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Czech power company CEZ says its net profit is $1.3 billion for 3 quarters of the year

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:35:58 GMT

PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech power utility CEZ said on Thursday its net profit in the first three quarters of the year reached 29.8 billion Czech crowns ($1.3 billion), 22.5 billion less than in the same period a year ago.The country’s main electricity producer attributed the 43% decline to a windfall tax on profits introduced as prices for energy soared.The Czech state, which has an almost 70% stake in the company, will receive up to 125 billion Czech crowns from CEZ this year in dividends, income taxes and levies on production sales, including a windfall tax, the company said.It is 5 billion more than expected in August.CEZ chief executive Daniel Benes said the results reflect “the gradual stabilization on energy markets.”Last year, the company’s profit soared on an enormous rise in prices caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, higher profit from commodity trading on foreign markets and high operational reliability in its power plants.That resulted in record dividends of 145 Czech ...

Las 6 conclusiones del tercer debate presidencial republicano

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:35:58 GMT

(CNN) — Menos de un día después de que los votantes de varios estados reprendieran a los líderes del Partido Republicano que restringirían el derecho al aborto, los cinco aspirantes republicanos a la Presidencia ignoraron el tema durante los primeros 99 minutos de su tercer debate de primarias.A diferencia de su último encuentro, que fue un caos de interrupciones y declaraciones cruzadas, en el debate de este miércoles por la noche en Miami se abordaron cuestiones de fondo. ¿El problema? Casi todo se centró en la política exterior.Y aunque esas cuestiones merecían ser debatidas —incluso si los candidatos coincidían en líneas generales como el apoyo a Israel y la oposición a Hamas, Irán y China—, el efecto final fue desorientador: si el Partido Republicano va a recuperar la Casa Blanca, ¿por qué ignorar los obstáculos políticos que se interponen en su camino?Teniendo en cuenta los estrechos intereses de los candidatos, tenía cierto sentido. Ninguna de sus opiniones sobre el abo...

Reinhart scores 15 seconds into OT to give Panthers 4-3 win over Capitals

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:35:58 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sam Reinhart scored 15 seconds into overtime and the defending Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers rallied to beat the Washington Capitals 4-3 on Wednesday night.The Panthers, winners of two in a row and three of their last four, entered the third period trailing 3-2 until Evan Rodrigues tied it early in the period.Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and captain Aleksander Barkov also scored for the Panthers. Two-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 25 saves.The Capitals ended their five-game homestand on a losing note despite two goals from Anthony Mantha, one short-handed score rom Connor McMichael and two assists from Aliaksei Protas. Darcy Kuemper allowed four goals on 25 shots.Alex Ovechkin remains stuck on two goals, matching his lowest total through 11 games (2008-09) and slowing down his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s career record.KINGS 4, GOLDEN NIGHTS 1LAS VEGAS (AP) — Adrian Kempe had a goal and an assist and Los Angeles beat Veg...

Bulgaria sanctions loophole gives Putin extra €1B for his war chest

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:35:58 GMT

BRUSSELS — The Kremlin raked in an extra €1 billion for its war effort this year after Russia’s largest private oil firm exploited loopholes in EU sanctions rules — with help from Bulgaria.Taking advantage of a unique exemption to the EU’s Russian oil ban, Bulgaria allowed millions of barrels of Russian oil to reach a local Russian-owned refinery, which then exported various refined fuels abroad including to EU countries, according to an investigation by the NGO Global Witness, the think tanks Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) and Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) and independent reporting by POLITICO.That loophole — raising enough revenue for Moscow to fund its Wagner mercenary group for a year, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin — also generated almost €500 million in profits for the refinery’s owner Lukoil since the exemption kicked on February 5, according to a classified analysis prepared for Bulgaria’s parliament and seen by POLITICO.This...

Clash between Constitutional and appeals courts raises concerns over rule of law in Turkey

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:35:58 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s top court of appeals has clashed with the country’s Constitutional Court over the release of a newly elected but imprisoned lawmaker, raising concerns over the erosion of the rule of law in the country.The court of appeals said Wednesday it would not abide by the Constitutional Court’s ruling calling for the release of Can Atalay, who was elected to parliament in May while in prison. The court of appeals also took the unprecedented step of filing a criminal complaint against Constitutional Court justices who ruled for the politician’s release, accusing them of violating the constitution. It said it would instruct parliament to begin the process of unseating Atalay.The court of appeals’ decision to defy the Constitutional Court — Turkey’s highest court — sparked widespread criticism and concerns about the state of the judiciary.The main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, held an emergency meeting to discuss the issue, describing the cou...

Profits slip at Japan’s Sony, hit by lengthy Hollywood strike

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:35:58 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Sony’s profit slipped 29% from a year earlier in July-September, as damage from a strike in the movie sector offset gains from a favorable exchange rate, the Japanese electronics and entertainment company said Thursday.Tokyo-based Sony Corp.’s quarterly profit totaled 200 billion yen ($1.3 billion), down from 282 billion yen a year earlier.Quarterly sales rose 11% to 2.7 trillion yen ($18 billion), with gains in video games, image sensor and music operations and weakness in its financial and entertainment technology services. The prolonged strike by actors and screenwriters took a toll on Sony’s movie business. A deal was reached late Wednesday, ending the longest strike ever for film and television actors. Sony executives welcomed the deal but cautioned against expecting an instant recovery in profit because marketing costs were expected to rise once more movies start moving through the pipeline for theatrical releases. The three-year contract still must be approved by...

The actors strike is over. What’s next for your favorite stars, shows and Hollywood?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:35:58 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Missed your favorite actors? After nearly four months of striking, they’re coming back.Wednesday’s deal between striking actors and studios and streaming services won’t immediately restore filming to its full swing. That will take months.But the tentative agreement — which both sides say include extraordinary provisions — means that more than six months of labor strife in the film and television industries is drawing to a close. Soon, tens of thousands of entertainment sector workers could get back to work. And popular franchises, like “Deadpool,” “Abbott Elementary” and “The Last of Us,” will be a step closer to returning to screens.Hollywood loves a happy ending. The actors strike might provide that, though there’s still the chance of strike sequels in the months ahead.Here’s some of what will happen next:SO IS THE ACTORS STRIKE REALLY OVER?Picket lines are suspended and the only rallies on the horizon are celebratory ones that the ...

EU delivers more than 370 buses as part of the 'School buses for Ukraine' solidarity campaign

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:35:58 GMT

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska attended the handover ceremony of the EU solidarity campaign “School buses for Ukraine”.  More than 370 school buses have been delivered to Ukrainian communities. This solidarity campaign was launched by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska in November 2022.The school buses were officially handed over to representatives of local authorities from the Kyiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv and Chernihiv regions.Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said: "This cruel war has robbed thousands of Ukrainian children of their innocence and childhood. But it will not deprive them of the bright and happy future they deserve. That's why I am happy that we can help bringing Ukrainian children safely to school. The donation of more than 370 school buses by the Commission and member states demonstrates our joint commitment to the ...

MEPs urged to back democracy in Bangladesh and condemn opposition violence

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:35:58 GMT

Bangladesh has seen an upsurge in violence by supporters of the main opposition parties, in an apparent attempt to sabotage an election that they are unlikely to win. MEPs have been briefed by a leading think tank that advocates strong EU-Bangladesh relations and urged to condemn the violence that threatens the democratic process, writes Political Editor Nick Powell.At a briefing in the European Parliament entitled ' Democracy and Human Rights in Bangladesh’, MEPs and their aides were addressed by Syed Mozammel Ali, chair of the UK-based Bangladeshi think tank Study Circle London. He urged them to condemn the violence in the capital, Dhaka, unleashed by supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami activists.The Dhaka Metropolitan Police had sanctioned a BNP rally on the same basis as one organised by the ruling Awami League. Such public demonstrations of support for different parties should be a normal part of democratic life in the run-up to a national electio...

Dear Abby: My son is in tears when my mother tells him he must walk

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:35:58 GMT

DEAR ABBY: My son, who is 5, has a rare spinal cord injury from birth. He can crawl, but he does not walk well.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: The thoughtless grandchildren won’t be happy about this gift Advice | Dear Abby: I like to video people who are behaving badly Advice | Dear Abby: The rest of the book club is appalled by the woman I invited Advice | Dear Abby: My sister-in-law always has ‘other plans.’ Should I stop asking? Advice | Dear Abby: I haven’t told my wife what I know. Should I stick around? We have spent many months and a lot of money ensuring he is getting the best physical therapy and medical care possible for his condition, and we adhere closely to the medical advice of these experts.My mother, who lives 2,000 miles away, loves my son and wants to spend time with him. However, whenever we visit, she obsesses over the fact that he can’t walk well.I h...