https://english.almayadeen.net/news/technology/netflix-lost-nearly-1mln-paid-subscribers-since-april

Netflix lost nearly 1Mln paid subscribers since April

Netflix, the US-based streaming service, announced on Wednesday that it saw a paid membership drop of 970,000 users in the second quarter of the year, which the company expects to offset with a 1 million increase next quarter.

The company reported losing 200,000 paid subscribers overall in the first quarter and 700,000 users in Russia after exiting the Russian market in late April. The company predicted a net loss of 2 million subscribers in the second quarter, resulting in a 25% drop in share price.

"We slightly under-forecasted global paid net adds in Q2 (-1.0m vs. -2.0m forecast and compared to +1.5m in the year-ago quarter)," Netflix said in a shareholder letter.

>>16768711

Netflix expects a million new subscribers in the third quarter to compensate for Q2 losses, bringing the total number of paid members back to 221.67 million.

The company's net income increased by 6.5 percent in the second quarter compared to the same period last year, reaching $1.441 billion, according to the statement.

The company's operating income fell 14.6 percent year on year to $1.578 billion, while diluted earnings per share increased to $3.2 from $2.97 a year earlier, exceeding the company's forecast of $2.96. Revenue increased by 8.6 percent year on year, reaching $7.97 billion, slightly less than the $8.03 billion expected.

It anticipates a 4.7 percent increase in third-quarter revenue, with total year-on-year income reaching $7.838 billion.

part 2 - sorry

>>16768719

You're great.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/economics/eu:-nations-must-cut-gas-demand-business-lobby-warns-of-cons

EU: Nations must cut gas demand; business lobby warns of consequences

Europe is racing to fill its gas storage before winter and find other alternatives in case Russia further restricts supplies in retaliation for European support for Ukraine.

The proposal would allow Brussels to make the target obligatory in a supply emergency if the EU announces a substantial risk of significant gas shortages.

A reinforced majority of EU countries will discuss the proposal on Friday before having to approve it at an emergency meeting of their energy ministers on July 26.

The plan has been resisted by some countries that feel their contingency plans do not need the EU's reinforcement.

Among those countries is Poland, which has filled its gas storage to 98% after Moscow cut its supply in April. Others have less gas storage, such as Hungary, which is at 47% full.

EU business lobby warns gas rationing would be 'disastrous'

In this context, the EU's main business lobby warned today that any decision to control economic activity for the purpose of cutting back on Europe's use of Russian gas would result in catastrophic effects.

Markus Beyrer, director general of Business Europe, said the forced curtailment of production "would have disastrous economic effects and often irreversible impact on businesses."

"It should be considered only as an option of very last resort," he added in a brief statement.

German target of reducing dependency on Russian gas unlikely: Moody's

The embargo on Russian coal and a far-reaching halt to oil deliveries has led many EU countries to ask whether a ban on natural gas imports should be rejected by the bloc. Several member states are reluctant to make the decision to suddenly stop importing Russia's natural gas. This includes Germany and Italy who say they are too reliant on gas to cope with a sudden stop of supplies.

In a report published by the rating agency Moody's, "Germany's reliance on Russian gas imports has already been halved to around 30% of imports now from around 60% in 2020 and further diversification of sources is underway, for instance through increased purchases of liquefied natural gas (LNG). However, the government's goal of reducing its reliance on Russian gas to 10% by 2024 appears ambitious."

Italy, on the other hand, is better equipped to deal with the energy crisis due to the existing pipelines to North Africa and liquefied gas terminals (LNG). Hence, the country could fully replace the Russian gas supplies by 2025.

Italy has cut its reliance on Russian gas imports to 25%, from about 40% at the start of the year, whereas Germany - the largest European economy - still imports roughly 35% of its gas needs from Russia.

The Ukraine war is causing major dilemmas to European nations as they are now entering into an energy crisis, and the sanctions against Moscow may result in the suspension of Russian gas supplies to the EU.

>> This winter, an ice cube, Europe will become.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/economics/us-senate-ready-to-review-52-bln-in-semiconductor-funding

US Senate ready to review $52 bln in semiconductor funding

The US Senate is prepared to review a semiconductor chips bill very soon with the aim to help raise American competitiveness, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday.

The Senate voted by a large margin to start the debate on legislation to give more than $52 billion in grants to the US semiconductor industry.

"With this package, the United States returns to its status as a world leader in the manufacturing of semiconductor chips," she said in a press release, adding that this is "an economic necessity to lower costs for consumers and to win in the 21st-century economy, as well as a national security imperative as we seek to reduce our dependence on foreign manufacturers."

Aside from initiatives to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) research and development, the Chips Act for the US includes what Pelosi called "strong guardrails", including banning firms from using funds awarded through the act for stock buybacks or dividend payments and companies who received federal financial support from engaging in particular expansions of semiconductor manufacturing in countries of concern.

These firms are also requested to inform the Department of Commerce of any plans for significant transactions that may breach the agreement. Congress will keep tight control over federal funds that support the domestic production of semiconductors.

The Senate held on Tuesday a procedural vote to advance the bill and approve it "as early as next week."

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/israeli-media:-israel-not-liking-putins-photos-in-tehran

Israeli media: "Israel" not liking Putin's photos in Tehran

The Astana summit in Tehran, which took place on Tuesday, inclusive of the meetings and events that occurred on the sidelines between the Iranian, Russian, and Turkish presidents as well as the Iranian Leader, aroused great interest in Israeli media. One media outlet considered the summit "a kind of challenge against Biden's visit to the region," while another outlet described it as "the summit of opponents of Western sanctions."

The foreign affairs commentator on Channel 12 said that "Putin comes to this summit and the official title is to restore the Astana process, which is related to the future of Syria," adding that "the prevailing assumption is that the summit is a kind of challenge against President Biden's visit to Israel and Saudi Arabia."

Channel 12 commentator alleged that Putin wants to tell the West that "I have my allies as well."

The Israeli media approached the summit from the perspective of Western sanctions on its countries, pointing to "Erdogan's opposition to sanctions on Iran and sanctions on Russia", as well as Russia's "opposition of sanctions on Iran," and said, "It can be called the summit of those opposed to sanctions."

Other Israeli media outlets pointed to the pictures of President Putin's arrival in Tehran and his meeting with Iranian Leader Ali Khamenei, stressing that "these pictures are very disliked by Israel, and that they indicate a not so good regional development."

The Israeli Channel 12 correspondent also stated that "These are the pictures that we receive in a live broadcast from Tehran, where Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived with his presidential plane, and they are pictures that Israel never likes to see, especially against the background of what is happening behind the northern border. This is a not-so-good regional development."

Israeli Channel 13 claimed that "in the Biden administration, everyone is concerned about the close alliance between Iran and Russia."

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Iranian Leader Ali Khamenei after his arrival in Tehran on Tuesday. He also met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, and the two sides signed strategic political and economic cooperation agreements.

It is worth noting that during the meeting that brought together President Putin and Ayatollah Khamenei, the latter condemned "the interference of the Zionist regime in the affairs of the region and praised the recent positions of the Russian President against the Zionists."

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/7th-package-of-eu-anti-russia-sanctions-enters-into-force-on

7th package of EU anti-Russia sanctions enters into force on July 21

The European Union has adopted the seventh package of sanctions against Moscow that will take effect this Thursday after they are published in the official journal, according to the Czech EU Presidency on Wednesday.

In a tweet, the presidency said, "Ambassadors approved the next sanctions package in response to the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The new measures will align the EU with G7 partners, reinforce implementation and close loopholes where necessary… This package will be adopted by the Council by written procedure, which will end tomorrow at 10:00. The sanctions will come into force after publication tomorrow in the Official Journal of the EU."

The statement adds that the new package of sanctions will include a ban on Russian gold imports and jewelry, among other things.

EU countries targeted Russian gold exports and froze assets at Russia's largest bank in an update to the draconian anti-Russia sanctions over the war in Ukraine.

"The main goal is to align with G7 partners, reinforce the implementation and close the loopholes where necessary," the Czech government, holder of the EU's rotating presidency, tweeted.

>>16768945

>>16768969

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/if-eu-refuses-russian-energy-moscow-to-reorient-without-loss

If EU Refuses Russian energy , Moscow to reorient without loss: Lavrov

Today, on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Sputnik if Europe refuses Russian energy supplies, Moscow will reorient its deliveries without serious losses.

"If they [European states] do this, we will not have any specific problems … We will reorient without any serious losses, I have no doubt about it, we have a buyer, there is demand," Lavrov said.

Moscow asked UN Chief to include clause on Russian grain in Istanbul deal: Lavrov

According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Moscow has sent a signal to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about the importance of including a clause on Russian grain in the Istanbul agreements.

"Yesterday, we sent a signal to the secretary-general and said … let's decide now with the Ukrainian [grain], and then with the Russian one," Lavrov said.

Moreover, Lavrov said Western countries are trying to drag UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres into their games around Ukrainian grain.

"We have been explaining for many months that the fertilizer itself is not subject to sanctions, but freight, insurance, visits by our ships that carry these goods to foreign ports … all this fell immediately under the first or second package [of sanctions] … therefore, when they lie to our eyes and say that all this is not true and everything depends on you, this is unscrupulous. Unfortunately, they tried and are still trying to drag the UN secretary-general into their games," Lavrov said.

Cutting off ties with Russia not in Europe’s Interests: Lavrov

According to Lavrov, fully cutting ties with Russia and switching to liquefied natural gas supplies from the United States is unlikely to be in Europe's best interests.

"I don't think it's in their best interest to completely cut all ties with us and switch to liquefied natural gas, which the Americans are trying to sell them," Lavrov said.

Lavrov to Visit Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda, Congo

Lavrov said he plans to visit Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda, and the Republic of the Congo this year.

"This year there will be Egypt, there will be Ethiopia, there will be Uganda and there will be the Republic of the Congo," Lavrov said.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/israels-gantz-to-participate-in-us-security-forum

'Israel's' Gantz to participate in US security forum

Israeli occupation Security Minister Benny Gantz will head Wednesday to the United States to participate in a security forum hosted by the Aspen Institute, the Israeli i24NEWS newspaper reported.

The Israeli official is expected to meet with various US defense officials, including national security advisor Jake Sullivan.

Gantz has a list of officials he is set to meet with, including CIA chief William Burns, former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, and Congress members and heads of committees that deal with security issues, the Israeli outlet said.

The Israeli minister participated with Israeli occupation Prime Minister Yair Lapid in a Northern Command tour on occupied Palestine's borders with Lebanon, i24NEWS added.

Lapid and Gantz evaluated the situation on Wednesday, and they both spoke with senior IOF officers.

The two were joined by National Security Council chief Eyal Hulata and Northern Command Amir Baram, alongside other senior officers, the newspaper said. The senior officials also issued a "strong-worded warning" to Lebanon via the US mediator.

Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah announced in early July sending three UAVs on a recon mission over the Karish gas field.

Israeli media reported one day later that the three drones operated by Hezbollah were not carrying weapons, but rather a message of "you have to submit to our demands," stressing that “Israel” is not after escalation with Hezbollah, yet it holds its ground.

Israeli Walla! news website said fear was prevalent within the security establishment of further attacks by Hezbollah.

Hezbollah’s clear message, according to Israeli media, was: We are capable of sending drones, but there are other means that can be armed and explosive as they head to the gas-drilling platform when it is actually drilling.

Lebanon and the Israeli occupation are holding indirect talks over the contested Karish gas field, which "Tel Aviv" says it has ownership over.