Uber's boss has quit Donald Trump's business advisory council in a move aimed at distancing the ride-sharing app from the President's policy agenda.
Travis Kalanick confirmed the U-turn in a memo to Uber employees, having taken to Twitter five days previously to insist he would keep the role, saying then: "I'm going to use my position on Pres economic council to stand up for what's right."
He had faced a backlash in the US with a boycott campaign, under the #deleteuber hashtag, gathering momentum despite his public opposition to the President's travel restrictions on people from seven mainly-Muslim countries and limits on refugees.
Mr Kalanick had even announced a $3m legal fund and pledged full earnings compensation for any driver who could not work because of the ban, saying it "is against everything @uber stands for".
The change of heart on his membership of the council came from the leaked memo, which read: "Joining the group was not meant to be an endorsement of the president or his agenda but unfortunately it has been misinterpreted to be exactly that."
He said he had spoken to the President to inform him of the decision, on what was the eve of the council's first meeting.
:: Travel ban could hit LA bid for 2024 Olympics
It was formed by Stephen Schwarzman, chairman and chief executive of the private equity group Blackstone.
Other members include the leaders of Wal-Mart, General Motors, Tesla, the Cleveland Clinic and Pepsi.
It had already been announced that Disney boss Bob Iger would not be able to attend the White House event because of a diary clash.
The council's self-described mission is to "provide direct input to the president from many of the best and brightest in the business world in a frank, non-bureaucratic, and nonpartisan manner."
One of the most high-profile members to confirm his attendance was Elon Musk - the founder of Tesla and SpaceX - who said he would be offering "suggestions" for changes to the temporary immigration policies.
Another of the companies to say it has been affected by the travel ban is the Cleveland Clinic.
A spokeswoman for the medical services firm said its chief executive, Toby Cosgrove, would be attending the meeting as it was a "good opportunity" to talk directly to the President about his agenda.
Friday, February 3, 2017
Rapper 50 Cent pays $22m to end bankruptcy
Rapper 50 Cent has been discharged from bankruptcy early by a US federal judge after paying more than $22m.
In July, the judge had approved a plan calling for the singer, whose real name is Curtis James Jackson III, to pay back about $23m over five years.
Lawyers said he paid off the sum early with $8.7m of his own money and $13.65m he received in a recent settlement of a legal malpractice case against other lawyers.
It comes 19 months after the singer filed for bankruptcy protection due to debts of $36m and assets of less than $20m - three days after he was ordered to pay $5m to a woman whose sex tape he posted online.
The rapper burst onto the music scene in 2003 with debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin, and has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide.
He has won many music awards, including a Grammy, and has branched out into acting, starring in movies including the semi-autobiographical Get Rich Or Die Tryin', Home Of The Brave and Righteous Kill.
In July, the judge had approved a plan calling for the singer, whose real name is Curtis James Jackson III, to pay back about $23m over five years.
Lawyers said he paid off the sum early with $8.7m of his own money and $13.65m he received in a recent settlement of a legal malpractice case against other lawyers.
It comes 19 months after the singer filed for bankruptcy protection due to debts of $36m and assets of less than $20m - three days after he was ordered to pay $5m to a woman whose sex tape he posted online.
The rapper burst onto the music scene in 2003 with debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin, and has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide.
He has won many music awards, including a Grammy, and has branched out into acting, starring in movies including the semi-autobiographical Get Rich Or Die Tryin', Home Of The Brave and Righteous Kill.
Police raids in Paris after 'terrorist' shot by soldier at Louvre
Several police raids have been conducted in Paris after a "terrorist" tried to enter the Louvre museum carrying machetes.
The suspect has been identified as 29-year-old Abdullah Reda Refaei al-Hamamy, who lives in the United Arab Emirates but is originally from Egypt, according to security sources.
He was shot five times after lunging at four French soldiers outside the Paris landmark.
The assailant shouted "Allahu Akbar" while holding a machete in each hand, and prosecutors said he was hovering between life and death after being subdued by one of the patrolmen.
The suspect has been identified as 29-year-old Abdullah Reda Refaei al-Hamamy, who lives in the United Arab Emirates but is originally from Egypt, according to security sources.
He was shot five times after lunging at four French soldiers outside the Paris landmark.
The assailant shouted "Allahu Akbar" while holding a machete in each hand, and prosecutors said he was hovering between life and death after being subdued by one of the patrolmen.
Tens of thousands of US visas revoked in wake of Trump travel ban
Tens of thousands of visas have been revoked in the wake of Donald Trump's recent travel ban.
A US Justice Department lawyer, speaking during a court hearing, said 100,000 visas have been cancelled, the Washington Post reported.
But the US State department later contradicted that figure, suggesting the real number was less than 60,000.
The State Department said the higher figure included diplomatic and other visas exempted by the travel ban, as well as expired visas.
The larger figure emerged in a lawsuit for two Yemenis who arrived at Dulles International Airport, near Washington DC, last Saturday.
According to the Washington Post, the brothers said they were coerced into giving up their resident visas, and put on a flight to Ethiopia.
:: Angelina Jolie attacks Trump's US travel ban
Lawyer Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, representing Tareq and Ammar Aziz, said: "The number 100,000 sucked the air out of my lungs."
Last Friday, Mr Trump signed an executive order banning citizens of seven mainly Muslim countries from entering the US.
The order affects people holding passports from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
It also halts temporarily the entry of refugees into the country.
The President says the move is necessary for national security, but the measures have been called unconstitutional by Democrats.
Asked about the visas being revoked, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said: "I'll have to get back to you on that."
He added: "I don't have all the details right now."
It is believed that up to 200 people have been detained at US airports or in transit because of the order.
In a separate case, a federal judge in Detroit ruled that US green card holders should not be affected by the travel ban.
That decision follows a lawsuit by the Arab-American Civil Rights League.
The organisation argued that the order is unconstitutional and targets immigrant communities.
A US Justice Department lawyer, speaking during a court hearing, said 100,000 visas have been cancelled, the Washington Post reported.
But the US State department later contradicted that figure, suggesting the real number was less than 60,000.
The State Department said the higher figure included diplomatic and other visas exempted by the travel ban, as well as expired visas.
The larger figure emerged in a lawsuit for two Yemenis who arrived at Dulles International Airport, near Washington DC, last Saturday.
According to the Washington Post, the brothers said they were coerced into giving up their resident visas, and put on a flight to Ethiopia.
:: Angelina Jolie attacks Trump's US travel ban
Lawyer Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, representing Tareq and Ammar Aziz, said: "The number 100,000 sucked the air out of my lungs."
Last Friday, Mr Trump signed an executive order banning citizens of seven mainly Muslim countries from entering the US.
The order affects people holding passports from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
It also halts temporarily the entry of refugees into the country.
The President says the move is necessary for national security, but the measures have been called unconstitutional by Democrats.
Asked about the visas being revoked, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said: "I'll have to get back to you on that."
He added: "I don't have all the details right now."
It is believed that up to 200 people have been detained at US airports or in transit because of the order.
In a separate case, a federal judge in Detroit ruled that US green card holders should not be affected by the travel ban.
That decision follows a lawsuit by the Arab-American Civil Rights League.
The organisation argued that the order is unconstitutional and targets immigrant communities.
Shark documentary director Rob Stewart missing: Desperate search off Florida
People searching for a missing shark documentary director have appealed for help from "anyone who has access to planes, helicopters, drones or boats".
The post on Facebook adds that they need "anything with night vision capabilities".
Rob Stewart, who directed and narrated Sharkwater, released in 2006, was working on a sequel off the coast of Florida when he disappeared after a deepwater dive to retrieve an anchor.
His parents have said that while Mr Stewart's dive partner collapsed after returning to the boat, Mr Stewart, who had signalled that he was OK after getting back to the surface, later disappeared.
His father, Brian Stewart, said his son was "super fit" and that "if anybody can survive in the water, it is him".
"A bunch of the people in the boat gave their attention to the guy who collapsed and a minute later they turned, and Rob was gone. They haven't seen him since," Mr Stewart added.
The post on Facebook adds that they need "anything with night vision capabilities".
Rob Stewart, who directed and narrated Sharkwater, released in 2006, was working on a sequel off the coast of Florida when he disappeared after a deepwater dive to retrieve an anchor.
His parents have said that while Mr Stewart's dive partner collapsed after returning to the boat, Mr Stewart, who had signalled that he was OK after getting back to the surface, later disappeared.
His father, Brian Stewart, said his son was "super fit" and that "if anybody can survive in the water, it is him".
"A bunch of the people in the boat gave their attention to the guy who collapsed and a minute later they turned, and Rob was gone. They haven't seen him since," Mr Stewart added.
Louvre: 'Terrorist' armed with machete shot at Paris museum
A French soldier has shot a man after he tried to enter the Louvre museum in Paris carrying a machete and two backpacks.
Paris police chief Michel Cadot said the attacker shouted "Allahu akbar (God is greatest)" as he "launched" himself at the soldier in the Carrousel du Louvre area of the popular attraction.
The soldier - part of a four-man patrol - fired five times, hitting the man in the legs and stomach and seriously injuring him.
The assailant became violent when he was told he could not enter with his bags. Two machetes were found at the scene.
Mr Cadot said: "We are dealing with an attack from an individual who was clearly aggressive and represented a direct threat, and whose comments lead us to believe that he wished to carry out a terrorist incident."
Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said: "It appears to be an attempted attack of a terrorist nature."
A spokesman for the French interior ministry said the identity of the attacker was unknown.
Paris police chief Michel Cadot said the attacker shouted "Allahu akbar (God is greatest)" as he "launched" himself at the soldier in the Carrousel du Louvre area of the popular attraction.
The soldier - part of a four-man patrol - fired five times, hitting the man in the legs and stomach and seriously injuring him.
The assailant became violent when he was told he could not enter with his bags. Two machetes were found at the scene.
Mr Cadot said: "We are dealing with an attack from an individual who was clearly aggressive and represented a direct threat, and whose comments lead us to believe that he wished to carry out a terrorist incident."
Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said: "It appears to be an attempted attack of a terrorist nature."
A spokesman for the French interior ministry said the identity of the attacker was unknown.
Naval patrol boat gift from Oman 'too big' for Cyprus naval bases
A patrol boat given as a gift to Cyprus by Oman is too big to dock at the island's main naval base, according to reports.
Instead the 61m (200ft) boat - Cyprus' first open sea vessel - will have to moor at the civilian ports of either Limassol or Larnaca when it arrives next week, said the Phileleftheros newspaper.
Oman paid for a £3.4m refit of the boat, which weighs 948 tonnes and has a top speed of 15 knots.
It was given as a 'thank you' for the warm welcome the Oman defence minister received when he visited the island in November 2013.
The vessel, due to arrive at the island next week, is being crewed by Omani and Cypriot officers during its voyage to the island so that sailors from the sultanate can train the new crew.
A second craft, bought from Israel, is expected to be added to the modest Cypriot navy in December.
They are expected to be used to patrol Cyprus's coastal waters where energy giants including France's Total and Italy's Eni are exploring for natural gas and oil.
Cyprus is now looking to extend its Evangelos Florakis naval base.
Instead the 61m (200ft) boat - Cyprus' first open sea vessel - will have to moor at the civilian ports of either Limassol or Larnaca when it arrives next week, said the Phileleftheros newspaper.
Oman paid for a £3.4m refit of the boat, which weighs 948 tonnes and has a top speed of 15 knots.
It was given as a 'thank you' for the warm welcome the Oman defence minister received when he visited the island in November 2013.
The vessel, due to arrive at the island next week, is being crewed by Omani and Cypriot officers during its voyage to the island so that sailors from the sultanate can train the new crew.
A second craft, bought from Israel, is expected to be added to the modest Cypriot navy in December.
They are expected to be used to patrol Cyprus's coastal waters where energy giants including France's Total and Italy's Eni are exploring for natural gas and oil.
Cyprus is now looking to extend its Evangelos Florakis naval base.
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