• Blue Origin announced new crewmembers for its next space mission, NS-32.
• It will be the first mission since its April mission, which sent Katy Perry and Lauren Sánchez into space.
• This crew includes business figures, entrepreneurs, and space enthusiasts.

Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin has announced the crew for its next space mission, which includes business leaders, space enthusiasts, and entrepreneurs.

It's a very different lineup from the crew on the previous mission, which included Katy Perry and Lauren Sánchez.

This is who is going on Blue Origin's 32nd flight for an 11-minute journey into space. The launch date is yet to be announced.

Mark Rocket

Mark Rocket is an entrepreneur and the CEO of Kea Aerospace, a company that sends remotely piloted aircraft into the stratosphere to collect aerial imagery and data.

In 2007, he was a seed investor of Rocket Lab — an aerospace manufacturer and launch service provider — where he served as a co-director up until 2011, per his personal website.

The company also sends high-altitude balloons to test communications, thermal modeling, and navigation.

Rocket changed his surname to match his passion, per 1News. The trip will make him the first New Zealander in space.

Jesse Williams

Jesse Williams, a Canadian entrepreneur, is the CEO of Car History Group — a company that provides public information about vehicles to prospective buyers.

He claims on his LinkedIn profile to have launched his first business at the age of 15 and that his other ventures include eDirect, WuYi Tea, Dazzle White, and Penguin Leads.

Paul Jeris

Paul Jeris, whose father was a NASA engineer, is a real estate businessman, entrepreneur, and world traveler who has visited more than 149 countries, per Blue Origin.

In an interview after the news, he told Fox 8 News that he was "so excited" when he received the call.

He said he was inspired from a young age as he watched historic launches such as Apollo and Viking.

Amette Medina Jorge

Amette Medina Jorge, a STEM teacher at Odyssey Academy in Galveston, Texas, has led more than 60 experiments focusing on space and zero gravity and performed in-flight 3D printing as part of a parabolic Zero-G flight.

In 2013, she received the AIAA and Challenger Center Trailblazing STEM Educator Award, which celebrates those who inspire the next generation of STEM innovators.

Jamie Alemán

Jamie Alemán is a Panamanian attorney and a senior partner at the law firm Alemán, Cordero, Galindo & Lee, which he set up.

He was Panama's ambassador to the US from 2009 to 2011 and was also the country's minister of government and justice in 1988.

Blue Origin said he would be the first person to go to space who has visited all 193 countries recognized by the United Nations, as well as the North and South Poles.

Gretchen Green

Gretchen Green is a radiologist who also serves on the US Space and Rocket Center Education Foundation Board. The Rocket Center cites Gretchen as a four-time Space Camp program alumna.

She set up her company, The Expert Resource, which connects medical expert witnesses with attorneys.

She was one of the first teenagers to bicycle across the US from East to West, per her company's website.

• The EU is bringing in a fee of 2 euros ($2.26) for small packages from the likes of Temu and Shein.
• That's far lower than charges faced by US consumers following decisions by President Donald Trump.
• One commentator said the "pain will be suffered by lower-income households."

European consumers now face a far smaller charge on imports from Chinese retailers than shoppers in the US.

The European Union said on Tuesday it will start imposing a flat fee of 2 euros ($2.26) on parcels worth less than 150 euros imported into the bloc.

About 4.6 billion parcels entered the EU last year, with the vast majority coming from China.

Earlier this month President Donald Trump reduced the tariffs on Chinese imports from 120% to 54%, and maintained the flat fee of $100 per postal item for packages worth less than $800.

Europe's move is a blow to Chinese fast fashion giants such as Shein and Temu, but less so than ending the "de minimis" loophole that had allowed US import duties to be avoided.

Customs and Border Protection data shows that de minimis shipments account for more than 90% of all cargo entering the US.

Trump's move means consumers cannot expect a return to the golden era of cheap clothes and fast delivery.

Rebecca Homkes, a lecturer at London Business School, said: "Consumers will see higher prices and potentially longer shipping times as Shein and others move from direct shipping to sending volumes of goods in containers to the USA to be re-sent from their USA-based warehousing."

In the meantime, shoppers are likely to face fewer options, longer wait times, and fewer bargains.

"The pain will be suffered by lower-income households who relied on small parcels from abroad to stretch the family budget," said Gary C. Hufbauer of the Peterson Institute for International Economics. "This will harm a lot of people who belong to Trump's political base. It makes no sense."

Raj Bhala, Brenneisen Distinguished Professor at the University of Kansas, said the previous 120% level was "essentially prohibitive, so Temu and Shein couldn't ship into the US."

There was no "some chance of retailers not decoupling entirely, perhaps if these retailers can absorb some of that 54% tariff."

• More Americans are searching for property in Scotland, especially the capital Edinburgh.
• Rightmove reported a 19% rise in US inquiries about homes in the UK this year.
• Trump's tariffs and economic uncertainty may be behind the rising US interest in British property.

More Americans appear to be dreaming of Scotland — not just as visitors but as prospective homeowners, according to a UK property portal.

Rightmove revealed a 19% increase in enquiries from the US about buying property in the UK since the start of 2025 compared to the same period — the highest pace since 2017.

Some 28% of US enquiries have been about Scotland — an area closely associated with President Donald Trump. That's slightly more than the proportion asking about homes in London (26%).

Rightmove did not reveal the number of queries it had received and noted that only a small percentage of all UK enquiries came from the US.

Colleen Babcock of Rightmove said that Trump's tariffs had led to "more economic uncertainty globally, and we're starting to see some of the effects of this on the UK property market — whether it's because the UK is seen as a more stable investment opportunity, or whether some buyers are considering a permanent move across the Atlantic."

Trump has long emphasized his Scottish roots. His mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born in a village called Tong, near Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.

In 2006, he Trump strengthened his Scottish connection by purchasing a championship golf resort in Aberdeenshire, later opening the Trump International Gold Links. He then acquired another course in Turnberry.

Edinburgh's castle, great food, and Arthurs Walk, which were featured in the Netflix drama "One Day" have helped raise the profile of the Scottish capital.

Rising interest in Edinburgh could also reflect its lower property prices than central London, Rightmove said.

Glasgow as well as other Scottish regions including Argyll and Bute, and Fife are among those of interest to potential US buyers along with the Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea areas in London.

Glynn Gibb, regional director at real estate agent John D Wood & Co, said, "We're seeing a number of politically motivated relocations —Americans seeking greater stability abroad. There's a noticeable trend of high-net-worth individuals looking to move capital into what they see as a safe and stable market."

Gibb added: "We expect activity to build in the coming months … as more buyers make lifestyle and financial decisions shaped by the political climate in the US."

• Ben Cohen was arrested after interrupting a Senate committee hearing along with other protesters.
• He took action while Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was speaking.
• Ben & Jerry's has a history of activism, including legal action against its owner, Unilever.

Ben Cohen, a cofounder of the ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's, was removed from a Senate committee hearing and arrested on Wednesday after he protested against war in Gaza.

Video of the incident showed him standing with several protesters, with some holding up signs, while Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was speaking.

"Congress sends the bombs that kill children in Gaza and pays with cuts to Medicaid," Cohen shouted as he stood up.

Sen. Bill Cassidy told the group that disruptions wouldn't be permitted and had them removed from the room.

The Capitol Police had told Cohen and others in the room to cease their action.

He was shown outside the committee room with his hands zip-tied behind his back as an officer walked him down the hallway.

Cohen was charged with a misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine or 90 days in jail.

The other protesters face charges including assaulting a police officer or resisting arrest, a statement sent to outlets including Axios says. The Capitol Police didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Cohen posted footage of the incident on X.

In a later interview with NewsNation, Cohen clarified his comments and said Congress had been cutting healthcare for poor kids and was now "using the money they save doing that to bomb other poor kids in Gaza."

Ben & Jerry's is no stranger to political and social activism. In November, the company sued its owner, Unilever, accusing it of silencing its political statements supporting Palestinians.

In another filing in March, Ben & Jerry's accused Unilever of ousting its CEO in an attempt to "silence the social mission."

In 2021, the brand faced backlash for refusing to sell its ice cream in Palestinian territories occupied by Israeli forces.

Israel and Hamas have been engaged in a conflict following the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israeli civilians. A cease-fire and hostage agreement were announced in January, but fighting has continued since then.

• A passenger's battery charger caught fire on a JetBlue flight from Florida to the Bahamas.
• Crew on the Airbus A320-200 put out the fire, which caused smoke in the cabin.
• The Bahamas Air Accident Investigation Authority said it was investigating the incident.

Smoke and flames erupted in the cabin of a JetBlue flight last month after a passenger's portable charger overheated and caught fire in their carry-on luggage.

The flight on April 25, operated by an Airbus A320-200 aircraft, took off from Fort Lauderdale International Airport bound for Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, the Bahamas.

The Bahamas Air Accident Investigation Authority said the plane was about 50 miles from Nassau when a portable charging device ignited, resulting in smoke and flames in the cabin.

Crew put out the fire with water and placed the device in the trash bin of the aircraft's front bathroom, the authority said on its website.

The pilots then contacted air traffic control to advise them of the emergency situation.

The flight landed safely and there were no injuries or serious damage.

The AAIA is investigating the incident, which was first reported by Simple Flying.

It's just another example of the risks posed in the air by rechargeable batteries. They are commonly found in chargers and other electronic devices and can become dangerous if they overheat.

In March last year a Breeze Airways flight made an emergency landing after a passenger's laptop caught fire.

FAA regulations state that devices containing lithium ion or lithium metal batteries — covering everything from laptops and smartphones to electric skateboards — should be put in your carry-on, rather than hold baggage.

JetBlue did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

• A Cathay Pacific flight attendant mistakenly served a glass of white wine to a child in business class.
• His mother said there was a "lack of care" for her son after the incident.
• The airline said it sincerely apologized and had launched an internal review.

Cathay Pacific apologized to a family after a flight attendant mistakenly served a 3-year-old boy a glass of white wine with his meal.

The incident occurred in business class on Flight 255 from Hong Kong to London on April 24.

The child's mother contacted the South China Morning Post after initially posting on a Chinese social media platform.

The woman, whom the publication identified only by the surname Wong, said the child took a sip of what he thought to be water and said it tasted sour. His father then checked the drink and found it was actually wine.

The mother said flight attendants quickly replaced her son's drink with water.

The airline told Business Insider in a statement that the cabin crew put out a call to medical personnel aboard the flight and consulted a ground-based medical service before monitoring the boy's condition for the rest of the flight.

"During the whole process, there was a lack of care for my son," the woman told the SCMP. "They gave me the impression that they were trying to shirk responsibility."

Cathay Pacific said it "sincerely apologises" for the incident.

"We take this matter very seriously and have launched an internal review to ensure appropriate follow-up actions are implemented and goodwill is being offered," the airline said. "We will continue to support and assist the family."

• A British health worker was awarded nearly $40,000 after colleagues compared her to Darth Vader.
• Lorna Rooke's colleague took a "Star Wars"-themed online personality test on her behalf.
• Comparing a coworker to the notorious galactic overlord is "insulting," a judge ruled.

A British healthcare worker was awarded almost $40,000 by a tribunal after colleagues compared her to the "Star Wars" villain Darth Vader.

Lorna Rooke, a worker in Britain's National Health Service, was compensated £28,989.61, or about $39,000, after a colleague completed a "Star Wars"-themed online personality test on her behalf that came to the conclusion that she had the same personality type as Darth Vader.

An employment tribunal in the town of Croydon in South London called the incident a "detriment" to Rooke, meaning she suffered a negative or harmful experience in the workplace.

The incident took place in August 2021 while Rooke was working for the NHS's blood and transplant service, where she had been employed since 2003.

Some of her coworkers took a "Star Wars"-themed Myers-Briggs-style questionnaire — a test that identifies people as one of 16 personality types, for instance, introverts or extroverts, and is meant to help understand personality preferences.

During the test, Rooke was not present when a colleague took it upon herself to stand in her colleague's shoes and answer on her behalf.

Darth Vader, the notorious galactic overlord in the original movies of the "Star Wars" franchise, was described during the personality test as "someone who was a very focused individual who brings the team together."

Rooke said the incident made her "feel unpopular" and added to "stress and anxiety" she said she had within her workplace.

"Darth Vader is a legendary villain of the 'Star Wars' series, and being aligned with his personality is insulting," Judge Kathryn Ramsden said in the court.

Ramsden added that given the results were shared in a group environment, it was "little wonder" that Rooke was "upset" by it.

Rook said during proceedings that the Darth Vader incident was the "last straw," leading her to resign from her job.

The tribunal, however, rejected Rooke's complaint that the incident had a "sufficient effect" on her to resign months later in 2021.

They also said direct disability discrimination was "not well-founded and is dismissed," along with a claim of unfair dismissal.

• "Saturday Night Live" mocked an AI image of Trump as the pope, shared by the president and the White House.
• The image comes just over a week after Trump attended Pope Francis' funeral.
• Trump has jokingly expressed interest in being pope, calling himself his "number one choice."

"Saturday Night Live" wasted no time skewering an AI-generated image of Donald Trump dressed as the pope that was shared by the White House and the president.

In the segment "Weekend Update," SNL star Colin Jost mocked the image of the president wearing ornate white papal robes, saying Trump was apparently "ordering a one-way ticket to hell."

Jost added, "Who posts a photo of themselves dressed like a guy who died a week ago?"

Trump attended Pope Francis' funeral, the 266th head of the Roman Catholic Church, on April 26. On Saturday, Trump and the White House posted an AI-generated image to Instagram.

Jost also took a swipe at Vice President JD Vance, a catholic convert, saying if Trump seriously wants to be the pope, "he should stay away from JD Vance." Vance met Pope Francis the day before his death.

Jost jokingly added that Trump must have walked past the open casket and thought, "Oh, we should do a 'who wore it best?'"

The comedian ended by condemning the picture, saying, "Trump's photo just feels slightly disrespectful."

On Tuesday, on Tuesday, Trump was asked by reporters if he had anyone in mind to be the next pope, to which he jokingly responded: "I'd like to be pope; that would be my number one choice."

SNL wasn't alone in taking aim at Trump's AI image. The New York State Catholic Conference condemned the post on X: "There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President."

"We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us," the group added.

Conservative commentator Bill Kristol, and former chief of staff to the vice president during the Bush administration, asked Vance on X if he was "fine with this disrespect and mocking of the Holy Father?"

Vance hit back, replying to the post, "As a general rule, I'm fine with people telling jokes and not fine with people starting stupid wars that kill thousands of my countrymen."

Elmo turned over to ICE

SNL continued its satire during its "cold-open" segment, referring to Trump's 100 days in office.

Trump, played by James Austin Johnson, bragged that "it's been 100 since I've been president" and signed around 147 executive orders, from "banning paper straws to defunding PBS."

Johnson joked that Elmo, a character from "The Muppets," had been handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement because "L stands for El Salvador."

He also joked, "Recession will now be called 'recess.' Fun, right?… America, get ready for a historically long recess!"

The White House did not immediately respond to a Business Insider request for comment.

• United Airlines will cancel 35 daily round-trip flights from Newark Liberty International Airport.
• CEO Scott Kirby cites the airport's inability to handle the scheduled flight volume.
• The decision comes after more than 20% of FAA staff members walked off the job.

United Airlines is canceling dozens of daily flights to and from Newark Liberty International Airport because the airport "cannot handle the number of planes" coming in and out.

CEO Scott Kirby made the announcement on Friday, citing a staff shortage at the airport's air traffic control.

"Newark airport cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there in the weeks and months ahead," Kirby said in a letter to customers. "We feel like there is no other choice in order to protect our customers."

Air traffic control issues have plagued Newark in recent weeks, causing major delays. In response, many airport workers walked off the job, exacerbating the problem.

"Technology that FAA air traffic controllers rely on to manage the airplanes coming in and out of Newark airport failed, resulting in dozens of diverted flights, hundreds of delayed and canceled flights, and worst of all, thousands of customers with disrupted travel plans," Kirby said in a statement to customers on Friday.

Kirby blamed a "chronically understaffed" air traffic control facility and a lack of intervention as the root causes.

The airline operates around 300 daily round-trip flights on average.

United, which operates as a major hub there, has long pushed the government to reclassify Newark as a "Level 3" airport, which would allow the FAA to limit the number of scheduled flights based on capacity and infrastructure constraints.

Several factors have contributed to the ongoing air traffic controller shortage in the United States. A 2023 report from the Department of Transportation found that the FAA still faced staffing challenges after the COVID-19 pandemic forced a pause on training. The report said the FAA "lacks a plan to address" the staffing issues, which "in turn poses a risk to the continuity of air traffic operations."

Air traffic controllers are also hard to staff because they have specific age requirements. The FAA requires that air traffic controllers retire when they turn 56, and the agency is now only accepting applications from people under the age of 31.

In a call with US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, however, Kirby expressed optimism: "We're pleased that the new administration has put together a proposal for a large, systemwide investment in FAA technology, infrastructure and staffing," he said.

Duffy said Thursday the FAA is on track to hire 2,000 new air traffic controllers this year. His plan also includes monetary incentives of up to $10,000 for academy graduates who are assigned to "hard-to-staff" air traffic facilities. The proposal would also provide financial incentives to staff, reward academy graduates, and expand the number of instructors.

"Today's actions will supercharge the air traffic controller workforce from both retention and hiring side of the equation — bringing us one step closer to reversing decades of staffing declines," Duffy said in a statement.

Duffy added on X: "We are working to harden the system. But this is why it's critical that we build an all-new air traffic control system."

United's CEO unveiled a three-point plan in March to reduce delays. The plan focused on investing in staffing, technology, and facilities, after the company announced it would cut back on its domestic flight schedule by 4% in July.

Newark Liberty International Airport did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

• In recent earnings calls, several airlines have mentioned dips to travel involving the US.
• This was only partly true for Air France-KLM, which noted a rise in flights from the US to Europe.
• British Airways' parent, IAG, says it is seeing "softness" in flights to the US.

Europeans may be losing interest in visiting the US, but Americans still seem keen on flying transatlantic, at least for now.

As airlines have reported quarterly earnings over the past few weeks, several have highlighted dips in bookings to the US while at the same time seeing year-over-year increases in bookings to other regions — including from the US to Europe.

Air France-KLM, Europe's second-largest airline company by revenue, on April 30 said bookings on flights from Europe to the US in May and June were down 2.4% compared with the same period last year while those in the opposite direction had risen 2.1%.

Europeans instead seem to be looking anywhere else for their summer travels. The airline group's bookings from Europe to the rest of the world were up 9.2%, with a 7.3% increase the other way.

"Europe is holding up against the turmoil with inbound traffic from both the United States and the rest of the world showing growth compared to last year," CEO Ben Smith said on an earnings call.

Germany's Lufthansa Group, Europe's biggest airline company by revenue, is seeing similar trends.

CEO Carsten Spohr said on an April 29 earnings call that Americans were more willing to spend than Europeans but that the group was still seeing fewer bookings in the US.

"Bookings have slightly softened in the US," he said, "destinations to and from."

This week, IAG, the parent company of British Airways, released its first-quarter results. The company reported strong overall performance, with revenue growing by 9.6% compared with the same period last year, but it too mentioned US-related frailty.

CEO Luis Gallego said that while demand for travel in Latin America and Europe continued to be "strong," the company had been "mitigating some recent softness in US point-of-sale economy leisure" with strong sales in premium cabins.

"We continue to see resilient demand for air travel across all our markets, particularly in the premium cabins and despite the macroeconomic uncertainty," Gallego said.

Tighter immigration rules in the US in particular are thought to have made some European travelers wary.

In an interview with Bloomberg in early April, the CEO of the hospitality firm Accor spoke of declining bookings he attributed to a "bad buzz," with widely publicized reports of Europeans being turned away at the US border.

For example, France's higher-education minister told Agence France-Presse that a scientist was denied entry to the US after he was found to have sent texts criticizing Donald Trump.

The US president's tariff plan has also caused economic uncertainty. Leisure travel is one of the first things to suffer in such cases because it's nonessential and is relatively easy for consumers to forgo.

At the same time, people have also been more willing to pay for experiences since the pandemic, and premium cabins for leisure travel have been more resilient.

But with the economic uncertainty set to continue and the impact of tariffs yet to be fully realized, some analysts think the worst is yet to come for airlines.

"At the moment, the US carriers and Lufthansa have pointed towards resilient premium leisure demand," Andrew Lobbenberg, a Barclays analyst, wrote in a note on April 29. "We continue to think this will weaken due to wealth effects."

In a separate note a day later, he added that Barclays analysts were "bearish" for transatlantic routes.

Correction: May 9, 2025 — An earlier version of this story misstated some of the dates involved. Air France-KLM reported its earnings on April 30, not this past Wednesday, while Lufthansa Group reported its earnings on April 29, not this past Tuesday. Andrew Lobbenberg similarly published his note on April 29.

• President Donald Trump condemned Russia's deadly air strikes on civilian areas in Ukraine.
• Trump accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of "tapping" him along amid fragile peace talks.
• His comments came hours after meeting Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Pope Francis' funeral.

President Donald Trump accused Russian leader Vladimir Putin of "tapping me along" amid fragile peace talks to end the war in Ukraine.

"There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities, and towns over the last few days," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Saturday.

"It makes me think that maybe he doesn't want to stop the war, he's just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through 'Banking' or 'Secondary Sanctions?' Too many people are dying!!!" Trump added.

Trump's comments came a few hours after he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday. The two men were photographed sitting across from each other at the funeral of Pope Francis, the 266th head of the Roman Catholic Church.

The meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy marked their first diplomatic encounter since a tense exchange at the White House two months ago. During the televised disagreement on February 28, Trump told Zelenskyy: "You're either going to make a deal, or we're out."

"We discussed a lot one-on-one," Zelenskyy posted on X. "Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional cease-fire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out. Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results."

Late Friday, the president posted on Truth Social: "A good day in talks and meetings with Russia and Ukraine. They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to 'finish it off.'"

Trump hinted that negotiations were nearing a breakthrough, saying "most of the major points are agreed to," though he didn't provide specifics on the terms.

The US president has acknowledged that the peace talks have become "very fragile" and warned that the US will halt its mediation efforts if they fail to reach an agreement.

Ongoing peace negotiations

During his election campaign in 2023, Trump pledged to "settle" the war within the first 24 hours as president. However, negotiations are still ongoing as Ukrainians, Russians, Americans, and Europeans fail to come to a consensus on the terms of the deal.

Trump demanded on April 23 that Ukraine allow Russia the territories it has gained since the invasion. The US also proposed a plan that prevents Ukraine from NATO membership, a rare earths deal, and for Ukraine to accept Russia's annexation of Crimea, per The New York Times.

Ukraine rejected the proposal to accept Russia's annexation, which has become a key issue in the negotiations. Zelenskyy said Ukraine will not concede any territory to Russia.

"The United States rejects Russia's attempted annexation of Crimea and pledges to maintain this policy until Ukraine's territorial integrity is restored," Zelenskyy wrote in an April 23 post on X.

On April 24, Russian forces launched deadly missile and drone strikes against Kyiv, killing at least 12 people and injuring 90.

In a rare rebuke against Putin, Trump condemned the strikes in a post on Truth Social, saying he is "not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv."

"Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP!" Trump wrote, "5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let's get the Peace Deal DONE!"

On April 1, US senators introduced legislation that would authorize sanctions against Russia if the country refuses to maintain a peace deal and engage in peace talks.

"The sanctions against Russia require tariffs on countries that purchase Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other products," the senators said in a statement. "They are hard-hitting for a reason."

But it is unclear if Trump intends to impose new sanctions.

• A flight from LA to Munich had to divert when someone's tablet became jammed in a business class seat.
• The Lufthansa Airbus A380 flight diverted to Boston over fears the lithium battery would overheat.
• The diversion meant a three-hour delay to the passengers' journey.

A Lufthansa flight carrying 461 passengers had to divert after someone's tablet became "jammed" in a business-class seat.

The Airbus A380 took off from Los Angeles on Wednesday, bound for Munich, and had been flying for around three hours when the pilots diverted to Boston Logan International Airport.

In a statement to Business Insider, an airline spokesperson said the tablet had become "jammed in a Business Class seat" and had "already shown visible signs of deformation due to the seat's movements" when the flight diverted. Simply Flying, which first reported the news, said the device was an iPad.

The decision to divert was taken "to eliminate any potential risk, particularly with regard to possible overheating," the spokesperson added, saying that it was the joint decision of the crew and air traffic control.

Lithium batteries pose a safety risk if damaged, punctured, or crushed, as they can lead to thermal runaway — a chain reaction that causes the battery to overheat, possibly catching fire or exploding.

"At Lufthansa, the safety of our passengers and crew is always our top priority. The diversion was a purely precautionary measure," the airline said.

After the flight landed in Boston, a Lufthansa Technik team then safely removed and inspected the damaged tablet, the airline said.

The flight continued and arrived in Munich on Thursday after a three-hour delay to what would have been an 11-hour transatlantic flight.

In a confined space like an aircraft cabin, a lithium battery fire poses a serious hazard to the passengers onboard.

Last year, a Breeze Airways flight from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh had to make an emergency landing in Albuquerque after a passenger's laptop caught fire.

• US-based appliance firm Whirlpool says it will be a "net winner" from Trump's tariffs.
• Whirlpool produces around 80% of its products in the US, it said in a presentation this week.
• "Expect tariff policies to level the playing field for domestic producers," it said.

US-based appliance company Whirlpool says it will be one of the winners of President Donald Trump's global trade battle.

"With 80% domestic production, Whirlpool is a net winner of new tariff policies!" — the company said in a presentation released alongside its first quarter this week.

Whirlpool manufactures kitchen and laundry appliances, operating brands including KitchenAid, Whirlpool, and JennAir.

"Expect tariff policies to level the playing field for domestic producers," the presentation, which was positive about Trump's tariffs, said.

In the same presentation, Whirlpool accused companies producing products in Asia of exploiting "loopholes" since 2020 that enable them to make the same product for a cheaper cost, with a $70-per-unit price difference.

From cheaper steel prices and no steel tariffs paid on components in Asia's supply chain, Whirlpool believes the tariffs will "eliminate this unfair disadvantage."

To mitigate the impact of the tariffs, the company announced a price increase for components in April.

Whirlpool has 10 production plants based in the US, and around 80% of its products are assembled and sold in the US.

"New reciprocal tariffs begin leveling the playing field, and additional US trade actions will better support American manufacturing."

"We continue to stay focused on what is within our control in this dynamic environment and successfully implemented previously announced pricing actions," said Jim Peters, Whirlpool's chief financial and administrative officer.

Whirlpool released its Q1 earnings on Wednesday. It revealed net sales declined by 19.4% as the "threat of retaliatory tariffs, started to impact our business in Canada."

• Gucci sales fell 25% in the first quarter to 1.6 billion euros.
• The decline contributed to a 14% decrease in owner Kering's revenues for the first three months.
• CEO François-Henri Pinault said Kering faced a "difficult start to the year" as anticipated.

Gucci sales plunged in the first three months of the year as the luxury downturn showed no signs of abating.

The worse-than-expected 25% slide to 1.6 billion euros (about $1.8 billion) contributed to a 14% drop in owner Kering's revenues to 3.9 billion euros.

It continues a trend that began last year for Gucci and Kering.

"As we had anticipated, Kering faced a difficult start to the year," CEO François-Henri Pinault said in a press release on Wednesday.

"We are increasing our vigilance to weather the macroeconomic headwinds our industry faces, and I am convinced that we will come out stronger from the present situation."

Yves Saint Laurent sales fell 9% in the first quarter, while Bottega Veneta and Other Houses rose 4% and 11% respectively.

Kering stock fell 3.5% in Paris on Thursday, bringing the decline this year to more than 28% and 48% over the past 12 months.

Recession fears and the impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs are among the factors that have dampened luxury spending in markets such as Asia and North America.

Kering reported a 25% decline in the Asia-Pacific region, in line with trends for the last three months of 2024. Western Europe and North America were both down 13%), with Japan declining 11%.

Kering's rival LVMH, which owns brands including Givenchy and Fendi, said this month that first-quarter sales fell 3%, compared with the 2% rise forecast by analysts.

Pinault said in February that Kering had "no plans" to move production out of Europe to counter tariff threats.

Last month Kering announced the appointment of Demna Gvasalia, formerly at Balenciaga, as Gucci's new artistic director in an attempt to revive the brand.

The move followed a shift in consumer preferences away from the brand's eclectic and maximalist aesthetic, which had previously defined its identity.

Younger consumers are now gravitating toward quieter, minimalist luxury, championed by brands such as Miu Miu and Loewe.

Analysts at Deutsche Bank said the case for investing in Kering was "uncertain at this point given the change in creative designer leading to a 'wait and see' approach. The sequential slowdown in all regions except Asia is slightly worse than peers."

• President Donald Trump received a standing ovation as he stepped out at UFC 314 in Miami on Saturday.
• Trump told reporters after the event that the reception was a sign "we're doing a good job."
• The president was joined by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and others.

President Donald Trump received a standing ovation as he walked out at UFC 314 in Miami on Saturday night.

Flanked by family members and UFC CEO Dana White, the president made his way ringside to a rousing rendition of Kid Rock's "American Bad Ass" and thunderous applause from the onlooking crowd.

"Is there anybody else that has a walk-in, other than a fighter?" UFC commentator and podcast host Joe Rogan asked.

Before long, chants of "USA" began to fill the arena as Trump greeted Rogan, who interviewed Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign, and took his seat next to embattled Tesla CEO Elon Musk — the de facto leader of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency.

Also present were Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; FBI director Kash Patel; Secretary of State Marco Rubio; and Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence.

As if the crowd wasn't already fired up enough, Trump also later gave them a brief tease of his somewhat iconic dance to the Village People's "YMCA."

Speaking after the event on board Air Force One, the reception wasn't lost on Trump.

"What did you think of the reaction?" he asked, adding that he thought it was "legendary."

"It's a great honor to have that kind of ovation," he continued. "It says we're doing a good job. If we weren't doing a good job, we'd get the opposite."

Trump is no stranger to the UFC.

He's made a string of appearances at fights over the years, including a surprise arrival at UFC 309 after his election win in November, when he was again joined by Musk and other allies and again enjoyed a rapturous welcome.

It comes after a wild week in financial markets that saw Trump call for a 90-day pause to his higher rate "reciprocal" import tariffs after chaos hit both the stock and bond markets.

On Saturday, the US announced that it would exempt some key tech products, like smartphones, computers, and chip-making equipment, from Trump's sweeping tariffs, in a major boost for the tech sector.

The new guidance, published by the US Customs and Border Protection, appears to exempt the products from Trump's baseline 10% tariff rate on most countries as well higher duties on China.

On Sunday, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce said the US's decision marked a "small step" toward rectifying what it regards as a misguided policy, per Chinese state news.

• President Donald Trump on Friday teased that his baseline 10% tariff rate could have "exceptions."
• The exemptions would apply "for obvious reasons," Trump said, without elaborating.
• The Treasury secretary said this week that around 70 countries were looking to negotiate tariffs.

President Donald Trump on Friday teased that his sweeping baseline 10% tariff on most trading partners could have "a couple of exceptions."

Speaking to reporters on board Air Force One as he made his way to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump said 10% was "pretty close" to a floor for those looking to make a deal.

"There could be a couple of exceptions for, you know, obvious reasons, but I would say 10% is a floor," he told reporters, without elaborating.

The 10% baseline rate, announced as part of the president's "Liberation Day" tariffs, came into effect on April 5. Higher duties on certain countries also began on April 9 before Trump called for a 90-day pause.

The policy changes have fueled wild volatility in both stock and bond markets this week and drawn concern from economists and some notable names on Wall Street.

Pressed on what he thought about the market reaction, Trump told reporters Friday: "I think people are seeing we're in great shape. We're making a lot of money as a country now."

"I think the bond market's going good. It had a little moment but I solved that problem very quickly. I'm very good at that stuff you know," he added.

Earlier this week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US had about "70 negotiations lined up" with foreign governments to discuss trade deals.

While Trump agreed to pause the implementation of his tariffs for many countries while negotiations take place, the burgeoning trade war between the United States and China has continued to escalate.

China on Friday raised its total retaliatory levies on US imports to 125% following the Trump administration's Thursday statement that US duties on Beijing had increased to 145%.

Speaking on Air Force One, Trump nevertheless appeared hopeful a deal could be reached and touted his "very good" relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Elsewhere in the interview, the president was also keen to share loose details of his annual physical, the results of which he said would likely be released Sunday.

"Overall, I felt I was in very good shape. Good heart. A good soul. Very good soul," he said, before taking the opportunity to rib former President Joe Biden.

"I wanted to be a little different than Biden. I took a cognitive test and I don't know what to tell you other than I got every answer right," Trump added.

Representatives for the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

• A tourism helicopter crashed in the Hudson River on Thursday, killing three adults and three children.
• A Siemens executive, his wife, and their three children were among the dead, a company spokesperson said.
• The NTSB said the aircraft was not equipped with any flight recorders and was on its eighth flight of the day.

The National Transportation Safety Board said on Saturday that the helicopter involved in a crash that killed six people in New York earlier this week was not equipped with any flight recorders and that the accident occurred during the aircraft's eighth flight of the day.

"No onboard video recorders or camera recorders have been recovered and none of the helicopter avionics onboard recorded information that could be used for the investigation," the NTSB said in an update.

It added that the helicopter had completed seven tour flights on the day of the crash and that its last "major" inspection took place on March 1.

A Siemens executive, his wife, their three children, and a pilot were killed when a tourism helicopter plummeted into the Hudson River near Manhattan on Thursday.

Agustín Escobar, 49, had been the global CEO of the rail unit for Siemens Mobility. His wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal, also worked for the company as the global commercialization manager for its energy division.

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic helicopter crash in which Agustin Escobar and his family lost their lives. Our heartfelt condolences go out to all their loved ones," a Siemens spokesperson said on Friday.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams told a press conference on Thursday night that four people were pronounced dead at the scene, and two were taken to the hospital where they later died.

The pilot, who has been identified as US Navy veteran Sean Johnson, was the other victim.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the helicopter involved was a Bell 206, and that the NTSB would lead the investigation.

The NTSB said on X that it was "launching a go-team" to investigate the crash.

Videos posted on social media appeared to show the helicopter's rotor disconnected from the rest of the aircraft, spinning mid-air as the cabin plunged into the water.

Officials said that it appeared the helicopter, which was operated by New York Helicopters Tour Company, had lost control.

In a statement Friday, New York Helicopter Tours said it was "profoundly saddened by the tragic accident and loss of life that occurred on April 10, 2025, involving one of our helicopters in the Hudson River."

"The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew has always been the cornerstone of our operations. Our immediate focus is supporting the families and their loved ones affected by this tragedy, as well as fully cooperating with the FAA and NTSB investigations," it continued.

The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Calls to the helicopter's registered owner, a Louisiana firm, were unanswered.

The NTSB said Saturday that the helicopter's main fuselage, the forward portion of the tail boom, the horizontal stabilizer finlets, and the vertical fin had been recovered, but that divers were continuing to search for the main rotor, main gear box, tail rotor, and a large section of the tail boom.

A recent spate of plane crashes has raised awareness of aviation safety.

The Hudson River sees heavy helicopter traffic between airports and tourist flights over landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty. Pilots are required to use specific corridors.

In 2018, five people died after a helicopter made an emergency landing in the East River and flipped upside down, trapping the passengers inside.

The following year a helicopter crash-landed on the roof of a skyscraper, killing the pilot.

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appeared on NBC News' "Meet the Press" on Sunday.
• Bessent discussed President Donald Trump's tariffs and this week's stock market sell-off.
• He rejected warnings of a recession and said more than 50 nations were trying to negotiate tariffs.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appeared on NBC News' "Meet the Press" on Sunday, facing some pointed questions about the two-day stock market crash that followed President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff announcement this week.

During the interview, Bessent told host Kristen Welker that Trump's sweeping levies were necessary and pushed back at warnings of a recession.

"I see no reason that we have to price in a recession," he said.

"What we're looking at is building the long-term economic fundamentals for prosperity," he added.

Pressed whether Trump's latest barrage of tariffs would be permanent or whether they were simply a negotiating tactic, Bessent said Trump had "created maximum leverage for himself" and that over 50 countries were trying to negotiate the duties.

"More than 50 countries have approached the administration about lowering their non-tariff trade barriers, lowering their tariffs, stopping currency manipulation," he said, adding that any talks would take time.

Elsewhere in the interview, Bessent attempted to reassure Americans concerned about the potential impact to their retirement plans.

The Treasury Secretary said it was a "false narrative" that people looking to retire in the near future may be apprehensive about doing so after their retirement savings may have taken a hit in the stock market this week.

"Americans who want to retire right now, the Americans who put away for years in their savings accounts, I think they don't look at the day-to-day fluctuations," Bessent said.

"In fact, most Americans don't have everything in the market," he continued. "The reason the stock market is considered a good investment is because it's a long-term investment. If you look day to day, week to week, it's very risky."

Trump announced his "Liberation Day" tariffs on Wednesday, and a baseline 10% rate on trading partners came into effect on Saturday. Some nations, such as Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, are set to face far higher rates that are set to begin on April 9.

Vietnam said on Sunday that it was prepared to negotiate to remove all tariffs on US goods as it seeks to delay the 46% levy on Vietnamese imports set out by the Trump administration.

A special envoy from Vietnam will head to the US to continue talks on the matter, a senior Vietnamese official said, according to a government press release.

• Vietnam is "ready" to negotiate to remove all US import tariffs, a senior official said Sunday.
• It is also seeking a delay to the 46% import levy announced by President Donald Trump.
• The statement confirms comments made by Trump on Friday.

Vietnam is looking to negotiate to remove all US import tariffs as it pushes for a delay to levies announced by President Donald Trump earlier this week, a senior official said Sunday.

Bui Thanh Son, one of Vietnam's several deputy prime ministers, said during a reception for the US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper that the government was ready to work out a deal to reduce the tariffs on US goods to 0%.

He also called for a delay to Trump's 46% levy on Vietnamese imports — announced as part of Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs — "to create an environment conducive for the two sides' tax negotiations," according to a government press release.

To Lam, the head of Vietnam's Communist Party, has sent a special envoy to the US to continue talks on the matter, Bui said.

Lam has reportedly requested that Trump postpone the tariffs by at least 45 days after April 9.

Bui's statement confirms comments made by Trump in a Truth Social post on Friday.

The president said he had held a "very productive call" with Lam, who he said told him that Vietnam wanted to make an arrangement to cut tariffs on US goods to zero.

Nike, which has key manufacturing facilities in Vietnam, saw its stock surge on the back of Trump's post.

Trump's baseline 10% tariff rates came into force Saturday. Higher rates on certain nations, such as Vietnam, are set for April 9.

• UK carmaker Jaguar Land Rover is pausing shipments to the US in April over US tariffs.
• President Donald Trump introduced a 25% levy on imported cars that came into effect on Thursday.
• Jaguar Land Rover said the US remained an important market.

British luxury automaker Jaguar Land Rover is halting shipments of its cars to the US this month as it navigates President Donald Trump's new 25% tariff on imported automobiles.

In a statement Saturday, a spokesperson for the company told Business Insider: "The USA is an important market for JLR's luxury brands. As we work to address the new trading terms with our business partners, we are enacting our short-term actions including a shipment pause in April, as we develop our mid- to longer-term plans."

The Times of London first reported the pause.

JLR said in a separate statement on Wednesday that its brands were "accustomed to changing market conditions" and that it was prioritizing "delivering for our clients around the world and addressing these new US trading terms."

The company, which employs almost 40,000 people across the world, is one of the UK's most iconic carmakers and has long been popular with celebrities in both Britain and the US. JLR's retail sales were up 21.7% to just over 430,000 vehicles in the fiscal year 2023 to 2024, including roughly 95,000 in North America, according to its annual report.

JLR's decision to pause US shipments follows a massive global stock market sell-off sparked by Trump's slew of new tariffs, which he announced this week.

A baseline 10% tariff on trading partners came into effect on Saturday, while higher levies on some nations are set to begin on April 9.

While Trump sees the duties as a means of bolstering domestic investment and "supercharging" the economy, many analysts are questioning the potential economic consequences.