#slovak national team

[dreamsuvivor]

I always saw ppl hate on Tkachuk… I get it know

[extraliga-related]

wtf is hrnka? how do you pronounce any of those names? 😭

That's a Slovak professional ice hockey player who currently plays with HK Nitra of the Slovak Extraliga.

[svkhky]

best of lat - svk, iihf women’s worlds div IB 1:7 (lagzdina, hlinková, kapičáková (2), blichová, kubeková, tóthová (2))

or: stop, stop, he’s already dead!

[zombvic]

Hii, i would like to request for Jude Bellingham 🫶🏻 The match between England and Slovakia just ended sooo i was thinking maybe some little angst with reader from Slovakia (because i'm from there🫶🏻) like he would be sad if she wouldn't wear his jersey or her little mad after the match because her country lost, Thank you, have a great day 💗💗

PATRIOTIC (jude bellingham x reader)

summary : in which y/n is a true patriot to her country

face claim : no-one exact

notes : I LOVE THIS IDEA!!!! given the fact im also slovak (jedine vsž !!!). this match was a traumatic experience tbh and i was on the edge of my seat (literally) while watching.. i feel like jude is doing everything to go against my silly ahh.. first joining the rival (madrid) and now knocking out my country from the euros man.. since slovakia is gone, time to cheer for spain and netherlands #vamosandstuff

pairings : jude bellingham x slovak!reader

y/n, long time girlfriend of jude bellingham, could be considered a patriot when it came to sports. on an average day, you could say she hated slovakia. the politicians were horrid, inflation was growing by the week, dumb decisions made by the parliament. but when there was an international tournament, like the hockey world championship or the euros, her national pride was next level. she would proudly wear her jersey with the double cross and the red, white and blue colors and cheer for slovakia like her life depended on it.

this year, the euros were particularly exciting. slovakia had managed to advance to the round of sixteen after a tense tie with romania. the whole country was buzzing with anticipation. y/n, however, had a unique point of view on all of this. she was dating jude bellingham, the english youngster, and their teams were about to face off.

the atmosphere in the stadium was wild. y/n sat in her seat, heart pounding, wearing her slovakia jersey with her name on the back. jude knew she was here, but he didn’t know she’d be wearing that jersey. until now, hes only seen her wear an england jersey with a big number 10 on the back while he was playing. the round of sixteen had brought slovakia against england, and the tension was kinda scary.

the game started off intensely. slovakia's forward, ivan schranz, scored a goal in the 25th minute, sending the slovak fans into a frenzy. you could hear that "SLOVENSKOOOO" in your bones. y/n couldn't help but join in on the celebrations, her heart filling with pride. she glanced at jude on the field, knowing how badly he wanted to advance, but in that moment, all she wanted was for slovakia to beat england.

as the minutes ticked by, the match felt like it was dragging. england pressed hard, but slovakia's defense held strong. y/n's anxiety grew with each passing second. she knew jude was frustrated, but she also knew he was a relentless player.

then, in the 95th minute, jude did the unthinkable. he scored a stunning bicycle kick, tying the game. y/n’s heart sank. she wanted to jump up and celebrate his incredible goal, but the reality of what it meant for slovakia hit her hard. the game was now tied, and the prospect of overtime sneaked ominously.

another thing that kind of pissed y/n off was the way jude celebrated. i mean, come on. you scored against your girlfriend's national team, and that's how you celebrate? of course, it's a very passionate game, but it still hurt, obviously.

overtime began, and y/n's fear became reality. just 50 seconds in, harry kane scored, putting england ahead. slovakia struggled to find an equalizer, and as the final whistle blew, y/n felt a mix of anger, disappointment, and sadness. slovakia's journey in the euros was over, and it was mainly because of the man she loved.

after the match, jude came looking for y/n, a smile on his face. "did you see my goal?" he asked, clearly excited.

y/n, still wearing her slovakia jersey, felt a surge of annoyance. "yeah, i saw it," she replied curtly. jude's smile faded as he noticed her tone.

"what's wrong?" he asked, genuinely confused.

"jude, read the damn room," y/n muttered, turning away. she didn't want to start an argument here, not now.

jude sighed, sensing her mood. "i’m sorry, baby. i know you wanted slovakia to win."

"of course i did? but it's not just that," she said, her voice softening slightly. "let's just drop it for now."

"alright then.." jude reluctantly agreed and went out to dinner with his teammates to celebrate. y/n stayed behind in their hotel room, her mind racing. she knew she was being irrational, but the mix of emotions was overwhelming. how could she be happy for jude when her own team had been eliminated?

hours passed, and when jude returned, the tension in the room was thick. y/n's frustration had only grown. jude, sensing the impending argument, he tried to lighten the mood. "you know, you looked cute in that slovakia jersey," he teased.

y/n glared at him. "really, jude? that's what you want to talk about right now?"

jude's expression hardened. "what's your problem, y/n? i played my heart out there."

"my problem?" y/n snapped. "my problem is that you ruined our chance. you ghosted the whole match and then suddenly scored a stinker in added time."

jude's eyes narrowed. "i was doing my job, y/n. i’m supposed to score goals, remember? and why the hell were you wearing that jersey anyway? do you have any idea how that made me feel?"

"oh, so now it's about your feelings?" y/n shot back. "you think it’s easy for me? watching you celebrate while my team gets eliminated?"

"and you think it was easy for me?" jude retorted. "seeing you cheer for the other team? i thought you’d at least be supportive of me, no matter what."

"other team?? you mean my team??? also, what do you mean by supportive?" y/n scoffed. "how can i support you when you’re one of the main reasons we lost? i know it’s just a game, jude, but it still hurts."

"you’re being ridiculous," jude said, his voice rising. "this isn’t just about the game, is it?"

"of course it is! what are you on about?" y/n replied, tears of frustration welling up in her eyes.

jude ran a hand through his hair, clearly exasperated. "you’re mad at me for doing my job? for helping my team? you knew what this was from the start."

"it's not just about that! it's the way you celebrated, like you didn’t care about what it meant to me!" y/n shot back, her voice breaking. "you scored a goal and acted like you won the fucking world cup. did you even think about how i felt?"

jude’s face softened slightly, but he was still visibly upset. "i’m a footballer, y/n. scoring goals is what i do. it’s my passion, my career. i can’t just switch that off because of you."

"i’m not asking you to switch it off," she said, wiping her eyes. "i’m asking you to be considerate. to think about what it means for me and my country."

jude sighed deeply, frustration giving way to a partial understanding. "i get that, but you need to understand my side too. i can’t not play my best because of our relationship. it’s unfair to my teammates, to the fans."

"i didn’t mean to hurt you," jude said quietly. "i was caught up in the moment. i’m sorry if it came off wrong."

jude stared at her, his anger slowly giving way to realization. "y/n, i never wanted you to feel like that," he said, his tone softening. "i love you, and i cannot imagine you not supporting me from the sidelines."

y/n looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity there. "okay. but next time, maybe don’t celebrate like you just scored in the finals when you score against us."

jude chuckled softly, pulling her into a hug. "deal. and maybe next time, wear my jersey instead of yours?"

she laughed, the tension finally breaking. "we’ll see about that."

as they held each other, y/n felt the weight of the argument lifting, replaced by a renewed sense of understanding and love. they might come from different worlds, but they were determined to make it work, no matter the challenges.

if anyone was interested in my dads entire match commentary 😊

"a mame po turnaji" means were fucked (basically)😭🙏🏽

[darkmaga-returns]

The West can’t seem to get enough of provoking WW3 against Russia… as a new report states that the UK and France have “reignited” their talks on deploying NATO troops to Ukraine, as both have joined the U.S. in allowing long-range strikes on Russian territory (using Kiev as a proxy).

This, as the French foreign minister is proudly declaring that there are “no red lines” for support for Ukraine. While this isn’t the first time France has tried to make “NATO troops for Ukraine” happen, they seem to be working overtime with the UK and the U.S. to use the excuse of needing to “Trump proof” the alliance to escalate tensions with Russia.

SOURCE LINKS:

25 Nov. 2024 - Discussions over sending European troops to Ukraine reignited

26 Feb. 2024 - Slovak PM says EU, NATO members weighing sending troops to Ukraine

3 Oct. 2024 - New NATO chief Mark Rutte reaffirms support for Ukraine in Kiev trip

27 Feb. 2024 - France's Macron does not rule out Europeans sending troops to Ukraine

10 June 2024 - EU elections: Macron to dissolve French parliament after crushing loss to far right

23 Nov. 2024 - No 'red lines' in Ukraine support, French foreign minister tells BBC

25 Nov. 2024 - Britain and France discussing deployment of troops to Ukraine – Le Monde

17 Jan. 2024 - Russian missiles strike Western fighters in Ukraine – Moscow

25 Nov. 2024 - Germany’s Scholz renominated for chancellorship

24 Nov. 2024 - Trump team working ‘hand in glove’ with Biden administration on national security: Waltz

[adrl-pt]

Torture and murder for speaking Ukrainian. Aid to Ukraine is growing—how can you help?

You are watching news from the weekly rally at the Russian Embassy in Lisbon. Today is April 27, 2:30 PM.

A chilling OSCE mission report released this Thursday exposes severe human rights abuses across territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russia. Detainees have reported extreme punishments merely for speaking Ukrainian or singing native songs. The report also talks about the lack of assistance, forced psychiatric examinations, and deaths resulting from torture and inhumane treatment. The mission concluded that the number of Ukrainian civilians illegally detained could be in the thousands, and extrajudicial killings could amount to war crimes. OSCE Report https://osce.usmission.gov/joint-statement-on-the-report-of-the-moscow-mechanism-to-address-the-arbitrary-detention-of-ukrainian-civilians-by-the-russian- federation/

Back in January, we talked about this problem and about the proposal for Russians abroad to look for and pay for lawyers for the families of illegally detained Ukrainians. If you are ready to participate in this work, write to us at info@adrl.pt. Info Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmfLO3Hl8tk

On Wednesday, the US Congress approved a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine. Advisor to the head of Zelensky's office, Mikhail Podolyak, in an interview, also recalled the aviation coalition around the Netherlands, the missile coalition around the Czech Republic, the drone initiative of Latvia, and the supply of anti-missile systems from Germany. Meduza Interview https://meduza.io/feature/2024/04/24/reshit-li-eta-pomosch-vse-nashi-problemy-net

The Prime Minister of the national populist government of Slovakia, Robert Fico, refused to support the ammunition coalition. In response to this, the citizens of Slovakia decided to raise money themselves to purchase artillery shells for Ukraine. One of the initiators of the campaign was 99-year-old Otto Šimko, a Holocaust survivor who took part in the Slovak uprising against the Nazis in 1944. "Remember Chamberlain. He believed that if you give the Sudetenland to Hitler, it will bring peace. This turned out to be a complete illusion," Otto said in an interview. https://www.bbc.com/russian/articles/czkvdg7d7xmo BBC Article Almost 4 million euros have already been collected on the campaign website. Campaign Website https://www.municiapreukrajinu.sk/

Last week, the Anti-War Committee held a discussion about how we can help Ukrainians. It presented initiatives from Ukraine, which we would like to tell you about. Anti-War Committee Discussion https://t.me/RussianAntiWarCommittee/1596

The Rubikus team of volunteers helps Ukrainians fleeing war find shelter in European countries. On average, it takes 100 euros for one person to escape the war. The money is used to buy tickets, pay for temporary housing, and food for pets. Volunteers have already helped more than 50,000 people. Rubikus Help https://helpua.rubikus.de/

The PTSD MED TEAM team of paramedics evacuates wounded soldiers and civilians from combat zones. They need good first aid kits, lightweight equipment, fuel, and, above all, cars, because they quickly break down. https://t.me/ptsd_med_team/477 In an interview last year, their commander Daria Kremleva (call sign DShK) talked about how the Russian army destroys Ukrainian paramedics. Interview on Russian Actions https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MssXkhx_5oo

Join and help! Proofs and links to initiatives can be found in the description.

Read more

[mariacallous]

SLOVAKIA ELECTS A NEW PRESIDENT — AND MANY IN THE PREVIOUS ONE’S TEAM MAY LEAVE THE COUNTRY

The Slovak presidential election run-off between Peter Pellegrini and Ivan Korčok takes place on April 6, and my Slovak colleagues tell me it can truly go either way. Surprisingly, former foreign minister Korčok won the first run and may now have a chance to beat Pellegrini, the pro-Russian Fico government’s candidate. On the other hand, if Pellegrini can pick off the other candidates’ votes, that Korčok took round one may not matter much. Regardless of the outcome, nobody really expects the government’s crackdown on NGOs, the media and the anti-corruption institutions to stop, nor for the increasingly hostile and toxic nature of the county’s public discourse to improve – certainty not outgoing president Zuzana Čaputová’s team. According to multiple Slovak and Czech experts and officials in touch with the current Slovak presidential team, multiple Čaputová advisors – including those dealing with domestic and foreign affairs – are already looking for apartments and jobs in Prague, which is to say they are seriously considering leaving Slovakia for the Czech Republic. A Czech source in touch with them even said that “most of them” (in Čaputová’s team) are actually at least to some extent thinking about leaving their country, while a Slovak source added that, according to their knowledge, those who have already decided will do so regardless of the outcome of the presidential election. “Many of the advisors are looking for international jobs as well,” the source added. The situation since Fico returned to power looks increasingly similar to the 1990s, when thuggish Vladimír Mečiar’s rule forced many Slovak intellectuals to relocate to Prague. (In case you missed it, here’s my recent investigation into how Pellegrini secretly asked for Russian – and Hungarian – help in an attempt to win the 2020 parliamentary elections. Did he do the same this time? Hopefully we’ll find out soon.)

CZECHS NOW BRACING FOR SERIOUS PRO-RUSSIAN SHIFT IN BRATISLAVA

My seasoned subscribers may remember last autumn, when, in certain Goulash scoops, my Czech government and government-linked sources essentially shrugged off speculation that Robert Fico, previously known for his extremely pragmatic approach to foreign policy, would seriously shift Slovakia’s foreign policy eastwards. Well, I’ve just spent a week in Prague, met most of them again, and I can tell you: they sounded way less optimistic. “When (Slovak Foreign Minister) Juraj Blanár met with Sergey Lavrov in Turkey, they crossed a red line,” a Czech government official told me, adding that what is fully expected of Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó (who actually enjoys posing as Lavrov’s best buddy) was not expected of the Fico government. Moreover, according to a Czech diplomat dealing with security matters, some now fear that one of the outcomes of the Blanár–Lavrov meeting could be that the Slovak government accepts three or four additional Russian diplomats at the Russian embassy in Bratislava. The Czech Republic clearly sees this as a national security threat as they expect that Russia is essentially trying to replenish its decimated spy outposts in embassies around the region. (Also, if you’re interested in how Russian embassies are conducting signals intelligence operations too, I recommend this earlier article.)

But there’s more. Multiple Czech government officials and foreign policy experts with whom I spoke are now so pessimistic that they fear the Fico government may refuse any reinforcements to the 3000 soldiers strong NATO Multinational Battle Group in Slovakia (there are plans to raise its capacity by thousands). Moreover, if the country indeed goes down a pro-Russian path, my Czech sources don’t rule out the possibility of Fico deciding to kick the battle group out of Slovakia. “Two years ago, we already had to brand this battlegroup as a ‘Czech mission’ to make it acceptable to Slovak society. So there can be an issue” – one of my sources concluded.

[thedigitalmuseum]

Digital Works Podcast Episode 046 - Michal Čudrnák (Slovak National Gallery)

In this episode Ash chats to Michal Čudrnák Head of Digital Collections & Services at the Slovak National Gallery.

We talk about the history of the gallery, and how the Digital team has grown and evolved over recent years. We talk about the interesting and somewhat unique role that the Slovak National Gallery plays in supporting the wider Slovak cultural sector with digital tools and expertise. We look at the role of digital in supporting in-person attendance, and how designing for this context is very different from 'fully remote' experiences. 

Michal explains of the different ways that his team works with other organisations, on collaborative projects with the cultural sector in Slovakia and further afield, and we explore some examples of public-private relationships that they are exploring.

[nightsidewrestling]

D.U.D.E Bios: Viola Nye / Vi Lucifarian (2021)

The Family Pride Vi Lucifarian

Same pic as Vi has not changed at all

The first of the seven sins, the always proud Vi isn't the sharpest woman in the world, but she knows enough to destroy anyone, including teams and stables by using the power of pride. Once she knows you're proud of yourself, she'll manipulate you into an egotistical monstrous version of your former self.

"Rise and shine, cupcake"

Name

Full Legal Name: Viola Dorothea Nye (Née Lum)

First Name: Viola

Meaning: Means 'Violet' in Latin

Pronunciation: vi-O-la

Origin: English, Italian, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, German, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak

Middle Name: Dorothea

Meaning: Feminine form of the Late Greek 'Dorotheos' which meant 'Gift of God' from Greek 'Doron' meaning 'Gift' and 'Theos' meaning 'God'

Pronunciation: door-o-THEE-a

Origin: German, Dutch, English, Late Greek

Surnae: Nye (Née Lum)

Meaning: Originally indicated a person who lived near a river, from Middle English 'Atten eye' meaning 'At the river' (Lum: From the name of towns in England called 'Lamb', probably from Old English 'Lum' 'Pool')

Pronunciation: NIE (LUH-mb)

Origin: English (English)

Alias: The Family Pride, Vi Lucifarian

Reason: Vi is the eldest of the seven and is her father's 'pride and joy'

Nicknames: Vi

Titles: Miss, Mrs, Ma'am

Characteristics

Age: 42

Gender: Female. She/Her pronouns

Race: Human

Nationality: British

Ethnicity: White

Birth Date: September 5th 1979

Symbols: Horeshoes, The Colour Purple

Sexuality: Straight

Religion: Christian

Native Language: English

Spoken Languages: English, French, Spanish

Relationship Status: Married

Astrological Sign: Virgo

Theme Song: 'You Don't Own Me' - Lesley Gore (1999-2012), 'Little Lion Man' - Tonight Alive, Dave Petrovic (2012-)

Voice Actor: Rosamund Pike

Geographical Characteristics

Birthplace: Blackpool, Lancashire, England

Current Location: Unknown

Hometown: Brigg, Lancashire, England

Appearance

Height: 5'6" / 167 cm

Weight: 150 lbs / 68 kg

Eye Colour: Brown

Hair Colour: Brown

Hair Dye: All exceptthe sides is dyed purple

Body Hair: N/A

Facial Hair: N/A

Tattoos: (As of Jan 2021) 10

Piercings: Ear Lobes (Double, Both)

Scars: None

Health and Fitness

Allergies: None

Alcoholic, Smoker, Drug User: Social Drinker

Illnesses/Disorders: ADHD

Medications: None

Any Specific Diet: Vegetarian

Relationships

Allies: (As of Jan 2021) Damien Lucifarian, Billie Lucifarian, Geia Lucifarian, Honey Lucifarian, Eli Lucifarian, Sara Lucifarian, Yeray Marino, Flo Marino, Bano Marino, Judi Marino, Rino Marino, Nat Marino, Mac Marino, Ros Marino, Zac Marino, 'Monster' Mike, Sakurako, Ash Thunder

Enemies: (As of Jan 2021) Kirby Kingston, Eddie Kingston, The Rhydderch Clan

Friends: Bienvenida Marino. Pelageya Winter, Honey Di Napoli, Elinor Herbert, Saraid Grady-Sullivan Giselle Herbert

Colleagues: The AEW locker rooms / Too many to list

Rivals: Evil Uno, Rey Fénix, Adam Page, Chris Jericho, Britt Baker

Closest Confidant: Quentin Nye

Mentor: Damian Lum

Significant Other: Quentin Nye (43, Husband)

Previous Partners: None of note

Parents: Damian Lum (62, Father), Marion Kay (63, Mother)

Parents-In-Law: Hari Nye (63, Father-In-Law), Zarina Nye (64, Mother-In-Law, Née Das)

Siblings: Ulysses May (39, Half-Brother), Wanda Ott (36, Half-Sister, Née Lum), Tristan Lum (33, Half-Brother), Xavia Aaron (30, Half-Sister), Sullivan Lum (27, Half-Brother), Yasmine Lum (24, Half-Sister), Roger Lum (21, Half-Brother), Zella Lum (18, Half-Sister), Astor Bush-Kay (39, Half-Brother), Zoe Case (36, Half-Sister, Née Bush-Kay), York Bush-Kay (33, Half-Brother), Xanthia Abbey (30, Half-Sister, Née Bush-Kay), Wystan Bush-Kay (27, Half-Brother), Vivian Bush-Kay (24, Half-Sister), Ulric Bush-Kay (21, Half-Brother), Twila Bush-Kay (18, Half-Sister)

Siblings-In-Law: Raabi'a Keo (40, Quentin’s Sister, Née Nye), Dara Keo (41, Raabi'a’s Husband), Sixte Nye (37, Quentin’s Brother), Eun-Yeong Nye (38, Sixte’s Wife, Née Yun), Tri Gim (34, Quentin’s Sister, Née Nye), Gyeong Gim (35, Tri’s Husband), Uno Nye (31, Quentin’s Brother), Hyeon-Ju Nye (32, Uno’s Wife, Née Mun), Winona Nye (28, Quentin’s Sister), Xystos Nye (25, Quentin’s Brother), Amita Nye (22, Quentin’s Sister), Bragi Nye (19, Quentin’s Sister), Kestrel May (40, Ulysses’ Wife, Née Coy), Heath Ott (37, Wanda’s Husband), Gardenia Lum (34, Tristan’s Wife, Née Day), Titus Aaron (31, Xavia's Husband), Symphony Bush-Kay (40, Astor’s Wife, Née Clay), Ryland Case (37, Zoe’s Husband), Primrose Bush-Kay (34, York’s Wife, Née Cobb), Odin Abbey (31, Xanthia's Husband)

Nieces & Nephews: Kolab Keo (20, Niece), Makara Keo (17, Nephew), Pich Keo (14, Niece), Sok Keo (11, Nephew), Yeong-Hui Nye (17, Niece), U-Jin Nye (14, Nephew) Chae-Won Nye (11, Niece), Byeong-Ho Gim (14, Nephew), Ji-Hye Gim (11, Niece), Earl May (19, Nephew), Jane May (16, Niece), Flint May (13, Nephew), Imogen May (10, Niece), Magnolia Ott (16, Niece), Laurence Ott (13, Nephew), Naomi Ott (10, Niece), Daisy Lum (13, Niece), Vance Lum (10, Nephew), Orinda Bush-Kay (19, Granddaughter), Noble Bush-Kay (16, Grandson), Montana Bush-Kay (13, Granddaughter), Lyric Bush-Kay (10, Grandson), Kyrie Case (16, Granddaughter), Justice Case (13, Grandson), Ivy Case (10, Granddaughter), Huxley Bush-Kay (13, Grandson), Gray Bush-Kay (10, Granddaughter)

Children: Adam Nye (22, Son), Paulette Nye (19, Daughter), Benjamin Nye (16, Son), Olivia Nye (13, Daughter), Charles Nye (10, Son)

Children-In-Law: None

Grandkids: None

Great Grandkids: None

Wrestling

Billed From: The Underworld

Trainer: The C.R.C Wrestling School, Damien Lucifarian

Managers: Damien Lucifarian

Wrestlers Managed: None

Debut: 1999

Debut Match: Aisling Rhydderch VS Vi Lucifarian. Vi won by pinfall

Retired: N/A

Retirement Match: N/A

Wrestling Style: Trickster

Stables: The Lucifarians (1999-)

Teams: Post

Regular Moves: Over The Shoulder Arm Drag, Forearm Smash, Leg Sweep, Chokehold STO, Keylock, Diving Somersault Evasion, Beheader (Neck Wrench), Lineage Ender (Standing Moonsault Double Knee Drop), Lion’s Den (Crucifix Pin), Family Pride (Leg Trap Sunset Flip Power Bomb)

Finishers: Wish For This (Shooting Star Knee Drop), Flowing DDT, DDT

Refers To Fans As: The Prideful, The Prideful Ones, The Vain, The Vainglorious Ones

Extras

Backstory: Viola is all too proud of her achievements in the ring and in her life, but as the saying goes 'Pride comes before the fall’, and given how prideful she is, everyone expects her to have the worst downfall of the Lucifarians. She met and married her husband, Quentin Nye, at eighteen and had her first of her five kids at twenty. Both she and her dad are from Blackpool, England and her dad brought her up to get back up after every fight.

Trivia: Nothing of note so far

[beardedmrbean]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that he was grateful to Bulgaria for not extending restrictions on Ukrainian grain exports that were set to expire on September 15.

"I am grateful to Bulgaria for its decision not to prolong restrictions on Ukraine’s agricultural exports after September 15th. I thank PM Nikolai Denkov and his team, as well as Bulgarian parliamentarians who supported this move. Bulgaria sets an example of true solidarity," Zelensky wrote on the X platform.

A day earlier, Hungary's agriculture minister said his country had agreed with Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia to ban imports of Ukrainian grain to protect their markets if the European Union did not extend the ban. Istvan Nagy posted a video on Facebook that the new national ban will apply to a wider range of Ukrainian products than the current measures.

"We have agreed with my Romanian, Slovak and Bulgarian colleagues that if there is no decision from Brussels to extend the existing moratorium, then we will take individual national measures," Nagy said in a video address.

Slovakia's government confirmed on Wednesday that it would maintain the ban. "The government is ready, if the (European) Commission does not [extend the ban], to approve an import ban in an extraordinary meeting, in the same way as now," said Agriculture Minister Jozef Bires.

"You have already seen from the announcements from Poland and Hungary that these countries will apply unilateral restrictions from this point of view as well and we have to do it because Slovakia will face increased transport (of grain) through Slovakia and this grain may remain in Slovakia."

Romania's agriculture ministry said it would make a decision after the European Commission ruled. "What is certain is that if the ban is not extended, we have enforcement solutions that will protect our farmers," it said in a statement.

The commission announced "temporary preventive measures" in May that banned sales in Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia, while allowing transit through them to non-EU markets, mainly in Africa. Those measures expire on Friday.

[englishchinesetranslations]

AFC Soccer 2021 championship

OFC: New Zealand 🇳🇿 (2018 FIFA World Cup 3rd round qualifying winners) 1 team

AFC: Syria 🇸🇾, China 🇨🇳, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦, UAE 🇦🇪, Australia 🇦🇺, Jordan 🇯🇴, Qatar 🇶🇦, Iran 🇮🇷, Oman 🇴🇲, Japan 🇯🇵, Thailand 🇹🇭, Iraq 🇮🇶, South Korea 🇰🇷, Uzbekistan ���🇿, Lebanon 🇱🇧 (2018 FIFA World Cup 2nd round qualifiers) 15 teams

Hosts: Bulgaria 🇧🇬, Serbia 🇷🇸, Romania 🇷🇴, Greece 🇬🇷

UEFA: Kosovo 🇽🇰, Bulgaria 🇧🇬, Serbia 🇷🇸, Luxembourg 🇱🇺, Northern Ireland ✋️, Belarus 🇧🇾, Republic of Ireland 🇮🇪, Georgia 🇬🇪, Norway 🇳🇴, Romania 🇷🇴, Slovenia 🇸🇮, Iceland 🇮🇸, Albania 🇦🇱, Cyprus 🇨🇾, Greece 🇬🇷, Bosnia-Herzegovina 🇧🇦 (UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers) 16 teams

AFC Soccer 2016 championship

OFC: New Zealand 🇳🇿 (2014 FIFA World Cup OFC 3rd round qualifying winners)

AFC: Syria 🇸🇾, China 🇨🇳, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦, UAE 🇦🇪, Australia 🇦🇺, Jordan 🇯🇴, Qatar 🇶🇦, Iran 🇮🇷, Oman 🇴🇲, Japan 🇯🇵 (Co-Hosts), Thailand 🇹🇭, Iraq 🇮🇶, South Korea 🇰🇷 (Co-Hosts), Uzbekistan 🇺🇿, North Korea 🇰🇵 (2018 FIFA World Cup 2nd round qualifiers) 15 teams

UEFA: Bosnia-Herzegovina 🇧🇦, Slovenia 🇸🇮, Norway 🇳🇴, Denmark 🇩🇰, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿, Netherlands 🇳🇱, Finland 🇫🇮, Bulgaria 🇧🇬, Montenegro 🇲🇪, Estonia 🇪🇪, Serbia 🇷🇸, Belarus 🇧🇾, Cyprus 🇨🇾, Lithuania 🇱🇹, Georgia 🇬🇪, Armenia 🇦🇲 (UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers)

AFC Soccer 2012 championship

UEFA: Turkey 🇹🇷, Bosnia-Herzegovina 🇧🇦, Montenegro 🇲🇪, Estonia 🇪🇪, Norway 🇳🇴, Hungary 🇭🇺, Armenia 🇦🇲, Switzerland 🇨🇭, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿, Serbia 🇷🇸, Romania 🇷🇴, Belgium 🇧🇪, Belarus 🇧🇾, Slovakia 🇸🇰, Slovenia 🇸🇮, Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers) 16 teams

OFC: New Zealand 🇳🇿 (2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off winner)

CONCACAF: USA 🇺🇸, Mexico 🇲🇽 (Co-Hosts)

AFC: Iraq 🇮🇶, South Korea 🇰🇷, Uzbekistan 🇺🇿, Australia 🇦🇺, Iran 🇮🇷, Jordan 🇯🇴, Japan 🇯🇵, Qatar 🇶🇦, Lebanon 🇱🇧, Oman 🇴🇲, China 🇨🇳, Kuwait 🇰🇼, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 (2014 FIFA World Cup 3rd round qualifiers) 13 teams

AFC Soccer 2009

UEFA: Bulgaria 🇧🇬, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, Norway 🇳🇴, Serbia 🇷🇸, Finland 🇫🇮, Republic of Ireland 🇮🇪, Northern Ireland ✋️ (UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying) 8 teams

AFC: Japan 🇯🇵, South Korea 🇰🇷, Uzbekistan 🇺🇿, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦, Iran 🇮🇷, Australia 🇦🇺 (Hosts), North Korea 🇰🇵, Bahrain 🇧🇭 (2010 FIFA World Cup 3rd round qualifying) 8 teams

UEFA-AFC Soccer 2005

UEFA: Turkey 🇹🇷 (Hosts), Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿, Slovenia 🇸🇮, Norway 🇳🇴, Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿, Serbia & Montenegro 🇷🇸, Belgium 🇧🇪, Ukraine 🇺🇦 (UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying) 8 teams

OFC: Australia 🇦🇺, New Zealand 🇳🇿 (invited)

AFC: Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦, Uzbekistan 🇺🇿, Iran 🇮🇷, Kuwait 🇰🇼, Bahrain 🇧🇭, South Korea 🇰🇷 (2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying 2nd round) 6 teams

UEFA-AFC Soccer 2001

UEFA: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿, Ukraine 🇺🇦, Republic of Ireland 🇮🇪, Croatia 🇭🇷, Russia 🇷🇺 (Hosts), Switzerland 🇨🇭 (UEFA Euro 2000 qualifiers) 6 teams

OFC: New Zealand 🇳🇿 (2000 OFC Nations Cup runners-up)

AFC: China 🇨🇳, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦, Iran 🇮🇷, Oman 🇴🇲, Thailand 🇹🇭, Qatar 🇶🇦, Bahrain 🇧🇭, Iraq 🇮🇶, Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 (2002 FIFA World Cup qualifying 1st round) 9 teams

UEFA-AFC Soccer 1997

AFC: Syria 🇸🇾, China 🇨🇳 (Hosts), Kuwait 🇰🇼, South Korea 🇰🇷, Uzbekistan 🇺🇿, Iran 🇮🇷, Iraq 🇮🇶, Japan 🇯🇵 (1996 Asian Cup) 8 teams

OFC: New Zealand 🇳🇿 (invited)

UEFA: Norway 🇳🇴, Greece 🇬🇷, Republic of Ireland 🇮🇪, Northern Ireland ✋️, Lithuania 🇱🇹, Sweden 🇸🇪, Belgium 🇧🇪 (UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying) 7 teams

UEFA-AFC Soccer 1993

AFC: Japan 🇯🇵, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦, Qatar 🇶🇦, UAE 🇦🇪, Iran 🇮🇷, North Korea 🇰🇵, China 🇨🇳, Thailand 🇹🇭 (1992 AFC Asian Cup)

CONCACAF: USA 🇺🇸 (Hosts)

OFC: Australia 🇦🇺 (1991 Trans Tasman Cup winner)

UEFA: RCS (Czech & Slovaks) 🇨🇿, Switzerland 🇨🇭, Italy 🇮🇹, Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿, Portugal 🇵🇹, Rep of Ireland 🇮🇪 (UEFA Euro 1992 qualifiers)

UEFA-AFC Soccer 1989

AFC: South Korea 🇰🇷, Iran 🇮🇷, Qatar 🇶🇦, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦, China 🇨🇳, Syria 🇸🇾, Kuwait 🇰🇼 (1988 AFC Asian Cup)

UEFA: Italy 🇮🇹 (Hosts)

OFC: Australia 🇦🇺 (1988 Trans Tasman Cup winner)

UEFA: Romania 🇷🇴, Sweden 🇸🇪, East Germany 🚩, Yugoslavia 🏳, Greece 🇬🇷, Czechoslovakia 🇨🇿, Bulgaria 🇧🇬 (UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying)

UEFA-AFC Soccer 1985

UEFA: Switzerland 🇨🇭, Soviet Union 🚩, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿, Sweden 🇸🇪, Northern Ireland ✋️, Netherlands 🇳🇱 (UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying) 7 teams

CONCACAF: Mexico 🇲🇽 (Hosts)

OFC: New Zealand 🇳🇿 (1983 Trans Tasman Cup winners)

AFC: Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦, Kuwait 🇰🇼, Qatar 🇶🇦, China 🇨🇳, UAE 🇦🇪, Iran 🇮🇷, Singapore 🇸🇬 (1984 AFC Asian Cup) 7 teams

UEFA-AFC Soccer 1981

UEFA: Northern Ireland ✋️, Austria 🇦🇹, Yugoslavia🏳, Poland 🇵🇱, France 🇫🇷, Hungary 🇭🇺, Turkey 🇹🇷 (UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying) 7 teams

Hosts: Soviet Union 🚩

OFC: Australia 🇦🇺 (1980 Oceania Cup winners)

AFC: Iran 🇮🇷, North Korea 🇰🇵, Syria 🇸🇾, China 🇨🇳, Malaysia 🇲🇾, Kuwait 🇰🇼, South Korea 🇰🇷 (1980 AFC Asian Cup) 7 teams

UEFA-AFC Soccer 1977

AFC: Iran 🇮🇷 (Hosts), Kuwait 🇰🇼, China 🇨🇳, Iraq 🇮🇶 (1976 AFC Asian Cup semi-finals)

CONCACAF: USA 🇺🇸, Mexico 🇲🇽, Haiti 🇭🇹 (invited)

OFC: Australia 🇦🇺 (invited)

UEFA: Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿, Soviet Union 🚩, Spain 🇪🇸, Belgium 🇧🇪 (UEFA Euro 1976 quarter-finals)

Soccer 1973

Hosts: USA 🇺🇸

CONCACAF: Mexico 🇲🇽, Canada 🇨🇦, Haiti 🇭🇹, Costa Rica 🇨🇷, Cuba 🇨🇺

AFC: Iran 🇮🇷, Thailand 🇹🇭, Iraq 🇮🇶, South Korea 🇰🇷, Kuwait 🇰🇼, Khmer Republic 🇰🇭

CONMEBOL: Brazil 🇧🇷, Argentina 🇦🇷, Peru 🇵🇪, Uruguay 🇺🇾

Soccer 1969

Hosts: Spain 🇪🇸 & France 🇫🇷

UEFA: Bulgaria 🇧🇬 & Hungary 🇭🇺

CONCACAF: Guatemala 🇬🇹, Mexico 🇲🇽, Honduras 🇭🇳, Trinidad & Tobago 🇹🇹

AFC: Iran 🇮🇷, Burma 🇲🇲, Israel 🇮🇱, Rep of China (Taiwan) 🇹🇼

CONMEBOL: Uruguay 🇺🇾, Argentina 🇦🇷, Chile 🇨🇱, Paraguay 🇵🇾

[jakubthetraveler]

Middle Slovakia: Land of Mythical Heroes, Storybook Villages & Fairytale Castles

Good morning travelers,

Welcome to Day 3 of “Around Slovakia with Jakub Sevcik”! Today, we’re heading into the heart of Slovakia, a part rich in history, folklore, and breathtaking nature. From fairytale castles to UNESCO-listed villages and wonderful hikes, middle Slovakia will catch your attention!

Are you ready? Let’s go!

Bojnice Castle: A Place Where Fairytale Comes to Life

Our first stop will be Bojnice Castle, one of the most beautiful castles in Slovakia and all of Central Europe. With its romantic towers, spectacular historical halls, and a mysterious cave beneath the castle, this place feels like something straight out of a fairytale. Today, we'll take a tour of the castle and listen to local legends about the ghosts that supposedly still haunt its halls.

📌 Find out more about Bojnice Castle: https://bojnicecastle.sk/en/bojnice-castle/

🎥 Watch a video tour of Bojnice Castle: https://youtu.be/tmxu3K4k0NQ?si=ByqY3BxVwBH5HaLJ

(Picture of Bojnice Castle at night taken by me)

Čičmany: The Painted Village (UNESCO Heritage Site)

Next, we visit Čičmany, a UNESCO-listed village famous for its traditional wooden houses decorated with white geometric patterns. This unique folk art dates back centuries and represents true Slovak heritage.

Walking through Čičmany feels like stepping into a living museum where time stands still, and each house tells its own unique story. The village's iconic white geometric patterns are not only a treasured part of Slovak folk art but have also become a national symbol, even appearing on the uniforms of the Slovak Olympic team.

📌 Čičmany: https://aprileveryday.com/cicmany-slovakia/

📌 Slovak Olympic Team Wearing Čičmany’s Ornaments: https://www.obeccicmany.sk/pages/slovaci-budu-mat-na-olympiade-oblecenie-s-cicmanskym-vzorom

🎥 YouTube Video about Čičmany: https://youtu.be/vJjiLVLRnYM?si=nyKqGnjIoZYTI3YK

(A photo of Čičmany taken by: https://www.filmcommission.sk/248-en/cicmany-village-museum/)

Terchová: A Place of Adventurous Hikes, Legends, and Traditional Music & Meal

From Čičmany, we travel to Terchová, a village deeply connected to Slovakia’s most famous folk hero, Juraj Jánošík, often called the Slovak Robin Hood!

First, we’ll go on one of the best hikes in Slovakia, Jánošíkové Diery. This scenic gorge features wooden ladders, waterfalls, and breathtaking rock formations, making it a must-visit destination, especially for adventurous travelers.

After returning from Jánošíkové Diery to Terchová, we’ll see a massive steel statue of the legendary Jánošík, a reminder of his fight for justice and freedom.

In Terchová, we’ll also get a chance to try playing the fujara, a traditional Slovak shepherd’s flute with a deep, haunting sound. This instrument is also part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage!

No visit to Terchová is complete without trying bryndzové halušky, Slovakia's national dish!" We’ll stop at a traditional koliba (shepherd’s hut) to enjoy this delicious meal.

📌 Jánošík & The Monument of Jánošík in Terchová: https://slovakia.travel/en/the-monument-of-juraj-janosik-terchova

📌 Bryndzové Halušky: https://tarasmulticulturaltable.com/bryndzove-halusky-slovak-potato-dumplings-with-sheep-cheese/

🎥 Hiking Jánošíkove Diery, Slovakia’s Most Beautiful Gorge: https://youtu.be/y7hmX8SA6v8?feature=shared

🎥 Playing on Fujara: https://youtu.be/LBf1OHiFEQA?si=q_0I-YIMmtP-OO1r

(A photo of Jánošík Steel Statue taken by me)

Orava Castle: The Pride of My Mother’s Region

Our final stop today is Orava Castle, one of the most dramatic castles in Slovakia, towering over the Orava River. This medieval fortress looks straight out of a Dracula movie and in fact, parts of the 1922 horror movie Nosferatu were filmed here! Orava is the region where my mother was born, so I grew up hearing many stories about this beautiful and mysterious castle. To end our day, we’ll take a sunset tour of this mysterious castle and who knows, we might even spot Dracula!

📌 More about Orava Castle: https://www.slovakia.com/castles/orava-castle/

🎥 YouTube video about Orava Castle: https://youtu.be/iRzZM5iK0hA?si=9CPr3_j7rCBHD0g3

(A photo of Orava Castle by: https://www.slovakation.com/tour/orava-castle-unesco-wooden-church-day-tour/)

Today has been an incredible journey through Middle Slovakia, a region full of fairy-tale castles, heroic legends, and unique traditions.

Which of today’s destinations fascinated you the most? Have you ever tried bryndzové halušky or played the fujara? Share your thoughts below!

Stay tuned for Day 4, where our adventure continues into another stunning part of Slovakia! This time, get ready to explore Slovakia from above and below—and a throwback to childhood memories!

See you tomorrow!

Best,

Jakub The Traveler

[extraliga-related]

The Slovak Men's National Team came out on top of the qualifying phase & secured their spot in the next Olympics.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 1.19 (after 1940)

1941 – World War II: HMS Greyhound and other escorts of convoy AS-12 sink Italian submarine Neghelli with all hands 64 kilometres (40 mi) northeast of Falkonera. 1942 – World War II: The Japanese conquest of Burma begins. 1945 – World War II: Soviet forces liberate the Łódź Ghetto. Of more than 200,000 inhabitants in 1940, fewer than 900 had survived the Nazi occupation. 1946 – General Douglas MacArthur establishes the International Military Tribunal for the Far East in Tokyo to try Japanese war criminals. 1953 – Almost 72 percent of all television sets in the United States are tuned into I Love Lucy to watch Lucy give birth. 1960 – Japan and the United States sign the US–Japan Mutual Security Treaty 1960 – Scandinavian Airlines System Flight 871 crashes near Ankara Esenboğa Airport in Turkey, killing all 42 aboard. 1969 – Student Jan Palach dies after setting himself on fire three days earlier in Prague's Wenceslas Square to protest about the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union in 1968. His funeral turns into another major protest. 1977 – President Gerald Ford pardons Iva Toguri D'Aquino (a.k.a. "Tokyo Rose"). 1978 – The last Volkswagen Beetle made in Germany leaves VW's plant in Emden. Beetle production in Latin America continues until 2003. 1981 – Iran hostage crisis: United States and Iranian officials sign an agreement to release 52 American hostages after 14 months of captivity. 1988 – Trans-Colorado Airlines Flight 2286 crashes in Bayfield, Colorado, killing nine. 1990 – Exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir valley in Indian-administered Kashmir due to an insurgency. 1991 – Gulf War: Iraq fires a second Scud missile into Israel, causing 15 injuries. 1993 – Czech Republic and Slovakia join the United Nations. 1995 – After being struck by lightning the crew of Bristow Helicopters Flight 56C are forced to ditch. All 18 aboard are later rescued. 1996 – The barge North Cape oil spill occurs as an engine fire forces the tugboat Scandia ashore on Moonstone Beach in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. 1997 – Yasser Arafat returns to Hebron after more than 30 years and joins celebrations over the handover of the last Israeli-controlled West Bank city. 1999 – British Aerospace agrees to acquire the defence subsidiary of the General Electric Company, forming BAE Systems in November 1999. 2006 – A Slovak Air Force Antonov An-24 crashes near Hejce, Hungary, killing 42. 2007 – Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink is assassinated in front of his newspaper's Istanbul office by 17-year-old Turkish ultra-nationalist Ogün Samast. 2007 – Four-man Team N2i, using only skis and kites, completes a 1,093-mile (1,759 km) trek to reach the Antarctic pole of inaccessibility for the first time since 1965 and for the first time ever without mechanical assistance. 2012 – The Hong Kong-based file-sharing website Megaupload is shut down by the FBI. 2014 – A bomb attack on an army convoy in the city of Bannu kills at least 26 Pakistani soldiers and injures 38 others. 2024 – The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's probe landed on the moon, making Japan the 5th country to land a spacecraft on the moon.

[cyberbenb]

Trump advisers draft sanctions plan to pressure Moscow toward peace, Bloomberg reports

Advisers to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump are developing a comprehensive sanctions strategy aimed at facilitating a diplomatic resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 16, citing anonymous sources familiar with the discussions.

This comes as Russia’s fossil fuel industry continues to serve as a primary source of funding for its war against Ukraine.

The Trump team is reportedly weighing two primary approaches. The first set of policy recommendations suggests that, if a resolution to the war appears possible, the administration should focus on good-faith measures to benefit sanctioned Russian oil producers that could help seal a peace deal.

The second option would involve expanding sanctions to exert maximum pressure, increasing leverage over Moscow.

Trump’s team is also evaluating sanctions policy options to put pressure on Iran and Venezuela, Bloomberg reported.

The strategy is in its early stages and ultimately depends on what Trump decides to do, the people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

The Biden administration and the U.K. recently imposed their most extensive sanctions yet on Russia’s oil sector, targeting nearly 200 vessels in the “shadow fleet,” key oil companies, and related entities.

These measures, announced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Jan. 10, have already impacted the global oil market, pushing Brent crude prices up by nearly $5 per barrel.

The G7 nations are also considering tightening the existing $60 per barrel price cap on Russian oil, Bloomberg reported on Dec. 19.

Ukraine has disrupted Russia’s oil production through targeted drone strikes on key infrastructure. Refineries in Tuapse, Ilyich, and Novoshakhtinsk have reportedly reduced or suspended operations due to the combined effects of sanctions and Ukrainian attacks.

‘You were shot. Why didn’t you forgive?’ Zelensky tells Fico, drawing parallels to Russian aggression

The Slovak government is playing very dangerous game by criticizing military support for Ukraine and getting closer to Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with the Polish media on Jan. 16.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

[icehockey-obsessed]

Hats off to Martin Pospisil for being openly unhappy about KHL players joining the Slovak national team. They chose money over human decency, I wouldn't want to play with them either.

(also screw the management for allowing this)