SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Netflix on Thursday said a subscription option subsidized by ads will debut in November across a dozen countries as the streaming service strives to jumpstart stalled growth. Netflix reported a loss of 970,000 subscribers in the second quarter along with stagnant profits, and its share price is down 63 percent from this time last year despite rising slightly on the ad-tier news. The new “Basic with Ads” subscriptions will […]
Other News
US and Saudi Arabia clash in public over oil cut, Russia
by Aurélia End Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States and Saudi Arabia traded bitter barbs Thursday over last week’s OPEC+ oil output cut, with Washington accusing Riyadh of knowingly boosting Russian interests. The Saudi-led OPEC+ cartel — which includes Russia — angered Washington by cutting production by two million barrels a day from November, adding further pressure on soaring crude prices. Saudi Arabia issued a rare press release on Thursday expressing […]
U.S. President Biden pays extra for tacos at LA food stop
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | US President Joe Biden shelled out nearly four times the asking price when he stopped for tacos and quesadillas during a visit to Los Angeles on Thursday. The 79-year-old grinned widely as he picked up an order, telling the server the extra money should be used to pay for the next customer. Biden, who entered the restaurant alongside California Representative Karen Bass and LA County supervisor Hilda Solis, […]
‘Challenging’ year for Ikea, 10,000 layoffs in Russia
Stockholm, Sweden | AFP | Swedish furniture giant Ikea posted a six percent rise in full-year sales on Thursday, in what it described as a “challenging” year due to inflation and scaling back in Russia. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ikea closed its 17 shops and halted production in the country, where it was one of the largest Western employers before the war with 15,000 employees. According to Dutch holding company Inter Ikea’s CEO […]
President Marcos, Jr to attend Asean Summit in Cambodia – DFA
MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summits and related meetings in Phnom Penh in Cambodia next month, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday. “These will be the first Asean Summits to be held in person since the onset of the pandemic, and the first to be attended by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. since he assumed the Presidency,” the agency said in a […]
Europe heading for warmer-than-average winter: forecaster
Paris, France | AFP | Europe faces a higher-than-usual chance of a cold blast of weather before the end of the year, but the winter overall is likely to be warmer than average, the continent’s long-range weather forecaster said Thursday. Temperatures this winter will be crucial for homeowners worried about the record cost of heating their homes, and for European policymakers seeking to avoid energy rationing due to cuts in Russian gas supplies. “We […]
Moscow-installed head of Ukraine’s Kherson region asks Russia to evacuate locals
Moscow, Russia | AFP | The Moscow-installed head of Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, which the Kremlin says it has annexed, asked Russia on Thursday to help evacuate civilians from the area, in a sign that a Ukrainian counteroffensive is advancing. “We suggested to all people of the Kherson region to, if they wish, leave to other regions to protect themselves from missile hits,” the head of the Russian-backed administration, Vladimir Saldo, said on Telegram. “In […]
DOJ chief Remulla’s son nabbed at NAIA for P1.3 million kush
Justice secretary says he won’t interfere (Eagle News) — The son of Justice Secretary Crispin “Boying” Remulla was arrested by members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Juanito Jose Remulla III was nabbed for his alleged role in the importation of P1.3 million worth of high-grade marijuana or kush. The shipment was originally declared as containing “hooded sweaters” from California. In a statement, Remulla said he would not intervene […]
Russian army will be ‘annihilated’ if Pres. Putin nukes Ukraine: EU Policy Chief Josep Borrell
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned Moscow on Thursday that its forces would be “annihilated” by the West’s military response if President Vladimir Putin uses nuclear weapons against Ukraine. “Putin is saying he is not bluffing. Well, he cannot afford bluffing, and it has to be clear that the people supporting Ukraine and the European Union and the Member States, and the United States and NATO are not […]
US inflation persists, higher in September over prior month
New York, United States | AFP | US inflation jumped more than expected in September, according to government data released Thursday, in the latest sign that pricing pressures have become more intractable despite aggressive central bank action. US prices rose 0.4 percent in September compared to August, twice the 0.2 percent projected by analysts, with price increases for food, shelter and medical care weighing on consumers, according to data from the Bureau of Labor […]
Finland hopes new nuclear reactor eases energy crunch
by Elias HUUHTANEN Agence France-Presse EURAJOKI, Finland (AFP) — After over a decade of delays, the deafening sound of Finland’s new Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor finally running its turbine at full power was welcomed with joy — and relief. The Nordic country is hoping the plant will be able to ease the coming winter’s challenges as Europe battles soaring energy prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “It has taken a lot of perseverance and years […]
Ukraine claims new gains, welcomes Western air defense pledge
by Emmanuel PEUCHOT, with Dave CLARK in Toretsk Agence France-Presse KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — Ukraine said Wednesday it had reclaimed more territory in the south and welcomed a Western pledge to deliver air defense systems to Kyiv “as fast as we can” after days of intense Russian missile strikes. A US-led group of around 50 countries held talks at the NATO headquarters in Brussels and vowed to deliver new anti-missile systems to Kyiv. Ukraine is […]
