Mini-heatwave coming to UK next week in boost for beer gardens

SAP Preliminary Q1 Profit Rises

SAP SE (SAP) Tuesday announced its preliminary financial results for the first quarter ended March 31. The company reported first-quarter profit of 1.07 billion euros or 0.88 euro per share, up from 0.81 billion euros or 0.68 euro per share last year.

The company reported preliminary first-quarter revenues of 6.35 billion euros, down 3% from 6.52 billion euros last year.

Cloud revenues for the quarter grew 7% to 2.14 billion euros, while Software Licenses Revenue also rose 7% 3.28 billion euros.

Commenting on the preliminary results, CFO Luka Mucic said, “The first quarter of 2021 was unique in many ways. We had the highest order entry growth across cloud and software in five years while posting the strongest increase in Non-IFRS operating profit and margin in a decade. In the mid term SAP’s expedited shift to the cloud will accelerate topline growth and significantly increase the resiliency and predictability of our business.”

Biden to address joint session of Congress on April 28

Biden draws criticism for plan to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan

The ‘Special Report’ All-Star Panel discuss the potential political ramifications for the president

President Biden will address a joint session of Congress for the first time on April 28.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Tuesday issued the formal invitation for Biden to speak.

“Nearly 100 days ago, when you took the oath of office, you pledged in a spirit of great hope that “Help Is On The Way,” Pelosi said in the letter. “Now, because of your historic and transformative leadership, Help Is Here!”

“In that spirit, I am writing to invite you to address a Joint Session of Congress on Wednesday, April 28, to share your vision for addressing the challenges and opportunities of this historic moment,” she added.

The White House has yet to formally respond to the invitation, though it can be assumed the date was agreed upon mutally with Democratic leaders.

This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.

Singapore's economy grew 0.2% on-year in the first quarter of 2021, beating expectations

• Singapore's economy unexpectedly grew 0.2% in the first quarter of 2021 from a year ago, official advance estimates showed on Wednesday.
• That marked the Southeast Asian country's first economic expansion since the outbreak of Covid-19, data by the country's trade and industry ministry showed.

SINGAPORE — Singapore's economy unexpectedly grew 0.2% in the first quarter of 2021 from a year ago, official advance estimates showed on Wednesday.

That marked the Southeast Asian country's first year-over-year economic expansion since the outbreak of Covid-19, data by the country's trade and industry ministry showed.

Analysts polled by Reuters had expected the Singapore economy to shrink 0.2% in the first quarter from a year ago.

In a separate release, the Monetary Authority of Singapore — the country's central bank — said it kept its exchange rate-based policy unchanged.

Singapore reported its worst ever economic recession last year when it contracted 5.4% as lockdown measures globally to slow the spread of Covid-19 caused a plunge in activity.

This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.

In Early Testimony for Defense, Witness Says Chauvin’s Force Was ‘Justified’

The defense also presented body camera video from a previous arrest of George Floyd, part of its strategy to shift the jurors’ focus to his use of illicit drugs.

By Shaila Dewan and Tim Arango

Tesla executive says data collected from its cars in China is stored in China

• Data collected from Tesla's electric cars in China is stored in China, the U.S. automaker's vice president said, after reports that China's military has banned Teslas from its facilities.
• "Tesla as a company with operations in China must abide China's laws and regulations," Tao Lin told reporters in Beijing on Tuesday.
• "Our data is very well protected. Chinese data is stored in China."

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• TSLA

Data collected from Tesla's electric cars in China is stored in China, the U.S. automaker's vice president said, after reports that China's military has banned Teslas from its facilities.

"Tesla as a company with operations in China must abide China's laws and regulations," Tao Lin told reporters in Beijing on Tuesday.

"Our data is very well protected. Chinese data is stored in China."

Tao said Tesla, which is building electric Model 3 sedans and Model Y sport-utility vehicles in Shanghai, would share its understanding of data protection with the Chinese government.

Sources told Reuters on Friday that the Chinese military had banned Tesla cars from entering its complexes, citing security concerns over cameras installed on the vehicles.

Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk said in March his company would be shut down if its cars were used to spy.