Passengers detail harrowing 11-hour journey from London to Scotland after cancelled train
A man has gone viral on X/Twitter after detailing his harrowing journey from London to Edinburgh after his train was cancelled halfway into the trip. Stand-up comedian James Nokise revealed in a thread how his nightmare trip to Scotland went from bad to worse. He started, explaining that he initially got on the train in London at 4:40pm. Then, around three hours into the train journey, he received an email saying that the train had been cancelled – a confusing message as the train was still moving and there had been no announcement. Nokise wrote: “About 10mins later the train manager came on the speaker to say they ‘heard from passengers’ (!) that the train had been cancelled and was going to investigate because everything looked fine to them.” Passengers onboard were later informed that the “rumours were true” and the train would be terminating at the next station, which was Preston. Nokise explained that hundreds of passengers disembarked at Preston to catch a connecting train the Glasgow that left without them because it was already full. “It was around 8pm, and we were told to wait for the next train.. at 9:42,” he wrote, adding that it was also cancelled. He continued: “It turned out there were no more trains ‘North’ after that and, excitingly, no forthcoming information. “Some people stood staring at the screens. Some people queued to ask the one ticket booth worker the same question everyone else was. No one knew anything.” The hundreds of stranded passengers were then informed that alternative travel arrangements had been made. This, it was revealed, was in the form of taxis to Scotland, 3 and a half hours away. Nokise said, “all of us queued to be taken away 3-7 people at a time. And if that sounds slow and ridiculous, it was”. In his cab, Nokise was in a taxi with 3 other strangers when the taxi almost collided with another vehicle on the motorway. After several other “incidents” on the way, the cab passengers eventually made it to their intended destination after 3:00am – over five hours later than their scheduled arrival time and 11 hours after they boarded the train. The nightmare-ish journey had seen the X/Twitter thread go viral, with more than 25,000 likes. One teacher also revealed that a class of 12-year-old children were left effectively stranded in Preston as they were unable to send children unaccompanied in taxis. They tweeted: “Hi @AvantiWestCoast we’ve been stuck at Preston since around 630pm with 50 12 year olds. It’s now 10.08pm. “We've just been informed that there is no way of getting us home to Glasgow, as we can't send kids alone on taxis. A staff member has said we are effectively stuck here.” indy100 has contacted Avanti West Coast for comment. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-09-26 17:47
Thailand: Leading activist Anon Nampa jailed over calls for royal reform
Anon Nampa is jailed four years for calling for a conversation on the role of Thailand's monarchy.
2023-09-26 16:57
YouTube star condemned for insisting his girlfriend take his surname
YouTube star Ethan Payne has split opinion online after he said he wants his girlfriend to take his surname if they get married. Payne and his co-star girlfriend, Faith Kelly, present the podcast “Growing Paynes”, after getting together since 2021 and having a child a year after. In a recent episode, Kelly said: “Ethan won't propose to me because I want to be Kelly-Payne.” Payne responded: “Faith doesn't want to take my name and that irks me.” Kelly explained that she does not want to “lose my association with my family,” while Payne again responded that she would just be taking a name. @dailypaynes Ethan being a red flag 🚩 FULL CLIP 🚩 Growing Paynes: Ep 11 #growingpaynes #faithkelly #marriage #fyp #ethanpayne #proposal #redflag Payne is part of the YouTube group The Sidemen, which also includes social media star KSI. He said he thinks Kelly taking his name is “how it should be done”. “You're bottling it, that's what it is,” he joked. But online commenters didn’t see it that way. One person wrote on TikTok: “Naaah, that’s a big red flag. Thought more of him.” Another said: “This is the brightest and biggest red flag I’ve ever seen like there should be no problem cus she’s taking his name as well so.” A further commenter added: “It’s her name…. She’s including his name in it??? I don’t understand his point here.” Some people said they understood where Payne was coming from. One person said: “Sounds like she wants one foot out the door already. You’re either all in or all out.” Another said: “Wants a traditional marriage with ut the tradition. You can’t make this sh*t up.” Deed Poll data from 2021 shows that women combining both their husband’s and their own surname was up by nearly one-third compared to 2020. Looks like, in wider society at least, the traditionalists are growing few and farther between. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-09-26 16:48
Faramarz Javidzad: Iran denies medical negligence over prisoner's death
Iranian authorities rejects claims that Faramarz Javidzad's death was due to a lack of medical care.
2023-09-26 15:46
3M agrees to pay almost $10 million to settle apparent Iran sanctions violations
3M has agreed to pay almost $10 million to settle apparent violations of Iranian sanctions, the US Office of Foreign Assets Control said last week.
2023-09-26 08:55
Woman says she discovered her husband's double-life while scrolling on Facebook
A woman has explained how she discovered her husband's double-life all while scrolling on Facebook. Posting on Reddit, she explained that she has been married to her husband for ten years and that they have two children together. One day she was scrolling on a Facebook meme page and when reading comments "I saw a profile that had a photo of a woman with my husband," she said. Upon further investigation, she found out that her husband was married to the other woman, had another profile with a different name and even had a child with the other woman. So, she got in touch with the woman and found out she "did know that he was married." "They have been married for two years and their baby is approximately 14 months old," she explained. "Although they are not technically married, their marriage is not valid." "I hired a lawyer, I took all the evidence and I am in the divorce process, since when I complained he preferred her, he left the house to live with her. Besides, he refuses to give alimony, claiming that he has another child to support, and that if he has to give alimony to my children, he will seek the minimum payment even if he has to quit his job." Some people... Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-09-25 23:23
Millie Bobby Brown’s new book restarts online debate over ghostwriters
Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown has come under fire for her novel, Nineteen Steps, after working with a ghostwriter on the book. The novel was inspired by Brown’s grandmother’s experience of the 1943 Bethnal Green tube disaster, and was ghostwritten by Kathleen McGurl. Only Brown’s name is on the cover of the book, prompting social media users to criticise Brown after the book’s release. One X/Twitter user said: “You should be ashamed. “Ghostwritten celebrity novels have ruined children’s literature and now they’re doing the same thing to adult fiction.” When Nineteen Steps was published earlier this month, Brown posted a photo on Instagram of herself standing next to McGurl. The caption reads: “I couldn’t have done this without you!” Nonetheless, that has done little to silence her critics. One person wrote on Instagram: “So you can become an author and not actually write it yourself these days. What’s the point?” Another said: “You mean she wrote it for you and you’re taking the credit.” Others jumped to the 19-year-old’s aid, pointing out that scores of celebrities have faced criticism for using ghostwriters in the past. Media personality Zoella (real name Zoë Sugg) was slammed for doing the same thing with her memoir Girl Online in 2014. Katie Price and Naomi Campbell have also used ghostwriters for fiction books released under their name. And more recently, Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, was written by JR Moehringer. That book broke the record for the fastest-selling nonfiction book of all time, with 1.43m copies sold on its first day. One commenter wrote on Instagram: “This author will be paid a s***tone more because Millie’s name is on it. “Ghostwriting is not new, and by sharing this post she is literally acknowledging the author, whose name will also be in the book. “The author will be very happy, and Millie supplied the whole story and all her family’s research. Everyone seriously needs to get off their high horse.” In a March blog post, McGurl said she was sent “a lot of research that had already been pulled together by Millie and her family, and plenty of ideas”. McGurl then interviewed Brown several times over Zoom before she wrote the first draft, she said. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-09-25 00:20
Huge bears raid Krispy Kreme and help themselves to doughnuts
Two hungry bears have raided a Krispy Kreme van and helped themselves to 20 packs of doughnuts. The delivery driver had arrived at a store when he momentarily left his van unattended to drop off some boxes. At that moment, a mummy bear and her cub hopped inside the van and started munching on the sweet treats. Store manager, Shelly Deano said the bears often frequent the area in Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, US, in search of leftovers. Sally told local media: “You could hear them breaking open the packages. “We were trying to beat on the van, but they just kept eating all the doughnuts.” She added: “They ate 20 packages of the doughnut holes and I believe six packages of the three-pack chocolate doughnuts.” She said security staff managed to drive the bears away by blasting their sirens on Tuesday (19 Sept). The bears then ambled off into the nearby woods after spending around 20 minutes scoffing down the doughnuts. Krispy Kreme spokesperson Candice Sargeant said it was a learning experience for staff members. She said: “We'll definitely be learning to slide up our ramp, and close the doors, to ensure that bears don't get back in there again.” One local resident joked: “It's cute when they do it, but when I raided a doughnut truck, it was ‘illegal’ and ‘disturbing’...” Sue wrote: “Good for them. “I’m glad they got to enjoy them, but they must’ve had such a belly ache! We all love those things.” Nikki said: “Looks like they're storing up for the long winter ahead! It takes a lot of calories to hibernate for a few months.” Stan Hunt remarked: “Only in Alaska.” Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-09-24 23:50
Plane passengers refunded £1,143 due to farting dog
A couple on a 13-hour flight were refunded over £1,000 after being seated next to a farting dog. Gill and Warren Press were travelling from Paris to New Zealand with Singapore Airlines when an emotional support dog started snoring loudly during the first leg of their trip. "I heard this noise – a heavy snorting," Gill told Stuff. "I thought it was my husband’s phone, but we looked down and realised it was the dog breathing. I said, ‘I’m not having this sitting next to us the whole trip." They also claimed the dog wouldn't stop farting during the journey. It was then the couple alerted staff and asked to move, but there were no spaces available. "They couldn’t have the dog out in the aisle because they couldn’t get the trolleys through, so it had to come in further, which meant his head was under my husband’s feet," she continued. "My husband was in shorts and was getting the dog’s saliva goo on his leg." The pair were offered $116 in travel vouchers – which they were unhappy with. They pushed for a refund and have since been given approximately $1,410 which they plan on donating to a charity for guide dogs. A spokesperson for Singapore Airlines said: "Singapore Airlines (SIA) apologises to Mr and Mrs Press for their experience on board their flight from Paris to Singapore. "SIA endeavours to notify customers who may be seated next to an assistance dog prior to boarding. In circumstances where customers seated next to an assistance dog request to be moved, we will assist to re-seat customers within the same cabin if space permits. "In this instance, we were unable to move Mr and Mrs Press within the same cabin as the Premium Economy Class cabin was full. Our crew offered to move Mr and Mrs Press to two empty seats in Economy Class, which they accepted after take-off." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-09-24 23:23
Iran's president defends uranium enrichment after Europeans 'trampled on their commitments'
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has defended his country's enrichment of uranium to near weapons-grade levels, claiming it was a response to European states not living up to their end of the 2015 nuclear agreement.
2023-09-24 22:45
OnlyFans' top earners bring in these astonishing amounts
It’s the lucrative side-hustle millions of people envy and millions more indulge in - OnlyFans. Stories of OnlyFans users have shown how the subscription-based platform has dug people out of financial holes, changed their lifestyles, or helped them become more confident. With the ability to create, market, and price-point their content however they want, people with OnlyFans profiles can take control of their brand and (hopefully) make some good money. So good in fact that some people have racked in millions of dollars per year at their peak, according to various news reports. And at the top of that list was influencer Blac Chyna. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Blac Chyna, whose real name is Angela White, earned an astounding $20 million per year thanks to the website. Although she is no longer on the platform, Blac Chyna's OnlyFans charged subscribers $19.99 per month before she left. Other celebrities and well-known influencers have earned similarly large amounts at their peak too. Bella Thorne - $11 million. Although her monthly subscription is free, through tips and requests, Thorne has been able to generate massive revenue. Cardi B - $9.43 million Like Blac Chyna, rapper Cardi B is no longer on OnlyFans but when she was, she managed to bring in over $9 million. Tyga - $7.69 million The rapper deleted his OnlyFans account in 2021 but hit his peak at more than $7 million. Mia Khalifa - $6.42 million After leaving the adult film industry, Khalifa joined OnlyFans to take back her brand and post the type of content she wanted. Bhad Bhabie - $5.2 million The social media star charges subscribers $23.99 per month to see her exclusive content on OnlyFans making her one of the top earners on the platform. Erica Mena- $4.49 million The TV star allegedly made over $4 million per year through tips and exclusive content. Gemma McCourt- $2.9 million Known as Gem101 on OnlyFans, the social media influencer has become wildly popular on OnlyFans. She charges fans $30 per month for a basic subscription, earning her a spot on the list. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-09-24 18:49
People are launching baby puffins off cliffs in Iceland – here's why
Social media users were shocked to find out that people in Iceland are throwing baby puffins off cliffs – and they have been doing it for decades. Residents of several Icelandic towns traditionally go out looking for baby Atlantic puffins, or pufflings, through late August and September, explained TikTok user Jenn, whose handle is @thatgoodnewsgirl. It isn’t as bad as it sounds though. The practice has become vital to the survival of the species, according to experts, as pufflings have increasingly become confused by the bright lights of towns like Vestmannaeyjabaer in the Westman Islands. Where they would naturally find their way from their hatch site to the sea using the light of the moon, they now often wander into brightly lit towns which are much more dangerous than their natural habitat. As a result, residents now have a yearly tradition of going out to find the pufflings at night, keeping them safe overnight in cardboard boxes before chucking them off the cliffs the next morning. Crucially, the pufflings can already fly, and flap out towards the sea to rejoin their colonies. One commenter said: “I was concerned at first, glad there was a happy explanation.” Another added: “I was about to get super upset and it turned into the most wholesome story.” @thatgoodnewsgirl People are tossing baby puffins off cliffs and shorelines in Iceland - and it’s for their own good! These people are on Puffling Patrol and they’re saving the baby puffins one by one ❤️ I first learned about the Puffling Patrol because many of you tagged me in a video by @Kyana Sue Powers • Iceland, and then I went down a rabbit hole learning more about it! She posts about all things Iceland if you’re interested in more. 🇮🇸 🎥 CBC News / Nat Geo TV / @Oda W. Andreasen (TikTok) / CBS / jj.trailwalker (Instagram) / NPR / Sebastien Despres (YouTube) About 700,000 puffin chucks were born in the Westman Islands in 2021, which marks a return to regular numbers after 20 years of declining populations. Rodrigo Martínez Catalán, a research assistant with the South Iceland Nature Research Center, told NPR the tradition has helped maintain populations of the birds, which mate for life and lay just one egg per season. Puffins can live for up to 25 years. “It’s a great feeling because you just rescued this little guy. And when you bring him to the cliff—it’s the first time in his life he’s seeing the ocean," Kyana Sue Powers told NPR. “I’m always, like, ‘Bye, buddy—have a great life; I can’t wait to see you again!” The people catching pufflings are also encouraged to log the weight of each bird on a website that helps researchers to monitor the health of the local puffin population. TikToker Jen said: “The puffling patrol tradition isn’t just great for the puffins. It also brings the community of the Westman Islands together every year, uniting people over a good cause.” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-09-24 17:49