United Airlines shares down, loses about $800 million

EFT Report, New York: As outrage over an Asian doctor's forcible removal from a flight continued to spread on social media, shares of the United Airlines (UAL) plunged nearly four per cent in the morning session on Tuesday.

The company lost about $800 million in total value in the morning session, Xinhua news agency reported.

A video released on social media showed that a bloodied passenger was dragged off a United Express flight by the aviation security officers, after he refused to give up his seat.

According to Chicago Tribune, the incident happened on a United flight at Chicago's O' Hare international airport on Sunday evening. 

United Airlines had the flight overbooked and asked for four volunteers to give up their seats to United employees, after everyone boarded the flight.

The passenger said he was a doctor and had to be in Louisville on Monday for work, according to a Twitter account by a passenger on board.

Videos taken by other passengers on the same flight drew more than a million hits on social media, with many criticizing United Airline's handling of the incident.

United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz apologized on Monday for having to "re-accommodate" the customers in an overbooked flight.

However, in a letter to its employees, Munoz said: "Our employees followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this. While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you." 

Around mid day, shares of UAL tumbled 3.9 per cent to $68.72 apiece.

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Canadian PM announces agreement on strengthened Canada Pension Plan

EFT Report, Ottawa: The Government of Canada is committed to helping ensure that, after a lifetime of hard work, Canadians have a secure and dignified retirement. This security starts with a strong and stable pension plan.

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, is proud to announce today that the Government has reached a milestone in improving retirement outcomes for hardworking Canadians, one that will enable them to retire with more money in their pockets.

Following confirmation today from British Columbia, all nine participating provinces have now agreed to move forward with strengthening the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). The Government of Canada is advancing legislation to enact the CPP enhancement, which will be introduced in Parliament shortly.

This strengthened CPP will mean greater income security for future retirees. The changes to the CPP will be phased in gradually over seven years, from 2019 to 2025.

Quotes

“We promised that we would provide hardworking Canadians across the country with a more secure and dignified retirement. Today we kept that promise. This stronger and more stable pension program will help middle class Canadians enjoy their retirement years as they should – enjoying their health and families – instead of worrying about making ends meet.”

—The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

“This is yet another example of how much we can accomplish for our citizens when there is close collaboration between provinces, territories and the federal government on common goals.”

—The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Quick Facts

• The CPP is a portable, low-cost and modest pension that pools risk among contributors and pays a predictable and lifetime benefit to Canadians when they retire. Once fully in place, an enhanced CPP will put up to 50% more into the pockets of future retirees.
• It applies to all Canadians, except workers in Quebec, who contribute to the Quebec Pension Plan, which provides similar benefits to the current CPP.
• The new CPP will increase the share of eligible annual earnings received during retirement from one-quarter to one-third. It will also increase by 14 per cent the maximum income range covered by the CPP.
• To ensure that Canadians and the businesses they work for can adjust to these changes, the CPP enhancement will be introduced through a 7-year gradual phase-in starting on January 1, 2019.  
• To offset the impact of increased contributions on eligible low-income workers, the Government of Canada will enhance the Working Income Tax Benefit.
• In addition, employee contributions to the enhanced portion of the CPP will be tax deductible in order to avoid increasing the after-tax cost of saving for Canadians.

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£4M to Stay Away From Rivals That's What Man Utd Paid Jose Mourinho

EFT Report, London: English club Manchester United, who have missed out on a top-four spot for the second time in three seasons, reportedly paid former Chelsea FC manager Jose Mourinho a staggering £4million not to take a job elsewhere. The said agreement happened midway through the season as Manchester United deliberate upon Louis van Gaal’s future at Old Trafford.

Despite winning the FA Cup on Saturday, Louis van Gaal will be leaving Old Trafford after a torrid two season spell that saw him spent over £250million on new players. It was an open secret that United’s players had become disillusioned with Van Gaal’s training methods and tactics, frustrated with his rigid way of thinking and unwillingness to change. This season United managed just 49 goals in the Premier League, their lowest goal tally in 26 years and finished 15 points behind champions Leicester City.

LvG and Mourinho

According to reports, Jose Mourinho will be on a £75million five-year deal and he will have £200million in his kitty to spend on new players as United plot a route back to the top of the English game. 

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Daniel Craig Turns Down £68M Deal For Two More Bond Films’

EFT Report, London: Daniel Craig, who helped the Bond franchise make over £2billion in box office revenue, has turned down a whooping £68million offer from MGM studio to reprise the role of  the savvy, smooth-talking British spy agent James Bond for two more films. The 48-year-old actor, who has played Bond since 2005, starting with “Casino Royale” followed by “Quantum of Solace”, “Skyfall" and last year’s “Spectre”, has netted a cool £38million for the four films he has appeared in, apparently making him the highest-paid actor to play the role.

Daniel Craig

Meanwhile, a flurry of random bets have tipped British actor Tom ‘Loki’ Hiddleston to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond.

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CL: Saul Niguez Wonder Strike in Atletico 1-0 Win Over Bayern

EFT Report, Vicente Calderon: Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez scored arguably the goal of the season eleven minutes into the match gliding past four well-oiled Bayern defenders before curling the ball into the corner leaving the world best goal custodian Manuel Neuer high and dry, after that wonder of a strike Bayern never recovered. Diego Simeone’s Atletico defeated Bayern Munich 1-0 in their first leg Champions League semi-final encounter at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday.

Atletico Beat Bayern 1-0 at Vincente Calderon 

Atletico Madrid started the match full of confidence as expected after despatching Barcelona in the previous round. Atletico could have sealed the match and gone 2-0 up in the 30th minute when Antoine Griezmann, the hero of Barcelona match, broke free of the German defence only for defender Javi Martinez to rattle the Frenchman as he shaped to shoot, Neuer pulling off a save at the near post. Pep Guardiola’s Bayern started without Franck Ribery, Mario Gotze and Thomas Muller, who together had scored more goals in the Champions League this season than Atletico.

The semi-final return-leg will be played at Allianz Arena, Munich on May 3. This first-leg match at Vicente Calderon is a stern warning to Pep Guardiola that a daunting task awaits his men at the Allianz Arena next week.

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Dead Music Legend Prince Had AIDS

EFT Report: Music legend Prince, who was known for his sexually stage persona and wild sex life as much as his music, was diagnosed with HIV back in the 1990s that developed into AIDS toward the end of last year, sources claimed. The 57-year-old, a Jehovah's Witness faithful, was diagnosed with the crippling condition just six months before he passed away but had refused treatment because he believed he could be cured by prayer.

Prince

Sources also claim that the singer born Prince Rogers Nelson became addicted to opiate medication Percoet and died of influenza, an infection that would likely have proved fatal if his immune system had been decimated by AIDS. He weighed just 80lbs at the time of his death

Meanwhile the singer's estate is still in limbo after it was revealed he has no signed will. Prince’s $10million Paisley Park estate will be opened to the public as a museum, his brother-in-law has confirmed.

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CL: Madrid Held to a Goalless Draw by City at Etihad

EFT Report, Manchester: Zinedine Zidane’s Madrid and Manuel Pellegrini's City played out one of the most dullest Champions League semis of recent times at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, as Los Blancos were held to a 0-0 draw by Manchester City in their first leg encounter. With no Cristiano Ronaldo, due to a thigh problem, in the starting eleven for the 10 time European Champions, Madrid clearly lacked the finishing touch. The Portuguese superstar have 16 Champions League goals to his credit this season.

Madrid Held to a Goalless Draw by City

The opening 45 minutes saw both sides struggle to create chances with City enjoying more of the possession. Benzema had the best opening in the final minute of the half, but the France international blazed his effort over Hart's goal. City playmaker David Silva limped off before the half after appearing to tweak a hamstring, he is likely to miss the return leg. Benzema, a pre-match doubt with a knee problem, was replaced at half-time by Jese. Sergio Aguero was a no-show with Ramos and Pepe not giving an inch to the Argentine through-out the 90 minute play. Casemiro and Pepe were both denied a late winner by Hart's heroics as it ended all squad at the Etihad.

The second leg of the Champions League semi-final takes place at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, May 4 with everything to play for.

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