Month: November 2019

Thousands of passengers to be disrupted by closure of Luton airport road link this weekend

Posted on | by travel



The main road link to the UK’s fifth-busiest airport, Luton, is to be closed all weekend – disrupting three days of access for more than 120,000 passengers.

A massive bridge is to be moved into place over the weekend, as part of the airport’s Dart (Direct Air to Rail Transit) project.

It is part of a new shuttle link is being built between the airport, which is on a hill, and Luton Airport Parkway station, which is in a valley. 

The bridge has been assembled off-site and will be moved into position over the weekend.

The A1081 New Airport Way, the main link from the M1 motorway and the town of Luton, is the means of access for the vast majority of passengers and many staff.

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1/8 Therapy dogs at Vancouver International Airport

Vancouver International Airport employs therapy dogs to assist with anxious and stressed passengers

Vancouver International Airport

2/8 The rooftop swimming pool at Changi Airport, Singapore

This airport also includes its own cinema

Changi Airport, Singapore

3/8 Green space at Vancouver International Airport

Vancouver International Airport scored top marks for outdoor and green space

Vancouver International Airport

4/8 The outdoor terrace at San Francisco International Airport

San Francisco International Airport is the seventh busiest airport in the US

San Francisco International Airport

5/8 Fancy a dip?

A pool at Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest airport and number three in the ranking

Dubai International Airport

6/8 Frankfurt Airport

With an open-air roof terrace, dedicated silent chairs, a quiet room and peaceful leisure facilities, Frankfurt International Airport came top in the ranking

Frankfurt Airport

7/8 Work out

The transit lounge gym facilities at Changi Airport’s Terminal 2

Changi Airport, Singapore

8/8 The spa at Vancouver International Airport

Vancouver International Airport came seventh in the ranking

Vancouver International Airport


1/8 Therapy dogs at Vancouver International Airport

Vancouver International Airport employs therapy dogs to assist with anxious and stressed passengers

Vancouver International Airport

2/8 The rooftop swimming pool at Changi Airport, Singapore

This airport also includes its own cinema

Changi Airport, Singapore

3/8 Green space at Vancouver International Airport

Vancouver International Airport scored top marks for outdoor and green space

Vancouver International Airport

4/8 The outdoor terrace at San Francisco International Airport

San Francisco International Airport is the seventh busiest airport in the US

San Francisco International Airport


5/8 Fancy a dip?

A pool at Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest airport and number three in the ranking

Dubai International Airport

6/8 Frankfurt Airport

With an open-air roof terrace, dedicated silent chairs, a quiet room and peaceful leisure facilities, Frankfurt International Airport came top in the ranking

Frankfurt Airport

7/8 Work out

The transit lounge gym facilities at Changi Airport’s Terminal 2

Changi Airport, Singapore

8/8 The spa at Vancouver International Airport

Vancouver International Airport came seventh in the ranking

Vancouver International Airport

The road will close from 8pm on Friday and is due to reopen, according to Luton Council, at 11.59pm on Monday.

Luton airport recommends: “Cars approaching the airport from the M1 should follow diversions along the B653 Gypsy Lane, A505 Kimpton Road to Airport Way.

“HGVs and coaches approaching the airport from the M1 should follow the diversion route along London Road, onto Castle Street, A505 Park Viaduct to Windmill Road, then onto the A505 Kimpton Road and Airport Way.”

National Express coach services and the bus from Luton Airport Parkway will be diverted and journey times extended.

The £225m Dart project is due to open in 2021. The airport describes it as a “double-shuttle, fully-automated people-mover, based on the latest system technology and design innovation”.

The four-minute journey replaces the existing bus link, which is both slow and unreliable. The shuttle will reduce the journey time between St Pancras station in London and Luton airport to half an hour.

Luton airport is the headquarters of easyJet, the main UK hub for Wizz Air and an important base for Ryanair.



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South Western Railway strike: Everything you need to know about December walk-out

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Train schedules in and out of Britain’s busiest railway station will be wrecked by strikes for almost all of December. These are the key questions and answers

Who is going on strike?

Members of the RMT union working for South Western Railway (SWR) will strike for almost all of December. They will work normally only on 1 and 12 December (the day of the general election); no services were scheduled to operate on Christmas Day or Boxing Day.

How extensive is the SWR network?

South Western Railway is based at the UK’s busiest station, London Waterloo. Its trains serve southwest London, Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset and Devon, with some running as far as Bristol.

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10/10 Belmond Eastern & Oriental

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Belmond


1/10 Belmond Andean Explorer

Explore Peru with this luxury train service

Belmond

2/10 Coast Starlight

Gorgeous: take in the scenery on a train ride from Seattle to Los Angeles

Amtrak

3/10 TranzAlpine

See stunning views on this New Zealand train journey

TranzAlpine

4/10 Rovos Rail

This rail service takes you to the heart of Africa

Rovos Rail


5/10 Interregional Portugal

Explore all the beauty Portugal has to offer by train

Interregional Portugal

6/10 Glacier Express

Take in jaw-dropping views of Switzerland from a train

Glacier Express

7/10 East Lancashire Railway

Travelling back in time in northern England

East Lancashire Railway

8/10 Durango & Silverton

Enjoy one of America’s most scenic train rides

Durango & Silverton


9/10 Caledonian Sleeper

Wake up to the beauty of Scotland with this overnight train

Peter Devlin

10/10 Belmond Eastern & Oriental

A breezy observation car on a luxury Asian train

Belmond

On a normal working day, more than 300,000 passengers travel to and from London Waterloo, with tens of thousands more taking intermediate journeys on the network. 

What is the strike about?

New trains on South Western Railway are designed for driver-controlled operation (DCO). The train operator wants to change the role of guards. 

The RMT union wants assurances that “the guard will have an integral and guaranteed role in the despatch process,” and insists it is solely concerned about passenger safety and providing assistance.

The general secretary, Mick Cash, said: “Cutting the guard out of the despatch process reduces the second person on the train to little more than a passenger in the longer term which would give the company the option of axing them all together at some point down the line.

“Both the union and the travelling public are being set up and that stinks.

“Our action goes ahead from Monday in defence of passenger safety and accessibility and the blame for that lies wholly with SWR and their wrecking strategy.”

South Western Railway says: “We have promised that we will keep a guard on every train and that our guards will have a safety critical role. Both things the RMT has been asking for, so these strikes are unnecessary.

“We will do everything possible to get you where you need to go but ask that you leave more time for your journey and check before you travel for the latest information.”

Anthony Smith, chief executive of the watchdog Transport Focus, said: “Yet more strikes are being dumped on passengers who may have to cancel Christmas holiday plans or endure miserable journeys to work. This dispute has dragged on for far too long and is damaging trust in the railway.

“It is vital that the parties in this dispute get back around the table.”

But after talks broke on Thursday, the union confirmed the stoppage would go ahead.

How many trains are likely to run?

South Western Railway has published emergency timetables showing about half of the usual number of services. 

The emphasis will be on helping commuters get to and from work. 

Between Monday and Friday, SWR expect to run more than half of the normal schedule, “prioritising capacity during peak periods”.

The train operator warns, however: “Peak services will be much busier than normal and we may have to introduce queuing at a number of our busiest stations.”

The standard pattern on the key lines from Portsmouth via Guildford and Southampton via Woking to London Waterloo will be to run one fast and one slow train each hour. West of Southampton, some trains will run to Bournemouth. A shuttle will run each hour between Bournemouth and Weymouth.

To concentrate resources over a shorter spell each day, “services will finish earlier than normal at around 11pm”.

No SWR trains are likely to run from Weybridge to Virginia Water, Ascot to Aldershot and Epsom to Effingham Junction. Buses will replace trains.

All services to Bath and Bristol Temple Meads will be cancelled, but passengers can use GWR services to these cities from Salisbury. The same apples from Southampton and Yeovil to Bristol. Between Epsom and Dorking, passengers can use their tickets on Southern.

How is the train operator able to run as many as half its trains?

Passengers on South Western Railway, in common with those on many other networks, have endured a long sequence of strikes. SWR has a pool of “contingency guards” (staff specially trained to work on passenger services). There are also some guards who will not go on strike.

The train operator would like to operate considerably more than half its timetable. But because the strike is so protracted, staffing will be thinner on the ground than usual.

This seems far more extreme than previous strikes; will it really run all month?

The RMT union is committed to the action. But South Western Railway believes that some guards may prove reluctant to lose thousands of pounds in earnings.

If larger numbers than expected turn up for work, SWR may increase the number of trains progressively. Should the percentage reach, say, 90 per cent, it is likely that the RMT union will increase its call for negotiations.

The RMT currently says: “The union remains available for talks and we have a deal to solve this dispute which is cost free for SWR worked up and ready to go.”

How will the dispute end?

The Department for Transport (DfT) is behind the move to make Driver Controlled Operation (DCO) the standard mode of running trains. While guards are to be retained, one perceived benefit of DCO is that trains can continue to run if, for some reason, the guard is unavailable – typically during times of disruption.


South Western Railway strikes begin as London Waterloo services affected for next five days

The RMT says: “This dispute has been entirely manufactured by the Department for Transport to increase company profits and to confront the unions.

“The passengers are the victims and the unions are fighting to defend them and safety standards.”

Yet the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) has published several research projects on various aspects of DCO on passenger trains.

It says: “None of these pieces of work has identified any increased risk from dispatching a train without a guard being present – providing the correct procedures have been followed. In fact, the removal of any possible miscommunication, which could exist between driver and guard could, potentially, deliver some safety benefits.”

At present, it looks like a war of attrition, with the hapless traveller caught in the middle.



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Berlin airport temporarily shut by Second World War bomb

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One of Germany’s busiest airports has been temporarily closed down by a Second World War bomb, causing long delays and cancellations on the busiest travel day of the week.

All flights were halted at Berlin’s Schoenefeld airport, on the eastern side of the German capital, for well over an hour.

Passengers were originally told: “Flight operations at Schoenefeld airport interrupted due to a World War II bomb finding.

“We’ll inform soon.”

The bomb was found at around 12.20pm by workers on a building site at the airport, and operations were immediately suspended.

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right Created with Sketch.

1/8 Therapy dogs at Vancouver International Airport

Vancouver International Airport employs therapy dogs to assist with anxious and stressed passengers

Vancouver International Airport

2/8 The rooftop swimming pool at Changi Airport, Singapore

This airport also includes its own cinema

Changi Airport, Singapore

3/8 Green space at Vancouver International Airport

Vancouver International Airport scored top marks for outdoor and green space

Vancouver International Airport

4/8 The outdoor terrace at San Francisco International Airport

San Francisco International Airport is the seventh busiest airport in the US

San Francisco International Airport

5/8 Fancy a dip?

A pool at Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest airport and number three in the ranking

Dubai International Airport

6/8 Frankfurt Airport

With an open-air roof terrace, dedicated silent chairs, a quiet room and peaceful leisure facilities, Frankfurt International Airport came top in the ranking

Frankfurt Airport

7/8 Work out

The transit lounge gym facilities at Changi Airport’s Terminal 2

Changi Airport, Singapore

8/8 The spa at Vancouver International Airport

Vancouver International Airport came seventh in the ranking

Vancouver International Airport


1/8 Therapy dogs at Vancouver International Airport

Vancouver International Airport employs therapy dogs to assist with anxious and stressed passengers

Vancouver International Airport

2/8 The rooftop swimming pool at Changi Airport, Singapore

This airport also includes its own cinema

Changi Airport, Singapore

3/8 Green space at Vancouver International Airport

Vancouver International Airport scored top marks for outdoor and green space

Vancouver International Airport

4/8 The outdoor terrace at San Francisco International Airport

San Francisco International Airport is the seventh busiest airport in the US

San Francisco International Airport


5/8 Fancy a dip?

A pool at Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest airport and number three in the ranking

Dubai International Airport

6/8 Frankfurt Airport

With an open-air roof terrace, dedicated silent chairs, a quiet room and peaceful leisure facilities, Frankfurt International Airport came top in the ranking

Frankfurt Airport

7/8 Work out

The transit lounge gym facilities at Changi Airport’s Terminal 2

Changi Airport, Singapore

8/8 The spa at Vancouver International Airport

Vancouver International Airport came seventh in the ranking

Vancouver International Airport

Many flights were delayed, and some diverted: five to the other Berlin airport, Tegel, and one to Dresden.

As a result, Ryanair cancelled flights to Manchester and to Palermo in Sicily.

A Wizz Air flight to Budapest has been delayed by nine hours.

The airport has now opened and the authorities have tweeted: “The WW2 bomb will be disposed in the night from Friday to Saturday by the specialists of the bomb squad.”

Flight operations are not expected to be disrupted.

More than 35,000 passengers use Berlin’s Schoenefeld on a typical day. It is a hub for Europe’s biggest budget airlines, easyJet and Ryanair, with other no-frills flights operated by Wizz Air and Pegasus of Turkey.

The work was in connection with the transformation of Schoenefeld into Berlin-Brandenburg airport. The “new” airport was due to open nearly eight years ago, and was intended to become the sole airport for the German capital.

It is now predicted to open in October 2020.

In August 2019, Berlin Schoenefeld airport was temporarily closed after a sex toy was found in a passenger’s luggage. 

Security staff mistook an Ann Summers vibrator for a hand grenade and ordered an evacuation of part of the terminal.





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Policeman investigated after ‘energetically’ kissing girlfriend and demanding to see the captain during flight

Posted on | by travel



A police officer faces a gross misconduct charge after he and his girlfriend got drunk on a flight and engaged in “heavy petting”, before he tried to demand access to the flight deck using his warrant card, a court heard.

PC John Ashton and Diane Gill were flying from Manchester to the Dominican Republic with Thomas Cook in May 2018 when the incident occurred.

Ms Gill, a 57-year-old midwife from Bolton, was given a three-month suspended sentence for being intoxicated onboard an aircraft at Manchester Crown Court last week, reports the Manchester Evening News.

While Mr Ashton was not charged, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has confirmed he is being investigated by the Professional Standards Branch.

The court heard that the pair were arrested when flight MT2628 touched down, after “kissing energetically” with their “hands all over each other”, according to a member of cabin crew.

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1/50 28 November 2019

Pro-democracy protesters hold an SOS sign and US national flags during a Thanksgiving rally in Edinburgh Place, Hong Kong. Protesters were thanking US President Donald Trump for signing into a law ‘The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act Hong Kong’, provoking an angry backlash from the Chinese government. Hong Kong is in its sixth month of mass protests, which were originally triggered by a now withdrawn extradition bill, and have since turned into a wider pro-democracy movement

EPA

2/50 27 November 2019

Rescuers with a dog search through the rubble of a collapsed building after an earthquake in Durres, western Albania

AP

3/50 26 November 2019

A shepherd leads a flock of sheep on a pontoon bridge in Allahabad

AFP via Getty

4/50 25 November 2019

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects a female company belonging to 5492 troops

KCNA via Reuters

5/50 24 November 2019

A protester jumps between burning tires during ongoing anti-government protests in Basra, Iraq

Reuters

6/50 23 November 2019

Fans dressed as Star Wars characters during day three of the first Test between Australia and Pakistan at The Gabba in Australia

Getty

7/50 22 November 2019

Pope Francis speaks with religious leaders during a meeting at the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand

Reuters

8/50 21 November 2019

A girl injured in last night’s attack by the Syrian regime on a camp for displaced people near the Turkish border in Idlib, Syria is held up to the camera

AFP/Getty

9/50 20 November 2019

Indian paramilitary soldiers detain a Congress party supporter during a protest against the withdrawal of Special Protection Group (SPG) cover to party president Sonia Gandhi, her children and former prime minister Manmohan Singh, in New Delh. The move to lift off the SPG security, an elite force that protects prime ministers and their immediate families, led to sharp reactions from the Congress, which accused the government of personal vendetta

AP

10/50 19 November 2019

An image taken from a plane window shows Sydney shrouded in smoke from nearby bush fires

AAP Imagevia Reuters

11/50 18 November 2019

Protesters run for cover after riot police fired tear gas towards the bridge they were climbing down to the road below, to escape from Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Dozens escaped the besieged campus by lowering themselves on a rope from a footbridge to a highway. Once on the road they were seen being picked up by waiting motorcyclists

AFP via Getty

12/50 17 November 2019

Anti-government protesters draped in Iraqi national flags walk into clouds of smoke from burning tires during a demonstration in the southern city of Basra, Iraq

AFP via Getty

13/50 16 November 2019

A protester wearing a yellow jacket waves a French flag in a fountain during a demonstration to mark the first anniversary of the “yellow vests” movement in Nice, France

Reuters

14/50 15 November 2019

A Palestinian protester uses a slingshot to return a tear gas canister fired by Israeli forces amid clashes following a weekly demonstration against the expropriation of Palestinian land by Israel in the village of Kfar Qaddum

AFP via Getty

15/50 14 November 2019

A patient suffering from dengue fever receives medical treatment at an isolation ward at a hospital in Larkana, Pakistan. According to local reports, 26 deaths have been reported out of a total of 10,013 confirmed cases of dengue infection. Dengue fever is reportedly caused by a specific type of mosquito, the Aedes mosquito, that bites only during daytime, especially during sunrise and sunset.

EPA

16/50 13 November 2019

An anti-government protester flashes the V-sign for victory in front of burning tyres used to block a main road at the entrance of Tripoli. The previous night, street protests erupted across Lebanon after President Michel Aoun defended the role of his allies, the Shiite movement Hezbollah, in Lebanon’s government, cutting off several major roads. In his televised address, Aoun proposed a government that includes both technocrats and politicians

AFP via Getty

17/50 12 November 2019

An Israeli missile launching from the Iron Dome defence missile system, designed to intercept and destroy incoming short-range rockets and artillery shells. They were sent up to intercept rockets launched from the nearby Palestinian Gaza Strip. Israel’s military killed a commander for Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad in a strike on his home, prompting retaliatory rocket fire and fears of a severe escalation in violence

AFP/Getty

18/50 11 November 2019

A species of deer thought to be extinct, the chevrotain, has been spotted for the first time in 30 years in the wilds of Vietnam. The deer is around the size of a domestic cat

SIE/GWC/Leibniz-IZW/NCNP /SWNS.C

19/50 10 November 2019

The royal motorcade of Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, under tight security, passes through a street in Tokyo. Thousands of people gathered for the rare open-top car parade featuring the newly enthroned Emperor

Kyodo News via AP

20/50 9 November 2019

People knock over a mock-up of the former Berlin Wall during a performance prior to the German first division Bundesliga football match Hertha BSC Berlin v RB Leipzig on the 30 anniversary of the fall off the wall

AFP/Getty

21/50 8 November 2019

Flames from an out of control bushfire from a nearby residential area in Harrington, northeast of Sydney. Australian firefighters warned they were in “uncharted territory” as they struggled to contain dozens of out-of-control bushfires across the east of the country

Kelly-ann Oosterbeek/AFP/Getty

22/50 7 November 2019

Demonstrators shine lasers during a protest against Chile’s government in Santiago, the capital

Reuters

23/50 6 November 2019

Activists from India’s main opposition Congress party shout slogans as they are stopped by police during a protest against what the activists say is economic slowdown in the country, in Guwahati, India

Reuters

24/50 5 November 2019

Smoke rises from a fire in downtown Lagos, Nigeria. Firefighters worked hard to try and extinguish a fire at the Balogun market. Thick black smoke and flames shot from the five-story buildings as fire trucks attempted to get access

AP

25/50 4 November 2019

Women run down a sand dune as they take part in the desert trek “Rose Trip Maroc” in the erg Chebbi near Merzouga. It is a female-oriented trek where teams of three must travel through the southern Moroccan Sahara desert with a compass, a map and a topographical reporter

AFP via Getty

26/50 3 November 2019

Riot police descend an escalator inside the City Plaza mall in Hong Kong after a bloody knife fight wounded six people there. A local pro-democracy politician had his ear bitten off during another chaotic day of political unrest in the city

AFP via Getty

27/50 2 November 2019

People participate in the celebration of the ‘muerteadas de Jalapa del Valle’, as part of the Day of the Dead in Mexico

EPA

28/50 1 November 2019

Firefighters work to control flames from a backfire during the Maria fire in Santa Paula, California

AFP via Getty

29/50 31 October 2019

Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights, over the Vestrahorn mountain in the east of Iceland

PA

30/50 30 October 2019

A model presents a creation at the show Heaven Gaia by Xiong Ying during the China Fashion Week in Beijing. The fashion event runs from 25 October to 2 November

EPA

31/50 29 October 2019

Hindu devotees collect rice as offerings on ‘Annakut’ or ‘Govardhan Puja’ festival at the Madan Mohan temple in Kolkata. People in large numbers gather at the temple to collect the rice offerings in the belief that it will keep them in good health and they’ll never face poverty or scarcity of food

AFP via Getty

32/50 28 October 2019

Authorities investigate after a Port Authority bus was caught in a sinkhole in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

AP

33/50 27 October 2019

South Africa players celebrate after beating Wales in their Rugby World Cup semi-final match. The Springboks will face England in next Saturday’s final following fly-half Handre Pollard’s match-winning penalty four minutes from time. The match ended 19-16

Reuters

34/50 26 October 2019

Participants from Thailand pose in front of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall as they take part in the annual gay pride parade in Taipei. Some two hundred thousand revellers marched through Taipei in a riot of rainbow colours and celebration as Taiwan held its first pride parade since making history in Asia by legalising gay marriage

AFP/Getty

35/50 25 October 2019

A girl enjoys a ball bath as she is being photographed at the made-for-Instagram museum ‘Cali Dreams’ in Dusseldorf, Germany. No artworks are shown in this museum, rather each visitor himself becomes an artwork by staging himself in front of one of the 25 sceneries. Cali Dreams is initially open for three months. After this test phase, however, the museum is planned as a long-term project

EPA

36/50 24 October 2019

A fire lorry speeds towards a rampant wildfire near Geyserville, California

AFP/Getty

37/50 23 October 2019

Protesters facing Lebanese army soldiers wave national flags in the area of Jal al-Dib in the northern outskirts of Beirut. A week of unprecedented street protests against the political class showed no signs of abating, despite the army moving to reopen key roads. Protests were sparked on October 17 by a proposed tax on WhatsApp and other messaging apps

AFP/Getty

38/50 22 October 2019

Liberal leader and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau waves to supporters beside his wife Sophie after the federal election at the Palais des Congres in Montreal. He managed to hold on to power, albeit of a minority government, in one of the most divisive elections in the country’s history

Reuters

39/50 21 October 2019

A convoy of US vehicles is seen after withdrawing from northern Syria, on the outskirts of Dohuk, Iraq

Reuters

40/50 20 October 2019

Japan players go over to thank their fans after South Africa beat them in the quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup. Makazole Mapimpi double ended the hosts’ dreams in Tokyo 3-26. The Springboks will now face Wales in the semi-finals for a place in the final

Reuters

41/50 19 October 2019

Archaeologists remove the cover of an ancient painted coffin discovered at Al-Asasif Necropolis in the Vally of Kings in Luxor, Egypt

Reuters

42/50 18 October 2019

A protester throws a tire on a fire to block the highway north of Beirut, Lebanon. Protesters, mainly civil activists, started demonstrating in the downtown area on 17 October, condemning proposed taxes in the 2020 budget. An unexpected addition to impose a daily fee for using WhatsApp calls caused outrage. However, according to the Telecommunications Minister Mohamed Choucair, the charge will not make it through the government palace after the impact it has made on the streets

EPA

43/50 17 October 2019

Children watch as army tanks are transported on trucks in the outskirts of the town of Akcakale, in Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, at the border of Syria

AP

44/50 16 October 2019

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un riding a white horse amongst the first snow at Mouth Paektu

KCNA VIA KNS/AFP/Getty

45/50 15 October 2019

Protesters create a burning barricade after the Supreme Court in Madrid handed lengthy prison sentences to nine of the detained Catalonian leaders for up to 13 years each

EPA

46/50 14 October 2019

Protestors light their torches during a peaceful rally in central Hong Kong’s business district. The protests that started in June over a now-shelved extradition bill have since snowballed into an anti-China campaign amid anger over what many view as Beijing’s interference in Hong Kong’s autonomy that was granted when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997

AP

47/50 13 October 2019

Japan players celebrate victory after beating Scotland 28-21 to reach the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup for the first ever time. The hosts head coach Jamie Joseph paid tribute to those who lost their lives in Typhoon Hagibis

Getty Images

48/50 12 October 2019

Surging waves generated by typhoon Hagibis hit the seashore in Mihama, Mie Prefecture, Japan. Hagibis is the strongest storm to hit in six decades and battered the country’s main island with torrential rain and violent winds

EPA

49/50 11 October 2019

Firefighters battle the Saddleridge fire in Sylmar, California

AP

50/50 10 October 2019

People run to take cover after mortars fired from Syria, in Akcakale, Turkey. An Associated Press journalist said at least two government buildings were hit by the mortars in Sanliurfa province’s border town of Akcakale and at least two people were wounded

AP


1/50 28 November 2019

Pro-democracy protesters hold an SOS sign and US national flags during a Thanksgiving rally in Edinburgh Place, Hong Kong. Protesters were thanking US President Donald Trump for signing into a law ‘The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act Hong Kong’, provoking an angry backlash from the Chinese government. Hong Kong is in its sixth month of mass protests, which were originally triggered by a now withdrawn extradition bill, and have since turned into a wider pro-democracy movement

EPA

2/50 27 November 2019

Rescuers with a dog search through the rubble of a collapsed building after an earthquake in Durres, western Albania

AP

3/50 26 November 2019

A shepherd leads a flock of sheep on a pontoon bridge in Allahabad

AFP via Getty

4/50 25 November 2019

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects a female company belonging to 5492 troops

KCNA via Reuters


5/50 24 November 2019

A protester jumps between burning tires during ongoing anti-government protests in Basra, Iraq

Reuters

6/50 23 November 2019

Fans dressed as Star Wars characters during day three of the first Test between Australia and Pakistan at The Gabba in Australia

Getty

7/50 22 November 2019

Pope Francis speaks with religious leaders during a meeting at the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand

Reuters

8/50 21 November 2019

A girl injured in last night’s attack by the Syrian regime on a camp for displaced people near the Turkish border in Idlib, Syria is held up to the camera

AFP/Getty


9/50 20 November 2019

Indian paramilitary soldiers detain a Congress party supporter during a protest against the withdrawal of Special Protection Group (SPG) cover to party president Sonia Gandhi, her children and former prime minister Manmohan Singh, in New Delh. The move to lift off the SPG security, an elite force that protects prime ministers and their immediate families, led to sharp reactions from the Congress, which accused the government of personal vendetta

AP

10/50 19 November 2019

An image taken from a plane window shows Sydney shrouded in smoke from nearby bush fires

AAP Imagevia Reuters

11/50 18 November 2019

Protesters run for cover after riot police fired tear gas towards the bridge they were climbing down to the road below, to escape from Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Dozens escaped the besieged campus by lowering themselves on a rope from a footbridge to a highway. Once on the road they were seen being picked up by waiting motorcyclists

AFP via Getty

12/50 17 November 2019

Anti-government protesters draped in Iraqi national flags walk into clouds of smoke from burning tires during a demonstration in the southern city of Basra, Iraq

AFP via Getty


13/50 16 November 2019

A protester wearing a yellow jacket waves a French flag in a fountain during a demonstration to mark the first anniversary of the “yellow vests” movement in Nice, France

Reuters

14/50 15 November 2019

A Palestinian protester uses a slingshot to return a tear gas canister fired by Israeli forces amid clashes following a weekly demonstration against the expropriation of Palestinian land by Israel in the village of Kfar Qaddum

AFP via Getty

15/50 14 November 2019

A patient suffering from dengue fever receives medical treatment at an isolation ward at a hospital in Larkana, Pakistan. According to local reports, 26 deaths have been reported out of a total of 10,013 confirmed cases of dengue infection. Dengue fever is reportedly caused by a specific type of mosquito, the Aedes mosquito, that bites only during daytime, especially during sunrise and sunset.

EPA

16/50 13 November 2019

An anti-government protester flashes the V-sign for victory in front of burning tyres used to block a main road at the entrance of Tripoli. The previous night, street protests erupted across Lebanon after President Michel Aoun defended the role of his allies, the Shiite movement Hezbollah, in Lebanon’s government, cutting off several major roads. In his televised address, Aoun proposed a government that includes both technocrats and politicians

AFP via Getty


17/50 12 November 2019

An Israeli missile launching from the Iron Dome defence missile system, designed to intercept and destroy incoming short-range rockets and artillery shells. They were sent up to intercept rockets launched from the nearby Palestinian Gaza Strip. Israel’s military killed a commander for Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad in a strike on his home, prompting retaliatory rocket fire and fears of a severe escalation in violence

AFP/Getty

18/50 11 November 2019

A species of deer thought to be extinct, the chevrotain, has been spotted for the first time in 30 years in the wilds of Vietnam. The deer is around the size of a domestic cat

SIE/GWC/Leibniz-IZW/NCNP /SWNS.C

19/50 10 November 2019

The royal motorcade of Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, under tight security, passes through a street in Tokyo. Thousands of people gathered for the rare open-top car parade featuring the newly enthroned Emperor

Kyodo News via AP

20/50 9 November 2019

People knock over a mock-up of the former Berlin Wall during a performance prior to the German first division Bundesliga football match Hertha BSC Berlin v RB Leipzig on the 30 anniversary of the fall off the wall

AFP/Getty


21/50 8 November 2019

Flames from an out of control bushfire from a nearby residential area in Harrington, northeast of Sydney. Australian firefighters warned they were in “uncharted territory” as they struggled to contain dozens of out-of-control bushfires across the east of the country

Kelly-ann Oosterbeek/AFP/Getty

22/50 7 November 2019

Demonstrators shine lasers during a protest against Chile’s government in Santiago, the capital

Reuters

23/50 6 November 2019

Activists from India’s main opposition Congress party shout slogans as they are stopped by police during a protest against what the activists say is economic slowdown in the country, in Guwahati, India

Reuters

24/50 5 November 2019

Smoke rises from a fire in downtown Lagos, Nigeria. Firefighters worked hard to try and extinguish a fire at the Balogun market. Thick black smoke and flames shot from the five-story buildings as fire trucks attempted to get access

AP


25/50 4 November 2019

Women run down a sand dune as they take part in the desert trek “Rose Trip Maroc” in the erg Chebbi near Merzouga. It is a female-oriented trek where teams of three must travel through the southern Moroccan Sahara desert with a compass, a map and a topographical reporter

AFP via Getty

26/50 3 November 2019

Riot police descend an escalator inside the City Plaza mall in Hong Kong after a bloody knife fight wounded six people there. A local pro-democracy politician had his ear bitten off during another chaotic day of political unrest in the city

AFP via Getty

27/50 2 November 2019

People participate in the celebration of the ‘muerteadas de Jalapa del Valle’, as part of the Day of the Dead in Mexico

EPA

28/50 1 November 2019

Firefighters work to control flames from a backfire during the Maria fire in Santa Paula, California

AFP via Getty


29/50 31 October 2019

Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights, over the Vestrahorn mountain in the east of Iceland

PA

30/50 30 October 2019

A model presents a creation at the show Heaven Gaia by Xiong Ying during the China Fashion Week in Beijing. The fashion event runs from 25 October to 2 November

EPA

31/50 29 October 2019

Hindu devotees collect rice as offerings on ‘Annakut’ or ‘Govardhan Puja’ festival at the Madan Mohan temple in Kolkata. People in large numbers gather at the temple to collect the rice offerings in the belief that it will keep them in good health and they’ll never face poverty or scarcity of food

AFP via Getty

32/50 28 October 2019

Authorities investigate after a Port Authority bus was caught in a sinkhole in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

AP


33/50 27 October 2019

South Africa players celebrate after beating Wales in their Rugby World Cup semi-final match. The Springboks will face England in next Saturday’s final following fly-half Handre Pollard’s match-winning penalty four minutes from time. The match ended 19-16

Reuters

34/50 26 October 2019

Participants from Thailand pose in front of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall as they take part in the annual gay pride parade in Taipei. Some two hundred thousand revellers marched through Taipei in a riot of rainbow colours and celebration as Taiwan held its first pride parade since making history in Asia by legalising gay marriage

AFP/Getty

35/50 25 October 2019

A girl enjoys a ball bath as she is being photographed at the made-for-Instagram museum ‘Cali Dreams’ in Dusseldorf, Germany. No artworks are shown in this museum, rather each visitor himself becomes an artwork by staging himself in front of one of the 25 sceneries. Cali Dreams is initially open for three months. After this test phase, however, the museum is planned as a long-term project

EPA

36/50 24 October 2019

A fire lorry speeds towards a rampant wildfire near Geyserville, California

AFP/Getty


37/50 23 October 2019

Protesters facing Lebanese army soldiers wave national flags in the area of Jal al-Dib in the northern outskirts of Beirut. A week of unprecedented street protests against the political class showed no signs of abating, despite the army moving to reopen key roads. Protests were sparked on October 17 by a proposed tax on WhatsApp and other messaging apps

AFP/Getty

38/50 22 October 2019

Liberal leader and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau waves to supporters beside his wife Sophie after the federal election at the Palais des Congres in Montreal. He managed to hold on to power, albeit of a minority government, in one of the most divisive elections in the country’s history

Reuters

39/50 21 October 2019

A convoy of US vehicles is seen after withdrawing from northern Syria, on the outskirts of Dohuk, Iraq

Reuters

40/50 20 October 2019

Japan players go over to thank their fans after South Africa beat them in the quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup. Makazole Mapimpi double ended the hosts’ dreams in Tokyo 3-26. The Springboks will now face Wales in the semi-finals for a place in the final

Reuters


41/50 19 October 2019

Archaeologists remove the cover of an ancient painted coffin discovered at Al-Asasif Necropolis in the Vally of Kings in Luxor, Egypt

Reuters

42/50 18 October 2019

A protester throws a tire on a fire to block the highway north of Beirut, Lebanon. Protesters, mainly civil activists, started demonstrating in the downtown area on 17 October, condemning proposed taxes in the 2020 budget. An unexpected addition to impose a daily fee for using WhatsApp calls caused outrage. However, according to the Telecommunications Minister Mohamed Choucair, the charge will not make it through the government palace after the impact it has made on the streets

EPA

43/50 17 October 2019

Children watch as army tanks are transported on trucks in the outskirts of the town of Akcakale, in Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, at the border of Syria

AP

44/50 16 October 2019

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un riding a white horse amongst the first snow at Mouth Paektu

KCNA VIA KNS/AFP/Getty


45/50 15 October 2019

Protesters create a burning barricade after the Supreme Court in Madrid handed lengthy prison sentences to nine of the detained Catalonian leaders for up to 13 years each

EPA

46/50 14 October 2019

Protestors light their torches during a peaceful rally in central Hong Kong’s business district. The protests that started in June over a now-shelved extradition bill have since snowballed into an anti-China campaign amid anger over what many view as Beijing’s interference in Hong Kong’s autonomy that was granted when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997

AP

47/50 13 October 2019

Japan players celebrate victory after beating Scotland 28-21 to reach the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup for the first ever time. The hosts head coach Jamie Joseph paid tribute to those who lost their lives in Typhoon Hagibis

Getty Images

48/50 12 October 2019

Surging waves generated by typhoon Hagibis hit the seashore in Mihama, Mie Prefecture, Japan. Hagibis is the strongest storm to hit in six decades and battered the country’s main island with torrential rain and violent winds

EPA


49/50 11 October 2019

Firefighters battle the Saddleridge fire in Sylmar, California

AP

50/50 10 October 2019

People run to take cover after mortars fired from Syria, in Akcakale, Turkey. An Associated Press journalist said at least two government buildings were hit by the mortars in Sanliurfa province’s border town of Akcakale and at least two people were wounded

AP

Following passengers’ complaints, the couple was asked to cease from “heavy petting” by airline staff.

Ms Gill became aggressive a few hours into the flight, verbally abusing members of the crew and a traveller behind her, demanding to know who was responsible for the complaints, the court heard.

Flight attendants saw evidence that the couple had been drinking alcohol they had brought onto the flight themselves: an empty champagne bottle and mini wine bottles littered the floor at their feet.

Cabin crew told Mr Ashton and Ms Gill to move from the emergency exit row as they were believed to be too drunk to operate the emergency doors if needed, a requirement of sitting in those particular seats.

They eventually complied, but Ashton at one point demanded access to the flight deck to speak to the captain. When this was denied, he allegedly got out his warrant card, saying: “’I’m a police officer, I can get on the flight deck, I have got a right to.”

Mr Ashton is also accused of producing his warrant card when police boarded the aircraft in the Dominican Republic.

He allegedly said: “Hi gentlemen, can I just explain to you what happened here?”

Cabin crew said both Mr Ashton and Ms Gill appeared to be intoxicated, although Ms Gill was deemed “beyond drunk” as her speech was slurred and she seemed incapable of following instructions.

“Investigations are being carried out regarding an off duty police officer on a flight to the Dominican Republic on Monday 7 May 2018,” GMP said in a statement.

”Enquiries are ongoing and the investigation is now under the management of the Professional Standards Branch.”



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London Underground has high levels of air pollution linked to health problems such as heart disease, strokes and lung cancer, says study

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The London Underground has high levels of a type of air pollution linked to health problems including heart disease, strokes and lung cancer, according to a new study.

Research carried out on various parts of the network found that concentrations of fine particles (PM2.5) were 15 times higher than above ground, plus greater than those found in the subway networks of Beijing, Guangzhou, Los Angeles, Mexico, New York, Seoul, Taipei, Sydney and Barcelona.

Published in the journal Environment International, the study was undertaken by researchers from King’s College London and is the first comprehensive paper on PM2.5 levels on the London Underground. 

The Victoria Line was found to have the highest concentration of particles, while the stations where exposure is greatest are Oxford Circus, Waterloo and London Bridge.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Docklands Light Railway and District Line had the lowest levels of PM2.5.

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FLIR Systems went out on to the London Underground on the hottest day of the year and used the FLIR T1K HD thermal imaging camera to indicate the temperature on the tube

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FLIR Systems went out on to the London Underground on the hottest day of the year and used the FLIR T1K HD thermal imaging camera to indicate the temperature on the tube

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The researchers compared different lines with levels of PM2.5 found on the surface – including congested diesel areas such as Oxford Street and parkland such as Hyde Park – by wearing special backpacks fitted with measuring devices.

They found that those who travelled by Tube were exposed to much higher levels of PM2.5 than those who travel by bike, car or bus, and that a typical daily commute can make up a significant proportion of a person’s daily exposure to fine particles.

Lead author Dr David Green, senior research fellow at the School of Population Health and Environmental Sciences at King’s College London, said: “Our aim in this study was to make high quality measurements of the PM2.5 that people are exposed to in the London Underground. The results show that they can be some of the highest concentrations they will encounter during their day.”

He added that commuters could potentially reduce their exposure by switching to an alternative line with lower concentrations of PM2.5 or using a different mode of transport.

Inhalation of particulate pollution is associated with health risks including heart disease, strokes, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 

However, fine particles found underground differ from those found above ground, with the health effects less clear.

Lilli Matson, TfL’s chief safety, health and environment officer, said: “We welcome this research and will continue to engage with academics conducting further research to gain a better understanding of the health risks associated with air on the Tube.


Tourists waste more than £100,000 getting the London Underground between Capital’s two closest tube stops

“The particulates found underground are very different to those found on the surface, consisting predominantly of iron oxide rather than traffic pollutants. Particulates found in air above ground are known to be carcinogens, whereas those on the Tube are not known to have that effect.

“We spend around £60m every year cleaning our trains, stations and tunnel and are committed to maintaining the cleanest air possible for our staff and customers.”

TfL is currently testing a new cleaning method on the Bakerloo line, using a dust suppressant to reduce airborne dust. Other cleaning methods to address dust are being trialled on the Victoria and Waterloo & City lines.

The study was carried out in collaboration with Transport for London as part of an ongoing project to improve air quality on the London Underground.



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TTG – Leading Tales – What are the party leaders’ travel guidelines this election?

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1. Air Passenger Responsibility

The Brexit Occasion does not have a certain coverage for a amount of challenges, such as APD, mainly because it suggests it is not attempting to kind the next governing administration.

Final month, the celebration announced it would not contest any Conservative-held seats. Nevertheless, a spokesperson informed TTG the party’s general “strategic direction” is for lessen and less difficult taxes.

“Since we do not have aspirations, or current ourselves as, forming the following authorities, we have a focused set of proposals that we think can grow to be mainstream and with which we hope we can guide the agenda,” claimed the spokesperson.

2. Company costs

Continuing this aim, the Brexit Celebration states it would change company premiums with a “simpler system”. Any income reductions would be funded with an online gross sales tax, but the spokesperson did not present any distinct details on how this could be carried out.

It has also pledged to make any enterprise with a pre-tax profit considerably less than £50,000 exempt from corporation tax.

3. Prioritising Tourism

Nigel Farage’s party would devote £2.5 billion in fishing and coastal communities, which a spokesperson said have “much potential” for tourism.

The manifesto – which it has coined a “Contract with the People” – reads: “The Brexit Celebration supports expenditure in crucial general public companies, the surroundings, fishing and strategic industries – partly financed by conserving our yearly contribution to the EU.”

In accordance to the Business office for National Statistics, the UK’s gross contribution to the EU technically arrived to £20 billion in 2018. However, this sum was in no way transferred, as it is a “theoretical liability”.

4. Airport Growth

The Brexit Occasion has no plan on airport expansion. Nevertheless, in an interview on Superior Early morning Britain in June 2018, Farage mentioned Gatwick was a “more reasonable place” than Heathrow.

“If you just look at the website traffic and the infrastructure all around Heathrow, frankly during hurry hour, it barely will work now,” he reported. “So the concept there will be a huge expansion there I am pretty sceptical about.

“A whole lot of the tourist holiday getaway company could be pushed to other sites.”



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Black Friday 2019: How to fly from the UK to Australia for £610 return

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Every so often, Jack Sheldon from Jack’s Flight Club selects a flight deal from the UK for Independent readers that you can’t afford to miss. This week: return flights to Australia for £610 return.

There are good fares on offer to a good selection of cities in Australia, thanks to Singapore Airlines’ Black Friday sale.

Particularly noteworthy is an option to Darwin, in the Northern Territory, in the lower £700s. It rarely comes up this cheap – and even less so with a premium carrier. 

This deal also works from Dublin with an extra stop in London. Manchester also has some similarly priced dates in September 2020, but have longer stops, as opposed to the convenient flights from London.

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Women drinking before the Bachelor and Spinster Ball in the town of Ariah Park in western New South Wales

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Pick-up trucks, cowboy boots and a 24-hour booze-fuelled party in the Outback: welcome to modern-day dating in Australia’s bush, where swiping right is not an option

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How to book

Head to Google Flights and enter your departure and destination airports from the list below. You may want to add a “Singapore Airlines” filter to the airline selection, to help find the dates included in this deal. 

Use Google Flights’ calendar tool to help you highlight the best travel dates (they’ll show up in green).

Once you’ve found your travel dates you can book directly with the airline, or, for the best price search your dates on Skyscanner and book with an Online Travel Agent.

To

Adelaide (ADL) – £633

Brisbane (BNE) – £610

Sydney (SYD) – £638

Melbourne (MEL) – £636

Darwin (DRW) – £726

From

London (LHR)

When to fly

These fares are available between February and June and in September.

When to book

These fares should be around for another two to three days or so.



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TTG – Prime Stories – Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel pays tribute to Gary Rhodes

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Volcanic eruption forces flight with large cargo of horses onboard to turn back

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A flight from Amsterdam to Mexico had to turn back when it was over North America due volcanic activity, and the fact the aircraft had a large cargo of horses onboard.

KLM flight KL685 from Amsterdam Schiphol airport to Mexico City had already crossed the Atlantic and was over New Brunswick in Canada when it turned around to head back to the Netherlands.

The diversion to its home base meant that passengers had spent more than 11 hours onboard just to land back where they started their journey.

The reason given for the return to KLM’s home base was “unfavourable flying conditions” above Mexico due to volcanic activity from Popocatepetl, which is just outside Mexico City.

It also transpired that there was a large cargo of horses onboard, which meant that the Boeing 747 aircraft couldn’t land at an alternative airport.

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1/10 1. Air Zealand

The Kiwi flag carrier claimed the top spot in the AirlineRatings.com Airline Excellence Awards due to inflight innovations, environmental leadership and staff motivation

Air New Zealand

2/10 2. Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines came second overall and also took the Best First Class award for its Suites product

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3/10 3. All Nippon Airways

All Nippon Airways claimed third place, hailed for being at the forefront of cabin innovation

Getty Images

4/10 4. Qantas

Qantas won two awards – Best Domestic Airline Service and Best Lounges – alongside fourth place

Qantas

5/10 5. Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific was named the best long-haul airline in Asia

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6/10 6. Emirates

Best Inflight Entertainment was awarded to Emirates

AP/Adam Schreck

7/10 7. Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic came in seventh

Virgin Atlantic

8/10 8. EVA Air

Taiwan’s EVA Air was eighth

Getty

9/10 9. Qatar Airways

The Best Catering and Best Business Class awards went to Qatar Airways thanks to its Qsuites

Getty

10/10 10. Virgin Australia

Virgin Australia won Best Economy for an “extremely spacious cabin that sets it apart from many airlines”, plus Best Cabin Crew

Getty Images


1/10 1. Air Zealand

The Kiwi flag carrier claimed the top spot in the AirlineRatings.com Airline Excellence Awards due to inflight innovations, environmental leadership and staff motivation

Air New Zealand

2/10 2. Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines came second overall and also took the Best First Class award for its Suites product

Getty

3/10 3. All Nippon Airways

All Nippon Airways claimed third place, hailed for being at the forefront of cabin innovation

Getty Images

4/10 4. Qantas

Qantas won two awards – Best Domestic Airline Service and Best Lounges – alongside fourth place

Qantas


5/10 5. Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific was named the best long-haul airline in Asia

Getty Images

6/10 6. Emirates

Best Inflight Entertainment was awarded to Emirates

AP/Adam Schreck

7/10 7. Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic came in seventh

Virgin Atlantic

8/10 8. EVA Air

Taiwan’s EVA Air was eighth

Getty


9/10 9. Qatar Airways

The Best Catering and Best Business Class awards went to Qatar Airways thanks to its Qsuites

Getty

10/10 10. Virgin Australia

Virgin Australia won Best Economy for an “extremely spacious cabin that sets it apart from many airlines”, plus Best Cabin Crew

Getty Images

A KLM spokesperson told The Independent: “Due to a volcanic eruption in Mexico, the flight KL685 Amsterdam-Mexico returned to Schiphol on Thursday 28 November.

“The flight landed safely at Schiphol at 2.30am, where the passengers disembarked normally and have been taken care of in Amsterdam. They will be rebooked on an alternative flight.

“Landing at another airport was not possible, because of the visa requirements of passengers and as there was a large cargo of horses onboard.”

The Popocatepetl volcano, as seen from the Mexican city of Puebla (Hilda Rios/EPA)

It’s not the first time a volcanic eruption has forced the diversion of flights. In May 2018, thousands of travellers to and from Bali, Jakarta, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur had their flights cancelled, delayed or diverted due to the eruption of Mount Merapi in central Java.

The 9,610ft volcano, the most active in Indonesia, erupted at 7.32am on the morning of Friday 11 May.

Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB) said “ash rain” had fallen, “especially in the south to southwest of the peak crater of Mount Merapi”.

Fliers to and from Bali in Indonesia have also contended with cancelled flights and the closure of Denpasar airport when Mount Agung, in the centre of the holiday island, is particularly active.



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