DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

BUDAPEST/PRAGUE, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Robert Fico's election win in Slovakia after he had campaigned to end military aid to Ukraine shows creeping discontent in Central Europe over the war with Russia, but analysts do not expect a major policy turn-around by Bratislava or Warsaw. Fico's victory in Saturday's election prompted concerns that his new government would see NATO-member Slovakia joining Hungary in challenging the European Union's consensus on support for Ukraine. However, analysts do not see a big policy switch regarding Ukraine in Slovakia and Poland. MODERATING EFFECTIn Slovakia, Fico's SMER-SSD party won the election with 23% of the vote. "The bigger challenges are not Slovakia, or Hungary but the U.S. election cycle and the impact that has on support for Ukraine."

Persons: Robert Fico's, Fico, Viktor Orban, Roger Hilton, Fico's, Peter Pellegrini, Samuel Abraham, Robert Fico, Zuzana Caputova, Radovan Stoklasa, Pellegrini, Abraham, legitimise, Orban, Mujtaba Rahman, Rahman, Krisztina, Jan Lopatka, Angus MacSwan Organizations: NATO, SNS, Republika, REUTERS, EU, Russia, Ukraine, Reuters, Eurasia, Thomson Locations: BUDAPEST, PRAGUE, Slovakia, Ukraine, Central Europe, Russia, Bratislava, Warsaw, Hungary, Russian Poland, Saturday's, Poland, GLOBSEC, SMER, Brussels, Budapest, Kyiv, Europe, Prague

☆ Slovaks choose between pro-Russian ex-PM Fico and pro-Western liberals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Jan Lopatka | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BRATISLAVA, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Slovaks were voting on Saturday in a parliamentary election closely fought between former leftist prime minister Robert Fico, who has pledged to end military aid for neighbouring Ukraine, and pro-Western liberals. He has kept his options open but said this week his party was closer to Fico. Fico has ridden on dissatisfaction with a bickering centre-right coalition whose government collapsed last year, triggering this election a half-year early. Fico has pledged to end military supplies to Ukraine, and to strive for peace talks. But Fico was also a pragmatic leader in the past, which foreign diplomats and analysts say could tame his foreign policy turn.

Persons: Robert Fico, Fico, Fico's, Michal Simecka, Peter Pellegrini, Michal Vasecka, Viktor Orban, Jan Lopatka, David W, Cerny, Peter Graff Organizations: Ukraine, Democracy, European, Thomson Locations: BRATISLAVA, Ukraine, Slovakia, Hungary, European, Poland, Progressive Slovakia, Russia, Brussels, Prague, Bratislava

☆ Knife-edge Slovak election to determine stance on Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Jan Lopatka | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Robert Fico, leader of the SMER-SSD party, Michal Simecka, leader of Progressive Slovakia party, and Peter Pellegrini, leader of HLAS party await for the televised debate to begin at TV TA3, prior to the Slovak early parliamentary election, in Bratislava, Slovakia, September 26, 2023. Fico's SMER-SSD party has a narrow lead over liberal Progressive Slovakia (PS), which has pledged to stay the course on foreign policy, in two out of four final opinion polls. Such an alliance may be reinforced if Poland's conservative PiS wins another term in October, although PiS has a hawkish view on Russia. The leading Slovak party is expected to get the first chance from liberal President Zuzana Caputova to form a cabinet. "He will stop the weapons (for Ukraine), that is what he gains support on."

Persons: Robert Fico, Michal Simecka, Peter Pellegrini, HLAS, Radovan Stoklasa, Fico's, Viktor Orban, PiS, Zuzana Caputova, Fico, Grigorij Meseznikov, Orban, embolden, Jan Lopatka, Christina Fincher Organizations: Progressive, REUTERS, EU, Reuters, NATO, Oxford, Thomson Locations: Progressive Slovakia, Bratislava, Slovakia, Ukraine, Russia, UKRAINE, Brussels, Hungary, Europe, Czech Republic, Poland, EU, Prague

PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech Republic's government on Wednesday approved a Defense Ministry plan to acquire two dozen U.S. F-35 fighter jets in a deal worth around 150 billion Czech koruna ($6.5 billion). The American aircraft will replace the 14 JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets from Sweden that are currently used by the Czech army. The Czechs will pay almost $5 billion to the U.S. for the aircraft, training of pilots, ammunition and other costs, Defense Minister Jana Cernochova said. The remaining money will be used to finance an upgrade of the Caslav air force base in central Czech Republic, fuel and training of staff, Cernochova said. Wednesday's announcement came after the government decided in May to acquire 246 CV90 armored combat vehicles from Sweden as part of a major modernization of the military amid Russia's war.

Persons: Petr Fiala, ” Fiala, ”, Fiala, JAS, Jana Cernochova, Cernochova, Karel Rehka Organizations: Defense Ministry, U.S, American, Gripen Locations: PRAGUE, Czech, Sweden, Czech Republic, Ukraine

☆ Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin travels the globe to keep crypto alive as the U.S. cracks down
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +17 min

Today, the biggest challenge for Buterin and the ethereum community is making sure that it provides actual value to people. Buterin was named the world's youngest crypto billionaire at age 27 as the crypto market swelled to its peak in 2021. And he isn't, according to his own estimation, the be-all and end-all authority on the ethereum network. About the ethereum network, he says, "On the other hand, you've got your laptop. In terms of what's next for ethereum — Buterin says a big priority is focusing on privacy and scalability through zero-knowledge rollups.

Persons: Vitalik Buterin, Buterin, coder, doesn't, Czech Republic Pavel Sinagl, that's, clasped, Buterin wasn't, cryptocurrencies, Sam Bankman, Luna, they're, Dmitry, Vitalik, Dmitry Buterin, ethereum blockchains, you've, Satoshi Nakamoto, ethereum, — Buterin Organizations: CNBC PRAGUE, CNBC, Canadian, U.S . Tornado, Buterin, U.S, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, CFTC, People's Bank of China, tinker, Ethereum, Ethereum Foundation Locations: Prague, Russia, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Netherlands, Paralelní Polis, Holešovice, China, U.S, Africa, Argentina, Buenos Aires, San Francisco, CBDCs, Moscow, ethereum, Denver, Paris

☆ Slovakia Struggles With Surge in Illegal Migrants as Election Looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

"They don't want to live or work here, they are in transit, they rush through as they can," said Jozsef Barta, 70. Although he knew of no criminal incidents involving the migrants, he added: "People are scared to walk in the street." The number of illegal migrants detained in Slovakia has increased ninefold from a year ago to more than 27,000 so far this year, the country's interior ministry said. Hungarian police data also showed a jump in illegal migrant crossings on Hungary's southern border with Serbia in the past weeks, from where they head for Slovakia or Austria. Slovak police patrols are helping their Hungarian colleagues to catch the smugglers but that has proven little deterrent.

Persons: Jozsef Barta, Renata Gregusova, Robert Fico, Fico, Marian Cehelnik, Viktor Orban, Krisztina, Jason Hovet, Jan Lopatka, Gareth Jones Organizations: European Union, Europe's, Police, Reuters, EU Locations: CHLABA, Slovakia, IPOLYDAMASD, Hungary, Chlaba, Germany, Hungarian, Slovak, Europe, Czech Republic, East, Afghanistan, Serbia, Austria, EU, Prague

☆ Saab wins expanded U.S. contract for anti-armour system
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

The logo of Swedish manufacturer Saab is seen on a car in Prague June 13, 2012. REUTERS/David W Cerny/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCOPENHAGEN, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Swedish defence equipment maker Saab (SAABb.ST) said on Monday the U.S. Department of Defense has expanded a framework deal for AT4 anti-armour systems and Carl-Gustaf ammunition, and placed a new order worth $104.9 million for delivery from 2024 to 2026. The extension of the agreement, which was originally signed in 2019, will allow the U.S. to buy Saab's close combat solutions for up to $422 million, including the new order announced on Monday, Saab said. The latest order will support the U.S. army, U.S. Special Operations Command and the U.S. Marine Corps, Saab said. Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen, editing by Terje SolsvikOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: David W Cerny, Gustaf, Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Terje Solsvik Organizations: Saab, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Department of Defense, U.S ., Special Operations Command, U.S . Marine Corps, Thomson Locations: Swedish, Prague, Rights COPENHAGEN

☆ Czech Protesters Rally Against Government's Pro-Western Policies
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

And I do not want a puppet government any more," Raichl said, saying the Czech Republic should veto any attempt by Ukraine to join NATO. Under the current government, the Czech Republic has been a close ally of Ukraine, sending tanks, rocket launchers, helicopters, artillery shells and other material to help Ukrainian forces fighting Russia's invasion. Raichl hailed the nationalist policies of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as a role model and called for an alliance of Central European countries to counter Brussels. He also voiced support for Slovakia's former Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has adopted a staunchly anti-Western stance ahead of an election on Sept. 30. Protester Marcela Hajkova, a mother-of-three, condemned the government's military aid to Ukraine, among other policies.

Persons: Petr, Fiala, Jindrich Raichl, Raichl, Viktor Orban, Robert Fico, Marcela Hajkova, Jan Lopatka, David Cerny, Helen Popper Organizations: Ukraine, PRO, ., CTK, NATO, Hungarian, Police, Wagner Group Locations: PRAGUE, Russian Czech, Prague, Moscow, Prague's Wenceslas, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Central, Brussels

☆ Czech protesters rally against government's pro-Western policies
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Demonstrators take part in an anti-government protest demanding the resignation of Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, in Prague, Czech Republic, September 16, 2023. And I do not want a puppet government any more," Raichl said, saying the Czech Republic should veto any attempt by Ukraine to join NATO. Under the current government, the Czech Republic has been a close ally of Ukraine, sending tanks, rocket launchers, helicopters, artillery shells and other material to help Ukrainian forces fighting Russia's invasion. Raichl hailed the nationalist policies of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as a role model and called for an alliance of Central European countries to counter Brussels. Protester Marcela Hajkova, a mother-of-three, condemned the government's military aid to Ukraine, among other policies.

Persons: Petr Fiala, David W Cerny, Petr, Fiala, Jindrich Raichl, Raichl, Viktor Orban, Robert Fico, Marcela Hajkova, Jan Lopatka, David Cerny, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Czech, REUTERS, Rights, Ukraine, PRO, ., CTK, NATO, Hungarian, Police, Wagner Group, Thomson Locations: Prague, Czech Republic, Russian Czech, Moscow, Prague's Wenceslas, Ukraine, Central, Brussels

Hungary imposed a national import ban on 24 Ukrainian agricultural products, including grains, vegetables, several meat products and honey, according to a government decree published on Friday. Slovakia's agriculture minister followed suit announcing its own grain ban. EU PLEAEU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said on Friday countries should refrain from unilateral measures against imports of Ukrainian grain. Poland, Hungary and Slovakia previously said they may extend the restrictions unilaterally while Bulgaria on Thursday voted to scrap the curbs. In August, about 4 million tonnes of Ukraine grains passed through the Solidarity Lanes of which close to 2.7 million tonnes were through the Danube.

Persons: Cernat, Mateusz Morawiecki, Waldemar Buda, Valdis Dombrovskis, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Julia Payne, Alan Charlish, Jan Lopatka, Karol Badohal, Boldizsar, Luiza Ilie, Nina Chestney, David Evans, Alistair Bell, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, European Commission, European Union, EU, EU Commission, Ukraine, Farmers, Solidarity, Thomson Locations: Black, Constanta, Romania, Ukraine, BRUSSELS, WARSAW, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Elk, Russia, EU, Russian, Romanian, Prague, Warsaw, Budapest, Bucharest

But the flood of grains and oilseeds into neighbouring countries reduced prices there, impacting the income of local farmers and resulting in governments banning agricultural imports from Ukraine. The European Union in May stepped in to prevent individual countries imposing unilateral bans and imposed its own ban on imports into neighbouring countries. Under the EU ban, Ukraine was allowed to export through those countries on condition the produce was sold elsewhere. EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said on Friday countries should refrain from unilateral measures against imports of Ukrainian grain, but Poland, Slovakia and Hungary immediately responded by reimposing their own restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports. Farmers in the five countries neighbouring Ukraine have repeatedly complained about a product glut hitting their domestic prices and pushing them towards bankruptcy.

Persons: Cernat, Valdis Dombrovskis, reimposing, Terry Reilly, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Robert Telus, Julia Payne, Alan Charlish, Jan Lopatka, Karol Badohal, Boldizsar, Pavel Polityuk, Luiza Ilie, Tom Polansek, Nina Chestney, Simon Webb, David Evans, Alistair Bell, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, European Commission, European Union, EU, Ukraine, Facebook, EU Commission, Farmers, Solidarity, Thomson Locations: Black, Constanta, Romania, Ukraine, BRUSSELS, WARSAW, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Russia, EU, Bulgaria, Russian, Romanian, Prague, Warsaw, Budapest, Kyiv, Bucharest, Chicago

☆ I became a nomad in my 60s and have traveled to 37 countries. I want to show others that international travel is not something to fear in your 60s.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

His fear during that trip inspired him to travel abroad more often, and encourage others, too. "Regardless of your age, you are not too old to travel," he said. I was born and raised in the Philadelphia area but have lived in California for most of my adult life. Courtesy of Norman Bour)Since 2019, my wife Kathleen and I have lived in and traveled to 37 different countries. The dollars we spend go towards lodging, travel, and food.

Persons: Norman Bour, Kathleen Plumley, Kathleen, we've, We're, Katheen, we're Organizations: Service, Social Security Locations: Wall, Silicon, California, Europe, Philadelphia, Warsaw, Amsterdam, Prague, Romania, Southern California, Costa Mesa, Bour, Plumley, Egypt, London, Paris, Stockholm, Balkans, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, United States, Auschwitz

☆ Putin: Sending Soviet Tanks Into Hungary and Czechoslovakia Was a Mistake
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that the Soviet Union's decision to send tanks into Hungary and Czechoslovakia to crush mass protests during the Cold War was a mistake. "It was a mistake," Putin said when asked about perceptions of Russia as a colonial power due to Moscow's decision to send tanks into Budapest in 1956 and into Prague in 1968. Putin said the United States was making the same mistakes as the Soviet Union. The 1956 Hungarian Uprising was crushed by Soviet tanks and troops. At least 2,600 Hungarians and 600 Soviet troops were killed in the fighting.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Washington, Guy Faulconbridge, Mark Trevelyan Organizations: Soviet, Czechoslovak Locations: VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Budapest, Prague, Ukraine, Europe, United States, Soviet Union, Soviet, Warsaw, Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, Czech

☆ Putin: sending Soviet tanks into Hungary and Czechoslovakia was a mistake
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to a report presentation on the development of Russia's far eastern regions held via a video link in Vladivostok, Russia, September 11, 2023. Sputnik/Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsVLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that the Soviet Union's decision to send tanks into Hungary and Czechoslovakia to crush mass protests during the Cold War was a mistake. "It was a mistake," Putin said when asked about perceptions of Russia as a colonial power due to Moscow's decision to send tanks into Budapest in 1956 and into Prague in 1968. The 1956 Hungarian Uprising was crushed by Soviet tanks and troops. At least 2,600 Hungarians and 600 Soviet troops were killed in the fighting.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Putin, Washington, Guy Faulconbridge, Mark Trevelyan Organizations: Rights, Soviet, Czechoslovak, Thomson Locations: Vladivostok, Russia, Rights VLADIVOSTOK, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Budapest, Prague, Ukraine, Europe, United States, Soviet Union, Soviet, Warsaw, Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, Czech

☆ Czech banks hit as central bank ceases paying interest on reserves
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Czech National Bank (CNB) decided on Thursday to cancel paying interest on banks' mandatory minimum reserves from Oct. 5, a move to reduce the costs of implementing monetary policy. The decision follows a similar move by the European Central Bank in July. Komercni Banka said its stipulated amount of required minimum reserves for the current maintenance period stood at approximately 19.6 billion Czech crowns ($861.12 million). Banks have been required to keep a portion of liabilities at the central bank as reserves. Mandatory minimum reserves are not used as a monetary policy instrument but can act as a liquidity buffer to ensure the smooth flow of interbank payments, the central bank said.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Komercni Banka, MONETA, Banks, Jason Hovet, Jan Lopatka, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Money Bank, Prague Stock Exchange, Czech National Bank, European Central Bank, Analysts, Komercni, KB, Thomson Locations: Komercni Banka, Komercni, BKOM.PR, Czech, Prague

☆ Slovaks to send up to 500 soldiers to help control migrants crossing from Hungary
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] A view shows migrants in front of the migrants camp in Velky Krtis, near the Hungary-Slovak border, Slovakia, September 6, 2023. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa Acquire Licensing RightsSept 6 (Reuters) - Slovakia will assign up to 500 soldiers to help police control an increasing flow of migrants coming across the border from Hungary, Prime Minister Ludovit Odor said on Wednesday. Odor said it was impossible to seal the border with Hungary but the troops would help police register the migrants and also patrol towns in the border area. "I would like to assure citizens that we are still talking about transit migration," Odor said after a government meeting. The Interior Ministry said on Tuesday the number of detained illegal migrants has soared by ninefold, to more than 27,000 so far this year.

Persons: Radovan Stoklasa, Jan Lopatka, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, Interior, Thomson Locations: Velky Krtis, Hungary, Slovak, Slovakia, Syria, Hungarian, Serbian, Germany, Western Europe, Velky, Prague

☆ Liverpool handed favourable draw in Europa League group stage
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Soccer Football - Europa League - Group Stage Draw - Monaco, Monaco - September 1, 2023 General view of the completed draw Valerio Pennicino/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSept 1 (Reuters) - Liverpool will take on LASK, Union Saint-Gilloise and Toulouse in the Europa League group stage while debutants Brighton & Hove Albion will face Ajax Amsterdam and Olympique de Marseille following the draw on Friday. Liverpool, who have lifted the trophy on three occasions, will be hot favourites to qualify top from Group E.Brighton face a tough task in their bid to progress past the group stage on their debut in European competition. Europa Conference League champions West Ham United were drawn with Olympiacos, Freiburg and TSC Backa Topola in Group A. Third-placed teams in the Europa League groups will drop to the third-tier Europa Conference League where they will play the group runners-up from that competition in the knockout round playoffs. The Europa League final will take place at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on May 22 next year.

Persons: Valerio Pennicino, Brighton's, Aadi Nair, Toby Davis Organizations: Soccer, Europa League, Monaco, REUTERS Acquire, Brighton & Hove Albion, Ajax Amsterdam, Olympique de Marseille, Liverpool, E, Brighton, Ajax, Marseille, AEK Athens, Europa Conference League, West Ham United, Olympiacos, TSC Backa, AS Roma, Slavia Prague, Sheriff Tiraspol, Servette, Bayer Leverkusen, Germany, Qarabag, Molde FK, BK Hacken, League, Dublin's Aviva, Thomson Locations: Monaco, Handout, Liverpool, LASK, Union, Toulouse, Freiburg, Bengaluru

☆ Craig Karmin — Editor at The Wall Street Journal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Craig Karmin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Craig KarminCraig Karmin is the real estate bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal. Prior to that he was the markets editor for the Journal’s finance group. Craig earlier worked as a reporter at the Journal, where he covered the hospitality industry and real estate. Craig holds political science and journalism degrees from University of California, Berkeley, and he won a National Association of Real Estate Editors award for his story about prisons that were converted into hotels. His book, “Biography of the Dollar,” was a best-seller and has been translated into several languages.

Persons: Craig Karmin Craig Karmin, Craig, ” Organizations: The Wall Street, Hill, Washington , D.C, Soviet Union, Eastern Bloc, University of California, National Association of Real Estate Locations: Washington ,, Prague, Soviet, Berkeley

☆ Toyota halts production at Czech plant due to parts shortage
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A Toyota Logo is seen at a Toyota dealership in Zaventem, Belgium, November 25, 2022. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPRAGUE, Aug 22 (Reuters) - The Czech plant of Japan's Toyota (7203.T) halted production due to a parts shortage caused by a fire at a local supplier, a spokesperson for the carmaker said on Tuesday. "We had to stop production yesterday evening. The outage is the second this year at the plant which produces 1,000 cars a day after a break in February. The Czech Republic is heavily dependent on the auto industry, led by Volkswagen's Skoda Auto (VOWG_p.DE).

Persons: Johanna Geron, Tomas Paroubek, Robert Muller, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Toyota, REUTERS, Rights, Volkswagen's Skoda, Hyundai, Thomson Locations: Zaventem, Belgium, Czech, Czech Republic, KS

☆ Ukrainian pilots are finally learning to use F-16s, and NATO training plans have said they could be taught to fly other fighter jets too
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

NATO and European countries have started training Ukrainians on advanced F-16 fighter jets. The months-long program intends to cover language training, flight training, and conversion to the F-16 platform, according to an undated copy of the F-16 training concept that Insider obtained from the Danish defense ministry. The document also hints that Ukraine might get its hands on other fighter jets at some point. It's not immediately clear which fighter aircraft the statement is referencing, but one aircraft that the Ukrainians have been eyeing is Sweden's JAS 39 Gripen. However, the jet is operated by just six countries — only two of which support Ukraine with military aid (Sweden and the Czech Republic) — and has not yet seen combat experience.

Persons: Netherlands —, It's, JAS, Saab JAS, Matthew Horwood, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Petr Josek PJ, AA Zelenskyy Organizations: Service, Kyiv, NATO, Saab, RAF Fairford, Royal Military Air, Getty, Gripen, REUTERS, AA, Pentagon Locations: Wall, Silicon, Kyiv, Denmark, Netherlands, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Sweden, Czech Republic, NATO, Stockholm, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, United Kingdom, Prague, Europe

☆ Tourists’ drinking misadventures up Eiffel Tower and in Trevi fountain
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Editor’s Note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. CNN —In travel news this week, misbehaving tourists in Europe, the German couple who moved to Italy to open a restaurant and city vacation ideas from Seoul to Bratislava. In Paris, drunken Americans were trapped overnight up the Eiffel Tower. In a separate incident, a man was arrested after jumping off Gustave Eiffel’s crowning achievement with a parachute. They could have done with the help of our partners at CNN Underscored, a product reviews and recommendations guide owned by CNN.

Persons: Gustave Eiffel’s, isn’t, Frenchman, Sri Lankan Tharshan Selvarajah, it’s, Nicolas Chazee, Mathilde Vougny, they’ve Organizations: CNN, Bratislava . Law, Delta Air Lines, Fruit, Sri Lankan Tharshan, Paris ’, Prague, Rover, YouTube Locations: Europe, Italy, Seoul, Bratislava, Paris, Rome, Hayling, Germany, Munich, Sri Lankan, Here’s, Hiroshima, Slovakia, Vienna, United States, Norway, California, Belgian, Indonesian, American, Colorado

Pressure gauges, pipes and valves are pictured at an "Dashava" underground gas storage facility near Striy, Ukraine May 28, 2015. The bloc is expected to reach a target of filling its storage facilities to 90% full by Nov. 1. "EP Commodities transports natural gas to Ukraine and uses Ukrainian gas storage facilities," Miroslav Hasko, chairman at EPH's EP Commodities, said. EU countries' gas storage facilities were 87% full on Aug. 7, according to transparency platform GIE. "We consider gas storage in Ukraine as one of the interesting business opportunities that we are currently considering," SPP told Reuters.

Persons: Gleb Garanich, Miroslav Hasko, Naftotgaz, Martin Pich, Bruegel, Jan Lopatka, Marek Strzelelcki, Pavel Polityuk, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, Traders, Gas, Reuters, Commodities, Naftogaz, Thomson Locations: Striy, Ukraine, PRAGUE, WARSAW, Czech, Slovakia, Russia, Hungary, Poland, Kyiv

☆ WTA roundup: Nao Hibino upsets Linda Noskova for Prague title
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Aug 7, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Venus Williams (USA) waves to the crowd after her loss against Madison Keys (USA) (not pictured) in first round play at IGA Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY SportsAugust 8 - Japan's Nao Hibino ended a four-year title drought Monday with a 6-4, 6-1 defeat of No. 4 seed and home favorite Linda Noskova at the Livesport Prague Open in the Czech Republic. After taking the opening set rather easily, Keys needed nine match points to put Williams away. "You have to find that balance between playing risky, aggressive, but not too risky, not too much, because then (Swiatek's) not going to give you many points," Pliskova said.

Persons: Venus Williams, Eric Bolte, Nao Hibino, Linda Noskova, Romania's Jaqueline Cristian, Hibino, Noskova, Keys, Williams, Karolina Pliskova, Lin Zhu of, Pliskova, Katie Boulter, Belinda Bencic, Cirstea, Victoria, Italy's Jamine Paolini, Marie Bouzkova, Sloane Stephens, Jennifer Brady Organizations: Madison Keys, IGA, Livesport, WTA, Hiroshima, Omnium Banque, Venus, Iga, Victoria Azarenka of, Thomson Locations: Montreal, Quebec, Canada, USA, Czech Republic, Tashkent, Omnium, Czech, Lin Zhu of China, Switzerland, Romanian, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus

☆ Exclusive: CEZ plans to bid for Czech gas distribution network GasNet
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Jan Lopatka | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Electricity transmission lines carry power from CEZ's Ledvice coal-fired power plant near the village of Ledvice, Czech Republic, February 9, 2016. REUTERS/David W Cerny/File PhotoPRAGUE, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Czech electricity producer CEZ (CEZP.PR) plans to bid for the country's gas distribution network GasNet if it goes on sale, CEZ's deputy chairman said, as it would complement CEZ's expansion into gas, a transitional fuel in the shift from coal to clean energy. Pavel Cyrani told Reuters that CEZ would bid when a formal sale process is launched for GasNet, adding the unit would also be a good fit for CEZ's electricity distribution business. GasNet, owned through Czech Gas Network Investments by a consortium led by Macquarie Asset Management and including British Columbia Investment Management Corporation and Allianz Capital, covers 80% of the country's gas distribution through a network of 65,000 km of gas pipelines. "Having gas distribution in the hands of a strong local player would clearly help us in this effort," a spokesman said.

Persons: David W Cerny, Pavel Cyrani, Cyrani, Macquarie, GasNet, Jan Lopatka, Jason Hovet, Susan Fenton, Louise Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Czech Gas Network Investments, Macquarie Asset Management, Columbia Investment Management Corporation, Allianz Capital, Thomson Locations: Ledvice, Czech Republic, Czech, Prague, Ukraine

☆ Inside Prague's Institute of Crypto Anarchy — where they're plotting to bring down the dollar
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +19 min

Today, that union of minds finds refuge in Prague in a retrofitted factory building called Paralelní Polis, or "parallel world." The dark stucco of Polis' Prague headquarters is an outlier among the ornate, brightly-colored buildings that tower over it. ETHPrague 2023 was held at Paralelní Polis in the Czech Republic Pavel SinaglThe 'parallel world' concept is sticky. The Vienna branch goes so far as to self-describe as a living example of how "the Paralelní Polis cryptoliberation virus is spreading." The most popular Czech bitcoin YouTuber boasts 90k subscribers, while the annual Czech-only bitcoin conference called Chaincamp attracts around 2000 visitors, even during the bear market."

Persons: Czech Republic Pavel Sinagl, Ztohoven —, Ztohoven, provocateurs, Václav Benda, Dan Ligocký, Ligocký, William Lobkowicz, ethereum, Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum, Pavel Sinagl, Prague MacKenzie Sigalos, Holy, William, Ileana Lobkowicz, Josef Tětek, Tětek, isn't, biohacking, —, Carl Menger, Friedrich Hayek, BTCPrague, Michael Saylor, Satoshi cryptographer, Adam Back, Saifedean Ammous, bitcoin, Gary Gensler, bitcoin maximalist, Vaclav, — Matěj Žák, Jan Čapek, Christoph Kassas, YouTuber Jakub Vejmola, Jameson Lopp, Stephan Livera, Robert Breedlove, Stani Kulechov, Ondrej Polak, Czech Republic Pavel Sinagl Ligocky Organizations: Paralelní, CNBC, European Union, Polis, of Cryptoanarchy, Austrian, Securities, Exchange, Czech Craft, U.S, Treasury, Casa, Ethereum Foundation, Czech Blockchain Association, optimist Locations: Paralelní Polis, Czech Republic, Czech Republic Pavel Sinagl PRAGUE, Czech, Bohemian, Prague, It's, Polis, Polis —, Lobkowicz, Nazi, Vienna, Barcelona, Bratislava, Slovakia, Košice, Austrian, ., Alza, Bohemia, Europe, Old Town, Holešovice

Search resuls for: "Prague"

25 mentions found