Mom furious with United Airlines after boy is placed on wrong international flight: 'Cosmic failure' - Fox News

United Airlines has issued an apology after a 14-year-old boy was reportedly instructed to board the wrong international flight on Sunday.

Anton Berg, of North Carolina, was scheduled to fly from Raleigh to Stockholm, Sweden, via a stop at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey.

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Once at EWR, however, Anton was ushered onto a Eurowings flight headed for Dusseldorf, Germany — rather than the Scandinavian Airlines partner flight he was booked on — despite his parents, Christer and Brenda Berg, paying United an additional $150 to escort the boy to the correct flight, WRAL reports.

Anton alerted his parents to the mix-up via text, but only after he was already on the plane, and began to realize he was on the wrong aircraft.

Brenda Berg claimed on Twitter that she was unable to reach United by phone, to notify them of the mix-up, so she began tweeting directly at the airline, begging for someone to confirm where her son was.

“He is an unaccompanied minor going to ARN. You probably put another kid in his place who is supposed to go to Germany. The ARN is due to take off any second. The Eurowings to DUS has stopped on the runway. Do something! - call me,” she pleaded, all while Anton was sitting on the tarmac.

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Brenda continued tweeting throughout the ordeal, claiming that no one from United had responding, or confirmed whether Anton was off the plane, for over an hour.

Anton eventually did return to the terminal in Newark, she said, though he was still unaccompanied.

Brenda was finally able to reach a representative, who said Anton was being rebooked on a different flight to Copenhagen. He arrived in Stockholm on Monday.

"When somebody says unaccompanied minor, wrong airplane, wrong country, everybody should’ve stepped up and done something," Brenda told WRAL, adding that the screw-up was a "cosmic failure" on United's part.

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Eurowings, meanwhile, said in a statement obtained by Fox News that Anton had “mistakenly received a boarding pass for the [Eurowings] flight,” which was boarding at a neighboring gate to the Scandinavian Airlines flight.

Eurowings said in a statement that he somehow "mistakenly received a boarding pass for the [Eurowings] flight" rather than the scheduled Scandinavian Airlines flight he was scheduled to board. (iStock)

“The boarding for both flights was handled by an external service provider who was in charge for both SAS and Eurowings,” the airline told Fox News. “The passenger mistakenly received a boarding pass for the EW flight to DUS instead of a boarding pass for the SAS flight to Stockholm.”

Eurowings added that the crew “reacted immediately and informed the captain” before the plane turned back for the gate at EWR, where Anton was handed off to Port Authority and Transportation Security Administration staff.

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United has also issued an apology for the incident.

“The safety and well-being of all of our customers is our top priority, and we have been in frequent contact with the young man’s family to confirm his safety and to apologize for this issue,” the airline wrote. “Once Eurowings recognized that he had boarded the wrong aircraft in Newark, the plane returned to the gate — before taking off. Our staff then assisted the young customer to ensure that he boarded the correct rebooked flight later that evening.

“We have confirmed that this young customer safely reached his destination.”

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2019-07-02 15:58:48Z
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Mom fumes as United puts her son on flight to wrong country - New York Post

A 14-year-old boy traveling alone from North Carolina to Sweden was put on the wrong plane during a transfer at Newark Airport, where he alerted the crew on the Germany-bound flight right before takeoff, according to reports.

The comedy of errors involving three airlines began when Anton boarded a United flight on Sunday with a codeshare ticket booked on Scandinavian carrier SAS, which does not have direct service from Raleigh to Stockholm, his mom, Brenda Berg, told Business Insider.

The boy was supposed to be put on an SAS flight to Sweden — but United placed him on a plane operated by German low-cost airline Eurowings bound for Düsseldorf, according to the news outlet.

SAS and Eurowings both operate those flights as codeshares with United.

“We booked him through SAS to visit his grandparents in Sweden,” Berg told USA Today in an email.

“SAS does not have an unaccompanied minor program for a 14-year-old,” she said. “We intentionally booked a long layover in a domestic location, so it would be easy.”

An unaccompanied minor attendant was supposed to take Anton to SAS Flight SK904 to Stockholm, she added.

“According to my son, the UM agent took him from the UM room at Newark to the Eurowings flight to Germany that he boarded,” Berg continued.

“The United agent handed my son’s paperwork to the agent at the gate, who immediately moved him onto the plane, apparently without looking at this UM paperwork.”

When Anton realized he was on the wrong plane, he “contacted a flight attendant, and the plane was turned around,” his mom said.

SAS agents quickly rebooked Anton, but he had to wait more than five hours for the next flight to Stockholm, she said.

A frantic Berg detailed the unfolding fiasco on Twitter.

“@United @SAS my son is in the wrong plane!!! EWR you put him on a plane to Germany!!!!” she wrote.

“They are booking him through Copenhagen. He will have 7hours of additinal (sic) travel. Still NO one has called from @united. I finally got through to a rep after 52 minutes and i am back on hold. Warning to everyone. Never trust @United with your children,” she said in another tweet before finally getting hold of a United manager.

“Ironically, @United if you hadn’t accompanied him, this would never have happened. He wouldn’t have counted on you to know what you were doing. #NeverUnitedAir,” she added.

United’s UM policy states that “this service is required for children ages 5-14 who are traveling alone.”

For $150 each way, the program includes a wristband for a child to wear and special bag tags so United employees can clearly identify them as being unaccompanied.

“Unaccompanied minors can only travel on nonstop United or United Express flights and United does not offer unaccompanied minor service connecting to or from other airlines’ flights,” according to the policy.

A United spokesman told Business Insider that a 14-year-old flying alone would normally not be allowed when an international flight is involved, but that because the ticket was sold by SAS, the check-in agent decided to allow Anton onto the connecting flight with the airport escort service.

The teen’s paperwork contained the correct flight information, but there was a gate change before he arrived at Newark for the connecting flight and the Eurowings plane was sitting at the gate at that point.

The United rep said the flight to Germany was awaiting one more passenger, whose name was similar to Anton’s, and the person escorting the boy assumed the passenger being called on the public address system was the boy.

“The safety and well-being of all of our customers is our top priority, and we have been in frequent contact with the young man’s family to confirm his safety and to apologize for this issue,” United said in a statement.

“Once Eurowings recognized he had boarded the wrong aircraft in Newark, the plane returned to the gate — before taking off. Our staff then assisted the young customer to ensure that he boarded the correct rebooked flight later that evening. We have confirmed that this young customer safely reached his destination.”

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2019-07-02 14:28:00Z
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Elizabeth Warren blasts former FDA commissioner for joining Pfizer's board - STAT

WASHINGTON — Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday called for Scott Gottlieb, who resigned as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration in April, to leave Pfizer’s board of directors.

In a letter, the Massachusetts Democrat applauded Gottlieb’s tenure at FDA but suggested his decision to join the drug giant “smacks of corruption.”

Gottlieb’s decision to join a corporation he once regulated, Warren wrote, “makes the American people rightfully cynical and distrustful about whether high-level Trump Administration officials are working for them, or for their future corporate employers.”

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Warren is among the leading candidates for her party’s presidential nomination in 2020. Many of her legislative priorities in recent years have fallen under FDA’s purview, including an aggressive bill aimed at lowering drug prices and a $100 billion proposal to counter the opioid epidemic.

Gottlieb announced last week that he would join Pfizer’s board beginning June 27, sparking immediate criticism that the company would have unmatched sway with the agency that regulates it. The move also allowed critics of the Trump administration to pounce on the perceived hypocrisy of an official who touted his work to lower drug costs accepting a leadership position with the world’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturer.

Gottlieb’s move, however, is typical.

Every FDA commissioner over the past 38 years has joined the board of a pharmaceutical company after leaving the agency, with the exception of David Kessler, who served as commissioner from 1990 to 1997. Robert Califf and Peggy Hamburg, the commissioners who immediately preceded Gottlieb, took posts at Cytokinetics and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, respectively.

In a statement, Gottlieb said he respected Warren and would respond to her letter “promptly, directly, and privately.”

“While I was at FDA, I had a productive relationship with Sen. Warren, working together to advance shared public health goals,” he said.

Despite her criticism, Warren’s letter also touched on her broad approval for Gottlieb’s accomplishments at the agency — rare praise for a Trump administration official from a liberal Democrat and 2020 presidential candidate. 

“Unlike other administration officials who dedicated themselves to rolling back public health and consumer regulations, you often used your tenure to strengthen protections for Americans,” Warren wrote.

Warren, however, also wrote that Gottlieb is the second high-ranking federal official to leave government for industry in recent months. Warren also cited John Kelly, President Trump’s former chief of staff, who joined the board of a for-profit company operating a large detention center for migrant children in Florida.

Gottlieb also told STAT last week that he was “proud of the affiliation.”

“I’ve never been shy about my belief that America has the best biopharmaceutical sector in the world and this sector and its output of beneficial medicines is one of our great national achievements,” Gottlieb said in an email. “At the same time, I’m confident my record at FDA demonstrates I put the public health interest first and called balls and strikes based on the science and the public interest.”

In the letter, Warren also touted anti-corruption legislation that she said “would shut the revolving door and prohibit giant companies like Pfizer from wielding undue influence.”

That bill would prohibit many private companies from hiring or paying senior government officials in the four years following their departure.

Nicholas Florko contributed reporting. 

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2019-07-02 14:24:27Z
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Trader Joe's, Green Giant veggies recalled due to Listeria risk Trader Joe's, Green Giant veggies recalled due to Listeria risk - CNN

The vegetable products were voluntarily recalled by manufacturer Growers Express due to concerns about possible contamination with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, the FDA said in a Monday statement.

The packaged vegetables were produced at a factory in Biddeford, Maine, and were distributed to grocery stores across the United States, primarily in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Maine. The FDA issued a list of the stores and states affected.

Most of the potentially contaminated products have "Best if Used By" dates between June 26 and 29, 2019. No Green Giant frozen or canned vegetables are recalled.

"Listeria is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems," said the FDA.

Other short term symptoms include high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, according to the FDA. Listeria infections can cause pregnant women to have miscarriages and stillbirths.

If you think your veggies might be recalled, or if you can't read the date on your packaged veggies, the FDA urges you to not consume them and to throw away the packages.

"The safety of our consumers is our first priority," said Tom Byrne, president of Growers Express in a statement.

"We self-reported the need for this recall to the US Food and Drug Administration and stopped production immediately after being notified of a single positive sample by the Massachusetts Department of Health."

Growers Express issued a full list of the products recalled. It includes:

• Green Giant Fresh Butternut Squash Cubes
• Green Giant Fresh Butternut Squash Noodles
• Green Giant Fresh Butternut Squash Diced
• Green Giant Fresh Cauliflower Crumbles Fried Rice Blend
• Green Giant Fresh Ramen Soup Bowl
• Green Giant Fresh Sweet Potato Cauliflower Crumbles
• Green Giant Fresh Zucchini Noodles
• Signature Farms Cauliflower Crumbles
• Trader Joe's Butternut Squash Spirals
• Trader Joe's Zucchini Spirals

Growers Express said it is sanitizing the factory and equipment involved and conducting additional safety tests. No other Growers Express products were involved in the recall.

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2019-07-02 13:22:00Z
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Budweiser IPO: AB InBev prepares its Asia business for biggest listing of the year - CNN

Budweiser Brewing Company APAC, the largest brewer in Asia by retail sales, plans to offer 1.63 billion shares for between 40 and 47 Hong Kong dollars ($5.13 to $6.02), according to a document setting out the terms of the IPO that was shared with CNN Business.

That would raise between $8.3 billion and $9.8 billion for the brewer of Bud Light, Beck's and Stella Artois. The biggest IPO of the year so far, by Uber (UBER) in May in New York, raised $8.1 billion.

The world's biggest brewer could use the funds to reduce its massive debt load. But AB InBev CEO Carlos Brito suggested in late June that listing in Asia could also lead to acquisitions in the region.

"The number one reason to do the listing is to have a platform in the region that is seen as closer to those markets and connected to what the region will do, since that's something that can be attractive to local groups," he told the Financial Times.

AB InBev became the world's largest brewer by borrowing money to fund a series of acquisitions. Its most recent mega purchase, of SABMiller, increased the company's debt to $102.5 billion in 2018.

The IPO could also help the company in China, the world's largest market for beer. AB InBev's sales in the country grew 8.3% last year, with its super premium brands performing especially well.

Institutional investors could submit orders starting on Tuesday, according to the IPO document. The IPO will be opened to retail investors on July 8, and the stock will list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on July 19.

Budweiser APAC plans to sell 95% of the shares to international institutional investors. Only 5% will be set aside for retail investors, unless underwriters choose to release additional shares.

JPMorgan (JPM) and Morgan Stanley (MS) are joint sponsors on the deal, while Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAC) and Deutsche Bank (DB) are acting as joint global coordinators.

AB InBev declined to comment.

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2019-07-02 13:45:00Z
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John Oliver's Latest Show Went Very Hard At Amazon [Video] - 2oceansvibe News

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Nowadays, everyone is doing their best to live that convenient life.

Meals for the week delivered to your door are a huge plus, and the same is true for online shopping.

Click, pay, and wait for the goodies to arrive – nice.

If you ask the people that work in the warehouses at, say, Amazon, it’s a bit of a different vibe on the floor. Much like the picture painted by that ‘Amazon Race’ game, the working conditions aren’t always that pleasant.

During Sunday’s Last Week Tonight, host John Oliver went in for a closer look at warehouses. As you can imagine, Amazon wasn’t impressed, but we will get to that later.

Go for it, John:

Not a great look.

Let’s get to the response from Amazon via Rolling Stone:

“As a fan of the show, I enjoy watching John make an entertaining case for the failings of companies … But he is wrong on Amazon. Industry-leading $15 minimum wage and comprehensive benefits are just one of many programs we offer,” said Amazon executive Dave Clark in a statement.

“We are proud of the safe, quality work environment in our facilities … But unlike over 100,000 other people this year, John and his producers did not take us up on our invitation to tour one of our facilities … If they had they would have met the amazing people who work in our operations. People whose passion and commitment are what makes the Amazon customer experience special. I am proud of our team and to suggest they would work in an environment like the one portrayed is insulting.”

John Oliver can say with certainty that he’s been called far worse than ‘insulting’ during his time as host of Last Week Tonight.

Amazon, your move.

[source:rollingstone]

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2019-07-02 13:00:38Z
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OPEC allies agree to extend supply cuts in a bid to support oil prices - CNBC

Secretary General of OPEC, Mohammed Barkindo (R), Russia Energy Minister Alexander Novak (L), Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, Khalid Al-Falih (C) hold a joint press conference during the 173rd Ordinary Meeting of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna, Austria on November 30, 2017.

Omar Marques | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

Russia and nine other non-OPEC producers agreed to a nine-month rollover of supply cuts on Tuesday, ratifying a policy designed to prop up oil prices amid a weakening global economy.

It comes less than 24 hours after energy ministers from the world's most powerful oil-producing nations thrashed out a deal to restrict the amount of crude flowing into the global market.

OPEC reached a deal to extend production cuts until March 2020 on Monday. The Middle East-dominated producer group was able to overcome their differences after five hours of negotiating in Vienna.

International benchmark Brent crude traded at $64.82 Tuesday lunchtime, down around 0.4%, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) stood at $58.86, approximately 0.3% lower.

The energy alliance between OPEC and non-OPEC partners, sometimes referred to as OPEC+, has been reducing oil output since 2017.

The policy is designed to prevent prices from sliding amid soaring production from the U.S. — which has become the world's top producer ahead of Russia and Saudi Arabia. The cuts are running at a volume of about 1.2 million barrels per day.

Ahead of the non-OPEC meeting on Tuesday, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih had said he was 100% confident of an OPEC+ deal.

The U.S. is not a member of OPEC, nor is it participating in the supply pact. Washington has demanded Riyadh pump more oil to compensate for lower exports from Iran after slapping fresh sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear program. However, the U.S. has also ratcheted up its oil production in recent years.

President Donald Trump is likely to be irritated by an extended period of OPEC-led supply cuts, after repeatedly calling on Saudi Arabia to supply more oil and help reduce prices at the pump.

Brent crude has climbed more than 25% so far this year, after the White House tightened economic sanctions against OPEC members Iran and Venezuela, slashing their exports.

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2019-07-02 11:30:35Z
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