Business
Trump Forced To Listen Silently To People Insulting Him As He Trades A Cocoon Of Adulation For Court
NEW YORK — He appears “selfish and self-serving,” according to one woman.
“The way he carries himself in public “leaves something to be desired,” observed another.
Another individual claimed that his “negative rhetoric and bias” are the most destructive.
Over the last week, Donald Trump has been forced to sit in a chilly New York courthouse and listen to a parade of possible jurors in his criminal hush money trial give their unvarnished opinions of him.
It’s been a striking difference for the former president and likely Republican nominee, who is used to spending his days in a cocoon of screaming crowds and frequent praise. Now a criminal defendant, Trump will spend the next few weeks exposed to severe constraints that limit his ability to control everything from what he can say to the temperature of the room.
“He’s the target of mockery. It is his nightmare. He is unable to control the script. He is unable to control the cinematography. He has no control over what others are saying about him. And the outcome may go in a way he does not desire,” said Tim O’Brien, a Trump biography and critic.
While Trump is occasionally confronted by protesters, he largely avoids criticism. After leaving the White House, Trump relocated to his Mar-a-Lago beachfront club in Palm Beach, Florida, where he is surrounded by devoted paid staff and dues-paying members who have paid tens of thousands of dollars to be near him.
Trump frequently visits his adjacent golf course, where he is “swarmed by people wanting to shake his hand, take pictures of him, and tell him how amazing he is,” according to Stephanie Grisham, a longtime adviser who parted with Trump following the Capitol storming on Jan. 6, 2021.
When he returns to Mar-a-Lago in the afternoon, members eating lunch on the patio frequently stand and applaud. He gets the same standing ovation at dinner, which frequently ends with Trump playing DJ on his iPad, blaring jams like “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” by James Brown.
Grisham, who spent extended amounts of time traveling with Trump and at Mar-a-Lago during his 2016 campaign and acting as White House press secretary, portrayed staff as perpetual cheerleaders who told Trump what he wanted to hear. To avert angry outbursts, they requested motorcade routes that bypassed protestors and left a stack of favorable press clips on the Oval Office’s Resolute Desk each morning.
AP – VOR News Image
Trump Forced To Listen Silently To People Insulting Him As He Trades A Cocoon Of Adulation For Court
Trump now faces a trial that could lead to felony convictions and prison time. And he’ll have to listen to more critics without the ability to respond verbally, which he enjoys doing.
Michael Cohen, his former lawyer and fixer, and Stormy Daniels, the porn actor who claims she had sex with Trump, are likely to testify at the trial. Both have criticized him in interviews, books, and on social media.
Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump demonstrated during his first week in court that “he will remain defiant in the face of this unprecedented political lawfare” and that “it is clear that his support from the American people will only grow as they watch Joe Biden, Alvin Bragg, and the Democrats putting on this bogus show trial six months before the election.”
New Yorkers who claimed they couldn’t view the issue objectively were excused during jury selection. However, one of the women who had the strongest opinions of him will be among those who decide his fate on 34 charges of fabricating business records.
“I don’t like his persona, or how he presents himself in public,” said the woman, who has resided in upper Manhattan for the past 15 years. The woman stated she disagreed with some of Trump’s policies, which she deemed “outrageous.”
“He just seems very selfish and self-serving, so I don’t really appreciate that in any public servant,” she added. She went on to say that while she doesn’t “know him as a person,” because of the way he “portrays himself in public, it just seems to me it is not my cup of tea.”
Trump’s legal team objected to her responses, but they had exhausted their legal options by the time she came up for selection.
Judge Juan Manuel Merchan has withheld the identities of prospective jurors due to safety concerns.
On Friday, one prospective juror, who claimed to have attended the 2017 Women’s March to oppose Trump’s inauguration, expressed concern about his influence on his base.
“I think his rhetoric at times enables people to feel as if they have permission to discriminate or act on their negative impulses,” she said, giving examples of people making homophobic or racist remarks. Nonetheless, she stated that she did not have strong feelings for the previous president and was unsure of his current policy beliefs.
AP – VOR News Image
Trump Forced To Listen Silently To People Insulting Him As He Trades A Cocoon Of Adulation For Court
Another individual said he grew up admiring the former president and business magnate’s real estate portfolio and fantasized of one day living in Trump Tower. However, he has grown to reject Trump’s “negative rhetoric and bias against people that he speaks about.”
At other times, lawyers read aloud social media messages by prospective jurors mocking Trump and celebrating his defeats.
The judge dismissed one prospective juror, an older white lady, after Trump’s legal team discovered years-old social media remarks describing Trump as a “racist, sexist” narcissist.
One of Trump’s attorneys described the posts as “vitriolic.”
“She harbors a deep hatred for him,” the lawyer, Susan Necheles, stated. “She said that ‘I wouldn’t believe Donald Trump if his tongue were notarized'” and that he was “anathema” to all she had ever learned about love.
When confronted with the posts within the courtroom, the juror stated that she understood why they might be relevant to the defense, but her opinions had shifted. “Election policies can get pretty spicy and Mr. Trump can get pretty spicy,” she went on to say.
Merchan, the judge, also dismissed a man who in 2017 made a Facebook post praising the legal defeat of one of Donald Trump’s policies. “Get him out and lock him up!” the message stated in part.
The court regulations compel Trump to be present throughout the trial. He cannot storm out of the courtroom, as he did in a recent slander suit. He is also prohibited by a gag order from criticizing any of the jurors, including on his Truth Social page.
Merchan has already chastised him for speaking aloud and gesticulating when one juror was answering questions.
“I will not tolerate any jurors being intimidated in this courtroom,” added Merchan, who had previously warned Trump that he might face jail time for disrupting proceedings in court.
Trump’s judgments in court were not all negative, with a startling proportion of possible jurors stating that they had no strong feelings about one of the world’s most well-known and polarizing figures.
Reauters – VOR News Image
Trump Forced To Listen Silently To People Insulting Him As He Trades A Cocoon Of Adulation For Court
In fact, the process appeared to yield more supporters than one might expect in a borough where President Joe Biden received 87% of the vote in 2020.
One potential juror, who spoke glowingly of Trump on Thursday, said he was “impressed” by Trump’s successful business career.
“I mean, he was our president, which is pretty extraordinary. He is a businessman in New York. He has built his own path, and he has made history in terms of where he began and where he has progressed,” said the man, who saw his own story similarly.
On Tuesday, another man expressed remorse that he couldn’t balance the trial with his profession.
“Your Honor, as much as I would love to serve for New York and one of our great presidents, I could not give up my job for six-plus weeks,” he told the crowd.
Many claimed to have read his book, “The Art of the Deal.”
Even the woman who opposed his demeanor but ended up on the jury recognized his attraction to voters.
“His public demeanor can sometimes be questionable. At the same time, I can connect to occasionally being unvarnished,” she remarked. “I’ve seen him speak to many individuals in America. I believe there is something to be said about that.
SOURCE – (AP)
Air Canada posted a larger first-quarter loss than projected on Thursday, citing higher operating costs related to labor and aircraft maintenance, overshadowing early signs of a recovery in corporate demand. Air Canada’s shares fell 9% to C$18.58 in afternoon trading in Toronto.
North American carriers are grappling with rising expenses as they add flights and run older, less fuel-efficient planes, while a lack of new aircraft makes it difficult to benefit on robust travel demand.
According to Mark Galardo, Air Canada’s vice president of network planning, corporate demand is up 10% to 20% year on year into the second quarter, with new demand coming from the technology industry.
“We’re starting to see some very encouraging signals in corporate demand,” Galardo told analysts.
Canada’s largest airline did not experience the same first-quarter bounce in corporate travel that lifted U.S. airline profitability.
Montreal-based Air Canada has also stated that it is negotiating compensation with RTX engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney following issues with its geared turbofan engines, which have grounded seven of its A220 planes.
The carrier, which is currently in contract talks with its pilots, reported a 21% increase in labor expenses during the quarter.
Air Canada’s operating expenses increased 6% to C$5.22 billion ($3.80 billion), the airline reported, despite a revival in significant spending by corporate clients who had been mostly absent from the post-pandemic travel boom.
The airline confirmed its 2024 core profit estimate, estimating adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) in the range of C$3.7 billion to C$4.2 billion.
Air Canada posted a first-quarter adjusted loss of C$0.27 per share, compared to analysts’ average projections of a C$0.07 loss, according to LSEG data. Its quarterly operating revenue increased 7% to C$5.23 billion, exceeding Wall Street’s estimate of C$5.19 billion.
New seat selection fee for passengers: Getty Images
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy
Air Canada has temporarily rescinded its proposal to levy a new seat selection fee for passengers booked on the lowest rates. Customers with rates that did not include free seat selection prior to check-in were randomly given a seat at check-in, with the option to change to another available seat for free, CTV News reports
However, some Air Canada customers received alerts earlier this month that the airline would soon charge travelers standard or basic rates to change their automatically allocated seats at check-in.
Kerry Berlinquette, an Ontario-based travel agency, posted a photograph of a warning she received on April 18 on her Facebook page.
“We’re introducing a new seating assignment process for Standard or Basic Fares,” according to the announcement.
“When customers enter the check-in flow, our system will automatically assign a free seat for those who have not purchased a seat in advance.” If customers want to alter their automatically allocated seat, they can do so for a charge.
“It stinks. It was awful enough having to compete for a seat 24 hours before the flight. “Just another money grab,” one Facebook user said in response to Berlinquette’s post.
“It’s frustrating when traditional airlines behave like budget airlines,” a Reddit user commented on April 24. “They have abolished free checked baggage, and now they have removed the chance to select free seats upon check-in. “What will happen next?”
I don’t know why everyone is mad at @AirCanada for introducing another junk fee. They have been trending towards the bottom end of the discount airline market since their last bailout. Their service, food, on time rating, cleanliness, and generally quality is horrible.
— Kritical Defiance (@KriticalDave) April 25, 2024
The message, which said that the change will take effect on April 24, sparked a flood of complaints from furious customers on Facebook, X, and Reddit.
So Air Canada can now split your party at their discretion to force you to spend money to ensure your party sits together. (Previously it was a safe gamble at 24 hours you could find seats together) pic.twitter.com/rTvxfVqqGy
— Steven Clark (@TheFwordNB) April 25, 2024
Following significant criticism, Air Canada sent a comment (opens in a new tab) to airline industry news website Pax News, confirming the policy change.
“What has changed, and is consistent with our branded fares, is that after seats are assigned at check-in for no fee, customers who now wish to change to a different seat from the one we assigned them will have to pay the same fee they would have paid prior to check-in,” the airline wrote to Pax News. The airline would continue to assign seats to ensure families on the same booking are seated together for no fee, as per Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations.
“This is the practice at other airlines, including some in Canada.”
However, on April 26, Air Canada suspended the new cost. The flag carrier refused to clarify whether consumer backlash had influenced the decision and declined to address CTVNews.ca’s queries about why it had implemented the fee and how long the pause would stay.
“We paused the implementation for operational reasons to ensure a smooth rollout for our customers and employees,” an unnamed spokesman told CTVNews.ca in an email on Monday.
“We will communicate next steps at the appropriate time.”
Air Canada would not be the first Canadian airline to impose a price for seat selection after check-in. However, airlines that charge a seat selection fee, such as Flair and Porter, are typically low-cost carriers with lower base tickets than Canada’s flag carrier.
One exception is WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline after Air Canada, which charges a price for seat selection.
Source: Reuters, CTV
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced Thursday that the company will invest $2.2 billion over the next four years in Malaysia’s new cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure, as well as cooperate with the government to develop a national AI center.
It is Microsoft’s single greatest investment in Malaysia as the tech giant looks to increase support for AI development in the region and worldwide.
Economic Times – VOR News Image
Microsoft Will Invest $2.2 Billion In Cloud And AI Services In Malaysia
“We are committed to supporting Malaysia’s AI transformation and ensuring it benefits all Malaysians,” the prime minister added. Our investments in digital infrastructure and skilling will help Malaysian businesses, communities, and developers apply the latest technology to drive inclusive economic growth and innovation across the country.”
During a visit to Indonesia on Tuesday as part of his Southeast Asia tour, Nadella announced a $1.7 billion investment in cloud and AI services. On Wednesday, he announced that Microsoft would establish its first regional data center in Thailand.
In April, the IT behemoth announced a $2.9 billion investment in Japan and a $1.5 billion investment in Abu Dhabi-based AI business G42.
Business – VOR News Image
Microsoft Will Invest $2.2 Billion In Cloud And AI Services In Malaysia
Nadella previously met with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who stated that the investment will be a critical support pillar for the government’s goal of increasing AI capabilities in Malaysia.
Anwar announced on Facebook that the new investment will involve:
- AI training for another 300,000 individuals.
- The construction of a national AI center of excellence.
- The dancing the nation’s cybersecurity capabilities and ass.
Assistance with with Malaysia’s developer community.
Microsoft operates one of the world’s largest cloud computing operations and has ventured into artificial intelligence through its cooperation with OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT.Since then, Microsoft has added an AI assistant called Copilot to its Microsoft Edge browser, which helped it increase revenues by 20% in the first quarter.
CDN – VOR News Image
Microsoft Will Invest $2.2 Billion In Cloud And AI Services In Malaysia
Microsoft sees Southeast Asia, a population of over 600 million people, as a developing market and a possible place for further AI product development. According to a study by multinational consulting firm Kearney, artificial intelligence might add over $1 trillion to Southeast Asia’s GDP by 2030. Indonesia is anticipated to receive $366 billion, followed by Malaysia with $115 billion.
Microsoft stated that the investment in Malaysia will supplement its 2021 agenda to promote equitable economic growth. It stated that the proposed national AI center will accelerate AI deployment in major businesses and the public sector while assuring AI governance and regulatory compliance.
“Together with Microsoft, we look forward to creating more opportunities for our (small and medium-sized enterprises) and better paying jobs for our people as we ride the AI revolution to fast-track Malaysia’s digitally empowered growth journey,” Zafrul Aziz, trade minister of Malaysia
SOURCE – (AP)
Business
Luxury Jewelry Maker Cartier Doesn’t Give Stuff Away, But They Pretty Much Did For One Man In Mexico
MEXICO CITY — Cartier, the luxury jewelry brand, is not known for giving out gifts, but in the case of one Mexican guy, they pretty much did.
Rogelio Villarreal was browsing Cartier’s website when he stumbled upon an offer that appeared too good to be true. “I broke out in a cold sweat,” he posted on his X account, previously known as Twitter.
Ny Post – VOR News Image
Luxury Jewelry Maker Cartier Doesn’t Give Stuff Away, But They Pretty Much Did For One Man In Mexico
Cartier made a mistake and advertised gold-and-diamond earrings for 237 pesos ($14) rather than the exact price of 237,000 pesos ($14,000). Villarreal ordered two sets.
What ensued was months of back-and-forth, during which he claimed Cartier offered him a consolation gift instead of the jewelry, and Mexican officials supported his argument that the corporation should uphold the listed price.
Villarreal eventually received the earrings last week at his price, and he posted a video online of himself unwrapping them. But he quickly grew tired of the public attention, realizing that not all that glitters is gold, and posted on Monday, “Alright already, talk about something else, I’m tired of the earrings being the only thing anyone knows about my personality.”
Villarreal’s case had become a lightning rod online during a particularly polarizing period in Mexico, ahead of the June 2 presidential elections.
Some onlookers chastised Villarreal for taking advantage of what they perceived as a genuine error by the high-end jewelry manufacturer. Some claimed he should return the earrings or pay taxes on them. Some called him a thief.
Jeb – VOR News Image
Luxury Jewelry Maker Cartier Doesn’t Give Stuff Away, But They Pretty Much Did For One Man In Mexico
Villarreal, a doctor doing his medical residency, claimed he had to fight for months to get the company to deliver and that it offered to give him a bottle of champagne instead.
The corporation did not reply to inquiries for comment.
“I have the worst luck in the world, and I’ve never made any money, and what I do have is because I bought it,” Villarreal posted on social media. However, he could now purchase two $14,000 sets of earrings for only around $28.
He says he gave one of them to his mom.
“It feels great and it’s cool not to be the underdog for once in my life,” Villarreal said.
Profeco’s representative, Jesús Montaño, validated Villarreal’s account of his struggle.
Ebay – VOR News Image
Luxury Jewelry Maker Cartier Doesn’t Give Stuff Away, But They Pretty Much Did For One Man In Mexico
“He filed a complaint in December,” Montaño explained. “There is a conciliation hearing scheduled for May 3, but the consumer already received his purchase.”
When asked about ethics, Montaño stated that corporations “have to respect the published price.” If an error occurs, “it’s not the consumer’s fault.”
SOURCE – (AP)
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