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☆ Roku promises cost cuts, sees robust first-quarter revenue; shares jump
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Tiyashi Datta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Shares of the San Jose, California-based company rose 20% in after-market trading and later pared gains to 10% after Roku also beat fourth-quarter revenue estimates and reported a 16% jump in active users. "Despite tightening advertising budgets in the fourth quarter, ad spend on the Roku platform outperformed the overall ad and traditional TV markets in the U.S.," the company said in a statement. Roku said while pressure on ad budgets would continue in the near term, ad spending from restaurants, travel firms, consumer packaged goods and health and wellness had improved in the first quarter. For the quarter that ended Dec. 31, it reported revenue of $867.1 million, beating analysts' estimates of $801.7 million. On an adjusted basis, Roku posted a loss of $1.70 per share, narrower than an estimated loss of $1.73 per share.

☆ Olympics row deepens as 35 countries demand ban for Russia and Belarus
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Andrius Sytas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

With war raging in Ukraine, the Baltic States, Nordic countries and Poland had called on international sports bodies to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing in the Olympics. "At the same time, we know that 70 percent of Russian athletes are soldiers. He said that most participants had been in favour of an absolute exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes. The IOC has opened the door for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals. While Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of host city Paris, has said Russian athletes should not take part, Paris 2024 organisers have said they will abide by the IOC's decision on the issue.

☆ Too early to talk about rate cuts, says Poland's Glapinski
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WARSAW, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Inflation in Poland should start slowing sharply after the first quarter and could fall to an annual rate of 6% by December, but it is still too early to talk about rate cuts, Central Bank Governor Adam Glapinski said on Thursday. It is too early to discuss rate cuts." Analysts said that despite Glapinski stressing that the bank has not officially closed its rate hiking cycle, limited rate cuts in the second half of the year could not be excluded. "We see increasing chances for some initial rate cuts before the end of 2023." Romania's central bank kept its benchmark interest rate on hold at 7.0% on Thursday, the first pause after a 16-month hiking cycle as it expects inflation to fall.

☆ Explainer: How to correctly re-export German tanks
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The following explains defence export rules in Germany and other countries and the way such deals have been handled previously:HOW DO GOVERNMENTS CORRECTLY RE-EXPORT GERMAN TANKS? The same goes for cases where the weapons may be used to wage a war of aggression or the re-export approval might violate Germany's obligations under international law. As defence exports are a touchy issue in Germany, foreign countries usually do not directly submit a formal request for re-export to the German authorities. If not, the foreign country abstains from submitting a formal re-export request, and no diplomatic harm is done. GERMANY'S HIGH HURDLES FOR DEFENCE EXPORTSGermany has one of the toughest defence export regimes in the world – largely due to its bloody pre-1945 past.

☆ German green-light for Leopard tanks is 'secondary' issue, Poland says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Poland is pushing for countries who have Leopards to send them to Ukraine, even if Germany does not want to join them. Even if we did not get this approval ... we would still transfer our tanks together with others to Ukraine", Morawiecki told reporters. Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki arrives for a European Union leaders' summit in Brussels, Belgium December 15, 2022. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Sunday that Berlin would not stand in the way if Poland sent its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. However, a German government spokesperson said on Monday that Berlin had still not received any requests to authorise the re-export of the tanks.

☆ Netflix's ability to churn out hits gives it an edge over rivals -analysts
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

read moreAt least 18 brokerages raised their price targets on the stock as they cheered Netflix's 7.66 million subscribers additions that easily beat estimates of 4.57 million. "Content performance is underpinning all aspects of financial improvement and helps investors sleep better," Wells Fargo analysts said, adding that double-digit revenue growth could be achievable in the second half of the year. The company said it would roll out features this quarter to try and convert more password sharers to paying subscriber. But the company expects increased engagement and monetization after a short period of churn. Reporting by Aditya Soni, Tiyashi Datta and Eva Mathews in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'SilvaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Romanian prosecutors want Andrew Tate's arrest to be extended
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BUCHAREST, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Romanian prosecutors asked a Bucharest court on Friday to extend by 30 days the arrest of ex-kickboxer and internet personality Andrew Tate, prosecutors from the anti organised crime unit said in a statement. Tate was detained on Thursday on suspicion of human trafficking, rape and forming an organised crime group. He has declined to comment but his lawyer has confirmed he has been detained. Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Writing by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Editing by Andrew HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ France to sell 2 observation satellites to Poland -minister
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PARIS, Dec 27 (Reuters) - France and Poland have signed a deal for the sale of two French observation satellites to Poland, French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Twitter. "This major contract reflects Poland's trust in our technology and industry," Lecornu said after meeting with his Polish counterpart in Warsaw. The Polish Armament Agency said the net value of the deal is around 575 million euros ($611.69 million) and that the launch into space of the Polish satellites produced by Airbus Defence & Space (AIR.PA) is to be completed by 2027. ($1 = 0.9400 euros)Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Additional reporting by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk in Warsaw; editing by David Evans and David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Polish c.bank governor says no decision on ending rate-hike cycle
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Anna Koper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WARSAW, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Poland's Monetary Policy Council (MPC) has made no decision about ending its tightening cycle, the central bank governor said on Thursday, as he reiterated that the series of rate hikes was paused rather than definitively finished. "We are still on hold," central bank governor Adam Glapinski told a news conference. "The Council... did not discuss whether to end the rate-hike cycle or not." Glapinski said he expected inflation would start to fall in March or April after rising at the beginning of 2023. "Then there will for sure be such a discussion in the Council.. whether to end the rate-hike cycle."

☆ Poland to charge Ukrainian refugees for government-provided housing
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WARSAW, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Poland plans to charge Ukrainian refugees for food and housing after 4 months of staying in state accommodation, the government said on Tuesday. More than a million Ukrainian refugees made a temporary home in Poland, Ukraine's western neighbour, after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, relying on the kindness of strangers who opened up their homes and government aid. But after an initial outpouring of public support for refugees, resources are drying up and refugees are having a harder time finding flats and getting support with Poland facing a cost of living crisis and budget strains. "Citizens of Ukraine who stay in Poland in collective accommodation centres will participate in the costs of housing and meals," the government said in a statement. ($1 = 4.5085 zlotys)Reporting by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk and Alan Charlish, Editing by Alexandra HudsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Meet the Netflix exec who's leading its disruptive new ads business strategy — and could be CEO one day
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Lucia Moses | Elaine Low | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Peters is a longtime Netflix exec who's quietly led its expansion overseas and into gaming. And the executive tapped to lead the charge is chief operating officer Greg Peters, who's long been the company's go-to for new business ventures. Joining Netflix in 2008 as chief streaming and partnerships officer, Peters quickly stood out as a rising star. The ads tier could also help Netflix with its expansion overseas, where its results have been uneven so far, Mahaney said. Peters played a key role in getting Netflix's creative execs on board with the ads business, one Hollywood insider noted.

"We are talking with our allies about how to handle Poland's ... suggestion," a German government spokesperson told reporters in Berlin. Berlin offered Warsaw the Patriot system to help secure its airspace after a stray missile crashed and killed two people in Poland last week. Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak later asked Germany to send the fire units to Ukraine instead. Stoltenberg's comments came after German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht on Thursday said sharing Germany's Patriot units outside NATO territory would require prior discussions with NATO and the allies. Duda later said that Germany could send the Patriot units to Ukraine without NATO troops to operate them, something he says Kyiv has been asking for for a while.

☆ Hungary to ratify NATO membership for Finland, Sweden early next year - PM Orban
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WARSAW, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday that Hungary's parliament would ratify NATO membership for Finland and Sweden early next year. Orban told a briefing after a meeting of the Visegrad Group in Slovakia that his government had already decided that Hungary would support Finland's and Sweden's NATO accession and parliament would set this item on its agenda at its first session next year. "Hungary will surely give its backing to their accession, after the government had done, also parliament will do so," Orban said. Hungary and Turkey are the only members of the alliance who have not yet cleared the accession. Reporting by Alan Charlish, Pawel Florkiewicz, Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Editing by Alex RichardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

WARSAW, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Polish regulator UOKiK has started proceedings against PayPal (PYPL.O) over possible prohibited contractual provisions, it said on Wednesday, adding that the possible fine could amount to 10% of the company's revenue. The regulator said it has doubts regarding the payments company's right to impose contractual penalties, such as blocking access to accounts, financial sanctions, or terminating contracts among others. UOKiK said that prohibited activities which could incur penalties were described in an unclear way and users may not understand exactly what was not allowed and what action the company could take in such cases. PayPal did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Reporting by Alan Charlish and Anna Koper, additional reporting by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Poland asks Germany to send Patriot missile launchers to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WARSAW, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said on Wednesday he had asked Germany to send Patriot missile launchers offered to Poland to Ukraine. "After further Russian missile attacks, I asked Germany to have the Patriot batteries offered to Poland transferred to Ukraine and deployed at its western border," Blaszczak wrote on Twitter. "This will protect Ukraine from further deaths and blackouts and will increase security at our eastern border." On Monday Poland said it would propose deploying additional Patriot missile launchers near its border with Ukraine, following an offer from Germany. Berlin offered Warsaw the Patriot missile defence system to help secure its airspace after a stray missile crashed in Poland last week.

☆ Russian prankster impersonating Macron spoke to Poland's Duda after blast
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Emmanuel, believe me, I am extra careful," Duda tells the caller. "I don't want to have war with Russia and believe me, I am extra careful, extra careful." "During the call, President Andrzej Duda realized from the unusual way the interlocutor conducted the conversation that there might have been an attempted hoax attempt and ended the conversation." Duda's office was investigating how the callers managed to get through to him together with the relevant services, it said. In 2020 Vovan and Lexus called Duda pretending to be U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, raising questions about security and call screening in Duda's office.

☆ Poland may not have to launch NATO art. 4 procedure, says PM
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WARSAW, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Poland is still analyzing the possibility of launching the NATO Article 4 procedure, but it seems it may not be necessary to use that measure, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Wednesday a day after a rocket killed two in South-East Poland. President Andrzej Duda, speaking at the same press conference, said there were no signs of an intentional attack on Poland and the rocket was probably used by Ukrainian air defence. Reporting by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk, Anna Koper, Alan Charlish, Pawel Florkiewicz; Editing by Toby ChopraOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[1/4] Police officers walk near the site of an explosion in Przewodow, a village in eastern Poland near the border with Ukraine, November 16, 2022. If this is an a mistake of the Ukrainians, there should be no major consequences, but I'm not an expert here." After a sleepless night, Byra decided to keep her school, situated some 300 metres from the blast site, open on Wednesday. "I told the parents I see no grounds to close the school but kids haven't shown up. "Since the start of the war we keep analysing the danger, it has quieted down recently, but here we are today," she said.

☆ Netflix COO Greg Peters is charged with driving the streamer's new ads business. Here's what's at stake and why insiders see him as a future CEO.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Lucia Moses | Elaine Low | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Netflix has tasked COO Greg Peters with figuring out its ad push, its biggest initiative in a decade. And the executive tapped to lead the charge is chief operating officer Greg Peters, who's long been the company's go-to for new business ventures. Joining Netflix in 2008 as chief streaming and partnerships officer, Peters quickly stood out as a rising star. The ads tier could also help Netflix with its expansion overseas, where its results have been uneven so far, Mahaney said. Peters played a key role in getting Netflix's creative execs on board with the ads business, one Hollywood insider noted.

☆ Polish c.bank sees inflation of 2.1-4.9% in 2025
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WARSAW, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Inflation in Poland may return to the target range of 1.5-3.5% in 2025, according to the latest economic forecasts from the central bank published on Wednesday. According to the bank's forecasts, inflation will be in a range of 2.1-4.9% in 2025. Reporting by Alan Charlish, Anna Koper, Pawel Florkiewicz, Marek Strzelecki, Anna Wlodarczak-SemczukOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Polish c.bank keeps rates on hold amid slowdown fears
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

All the bank's other interest rates were also left unchanged. Of 21 analysts polled by Reuters, 11 expected the main rate to rise by 25 basis points. The bank will publish a statement at 1745 GMT containing its latest economic forecasts, which Governor Adam Glapinski said would be key to Wednesday's decision on rates. On Tuesday, the Romanian central bank slowed the pace of its tightening, raising its benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points. Reporting by Alan Charlish, Anna Koper, Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk, Pawel Florkiewicz, Marek Strzekecki Editing by Tomasz JanowskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Inflation expectations are de-anchoring from central bank targets, UniCredit CEE Chief Economist Dan Bucsa said. The situation is less clear in Poland though credit holidays to ease the burden of higher central bank interest rates are remaining heading into 2023. In western Europe, economists and financial markets largely expect price growth in the euro area to fall back to the European Central Bank's 2% target by 2024. "The upcoming general election is likely to stimulate fiscal expansion and, notably, the planned significant increase to the minimum wage from January may indeed spark a more substantial wage growth across the board." According to a Czech central bank survey, companies expect year-on-year inflation to be at 10.3% in one year and at 7.5% in three years, well above the central bank's 2% target.

☆ These global stocks made the biggest gains last week — and analysts give two over 100% upside
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Stock markets posted positive returns last week despite firmly remaining in a bear market more broadly. These are the 20 top stocks in the MSCI World index that saw gains of more than 15% last week, as of the close on Friday Oct. 21. On average, analysts' price target on Netflix is below its current share price, meaning the shares are expected to drop by roughly 3.8%. Dutch firm Just Eat Takeaway.com was one of the biggest gainers last week and is among the stocks with the biggest upside potential. On average, analysts expect Lyft to rise to $25 a share a 109.5% upside from its current share price.

☆ Tesla investors try to ignore Musk's many distractions
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( Paul R. La Monica | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

While that’s good news for Twitter’s long-suffering shareholders, Tesla investors hope he still has some time for them. There are big challenges in China as well, with Tesla going up against homegrown EV rivals like Nio (NIO), Xpeng and Li Auto. Too many distractionsGary Black, managing partner at the Future Fund and a Tesla shareholder, has been tweeting for the past few weeks that concerns about Twitter are a headache for Tesla investors. In one tweet, Black said there are several problems for Tesla due to Twitter. The underwhelming deliveries and production numbers also underscore how a slowing global economy (and possible recession) could hurt Tesla.

A logo of the Polish Central Bank (NBP) is seen on its building in Warsaw, Poland, September 8, 2022. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File PhotoWARSAW, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Poland's central bank Governor Adam Glapinski and four other rate setters threatened legal action on Tuesday against some members of the Monetary Policy Council over public statements they have made about policy. The other members of the MPC are Tyrowicz, Litwiniuk and Ludwik Kotecki, a former deputy finance minister who has been critical of monetary policy. At a press conference last Thursday, Glapinski criticised MPC members who "take 37,300 zlotys ($7,437.69) a month for participating in one meeting during the month and criticise the actions of the whole body". The central bank kept its main interest rate at 6.75% at its Oct. 5 meeting following a run of 11 consecutive hikes.

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