British newspaper the Daily Mail has apologized to first lady Melania Trump and paid her an unspecified amount in damages for publishing rumors about Trump’s time as a model and how she met her husband, President Trump.
The paper in August published an article “questioning the nature of work” and republished allegations that “she provided services beyond simply modeling,” according to a joint statement released Wednesday on behalf of the first lady and the newspaper’s parent company.
“The article also claimed that Mr. and Mrs. Trump may have met three years before they actually met, and ‘staged’ their actual meeting as a ‘ruse.’ ” the statement continued.
Then came the mea culpa: “We accept that these allegations about Mrs. Trump are not true and we retract and withdraw them,” the statement said. “We apologise to Mrs. Trump for any distress that our publication caused her.”
The newspaper will pay costs of the lawsuit and damages, and although the statement didn’t say how much, the Associated Press cites a source claiming that the first lady received a total of $2.9 million for this settlement and a previous one with a Maryland blogger.
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Tesco reports annual sales growth for the first time in seven years
Tesco has reported its first annual jump in UK sales for seven years.
The country's largest retailer said growth in operating profits and sales - alongside a £1.9bn debt repayment - over the year to 25 February showed its turnaround plans were ahead of its expectations.
However, pre-tax profits fell 28% to £145m, reflecting costs to conclude separate probes into its 2014 profits scandal.
Its bottom line was hit by a £129m Serious Fraud Office fine, announced last month, as part of a deal to avoid prosecution over the historic accounting practices issue.
At the same time, Tesco also confirmed it was to compensate shareholders to the tune of £85m.
The legacy issue dominated the early days of chief executive Dave Lewis's tenure. He pledged to restore Tesco's fortunes at a time when it was bleeding customers to rivals - especially discounters - in the supermarket price war.
He reported the chain's first full-year rise in UK sales since 2009/10, with comparable sales up 0.9%. Total sales were 4.3% higher - just shy of £50bn.
:: Why Tesco boss Dave Lewis can afford to start smiling
Operating profits, used by analysts to determine the health of day-to-day trading, increased 30% to £1.28bn.
Tesco shares opened lower, despite the improvements, down 2.2% in early trading.
Mr Lewis said: "Today, our prices are lower, our range is simpler and our service and availability have never been better.
"Our exclusive fresh food brands have strengthened our value proposition and our food quality perception is at its highest level for five years.
"At the same time, we have increased (operating) profits, generated more cash and significantly reduced debt.
"We are ahead of where we expected to be at this stage, having made good progress on all six of the strategic drivers we shared in October.
"We are confident that we can build on this strong performance in the year ahead, making further progress towards our medium-term ambitions."
Those include the proposed takeover of the UK's largest wholesaler, Booker, despite opposition from some institutional shareholders, who think the £3.7bn price is too rich.
The country's largest retailer said growth in operating profits and sales - alongside a £1.9bn debt repayment - over the year to 25 February showed its turnaround plans were ahead of its expectations.
However, pre-tax profits fell 28% to £145m, reflecting costs to conclude separate probes into its 2014 profits scandal.
Its bottom line was hit by a £129m Serious Fraud Office fine, announced last month, as part of a deal to avoid prosecution over the historic accounting practices issue.
At the same time, Tesco also confirmed it was to compensate shareholders to the tune of £85m.
The legacy issue dominated the early days of chief executive Dave Lewis's tenure. He pledged to restore Tesco's fortunes at a time when it was bleeding customers to rivals - especially discounters - in the supermarket price war.
He reported the chain's first full-year rise in UK sales since 2009/10, with comparable sales up 0.9%. Total sales were 4.3% higher - just shy of £50bn.
:: Why Tesco boss Dave Lewis can afford to start smiling
Operating profits, used by analysts to determine the health of day-to-day trading, increased 30% to £1.28bn.
Tesco shares opened lower, despite the improvements, down 2.2% in early trading.
Mr Lewis said: "Today, our prices are lower, our range is simpler and our service and availability have never been better.
"Our exclusive fresh food brands have strengthened our value proposition and our food quality perception is at its highest level for five years.
"At the same time, we have increased (operating) profits, generated more cash and significantly reduced debt.
"We are ahead of where we expected to be at this stage, having made good progress on all six of the strategic drivers we shared in October.
"We are confident that we can build on this strong performance in the year ahead, making further progress towards our medium-term ambitions."
Those include the proposed takeover of the UK's largest wholesaler, Booker, despite opposition from some institutional shareholders, who think the £3.7bn price is too rich.
Attackers dug tunnel in Turkish police compound terror blast
At least two people were killed after attackers dug a tunnel and detonated explosives under a Turkish police compound, officials have said.
The explosion, which flattened part of the facility in Diyarbakir, was initially believed to have been triggered during the repair of an armoured vehicle.
However, Turkish interior minister Suleyman Soylu said it "was the result of a terrorist attack" which was carried out "through a tunnel dug from outside".
He said a technician working at the compound was trapped under the rubble and died, and a policeman was also killed.
State-run news agency Anadolu reported a third victim died, while 12 others were injured.
Mr Soylu said: "We scan the surrounding of our police buildings approximately once in every month, so as not to encounter any threat.
"It means they had placed it in a short period of time."
The minister did not say who was believed to be behind the blast, but Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants have previously carried out similar attacks on police and military compounds in southeast Turkey.
The PKK is designated as a terror group by Turkey, the US and the EU.
The blast comes just days ahead of a referendum on changing the Turkish constitution and giving President Recep Tayyip Erdogan more powers
The explosion, which flattened part of the facility in Diyarbakir, was initially believed to have been triggered during the repair of an armoured vehicle.
However, Turkish interior minister Suleyman Soylu said it "was the result of a terrorist attack" which was carried out "through a tunnel dug from outside".
He said a technician working at the compound was trapped under the rubble and died, and a policeman was also killed.
State-run news agency Anadolu reported a third victim died, while 12 others were injured.
Mr Soylu said: "We scan the surrounding of our police buildings approximately once in every month, so as not to encounter any threat.
"It means they had placed it in a short period of time."
The minister did not say who was believed to be behind the blast, but Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants have previously carried out similar attacks on police and military compounds in southeast Turkey.
The PKK is designated as a terror group by Turkey, the US and the EU.
The blast comes just days ahead of a referendum on changing the Turkish constitution and giving President Recep Tayyip Erdogan more powers
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Borussia Dortmund team bus attack: Letter 'claims responsibility'
A letter found near the scene of a bomb attack on the Borussia Dortmund team bus claims responsibility for the blasts, according to prosecutors.
Police are investigating three "serious explosive devices" which went off as the players and coaching staff left a hotel ahead of a Champions League match in Germany.
Defender Marc Bartra, a Spain international, was taken to hospital after being injured by shattered glass from the coach's windows.
He has had an operation for a broken bone in his hand.
Other players were unhurt, but the match against Monaco was postponed.
Police are investigating three "serious explosive devices" which went off as the players and coaching staff left a hotel ahead of a Champions League match in Germany.
Defender Marc Bartra, a Spain international, was taken to hospital after being injured by shattered glass from the coach's windows.
He has had an operation for a broken bone in his hand.
Other players were unhurt, but the match against Monaco was postponed.
Taiwan passes first law in Asia to ban the eating of cats and dogs
Taiwan has become the first country in Asia to pass legislation banning the consumption of cats and dogs.
The ban was included as an amendment to animal protection laws and also covers the selling, purchase and possession or dog or cat carcasses.
Taipei had previously banned the sale of dog meat but in 2011 the Taipei Times published claims by activists that slaughterhouses and dog meat restaurants were escaping prosecution.
And a lamb hotpot restaurant was found last year to be serving dog meat to cut costs.
Under the new legislation, anyone found guilty of eating cat or dog meat can be subject to a fine of between NT$50,000 (£1,300) and NT$250,000 (£6,500), according to the China Post newspaper.
Offenders also face public shaming and those who repeatedly break the law face fines of up to NT$5m (£130,000).
The eating of dog and cat meat is not unusual in parts of Asia, despite objections from international animal rights campaigners.
Breeders sell live dogs for meat in and around Yulin, in China's Guangxi province annually in June.
Residents in Yulin host small gatherings to consume dog meat and lychees in celebration of the summer solstice.
The new Taiwanese law also includes a clause making it illegal to walk a dog by attaching it to a motor vehicle, the China Post said.
One of the leglislators promoting the law, Chiu Chih-wei said there had been several reports of dogs being injured when forced to run alongside a scooter or car driven by their owners.
The ban was included as an amendment to animal protection laws and also covers the selling, purchase and possession or dog or cat carcasses.
Taipei had previously banned the sale of dog meat but in 2011 the Taipei Times published claims by activists that slaughterhouses and dog meat restaurants were escaping prosecution.
And a lamb hotpot restaurant was found last year to be serving dog meat to cut costs.
Under the new legislation, anyone found guilty of eating cat or dog meat can be subject to a fine of between NT$50,000 (£1,300) and NT$250,000 (£6,500), according to the China Post newspaper.
Offenders also face public shaming and those who repeatedly break the law face fines of up to NT$5m (£130,000).
The eating of dog and cat meat is not unusual in parts of Asia, despite objections from international animal rights campaigners.
Breeders sell live dogs for meat in and around Yulin, in China's Guangxi province annually in June.
Residents in Yulin host small gatherings to consume dog meat and lychees in celebration of the summer solstice.
The new Taiwanese law also includes a clause making it illegal to walk a dog by attaching it to a motor vehicle, the China Post said.
One of the leglislators promoting the law, Chiu Chih-wei said there had been several reports of dogs being injured when forced to run alongside a scooter or car driven by their owners.
United Airlines: CEO says sorry after man dragged off plane
United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz has apologised for the forcible removal of a passenger from an overbooked flight in Chicago.
After initially remaining defiant over the incident, Oscar Munoz has now said sorry for what he called a "truly horrific event".
Footage of a bloodied United Airlines passenger being dragged off an overbooked flight in Chicago on Sunday night has since gone viral.
In a statement to his team released on Tuesday, Mr Munoz said: "The truly horrific event that occurred on this flight has elicited many responses from all of us: outrage, anger, disappointment.
"I share all of those sentiments, and one above all: my deepest apologies for what happened.
"Like you, I continue to be disturbed by what happened on this flight and I deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard. No one should ever be mistreated this way.
"I want you to know that we take full responsibility and we will work to make it right."
The letter shows a stark change in tone from an initial memo to employees in which Mr Munoz didn't apologise, instead claiming the passenger had "defied" security officers.
The first memo said there were lessons the company could learn, though he stressed that he "emphatically" stood behind his employees.
However, the second statement sent out to the team shows an about-turn, with the airline's chief executive showing absolute contrition.
The statement continues: "It's never too late to do the right thing. I have committed to our customers and our employees that we are going to fix what's broken so this never happens again.
"This will include a thorough review of crew movement, our policies for incentivizing volunteers in these situations, how we handle oversold situations and an examination of how we partner with airport authorities and local law enforcement.
"We'll communicate the results of our review by April 30th. I promise you we will do better. Sincerely, Oscar."
Since a video of the passenger being dragged from the plane was widely shared online, shares in the owner of United Airlines - United Continental - have fallen 2%.
After initially remaining defiant over the incident, Oscar Munoz has now said sorry for what he called a "truly horrific event".
Footage of a bloodied United Airlines passenger being dragged off an overbooked flight in Chicago on Sunday night has since gone viral.
In a statement to his team released on Tuesday, Mr Munoz said: "The truly horrific event that occurred on this flight has elicited many responses from all of us: outrage, anger, disappointment.
"I share all of those sentiments, and one above all: my deepest apologies for what happened.
"Like you, I continue to be disturbed by what happened on this flight and I deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard. No one should ever be mistreated this way.
"I want you to know that we take full responsibility and we will work to make it right."
The letter shows a stark change in tone from an initial memo to employees in which Mr Munoz didn't apologise, instead claiming the passenger had "defied" security officers.
The first memo said there were lessons the company could learn, though he stressed that he "emphatically" stood behind his employees.
However, the second statement sent out to the team shows an about-turn, with the airline's chief executive showing absolute contrition.
The statement continues: "It's never too late to do the right thing. I have committed to our customers and our employees that we are going to fix what's broken so this never happens again.
"This will include a thorough review of crew movement, our policies for incentivizing volunteers in these situations, how we handle oversold situations and an examination of how we partner with airport authorities and local law enforcement.
"We'll communicate the results of our review by April 30th. I promise you we will do better. Sincerely, Oscar."
Since a video of the passenger being dragged from the plane was widely shared online, shares in the owner of United Airlines - United Continental - have fallen 2%.
'Game-changing' stroke treatment rolled out
A 'mechanical' brain operation that deploys a wire mesh to retrieve blood clots in stroke patients is to be extended across England, potentially treating 1,000 people in the next year.
Up to 24 specialist neuroscience centres will be able to carry out mechanical thrombectomies after NHS England agreed to commission the operation nationwide.
It is currently only practised at a handful of specialist centres including St George's Hospital in London.
The procedure works by inserting a catheter in an artery in the patient's groin, which is then fed through to the site of the blood clot in the brain.
A stent - a wire mesh - is then pushed through the catheter on the end of a wire until it reaches the clot. The stent then expands, catches the clot and is withdrawn through the catheter.
The operation, usually carried out with the patient under sedation rather than general anaesthetic, has an 80-90% chance of opening blocked blood vessels compared with 30% using blood-thinning drugs.
If carried out within six hours of the stroke occurring it can save lives and, by restoring blood flow to the brain, prevent disability.
Up to 24 specialist neuroscience centres will be able to carry out mechanical thrombectomies after NHS England agreed to commission the operation nationwide.
It is currently only practised at a handful of specialist centres including St George's Hospital in London.
The procedure works by inserting a catheter in an artery in the patient's groin, which is then fed through to the site of the blood clot in the brain.
A stent - a wire mesh - is then pushed through the catheter on the end of a wire until it reaches the clot. The stent then expands, catches the clot and is withdrawn through the catheter.
The operation, usually carried out with the patient under sedation rather than general anaesthetic, has an 80-90% chance of opening blocked blood vessels compared with 30% using blood-thinning drugs.
If carried out within six hours of the stroke occurring it can save lives and, by restoring blood flow to the brain, prevent disability.
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