
European Retail Distress Hits Decade High Amid Consumer Gloom
Weakening consumer confidence and public fears of a slowing economy have driven distress among Europe's retailers to its highest level since October 2014, according to a new report from Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
Retail and consumer goods firms have seen the largest quarterly rise in levels of distress across all the industry groups captured in the law firm's index of European corporate distress. The sector faces growing pressures on levels of investment, liquidity and profitability, the report said.

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This Airline Is Going to Start Handing Out $675 Fines to 'Unruly' Passengers: 'It Is Unacceptable'
European airline Ryanair has announced that passengers it removes from its flights for "unruly behavior" will now face an additional fine The fine for £500 — more than $675 — will be presented to anyone whose behavior "results in them being offloaded from the aircraft" 'It is unacceptable that passengers are made to suffer unnecessary disruption because of one unruly passenger's behavior," an airline spokesperson said in a statementA major European airline announced this week that passengers who are removed from flights for "unruly behavior" will now face an additional fine in an effort to crack down on what it calls "unacceptable behavior." On Thursday, June 12, Irish airline Ryanair revealed that it is introducing a £500 fine — more than $675 — to any passenger "whose unruly behavior results in them being offloaded from the aircraft." The newly implemented fines from Ryanair, which calls itself Europe's "most punctual airline," take on an "industry-wide issue affecting all airlines," the airline said in its release. The "minimum" fine comes as the airline vows to "continue to pursue disruptive passengers for civil damages." 'It is unacceptable that passengers are made [to] suffer unnecessary disruption because of one unruly passenger's behavior," a spokesperson for the airline said in a statement. "To help ensure that our passengers and crew travel in a comfortable and stress-free environment, without unnecessary disruption caused by a tiny number of unruly passengers, we have introduced a £500 fine, which will be issued to any passengers offloaded from aircraft as a result of their misconduct." "While these are isolated events which happen across all airlines, disruptive behavior in such a confined shared space is unacceptable, and we hope that our proactive approach will act as a deterrent to eliminate this unacceptable behavior onboard our aircraft," the spokesperson added. PEOPLE reached out to Ryanair for comment but did not receive an immediate response. Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's CEO, previously argued that passengers should be limited to two drinks at airports, telling the Daily Telegraph in August that authorities "don't allow people to drink-drive, yet we keep putting them up in aircraft at 33,000ft." "In the old days, people who drank too much would eventually fall over or fall asleep. But now those passengers are also on tablets and powder," he said. "It's the mix. You get much more aggressive behavior that becomes very difficult to manage." Back in January, the airline took legal action against a passenger in Ireland, seeking £12,500 — or roughly $17,000 — claiming that they disrupted a flight to the Canary Islands, per The Guardian. The 160 passengers on board had to 'face unnecessary disruption as well as [lose] a full day of their holiday," the company said at the time, according to the outlet. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Over in the U.S., unruly passenger incidents reported to the Federal Aviation Administration peaked in 2021, when 5,973 were reported. A total of 2,102 were reported in 2024, with 699 accounted for so far in 2025. From 2021 to 2023, the FAA levied a total of $20.9 million in fines against "unruly" passengers. Unruly passengers can face a felony conviction if referred to the FBI, fines of up to $37,000 per violation and be placed on an airline's internal no-fly list. "Former FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker reiterates that the FAA has zero tolerance for unruly passenger behavior. Dangerous passengers put everyone at risk," the agency shared in a statement on its website. "Threatening or violent behavior can distract and disrupt crew members from their primary responsibility — to ensure the safety of all passengers." Read the original article on People
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3 hours ago
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Tender Store Owner Cheryl Daskas Dies at 71
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Tender is known for its European designer labels, which prior to the store's opening were not in abundance in the Midwest. The pair owned the downtown building that houses Tender, and they shared a home as well. Daskas earned a bachelor's degree at Michigan State University before getting into fashion. During her high school and college years, she modeled for the Ford Motor Company, Hudson's department store and other brands, before deciding 'that's not where she was going to make her money,' her sister said. 'She said it was like looking for a job every day of your life. Our mother was a model too. She was British and Scandinavian. They were both so pretty.' Tender once resided next door to a leading designer retailer Linda Dresner. After Dresner shuttered that store, Tender picked up Dries Van Noten. It also sells Erdem, Simone Rocha and Ashlyn, a 2025 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist, for its 3,000-square-foot shop. Lanvin was once a strong seller there, during the Alber Elbaz years, Carey said. With pale blue walls, architectural displays and top-shelf names, Tender looks more like the type of a polished retailer one finds in Manhattan or Los Angeles. Ashlyn's managing director Johanne Shepley Siff met the sisters 30 years ago in her former role as senior vice president of sales and marketing at Prada. Siff said, 'We've lost one of the gems of the specialty store business. Cheryl was a force. I called her a 'textile archeologist.' She could immediately identify products of integrity.' Sift added, 'Tender is one of the opinion leaders, and one of the go-to retailers at the high-end specialty store. They not only take the risk to identify emerging talent, but they also have the structure and wherewithal to introduce that talent to a customer they have cultivated to appreciate new talent.' Accustomed to working six days a week, Cheryl Daskas would arrive at 8:30 am, if a customer requested that. The co-owners called their store employees 'Tender-ettes,' and they stayed connected with those past and present through the years, Karen Daskas said. 'Cheryl loved what she did. It was not about her or Tender. It was always about everybody else doing well,' Karen Daskas said. 'She had this gift, where she could look at someone and immediately know what size they were and what types of clothes would look good on them. And you didn't have to be a size four. You could be any size. She was just going to make you look great and feel the best that you can be.' With a larger-than-life personality, she was recognizable for her auburn cropped hair, broad smile and designer outfits. 'She was very tall and grand. When she came into a room, she stole the show,' Carey, who owns Seed Inc., said. Even in the early 1990s, the sisters understood the importance of retailers working closely with manufacturers to create items that would appeal to their customers. They took a highly personal approach to helping shoppers in the store and were also loyal supporters of the arts community through events and philanthropy in Birmingham, Carey said. Recalling how they collaborated on vintage jewelry shows at Tender on occasion, Carey said, 'Cheryl could sell like no one else could. Her heart was 100 percent in everything she did. Why do you want to do something if you're not going to do it well?' They would typically sell 150 of 200 items during a two-day sale. Kenneth Jay Lane items were of particular interest to shoppers and to Daskas, who would set aside five pairs of earrings for herself, Carey said. 'I would say, 'Cheryl, these are for the customers,' and she would say, 'Well, I'm a customer.'' But she wore them during the trunk show sales, and she was the showpiece, Carey said. 'And you're going to want them, if she's wearing them. Karen would not have done that. Karen would have sold them.' While Cheryl Daskas handled front-of-the house sales and the store's social media, Karen Daskas managed the buying trips. Off the clock, Cheryl Daskas enjoyed gardening, relaxing poolside, grilling and sharing meals and binge-watching shows with her sister. 'Every night we would tell eachother we loved eachother and give eachother a hug. We never fought except for a couple of sister squabbles,' Karen Daskas said. 'It's just a shock. We never got married and we didn't have kids. We have two little Kerry Terriers 'Whiskey' and 'Gogo.'' Daskas is survived by her sister. Best of WWD Kate Middleton's Looks at Trooping the Colour Through the Years [PHOTOS] Young Brooke Shields' Style Evolution, Archive Photos: From Runway Modeling & Red Carpets to Meeting Princess Diana The Most Memorable French Open Tennis Outfits With Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka & More [PHOTOS]
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Bundesliga Side Pushing to Sign £25million Manchester City Star
Bayer Leverkusen Eyeing Manchester City Star in Potential Summer Swoop Bayer Leverkusen are reportedly preparing an offer for Manchester City's highly-rated youngster James McAtee, according to Sky Sports News. As per reporting from Amar Mehta and Lyall Thomas, Leverkusen's interest in McAtee is concrete, though no formal bid could be tabled before the close of the most recent transfer window. Advertisement The 22-year-old midfielder, currently captaining the England Under-21 side during their matches in Slovakia, has become a notable figure in Manchester City's youth structure. His performances for both club and country have not gone unnoticed, and Leverkusen's interest reflects a broader trend of top European sides targeting Premier League academy graduates. A move, however, is not imminent. It cannot progress until McAtee's international duties and the upcoming Club World Cup have concluded. As the report states, 'An offer could not be made in the first window, which closed on Tuesday.' This leaves City with ample time to evaluate their options and the true valuation of one of their promising assets. Photo: IMAGO City Set Steep Price Tag Amid Growing Interest City have reportedly placed a valuation of 'in excess of £25m plus add-ons' on McAtee, though some sources believe that figure could rise even higher. In context, this puts him in similar territory to fellow City academy graduate Cole Palmer, who was sold to Chelsea for £40m. Advertisement While Palmer's rise and value spike are significant, McAtee offers a slightly different profile. He is more central in nature, combining creativity with directness and composure in possession. The question many fans and analysts are now asking is whether Manchester City will allow another homegrown talent to depart before he's had a proper chance in the first team. This isn't the first time Leverkusen have tapped into the Premier League pipeline, and their ability to offer meaningful minutes and exposure in a top European league has become an attractive proposition for emerging English talent. McAtee Keen on Bundesliga Adventure The key revelation from Sky Sports is that McAtee is 'understood to be keen to join Leverkusen if the clubs can come to an agreement.' That level of player interest could accelerate talks once formal negotiations begin. In the modern transfer market, player intention carries significant weight, and with McAtee evidently open to the move, Manchester City must weigh the short-term benefits of a sizeable fee against the long-term regret of losing another gem. Advertisement Leverkusen's appeal is multi-faceted. With Champions League football now a regular prospect at the BayArena, the stage could be set for him to flourish. What City's Transfer Strategy Says About McAtee's Future There's no doubt Manchester City have a blueprint for academy development, but selling talents like Palmer and potentially McAtee raises questions about their long-term integration plans. Are these players being nurtured for first-team action, or groomed for profit? While McAtee has featured for City at senior level, consistent minutes have proven elusive. Loan spells have offered glimpses of his potential, but for a player of his quality, the next step must be decisive. Advertisement If Leverkusen are willing to meet City's valuation, this could be one of the most notable outbound transfers of the summer. With the Premier League becoming increasingly ruthless at the top end, Manchester City may regret letting another creative force leave without fully tapping into his capabilities. Our View – EPL Index Analysis From the perspective of a Manchester City supporter, this story is layered with excitement, frustration and uncertainty. James McAtee has been widely regarded as one of the brightest prospects to emerge from the club's academy in recent years. Watching players like Cole Palmer succeed elsewhere begs the question: are we giving these youngsters enough opportunity? McAtee is the kind of player City could need in transition games, in tighter cup fixtures or when rotation becomes critical during the business end of the season. He's technically sound, reads the game intelligently and clearly has the maturity to lead, as shown by his captaincy role with England's U21s. Advertisement There's something bittersweet in potentially losing him to Leverkusen. Yes, £25m or more is good business, but is that truly reflective of what he could become under Guardiola or even as part of a deeper squad reshuffle post-Kevin De Bruyne? In the current market, a fully integrated McAtee could be worth double in a couple of seasons. Xabi Alonso's style and tactical approach would suit McAtee perfectly, and one can't help but feel he'd thrive in Germany. However, from a City standpoint, it's tough to reconcile allowing another homegrown star to flourish abroad while the club continues to spend heavily on ready-made midfielders. Selling McAtee might make financial sense today, but could prove a footballing misstep tomorrow.