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European companies face a ‘logistical nightmare’ in Shanghai, according to a business group

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Western companies in Shanghai are facing a “logistical nightmare,” according to a European business group, as they begin to reopen following a city-wide lockdown.

According to the European Union Chamber of Commerce, the problems are expected to last for several more weeks. Chinese officials announced on Friday that they will assist more than 600 businesses in the major financial centre in resuming operations.

It comes after business groups in the United Kingdom and the United States said their members had been affected by Covid measures in China.

Although some businesses have resumed operations in Shanghai by keeping their employees on-site, “many businesses continue to face labour shortages and logistical challenges,” according to Bettina Schoen-Behanzin, vice president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China and head of the Shanghai chapter.

“We estimate that due to the ongoing lockdowns, less than 30% of their workforce is eligible to go to work, so there’s a huge gap between policy and reality,” she added in a statement on Thursday.

Other business organisations representing companies in the United Kingdom and the United States have expressed concern about the impact of lockdowns in Shanghai and other Chinese cities.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai also stated on Thursday that officials were still coordinating the movement of workers and goods across Chinese provinces.

Meanwhile, according to a survey released on Wednesday by the British Chamber of Commerce in China, UK companies in China expect profits to fall this year as a result of local Covid restrictions.

More than two-thirds of the more than 200 businesses polled predicted lower revenue this year. Almost half of them said that the restrictions had hampered their ability to recruit and retain foreign workers.

Covid infections spiked earlier this year in Shanghai, a financial, manufacturing, and shipping hub. Authorities shut it down in late March for mass testing.

Tesla’s ‘giga factory’ in the city has recently resumed production after restrictions were eased.

Elon Musk, the company’s CEO, admitted on Wednesday that “we did lose a lot of important days of production.”

The Shanghai factories of German automaker Volkswagen (VW) and Apple iPhone maker Pegatron, on the other hand, remain closed.

VW said it was assessing the “feasibility” of resuming Shanghai operations.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Pegatron told the BBC that it was “waiting for further instruction from local government.”

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In less than 100 days, Netflix has lost 200,000 subscribers

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Netflix’s stock has lost a quarter of its value. Tuesday, the company announced that its subscriber base had shrunk in the first quarter of this year.

The leading streaming television service had lost subscribers for the first time in a decade. The company attributed the decline to the suspension of its service in Russia as a result of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Netflix had 221.6 million subscribers at the end of the first quarter of this year, down slightly from the same period last year.

In the most recent quarter, the Silicon Valley tech firm reported a net income of $1.6 billion, down from $1.7 billion a year earlier. Following the release of the earnings figures, Netflix shares fell 25% to $262 in after-market trades.

In an earnings letter, Netflix stated, “We’re not growing revenue as quickly as we’d like.” “Covid clouded the picture by significantly increasing our growth in 2020, leading us to believe that the Covid pull forward was responsible for the majority of our slowing growth in 2021.”

Netflix believes that the time it takes for homes to get access to affordable broadband internet service and smart televisions, as well as subscribers sharing their accounts with people who do not live in their homes, are stifling its growth.

According to the streaming giant, while nearly 222 million households pay for its service, accounts are shared with over 100 million households that do not pay for the television streaming service.

“Account sharing as a percentage of our paying membership hasn’t changed much over the years,” Netflix said, “but when combined with the first factor, it makes it more difficult to grow membership in many markets.”

Last year, Netflix began experimenting with ways to profit from people sharing accounts, such as adding a feature that allows subscribers to pay a small fee to add additional households to their account.

Another factor affecting Netflix is the fierce competition it faces from behemoths like Apple and Disney.

“Our plan is to reaccelerate our viewing and revenue growth by continuing to improve all aspects of Netflix,” Netflix said, adding that it is “doubling down” on content creation.

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Discrimination and deprivation are causing a mental health crisis among Irish travellers

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According to European Union research, Irish travellers face some of the worst discrimination and poverty of any ethnic group in Europe. It is causing a mental health crisis in their home country, according to community members.

In Ireland, 11% of people commit suicide, and their life expectancy is up to 15 years lower than that of the general population. Rose Marie Maughan is a member of the Irish Travellers Movement, which is a national network of more than 40 organisations. “Our suicide rate is seven times that of non-travelers,” she explained.

“Only 3% of us live beyond the age of 65, and 80% of us are unemployed.” “There would be international attention if that were any other community in Ireland.” The Irish Travellers National Mental Health Network is chaired by Mags Casey. In the last ten years, nearly 30 members of her extended family have committed suicide.

In January 2012, her sister-in-law died, followed two years later by her brother, who, according to Mags, never recovered from the grief of losing his wife. “When our first family member committed suicide, I thought the world had ended,” she said.

“I didn’t know how to sit down with four kids and tell them their mother was dead, gone.” “The devastation it has on a family – addiction, family breakdown, a spiral of grief, and young people who don’t know how to deal with that grief.”

The Irish government has stated that it has a number of policies in place to encourage Traveller inclusion in areas such as education, employment, health, and lodging.

Irish Travellers, on the other hand, have stated that they require more action and support to address the discrimination that is causing a mental health crisis in their community.

In 2021, €250,000 (£207,013) was spent on Traveller mental health, and €12 million (£9.9 million) was spent on Traveller housing.

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Sweden is experiencing unrest as a result of planned Quran burnings

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Clashes have erupted in several Swedish cities for the fourth day, sparked by the alleged burning of a Quran by a far-right, anti-immigrant group.

Three people were injured, according to local media, when police fired warning shots at rioters in Norrköping, Sweden, on Sunday.
At least 17 people were arrested after several vehicles were set on fire.

During a far-right rally in the southern city of Malmo on Saturday, vehicles, including a bus, were set on fire. The governments of Iran and Iraq had summoned Swedish envoys to express their displeasure with the burning.

Rasmus Paludan, the leader of the Danish-Swedish Stram Kurs, or Hard Line, movement, said he had burned Islam’s most sacred text and would do so again.

On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, at least 16 police officers were reported injured, and several police vehicles were reported destroyed in unrest in areas where the far-right group planned events, including Stockholm suburbs and the cities of Linköping and Norrköping.

According to Deutsche Welle, Paludan had threatened to hold another rally in Norrköping on Sunday, prompting counter-demonstrators to gather there.

In a statement, local police said they fired warning shots after being attacked, and three people were apparently hit by ricochets.

Anders Thornberg, Sweden’s national police chief, said in a statement on Saturday that demonstrators had shown a lack of concern for police officers’ lives, adding: “We’ve seen violent riots in the past. This, on the other hand, is a unique situation.”

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Golden Games: Elaine Thompson-Herah clocks fastest women’s 100m in the world this year

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Elaine Thompson-Herah, a five-time Olympic champion, ran the fastest women’s 100m in the world this year at the Golden Games in California.  Thompson-Herah of Jamaica won her semi-final in 10.89 seconds in her first outdoor 100m race of the season.

She then declined to compete in the final, which was won by Twanisha Terry of the United States in a wind-assisted 10.77 seconds. Gabby Thomas, who finished third in the 100m, ran the fastest 200m time of the season, which is her preferred distance.

Thomas, an Olympic bronze medalist in the event, won in 22.02 seconds, while American Fred Kerley won in 19.80 seconds in the men’s equivalent.

Christian Coleman, the world 100m champion, was announced at the start of the 200m but did not run because he was serving an 18-month suspension for missing three drug tests.

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News Trending War

Moskva, a Russian warship, has sunk in the Black Sea

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According to Russia’s defence ministry, a Russian warship that was damaged by an explosion on Wednesday has sunk. According to a ministry message, the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, Moskva, was being towed to port when it sank due to “stormy seas.”

The 510-crew missile cruiser, which led Russia’s naval assault on Ukraine, was a symbol of the country’s military might. Kyiv claims that its missiles struck the warship. According to the United States, it was also hit by Ukrainian missiles. Moscow has denied any attack and claims the ship sank due to a fire.

According to Russia, the blaze caused the warship’s ammunition to explode, and the entire crew was later evacuated to nearby Russian vessels in the Black Sea. After initially stating that the warship was afloat, the Russian defence ministry announced late Thursday that the Moskva had been lost.

The 12,490-tonne warship is the largest Russian warship sunk in combat since WWII. “The vessel lost its balance while being towed… towards the destination port due to hull damage caused by a fire that broke out after ammunition exploded. The ship sank due to the rough seas” according to the Russian Defense Ministry. According to Ukraine, the warship’s captain was killed on board.

This is a significant and humiliating defeat for Vladimir Putin, who has insisted on numerous occasions that his “special military operation” in Ukraine is proceeding as planned.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Russian state media are not focusing on the loss of the Black Sea fleet’s pride.

The authorities claim the ship sank in stormy seas after fire and explosions on board caused significant hull damage. Morning TV bulletins limited themselves to briefly reporting the statement issued by the authorities, who claim the ship sank in stormy seas after fire and explosions on board caused significant hull damage.

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Entertainment News Trending

Depp and Heard’s marriage ended in “mutual abuse”

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The couple engaged in “mutual abuse” during the final months of their stormy marriage, according to Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s former couples therapist.

On the third day of the $50 million (£38 million) defamation trial in Virginia, jurors were shown video testimony from Dr. Laurel Anderson. Mr. Depp has filed a lawsuit against his ex-wife for a story she wrote in which she claimed to be a victim of domestic violence. He denies any wrongdoing. Ms. Heard counterclaimed for $100 million.

Ms Anderson said she saw the famous couple for several therapy sessions between October and December 2015, according to testimony recorded in February and played for jurors on Thursday. After only 15 months of marriage, Ms Heard filed for divorce in May 2016. Mr. Depp and Ms. Heard had a tense relationship, according to the psychotherapist, with both threatening to walk out of sessions during arguments.

Ms Heard reported physical assault at the hands of her then-husband in sessions where Mr Depp was not present, Ms Anderson said. Ms Heard testified that she once came to her office with several small bruises on her face.

Ms Heard initiated violent interactions on several occasions in an attempt to keep Mr Depp from leaving, according to Ms Anderson. “It was a point of pride for her to initiate a fight if she felt disrespected,” Ms Anderson told jurors. “She would strike him to keep him there if he was going to leave her to de-escalate the fight; she would rather be in a fight than have him leave.”

Mr Depp’s therapy sessions were frequently interrupted by Ms Heard, according to Ms Anderson. “Ms Heard talked like a jackhammer,” the clinical psychologist said. “She was pumped up to the max. He struggled to speak at a similar rate. He was frequently cut off.”

Both Ms Heard and Mr Depp’s families have a history of domestic violence, according to Ms Anderson. Ms. Heard claimed that her father abused her, and Mr. Depp claimed that his mother abused him.

Mr Depp had been “well controlled” for decades before meeting Ms Heard, according to Ms Anderson, and had never harmed previous partners. “He was triggered by Ms Heard. They were abusing each other, in my opinion.”

Ms. Heard’s 2018 opinion piece in the Washington Post, in which she described herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse,” is at issue in the trial. Mr. Depp claims that the article, which does not name him, is defamatory and has harmed his career.

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Cuba Gooding Jr: Actor Admits Forcibly Kissing Waitress

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Cuba Gooding Jr, an actor, has admitted to forcibly kissing a woman as part of a plea deal that is expected to end his criminal case.

In 2018, the Oscar winner admitted to forcibly kissing a waitress in a nightclub, pleading guilty to a misdemeanour charge.He must attend six months of counselling in order to avoid any further arrests. If he does, he can rescind his plea and instead plead guilty to a lesser violation of harassment. If he does not, he could face a year in jail.

Gooding Jr, 54, won an Oscar for his role in Jerry Maguire in 1996 and has also appeared in films such as Boyz N the Hood and Men of Honour. More than 20 women have accused him of groping and unwanted touching, with three of the allegations leading to criminal charges. According to his lawyer, the plea deal means all three charges will be dropped. He was accused of groping the two women who brought the other charges in 2018 and 2019.

“If he stays out of trouble for six months, that charge [to which he pleaded guilty] will be withdrawn, and he will have no criminal record at the end of this,” his lawyer Frank Rothman told the AFP news agency.

“I apologise for making anyone ever feel inappropriately touched,” the actor said in court on Wednesday.

“I am a well-known figure. People come into contact with me. I never want them to feel belittled or in any way uneasy.”

According to the Associated Press, one of the two other women testified in court on Wednesday, saying Gooding Jr grabbed her breast “as if I were a piece of meat for dinner that night.”

“I’m very sad and unsure of what I can do,” she continued. A civil lawsuit has been filed against Gooding Jr by a woman who claims he raped her twice in 2013, which he denies.

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News Trending War

Estonia’s, Latvia’s, Lithuania’s, and Poland’s presidents are travelling to Ukraine

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Estonia’s, Latvia’s, Lithuania’s, and Poland’s presidents are travelling to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “On our way to Kyiv, a city that has suffered greatly as a result of the Russian war since my last visit,” Estonian President Alar Karis tweeted.

On Wednesday, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausda stated that he would be “heading to Kyiv with a strong message of political support and military assistance.”

The trip also includes Polish President Andrzej Duda and Latvian President Egils Levits.

The visit was supposed to include German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier “to send a strong signal of European solidarity with Ukraine,” but he said on Tuesday that he was not welcome in Ukraine.

“I was prepared to do this,” he said, “but apparently, and this is something I must note, this was not wanted in Kyiv.”

After an unidentified Ukrainian diplomat told the German newspaper Bild that he was not welcome in Kyiv at the moment, Steinmeier spoke out.

President Zelenskyy has criticised Steinmeier’s historical support for Western-Russian rapprochement.

The German president has been a vocal proponent of the “Wandel durch Handel” (Change through Trade) theory, which contends that strengthening commercial ties can help spur democratic reforms.

Berlin had been hesitant to send weapons to Ukraine due to historical reasons, but in response to the conflict, it has now sent anti-tank weapons, missile launchers, and surface-to-air missiles.

Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, paid a visit to Kyiv last week after promising to provide Ukraine with more than $130 million in advanced weaponry. Johnson’s surprise visit was described by Downing Street as a “show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people,” with his one-on-one meeting with Zelenskyy focusing on long-term support and new financial and military aid.

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Entertainment News Trending

Britney Spears Says She Is Pregnant After Controversial Guardianship Ends

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Britney Spears announced on Monday that she is expecting her third child, five months after a judge ended the tumultuous guardianship that the pop star claimed prevented her from having more children.
The 40-year-old wrote on Instagram, “I got a pregnancy test… and uhhhhh well… I am having a baby.”

In November, a Los Angeles judge dissolved Spears’ father’s conservatorship, which the singer claimed had prevented her from having a contraceptive IUD removed despite her desire for more children.

Spears’ representatives did not respond to an AFP request for comment right away. “I was like, ‘Geez… what happened to my stomach???'” says the narrator. Spears wrote that her 28-year-old partner Sam Asghari, whom she has begun to refer to as her “husband” online, speculated that she was “food pregnant.” “It’s getting bigger!!! If there are two of them in there, I’m going to lose it “The singer’s comments sparked speculation that she was expecting twins, prompting speculation on the internet.

After a highly public breakdown in 2007, when Spears attacked a paparazzo’s car at a gas station, she was placed under her father Jamie Spears’ conservatorship, which lasted nearly 14 years. Fans had long suspected that the “…Baby One More Time” singer was unhappy with her father as guardian, so she asked a Los Angeles judge to end the legal arrangement that had left her “traumatised” in June 2021.

Her claim that the conservatorship was preventing her from removing a contraceptive IUD, despite her desire to have control over her own birth control method in order to conceive, infuriated reproductive rights groups and her fans, many of whom were already active in the #FreeBritney movement. “I’d like to gradually move forward, and I’d like to have the real deal,” Spears said in a shocking court appearance last summer. “I want to be able to marry and start a family. I don’t get pregnant because I have a (IUD) implanted in my uterus. They don’t want me to have any more children, they say “During the engrossing 20-minute statement, she said.

After her father Jamie Spears was removed from his position as guardian of her finances and estate at a hearing in September, the guardianship was officially ended in November 2021. After documentaries that emphasised the role of the early-2000s celebrity journalism machine in triggering breakdowns and questionable behaviour, she and other turn-of-the-millennium female pop stars have drawn sympathy.

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