Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber narrowly avoided an awkward run-in with each other at a star-studded afterparty  with Kendall Jenner and Nicola Peltz in Paris, France.

Six months after pleading with her 430 million Instagram followers to stop bullying and sending ‘death threats’ to her ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber‘s spouse, 26, the pop star, 31, and supermodel were spotted arriving to the same popular nightclub on Tuesday evening. 

While it is unclear if they interacted inside, they were seen entering and exiting at separate times. 

The women were spotted in similar outfits, with Gomez rocking a figure-hugging black minidress with diamond cuffs and a pair of latex thigh-high boots.

Meanwhile, Hailey, who left with Lori Harvey and her boyfriend Damson Idris, wore a long black dress and open-toed stilettos.

The Calm Down singer rocked a glamorous makeup look, consisting of bronzer and a golden smokey eyeshadow, and her long brown hair in voluminous curls.

Hailey’s long-sleeved dress, which featured a completely open back, highlighted her jaw-dropping frame. 

She styled her brunette locks into a wavy bob and accessorize her chic ensemble with a pair of gold earrings. 

Earlier in the day, she wore the sexy look at the Saint Laurent womenswear fashion show. 

Gomez and Hailey have reportedly been on good terms since the Bad Liar hitmaker addressed the speculation over their rumored spat once and for all in a post shared to her Instagram Stories. 

At the time, the Grammy nominee told fans that Hailey had reached out to her about receiving ‘death threats’ from Selenators. 

‘This isn’t what I stand for. No one should have to experience hate or bullying. I’ve always advocated for kindness and really want this all to stop,’ Gomez said. 

For years, the internet has pit the former Disney star and the model – who is married to Selena’s ex-boyfriend, Justin Bieber – against one other. 

But in October 2022, they proved there was no bad blood between them when they posed for some photos together at an event – and they were even seen hugging it out.

However, in February 2023, rumors that they were fighting started to spread once again after Hailey shared a TikTok video in which some believed she was making fun of Selena.

Joined by close friends Kendall Jenner and Justine Skye, the ladies lip-synced along to the words: ‘I’m not saying she deserves it, but God’s timing is always right.’

The clip was shared right around the time that Selena was receiving a lot of negative attention over a set of unflattering paparazzi photos that were taken of her during a trip to Mexico – and based on the suspicious timing of Hailey’s post, many were convinced that she was shading Selena.

The TikTok was swiftly deleted, and Hailey insisted in a comment that the video had nothing to do with her husband’s ex.

‘I never comment on this type of thing but we were just having a girls’ night and did a random TikTok sound for fun,’ she wrote. ‘It’s not directed at anyone.’

Selena also got involved at the time, adding in a comment: ‘It’s OK. I don’t let these things get me down. Be nice to everyone.’

However, the drama didn’t end there. Fans then became convinced that Hailey’s pal Kylie Jenner was mocking Selena days later.

The actress had shared a post to TikTok admitting that she had ‘accidentally laminated’ her brows too much.

Taking to Instagram, Kylie posted a snap in a very similar pose along with the accompanying caption: ‘This was an accident?’

The reality star appeared to add even more fuel to the fire by sharing a screenshot from a recent FaceTime call with Hailey right after – during which they both zoomed in on their eyebrows.

However, Kylie denied that she was bashing Selena in a comment, stating, ‘This is reaching.

‘No shade towards Selena ever and I didn’t see her eyebrow posts. You guys are making something out of nothing. This is silly.’

‘Agreed @kyliejenner,’ Selena responded. ‘It’s all unnecessary. I’m a fan of Kylie.’

Even so, the hashtag #TeamSelena started to trend online, and the uproar resulted in Kylie reportedly losing half a million social media followers, while Hailey’s following went down by close to a million in total.

On the other hand, the Only Murders in the Building star saw her following increased by 10 million as a result of the online trolling accusations aimed at the pair.

Later that month, Selena stirred up the pot once again when she started to comment on some TikTok videos about Hailey, as well as some about her ex Justin.

On a TikTok containing old footage of Hailey seemingly sticking her tongue out in disgust when a Taylor Swift song played, Selena wrote, ‘So sorry, my best friend is and continues to be one of the best in the game.’

She also commented ‘I love you’ on a video a fan posted, in which she voiced her support for the singer amid all the bullying she had received from ‘mean girls and nepo babies.’ 

Afterwards, she went live on TikTok and revealed she was taking a break from the platform.

‘I’m very happy, I’m so blessed, I have the best friends, the best fans in the whole world, and I just couldn’t be happier,’ she said at the time.

‘And I’m good. I love the way I am. I don’t care. I’m gonna be taking a second from social media, because this is a little silly.

‘And I’m 30, I’m too old for this, so. But I love you guys so much. And I will see you guys sooner than later, I just… I’m just gonna just take a break from everything.’

She deactivated her account but brought it back hours later.

Gomez’s best friends, Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz, were also spotted leaving The Flower nightclub in Paris.

Gomez and Peltz became fast friends in September after connecting at this year’s Academy Museum Gala fundraiser.

In May, Peltz gushed that they ‘speak the same love language’ and are ‘always working or with the dogs.’

‘The best moments are just like when you don’t have to do anything. You can just be with the people you love, and it makes me so happy, but I’m also such a homebody,’ she said during a Q&A for Wondermind. 

Gomez joined the couple for a New Year’s getaway in Mexico earlier this year, and has even joked about being a ‘throuple’ with the newlyweds. 

Additionally, the star-studded event was attended by Hailey’s longtime best friend, Kendall Jenner, who wowed in a charcoal grey dress and black leather boots.

Their other bestie, Lori Harvey, was seen leaving with her boyfriend Damson Idris.

For their fun night out, Harvey rocked a plunging beige jumpsuit and black high heels.

Rapper Tyga was also spotted at the club with his entourage after attending the Etam Live Show 2023 during Paris Fashion Week.

If strolling down the Hollywood Walk of Fame is on your bucket list, it might be time to think again.

Because the popular hotspot running through the heart of Los Angeles has actually been ranked as the world’s worst tourist attraction.

Luggage storage network Stasher analyzed a whole host of factors to reveal which sights to steer clear of on your next vacation.

It included Google reviews, quality of local accommodation, distance from the nearest international airport, tourist safety and TikTok popularity to give each attraction an overall score out of ten.

And it turns out that the famous boulevard is far from alone in being underwhelming – as dozens of other attractions have also left visitors disappointed. 

The Tate Modern in the UK, the Palace of Versailles in France and Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany were all among the worst-rated list. 

Take a look below to explore the 15 hotspots which were the least satisfactory.

15. Forbidden City, China (5.41 out of 10)

Forbidden City is a sprawling imperial palace complex situated in the heart of Beijing.

It was commissioned in 1406 by an emperor of the Ming dynasty and so named because access to the area was barred to most of the subjects of the realm.

But despite its long history – it seems that it leaves much to the imagination.

Among the Google reviews people wrote that tourists had ‘expected more’ after being left ‘extremely disappointed with how boring the inside of the place was.’ 

And another simply branded it as ‘repetitive and expensive.’ 

14. Magic Kingdom Park, USA (5.41 out of 10)

The Magic Kingdom Park in Orlando, Florida, is one of the most visited amusement parks in the world – with more than 17 million people attending in 2022.

The theme park consists of classic attractions, enchanting fireworks, musical parades and a whole host of Disney characters. 

But it seems that many visitors to ‘the land where fantasy reigns’ were actually left in disbelief.

The recurring issues were around price and cost with one Google review summarizing most of the complaints in one, writing: ‘Terrible, overcrowded, there is not even space where to sit to eat. 

‘It is not possible to ride anything because of the lanes. Just a terrible day.’

13. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA (5.39 out of 10)

The world-renowned Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee.

Its official website states that it is America’s most visited national park thanks to the ‘diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture.’

But not everyone agrees.

A recent visitor passionately argued: ‘Don’t waste your time…  I’m a huge supporter if our parks but this is the WORST national or state park we’ve ever visited.’

Another branded it ‘an absolute travesty’ and added: ‘You cannot find a more poorly operated national park in the US.’

12. PortAventura World, Spain (5.37 out of 10)

PortAventura World, which consists of ‘six worlds in a single destination,’ claims to have been the first theme park in Spain.

It currently boasts more than 40 rides and five kilometers of rollercoaster track. 

Yet, one user wrote: ‘We came here to have fun and a relaxed time but it is not fun at all.’ 

Elaborating further as to why, she slammed the staff as ‘impolite and unfriendly’ and claimed it ‘smelt like a sewer’ before criticizing the queuing system and adding that it was ‘strewn with litter.’

Another simply labeled it an ‘endless disappointment.’ 

11. Pier 39, USA (5.27 out of 10)

Located in San Francisco, the iconic Pier 39 is a 45-acre waterfront complex lined with restaurants, shops and independent attractions.

It also offers stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge and Alcatraz.

But it seems that is still not enough for some.

Pier 39 has been branded as ‘a big disappointment’ with one Google reviewer elaborating further: ‘It has become so dirty and smelly over the years.’

Others also criticized the place as a whole, writing: ‘San Francisco is no more a safe place to live or visit or tour.’ 

10. Everland, South Korea (5.17 out of 10)

Korea’s largest theme park, Everland, welcomed its first visitors in 1976 and continues to draw in the crowds.

It is split into five individually-themed zones – namely Global Fair, American Adventure, Magic Land, European Adventure and Zootopia. 

Yet, it seems that it is still not enough to meet everyone’s needs.

Visitors took to review forums in their droves to argue that it was ‘too old’ and ‘disappointing’ with ‘too many people.’

Someone else stated that despite the big build-up, ‘generally, the attractions are lousy.’  

9. Great Wall of China, China (5.05 out of 10)

The Great Wall of China is one of the largest building-construction projects ever undertaken – with the total length of all sections ever built adding up to about 21,196 kilometers.

It actually consists of numerous walls that were built over some two millennia across northern China and southern Mongolia.

And, despite the feat, some visitors were less than impressed.

One tourist wrote: ‘There were throngs of people pushing and shoving to buy tickets and the huge queues to get on the wall itself.’

Issuing a warning to others, another added: ‘Expect to spend a few hours in the heat among thousands while standing.’ 

8. Fushimi Inari Taisha, Japan (5.04 out of 10)

The Fushimi Inari Shrine, which has ancient origins, is the most important of several thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari – the Shinto god of rice.

Most foreign tourists primarily visit to explore the surrounding mountain trails – but the building itself is also incredibly attractive. 

But not everyone could see the beauty as one user claimed that it was a ‘joke,’ adding: ‘Not a serious place by a mile.’

Another added: ‘We didn’t spend long here as it was like sardines and crammed with tourists.’  

And a third, referencing the approach via stairs, said it was ‘a miserable slog to nothing’ and ‘poorly designed.’

7. Ocean Park, Hong Kong (4.96 out of 10)

Ocean Park has been billed as a ‘must-see destination for nature lovers and inquisitive minds’ as well as being a go-to for thrill-seekers.

The site, which is praised for its immense and diverse attractions, opened in 1977 and has been delighting almost all visitors ever since. 

But there are some that have been left wanting more. 

One family who visited earlier this year wrote a review to brand it: ‘The biggest disappointment during our Hong Kong trip.’ 

And another summed it up by simply saying it was ‘absolute sh*t.’ 

6. Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong (4.89 out of 10)

The city façade Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, often considered to be the birthplace of the city itself, has become one of the most recognizable skylines in the world.

The surrounding area is bustling with hotels, retail shops and commercial offices in a busy neighborhood that never sleeps. 

But, with the Pearl of the Orient welcoming 55 million visitors to its shores every year, it seems impossible to keep them all happy.

One such disgruntled visitor wrote: ‘Please don’t even bother. There is nothing here.’

Another added that they were ‘not certain why people would come to view this’ before a third candidly said: ‘Went around in circles. Not much to see.’

5. Lotte World, South Korea (4.80 out of 10)

Lotte World is a major recreation complex in Seoul, South Korea, and is home to the world’s largest indoor theme park – as well as a mall and aquarium.

Having open in 1989, it has been a staple for locals and tourists alike for decades – but not everyone is convinced.

One recent reviewer wrote: ‘This has to be one of the worst theme parks I have ever visited. It is overcrowded. There is nowhere near enough rides with capacity for the amount of people they cram into this place.

‘The rides are pretty poor and none of them have less than an hours wait unless you are there at rope drop.’

And someone else simply said: ‘I had never seen so many people in such a tiny park.’ 

4. Busch Gardens in Florida, USA (4.52 out of 10)

Busch Gardens, which first opened in 1959, is a 335-acre theme park located in Tampa Bay, Florida, with the entire attraction landscaped around themes of Africa and Asia.

Despite there being a staggering 12,000 animals, one wrote: ‘Absolutely waste of time do not visit save your money.

‘The place is dirty and full of attitude from the catering staff. Animal enclosures are disgraceful.’

It seemed as though they had more to say, but concluded: ‘Don’t really want to waste anymore of my time reviewing the sh**hole.’

And others agreed, urging tourists to ‘do something else with your vacation.’

3. Taj Mahal, India (3.83 out of 10)

The Taj Mahal is widely considered one of the most beautiful buildings ever erected.

The immense mausoleum of white marble was built in Agra, India, between 1631 and 1648.

It was commissioned by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife whom he dubbed Mumtaz Mahal or ‘Chosen One of the Palace.’

However, even the love story was not sweet enough for some, as one visitor wrote: ‘The Taj is a bit cliché, once you have seen the photos there is nothing really extra to see.’

One particularly unhappy visitor branded it as ‘a lifeless celebration of death’ with the experience only being ‘exacerbated by the hagglers who will haunt you like hyenas every step of the way.’

2. Grand Bazaar, Turkey (3.48 out of 10)

The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey, is one of the world’s oldest covered markets, having been running during the Ottoman Empire as the marketplace of jewelry and precious hand-woven textiles.

And the impressive legacy continues today as it is now home to more than four thousand sellers.

However, it still ranked as second worst tourist hotspot in the world following the analysis – losing several points for tourist safety – and the reviews also gave an added insight.

One states: ‘I have to be completely honest. I was really looking forward to seeing this place and I was really let down. I thought the variation of things was poor and more importantly the attitude of the sellers just annoyed me. I don’t think I’d ever bother going back again.’

And another reads: ‘Full of fake goods. Nothing has price displayed. Sellers aggressive/pestering to the point of being rude.’

1. Hollywood Walk of Fame, USA (3.42 out of 10)

Topping the list of least popular landmarks from around the world was the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

There are more than 2,700 plaques lining the sidewalk on the boulevard to commemorate some of the biggest names in the industry.

Yet, even still, most visitors branded it as ‘average’ on various review sites.

Giving specific details about its perceived flaws, one tourist appeared to sum up the situation with a review that read: ‘This is grim. It’s just a lot of grubby stars on a pavement. 

‘The area is awful, with aggressive street sellers, and others half dressed with trousers around their knees, shouting and swearing at passers by. Famous stars are surrounded by mobile burger stands. Save your time and give this a miss.’

Wingsuit daredevil was decapitated by plane wing 20 seconds after jumping out of the aircraft when pilot assumed he was gliding in a different direction and dived down straight into him

• The tragic incident occurred in 2018 when the plane’s wing slammed into diver
• Pilot Alain C. is facing manslaughter charges in a court in southwestern France

By David Averre

Published: 04:51 EDT, 21 September 2023 | Updated: 05:26 EDT, 21 September 2023

A devastating Ukrainian missile attack struck the headquarters of Russia‘s Black Sea Fleet today. 

The Sevastopol HQ building is understood to have been hit with a Storm Shadow missile, the type supplied by Britain and France capable of holding a warhead of nearly 1000 lbs. 

Russia’s defence ministry has claimed that one person is missing, after initially claiming they had died in the strike. Initial reports suggested that six people had been wounded. 

Dozens of ambulances were reported at the headquarters in Sevastopol, the naval port in occupied Crimea.

The HQ building was on fire, had partially collapsed and suffered ‘severe damage’, according to one report.

Debris from the missile attack on the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet was scattered over hundreds of metres.

Russia’s defence ministry claimed that five other missiles were shot down, but one made it through its defences.  

‘According to preliminary information, people who were on the street at the time of the attack on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters were not injured,’ said Putin appointed Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhayev.

A fire continued to burn at the headquarters building, admitted the governor.

Police cordoned off two blocks around the missile-hit building.

‘The enemies launched a missile attack on the fleet headquarters,’ said Razvozhayev. 

He warned of the risk of a second attack and urged locals to stay away from the city.

‘A fragment [of a missile] fell close to the Lunacharsky Theatre. All emergency services arrived at the scene.

‘Information about the victims is being clarified. Please remain calm. And do not post photos and videos.’

The occupation official said: ‘Another attack is possible. Please do not travel to the city centre. Don’t leave buildings.

‘At the sound of the siren, everyone who is near the fleet headquarters should proceed to shelters.

‘Employees of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations are working on the spot.

‘Firefighters are taking all measures to put out the fire as quickly as possible. The build-up of forces and means continues.’

Prominent Russian pro-war blogger Vladimir Rogov said: ‘The headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol was attacked by Ukrainian missiles.’

He said the attack was carried out ‘by British Storm Shadow missiles’, though this was not immediately confirmed.

The strike was one of the most significant of the entire war, as was the sinking of the Black Sea fleet’s flagship, the Moskva cruiser, last year. 

The Black Sea Fleet has been responsible for multiple missile attacks on Ukraine, and is central to Putin’s subjugation of around one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.

Other explosions hit elsewhere in Crimea including around peninsula capital Simferopol.

Ukraine has previously used Storm Shadow and Neptune missiles to target Crimea as well as kamikaze drones.

Drones were downed today in Sevastopol harbour.

The attack came as Vladimir Putin held a meeting of his security council on relations with neighbouring countries.

He was heard skirting around the attack, only mentioning ongoing developments with ‘relations with our closest neighbours and partners.’

France fear that their captain and scrum-half talisman, Antoine Dupont, could miss the rest of this home World Cup, as he is expected to be out of action for up to six weeks.

The 26-year-old was helped off during the second half of his team’s 96-0 win over Namibia in St Etienne on Thursday night after a clash of heads with Johan Deysel that led to the visiting centre being sent off for a dangerous high tackle.

Deysel may have ended Dupont’s tournament. Mail Sport understands that he has fractured his maxillary – upper jaw – bone and the initial prognosis is that his likely recovery time is between four and six weeks. 

All of France and rugby fans around the globe will be desperately hoping that the Toulouse superstar can defy this grim medical assessment.

The best-case scenario at this stage appears to be that Dupont can come through frantic rehab just in time to be available for a semi-final in Paris on October 21 – providing France have managed to overcome either South Africa or Ireland, without him, in the last eight. 

The worst-case scenario is that Dupont will play no further part in the whole event, as six weeks on from the incident is November 2 – five days after the World Cup Final in the French capital.

Dupont’s suspected cheekbone fracture and likely concussion has left Fabien Galthie, his team-mates, and the whole of France fretting over the seriousness of his injury.

On Friday morning, French television was dominated by news of their country’s captain and scrum-half’s injury.

Broadcasters even brought up graphics of a human skull, pointing out the exact area of the cheekbone they believe France’s iconic figure Dupont has broken. It is that serious.

‘There is a suspicion of a crack or fracture of the maxillary bone,’ France head coach Galthie said of Dupont’s injury – one which completely overshadowed his team’s 13-try Namibian victory. ‘He’s currently in hospital being tested. I can’t tell you more than that.

‘I’m staying connected and will tell you more if I hear (from him). I’m writing to him now. We are never happy when a player gets injured. We are extremely concerned.’

Dupont was in tears as he left the field for a head injury assessment and did not return. The scrum-half is undoubtedly the best player in the world right now and seemed to know he had suffered a serious problem. 

France have already suffered injury misery at this World Cup. The hosts lost playmaker Romain Ntamack and key lock Paul Willemse before the tournament. But seeing Dupont injured is the worst-case scenario for Galthie’s men given his status as captain and enormous ability.

‘Antoine got a big hit on his face and we will do some exams to make sure nothing is wrong with him, but he is a strong guy and we can rely on his strength,’ France team manager Raphael Ibanez said.

‘We feel sorry for Antoine. It just reminds us how dangerous it can be with a head-to-head contact.’ France fielded a full-strength team against Namibia in what was a totally one-sided contest.

Galthie hit back at suggestions he should have taken Dupont off at half time. If Dupont is confirmed to have fractured a cheekbone, it is likely he would face a minimum of three weeks on the sidelines.

‘What do you want me to say? You can’t take 14 players off at half time,’ Galthie said.‘Our plan was to bring off one, three and five at half time, then the rest at the 55th minute.

‘The aim was to give everyone some game time and not sit back for a month. The players wanted and needed to play.’ Maxime Lucu and Baptiste Couilloud are the other French scrum-halves in Galthie’s World Cup squad. France now face an anxious wait to see how bad Dupont’s injury is.

The fear is it could well end his tournament. Such a situation would be a catastrophic blow not only for the world’s best player and France, but also for this tournament as a whole.

Dupont is the pin-up boy for this French World Cup. His team-mates were understandably concerned for their skipper post-match. 

Francois Cros said: ‘I hope it’s not serious. If it is, it would obviously have an impact on him and on us. We still have some experienced nines who can take over.

‘Watching the replay, we knew the decision the referee would make. But we had no idea about Toto’s (Dupont’s) condition.

‘We didn’t know if he was going off as a precaution or if he was really hurt until the end of the match.’ Centre Gael Fickou said: ‘At the moment, we don’t know what’s wrong.

‘We’re obviously waiting and waiting. We’re frustrated for him. ‘I hope he’ll be able to play and that it’s nothing serious. We’re all waiting impatiently for the results. ‘When he went off, we suspected it was a bit serious.’

My uniform fits snugly. Hair is brushed, shoes polished – but it’s certainly not the best of starts.

‘Can you tell me where the nearest ladies’ washroom is, please?’ asks an American guest.

‘I’m awfully sorry, but I can’t.’

Thierry Altuna, the French cruise manager (Terry to the Anglophones), takes me to one side as we line up for the Captain’s welcome speech.

‘You have your badge on the wrong way,’ he says. ‘It should always be on the right-hand lapel of your jacket.’

I move to make the switch but the magnet on the inside of my shirt – which holds the badge in place – falls and ends up somewhere near the top of my trousers. Retrieving it will require a partial striptease.

So, badgeless, I stand next to Thierry and listen to the Captain as he thanks all 107 guests for choosing Uniworld at the start of this luxurious Rhone river cruise from Arles, in the south of France, to Lyon, on board the 135-metre S.S. Catherine, named after the actress Catherine Deneuve.

Sportingly, but with understandable apprehension, Uniworld has agreed to let me join the crew for what can best be described as work experience.

There are 51 other crew and we’re an international bunch, including 13 from Bulgaria, 11 from Romania, nine from France and just one from the UK. Two, if you count me.

Thierry then takes over from the Captain, holding the microphone like a seasoned pro – and if there’s one thing I’ve learnt about cruise managers, it’s that they love an audience.

Thierry asks all those from America to raise their hands (43 of them); then wants to know how many are from Britain (27 in total), and so on.

After which, he waxes lyrical for 30 minutes about the various excursions, during which a smartly dressed passenger with a bouffant perm sidles up to me and whispers: ‘He never mentioned Ireland, and there are five of us here, you know.’

‘Thanks for that, I’ll have a word,’ I tell her. This formidable woman turns out to be Eleanor Walsh, a widow from Dublin, who is here with four other widows, three of them in their 80s.

By day two I refer to this gang as the ‘Frightening Five’, because they prove to be the most demanding passengers on the ship. Or as the hotel manager, Alexandru Marinescu, puts it more tactfully: ‘They are the ladies who need special attention.’

First, Mrs Walsh complains to me that the walk from the airport terminal at Marseilles to the coach was far too long in the 42c heat; and, second, that bottles of water should have been given to everyone upon boarding the coach.

I report this back to Alexandru the next morning at the daily heads of department meeting and he jots it down in a notebook.

Also in his book goes a note about a particular guest from the U.S. He’s been seen at the front desk naked from the waist up.

‘He must be asked politely not to do this again,’ says Alexandru – although it’s not entirely clear who will do the asking. Mind you, topless from Texas is a novice compared with Jan and Bush Hanna from Knoxville, Tennessee.

It’s the couple’s 14th Uniworld trip and it comes as they are about to celebrate their 57th wedding anniversary.

As I replenish the Hannas’ glasses with water one evening, I ask them what they make of the political situation in America. ‘Let’s not mess about – we’re for Trump,’ says Mr Hanna.

‘Would you back him if he is running the country from prison?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Do you not think he’s brought politics into disrepute?’

‘No, sir.’

There’s been one other complaint during the first 24 hours. Apparently, the restaurant staff have not been coming round with wine fast enough.

I’m particularly mindful of this because, this evening, I shall be assisting the sommelier during the Gala Dinner.

But, first, I am on morning duty at the front desk with Adriana, from Croatia. I like her telephone manner and copy every word, just substituting my name for hers.

‘Thank you for calling the front desk. My name is Mark. How can I best assist you today, Mrs Rosenberg?’

I know it’s Mrs Rosenberg because her cabin number flashes up on one of three screens hidden from view. It’s just a matter of matching the name to the number.

She wants one breakfast tea, one yoghurt, one slice of brown toast and one poached egg delivered as soon as possible.

‘Within 30 minutes, Mrs Rosenberg. Thank you so much and have a wonderful day.’

There’s a strict hierarchy on cruise ships. The Captain is the big boss, of course, and on the S.S. Catherine we all answer to Captain Pascal Rech.

He’s been sailing on the Rhone river all his working life and this is his 18th year with Uniworld.

‘Every day is different and I never get bored,’ says Pascal, 55, who met his wife on a river cruise ship when she was working as a pastry chef.

I join him in what’s called ‘the wheelhouse’ (similar to the bridge of an ocean cruise ship) as we leave Avignon and head upstream in the direction of Viviers.

Amid all the technology and flashing lights there’s a sign that reads: ‘Work like a captain, play like a pirate.’

Second most senior in the pecking order is hotel manager Alexandru, 45, who is married with a 15-year-old daughter. He’s in charge of everything on board apart from piloting the ship.

I’m particularly grateful to him because he makes sure that my shift in the kitchen, working with ten chefs and three washer-uppers, with little room to move about, lasts no longer than is absolutely necessary.

I would also struggle to toil for long in the laundry room, where I am tasked with ironing guests’ clothes (bed linen is changed every three days) while simultaneously mopping my brow.

Uniworld has a fleet of 17 ships worldwide. The company is privately owned by the South African Tollman family, which also has in its portfolio the Red Carnation group of hotels.

Guests on this trip are paying anything from £3,000 to £8,000 per person for eight nights, all-inclusive, with as much alcohol as they want at any time of day or night. The long corridors display more than 460 works of art, including original paintings by Richard Scott and signed lithographs by Joan Miro and Pablo Picasso. But the pièce de résistance is the Murano glass horse in the lobby, which was specially commissioned and cost £200,000.

Crew are billeted on the lower deck, two per cabin – unless you are a department head in charge of a team, which warrants a single room – all with their own ensuite shower rooms.

Before the Gala Dinner, the captain asks me to line up at the door to the lounge and greet guests as they file in. I clink glasses with a few of them, which seems a little forward but I notice Pascal does it in a refined sort of way. Follow the leader.

Then I report to the Bulgarian sommelier, Nedko Nikolov, who places a white napkin over my left arm and says I should hold a bottle each of the red and the white wine in my left hand, before pouring with my right.

‘The labels must be clearly visible to the guests and never let the bottle touch the glass,’ he tells me.

All goes well until I reach a table where a group of Australians are seated.

‘Could you tell me the name of the vineyard where the white wine comes from?’ says a burly man who seems to be the leader of this group. ‘I need to get back to you on that,’ I tell him.

‘I think you should know,’ he says.

I seek out Nedko, who comes up with the name, and I return with it to the Aussie.

‘You’ve spilt a couple of drops on the table,’ he says.

The correct response to this would be to apologise and dab the drops with my napkin. I master the dabbing but not the apology.

‘You’re just smarting because the England football team knocked your lot out at the Women’s World Cup,’ I tell him.

It must be a sackable offence to speak to a guest in such a manner, but I move on quickly and there are no repercussions.

A highlight of the cruise is ‘Seventies Night’. Several guests have brought with them flower-power shirts and T-shirts; some of the men wear wigs in the style of John Lennon.

The ‘Frightening Five’ take to the dance floor with gusto – and then Alexandru suggests that I should join them. ‘You have my permission,’ he says. ‘But don’t go mad.’

Working on a cruise ship is hard work. But there’s also a lot of camaraderie and you pass through some wonderful scenery. The level of service from the crew has been exemplary.

Uniworld’s motto is: ‘You deserve the best.’ I can’t honestly claim that I have been the best, but I’ve got away with it – and stood no nonsense from a bellicose Australian, who may or may not report my insolence to the Captain.

Insiders reveal the food King Charles has BANNED from French state visit banquet – and the reasons why (but mushrooms are on the menu because they remind him of Queen Elizabeth II)

• Charles provided a strict list of culinary demands for meal at Palace of Versailles

By Peter Allen In Paris

Published: 03:03 EDT, 20 September 2023 | Updated: 04:56 EDT, 20 September 2023

A fuming traveller claims £1,000 ($1,200) worth of items went missing after an airline ‘lost’ her luggage for two months – despite her AirTag tracker revealing that it was at the airport.

Sarah Waite, 25, travelled from Los Angeles to Athens, with a layover in Paris.

But when she landed in the Greek capital, she discovered her suitcase had not made it on to the plane and would arrive later.

A week later, Sarah, who is originally from Los Angeles, received a notification from her AirTag, a tracking device by Apple, saying her bag had left Paris and was finally in Athens.

When she went to pick it up, she claims Air France staff told her they didn’t have it despite the AirTag showing its location at the airport.

The registered nurse spent two months without her luggage after the flight on May 14.

And when she was finally able to retrieve it, Sarah claims her suitcase had been damaged and £1,000 ($1,200) worth of items were missing, including shoes and makeup.

Sarah described the whole experience as ‘horrible and traumatising’.

It was the trip of a lifetime for Sarah, who travelled to Athens to pursue her dream of learning modern and ancient Greek literature.

So her dream trip wasn’t off to a good start when she landed in Athens with no luggage. 

She said: ‘I went to claim my luggage and almost all of the passengers were informed that it was arriving later.

‘We all had to make a claim at the Air France desk at 2am local time.

‘There were probably about 60 people that stayed to file the claim, me being one of them.’

In the hope of speeding things up, Sarah filed a claim online while waiting in the physical queue.

At 5am in the morning, three hours after landing, she finally left Athens International Airport – without her luggage.

Sarah had an AirTag inside her suitcase so she could see that the item was in Paris, where she’d had her layover.

She said: ‘Luckily I had an AirTag inside my luggage so I could see that Air France was not lying and it really was still in the Paris airport.’

Sarah kept in touch with airline staff over the next few days but found the communication difficult.

She said ‘I kept in contact with Air France about my claim and they were not communicative at all, leaving me on hold for long periods, not connecting me with someone who spoke English.’

A week later, on May 20, Sarah’s AirTag sent her a notification revealing that her luggage had left Paris Charles de Gaulle and was finally in Athens.

She decided to make her way to the airport but when she arrived, she was unable to reclaim her belongings.

Sarah said: ‘I went to the help desk and then finally to the lost and found with lots of effort and back-and-forth argumentation about my claim number.

‘It was not there and there was nothing I could do, even though my AirTag said it was there.’

As she found herself without her suitcase, Sarah, who suffers from Graves’ disease, had to buy a number of items including her thyroid medications.

The condition is an autoimmune disorder that can cause hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid.

She said: ‘I lost hope but I continued my communication with the airline every day, sending them receipts of the items I had to purchase.’

Two months later, on July 20, Sarah was still able to track her AirTag, so she made a final attempt and travelled to the airport again.

When she arrived, Sarah went to the airline desk and confronted the staff. 

She said ‘The people helping me were very rude, yelling at me when I expressed frustration, telling me there is nothing they can do even though they work at the airport and can take me to the AirTag location.

‘They even threatened to call the police on me because I started video recording the situation.’

A video shows the interaction between herself and the staff, where an argument breaks out.

According to Sarah, the staff eventually agreed to take her to the lost and found where she was finally able to retrieve her luggage.

When she was reunited with her suitcase, Sarah claimed that it was clear it had been damaged and items lost.

She explained: ‘I got my bag, but again with extreme frustration.

‘I went to the help desk and got permission to access the lost and found.

‘I went to the lost and found and then the other lost and found but my bag was not there.

‘I finally broke down and cried in front of the entire staff and that is when someone said, “Oh we called you, okay stay here.”‘

She added: ‘It took extreme emotional expression to get the people to understand who I was and that I was contacted, even though I was telling everyone who helped me out that my name is Sarah Waite and I was called because my bags were found.

‘A young man took me to the customs area where my AirTag was tagged and I got my bag.

‘My luggage was completely ripped open, shoes were gone, makeup gone, bags were missing and the original lock on the zippers is not on it.

‘I am devastated still, but at least my medication, which is in a liquid form, if you have Graves’ disease then you know, is viable.’

Sarah documented her lost-luggage frustrations on TikTok, revealing on one clip that she received $600 (£485) in compensation.

Air France has yet to respond to requests for comment. 

The first pictures have emerged showing the devastation of a Russian strike submarine caused by a Storm Shadow missile. 

The £250 million Kilo-class attack vessel Rostov-on-Don was hit on 13 September in a repair shipyard in the Russian-held Black Sea port of Sevastopol, in annexed Crimea.

The images, obtained by Conflict Intelligence Team’s investigative journalists, show the scale of the damage dealt to the submarine as it sat in the dry dock. 

It appears to have been hit twice by missiles supplied to Ukraine by Britain and France, both of which left gaping holes in the hull and wrecked the internal mechanics. 

The CIT report suggests that the submarine’s living compartments and other areas were also damaged, meaning the Rostov-on-Don will likely take no further part in the war.

One large hole ‘is located on top of the bow of the submarine’ as indicated by previous satellite images of the stricken vessel which has been used by Putin to strike Ukraine during the war.

‘The second hit was on the starboard side of the boat in the area behind the command point.

‘It, unlike the first one, cannot be recorded from satellite images,’ the report said. 

The shipyard strike also caused severe damage to the large landing ship Minsk.

Some Ukrainian sources have claimed Russia has concealed the deaths of 24 people in the strike. 

On the same day, a ‘Sea Baby’ kamikaze drone damaged Russian missile hovercraft Samum near Sevastopol harbour, while a marine drone also damaged the Vasily Bykov patrol ship.

The strikes on the Black Sea port come as the European Union gears up for a fight over what should be included in its 12th package of sanctions over Russia’s war in Ukraine, Bloomberg News reported on Monday.

The new measures, which could be presented as early as next month, would likely include the EU’s version of the upcoming G7 ban on purchases of Russian diamonds and possibly a long-awaited proposal to use the profits generated by frozen central bank assets to aid Kyiv, the report added citing people familiar with discussions.

Meanwhile in Russia, China’s top diplomat is heading to Moscow to discuss military and security cooperation between the two nations. 

Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who simultaneously holds the ruling Communist Party’s top foreign policy post, will be in Russia from Monday to Thursday for China-Russia strategic security consultations, the Foreign Ministry said in a brief statement.

The U.S. and China are at odds over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

China has refrained from taking sides in the war, saying that while a country’s territory must be respected, the West needs to consider Russia’s security concerns about NATO expansion. 

It has accused the U.S. of prolonging the fighting by providing arms to Ukraine, weaponry that the U.S. says is needed to defend against Russian aggression.

Wang’s trip to Moscow comes a day after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un left Russia following a six-day visit that included talks with President Vladimir Putin at a far eastern spaceport, visits to aircraft plants and inspections of nuclear-capable strategic bombers and an advanced warship. 

China and Russia have grown closer as relations with the West have deteriorated for both, and China is looking for support as it seeks to reshape the U.S.-led international order into one that is more accommodating to its approach. 

Last month, it helped engineer an expansion of the BRICS partnership, which invited six more countries to join what has been a five-nation bloc that includes China and Russia.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning called Wang’s visit to Russia a routine one to hold in-depth talks on major strategic security interests.

Wang stepped down as foreign minister at the end of last year, taking on the more senior position of Communist Party foreign affairs chief, but was called back as foreign minister in July after his successor, Qin Gang, disappeared from public view. 

It’s unclear what happened to Qin, but he may have fallen out of favour with the leadership.

More recently, China’s defence minister, Li Shangfu, also has not been seen in about three weeks, sparking speculation about his fate. 

It’s unusual for two sitting Cabinet members to disappear from sight, although it doesn’t appear to signal any obvious change in defence or foreign policy.

The Chinese government has said nothing about Li’s disappearance. Asked about it on Monday, Mao, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said she was not aware of the situation.

‘I was raped 400 times’: French tennis star Angelique Cauchy reveals hell she endured at the hands of her coach when she was 12 – and how he convinced her she had AIDS until she was 18

•  Coach Andrew Geddes was sentenced to 18 years for raping four girls aged 12-17

By Olivia Jones

Published: 04:57 EDT, 15 September 2023 | Updated: 07:00 EDT, 15 September 2023