Travellers flying out of Stansted and Gatwick today are facing a day of travel chaos due to a lack of staff in air traffic control which caused dozens of flights to be delayed, cancelled and diverted and passengers to bed down in the airport for the night. 

In Stansted, passengers have complained of enormous queues to get through security and passport control with some claiming that the process took almost two hours to complete. 

The airport has not yet confirmed the reason for the queues with some passengers claiming they had been told it was due to a ‘computer backup’ and ‘problems at Gatwick.’

Air traffic control restrictions had been put in place last night following a short notice staff absence that impacted the London airport’s air traffic control team, the National Air Traffic Services (Nats) claimed last night. 

This meant dozens of arrivals and departures were affected, with passengers being advised to contact their airline prior to travelling. 

It’s not much better news for travellers this morning with the airport already experiencing several technical issues resulting in dozens of flights being delayed.   

Holidaymakers claim that they had minimal information from airlines during the evening and night and were left to fend for themselves in the empty terminals after hotels were booked up. 

Speaking to ITV, passenger Caroline Monks criticised the airport for the way the situation had been handled.

‘Our whole holiday could be cancelled’, she said, ‘we’d be losing our whole holiday if we can’t get another flight.’ 

Debbie Barrett agreed adding it was ‘disgusting’ the way passengers had been treated. 

Sarah Burnham said: ‘We couldn’t find anywhere to sleep so we decided just to stay here.’ 

The air traffic control situation not only meant that some flights couldn’t take off from Gatwick but that many couldn’t land. 

This meant that tired travelers set to touch down at the airport where diverted to sites across the country with one fight being diverted to Brussels whilst over the English Channel. 

Sally Richards was on the diverted flight and said: ‘Just as we were crossing the Channel we were told they had received a message saying Gatwick was closed and they had no idea why. 

‘We’ve got back to Britain and it feels like Britain is simply not working.’ 

traveller complained on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Gatwick has travellers ‘standing outside in the cold for the last hour waiting on a coach for a Ryanair flight in Stansted’.

Another complained of long queues at the Border Force checkpoint in the south terminal. 

One passenger even claimed that a flight had been diverted to Bournemouth airport, which is more than 100 miles away from Gatwick. 

‘We apologise very sincerely to people who have been inconvenienced [as a result of unavoidable diversions,’ a Nats spokesperson said in a statement.

‘We are working closely with Gatwick Airport Ltd to build resilience in the airport’s control tower to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.’

Nats has been recruiting new air traffic controllers since last summer and has increased its presence by 17 per cent, the agency claimed.

Other workers are due to start after completing their training, in line with the agreed plan when the agency took over the contract last October.

‘London Gatwick’s senior management understands that we are working hard to keep the operation moving,’ the spokesperson added. 

‘Airlines operating at London Gatwick were aware of the situation when Nats was appointed but that does not dilute the apology we offer sincerely to them and their passengers who have been inconvenienced by recent disruption.’

Gatwick has apologised for the situation, adding in a statement: ‘Nats are a world-class provider of air traffic services and London Gatwick’s senior management recognises how hard the airport’s air traffic controllers are working to keep the operation moving.

‘We are working closely with Nats to build resilience in the airport’s control tower to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.’

Travellers faced widespread disruption last month after the air traffic control system was hit by a technical glitch on August 28. More than a quarter of flights to and from UK airports were cancelled that day, affecting around 250,000 people.

Cancellations continued for two more days as planes and crews were out of position.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary told the BBC: ‘It is unacceptable that more flights and hundreds of passengers are suffering delays to/from Gatwick Airport due to Nats CEO Martin Rolfe’s blatant failure to adequately staff UK ATC.

‘Airlines are paying millions of pounds to Nats each and every year and should not have to see their passengers suffer avoidable delays due to UK ATC staff shortages.’

Rory Boland, of consumer group Which?, said: ‘It is unacceptable that some Gatwick passengers have been hit by further air traffic control problems so soon after the chaos a few weeks ago.

‘This is not an issue caused by airlines, but they must meet their legal obligations to look after passengers and provide them with support during delays and help with refunds and rerouting – including with other carriers if necessary.

‘To help end this cycle of miserable passenger experiences, the Prime Minister must play his part and prioritise legislation to give the CAA stronger enforcement powers in the King’s Speech later this year.’

The ABC has sparked online debate after using gender-inclusive language in an article about a debilitating condition affecting one in nine women. 

The national broadcaster urged the federal opposition and health advocates to improve access to pelvic pain services in a report on a review by the Australian Coalition of Endometriosis (ACE). 

The report found major inequalities in service and support across the nation, with many patients suffering from the debilitating condition forced to travel hours for care.

However, the ABC’s call for improved care received backlash on social media from Aussies because of its use of gender-inclusive language. 

The article referred to ‘more than 50,000 people with endometriosis’ and outlined the condition affects ‘around one in nine Australian women and people assigned female at birth’. 

The article was shared by the national broadcaster to its Twitter account on Monday, with many readers reacting to the use of the word ‘people’. 

‘Oh come on (ABC) – it’s not ‘people with endometriosis’ – the word you are missing here is WOMEN,’ one woman wrote. 

‘I thought endo was a condition affecting women. Thank you for enlightening me. I had no idea men could get it. Thank god our national broadcaster is here to enlighten us,’ another person wrote. 

‘People or women? You’ve clearly chosen to de-sex language around a very sex specific condition. How odd,’ a third chimed. 

Australian media personality Sall Grover, who is the founder and CEO of app Giggle wrote: ‘WOMEN. JFC.’ 

Others defended the gender-inclusive language explaining the condition is not ‘sex specific’ and in rare instances can affect men too – with about 16 cases of men reported in medical literature. 

Social media personality Leonardo Puglisi wrote those outraged by the term ‘people’ can easily google who the condition affects. 

‘Believe it or not (to the people in the replies) men can get endometriosis too – very rare but this is something you can easily google… also does the term ‘people’ not include ‘women’ now lol,’ he wrote. 

‘Thank you for using inclusive language; endo is primarily known as a cis women issue, but they are not the only ones who can be affected and hopefully this will help raise awareness so that others can get it checked out if need be,’ another wrote. 

A third person added: ‘All these commenters triggered by the word ‘people’ couldn’t give a stuff about people with endo (a condition also suffered by children, trans men, intersex people and occasionally men). 

‘I’m a woman with endo and we need more services. Stop derailing our much needed conversation.’

Others claimed debating the word ‘people’ was taking away from the discussion about additional care for those suffering from endometriosis.

Crikey News editor Gina Rushton wrote people were ‘having a sook’ and should rather concentrate on the message of the article. 

‘As someone who spent last night curled up in debilitating pain it is so cool to see people having a sook about inclusive language rather than the contents of this story,’  Rushton wrote. 

Australian author, cartoonist, and fellow endometriosis patient, Kaz Cook slammed the critics claiming they should ‘GFY’ (go f*** yourself). 

‘If your response to this was ‘it should read women, not people’ instead of ‘Oh, I hope this will help people avoid more pain’ then as a woman who lived with endo for 20+ years I invite you to GFY,’ she wrote. 

Endometriosis is a disease in which cells similar to the lining of the uterus grow outside the uterus – often on ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder or intestines. 

The condition causes excruciating and debilitating pain in the pelvis especially around menstruation and during sex. It also makes it more difficult to fall pregnant.  

In cases affecting men, endometriosis was commonly found on a patients’ bladder, lower abdominal wall and inguinal region. 

Cases linked to men are thought to be the consequence of prolonged hormone therapy, with two cases recorded in men who received prostate cancer treatment. 

The condition, if left untreated, can lead to serious health complications, scarring and infertility.

Daily Mail Australia approached the ABC but the national broadcaster declined to comment.  

The ACE review found there were major gaps in education and treatment for patients who suffer from endometriosis across Australia.  

Chair of ACE Jessica Taylor said the review’s findings proved a ‘national approach’ is needed as there a discrepancies in care within and across states and territories. 

‘We heard an enormous and overwhelming response from people who are living with endometriosis, like those in WA who just cannot access care in a way or in a place that is close to them,’ Ms Taylor told the ABC. 

‘This is why we need a national approach, there are national programs that are run out of states and territories but we need to extend them even more.’

The Albanese government rolled out a trial of 20 endometriosis and pelvic pain treatment clinics in March this year.

Labor and the Coalition increased the number of clinics from 16 – promised during the 2022-23 budget as part of a $58.3million endometriosis and pelvic pain package.  

The federal opposition is calling for the trial to be expanded with more clinics after the ACE’s findings.  

NHS crisis sparks boom in private health insurance: Aviva chief Amanda Blanc reports ‘very strong demand’ for cover

By John-Paul Ford Rojas

Published: 16:51 EDT, 16 August 2023 | Updated: 16:51 EDT, 16 August 2023

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Bradley Cooper‘s prosthetic nose in the newly-released trailer for Leonard Bernstein biopic Maestro has sparked online chatter, with some calling out the actor/director for playing to ‘Jewface’ stereotypes with the exaggerated facial feature and the casting of a non-Jewish actor in a Jewish role.

The Philadelphia native, 48, plays the role of the legendary musical conductor in the film opposite Carey Mulligan, who portrays his wife Felicia Montealegre, with the movie examining their relationship.

On social media, many users sounded off on the size of the prosthetic, with some using photos to show that Bernstein’s nose was not close to that size.

‘It seems completely unnecessary to have gone in that direction given the uncanny resemblance,’ one user said ‘the real Leonard Bernstein did not have the funny nose that Bradley Cooper is wearing in Maestro.’

Another user added that ‘there was no need for Bradley Cooper to add an odd prosthetic nose on top of this to play Leonard Bernstein,’ as ‘his own nose is longer!’

One user noted that the Academy Award-nominated star, who is not Jewish, should not have even been in the casting discussion with ‘so many great Jewish actors out there.’

Jake Gyllenhaal, who is Jewish, had a competing biopic but lost in the battle of rights to use Bernstein’s material against Cooper and his producing team on the film, which includes filmmaking icons Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg.

Said another user: ‘I still would have preferred they at least give Jewish actors a chance to audition before automatically casting someone more famous.’

One user said that Cooper’s appearance was both offensive and unnecessary to the actual storytelling process in the film.

‘Bradley Cooper wearing a prosthetic nose to play Leonard Bernstein is the equivalent of Black face,’ the user said. ‘He should be able to portray the character through the magnificence of his own acting. 

‘Particularly if Cooper has been hired over a Jewish actor. There has to be a line.’

One user, noting they rooting on The Hangover star in his quest for Oscar gold, said they could see the concerns over the prosthetic.

‘I love Bradley Cooper and I do want him to get an Oscar but – I understand the “jewface” concerns,’ the user said. ‘Carey Mulligan on the other hand COMMITS to her period pieces. That voice. She’s so lovely.’

The concept of ‘Jewface’ has been debated across Hollywood, with some people critical of Felicity Jones, who is not Jewish, playing late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the 2018 film On the Basis of Sex.

Another controversy come in the fall of 2021 when Kathryn Hahn, who is not Jewish, was cast to play late comic and talk show host Joan Rivers in a limited series titled The Comeback Girl. (The project did not move forward due to licensing rights.)

One of the biggest critics of Hahn’s casting was Sarah Silverman – who, in an ironic twist, plays the role of Shirley Bernstein in Maestro alongside Cooper.

On The Sarah Silverman Podcast in October of 2021, Silverman said that ‘there’s this long tradition of non-Jews playing Jews, and not just playing people who happen to be Jewish but people whose Jewishness is their whole being.’

Silverman said that ‘one could argue, for instance’ that a non Jewish actress ‘playing Joan Rivers correctly would be doing what is actually called “Jewface.”‘

Silverman on the podcast said that “Jewface” is ‘defined as when a non-Jew portrays a Jew with the Jewishness front and center, often with makeup or changing of features, big fake nose, all the New York-y or Yiddish-y inflection’

She asked, ‘In a time when the importance of representation is seen as so essential and so front and center, why does ours constantly get breached even today in the thick of it?’

Maestro is set to arrive in theaters and on Netflix December 20. 

Sandra Bullock‘s partner Bryan Randall’s death has sparked a 500 per cent increase in donations to the ALS (known as MND in the UK) Association.

The photographer died on Saturday aged 57 after a secret three-year ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) battle. 

After the family asked for people to donate to the ALS Association instead of sending or buying flowers. 

Sandra’s sister Gesine wrote in an Instagram post: ‘In lieu of flowers, please donate to ALS Association and Massachusetts General Hospital (links in bio).’

The ALS Association told TMZ that now donations were up 500 per cent over the same time last year in a funding spike. 

They told the publication: ‘We’re grateful for the amazing outpouring of support in honor of Bryan.’

‘The money pouring in will help our urgent work to make ALS a livable disease through local care, national advocacy, and global ALS research.’

Sandra called her partner Bryan ‘very patient,’ ‘a saint’ and ‘evolved on a level that is not human’ in a 2021 interview amid his secret ALS battle that led to his tragic passing on Saturday.

The 59-year-old actress spoke about Randall, a photographer, in a 2021 edition of Red Table Talk with Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith and Adrienne Banfield-Norris.

‘He’s the example that I would want my children to have,’ the Oscar-winning star said of Randall, who died after battling the disease for three years privately.

In the exchange, Bullock also said that she didn’t feel the need to exchange vows with Randall amid their committed relationship.

‘I am someone who went through the divorce process,’ Bullock said. ‘I found the love of my life. We share two beautiful children – three children, his older daughter. It’s the best thing ever.

‘So, I don’t want to say do it like I do it, but I don’t need a paper to be a devoted partner or a devoted mother.’

Bullock, who was previously wed to Jesse James from 2005-2010, said she didn’t ‘need to be told to be ever-present in the hardest of times’ or ‘to weather a storm with a good man.’.

The Speed actress spoke about the relationship dynamics she shared with Randall, a one-time model, and the example he set for her two children – son Louis, 13, and daughter Laila, 10. Randall was also father to daughter Skylar Staten, 29, from a past relationship.

‘There’s two very different ways of looking at things,’ Bullock said. ‘And I don’t always agree with him. He doesn’t always agree with me.

‘But he is an example even when I don’t agree with him that I go, “If they can take away from that, and if that is where they feel drawn to, then he’s the exact right parent.”‘

The Bird Box actress attested to Randall’s faith in the chat, saying, ‘I have a partner who’s very Christian.’

The Blind Side star and Bryan initially crossed paths in 2015 when he was on hand to take pictures for her son’s birthday celebration.

They were last seen publicly in July of 2020 in Studio City, California while out with her two kids.

In the Red Table Talk outing, she said that Randall was a positive presence for her as a parent, though he was not involved in the adoption process.

‘I had Louis first,’ she said. ‘And then when I met Randall, and I was like, and we hadn’t been together that long.’

She continued: ‘I go, “You remember that NDA you signed when you photographed my son?” He was like, “Yeah.” He’s still scared. His whole life had been unraveled because of me.

‘And I said, “You know, that still holds.” And he was like, “Yeah, OK, OK, OK, why?” And I was like, “Cause I’m bringing a child home when I come back from Toronto.” And he was like, “Sorry, what?”‘

Bullock said that her partner was simultaneously ‘so happy, but … scared’ at the development.

Randall’s family issued a statement to People confirming his death, saying, ‘It is with great sadness that we share that on Aug. 5, Bryan Randall passed away peacefully after a three-year battle with ALS.

‘Bryan chose early to keep his journey with ALS private and those of us who cared for him did our best to honor his request.’

The statement continued: ‘We are immensely grateful to the tireless doctors who navigated the landscape of this illness with us and to the astounding nurses who became our roommates, often sacrificing their own families to be with ours.

‘At this time we ask for privacy to grieve and to come to terms with the impossibility of saying goodbye to Bryan.’

Before her relationship with Randall, Bullock was in a high-profile romance with Monster Garage host Jesse James.

They met after she brought her motorcycle-obsessed godson on a trip to West Coast Choppers’s Long Beach headquarters in 2003. 

The pair ultimately wed in 2005, in front of 270 of their closest friends and family at a ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley.

In March 2010, days after she took home an Academy Award for her performance in The Blind Side, several women came forward about their affairs with Jesse.

A month later, Jesse checked himself into a rehab facility in Arizona for sex addiction after apologizing profusely to Bullock, although that wasn’t enough to save the marriage – they divorced the following June.

In 2017, he told DailyMail.com: ‘Yeah, I did cheat on my wife, yeah… I stood up and took accountability for it and apologised. And that’s [the] end of story.’

Bullock other exes include Chris Evans, Ryan Gosling, Bob Schneider, Matthew McConaughey, Don Padilla, Troy Aikman and Tate Donovan.

Scientists can now control human DNA with electricity using new tech that ‘sparks genes back to life’

By Matthew Phelan For Dailymail.Com

Updated: 18:13 EDT, 1 August 2023

Poolside revenge! Vacationer sparks a furious etiquette debate by admitting she removed ALL ‘reserved’ towels from hotel pool chairs after getting annoyed with people hogging spots

• Redditor @konijn12 said she found it impossible to find any free sun loungers 
• This was because ‘most spots were taken by towels’ but some were never used
• To prevent chair hogging, she took the towels off every lounger 
• It appears her tactic worked, with the user revealing: ‘By the end of the week a sign said unattended towels would be removed’

By Sadie Whitelocks For Dailymail.com

Updated: 15:59 EDT, 26 May 2023

Some like it…NOT! Ukraine sparks outrage in India by posting image of Hindu goddess looking like Marilyn Monroe

• The cloud resembles a photograph of Monroe and her iconic billowing dress
• The defense ministry apologised for the post which sparked fury in India

By Christian Oliver

Published: 11:23 EDT, 2 May 2023 | Updated: 11:54 EDT, 2 May 2023