Ariana Neumann, a journalist and writer based in London, answered RPI’s questions from her childhood in Caracas. She remembers her father speaking Czech only when he had nightmares. Growing up, she was aware that her father had emigrated from Prague in 1949, but had no idea of the darkness of his past. It was only when she visited Prague with him in 1990 that she realised his parents had been deported and died in the Holocaust. She found an ID card with a photograph of her father as a young man, a stamp of Hitler, and a transport ticket to Theresienstadt. She also found letters from her parents in the camp, begging their sons to stay safe. These documents, along with her father’s bravery and the courage of Mr. Nedvídek, who kept her father safe in his factory, are invaluable to her family and to the history of the region.Ariana Neumann’s book, When Time Stopped, tells the remarkable story of her father’s survival during the Holocaust. Through her research, she uncovered documents and stories of her family’s luck and bravery, including her father’s daring plan to hide in plain sight in Berlin. She also discovered the story of Michal Peřina, a Czech man who kept her family’s documents safe for 70 years. Neumann’s book is a testament to the power of luck, courage, and the human spirit.Ariana Neumann’s story is one of resilience and courage. After discovering a trove of documents in her father’s home, she embarked on a journey to uncover her family’s history during the Holocaust. Through her research, she uncovered the remarkable story of her father’s sister-in-law, Zdeňka, who risked her life to help her family survive. Zdeňka’s bravery enabled her family to live on and for Ariana to tell their story. Her story is a reminder of the trauma and loss experienced by so many during the Holocaust, and of the courage of those who risked their lives to help others. Ariana’s book, When Time Stopped, is a testament to her family’s story and a reminder of the power of resilience and courage.
Author: fortraders
Exploring the Picturesque Vltava Valley: Uncovering Teletín’s Hidden Lookouts
The small village of Teletín in the Czech Republic is home to some of the most beautiful views of the Vltava River. Starting from the village, visitors can take a well-signposted route to a series of lookout points, including Myšák, Mařenka, Máj, and Skalka. Each lookout offers a unique view of the river, from the horseshoe bend at Máj to the Štěchovice Reservoir at Skalka. The final stop is Bednář, a quiet and meditative spot perfect for taking a moment to reflect. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful escape or a stunning view, Teletín is the perfect destination.
Russia Declares Victory in Bakhmut, But Some View It as a Hollow Win
After almost a year of fighting, Russian forces have taken control of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. The Kremlin has declared a ‘mission accomplished’, but the cost of the victory has been staggering. Thousands of Ukrainian and Russian soldiers have died, and the city is now mostly a pile of rubble.
Experts say that the victory is a ‘Pyrrhic one’, as it has not helped Russia achieve its strategic goal of taking all of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. The Russian forces have limited options for going further, and the withdrawal of the Wagner private military company from the front line has caused tensions between them and the Russian military leadership.
Ukraine’s military has fallen back to more defensible lines outside the city, and is now preparing for a major counteroffensive. The battle for Bakhmut has been a costly one for both sides, and it appears that Russia’s ultimate goal of taking the whole of the Donbas is no closer than it was months ago.
LATAM Airlines Penalized $1 Million by U.S. for Delayed Ticket Refunds
The USDOT said it found that LATAM and its affiliates had violated the Department’s rules by failing to provide timely refunds to passengers for flights to or from the United States. The department said it had issued a $1 million civil penalty against the airline and its affiliates.
The USDOT said it had also ordered LATAM to take steps to ensure that it provides timely refunds to passengers for flights to or from the United States. The department said it would continue to monitor LATAM’s compliance with the order.
The USDOT said it was committed to ensuring that passengers receive the refunds they are entitled to when their flights are cancelled. It said it would take action against airlines that fail to comply with its rules.
Zoom Stock Price Rises 4% After Exceeding Q1 Expectations
Zoom’s strong Q1 results and outlook for the rest of the year have investors feeling optimistic about the company’s future. The stock is up more than 200% since the start of the year, and the company’s strong fundamentals and outlook suggest that the stock could continue to rise in the coming months.
Hovde Gives Zions Bancorp an Outperform Rating
Hovde Group has initiated coverage on Zions Bancorporation (NASDAQ:ZION) with an Outperform rating and a price target of $40.00. The firm believes that Zion’s operational playbook and historically lower-than-peer deposit beta position the company well for the volatile economic landscape. Despite its conservative estimates, the firm confidently recommends the stock due to its significantly discounted share price. Hovde Group believes that the market is incorrectly pricing in a draconian deposit environment and overlooks the looming rapid capital build, supported by earnings and the short duration bond book. Furthermore, the firm believes Zion’s diversified client base likely limits outsized near-term deposit flight.
Exploring Collective Decision-Making for AI with OpenAI: A Look at Wikipedia Entries
OpenAI, the creator of the wildly popular ChatGPT chatbot, is exploring ways to gather broad input on decisions impacting its artificial intelligence. At AI Forward, an event hosted by Goldman Sachs and SV Angel, OpenAI President Greg Brockman discussed the broad contours of how the company is seeking regulation of AI globally.
Brockman proposed a model similar to Wikipedia, which requires people with diverse views to coalesce and agree on entries. He also suggested that governments around the world should coordinate to ensure AI is developed safely, and proposed the idea of a global agreement to limit the annual growth of frontier AI capabilities.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has also proposed various ideas to U.S. lawmakers last week for setting guardrails for artificial intelligence, such as requiring licenses to develop the most sophisticated AI models and establishing a related governance regime. He is visiting European policymakers this week to discuss these ideas.
The rapid growth of AI has raised concerns over its ability to create deepfake pictures and other misinformation. OpenAI’s efforts to seek broad input on decisions impacting its AI is a step in the right direction to ensure the technology is developed safely and responsibly.
Czech Lower House Speaker Visiting the United States
Markéta Pekarová Adamová, the head of the Czech lower house of Parliament, is leading a delegation of MPs and business leaders to the United States. During the five-day visit, she will meet with members of the US Congress and Friends of the Czech Republic group.
The delegation is expected to discuss the continued aid to Ukraine and promote business opportunities for Czech companies in the US. The visit is seen as an opportunity to strengthen the ties between the two countries and to foster economic growth.
The delegation will also visit the Czech Embassy in Washington, DC, and the Czech Consulate in New York City. The visit is expected to be a success, as it will provide an opportunity for the Czech Republic to showcase its economic potential and to strengthen its relationship with the US.
The visit is a testament to the strong ties between the Czech Republic and the United States. It is hoped that the visit will lead to increased economic cooperation between the two countries and will help to create new business opportunities for Czech companies in the US.
Czechs Support Austerity, but Prefer to Cut Spending in Other Areas
The survey results show that the majority of Czechs agree that austerity measures are necessary to reduce the deficit in public finances. However, they are divided over the measures proposed by the government. While 7 percent of Czechs support the proposed measures without reservations, another 25 percent agree with selected parts of the proposal. Forty-two percent of respondents say austerity measures are necessary, but they would save money in other areas than those proposed by the government. Twenty-four percent of Czechs reject the idea of introducing austerity measures as such. Additionally, two thirds of respondents expressed the view that the measures were badly communicated.
Czech-Based Russian Firm Included in US Sanctions List
The US Treasury Department has added Versvet, a Russian company based in Czechia, to its list of anti-Russian sanctions. The company is accused of working with the Russian company Radioavtomatika to import electronics to Russia which are prohibited under the sanctions imposed at the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The US is intensifying its efforts to prevent circumvention of these sanctions, and the inclusion of Versvet on the list is a clear indication of this. The sanctions are intended to put pressure on Russia to end its aggression against Ukraine and to ensure that the US and its allies are not complicit in any activities that violate the sanctions.
The US has been imposing sanctions on Russia since 2014, and the list of sanctioned entities has grown significantly since then. The inclusion of Versvet on the list is a further sign of the US’s commitment to enforcing the sanctions and ensuring that they are not circumvented.