Latest news with #Fico
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
The verdict on Hilton's first property in Tasmania
My 33-square-metre, seventh-floor deluxe room is most notable for its floor-to-ceiling windows, angled in such a way that the room and the bed, placed enchantingly close to the window, feel almost cantilevered over Macquarie Street. The spacious bathroom features a rain shower and Crabtree and Evelyn toiletries, and panoramic photos of local scenes run like banners above the bed heads – in my room, a shot of Sydney Hobart yachts crossing the finish line. My room is water-view, looking out over historic Battery Point with glimpses of the cruise port and the Antarctic icebreaker ship RSV Nuyina – it's Hobart's maritime existence in a glance. Food + drink Under the watch of Nathan Chilcott, former executive chef at Hobart's waterfront Mures, the light-filled Leatherwood is the hotel's most attractive space. The menu is staunchly Tasmanian, from local abalone and scallops to Clover lamb and Cape Grim beef. It's worth pulling up a stool at the attached bar, with its wide selection of local beer and wines, to watch city life roll past through the slit windows. Out + about It's a distinctive feature of Hobart and the DoubleTree's location that you can be on the fringe of the city and yet still at its heart. My room stares down into St David's Park, the green gateway into Salamanca's restaurants, bars and market, with the boat-filled waterfront just beyond. A trio of Hobart's finest restaurants – Fico, Dier Makr, Pitzi – are within a two-block radius of the hotel. The verdict While adding nothing distinctly unique to Hobart's hotel scene, the DoubleTree is well positioned and strong on the city's star quality: views. Essentials Rooms from $205 a night. Ten accessible rooms, including five connected to an adjacent room for guests travelling with a support person. 179 Macquarie Street, Hobart. See
The Age
3 days ago
- The Age
The verdict on Hilton's first property in Tasmania
My 33-square-metre, seventh-floor deluxe room is most notable for its floor-to-ceiling windows, angled in such a way that the room and the bed, placed enchantingly close to the window, feel almost cantilevered over Macquarie Street. The spacious bathroom features a rain shower and Crabtree and Evelyn toiletries, and panoramic photos of local scenes run like banners above the bed heads – in my room, a shot of Sydney Hobart yachts crossing the finish line. My room is water-view, looking out over historic Battery Point with glimpses of the cruise port and the Antarctic icebreaker ship RSV Nuyina – it's Hobart's maritime existence in a glance. Food + drink Under the watch of Nathan Chilcott, former executive chef at Hobart's waterfront Mures, the light-filled Leatherwood is the hotel's most attractive space. The menu is staunchly Tasmanian, from local abalone and scallops to Clover lamb and Cape Grim beef. It's worth pulling up a stool at the attached bar, with its wide selection of local beer and wines, to watch city life roll past through the slit windows. Out + about It's a distinctive feature of Hobart and the DoubleTree's location that you can be on the fringe of the city and yet still at its heart. My room stares down into St David's Park, the green gateway into Salamanca's restaurants, bars and market, with the boat-filled waterfront just beyond. A trio of Hobart's finest restaurants – Fico, Dier Makr, Pitzi – are within a two-block radius of the hotel. The verdict While adding nothing distinctly unique to Hobart's hotel scene, the DoubleTree is well positioned and strong on the city's star quality: views. Essentials Rooms from $205 a night. Ten accessible rooms, including five connected to an adjacent room for guests travelling with a support person. 179 Macquarie Street, Hobart. See
DW
4 days ago
- Business
- DW
EU agrees on 18th sanctions package on Russia – DW – 07/18/2025
The 27 European Union member states have agreed on an 18th round of sanctions targeting Russia for invading Ukraine. The measures are intended to further reduce Moscow's income from the export of oil to non-EU countries. The 27 member states of the European Union on Friday agreed upon an 18th round of sanctions on Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Slovakia had been holding up the decision, citing concerns over its gas imports. But Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico relented, saying he had instructed representatives to approve the measures. Fico said that persisting would be "counterproductive" for Slovakia's interests as an EU member. "The EU just approved one of its strongest sanctions packages against Russia to date," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said. "Each sanction weakens Russia's ability to wage war. The message is clear: Europe will not back down in its support for Ukraine. The EU will keep raising the pressure until Russia ends its war." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also welcomed the package, saying in a post on X: It's good that we in the EU have now agreed on the 18th sanctions package against Russia." "It targets banks, energy, and the military industry. This weakens Russia's ability to continue financing the war against Ukraine." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also welcomed the sanctions. "This decision is essential and timely, especially now, as a response to the fact that Russia has intensified the brutality of the strikes on our cities and villages," he said on social media. The sanctions package targets Moscow's financial and energy sectors and comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin's refused to agree to an unconditional ceasefire. The EU has agreed to lower the price cap on Russian oil exported to third countries to 15% below market value. This is meant to reduce Russia's income by banning shipping and insurance companies that let Russia sell above the cap. The cap was originally a G7 initiative, but the US is not party to the EU's new sanctions. EU officials have admitted this weakens their impact. Brussels has issued several rounds of sanctions on Russia since Putin launched Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. More than 2,400 officials and "entities" have been hit with asset freezes and travel bans. But each round of sanctions is getting harder to agree upon, as measures targeting Russia begin to hit the economies of the 27 member states. In May, the block targeted almost 200 ships in Russia's sanction-busting shadow fleet of tankers. Friday's measures added another 100 ships to that list. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Slovakia to stop blocking new EU sanctions on Russia
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Image: AP) Slovak prime minister Robert Fico said on Thursday that his country will end its blockade of a new EU sanctions package against Russia. Slovakia had been holding up the 18th EU sanctions package against Russia over concerns regarding a separate EU plan to stop gas imports from Russia beginning in 2028. Fico: 'Counterproductive' to continue blockade of EU sanctions Any new sanctions package requires unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states. "At this point, it would be counterproductive to continue blocking the 18th sanctions package tomorrow," Fico said in a video posted on Facebook. He said Slovakia received guarantees from the EU pertaining to gas prices and supply. Fico also said "further dialogue is needed" to ensure Slovakia's energy security. EU ambassadors are expected to meet on Friday to finally greenlight the package. Previous attempts to pass the new sanctions failed during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels earlier this week. What are the details of the 18th EU sanctions package on Russia? The 18th EU sanctions package targets Russia's energy and banking sectors. The sanctions would prohibit EU operators from using the Russian Nord Stream pipelines that extend from Russia to Germany. The measures would also decrease the oil price cap from $60 (€52) to $45 per barrel. Exports of oil and gas is a major boon for the Russian economy, with EU countries seeking to reduce or phase out their reliance on Russian fossil fuels since the Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it legal? How to get Internet without paying a subscription? Techno Mag Learn More Undo Germany ended direct imports of Russian gas in the summer of 2022. The latest round of sanctions aims to cut almost two dozen Russian banks from the SWIFT international payment system, further isolating the Russian financial sector. The measures will prohibit transactions to financial entities in third countries which defy sanctions and facilitate commerce with Russia. The sanctions will also target further vessels which are part of Russia's "shadow fleet" used to move Russian oil.
The Print
4 days ago
- Business
- The Print
Slovakia to allow approval of new EU sanctions on Russia on Friday, PM Fico says
'At this point, it would be counterproductive to continue blocking the 18th sanctions package tomorrow,' Fico said in a video message posted on Facebook. Fico said on Thursday Slovakia had achieved as much as it could at this point, after blocking the EU's approval of the sanctions multiple times to demand guarantees against damages it fears from a separate EU plan to end all gas imports from Russia from 2028. PRAGUE (Reuters) -Slovakia will stop blocking the approval of the 18th package of European Union sanctions against Russia on Friday, Prime Minister Robert Fico said. EU countries' ambassadors will meet on Friday morning to approve the new sanctions, EU diplomats told Reuters. The European Commission last month proposed the 18th package of sanctions against Russia for its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, aimed at Moscow's energy revenue, banks, and military industry. The proposed package included a floating price cap on Russian oil of 15% below the average market price of crude in the previous three months, EU diplomats have said. The proposal would also ban transactions with Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines, as well as banks that engage in sanctions circumvention. Slovakia has vetoed the package several times to try to win concessions on the separate plan to phase out Russian oil and gas, which, unlike sanctions, does not need unanimous support from EU countries. Slovakia continues to import Russian energy, including gas under a contract running until 2034, and often takes pro-Russian views on Ukraine. Fico said on Tuesday that Slovakia had received guarantees from the Commission on assistance in case of potential gas shortages or jumps in prices and transit fees, and assistance in disputes over potential damage claims from Russian supplier Gazprom. The Commission said in a letter to Slovakia on Tuesday it would intervene in potential litigation, and also clarify how an 'emergency break' can be triggered if gas prices spike because of scarce supply during the Russian gas phase-out. Brussels will also develop a solution that aims to reduce the costs of cross-border tariffs on gas and oil for Slovakia, said the letter. Malta had also previously expressed reservations about the proposed Russian oil price cap, but the government said on Thursday evening it would also support the new sanctions on Friday, EU diplomats told Reuters. (Reporting by Jan Lopatka and Jason Hovet, additional reporting by Kate Abnett and Andrew Gray in Brussels, writing by Jan LopatkaEditing by Jason Hovet and Rod Nickel) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
