Samsung is to sell refurbished versions of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphones which it pulled from stores last year because they kept bursting into flames.
Note 7s were permanently scrapped in October following a global recall after the batteries were found to be causing them to self-combust.
Samsung launched an investigation that discovered manufacturing problems in batteries supplied by two different companies - Samsung SDI Co Ltd and Amperex Technology Ltd.
The company and independent researchers found no other problems in the Note 7 devices, raising speculation that Samsung will recoup some of its losses by selling refurbished models.
The time of Samsung's announcement that revamped Note 7s will go back on sale has surprised industry insiders as it comes just days before it launches its new S8 smartphone in the United States.
It will be its first premium phone since the Note 7 fire problems.
The company is under pressure to turn its image around and had previously not commented on its plans to sell refurbished devices.
But in a statement Samsung said: "Regarding the Galaxy Note 7 devices as refurbished phones or rental phones, applicability is dependent upon consultations with regulatory authorities and carriers as well as due consideration of local demand."
South Korea's Electronic Times newspaper reported that Samsung will start selling refurbished Note 7s in its home country in July or August and would aim to sell between 400,000 and 500,000 of them using safe batteries.
However, in response, Samsung said it has not set specifics on refurbished Note 7 sales plans, including what markets and when they would go on sale.
The company added that Note 7s will be equipped with new batteries that have gone through its new rigorous safety testing measures.
It said: "The objective of introducing refurbished devices is solely to reduce and minimise any environmental impact."
The company estimated it lost £4.40bn in profit over three quarters because of the Note 7's problems.
More than three million Note 7s were sold before the phones were withdrawn from the market.
The company also plans to recover and use or sell reusable components such as chips and camera modules and extract rare metals such as copper, gold, nickel and silver from Note 7 devices that are not sold as refurbished products.
Environment rights group Greenpeace and others have lobbied the company to come up with environmentally friendly ways to deal with the recovered Note 7s.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
London Mayor Sadiq Khan urges EU not to punish UK for Brexit
The EU should not try to "instil fear" by threatening to "punish" the UK for Brexit with a bad deal, the London Mayor has warned Brussels.
Sadiq Khan says the EU should not try to "secure its future by fear" and said a bad deal for Britain's capital would hurt Europe too.
Mr Khan's intervention, in a speech in Brussels, comes the day before Theresa May is to trigger Article 50 - the official two-year divorce process.
He said: "Now is the time to be confident in the European Union, and to act with confidence. There is no need - as some have suggested - for the EU to send a message, or to instil fear, by punishing the UK.
"Because a proud, optimistic and confident institution does not secure its future by fear."
He added that a "bad Brexit deal that hurts London would hurt the European Union too".
:: PM hails 'unstoppable UK' as she meets Sturgeon
The mayor's address set the scene for a series of high-level meetings with key EU figures to send the message that London wants EU trade and investment after Brexit.
He will be holding talks with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, European Parliament president Antonio Tajani, and the European Parliament's Brexit negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt.
When asked if he wanted Britain to face an EU punishment deal, Mr Verhofstadt said: "Not at all."
However, the spectre of a $60bn (£52bn) Brexit bill indicates a potentially hostile start to negotiations.
:: Brexit deal must pass six tests, says Labour
EU negotiatior Michel Barnier wants to get the issue settled quickly so both sides can reach the outlines of a Brexit agreement within 18 months.
Brexit Secretary David Davis said the UK would not be paying the EU that amount of money.
He said: "We will, of course, meet our international obligations be we expect also our rights to be respected too.
"I don't think we are going to be seeing that sort of money change hands."
:: What happens when Article 50 is triggered?
Mr Khan also called on Mrs May to work to make an early deal on EU citizens living in the UK.
Speaking on Question Time on Monday, Mr Davis said that immigration levels might need to rise "from time to time" suggesting the Government could be looking to quotas in the wake of Brexit.
He said: "The first issue here is to bring this back under the control of the UK Government, the UK Parliament, to bring migration under control.
"I don't think most people oppose migration, I think most people are in favour of migration so long as it's managed. The point is, it will need to be managed."
Sadiq Khan says the EU should not try to "secure its future by fear" and said a bad deal for Britain's capital would hurt Europe too.
Mr Khan's intervention, in a speech in Brussels, comes the day before Theresa May is to trigger Article 50 - the official two-year divorce process.
He said: "Now is the time to be confident in the European Union, and to act with confidence. There is no need - as some have suggested - for the EU to send a message, or to instil fear, by punishing the UK.
"Because a proud, optimistic and confident institution does not secure its future by fear."
He added that a "bad Brexit deal that hurts London would hurt the European Union too".
:: PM hails 'unstoppable UK' as she meets Sturgeon
The mayor's address set the scene for a series of high-level meetings with key EU figures to send the message that London wants EU trade and investment after Brexit.
He will be holding talks with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, European Parliament president Antonio Tajani, and the European Parliament's Brexit negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt.
When asked if he wanted Britain to face an EU punishment deal, Mr Verhofstadt said: "Not at all."
However, the spectre of a $60bn (£52bn) Brexit bill indicates a potentially hostile start to negotiations.
:: Brexit deal must pass six tests, says Labour
EU negotiatior Michel Barnier wants to get the issue settled quickly so both sides can reach the outlines of a Brexit agreement within 18 months.
Brexit Secretary David Davis said the UK would not be paying the EU that amount of money.
He said: "We will, of course, meet our international obligations be we expect also our rights to be respected too.
"I don't think we are going to be seeing that sort of money change hands."
:: What happens when Article 50 is triggered?
Mr Khan also called on Mrs May to work to make an early deal on EU citizens living in the UK.
Speaking on Question Time on Monday, Mr Davis said that immigration levels might need to rise "from time to time" suggesting the Government could be looking to quotas in the wake of Brexit.
He said: "The first issue here is to bring this back under the control of the UK Government, the UK Parliament, to bring migration under control.
"I don't think most people oppose migration, I think most people are in favour of migration so long as it's managed. The point is, it will need to be managed."
Battle for Mosul: US 'probably had role in civilian casualties'
The top American commander in Iraq says the US probably had a role in civilian casualties in the battle to retake Mosul from Islamic State.
Scores of civilians have died in coalition airstrikes in the west of the city this month as US-backed government forces fight to defeat IS jihadists, according to Iraqi officials.
General Stephen Townsend, head of the anti-IS coalition in Baghdad, said coalition forces were "probably" involved in the deaths of civilians during recent bombings.
But he also cautioned that IS could have played a part.
He said: "My initial assessment is that we probably had a role in these casualties. What I don't know is were they (the civilians) gathered there by the enemy?"
Around 200 civilians are feared to have been killed in a single incident on 17 March in Mosul's al Jadida area.
Investigators are trying to work out whether a coalition airstrike or Islamic State-rigged explosives caused a deadly explosion there.
Some residents said an aerial strike hit an explosive-filled truck and the subsequent blast led to the collapse of buildings packed with families.
Gen Townsend said: "My initial impression is the enemy had a hand in this. And there's also a fair chance that our strike had some role in it. I think it's probably going to play out to be some sort of combination."
The United Nations expressed profound concern over the incident, saying it was "stunned by this terrible loss of life".
The US Central Command said on Saturday a review found a US-led coalition operation, requested by Iraq's government, struck IS fighters and equipment "at the location corresponding to allegations of civilian casualties".
Scores of civilians have died in coalition airstrikes in the west of the city this month as US-backed government forces fight to defeat IS jihadists, according to Iraqi officials.
General Stephen Townsend, head of the anti-IS coalition in Baghdad, said coalition forces were "probably" involved in the deaths of civilians during recent bombings.
But he also cautioned that IS could have played a part.
He said: "My initial assessment is that we probably had a role in these casualties. What I don't know is were they (the civilians) gathered there by the enemy?"
Around 200 civilians are feared to have been killed in a single incident on 17 March in Mosul's al Jadida area.
Investigators are trying to work out whether a coalition airstrike or Islamic State-rigged explosives caused a deadly explosion there.
Some residents said an aerial strike hit an explosive-filled truck and the subsequent blast led to the collapse of buildings packed with families.
Gen Townsend said: "My initial impression is the enemy had a hand in this. And there's also a fair chance that our strike had some role in it. I think it's probably going to play out to be some sort of combination."
The United Nations expressed profound concern over the incident, saying it was "stunned by this terrible loss of life".
The US Central Command said on Saturday a review found a US-led coalition operation, requested by Iraq's government, struck IS fighters and equipment "at the location corresponding to allegations of civilian casualties".
Gang planned to steal Enzo Ferrari's body from his tomb in Italy
Italian detectives say they have foiled a plot by a gang to steal the body of Formula One racing pioneer Enzo Ferrari and demand a ransom.
Ferrari, founder of the firm that produces some of the world's fastest and most expensive cars, died in 1988 at the age of 90.
He made the company's prancing horse logo an internationally recognised brand and is buried in a ground-level family tomb in the San Cataldo cemetery in Modena.
It is situated near the Ferrari plant at Maranello in central Italy.
The gang had reportedly carried out surveillance of the tomb - and had also arranged for someone to keep the body and get in touch with the Ferrari family.
The plot was uncovered during an investigation into arms and drug trafficking during which 34 arrest warrants were issued.
Raids took place involving 300 officers and resulted in a number of arrests.
Details of the plan were revealed during a news conference by police in Nuoro on the island of Sardinia.
The organised gang is said to have been based there, as well as being active in northern Italy.
Ferrari, founder of the firm that produces some of the world's fastest and most expensive cars, died in 1988 at the age of 90.
He made the company's prancing horse logo an internationally recognised brand and is buried in a ground-level family tomb in the San Cataldo cemetery in Modena.
It is situated near the Ferrari plant at Maranello in central Italy.
The gang had reportedly carried out surveillance of the tomb - and had also arranged for someone to keep the body and get in touch with the Ferrari family.
The plot was uncovered during an investigation into arms and drug trafficking during which 34 arrest warrants were issued.
Raids took place involving 300 officers and resulted in a number of arrests.
Details of the plan were revealed during a news conference by police in Nuoro on the island of Sardinia.
The organised gang is said to have been based there, as well as being active in northern Italy.
Donald Trump's 'energy revolution' wipes out Obama's climate change record
Donald Trump has rolled back Barack Obama's record on climate change with a series of orders undermining America's commitment to tackle global warming.
In his first trip to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the President - who has called global warming "a hoax" created by China - has signed an Energy Independence Executive Order.
Kicking off what he called "the start of a new era in American energy", his instructions will allow regulators to rewrite key rules curbing US carbon emissions, lift a temporary ban on federal coal leasing and scrap a requirement for federal officials to consider the impact of climate change when making decisions.
Before signing the decree Mr Trump said: "My administration is putting an end to the war on coal.
"With today's executive action I am taking historic steps to lift the restrictions on American energy, to reverse government intrusion and to cancel job-killing regulations."
Central to the changes is a review of Barack Obama's clean power plan - a pledge to cut US emissions by 26-28% by 2025 - which paved the way for the Paris agreement on tackling climate change involving 195 countries.
A senior Trump administration official told the AFP news agency that the prospect of withdrawal from the Paris agreement was "still under discussion".
The White House said the measures will "help keep energy and electricity affordable, reliable, and clean in order to boost economic growth and job creation".
But environmentalists have warned that the White House's new measures will have serious consequences both at home and abroad.
Billionaire environmental activist and head of activist group NextGen Climate Tom Steyer said: "These actions are an assault on American values and they endanger the health, safety and prosperity of every American."
The president of green group Earthjustice, Trip Van Noppen, said: "This order ignores the law and scientific reality." The organisation has said it will be challenging the ruling in court.
Mr Trump's environmental views are very different to those of former president Obama, who said that climate change was "real and cannot be ignored".
The President has already vowed to slash EPA funding by a third and appointed Scott Pruitt - who previously sued the agency - as its head.
His pick of former Exxon chief executive Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State has also caused concern among environmental campaigners.
But Mr Trump's climate scepticism - and promises to bring back coal mining jobs to states such as Kentucky and West Virginia - appeared to strike a chord with Republican supporters on the campaign trail.
Around 68% of Americans believe climate change is caused by humans, but just 40% of Republicans say they worry about it, according to a Gallup poll.
Some experts have warned the economic benefit from ditching the clean power plan will be limited.
"In my view, it will have virtually no impact," said professor James Van Nostrand of West Virginia University, who said the decline of coal had more to do with higher mining costs and cheaper natural gas and renewables.
"Defunding or dismantling the EPA and repealing its regulations is not going to bring the coal industry back."
The US is the world's second largest polluter. Around 37% of domestic carbon dioxide emissions come from electricity generation.
Mr Trump has issued a series of executive orders since entering the Oval Office in January.
He would claim success for pulling the US out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership international trade agreement - which he saw as a "bad deal" for the country.
But his most controversial order - a travel ban on Muslim-majority countries - has twice been blocked by legal challenges.
In his first trip to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the President - who has called global warming "a hoax" created by China - has signed an Energy Independence Executive Order.
Kicking off what he called "the start of a new era in American energy", his instructions will allow regulators to rewrite key rules curbing US carbon emissions, lift a temporary ban on federal coal leasing and scrap a requirement for federal officials to consider the impact of climate change when making decisions.
Before signing the decree Mr Trump said: "My administration is putting an end to the war on coal.
"With today's executive action I am taking historic steps to lift the restrictions on American energy, to reverse government intrusion and to cancel job-killing regulations."
Central to the changes is a review of Barack Obama's clean power plan - a pledge to cut US emissions by 26-28% by 2025 - which paved the way for the Paris agreement on tackling climate change involving 195 countries.
A senior Trump administration official told the AFP news agency that the prospect of withdrawal from the Paris agreement was "still under discussion".
The White House said the measures will "help keep energy and electricity affordable, reliable, and clean in order to boost economic growth and job creation".
But environmentalists have warned that the White House's new measures will have serious consequences both at home and abroad.
Billionaire environmental activist and head of activist group NextGen Climate Tom Steyer said: "These actions are an assault on American values and they endanger the health, safety and prosperity of every American."
The president of green group Earthjustice, Trip Van Noppen, said: "This order ignores the law and scientific reality." The organisation has said it will be challenging the ruling in court.
Mr Trump's environmental views are very different to those of former president Obama, who said that climate change was "real and cannot be ignored".
The President has already vowed to slash EPA funding by a third and appointed Scott Pruitt - who previously sued the agency - as its head.
His pick of former Exxon chief executive Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State has also caused concern among environmental campaigners.
But Mr Trump's climate scepticism - and promises to bring back coal mining jobs to states such as Kentucky and West Virginia - appeared to strike a chord with Republican supporters on the campaign trail.
Around 68% of Americans believe climate change is caused by humans, but just 40% of Republicans say they worry about it, according to a Gallup poll.
Some experts have warned the economic benefit from ditching the clean power plan will be limited.
"In my view, it will have virtually no impact," said professor James Van Nostrand of West Virginia University, who said the decline of coal had more to do with higher mining costs and cheaper natural gas and renewables.
"Defunding or dismantling the EPA and repealing its regulations is not going to bring the coal industry back."
The US is the world's second largest polluter. Around 37% of domestic carbon dioxide emissions come from electricity generation.
Mr Trump has issued a series of executive orders since entering the Oval Office in January.
He would claim success for pulling the US out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership international trade agreement - which he saw as a "bad deal" for the country.
But his most controversial order - a travel ban on Muslim-majority countries - has twice been blocked by legal challenges.
Goodbye? Adele says she may never tour again
She may have sold tens of millions of albums and filled arenas around the world, but Adele says she may never tour again.
The British singer told fans at a concert in Auckland that she was not good at touring - and even admitted she feels "vulnerable" on stage, according to the New Zealand Herald.
Her performance Down Under was the final international gig of her epic 15-month world tour.
She will next be on stage in London for four sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium from 28 June to 2 July which have been described as "The Finale".
The 28-year-old told her fans in New Zealand: "Touring isn't something I'm good at. Applause makes me feel a bit vulnerable.
"I don't know if I will ever tour again. The only reason I've toured is you. I'm not sure if touring is my bag."
Adele reportedly burst into tears as she described her latest tour as "the greatest accomplishment in her career" - and said it changed her life.
Her Auckland show on Sunday was outdoors, and she sang through torrential rain. Although she donned a plastic poncho, photographs show her dress was drenched.
"Just spent two hours in hair and make-up for nothing," she joked.
The Grammy award-winning artist will certainly be able to keep herself busy if she decides to leave her touring days behind.
She recently confirmed she has married her long-term partner Simon Konecki - and their son, Angelo, is now four years old.
The British singer told fans at a concert in Auckland that she was not good at touring - and even admitted she feels "vulnerable" on stage, according to the New Zealand Herald.
Her performance Down Under was the final international gig of her epic 15-month world tour.
She will next be on stage in London for four sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium from 28 June to 2 July which have been described as "The Finale".
The 28-year-old told her fans in New Zealand: "Touring isn't something I'm good at. Applause makes me feel a bit vulnerable.
"I don't know if I will ever tour again. The only reason I've toured is you. I'm not sure if touring is my bag."
Adele reportedly burst into tears as she described her latest tour as "the greatest accomplishment in her career" - and said it changed her life.
Her Auckland show on Sunday was outdoors, and she sang through torrential rain. Although she donned a plastic poncho, photographs show her dress was drenched.
"Just spent two hours in hair and make-up for nothing," she joked.
The Grammy award-winning artist will certainly be able to keep herself busy if she decides to leave her touring days behind.
She recently confirmed she has married her long-term partner Simon Konecki - and their son, Angelo, is now four years old.
More than 400 former jihadi fighters back in Britain, say security sources
UK authorities are facing an increased terror threat from battle-hardened fighters returning from Mosul and other conflict zones in Iraq and Syria.
Security sources have told Sky News more than 400 former fighters are now believed to be back in Britain.
The authorities believe there is a growing risk the UK could suffer the kind of mass gun and bomb attacks seen in France and Belgium recently, as many returning fighters will have been trained in the use of weapons and the construction of improvised explosive devices.
It is a serious, two-pronged challenge for the police and security services, who are already working flat-out to counter the threat from homegrown lone-wolf extremists, like Khalid Masood, who launched last week's deadly attack on Westminster.
:: The battle for Mosul: A timeline
Former Scotland Yard Specialist Firearms Officer and author Tony Long said combating an attack launched by a well-trained returning jihadist could be a tough prospect.
He said: "These are combat-hardened soldiers. They might not be trained in the way that NATO might train their soldiers but they've seen more close quarter conflict and more urban fighting than probably most members of the British Armed Forces and you have to respect that.
"Of course they're bringing that knowledge back with them to the UK and it's very very difficult because of the legal restrictions that are put on the security services and the police to actually monitor all of these people."
To date, only a fraction of those returning from the battlefields of Syria and Iraq have been prosecuted, as authorities need enough evidence to put before the courts and often returning fighters go to great lengths to cover up their overseas activities.
Imran Khawaja, 29, from west London, is currently serving 12 years in prison after he faked his own death in Syria in an attempt to sneak back into the UK undetected.
Khawaja had joined a militant group with links to so-called Islamic State while overseas.
He was pictured posing with the severed heads of Syrian soldiers during his six months in the country.
He was arrested as he tried to re-enter the UK through the port of Dover and later admitted preparing for acts of terrorism, attending a camp, receiving training and possessing firearms.
Security sources have told Sky News more than 400 former fighters are now believed to be back in Britain.
The authorities believe there is a growing risk the UK could suffer the kind of mass gun and bomb attacks seen in France and Belgium recently, as many returning fighters will have been trained in the use of weapons and the construction of improvised explosive devices.
It is a serious, two-pronged challenge for the police and security services, who are already working flat-out to counter the threat from homegrown lone-wolf extremists, like Khalid Masood, who launched last week's deadly attack on Westminster.
:: The battle for Mosul: A timeline
Former Scotland Yard Specialist Firearms Officer and author Tony Long said combating an attack launched by a well-trained returning jihadist could be a tough prospect.
He said: "These are combat-hardened soldiers. They might not be trained in the way that NATO might train their soldiers but they've seen more close quarter conflict and more urban fighting than probably most members of the British Armed Forces and you have to respect that.
"Of course they're bringing that knowledge back with them to the UK and it's very very difficult because of the legal restrictions that are put on the security services and the police to actually monitor all of these people."
To date, only a fraction of those returning from the battlefields of Syria and Iraq have been prosecuted, as authorities need enough evidence to put before the courts and often returning fighters go to great lengths to cover up their overseas activities.
Imran Khawaja, 29, from west London, is currently serving 12 years in prison after he faked his own death in Syria in an attempt to sneak back into the UK undetected.
Khawaja had joined a militant group with links to so-called Islamic State while overseas.
He was pictured posing with the severed heads of Syrian soldiers during his six months in the country.
He was arrested as he tried to re-enter the UK through the port of Dover and later admitted preparing for acts of terrorism, attending a camp, receiving training and possessing firearms.
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