Britain, Oman, Soviet

The EU's proposed "Euro 7" law would tighten limits on health-harming pollutants from combustion engine cars. The European Commission, which drafts new EU laws, has said the health benefits would far outweigh the costs. However, EU countries and lawmakers - which are in charge of negotiating the final law in the coming months - have each agreed to weaken the rules. Green lawmakers criticised the vote as a missed chance to reduce the roughly 70,000 premature deaths per year in Europe attributed to vehicle pollution. "The EU is missing the opportunity to be the future leader in green technology," Green EU lawmaker Bas Eickhout added.

Persons: Yves Herman, Alexandr Vondra, Bas Eickhout, Adolfo Urso, Kate Abnett, Alvise Armellini, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, New, European Commission, Commission, Italy's Industry, EU, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Rights BRUSSELS, Union, Europe, Italy, Czech Republic

☆ Czech firm Bene Meat gets EU approval for lab-grown meat for pet food
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Jan Lopatka | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] An employee works at a laboratory of Bene Meat Technologies company, which is planning to scale up production of lab-grown meat for use in pet food, in Prague, Czech Republic, November 7, 2023. Bene Meat has turned its focus to the pet food sector to deliver a product that can be marketed to global pet food makers as a raw material for inclusion in their final products. He said Bene Meat's costs would allow final products to sell around the price level of premium and super-premium pet food products on the market. The company is in talks with pet food makers on supplies, but also aims to work with them to potentially set up production lines at their current facilities. It also plans to develop its own brand of final pet food products.

Persons: David W Cerny, Meat, Roman Kriz, Kriz, Bene, Jan Lopatka, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Bene Meat Technologies, REUTERS, Bene, Technologies, European Union, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Prague, Czech Republic, PRAGUE, Czech, United States, Singapore

☆ Ending the 40-hour workweek is possible, but it'll require sacrifices from all of us
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . In today's big story, we're looking at the internet calling for changes to the "soul-crushing" and "depressing" 9-to-5 workday. The 40-hour workweek is facing a reckoning after a recent grad's viral TikTok emotionally questioning how people have time for a personal life while working a full-time job. AdvertisementAdvertisementSo yes, upending the 9-to-5 is possible — and worth considering — but only with a bit of sacrifice from all of us. Earnings today: Uber, eBay, H&R Block, Nintendo, and other companies.

Persons: —, Dolly Parton, Jeff Kravitz, FilmMagic, Dolly, Gen, Insider's, Gen Z, Tim Paradis, I've, we'd, Rebecca Zisser, Ray Dalio, That's, Rob Copeland's, Dalio, Warren Buffett's, Sam Altman Justin Sullivan, OpenAI's, Sam Altman, Slack, Lidiane Jones, Bumble, Tesla, Samantha Lee, WeWork, they're, Billie Jean King, Bryan Johnson, Dustin Giallanza, Dan DeFrancesco, Naga Siu, Hallam Bullock, Lisa Ryan Organizations: Service, Bridgewater Associates, Bank of America, EV, Microsoft, Billie Jean King Cup, eBay, Nintendo Locations: Taylor, Berkshire, Kentucky, Mississippi, Sevilla, Spain, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland, New York City, San Diego, London, New York

☆ BJK Cup: Billie Jean King on the career moment she’ll ‘never forget’ and the growth of the tournament named in her honor
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Billing itself as the world’s largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, the Billie Jean King Cup is akin to the World Cup of tennis, pitting countries from around the world against one another. Tennis great Billie Jean King lent her name to the tournament – which celebrates its 60th anniversary this month – in 2020 and she has fond memories of playing in it herself. It fits my personality and fits how I think about the sport,” King said. Improving women’s tennis is something King has done throughout her career in the sport. More than anything, though, King wants this competition, and women’s sport in general, to get more media coverage.

Persons: CNN —, Billie Jean King, King, “, ” King, “ It’s, Davis, Serena Williams, John G, Mabanglo, ”, Bobby Riggs, Lesley Martin, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Iga Świątek Organizations: CNN, Tennis, US, Getty, Federation Cup, Fed, International Tennis Federation, ITF, Women’s Tennis Association, ”, WTA Locations: Seville, Spain, France, Italy, Canada, Germany, US, Australia, Switzerland, Poland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Venus, AFP, “, ” Switzerland, Mexico

☆ Slovenia beat Australia in BJK Finals opener
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Kaja Juvan got outsiders Slovenia off to a flyer with a 6-4 6-1 defeat of a rusty Ajla Tomljanovic. Former French Open semi-finalist Tamara Zidansek then overcame Daria Saville 6-1 6-4 to give Slovenia an unassailable lead, although a doubles rubber was still to be played. A strong-looking Kazakhstan team are the other country in Group B. The 12 qualifying nations are split into four sections of three with the group winners progressing to the semi-finals. Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Billie Jean King, Tamara Zidansek, Australia's Daria Saville, Marcelo Del Pozo, Kaja Juvan, Daria Saville, Martyn Herman, Ken Ferris Organizations: La, Billie Jean King Cup, Australia, French, Kazakhstan, Switzerland, Thomson Locations: Seville, Spain, Slovenia, Czech Republic

☆ ITF announces record prize money for Billie Jean King Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

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 Switwerland's Belinda Bencic Action Images via Reuters/Ed Sykes/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 6 (Reuters) - This year's Billie Jean King Cup champions will receive a record $2.4 million, with prize money for the finals of the women's team event again matching that of the men's Davis Cup. A total Player Prize Money purse of $9.6 million will be shared between the 12 competing nations in Seville, the International Tennis Federation said in a statement. "We are proud to announce this news on the eve of the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup ... Finals," ITF president David Haggerty said. "Achieving gender parity in our sport is a key part of the ITF's Advantage All programme and I am delighted we have been able to offer equivalent prize money with the Davis Cup Finals again this year." The qualifying nations are split into four groups of three teams with the group winners moving into the semi-finals.

Persons: Billie Jean King, Italy's Jasmine Paolini, Switwerland's Belinda Bencic, Ed Sykes, Davis, David Haggerty, Martyn Herman, Ken Ferris Organizations: Emirates, Billie Jean King Cup, International Tennis Federation, ITF, Davis, Estadio la, Thomson Locations: Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, Seville, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Group, Australia, Slovenia

SEVILLE, Spain (AP) — The Billie Jean King Cup Finals will offer a record total of $9.6 million in prize money, including $2.4 million to the champions, the International Tennis Federation announced Monday. The ITF said this puts the women competing at the BJK Cup Finals on an equivalent prize level as the men at the Davis Cup Finals. The 12-team BJK Cup Finals start Tuesday at Seville’s La Cartuja Stadium and run through Sunday. Defending champion Switzerland is joined by last year’s runner-up, Australia, and 10 other countries: Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Poland, Slovenia, Spain and the United States. The runner-up team will earn $1.44 million, each losing semifinalist will get $960,000 and teams eliminated in the group stage will receive $480,000.

Persons: Billie Jean King Organizations: International Tennis Federation, ITF, Davis, Seville’s La Locations: SEVILLE, Spain, Seville’s, Seville’s La Cartuja, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Poland, Slovenia, United States

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s newly appointed head of defense industry says he is working tirelessly to ramp up local arms production and wants to turn the country into a weapons production hub for the West. Kamyshyn said approximately 500 companies in Ukraine’s defense industry are contributing to the country’s efforts to increase weapons production in order to counter Russia’s attempts to seize more territory. Now he recalls that time as his “past life” and says he is completely focused on make the defense industry a successful enterprise like Ukrzaliznytsia. Most crucially, Kamyshin says that the increased local production of weapons has enhanced Ukraine’s capabilities to launch attacks on Russian territory. Kamyshin acknowledged that defense technology, particularly in the field of innovative warfare, is a game-changer and the fastest-growing sector in Ukraine’s defense industry.

Persons: — Ukraine’s, Oleksandr Kamysyhin, ” Kamyshin, Kamyshyn, “, Oleksandr Kamyshin, ”, Kamyshin Organizations: West, Associated Press, Artillery, Alliance of Defense Industries Locations: KYIV, Ukraine, Israel, Russia, Moscow, Sochi, Krasnodar, U.S, France, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Turkey, Ukraine’s, russia, ukraine

☆ Irish PM says Israel actions in Gaza resemble 'something approaching revenge'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Juan Medina/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDUBLIN, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on Friday described Israel's actions in Gaza as "something approaching revenge", in some of the strongest criticism of Israel by a leader of a European Union member state. Gaza health authorities say at least 9,061 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its assault on the enclave of 2.3 million people in retaliation for deadly attacks by Hamas militants on southern Israel. And I don't think that's how Israel will guarantee future freedom and future security," he said. Asked by a journalist whether Israel's actions were war crimes, Varadkar said "that's not for me to determine." The Gaza war has highlighted foreign policy divisions within the EU.

Persons: Leo Varadkar, Juan Medina, Israel, Varadkar, that's, Conor Humphries, Christina Fincher Organizations: Ireland's, REUTERS, Rights, Irish, European Union, RTE, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Granada, Spain, Gaza, Israel, South Korea, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Ireland, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Western

Israel said Hamas killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and took more than 200 hostages. The Gaza health ministry says at least 8,796 Palestinians in the narrow coastal enclave, including 3,648 children, have been killed by Israeli strikes since Oct. 7. TWO HAMAS COMMANDERS KILLED, SAYS ISRAELIsrael said its strikes on Tuesday and Wednesday killed two Hamas military leaders in Jabalia, Gaza's biggest refugee camp. U.N. human rights officials said strikes on the camp could be a war crime. [1/5]Palestinians search for casualties a day after Israeli strikes on houses in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, November 1, 2023.

Persons: Jordan, Gazans, Israel, ISRAEL Israel, Mohammed Al, Masri, Fathi Abu, Hassan, Ashraf Al, Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken, Wednesday Jordan, Joe Biden, Nidal al, Emily Rose, Cynthia Osterman, Stephen Coates, Grant McCool, Robert Birsel Organizations: Friday, Hamas, Palestinian, Gaza's Hamas, Human Rights, REUTERS, Hospitals, Indonesian Hospital, FOR, Wednesday, U.S . House, Democratic, White, Israel, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, Friday GAZA, JERUSALEM, Egypt, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Jordan, United Kingdom, United States, Quds, Gaza City, Jabalia, Gaza's, U.S, Tel Aviv, Qatar, Ukraine

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

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

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

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