• Want to fly from South Africa (or any other country on earth) back to the UK with no tests, no checks, no screening?
— Sure, you can ✅
• Flying to Dubai for a pandemic party, and then return to UK with no tests or quarantine?
— Sure, you can ✅
50+ countries (from Kuwait, to Colombia) have cut air travel ties with Britain due to the “out of control spread” of #COVID19
UK Health Sec Matt Hancock is “worried” about South Africa’s COVID19 strain...but not worried enough to test travellers from S Africa, or anywhere else.
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Breaking: Saudi Arabia agree to open its airspace to Qatar (as well as its land and sea borders) - tonight - following the #GulfCrisis blockade that started back in 2017.
Reminder: In June 2017, Saudi, UAE, Bahrain & Egypt imposed airspace bans on Qatari jets (as part of the wider blockade) — a violation of their signed ICAO airspace treaties.
Last year, ICJ - highest court in world - ruled in favour of Qatar in Gulf airspace blockade.
This is an extremely significant moment for the entire Gulf, and for #Qatar
With Saudi reopening borders to Qatar after almost 4 years, and overflight for Qatari jets set to resume over Saudi Arabia imminently, much of the Middle East will be celebrating tonight’s announcement.
Breaking: Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 jet has crashed in Tehran, Iran shortly after take off according to Iranian state media
The aircraft involved is confirmed to be a Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 (not to be confused with a 737 MAX — these are still grounded, worldwide) crashed several minutes after takeoff from Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran #PS752
Two important points to make while you’re processing the news of the UIA 737 crash
• Only Iran’s state media has stated the accident has occurred “due to tech problems” — without any investigation
• The video being widely shared (showing fireball) remains unverified
Breaking: British Airways has suspended ALL flights to Cairo, Egypt for seven days "as a precaution to allow for further assessment"
British Airways are citing “security reasons” for the immediate suspension of all Cairo, Egypt flights — unclear if it is in relation to tensions in nearby Gulf.
BA say the airline “would never operate an aircraft unless it was safe to do so” #Cairo