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Beloved teddy bear left in airport lounge rescued by airline

<p dir="ltr">Staff at British Airways have rescued a child’s stuffed teddy bear that was left behind in an airport lounge, documenting the toy’s safe journey home. </p> <p dir="ltr">The treasured teddy was found in the British Airways lounge at London’s Heathrow Airport by nine-year-old Alex, who accidentally left the toy behind before boarding a flight home to Dubai. </p> <p dir="ltr">After staff found the stranded toy, a new flight and boarding pass was created for Postman Bear, while members of the BA team gave the teddy the”'VIP treatment” with a journey on an airport buggy to “catch up” with the Cabin Crew Operations team in the Crew Report Centre.</p> <p dir="ltr">Postman Bear was then taken to meet the cabin crew on his new flight to Dubai and was pictured “patiently” waiting for his flight at the gate, drinking a cup of coffee and enjoying “some great views of the aircraft” while waiting to board. </p> <p dir="ltr">The teddy’s journey home was lovingly captured by British Airways customer manager, Ed Tumath, who sent the snaps back to young Alex to assure him his beloved bear was being looked after. </p> <p dir="ltr">After touching down in Dubai, the cabin crew took Postman Bear to reunite with Alex and the rest of his family for a “bear-y happy reunion”. </p> <p dir="ltr">Stuart, Alex's parent, recalled the moment they knew the teddy was missing, while praising British Airways for their tireless journey to reunite Alex with his bear. </p> <p dir="ltr">Stuart said, “My son had left his teddy bear - huge sentimental value as he has had the teddy since birth - in the British Airways lounge ahead of the flight. We noticed as the aircraft doors were closing so nothing could be done at that point.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“This was very distressing to my son who uses the teddy as a calming item, especially when flying. This was incredibly stressful and we feared that his beloved teddy may be lost forever.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Whilst onboard the flight, I took to a series of Facebook groups to seek help in finding the teddy. A member of the group contacted Ed who came to the rescue. I managed to communicate with Ed on the flight and received a picture showing that the teddy had been found, which calmed my son.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Not only did Ed go out of his way to find the teddy but he communicated so well throughout. He genuinely cared about the situation and worked so hard to get the teddy back to us.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“He arranged for the teddy to board a flight to Dubai a couple of days later and a crew member handed the teddy back to us. Not only did Ed excel in his caring manner and communication, he even provided a few pictures of the teddy's journey, which my son will treasure forever.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“My son was so relieved - words could not express how grateful we are to Ed for his kind act and dedication to getting the teddy back to us. I have been flying with BA for many years - this is the best experience I have had by far and I am overwhelmed by Ed's efforts.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Sometimes amazing people do incredible things and show such kindness along the way... these things matter. This meant a huge amount to my family and I, and we will be forever grateful.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: British Airways</em></p>

International Travel

Two journalists die in Qatar while covering FIFA World Cup

<p>Two journalists have died within days of each other while covering the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. </p> <p><em>The Gulf Times</em> reported Qatari photojournalist Khalid al-Misslam passed away “suddenly” on the weekend.</p> <p>The Qatar news outlet wrote, “Al-Misslam, a Qatari, died suddenly while covering the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. We believe in Allah’s mercy and forgiveness for him, and send our deepest condolences to his family.”</p> <p>Al-Misslam had been covering the World Cup since it began in Doha at the end of November. </p> <p>The circumstances around his death are unclear.</p> <p>Al-Misslam's death comes just days after influential American soccer journalist Grant Wahl died at the age of 48 while also covering the games in Qatar.</p> <p>While covering Argentina’s quarter-final win over the Netherlands, Wahl collapsed at the Lusail Iconic Stadium and was rushed to a nearby hospital before his death.</p> <p>It’s unclear whether he died at the hospital or in transport.</p> <p>While there is yet to be a clear cause of death determined, Grant's brother Eric believes foul play from the Qatari government may have been involved.</p> <p>Prior to the American team’s game against Wales, Wahl was initially not allowed into Ahmad bin Ali Stadium and detained for 30 minutes for wearing a shirt depicting a soccer ball surrounded by a rainbow. </p> <p>He was eventually let into the stadium, despite the Qatari government's crackdown on pro-LGBTQ demonstrations at the tournament.</p> <p>Wahl had been struggling with minor health issues while covering the games and had been to a medical centre in Qatar twice.</p> <p>Grant's brother Eric said he is in "complete shock" over the sudden death of his brother and is pleading for answers. </p> <p>“My name is Eric Wahl. I live in Seattle, Washington. I am Grant Wahl’s brother. I’m gay,” he said in a video posted to his Instagram account.</p> <p>“I’m the reason he wore the rainbow shirt to the World Cup. My brother was healthy. He told me he received death threats. I do not believe my brother just died. I believe he was killed. And I just beg for any help."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Twitter</em></p>

News

The Qatar World Cup is beaming misogyny around the world

<p>One of the fundamental questions relating to the 2022 World Cup being hosted by Qatar is what message this gives to women and girls around the world. Fifa <a href="https://www.fifa.com/social-impact/human-rights#:%7E:text=%E2%80%9CFIFA%20is%20committed%20to%20respecting%20all%20internationally%20recognised,UN%20Guiding%20Principles%20on%20Business%20and%20Human%20Rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener">purports to uphold human rights</a>. Its decision, in 2010, to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/dec/02/qatar-win-2022-world-cup-bid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">award</a> the hosting duties for the 2022 tournament to Qatar was not, however, without controversy.</p> <p>In the 12 years since, these issues have only intensified. The <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-world-cup-puts-the-spotlight-on-qatar-but-also-brings-attention-to-its-human-rights-record-and-politics-4-things-to-know-194970" target="_blank" rel="noopener">treatment of migrant workers</a> throughout the run-up to the event has garnered continued attention, as has the way <a href="https://theconversation.com/world-cup-2022-fifas-clampdown-on-rainbow-armbands-conflicts-with-its-own-guidance-on-human-rights-194485" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LGBTQ+ rights</a> <a href="https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/2015/05/27/fifa-bribery-corruption-qatar-world-cup-worst-ever/28014953/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">and women’s rights</a> are contravened by local law.</p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/stopping-violence-against-women-starts-with-learning-what-misogyny-really-is-175411" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Misogyny</a>, a sexist contempt and hatred of women, aims to keep women in a lower position than men within a patriarchal society. With discrimination against women enshrined in Qatari law – which, among other things does not criminalise domestic violence or sexual assault – misogyny is being beamed through televisions internationally, via the means of the 2022 men’s football World Cup.</p> <h2>Women in Qatar</h2> <p><a href="https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2019/country-chapters/qatar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Qatari law</a> undergirds a profoundly patriarchal system. Sex outside of marriage is banned and Qatari women can only marry with the permission of a male guardian.</p> <p>This controversial system of male guardianship also shapes women’s ability to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/mar/29/were-treated-as-children-qatari-women-tell-rights-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study, drive and travel</a>. Men have the unquestioned right to divorce, yet the grounds on which a woman can apply for divorce is limited. Wives are expected to obey husbands and their priority is seen to be home making.</p> <p>Women <a href="https://www.hrw.org/report/2021/03/29/everything-i-have-do-tied-man/women-and-qatars-male-guardianship-rules" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cannot pass</a> nationality on to their children, as men can, nor can they be their children’s primary carer in case of divorce or the death of their husband. Female beneficiaries only get half of any inheritance their brothers receive.</p> <p>Women are asked to provide proof of marriage to receive sexual health and antenatal care. And they have to abide by a strict <a href="https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/09649429610109271/full/html?casa_token=naTUyIdS9wgAAAAA:wqUgZBFDLUqiTioqcQJYMkymKOKVfNcmEUzYWCkZr_kVmJEm-pJsYcd5179NhHKCSX4sDIu6Aklz1m6_l92YYnXaAmRdQE9zn_wOW1ldYnuJu4KF_o0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dress code</a>.</p> <p>Crucially, domestic violence and rape is not criminalised. While family law forbids moral or physical assault by husbands against wives, reporting domestic abuse or sexual violence is frowned upon as it is seen to bring <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gender-Violence-Praeger-Security-International/dp/0313359954/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=1174279316512322&hvadid=73392656152523&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=4900&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-73392591771253%3Aloc-188&hydadcr=10841_1825545&keywords=gender+and+violence+in+the+middle+east&qid=1669211683&sr=8-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shame upon the family</a>.</p> <p>Both the lack of prosecution for domestic violence and the victim blaming that surrounds sexual assault point towards possible risks for any women attending the World Cup. Research <a href="https://rss.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1740-9713.2012.00606.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shows</a> that women face a heightened risk of <a href="https://theathletic.com/3583817/2022/09/22/world-cup-sexual-violence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sexual assault</a> at any major sports tournament. It also shows, in the UK, the increase in domestic violence <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0022427813494843" target="_blank" rel="noopener">around World Cup matches</a> and other <a href="https://www.policeprofessional.com/news/lessons-learned-from-the-domestic-violence-enforcement-campaigns-2006/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">big sporting tournaments</a>.</p> <h2>Women at the World Cup</h2> <p>Reports <a href="https://metro.co.uk/2022/11/18/fifa-theres-not-a-woman-i-know-that-is-going-to-the-world-cup-in-qatar-17769410/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have highlighted</a> that this heightened risk has already resulted in many women not wanting to travel to Qatar for the World Cup. This, in itself, is discriminatory.</p> <p>Those who do head for Doha <a href="https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/qatar/local-laws-and-customs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">are advised</a> to follow a strict dress code. Fifa’s <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/fifa-world-cup-wearing-shorts-revealing-clothes-in-qatar-may-land-you-in-jail-1563943" target="_blank" rel="noopener">position</a> on this is unclear. It states that people attending matches can wear what they want but also that they <a href="https://theislamicinformation.com/news/qatar-jail-women-wearing-inappropriate-clothing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">must respect local laws</a>. When in public, women in Qatar are expected to <a href="https://core.ac.uk/reader/17244280" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cover up</a>. They must forgo tight clothing and not show their cleavage, knees or shoulders, and contravening these rules can result in prison or fines.</p> <p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/qatar/local-laws-and-customs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Official advice</a> for travellers published by the UK government also covers strict laws against relationships outside of marriage. There are multiple cases of visitors being punished for being seen to be in contravention of these laws. In June 2021, a <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/world-cup-worker-threatened-100-lashes-after-sexual-assault-qatar-1680871" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mexican world cup official</a> reported that she was sexually assaulted. As a result of this, she was accused of extramarital sex, which is against Qatari laws, rather than being seen as a victim of sexual violence. This saw her threatened with imprisonment and 100 lashes.</p> <p>And in 2020, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/oct/21/australian-women-sue-qatar-airways-over-forced-examinations-at-doha-airport" target="_blank" rel="noopener">13 Australian</a> women were forcibly removed, at gunpoint, from grounded Qatar Airways planes in Doha. They were then forced to undergo internal examinations, without their consent, as officials sought to find the mother of a newborn baby who had been found in the airport.</p> <p>This subordination of women is in direct conflict with <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/middle-east-and-north-africa/qatar/report-qatar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">human rights laws</a>. The <a href="https://www.unfpa.org/resources/human-rights-women" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a> and the <a href="https://www.echr.coe.int/documents/convention_eng.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Convention on Human Rights </a> categorically state that any compromise of women’s rights contravenes international human rights laws.</p> <p>Significant progress has been made in terms of women’s rights worldwide in the <a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/08-03-2020-women-s-health-and-rights-25-years-of-progress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">last 25 years</a>, not least in the sphere of football itself. <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-football-needs-a-gender-revolution-182394" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Women’s football</a> has gathered enormous traction of late, particularly with the success of the England women’s team winning the European cup.</p> <p>By holding the men’s World Cup in Qatar, and thereby not sanctioning the lack of progress the country has made in terms of women’s rights, the impression given is that these rights are discretionary. Preventing discrimination and violence against women and girls, however, is never optional. This is not a cultural issue. It is a serious breach of human rights.</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-qatar-world-cup-is-beaming-misogyny-around-the-world-195242" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</strong></p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Travel Trouble

UK comedian shreds thousands in protest of David Beckham’s Qatar deal

<p dir="ltr">English comedian Joe Lycett has called out footballer David Beckham for his multi-million-dollar deal with Qatar by shredding £10,000 - but Lycett’s protest has come with a twist.</p> <p dir="ltr">After Beckham came under fire for accepting the cash from Qatar - where homosexuality is illegal and you can be jailed or put to death as punishment - to promote the World Cup, Lycett took to social media to call on the former English captain to put his money where his mouth is.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b0f7f24c-7fff-e87b-cd94-977224136cd7"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Lycett shared a video where he said he would donate £10,000 ($AU 17,700 or $NZ 19,386) if Beckham withdrew from his deal with Qatar before the World Cup started on November 19.</p> <p dir="ltr">If Beckham didn’t, Lycett said he would shred it.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/ClGfxiQIvDb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ClGfxiQIvDb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Joe Lycett (@joelycett)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">"This is a message to David Beckham... I consider you to be a gay icon," Lycett said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"You were the first premiership footballer to do shoots with gay magazines like Attitude, to speak openly about your gay fans, and you married a Spice Girl, which is the gayest thing a human being can do.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Qatar was voted as one of the worst places in the world to be gay. You've always talked about the power of football to be a force for good... so with that in mind, I'm giving you a choice.</p> <p dir="ltr">"If you end your relationship with Qatar, I'll donate this 10 grand of my own money to charities that support queer people in football. However, if you do not... I will throw this money into a shredder.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Not just the money, but also your status as a gay icon will be shredded."</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-735f7414-7fff-0c3f-b123-4b37c34f34e3"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">After his video went viral, Lycett shared a message he sent to Beckham’s PR team on social media.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/ClBdqBgoPAM/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ClBdqBgoPAM/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Joe Lycett (@joelycett)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“I’ve managed to get myself into a bit of a pickle - I’ve been a bit daft and publicly announced that I’m going to shred £10K on Sunday if David doesn’t end his relationship with Qatar, or donate the cash to LGBTQ+ charities if he does, yet we’re now four days out and I haven’t heard a peep from him,” he wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Could you do me a solid and let me know if there’s a chance he might budge on his position, or am I to expect radio silence on this? I really don’t want to shred ten grand!!! I also really don’t want a national treasure that has historically supported the LGBTQ+ community to publicly endorse and advertise a nation state that has an appalling human rights record and has the death penalty for gays - call me old fashioned!!!!!!”</p> <p dir="ltr">With Beckham not responding or backing out of the deal with Qatar, Lycett shared a clip on Sunday of himself putting wads into a woodchipper, dressed in a rainbow coat.</p> <p dir="ltr">But that isn’t the end of the story.</p> <p dir="ltr">The comedian shared another video on Monday, where he revealed that the stunt wasn’t what it appeared to be.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is my final message to David Beckham,” he began the clip.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s me! That prick who shredded loads of money in a cost-of-living crisis.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I told you I was going to destroy £10,000 if you didn’t end your relationship with Qatar before the first day of the World Cup. And then when you didn’t end your relationship or even respond in any way, I streamed myself dropping 10K into a shredder.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Or did I?</p> <p dir="ltr">“I haven’t quite told you the whole truth. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Because the truth is, the money that went into the shredder was real, but the money that came out was fake.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Lycett added that he wouldn’t be “so irresponsible” to destroy “real money”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“In fact, the ten grand had already been donated to LGBTQ+ charities before I even pressed send on the initial tweet last week,” he continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I never expected to hear from you. It was an empty threat designed to get people talking.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-0189d111-7fff-2b5e-96d4-872ebc0b31b0"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“In many ways, it was like your deal with Qatar, David. Total bulls**t from the start.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/ClOMLKuIY0r/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/ClOMLKuIY0r/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Joe Lycett (@joelycett)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Lycett ended the clip by shredding another item: the 2002 cover of <em>Attitude </em>magazine that featured Beckham, which was the first gay magazine to feature a Premier League footballer on it.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I asked <em>Attitude </em>if I could shred it and they were more than happy to oblige,” Lycett said, before running the cover through a paper shredder.</p> <p dir="ltr">His final video, captioned with a single rainbow flag, received a flood of praise from fellow celebrities and fans.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Oh you. It’s like you thought it all through or somethin …” Dawn French commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You are flipping amazing ❤️❤️❤️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈,” singer Sophie Ellis Bexter added.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1dc9455-7fff-40cd-4ae9-c47bf33ab5ef"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Money & Banking

Why Rod Stewart turned down a $1 million gig

<p>Rod Stewart has shared why he turned down a $1 million deal to perform in Qatar. </p> <p>The 77-year-old rockstar said that he was offered the seven-figure deal over a year ago, but refused because of the Gulf state's human rights record.</p> <p>When discussing the controversy surrounding the World Cup host nation, where homosexuality is illegal, the singer told the <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/dfab9724-5f6f-11ed-8611-a128c33d7159?shareToken=f282a0832e5a291ac08bf40e06ba678c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sunday Times</a> he thought it would be wrong to play a set there. </p> <p>"I was actually offered a lot of money, over $1m, to play there 15 months ago," he said. </p> <p>"I turned it down. It's not right to go. And the Iranians should be out too for supplying arms," he said in reference to drones supplied by the country to Russia, which was barred from the tournament.</p> <p>He added that he thinks fans attending matches in Qatar, where being gay can lead to imprisonment and even the death sentence for Muslims, "have got to watch out".</p> <p>Stewart has been considered an ally of the LGBTQ+ community, previously saying he was "surrounded by gay men in the 70s".</p> <p>One of the singer's hit songs, The Killing of Georgie, is about the murder of a gay friend and made waves when it came out in 1976, when very few mainstream songs discussed the experiences of gay men. </p> <p>He said it would have been "good" to sing the song as a protest during the opening ceremony of the football tournament. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Money & Banking

Calls for World Cup boycott after "awful" homophobic slur

<p>A Qatari World Cup ambassador has come under fire for an "awful" homophobic comment, causing several countries to call for a boycott of the event. </p> <p>In an interview on German TV, former footballer and ambassador Khalid Salman called homosexuality a “damage in the mind”, sparking criticism in Europe just 12 days before the tournament kicks off.</p> <p>Salman said Qatar will accept gay visitors but “they have to accept our rules”, before saying homosexuality was “haram” - forbidden in Islam - during the interview, which was abruptly broken off after his comments.</p> <p>In the lead up to the World Cup, Qatar has come under fire for their human rights record, including its treatment of foreign workers and its stance on women’s and LGBTQ rights.</p> <p>German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser on Tuesday called Salman’s comments “awful”.</p> <p>“That is also the reason why we are working to hopefully improve things in Qatar in the future,” said Faeser, who is also Germany’s minister for sport.</p> <p>Faeser said last week on a visit to Qatar that she will attend the World Cup after being given a “guarantee of safety” for LGBTQ fans by Qatar’s prime minister.</p> <p>The comments have prompted several sporting captains from European countries, including England, France and Germany, to call for a boycott of the event.</p> <p>To show their support for their LGBTQ fans, they will wear armbands in rainbow colours with the message “One Love” during the tournament in an anti-discrimination campaign.</p> <p>“No matter your race, your religion, your social and sexual orientation, you are most welcome, and Qataris are ready to receive you with the best hospitality that you can imagine,” FIFA secretary-general Fatma Samoura said last week.</p> <p>But Wenzel Michalski, the head of Human Rights Watch in Germany, warned there was “a big risk” that open displays of homosexuality in Qatar “will be punished – no matter what assurances there are”.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Travel Trouble

"Someone give them a raise": Hilarious way ground crew entertained trapped passengers

<p>Two very creative ground-crew air marshalls have enjoyed a brush with instant viral fame after hilarious footage of them entertaining passengers stuck on a delayed plane was shared to TikTok.</p> <p>Fortunately for the poor passengers stranded on the British Airways plane last month due to engineering issues, two nearby air marshalls were determined to pass the time and distract them following the tediously long delay, using their glowing marshalling wands to put on an entertaining performance.</p> <p>Air Marshall Quinten Moshy posted a video of his antics on TikTok, which quickly racked up close to 1 million views.</p> <p>"Put this in every ramp agent's job description," he joked in the caption.</p> <p>The video showed the two airport workers using their marshalling wands as if they were light sabres and acting out dramatic battle scenes. Committed to the performance, the marshalls ducked and weaved, while one pretended to die after he was 'struck'.</p> <p>Other antics included creating glowing smiley faces and hearts on the tarmac and dancing the moves to the song 'Y.M.C.A'.</p> <blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@quintenmoshy/video/7117811535212301614" data-video-id="7117811535212301614"> <section><a title="@quintenmoshy" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@quintenmoshy?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@quintenmoshy</a> Put this in every ramp agent’s job description <a title="airport" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/airport?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#airport</a> <a title="airplane" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/airplane?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#airplane</a> <a title="travel" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/travel?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#travel</a> <a title="rampagent" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/rampagent?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#rampagent</a> <a title="pilot" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/pilot?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#pilot</a> <a title="bayarea" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/bayarea?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#bayarea</a> <a title="california" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/california?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#california</a> <a title="london" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/london?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#london</a> <a title="787" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/787?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#787</a> <a title="vacation" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/vacation?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#vacation</a> <a title="work" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/work?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#work</a> <a title="fyp" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#fyp</a> <a title="ymca" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/ymca?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#ymca</a> <a title="minions" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/minions?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#minions</a> <a title="starwars" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/starwars?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#starwars</a> <a title="lightsaber" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/lightsaber?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#lightsaber</a> <a title="happy" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/happy?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#happy</a> <a title="aviation" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/aviation?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#aviation</a> <a title="love" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/love?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#love</a> <a title="♬ Y.M.C.A. - The Minions" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/YMCA-6795407731260917762?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ Y.M.C.A. - The Minions</a></section> </blockquote> <p>TikTok users really enjoyed the goofy act and one person said they should find a video from someone stranded on the plane so we could see what THEY were seeing out their windows.</p> <p>"Someone find the passengers POV," they wrote.</p> <p>Sure enough, fellow viewers pulled through and pointed to TikTok user Abi Smith, who had created her own video of the dramatic antics of the air marshalls.</p> <p>"POV: [Point of View]: Your plane gets delayed so the marshalls put on a performance." she captioned the video.</p> <blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@abi_smithxxx/video/7117374061935676678" data-video-id="7117374061935676678"> <section><a title="@abi_smithxxx" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@abi_smithxxx?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@abi_smithxxx</a> <a title="britishairways" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/britishairways?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#britishairways</a> <a title="delayed" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/delayed?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#delayed</a> <a title="marshallers" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/marshallers?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#marshallers</a> <a title="♬ Angeleyes (Sped Up Version) - april aries bae (SVT)" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Angeleyes-Sped-Up-Version-7089425867910236954?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ Angeleyes (Sped Up Version) - april aries bae (SVT)</a></section> </blockquote> <p>People commented, saying the entertaining pair deserved a reward for their dedication.</p> <p>"Give the performers an applause," wrote one person.</p> <p>"Someone give them a raise," another added.</p> <p><em>Image: TikTok</em></p>

Travel Trouble

Former princess of Qatar found dead

<p dir="ltr">A former princess of Qatar who accused her ex-husband of sexually assaulting one of her cihldren has been found dead. </p> <p dir="ltr">Kasia Gallanio was involved in an ugly custody battle for her three kids with billionaire and former Qatari oil and finance minister Abdelaziz bin Khalifa Al Thani, 73.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 45-year-old was found dead in her bed on Sunday from a suspected overdose after her youngest daughter, who lives in Paris, was unable to get ahold of her mother. </p> <p dir="ltr">There were no forms of physical violence. </p> <p dir="ltr">The couple have been in a bitter legal battle fighting for 15 years for custody over their three children - 17-year-old twins and another 15-year-old daughter.</p> <p dir="ltr">The twins initially lived with their father before moving to Marbella to be with their mother who claimed Al Thani actually “cut them off as punishment”. </p> <p dir="ltr">Their youngest daughter still lives with her father in an apartment in Paris after Al Thani was exiled from Qatar due to a coup led by his half-brother Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani in 1995.</p> <p dir="ltr">It was reported that a Paris court had dismissed the Gallianio’s case on May 19 after she had spent multiple months in hospital due to nervous breakdowns.</p> <p dir="ltr">Gallianio was accused by Al Thani of being an alcoholic with mental health issues, while she accused him of abusing one of their daughters.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Paris Public Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation into the accusations of aggravated sexual assault which Al Thani vehemently denies. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

News

British Airways introduces gender neutral greetings

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">British Airways are adopting new tactics to make their journeys more inclusive to all travellers. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The UK airline giant is joining a growing list of travel companies that are implementing more gender-neutral language, by ditching the traditional "ladies and gentlemen" greeting.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While the move falls in line with an industry-wide global trend, the decision is also due to a change in the airline’s clientele, with the carrier reporting more children onboard since COVID-19 restrictions have been lessened. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to the </span><a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/10/09/hello-passengers-inclusive-welcome-announcement/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Telegraph</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the new policies would adhere to changing social norms, as well as make younger customers feel more included. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The airline is just one of many to make the important change. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Japan Airlines was one of the first major carriers to ditch the traditional “ladies and gentlemen” titles for inflight announcements back in 2020. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">German carrier Lufthansa also changed their language to a more inclusive tone in July, as they pledged their commitment to diversity. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Qantas has also made strides towards inclusivity in 2018, as they changed the use of “mother and father” to “parents” on all flights to include parents of different sexualities. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At the time, the airline introduced a new staff booklet highlighting language geared towards the</span> <a href="https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-releases-video-to-celebrate-the-spirit-of-australia/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Spirit of Inclusion"</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">which advised against using language that could be deemed offensive to the LGBTQ+ community. </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credit: Shutterstock</span></em></p>

Travel Tips

Mother of dumped Qatar airport baby found

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>The parents of a baby girl who was left in a rubbish bin in an airport in Qatar have since been identified.</p> <p>Officials confirmed that the mother is from an Asian country after DNA testing on the child.</p> <p>She is also believed to have left the country before the discovery of her baby in the bin.</p> <p>Prosecutors in Qatar has also slammed the airport police officers who ordered forced vaginal examinations of female passengers after finding the baby, saying that they face possible three-year prison sentences.</p> <p>The incident sparked worldwide anger.</p> <p>"Extensive investigations revealed that some employees of the Airport Security Department acted unilaterally by summoning female medical staff to conduct external examination to some female passengers, thinking that what they had done was within the law," a statement from prosecutors said.</p> <p>The abandoned baby's mother also faces up to 15 years in prison if apprehended, as prosecutors say that DNA helped them identify her and the baby's father.</p> <p>In Qatar, sex and childbirth outside marriage are criminalised, with others having abandoned their babies anonymously to avoid imprisonment.</p> <p>Other migrant workers in the past have also hidden pregnancies and tried to travel abroad to give birth.</p> </div> </div> </div>

News

Qatar airport confirm dumped baby is still alive

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>Doha, capital of Qatar, airport officials have confirmed that a newborn located in one of its terminals is alive and well.</p> <p>Earlier in October at Hamad International Airport, staff discovered an infant, described as a premature baby, "abandoned" in the terminal bathroom.</p> <p>After this incident, female Australian passengers were allegedly invasively searched, and the Australian Government has since "formally registered our serious concerns" with Qatari authorities.</p> <p>Women at the airport, including 13 Australians, were allegedly removed from flights, detained and forced to undergo an invasive inspection in an ambulance on the tarmac.</p> <p>None of the women were told about the abandoned newborn before the strip searches began.</p> <p>An Australian Government spokesperson told 7NEWS that it is “deeply concerned” at the “unacceptable treatment of some female passengers on a recent Qatar Airways flight at Doha Airport”.</p> <p>“The advice that has been provided indicates that the treatment of the women concerned was offensive, grossly inappropriate, and beyond circumstances in which the women could give free and informed consent.</p> <p>“The Government has formally registered our serious concerns about this incident with Qatari authorities.</p> <p>“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is engaged on this matter through diplomatic channels.”</p> <p>A Hamad International Airport spokesman told <a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/news/world/doha-airport-officials-confirm-dumped-baby-is-still-alive-c-1457385" target="_blank" class="editor-rtflink"><em>7News</em></a> that the newborn infant was found on October 2.</p> <p>“The newborn infant was immediately provided with medical attention and care,” he said.</p> <p>“Medical professionals expressed concern to officials about the health and welfare of a mother who had just given birth and requested she be located prior to departing HIA.</p> <p>“Individuals who had access to the specific area of the airport where the newborn infant was found were asked to assist in the query.”</p> <p>The newborn remains unidentified, and “is safe under the professional care of medical and social workers”.</p> <p>However, Shadow Resources Minister Joel Fitzgibbons said that authorities should "await confirmation about the accuracy of the report".</p> <p>“If true, this effectively amounts to state-sanctioned sexual assault and we should all be very, very concerned,” he said.</p> <p>“And the government here in Australia should be most robust in its responses.”</p> </div> </div> </div>

Travel Trouble

"I want to get out": Panic as man tries to open door mid-flight

<p>A man who was suffering from a panic attack was restrained by fellow passengers after attempting to open the door of the plane mid-flight.</p> <p>Without warning, an agitated man tried pulling on the lever on the door at the back of the plane screaming “I want to get out!” in broken English.</p> <p>It was here that his fellow passengers intervened, but it wasn’t until half a dozen air stewards rushed down the aisle with one carrying handcuffs that the passengers felt safe.</p> <p>Ian McNally, who first spotted what was happening, was shaken up by the incident, but praised the efforts of another passenger.</p> <p>“I was mightily relieved when I saw him rushing to help,” he added.</p> <p>Another witness who did not want to be named was frozen in panic, according to <em><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/dec/03/man-restrained-after-trying-to-open-door-of-ba-aircraft-in-midair?CMP=aff_1432&utm_content=The+Independent&awc=5795_1575396722_23a2856c3503f3524c8a7f4b83339901">The Guardian</a></em>.</p> <p>“I thought that was it,” he said. “Everyone who intervened were heroes.”</p> <p>Passenger Dean Whyte, who is a shocking 2 metres tall and a boxer, also intervened with the anxious man, telling him to “calm down”.</p> <p>“It was like something out of a movie. When I got there, he was shouting ‘I want to get out’ in broken English.</p> <p>“I managed to grab him and was preparing to slam him hard if necessary but myself and the steward could see he wasn’t quite right in the head, so I held him and tried to calm him down. Eventually it worked.”</p> <p>Whyte later took a screenshot of the article from <em>The Guardian</em> and said that he was just “happy I was there to help”.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Just Happy I Was There To Help<a href="https://t.co/613bYU1ZRi">https://t.co/613bYU1ZRi</a> <a href="https://t.co/TlrtXY7RRm">pic.twitter.com/TlrtXY7RRm</a></p> — Dean Whyte (@DeanWhyte8) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeanWhyte8/status/1201791740409241600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>A British Airways flight attendant said that they had “never seen anything like that before”.</p> <p> </p>

Travel Trouble

One of the world's biggest airlines collapses

<p>India’s Jet Airways has finally collapsed after months of speculation.</p> <p>The once iconic airline has been struggling for months to stay in business and the announcement follows weeks of questions over the fate of the airline.</p> <p>Jet Airways has failed to secure emergency funding from India’s banks and is suspending all flights.</p> <p>The collapse of Jet Airways is the biggest in India since the failure of Kingfisher Airlines back in 2012.</p> <p>The blow is massive to the Indian aviation industry, as demand soars for services. However, airlines are struggling to keep the prices low.</p> <p>Jet Airways explained in a statement their sadness.</p> <p>"This has been a very difficult decision but without interim funding, the airline is simply unable to conduct flight operations," Jet Airways said in statement.</p> <p>"Above all, the airline would like to express its sincere gratitude to all its employees and stakeholders that have stood by the company in these trying times."</p> <p>The airline was informed late on Tuesday by a range of lenders that are led by the government-run State Bank of India that the airline would not be receiving more funds.</p> <p>Passengers are being informed about the closure of the airline via email and text messages and are able to claim a refund.</p> <p>The airline’s operations had shrunk to 40 flights on 5 aircraft on Tuesday, before the closure was announced.</p> <p>However, the banks are continuing to search for a private investor to buy 75 per cent of the airline. The deadline for bids is May 10th.</p>

Travel Trouble

British Airways unveils VERY funny safety video – how many famous faces do you know?

<p>In the battle of the airline safety videos, British Airways has delivered a killer blow. </p> <p>Last year, the British airline took direct aim at New Zealand's national carrier, saying "Hey, Air New Zealand, you're not the only one with a star-studded safety video". </p> <p>Featuring Sir Ian McKellan, Thandie Newton, Gordon Ramsay and Rowan Atkinson reprising his role as Mr Bean, the video was full of classic British dry humour and clocked up almost 25 million views. </p> <p>While adopting a similar format, the sequel is arguably even more hilarious. </p> <p>Introducing the pre-flight video, its "director", comedian Asim Chaudhry (aka Chabuddy G), says British A-listers were begging for parts. </p> <p>"Chabuddy, please let us be part of the sequel," he said, mimicking them in a high wine.</p> <p>"It's pathetic really. And sure, they've got their Oscars, they've got their Baftas - but what they really want is a Sista - the Society of In-flight Safety Training Awards. They all want to get their hands on the golden wings... I quite fancy some wings actually. Can someone go chicken shop?"</p> <p>The likes of Sir Michael Caine, Olivia Colman, Naomie Harris, David Walliams and Joanna Lumley are seen "auditioning" in humorous sketches, while simultaneously delivering those essential safety messages. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FQ9Xpzi4qkU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>The hapless director mistakes three-time Bafta winner Colman, star of <em>The Crown</em> and <em>Broadchurch</em>, for a tea lady and unwittingly offends Lumley. </p> <p>The <em>Absolutely Fabulous</em> star is required to tell passengers to remove their high heels because they could rip the emergency slide before delivering the painfully cheesy line "Don't worry, you'll all still look absolutely fabulous without them".</p> <p>Giving Chabuddy, who "directs" each sketch, a withering look, Lumley asks whether the line is "strictly necessary". </p> <p>"Yeah," Chabuddy replies. "Otherwise people won't know who you are."</p> <p>But it's not all about giving passengers a pre-flight laugh. Besides delivering the safety messages, the video promotes Flying Start, the global charity partnership between British Airways and Comic Relief which has supported over half a million children in the UK and some of the world's poorest communities since its 2010 launch. </p> <p>Unlike Air New Zealand's sometimes OTT videos (the one launched last July featured skiing down a pavlova, dipping a marshmallow in a boiling mud pit and a giant kea), the British video, which will roll out from this July, keeps things simple. </p> <p>No heavily-edited "fantastical" landscapes a la Air New Zealand, just the all-important safety information delivered with a generous helping of good humour. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TEsHqdA9dV0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>Air New Zealand has become increasingly intent on cramming its own safety videos with "celebrities", moving on from local actors and All Blacks to American stars Adrian Grenier, Katie Holmes and Cuba Gooding Jr. </p> <p>While intended to be a light-hearted take on what makes New Zealand unique, they have become increasingly bizarre. In trying too hard to surpass other airlines' videos, or their own, they've lost their sense of humour - to this viewer at least. </p> <p>Commenting on the latest video, which shows Grenier on a tour of Antarctica, in a <em>Stuff</em> article earlier this year, Darren Bevan says: "With its collection of bad dad jokes, goofy American tourist vibe and degree of Hollywood privilege, it simply seems to me like the bottom of the barrel being scraped."</p> <p>But you be the judge. Let us know what you think of the British Airways video, or Air New Zealand's, in the comments below. </p> <p><em>Written by Lorna Thornber. Republish with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz.</span></strong></a></em></p>

International Travel

Airline bans overweight passengers from business class

<p>Thai Airways has installed seatbelt airbags on business class cabins on its new Dreamliner jets. There’s only one problem – passengers with a waistline of more than 142.24cm (or 56 inches) simply won’t fit.</p> <p>According to vice president of Thai Airways safety, security and standards department Flight Lieutenant Prathana Pattanasiri, passengers carrying a little extra weight will not be able to fasten the new seatbelt airbags in a way that meets safety standards.</p> <p>The new airbags will also make flying difficult for parents of young children if they need to travel with kids sitting on their laps.</p> <p>The seatbelts can’t be extended because of the airbag mechanism, the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tourism-and-transport/1429426/thai-cites-safety-for-waistline-rule-on-dreamliners" target="_blank">Bangkok Post reports.</a></strong></span></p> <p>Thai Airways has fitted the new seatbelt airbags on business class seats on its Dreamliner 787-9 fleet. It has now imposed a waist size limit on passengers and banned passengers carrying infants on their laps.</p> <p>This isn’t the first airline to take aim at overweight passengers, with European airline Finnair announcing in November its plan to <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/international-travel/2017/11/airline-to-weigh-passengers-before-every-flight/">weigh passengers before every flight.</a></strong></span></p> <p>A <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-tips/2017/01/passengers-should-be-weighed-for-flights-according-to-fellow-flyers/">survey of British passengers</a></span></strong> found that 39 per cent of people believe airlines should weigh people before flights.</p>

Travel Trouble

Popular airline ditches reclining seats

<p>The prospect of a flight without being able to recline your seat would seem unbearable for some, but passengers flying with a popular airline will have to get used to the idea after it announced it would be ditching reclining seats.</p> <p>British Airways officially announced it would be fitting non-reclining seats on 35 planes set to fly economy on short haul routes, to help slash ticket prices for customers.</p> <p>The changes, which are said to have been spearheaded by the airline’s chief executive Alex Cruz who formally worked for Spain’s low-cost carrier Vueling, received a mixed reception from passengers and could risk the airline’s elite status.</p> <p>A British Airways spokesman said: “As well as new long-haul aircraft, we have 35 brand new short-haul planes arriving over the next five years.</p> <p>“We are installing at-seat power throughout the aircraft and will soon offer on-board Wi-Fi.</p> <p>“The new aircraft will have brand new seats set to a gentle recline to ensure everyone in the cabin enjoys a comfortable journey.</p> <p>“These changes will also allow us to offer more low fares to customers.”</p> <p>What are your thoughts? Would you be willing to purchase less-comfortable seats for an international flight, if it meant you’d be getting cheaper airfares? </p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-insurance/?utm_source=over60&utm_campaign=travel-insurance&utm_medium=in-article-banner&utm_content=travel-insurance" target="_blank"><img src="http://media.oversixty.com.au/images/banners/Travel-Insurance_Website_GIF_468x602.gif" alt="Over60 Travel Insurance"/></a></p>

International Travel

Newborn baby found in toilet on Etihad Airways flight

<p>Cabin crew onboard an Etihad Airways flight from Abu Dhabi to Jakarta made a horrific discovery when their plane touched down at its destination – the body of a deceased newborn baby.</p> <p>Prior to the discovery, the flight was forced to divert to Bangkok after a 37-year-old Indonesian woman started to bleed hours after departing from Abu Dhabi. Upon arrival in the Thai capital, the woman was removed from the plane.</p> <p>It wasn’t until the aircraft touched down in its final destination of Jakarta that cleaning crew located the newborn baby's body, which had been wrapped in a plastic bag and stashed inside a draw in the lavatory.</p> <p>According to the <em>Jakarta Post</em>, the woman – who had just hours earlier been taken off the plane – admitted to investigators that the baby was hers. Apparently, the woman, who is married with children, abandoned the newborn because she had fallen pregnant to her employer in Abu Dhabi.</p> <p>“[She] didn’t look healthy and won’t be questioned until she is fit,” Jakarta Airport police chief Ahmad Yusef told Agence France-Presse. “The woman is now at the airport’s health centre.”</p>

Travel Trouble

Passengers spend 7 hours on flight to nowhere

<p>A British Airways flight from Berlin to London got within an hour from Heathrow, and then turned around and went back to Germany.</p> <p>According to <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5117599/british-airways-flight-from-berlin-to-heathrow-takes-seven-hours-but-ends-up-back-where-it-started-after-snow-forced-u-turn/" target="_blank"><em><strong>The Sun</strong></em></a>, heavy snow forced flight BA983 to turn back with 180 passengers on board. After leaving five hours late, the plane was not able to land safely due to the snow that is currently battering the country.</p> <p>A British Airways spokesman, quoted in the Telegraph, said, “We do our best to keep customers updated and look after them, providing refreshments and hotel accommodation.”</p> <p>This is in contrast to another delayed British Airways flight from Berlin to Heathrow, which got diverted to Bournemouth due to the snow.</p> <p>The 100 passengers were then left on board without access to hot drinks or food for three hours while the airline decided how to proceed.</p> <p>The stranded passengers were given tap water only, and told that the crew were not able to access the refreshment trolleys.</p> <p>After three hours on the tarmac they were transported by coach to Heathrow where they were delivered nine long hours after their scheduled arrival time.</p> <p>The snow storm has caused major transport delays, as well as the closure of many schools.</p> <p>Have you ever had a plane turnaround? We would love to hear your story in the comments.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Peter Wiles/Twitter.</em></p>

International Travel

Major change coming to this airline

<p>British Airways has announced a new boarding policy for flights in Europe, and it has got some people very angry.</p> <p>The UK carrier is introducing a "Pay least, board last" policy. All passengers will be assigned a number before boarding.</p> <p>Group one will include first class flyers and Gold members of the British Airways Executive Club. Silver members will be in group two, group three comprises Bronze status holders, and group four will include economy passengers. Group five will be those who have opted for BA's cheapest hand-luggage only fares.</p> <p>The idea is to speed up boarding and the company says it will "improve the customer journey".</p> <p>They added: "This method has been used by airlines around the world for a number of years, including by our partners American Airlines, Iberia and Qatar."</p> <p>But it hasn't gone down well with some travellers, and they have been venting on social media.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Think BA has lost the plot. Instead of competing with the Aldi and Lidl of the airline world they should have stuck to offering more and costing more. This is a race to the bottom. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/britishairways?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#britishairways</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lowcost?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lowcost</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dignity?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#dignity</a></p> — Nick Redmayne (@NickRedmayne) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickRedmayne/status/931835211725275136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>Some are calling the policy "daft" as those who will be boarding last are most likely to have hand baggage.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">New <a href="https://twitter.com/British_Airways?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@British_Airways</a> boarding policy is daft. Cheapest tickets are hand baggage only, so likely to be carrying most on board? Nice recipe for more chaos as people hunt for space? How about just boarding rear to front? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/britishairways?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#britishairways</a></p> — Neil C Smith (@neilcsmith_net) <a href="https://twitter.com/neilcsmith_net/status/932676635664486400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>While some think it is shaming those who can't afford higher fares.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/British_Airways?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@British_Airways</a> <br />This idea of boarding people by their ability to pay is unfair.<br />It should be done by rows if you wish to board more quickly.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/britishairways?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#britishairways</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/snobbery?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#snobbery</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/shamingthepoor?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#shamingthepoor</a></p> — KMLockwood (@lockwoodwriter) <a href="https://twitter.com/lockwoodwriter/status/932626292318572544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>Although others are going to wear the group 5 badge with honour.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">If I have the cheapest seat on a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/britishairways?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#britishairways</a> flight with the boarding pass number "5" I shall wear the designation with pride, as everyone with a lower number has paid a higher price to reach the same destination - surely I win there...</p> — pathfinder (@path_braenaru) <a href="https://twitter.com/path_braenaru/status/932646966126882822?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>Aviation expert John Strickland told the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/ba-introduces-pay-least-board-last-policy-divides-opinion/" target="_blank">Daily Telegraph</a></strong></em></span> that the airline is just staying competitive.</p> <p>"Such changes will always divide opinion but BA is simply responding to the pressures of a short-haul market dominated by low-cost carriers who fly far more customers than it does."</p> <p><span>What do you think of British Airways' new "Pay least, board last" policy? Tell us in the comments below.</span></p> <p><em>Republished with permission of <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p>

International Travel

Passenger describes “10 hours of hell” on British Airways flight

<p>Flying isn’t always a pleasurable experience at the best of times, but for travellers onboard a British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Nevada in the US, it was almost insufferable.</p> <p>Nicole Lightbody, a 26-year-old accountant from Glasgow, Scotland, has detailed her painful flight to <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/british-airways-passenger-endured-10-11540613" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Mirror</span></strong></em></a>, which she labelled as “10 hours of hell”.</p> <p>Nicole alleges she and her cousin were forced to listen to increasingly loud static from the aircraft’s loudspeaker for five minutes at 15-minute intervals.</p> <p>She recorded the sound and uploaded it to social media after arriving at her destination, saying the loud buzz began after an oxygen mask randomly fell from the ceiling and remained down for the entire flight.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-video"> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/British_Airways?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@British_Airways</a> after a flight from Heathrow to Vegas listening a noise for the whole journey 1 of my friends has bn given £20 voucher <a href="https://t.co/LqQqwiiUI5">pic.twitter.com/LqQqwiiUI5</a></p> — Shona Lightbody (@Shona2607) <a href="https://twitter.com/Shona2607/status/930943362936565760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>“The cabin crew did everything they could to deal with it,” she conceded. “It happened every 15 minutes for five minutes at a time. They came around with noise cancelling headphones for people to put on.</p> <p>“There were people asking to be moved because of the noise. We couldn't relax because of the noise. It was 10 hours of hell basically.”</p> <p>To add insult to injury, after filing a complaint with the airline, she was offered just £20 ($35) in compensation – something she said “felt like a smack in the face”.</p> <p>A spokesperson for British Airways issued a statement to <em>The Mirror</em> denying the problem persisted for as long as Nicole alleged.</p> <p>“We apologised for a temporary issue with our public announcement system that affected a small number of customers on a flight last month which was quickly resolved. Our highly trained cabin crew also reassured customers after a single set of oxygen masks deployed accidentally."</p> <p>Tell us in the comments below, what’s the worst flight you’ve ever been on?</p>

International Travel

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Airline bans overweight passengers from business class

Popular airline ditches reclining seats

Newborn baby found in toilet on Etihad Airways flight

Passengers spend 7 hours on flight to nowhere

Major change coming to this airline

Passenger describes “10 hours of hell” on British Airways flight