All articles tagged with #fico
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico says Putin’s response to Zelensky’s peace offer is that any future talks must start with a direct phone call from Kyiv; Zelensky has said he’s ready to meet Putin in any format, but Kyiv insists negotiations must take place on neutral ground with lasting guarantees, even as a US-brokered ceasefire remains in place.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that Zelensky should phone Vladimir Putin if he wants face-to-face talks, a remark he made after meeting Putin in Moscow for Victory Day. Fico also said Zelensky told him in Armenia that he is willing to meet Putin in any format and that he delivered that message to the Russian president. He backed extending a US-backed three-day ceasefire, though Kremlin aides later disputed whether the message transfer occurred. Fico was the EU’s sole leader to visit Moscow for Victory Day, following Zelensky–Fico talks in Yerevan on May 4, framing ongoing diplomatic efforts amid the war.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski suggested a potential thaw in Poland–Slovakia ties if Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico unblocks EU aid to Ukraine and avoids a Russia‑friendly approach, even as Fico plans a Moscow visit for Victory Day. The remarks come amid strained Kyiv–Bratislava relations following the Druzhba pipeline issues, with Fico reiterating support for Ukraine’s EU bid. The situation unfolds as Hungary’s incoming leadership is expected to back EU aid to Ukraine, signaling cautious shifts in the region’s stance on the war.
Thousands gathered in Bratislava on April 14, 2026, to protest Prime Minister Fico’s plan to scrap absentee/mail voting for Slovaks abroad, with the rally organized by Progressive Slovakia in front of Parliament highlighting concerns over voting rights.
President Zelenskyy invited Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to Kyiv to discuss all issues after a week of tensions over the Druzhba pipeline, which has been out of operation for about a month. Hungary and Slovakia want access to inspect the pipeline; Fico argues EU exemptions cover the deliveries and Slovakia has halted some energy shipments to Ukraine in retaliation. The leaders also agreed to form a joint investigative team to assess the pipeline’s condition following a phone call.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said he would cut Ukraine's emergency electricity supply unless Kyiv restarts Russian oil shipments, accusing Kyiv and the West over Nord Stream tensions. The move underscores Slovakia's role as a key electricity supplier to Ukraine and follows Hungary's blocking of a related EU loan amid shared energy ties to Moscow.
FICO's announcement to provide its credit scores directly to mortgage industry players led to a 15% surge in its stock, while shares of credit bureaus like Equifax dropped significantly, reflecting a shift towards more direct and transparent credit scoring processes in the mortgage sector.
The Slovak parliament approved a constitutional amendment under Prime Minister Robert Fico that limits the rights of same-sex couples, emphasizes traditional gender roles, and asserts national law over EU law, sparking criticism and protests.
Gen Z's credit scores have dropped more than any other generation due to student loan debt and economic challenges, but improving credit habits like timely payments and low utilization can help rebuild scores.
US consumer credit scores have declined at the fastest rate since the 2008 financial crisis, with Gen Z borrowers experiencing the largest drops due to higher utilization and delinquency rates, especially related to student loans, while the median FICO score continues to rise.
Thousands of Slovaks protested across the country against Prime Minister Robert Fico's government, criticizing austerity measures and his pro-Russian stance, especially after his recent meetings with Putin and China, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with his policies and leadership.
Slovakia, led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, is seeking to normalize and increase its energy relations with Russia, including boosting gas imports via the TurkStream pipeline, despite EU plans to phase out Russian fossil fuels. Fico opposes EU sanctions and plans to vote against the phaseout, emphasizing Slovakia's interest in maintaining energy cooperation with Russia. The move has drawn criticism from other European countries concerned about increased reliance on Russian energy and the implications for EU unity and policy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing, where they discussed Russia's war against Ukraine, energy cooperation, and Slovakia's independent foreign policy stance, with Putin emphasizing the importance of curbing Ukraine's access to reverse gas flows and criticizing Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy facilities.
The stock of FICO, the company behind the widely used credit score, plummeted over 17% after the Federal Housing Finance Agency announced that lenders can now use VantageScore, a competitor, to assess creditworthiness for government-backed mortgages, potentially increasing competition and reducing costs in the mortgage industry.
FICO is launching a new credit scoring model that will incorporate Buy Now, Pay Later loans, potentially affecting the credit scores of millions of Americans by providing a more accurate assessment of their creditworthiness, especially for younger and less established borrowers. However, adoption may be slow due to inconsistent data sharing among BNPL providers and credit bureaus, and concerns remain about the impact on vulnerable communities.