Every Friday journalists from euronews’ various language teams choose a selection of stories from Europe and beyond which did not reach the international headlines Burmese group protests against Kofi
ADVERTISEMENTEvery Friday journalists from euronews’ various language teams choose a selection of stories from Europe and beyond which did not reach the international headlines
Burmese group protests against Kofi Annan, uses picture of Morgan Freeman instead
Buddhist monks from the Ma Ba Tha group posted a picture on Facebook to criticize the appointment of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan as head of a new advisory panel on conflict in the Rakhine state. The anti-Muslim group wanted to express their dissatisfaction with Annan’s appointment in their post, saying: “We no need Coffee Annan. He go away [sic]”, accompanied by a large red X – over a picture of actor Morgan Freeman.
Sometimes Ma Ba Tha groups write their own jokes so I don't have to. pic.twitter.com/zLrlceIBoJ
— Oo Tang Clan (@Lamin_Oo) August 30, 2016
The post has been shared over 4,700 times at the time of publishing, and received over 2,000 comments, many ridiculing the group for the mix-up. The Associated Press first broke the news of the apparent blunder, as published on the Washington Post. However, the Ma Ba Tha Facebook page changed on Wednesday to feature the words: “You just got pranked AP. Lol.” Nobody knows if the group had planned all along for the picture to go viral and be reported in the media, or if they were simply trying to cover up the gaffe by calling it a prank.
Adopt a dog and stay 3 nights in a luxury apartment
In Budapest, the city authorities, in conjunction with a local bank, have launched a new campaign with the help of local airb’n‘b hosts: adopt a homeless dog from one of the biggest animal shelters in the city and enjoy a three-night stay with your new furry flatmate in a luxury apartment in the Hungarian capital only for nine euros a night
Descriptions and pictures of the lovable lodgers have been added to the profiles of the hosts of the apartments. The aim of the campaign is to find a home for the dogs featured in the classified ads. All of the apartments are beautiful and luxurious, the dogs are just lovely. What are you waiting for?
Air China’s racist remarks in tourist magazine
A Chinese airline has come under fire after reportedly warning passengers to exercise caution when visiting areas of London “mainly populated by Indians, Pakistanis and black people”. The advice in Air China’s in-flight magazine came to light after Beijing-based journalist Haze Fan posted a picture of the article on Twitter.
A piece of advice in Air China inflight magazine. What does
MayorofLondon</a> think? <a href="https://twitter.com/CNBCi">CNBCiSeamusConwell</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/cnbcSri">cnbcSripic.twitter.com/u7SGfiyuXA— Haze Fan (@journohaze) September 6, 2016
In a feature on visiting the capital, the airline urges travellers to be wary and take precautions when entering areas of the capital with sizeable ethnic minorities. “London is generally a safe place to travel, however precautions are needed when entering areas mainly populated by Indians, Pakistanis and black people. We advise tourists not to go out alone at night, and females always to be accompanied by another person when travelling.” The airline has issued an apology over the incident.
Pilot mis-typed coordinates, plane landed in another country
A flight to Malaysia from Sydney was diverted to Melbourne after its pilot entered incorrect coordinates of the plane’s starting position, an Australian aviation investigation report has found. Carrying 212 passengers, the Air Asia flight was bound for Kuala Lumpur on March 10, 2015. But the pilot incorrectly entered the coordinates, referring to the longitude from a sign outside the cockpit window as 01519.8 east instead of 15109.8 east. “This resulted in a positional error in excess of 11,000 kilometers (6,835 miles), which adversely affected the aircraft’s navigation systems and some alerting systems,” the report said.
The crew had “a number of opportunities to identify and correct the error”, but didn’t notice the problem until after the plane became airborne and started tracking in the wrong direction. As systems failed further, the crew asked to return to Sydney, but unfavourable weather conditions forced them to land in Melbourne instead. The plane spent three hours on the ground in Melbourne before eventually departing for the Malaysian capital.
British Muslim makes fortune from “second wife” matchmaking site
Azad Chaiwala, 33, from Birmingham has set up a site that promises to find Muslim men a second wife, or a third and a fourth for that matter. The site promotes a community-based rather than legal bond, since bigamy is illegal in the UK – the offense is punishable by seven years imprisonment. But, Chaiwala says such relationships can be “celebrated” through civil-style, community-based ceremonies that are as legal as having a mistress, using the services of a prostitute or visiting a swingers club. “In some countries, polygamy is accepted, but not all. It is your responsibility to check local law where you reside.” – warns the site.
He told the Good Morning Britain television program he is making a lot of money and has over 100,000 profiles, of whom about 2% pay a subscription for premium membership at the cost of 20 pounds.
Always wanted to fight as a medieval knight?
Russia’s MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) community is re-creating the combats of the Middle Ages in a completely realistic way. They organise matches between two armour-clad armed men who fight only with swords and shields – and sometimes, if required, their fists. At first, it was just a straightforward show-piece between two matches, but the public loved it so much they decided to make it a more permanent feature. So a team of knights have trained and stage their own show. They show no mercy and fight until first blood.