WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Friday said he turned down being named Time’s “Person of the Year” after the magazine asked him for an interview and photo shoot but did not confirm he would be chosen.
He tweeted: “Time Magazine called to say that I was PROBABLY going to be named ‘Man (Person) of the Year,’ like last year, but I would have to agree to an interview and a major photo shoot.
“I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway!“
The magazine confers the distinction on the person who “for better or for worse... has done the most to influence the events of the year.”
Trump was named the magazine’s 2016 “Person of the Year” following his election, in an edition which carried the title “President of the Divided States of America.”
The former real estate tycoon keeps a close eye on the award, and complained on Twitter in 2012, 2014 and 2015 about not being picked.
In June, the Washington Post revealed several of his golf clubs prominently display a framed copy of a fake Time cover featuring several positive headlines and Trump as its cover.
Since announcing his presidential run, Trump has had an antagonistic relationship with much of the US media, accusing critical outlets of peddling “Fake News.”
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Trump says he turned down Time’s ‘Person of the Year’
Trump says he turned down Time’s ‘Person of the Year’
Germany scrambles to rescue thousands of stranded tourists
BERLIN: Germany said Monday it would send civilian planes to Saudi Arabia and Oman as part of efforts to evacuate thousands of tourists stranded by the Middle East war.
Some 30,000 Germans are stuck in the region, according to the German Travel Association, since the United States and Israel first attacked Iran on Saturday, sparking a wave of Iranian strikes across the region and beyond.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany would soon send planes to Saudi Arabia and Oman, where the airspace remained open, to start evacuating some of the most vulnerable tourists.
“We will send aircraft to Riyadh and Muscat as quickly as possible for particularly vulnerable groups,” he said, adding that he was in talks with national carrier Lufthansa to arrange the flights.
“The safety of our citizens is our top priority,” said Wadephul.
Crisis teams had been sent to Muscat, Doha and Dubai to explore the possibility of evacuating Germans from these locations, including overland, he added.
A team from the German embassy in Cairo was assisting with border crossings from Israel, he said.
Around 5,000 passengers are stuck on two TUI cruise ships in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, according to German media, with reports of crying children and a general mood of fear.
“We were not allowed to leave the ship,” one female tourist, a police officer, told the NTV broadcaster.
“We are well looked after, but I don’t feel safe.”
TUI Cruises said in a statement that “due to the continuing dynamic situation in the region and limited flight connections, we are in close contact with the airlines to enable reliable planning of return journeys.”
Some 30,000 Germans are stuck in the region, according to the German Travel Association, since the United States and Israel first attacked Iran on Saturday, sparking a wave of Iranian strikes across the region and beyond.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany would soon send planes to Saudi Arabia and Oman, where the airspace remained open, to start evacuating some of the most vulnerable tourists.
“We will send aircraft to Riyadh and Muscat as quickly as possible for particularly vulnerable groups,” he said, adding that he was in talks with national carrier Lufthansa to arrange the flights.
“The safety of our citizens is our top priority,” said Wadephul.
Crisis teams had been sent to Muscat, Doha and Dubai to explore the possibility of evacuating Germans from these locations, including overland, he added.
A team from the German embassy in Cairo was assisting with border crossings from Israel, he said.
Around 5,000 passengers are stuck on two TUI cruise ships in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, according to German media, with reports of crying children and a general mood of fear.
“We were not allowed to leave the ship,” one female tourist, a police officer, told the NTV broadcaster.
“We are well looked after, but I don’t feel safe.”
TUI Cruises said in a statement that “due to the continuing dynamic situation in the region and limited flight connections, we are in close contact with the airlines to enable reliable planning of return journeys.”
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