Historically-ignored, Slovakia made its presence known on the international scene a few days ago when it became the sole EU member to vote to block the expansion of a bailout fund, thus delaying any decision to aid the collapsing Greek economy.
Investors apparently have a finite capacity when it comes to panicking.
Lawmakers in Slovakia accepted a plan on Thursday to expand the powers of a bailout fund for banks and troubled European governments.
A broad rally lost steam during the final minutes of trading, but stocks still ended sharply higher Wednesday as investors welcomed the latest plan to recapitalize European banks.
U.S. stocks were set to open higher Wednesday, as investors await the latest plan for European bank recapitalization and sort through Slovakian politics.
Lawmakers in Slovakia rejected a plan late Tuesday to expand the powers of a bailout fund for banks and troubled European governments.
U.S. stocks ended mixed Tuesday, with a technology sector rally bucking a broader decline, as investors await the next step after Slovakia voted against overhauling the European bailout fund.
The official earnings season kicks off this afternoon with Alcoa.
U.S. stocks were headed for a lower open Tuesday as investors await Slovakia's vote to expand the European bailout fund and the first corporate results of the third quarter.
Fifth seed Samantha Stosur made it safely through to the second round of Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany on Tuesday beating Spain's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 7-5 6-1.
There isn't a more beautiful scene in sports than the Monte Carlo tournament, a panorama of orange clay set against the sparkling Mediterranean and handsomely appointed hillsides. And there's nothing more discouraging than the plight of America's Fed Cup team, now floundering among the relegated for the first time.
A gunman killed eight people and wounded 14 in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, on Monday morning, officials said.
CNN's Atika Shubert talks to Italy fans about the team's eliminated from the World Cup.
Reigning world champions, Italy have been held to a 1-1 draw by New Zealand in their World Cup Group F match at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
New Zealand scored a last-gasp equalizer to deny Slovakia a victorious World Cup debut in South Africa on Tuesday.
CNN's Pedro Pinto asks a roundtable of journalists who they expect to be the stars of the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Slovak voters have dumped their government, prompting one nationalist firebrand to warn that the country would now be run by "homosexuals and Hungarians," the Slovak news agency TASR reported Sunday.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The home crowd was content, and looking ahead. This one was in the bag. Canada was up 3-nil on a game-but-overmatched Slovakia club with another 14 minutes to play, but really, this one was over, right? If you were one of the many face-painted fans, it was time to get obnoxious, and maybe get some face-time on CTV. It was time to hope that Jarome Iginla would line up Slovakia's Zigmund Palffy and deliver some Iggy-on-Ziggy violence.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- When asked if could pinpoint Slovakia on a map, Team Canada defenseman Dan Boyle immediately blurted, "Umm, right next to the Czech Republic. I know it used to be part of Czechoslovakia, right? So I'll say close to the Czech Republic."
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- "Ten days ago if you had said the United States would be 4-0 and the top seed and guaranteed to play in a medal game, well, to paraphrase coach Ron Wilson, you would be facing drug charges," says SI's Michael Farber. "But this team has grown up before a nation's eyes."
United States vs. Switzerland, 3 p.m. Russia vs. Canada, 7:30 p.m. Finland vs. Czech Republic, 10 p.m. Sweden vs. Slovakia, 12 mid.
VANCOUVER -- "Four years ago, Lindsey Vonn limped to the start of the Olympic downhill in the mountains north of Turin, Italy, deeply in pain from a terrifying training crash that left her lower back and hip bruised and sore. She was a shell of the dynamic racer who was a threat to medal in the race (or win it), but she skied anyway, and finished a game but disappointed eighth."
An aviation expert says an incident in which an explosive material was placed in an unsuspecting passenger's luggage as part of a botched sniffer dog drill highlights the need for greater international cooperation to improve security at airports.
CNN's Frederik Pleitgen reports from Germany on moves to tighten security at European airports.
The head of Slovakia's border police apologized for a security test snafu in which a police officer put a plastic explosive into the bag of an unsuspecting passenger who unwittingly carried it from Poprad, Slovakia, to Dublin, Ireland.
Ukraine claimed a 1-0 victory over 10-man England which boosted their hopes of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa via the playoffs.
Brazilian-born Liedson kept alive Portugal's slender World Cup qualifying hopes with a late equalizer against Group 1 leaders Denmark in Copenhagen.
Woodridge, Ill. -- Marian Hossa announced he is leaving Slovakia to sign a free-agent contract with the Czech Republic because he thinks the Czechs have a better chance of winning an Olympic gold medal in Vancouver next February.
Ledley King quit England's squad on Tuesday after Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp hit out at international counterpart Fabio Capello for picking his injury-prone defender in the first place.
At least 12 people were killed and 25 were injured Saturday when a train collided with a bus in Slovakia, government officials said.
Silvia Todorova has been heating water in a cooking pot so she can bathe her eight-month-old son Daniel.
Slovakia became the first of the larger ex-communist EU members to join the European single currency on Thursday amid hope the move will provide stability in the global economic storm.
CNN's Charles Hodson took a ride with market strategist Tom Hougaard to discuss the bumpy road ahead in 2009.
Denmark scored three goals in the last eight minutes to upset Portugal 3-2 in Lisbon on Wednesday and hand home coach Carlos Queiroz his first defeat since taking charge.
Goals from Martin Skrtel and Marek Hamsik sent Slovakia to the top of World Cup Qualifying Group 3 with a 2-1 victory over Northern Ireland in Bratislava.
Hakan Kadir Balta scored midway through the second half to give Turkey a 1-0 friendly win over Slovakia in Germany -- an encouraging start to their preparations for the Euro 2008 finals.
Kyle Okposo was one of five different players to score as Team USA earned a 5 -1 victory over Kazakhstan today in the opening game for both teams of the preliminary round of the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship.
Didier Drogba struck in the 38th minute for the Ivory Coast to defeat Sweden 1-0 in an international friendly played at Le Mans in France on Wednesday.
Former Czechoslovak international Jan Kocian has been named as Slovakia's new coach following the resignation last month of Dusan Galis.
Lukas Podolski shrugged off media criticism to score a pair of goals as Germany outclassed Slovakia 4-1 in their Group D Euro 2008 qualifier.
Lukas Podolski was sent off for violent conduct as Germany warmed up for Wednesday's Euro 2008 qualifier against Slovakia with a 2-0 friendly win over Georgia in Rostock.
Slovakia condemned Wales to their heaviest home defeat since 1908 with a 5-1 Euro 2008 Group D qualifying win in Cardiff.
Craig Bellamy has been named as stand-in Wales captain for their upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers, despite having to appear in court on assault charges between the matches against Slovakia and Cyprus.
Czech Republic coach Karel Brueckner has added two uncapped players, attacking midfielder Marek Matejovsky and striker David Lafata, to his squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Wales and Slovakia next month.
Filip Sebo scored a hat-trick on his debut as Slovakia beat Malta 3-0 in a friendly on Tuesday.
Mika Hannula scored a hat-trick in Sweden's 6-0 quarterfinal win over the United States at the ice hockey world championship in Latvia on Wednesday.
Ryan Malone scored a goal and set up another as the United States beat holders Czech Republic 3-1 at the ice hockey world championship on Tuesday.
Russia scraped past Slovakia 4-3 in a scrappy game at the world ice hockey championship in Riga on Wednesday to secure top spot in Group C.
France slumped to a clumsy 2-1 home defeat by Slovakia in a World Cup warm-up on Wednesday, their first defeat since Euro 2004 and their first under coach Raymond Domenech.
Karol Beck of Slovakia has been banned for two years for doping, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said on Monday.
Recovery efforts continued Friday at the site of the crash of an AN-24 Slovak military plane, which was carrying 43 passengers when it crashed in the rugged terrain of northern Hungary.
Dominik Hrbaty, Slovakia's only top 20 player, will lead his country in their first Davis Cup final, against Croatia in Bratislava on December 2-4.
Spain qualified for an eighth straight World Cup finals Wednesday with a 1-1 draw against Slovakia in Bratislava in the second leg of their playoff.
Slovakia coach Dusan Galis has been banned from the bench by FIFA for the second leg of the World Cup playoff against Spain on Wednesday, reports said.
Luis Garcia scored a hat-trick as Spain virtually clinched their place in next summer's World Cup finals in Germany by trouncing luckless Slovakia 5-1 in the first leg of their qualifying playoff in Madrid.
Slovakia have recalled Vratislav Gresko to their squad for the World Cup playoff against Spain.
Spain will play Slovakia, Switzerland will face Turkey and Norway will meet the Czech Republic in the play-offs to determine the last three European qualifiers for the World Cup finals.
The following six teams will go into Friday's draw for the playoffs for the three remaining World Cup qualifying slots from the European zone.
Slovakia secured a World Cup playoff berth by holding Russia to a 0-0 draw in their final Group Three qualifier in Bratislava.
European Group 3 leaders Portugal must wait to secure qualification for the World Cup finals after being held to a 0-0 draw by 10-man Russia in Moscow.
Russia's Nikolay Davydenko and Igor Andreev crushed their French opponents to clinch a 3-2 victory in the Davis Cup quarterfinal in Moscow.
Slovakia moved a step closer to their first Davis Cup semi-final when Karol Beck and Michal Mertinak put them 2-1 ahead against the Netherlands with victory in the doubles rubber.
Portugal, boosted by the return of Luis Figo, beat Slovakia 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Lisbon, to take a three-point lead in Group Three.
Sparta Prague playmaker Lukas Zelenka has been named in a Czech Republic squad for the first time for their World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Macedonia next month.
Greece on Tuesday said it had recalled its top envoy from Slovakia and ordered an urgent inquest into allegations that the diplomat is involved in arms smuggling.
World number three Amelie Mauresmo has been named in the France team to face Austria in their Fed Cup first-round tie later this month.
Helder Postiga equalized in the 62nd minute Wednesday as Group Three leaders Portugal held big rivals Slovakia 1-1 in a World Cup qualifying match.
Romania coach Victor Piturca puts his faith in youth for Wednesday's World Cup Group One qualifier against Macedonia after the disappointing 2-0 home defeat by the Dutch.
Slovakia eliminated Davis Cup holders Spain by winning the doubles match in their World Group first round tie in Bratislava to take a 3-0 lead.
President Bush says he plans to use his upcoming trip to Europe to tell people on both sides of the divide that shared interests are stronger than past differences.
Slovakia clinched a place in the Hopman Cup final for the second successive year on Friday when they beat the Netherlands 3-0 in their last group match.
Argentina were gifted a place in the final of the Hopman Cup for the first time when German Tommy Haas had to withdraw because of an injury in their group match.
Tiny Liechtenstein recovered from two goals down at halftime to salvage a shock 2-2 draw with Euro 2004 finalists Portugal in their World Cup qualifier.
If you are looking for a place to start a new business you may want to consider either Slovakia or Colombia for a new office.
Russia defeated the United States 3-1 in North American Pool play at the World Cup of Hockey in St Paul, Minnesota.
Germany won gold, lost it and then had it reinstated as they were finally declared winners in the team equestrian three-day event at the Athens Games.
Tony Estanguet of France retained his title in the C-1 canoe slalom after judges decided that Slovakia's Michal Martikan had hit a gate and gave him a two-second penalty, pushing him into silver medal position.
The stadium told me all I really needed to know about Slovan Bratislava soccer club.
At first glance, the village of Svinia in eastern Slovakia is a tranquil rural setting. But a closer look reveals quite a different picture.
With 10 more countries about to swell the ranks of the EU come May 1, the one business sector likely to get a boost is the travel industry -- both for leisure and business.
Vaclav Klaus, 52, a free-market economist who is Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, is widely considered one of Eastern Europe's most effective political leaders. Says Prague entrepreneur Michae...
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