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☆ Sweden to present security measures amid Koran burning crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OSLO, Aug 1 (Reuters) - The Swedish government said on Tuesday it would present measures to protect its citizens amid growing concerns in both Sweden and Denmark that the Koran burning crisis could lead to attacks. Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Justice Minister Gunnar Stromer will on Tuesday hold a press conference to discuss the security situation and present "measures to protect Swedish citizens", the government said without providing detail. It also said in a statement after the meeting ended that it called upon member states to take appropriate action, whether political or economic, in countries where the Koran is being desecrated. After the meeting, the Danish and Swedish foreign ministers separately wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that they would continue their dialogue with the OIC. Reporting by Terje Solsvik; Editing by Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ulf Kristersson, Gunnar Stromer, Terje Solsvik, Lincoln Organizations: Nordic, Police Security, Intelligence Service, Monday, DR, of Islamic Cooperation, Thomson Locations: OSLO, Swedish, Sweden, Denmark, Danish

☆ Sweden to boost security controls after Koran burnings
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

STOCKHOLM, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Threats to Sweden have increased after recent Koran burnings, the country's government said on Tuesday, adding that it would strengthen border and internal controls and give police wider authority to stop and search people as a result. More Koran burnings took place on Monday and both countries said they were examining ways to legally limit such acts in a bid to de-escalate tensions. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the security situation in Sweden was complex, not least because of its delayed accession to NATO. On Monday, the 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) convened in an extraordinary session to discuss the recent developments and strongly condemned the Koran burnings. "It is not the case that Sweden is adapting itself in the light of other countries' demands on Sweden.

Persons: Ulf Kristersson, Kristersson, Johan Ahlander, Simon Johnson, Terje Solsvik, Lincoln, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Nordic, NATO, of Islamic Cooperation, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Denmark, Swedish, Stockholm, Oslo

☆ Norway, Finland battle rapid spread of bird flu
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Louise Rasmussen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] People wearing protective suits collect dead birds, as there is a major outbreak of bird flu, in Vadso municipality in Finnmark in Norway, July 20,2023. Oyvind Zahl Arntzen/NTB/via REUTERS/File PhotoCOPENHAGEN, July 28 (Reuters) - Norway and Finland face record outbreaks of bird flu this year which have killed thousands of seagulls and other species, put livestock at risk and restricted travel in some areas, officials said. Avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, has circulated throughout Europe in recent years, leading to a cull in May and June of millions of birds on French farms alone and affecting the supply of poultry meat and eggs. The H5N1 virus strain has spread among poultry and wild birds for years but there have been sporadic outbreaks reported globally in mammals such as cats, mink and otters. Neighbouring Finland also said wild birds were heavily affected and that the H5N1 strain has now been found in 20 fur farms, up from 12 earlier this week.

Persons: Oyvind Zahl, Ole, Herman Tronerud, Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Terje Solsvik, Toby Chopra Organizations: Norwegian Food Safety Authority, Norwegian Food, World Health, Thomson Locations: Vadso, Finnmark, Norway, COPENHAGEN, Finland, Europe, Norway's Finnmark, Norwegian

STOCKHOLM, July 27 (Reuters) - Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is "extremely worried" about the consequences if more demonstrations go ahead in which the Koran is desecrated, he said on Thursday, amid growing Muslim anger at a series of attacks on Islam's holy book. Kristersson told Swedish news agency TT that further requests had been filed with police for permission to hold protests where desecration of the Koran was again planned. Sweden's embassy in Baghdad was stormed and set ablaze on July 20 by protesters angered by a planned Koran burning. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson addresses the media ahead of a NATO leaders summit in Vilnius, Lithuania July 11, 2023. Members of Sweden Democrats, the biggest party on the right, have repeatedly warned about the "Islamization" of Swedish society and called for immigrants to adopt "Swedish" values.

Persons: Ulf Kristersson, Kristersson, Charlotte von Essen, Ints, Tobias Billstrom, Billstrom, Johan Ahlander, Simon Johnson, Terje Solsvik, William Maclean Organizations: Atlantic Treaty Organization, TT, Swedish, NATO, REUTERS, United Nations, of Islamic, Sweden Democrats, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Swedish, Sweden, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine, Sweden's, Baghdad, Vilnius, Lithuania, Russia, Iran, Iraq, Algeria, Lebanon

☆ Protesters burn Koran in front of Egyptian embassy in Denmark
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

COPENHAGEN, July 25 (Reuters) - Five anti-Islam activists set fire to a Koran in front of the Egyptian embassy in Copenhagen on Tuesday, the third such incident in Denmark in less than a week, following Koran burnings in nearby Sweden that enraged Muslims. Denmark and Sweden have said they deplore the burning of the Koran but cannot prevent it under rules protecting free speech. Last week, protesters in Iraq set the Swedish embassy in Baghdad ablaze. Tuesday's demonstration in Copenhagen by a group called "Danish Patriots" followed Koran burnings the group staged on Monday and last week in front of the Iraqi embassy. Iraq's foreign ministry on Monday called on authorities of European Union countries to "quickly reconsider so-called freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate" in light of the Koran burnings.

Persons: Trine Baumbach, Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Terje Solsvik Organizations: Patriots, European Union, Islam, University of Copenhagen, Reuters, Thomson Locations: COPENHAGEN, Copenhagen, Denmark, Sweden, Iraq, Swedish, Baghdad, European, Turkey

☆ Norway government ministries hit by cyber attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OSLO, July 24 (Reuters) - Twelve Norwegian government ministries have been hit by a cyber attack, the Norwegian government said on Monday, the latest attack to hit the public sector of Europe's largest gas supplier and NATO's northernmost member. That weakness has now been shut," Erik Hope, head of the government agency in charge of providing services to ministries, told a news conference. The attack was identified due to "unusual" traffic on the supplier's platform, Hope said, declining to provide specifics. Norway is Europe's largest gas supplier after a drop in Russian gas flows and Western Europe's largest oil exporter. Norway's state sector has been hit by cyber attacks previously, including in June 2022, when a so-called distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack took place, blamed on a "criminal pro-Russian group".

Persons: Erik Hope, Hope, Gwladys Fouche, Louise Rasmussen, Terje Solsvik Organizations: NATO, Thomson Locations: OSLO, Norwegian, Norway, Norway's, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Two protesters burn Koran in front of Iraqi embassy in Denmark
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Protesters from the "Danish Patriots" demonstrate in front of the Iraqi embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark July 24, 2023 Ritzau Scanpix/Thomas Sjoerup/via REUTERSCOPENHAGEN, July 24 (Reuters) - Two protesters set fire to a copy of the Koran, Islam's holy book, in front of the Iraqi embassy in the Danish capital on Monday, risking a further deterioration of relations between the two countries. Protests have raged across Iran and Iraq after Denmark and Sweden allowed the burning of the Koran under rules protecting free speech. Protesters in Iraq set alight the Swedish embassy in Baghdad on Thursday. The two protesters were from a group that calls itself "Danish Patriots", which held a similar demonstration last week and livestreamed the events on Facebook. The organiser of Monday's demonstration in Copenhagen stomped on the Koran and set it alight in a tin foil tray next to the Iraqi flag on the ground.

Persons: Ritzau Scanpix, Thomas Sjoerup, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Terje Solsvik, Nick Macfie Organizations: Danish Patriots, REUTERS, Protesters, Facebook, Nordic, Iranian, Thomson Locations: Copenhagen, Denmark, REUTERS COPENHAGEN, Iran, Iraq, Sweden, Baghdad, Copenhagen stomped

☆ Polish mother and son, 7, dead after plunging from Baltic Sea ferry
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WARSAW, June 30 (Reuters) - A Polish woman and her 7-year-old son have died after plunging from a Baltic Sea ferry travelling from Sweden to Poland, a Polish police spokesman said on Friday. Swedish authorities said on Thursday the child had fallen off the vessel and that the mother proceeded to jump overboard in an attempted rescue. The Swedish ferry, Stena Spirit, was in the Baltic midway through its journey to Gdynia in Poland from Karlskrona in Sweden when the incident occurred, rescue officials said on Thursday. "At the moment we have no information whether this was due to a malfunction of the ferry," Stena Line spokesperson Agnieszka Zembrzycka told TVN 24. Swedish police issued an appeal to Polish passengers via Poland's state-run news agency PAP asking for information that could explain how the accident occurred.

Persons: Mariusz Ciarka, Agnieszka Zembrzycka, Terje Solsvik, Alan Charlish, Anna Ringstrom, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: WARSAW, TVN, Thomson Locations: Polish, Baltic, Sweden, Poland, Swedish, Gdynia, Karlskrona, Oslo, Warsaw, Stockholm

☆ Former world number one Wozniacki announces comeback
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

COPENHAGEN, June 29 (Reuters) - Caroline Wozniacki is set to make a comeback to tennis after the former world number one said on Thursday that she was ready to return to the Tour having retired from the sport in 2020 to start a family. Danish player Wozniacki spent 71 weeks at the top of the world rankings and finished with 30 singles titles - including a Grand Slam crown at the Australian Open in 2018. The United States Tennis Association later announced that Wozniacki, a two-time finalist at Flushing Meadows, had been awarded a wildcard for the Grand Slam that begins on Aug. 28. The Dane, who turns 33 next month, said she was inspired by 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams after the American returned to the sport following the birth of her daughter Olympia. "I think that Serena doesn't get nearly enough credit for getting to so many Grand Slam finals after having Olympia," she said.

Persons: Caroline Wozniacki, Wozniacki, David Lee, Olivia, James, I'm, I've, Dane, Serena Williams, Olympia, Serena doesn't, Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Rohith Nair, Terje Solsvik, Alision Williams, Ken Ferris Organizations: NBA, Twitter, Canadian, U.S, U.S ., Vogue, United States Tennis Association, Flushing, Paris Olympics, Thomson Locations: COPENHAGEN, Danish, Montreal, Paris, New York, Flushing Meadows, Australia, Copenhagen, Bengaluru

Although only two people were expected to take part, the organisers said they would tear up and burn the Koran. Sweden sought NATO membership in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year. But alliance member Ankara has held up the process, accusing Sweden of harbouring people it considers terrorists and demanding their extradition. While Swedish police have rejected several recent applications for anti-Koran demonstrations, courts have overruled those decisions, saying they infringed on freedom of speech. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said at a press conference on Wednesday he would not speculate about how the approved Koran burning could affect Sweden's NATO process.

Persons: Ulf Kristersson, Kristersson, Momika, Rasmus Paludan, Paludan, Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Marie Mannes, Johan Ahlander, Terje Solsvik, Peter Graff, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Police, NATO, Islam, Atlantic Treaty Organization, Swedish, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Stockholm, Turkey, Sweden, Ukraine, Ankara, Danish, Turkish, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Copenhagen

[1/5] Police officers intervene after people's reaction as demonstrators burn the Koran (not pictured) outside Stockholm's central mosque in Stockholm, Sweden June 28, 2023. "It's legal but not appropriate," he said, adding that it was up to the police to make decisions on Koran burnings. Representatives of the mosque were disappointed by the police decision to grant permission for the protest on the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, mosque director and Imam Mahmoud Khalfi said on Wednesday. Up to 10,000 visitors attend Stockholm's mosque for the Eid celebrations every year, according to Khalfi. Turkey in late January suspended talks with Sweden on its NATO application after a Danish far-right politician burned a copy of the Koran near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm.

Persons: Stefan Jerrevang, Hakan Fidan, Ulf Kristersson, Momika, Eid, Imam Mahmoud Khalfi, Khalfi, Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Marie Mannes, Johan Ahlander, Burcu Karakas, Terje Solsvik, Peter Graff, Angus MacSwan, William Maclean Organizations: Police, TT News Agency, REUTERS, NATO, Swedish, Islam, Atlantic Treaty Organization, Thomson Locations: Stockholm's, Stockholm, Sweden, REUTERS STOCKHOLM, Turkey, Ankara, Ukraine, Khalfi, Danish, Turkish, Copenhagen, Istanbul

[1/2] Police officers work at the scene after a roller coaster accident took place at an amusement park, according to the police, in Stockholm, Sweden, June 25, 2023. Claudio Bresciani/TT News Agency/via REUTERSSTOCKHOLM, June 25 (Reuters) - One person was killed and several injured in a roller coaster accident at the Grona Lund amusement park in the Swedish capital on Sunday, the TT news agency reported, citing a park spokesperson. Public broadcaster SVT, citing eyewitnesses, said the park's Jetline roller coaster had partly derailed during a ride. "My husband saw a roller coaster car with people in it falling to the ground," Lagerstedt said. The steel-tracked Jetline roller coaster reaches a speed of up to 90 kilometres per hour (56 mph) and a height of 30 metres (98 feet), transporting more than one million visitors each year, the amusement park says on its website.

Persons: Claudio Bresciani, we've, Grona Lund, Jenny Lagerstedt, Lagerstedt, Marie, Terje Solsvik, David Goodman, Frances Kerry, Giles Elgood Organizations: Police, TT, Agency, REUTERS, Public, SVT, Marie Mannes, Thomson Locations: Stockholm, Sweden, REUTERS STOCKHOLM, Lund

STOCKHOLM, June 25 (Reuters) - One person was killed and nine injured, including children, in a roller coaster accident at the Grona Lund amusement park in the Swedish capital on Sunday, representatives of the park said. Eyewitnesses said the park's Jetline roller coaster had partly derailed during a ride, sending people crashing to the ground. The park spokesperson said 14 people were on the roller coaster when the front part partially derailed. [1/7]Emergency services attend the scene following a fatal accident that took place on the roller coaster Jetline at the Grona Lund amusement park in Stockholm, Sweden, June 25, 2023. "My husband saw a roller coaster car with people in it falling to the ground," Lagerstedt said.

Persons: Grona Lund, we've, Jan Eriksson, Grona, Eriksson, Marie Mannes Jenny Lagerstedt, Lagerstedt, Parisa Liljestrand, Liljestrand, Marie, Terje Solsvik, Emelia Sithole, Frank Jack Daniel Our Organizations: Police, Grona Lund, REUTERS, SVT, Sweden's, TT, Marie Mannes, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Lund, Stockholm, Sweden, Swedish

The deal fits the Italian group's plan to increase the share of gas in its total hydrocarbon production and is expected to boost its earnings immediately, Eni said in a statement. Eni, which is controlled by the Italian government, owns 63% of Vaar and is the main beneficiary of cash dividends from the Oslo-listed unit. VAAR EXPANDING IN NORWAYUnder the agreement, Eni will acquire Neptune's entire portfolio other than its operations in Germany and Norway. The German operations will be carved out prior to the Eni transaction and the Norwegian operations will be acquired by Vaar directly from Neptune in a separate deal, the two groups said in a statement. The Vaar transaction will close immediately prior to the Eni deal with the proceeds from the Norway sale remaining with the business purchased by the Italian group.

Persons: Italy's Eni, Eni, Claudio Descalzi, Descalzi, Vaar, Torger Roed, Rothschild, Ernst, Young, Shadia Nasralla, Terje Solsvik, Alvise Armellini, Jason Neely, Simon Cameron, Moore, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Eni, MILAN, Italy's, Neptune Energy, Vaar Energy, LNG, Eni's Gas, Royal Bank of Canada's, Neptune, China Investment Corporation, Carlyle Group, CVC Capital Partners, HSBC, White, Case, Thomson Locations: Europe, Algeria, Indonesia, Milan, Russia, Oslo, Norway, Vaar, NORWAY, Germany, Norwegian, Neptune, Neptune Norway, Italian, Britain, Netherlands, LNG, London

☆ Danish sailors rescued in Pacific after whale collision
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

COPENHAGEN, June 22 (Reuters) - Eight Danes whose sailboat capsized in the Pacific Ocean following a collision with one or two whales were rescued overnight, the Danish Armed Forces said in a statement on Thursday. The initial satellite call was made by a female crew member to her father in Denmark, who contacted Danish rescue authorities before the case was transferred to JRCC Honolulu. They were later found by a fishing vessel and eventually transferred to a container ship which is now headed for Tahiti, the Danish Armed Forces said. Information from the crew indicated that the 51-foot long sailboat had collided with one or two whales, the military said. Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen, editing by Terje Solsvik and Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Terje Solsvik, Emelia Organizations: Danish Armed Forces, Joint Rescue Coordination, Thomson Locations: COPENHAGEN, Honolulu , Hawaii, Denmark, Danish, Honolulu, Tahiti

☆ Finland's parliament backs Petteri Orpo as PM, replacing Sanna Marin
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] National Coalition Party chair PM-designate Petteri Orpo speaks to the media, on the day of a press conference, where the four-party cabinet released the details of the governing agenda, in Helsinki, Finland, June 16, 2023. Lehtikuva/Kimmo Penttinen via REUTERSHELSINKI, June 20 (Reuters) - Finland's newly elected parliament on Tuesday voted in favour of National Coalition Party leader Petteri Orpo to become prime minister, as widely expected, ushering in a right-wing government and ending Social Democrat Sanna Marin's rule. The new finance minister will be Riikka Purra, head of the eurosceptic Finns Party, while the NCP's deputy leader Elina Valtonen will become foreign minister when the government takes office later on Tuesday. "I warmly thank you for the confidence you've shown me," Orpo told parliament shortly after the vote. A self-styled fiscal conservative, Orpo campaigned on a promise to reduce the government's budget deficit by cutting spending while also reducing taxes and seeking to boost private sector job creation.

Persons: Petteri Orpo, Penttinen, Sanna, Elina Valtonen, Orpo, Essi Lehto, Terje Solsvik Organizations: National Coalition Party, REUTERS, NCP, Finns, Swedish People's Party, Christian Democrats, eurosceptic Finns Party, Finns Party, Thomson Locations: Helsinki, Finland, REUTERS HELSINKI

TALLINN, June 20 (Reuters) - Estonia's parliament approved on Tuesday a law to legalise same-sex marriage, making it the first central European country to do so. Same-sex marriage is legal in much of western Europe but not in central European countries which were once under communist rule and members of the Moscow-led Warsaw Pact alliance but now members of NATO and, largely, the EU. In the largely secular Baltic country of 1.3 million, 53% of the population supported same-sex marriage in a 2023 poll by the Centre for Human Rights. Same-sex marriage is opposed by the ethnic-Russian minority, which constitutes a quarter of the country, with only 40% of them supporting it. Latvia and Lithuania, the other two Baltic countries which were previously annexed by the Soviet Union, have same-sex partnership bills stuck in their parliaments.

Persons: Kaja Kallas, Kallas, Tomas Jermalavicius, Janis Laizans, Terje Solsvik, Ed Osmond Organizations: NATO, Reuters, Centre for Human Rights, Gay, International Centre for Defence, Security, Andrius Sytas, Thomson Locations: TALLINN, Europe, Moscow, Warsaw, EU, Baltic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Soviet Union, Tallinn, Andrius, Vilnius

☆ ECB policymakers line up behind rate hike plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Underlying inflation eased to 5.3% in May, but a big chunk of the drop was due to a one-off administrative discount in German transport prices. Wunsch has said in the past that the ECB's deposit rate could hit 4% if underlying inflation did not moderate. Joining the chorus behind rate hikes, Estonian central bank chief Madis Muller said more rate action is needed. "Euro zone interest rates have not yet peaked," Muller said in a statement. "The ultimate goal is clear for the central bank - we need to quickly get the price rise under control."

Persons: Joachim Nagel, Pierre Wunsch, Wunsch, Austria's Robert Holzmann, Gediminas Simkus, Madis Muller, " Muller, Balazs Koranyi, Andrius Sytas, Julia Payne, Francois Murphy, Terje Solsvik, Alex Richardson, Toby Chopra, Jan Harvey Organizations: Central Bank, ECB, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Belgian, U.S, Estonian

☆ Exclusive: Mondelez 'singled out' in boycott over Russia business, exec says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

"If you look in most kitchen cupboards, you will see many products from food and beverage companies that have not exited Russia." Mondelez rivals in chocolate including Nestle (NESN.S) still operate in Russia as do many other consumer products companies. Reuters GraphicsShipments of all Mondelez products to Russia jumped to 45 million kilograms from 28.7 million kilograms in the same time periods, according to the data. Mondelez also said Thursday it was continuing to reduce its activities in Russia and expects further volume and sales declines. Jan Kæraa Rasmussen, head of environmental, social and governance (ESG) and sustainability at Mondelez investor PensionDanmark, said the Danish pension fund considers the "downscaling of their business in Russia a progression.

Persons: Vinzenz Gruber, Gruber, Mondelez, Mondelez's, Nestle, Nestle didn't, Jan Kæraa Rasmussen, PensionDanmark, Rasmussen, Jessica DiNapoli, Maurice Tamman, Terje Solsvik, Anna Driver Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Mondelez, SAS, Ukraine's National Agency for, Facebook, Russian Embassy, Nestle, confectionary, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Thomson Locations: Europe, Russia, Nordics, Sweden, Norway, Nordic, Ukraine, Russian, Washington ,, Danish, New York

STOCKHOLM, June 15 (Reuters) - H&M (HMb.ST) reported weaker than expected second quarter sales on Thursday as chilly weather held back demand in key markets, although the Swedish clothes group said June had started well and its shares rose by 3% in early trading. "Sales in the second quarter were affected by unfavourable weather conditions compared to the corresponding period last year on several of the H&M group's large markets" H&M said. Zara owner Inditex (ITX.MC), whose largest market is warmer Spain, has a smaller share of sales in northern Europe and the U.S. and is also less affected by weather swings. Inditex, which has coped better than H&M in sluggish markets, last week said net sales in its quarter through April were up 13% and, in May, up 16%. H&M, whose single-biggest market is Germany, is due to publish its full quarterly earnings report on June 29.

Persons: Jefferies, Inditex, Richard Chamberlain, Marie Mannes, Anna Ringstrom, Terje Solsvik, Alexander Smith Organizations: Reuters, Royal Bank of Canada, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Swedish, Europe, Zara, Spain, U.S, Germany

☆ Tomb Raider games group Embracer to slash spending
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

STOCKHOLM, June 13 (Reuters) - Swedish games group Embracer (EMBRACb.ST) announced on Tuesday a restructuring programme to slash costs and investments, including in the development of new products, boosting the company's shares. Embracer has been hit by development delays, weaker demand, bad reception for some new games and, last month, the fall-through of a large planned strategic partnership. Shares in the developer, which last year bought several development studios and the intellectual property rights to a new Tomb Raider edition and other games, on Tuesday rose 4% by 0705 GMT. "The figures include capex related to internal and external game development projects and other intangible assets, as well as tangible assets," it said in a statement. The group's earnings could be hit by one-offs such as potential severance payments and writedowns related to game development projects as part of the restructuring, it said.

Persons: Embracer, Anna Ringstrom, Terje Solsvik Organizations: Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM

☆ Oreo-maker Mondelez faces Nordic backlash over Russia business
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

OSLO, June 12 (Reuters) - Mondelez International (MDLZ.O), facing a widening corporate boycott in the Nordic region over its continued presence in Russia, said late on Sunday it had asked to meet with the Norwegian government to protect its local business. Airlines SAS and Norwegian Air, railway group SJ, hotel chain Strawberry, retailer Elkjop, shipping group Fjord Line and the Norwegian Football Association were among those announcing in recent days that they would stop selling Mondelez products. Although some Western companies sold their Russian assets after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine last year, others such as Mondelez have stayed despite pushback from employees in other countries. Nordic companies said their decision stop selling Mondelez products was based on an announcement this year by Ukraine's National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption to blacklist the snack maker and other groups. Mondelez said it maintained "limited" activity in Russia while halting investment and advertising, and had condemned the war.

Persons: Mondelez, Terje Solsvik, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Mondelez, Airlines SAS, Norwegian Air, SJ, Norwegian Football Association, Ukraine's National Agency for, Coop Norge, Thomson Locations: OSLO, Nordic, Russia, Norwegian, Norway, Sweden, Ukraine, U.S

☆ Orsted to invest $68 bln in power capacity by 2030
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Phil Noble/File PhotoOSLO, June 8 (Reuters) - Renewable energy group Orsted (ORSTED.CO) will invest 475 billion Danish crowns ($68.3 billion) to achieve a 2030 goal to install 50 gigawatts (GW) of power capacity, it said ahead of an investors' update later on Thursday. The Danish company said the plans were fully self-funded and it expected to exceed goals set in 2021 for earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) as well as for return on capital employed (ROCE). "We're on track to outperform our previous EBITDA and ROCE targets for 2020-2027, confirming the significant value in our portfolio of renewable projects," Chief Executive Mads Nipper said in a statement. 1 offshore wind farm developer by gigawatt capacity, operates 15.5 GW of renewable energy assets. Capacity of 4.9 GW is under construction and projects representing another 10.6 GW have been awarded, it said.

Persons: Orsted, Phil Noble, Mads Nipper, Bernstein, Terje Solsvik, Essi Lehto, David Goodman, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Walney, Blackpool, Britain, OSLO, Danish

☆ Danske Bank raises profit goal, puts Norway retail unit up for sale
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Nikolaj Skydsgaard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Danske Bank has during recent years made fundamental changes to refocus the bank, reduce our risk exposure, develop our organisation and accelerate our commercial momentum," said CEO Carsten Egeriis. Rival Nordic banks Nordea (NDAFI.HE) and DNB (DNB.OL) both have long-term ROE targets of more than 13%, while Swedbank (SWEDa.ST) has a goal of at least 15%. Danske Bank is Norway's third-biggest bank after DNB and Nordea with a market share of close to 5%, regulatory data shows. Danske also said it would double investments into the strategic development of the bank, including digital platforms, expert advisory services and sustainability. It plans to maintain its dividend payout ratio of between 40-60% of net profit.

Persons: Carsten Egeriis, Danske, JP Morgan, Nikolaj Skydsgaard, Terje Solsvik, Jason Neely Organizations: Bank, Danske Bank, Danske, Nordic, Thomson Locations: COPENHAGEN, United States, Denmark

☆ Volvo Cars sales up 31% in May
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

HELSINKI, June 5 (Reuters) - Sweden-based Volvo Cars (VOLCARb.ST) on Monday posted a 31% rise in monthly sales figures year-on-year, saying it had sold 60,398 cars in May. The car manufacturer, majority-owned by China's Geely (0175.HK), saw May sales of fully electric cars double to 10,826. In the company's biggest market Europe, sales rose 40% while sales were up 49% in China and 14% in the United States, the Volvo Cars said in a statement. Reporting by Essi Lehto, editing by Terje SolsvikOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: China's Geely, Essi Lehto, Terje Solsvik Organizations: Volvo, HK, Thomson Locations: HELSINKI, Sweden, Europe, China, United States

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