Australian Couple Charged $3,500 to Delay Middle East Flight
PNC _ Friday, 27 June, 2025
An Australian couple trying to defer their Etihad Airways flight due to rising Middle East tensions says they are being charged a $3,500 rebooking fee, despite their concerns over safety following Iran’s recent missile strike on a US base in Qatar. The airline, however, insists that its flights remain safe and operational.
Sharon Latour and her husband were scheduled to transit through Abu Dhabi en route to Rome on Wednesday, just nine days after Iran’s retaliatory missile attack on Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which hosts US military assets and sits roughly 25km from Abu Dhabi’s airport.
“We’re genuinely scared — we’re not making this up,” Latour said. “But they just said, ‘well, pay the fee.’”
Despite heightened regional volatility, Etihad Airways has declined the couple’s request to reschedule the flight without penalty, citing standard fare conditions. The airline has reportedly told them that their only option is to pay $3,500 if they wish to defer their travel to early 2026.
Airlines Cite Policy; Experts Say Consumers Have Few Rights
Latour and her husband booked their business-class Etihad tickets while in Malaysia using a combination of bank card and frequent flyer points. The trip was meant to be a celebratory holiday across Europe after Latour’s work assignment in Kuala Lumpur.
Their decision to cancel was prompted by widespread airspace closures, missile exchanges between Israel and Iran, and threats from Tehran to strike additional US bases in the Gulf. The recent US strike on Iranian targets further heightened the couple’s concerns.
But when Latour contacted Etihad, customer service insisted that standard ticket terms and conditions apply — even amid geopolitical instability.
“You just had bombardment, missiles flying literally next door,” Latour said. “We don’t want to be stuck there.”
Do Travelers Have Rights in a Conflict Zone Scenario?
Experts say Australian travelers have little recourse if they voluntarily cancel or attempt to change flights due to security fears, unless their fare explicitly allows for it.
According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), airlines must meet consumer guarantees under Australian Consumer Law — but these guarantees do not apply in most cases where flights are canceled or altered due to third-party events like military conflict.
And if the cancellation is initiated by the customer, the case depends entirely on the airline’s internal policy.
Jodi Bird, travel expert at CHOICE, said that because Latour booked the tickets in Malaysia, not Australia, she likely has even fewer protections.
“Our experience is that it doesn’t do a lot to protect you beyond [the terms and conditions] of the airline,” Bird said.
Airlines Respond Differently to Regional Risk
While Etihad said Friday that its flights are “operating normally and to schedule,” and that it only uses approved airspace, some other airlines have offered flexibility in response to the regional crisis.
Qantas has provided fee-free refunds, credits, or changes for flights through Dubai until June 27.
Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways extended similar accommodations for passengers traveling through Doha up to June 30.
However, these policies do not apply to passengers flying after July 1 — even though Iran’s missile strike occurred as recently as June 23. Qatar Airways has since claimed normal operations have resumed.
“Etihad operates only when it is safe to do so,” the airline stated, declining to comment further on Latour’s specific case.
Chaos Reported at Middle Eastern Airports
Travelers in June have reported chaotic scenes at airports across the Gulf. Passengers at Doha airport experienced long delays, with some reportedly stranded for over 40 hours. Witnesses described a lack of staff, poor communication, and even reports of security threatening to seize mobile phones from those recording the chaos.
Despite these accounts, airlines have largely resumed normal operations — leaving customers like Latour stuck with rigid policies.
The couple has since canceled all their European hotel reservations and says they will not board the Etihad flight on Wednesday, even if they lose their ticket value.
Advocacy Calls for Airline Accountability and Reform
The case has reignited calls for stronger consumer protections in Australia’s aviation sector, with CHOICE urging the federal government to adopt a compensation framework similar to the EU’s passenger rights system.
“The main advantage is transparency,” Bird said. “You’ve got one central place to understand your rights, instead of digging through fine print.”
The Albanese government has committed to establishing an Aviation Industry Ombudsman by 2026, but until then, Australians remain at the mercy of airline policies, regardless of the geopolitical circumstances.
Conclusion: Fear vs. Fine Print
The Latours’ experience is a stark reminder that travel insurance and airline policies rarely cover fear-based cancellations, even when rooted in real geopolitical threats. With limited protections and no centralized dispute system in place until at least 2026, Australians abroad must navigate international crises largely on their own — with costly consequences.
NATO Allies Poised to Approve Record Defence Spending After US Pressure at Hague
As tensions escalate across multiple global fronts—from Russia’s war on Ukraine to continued unrest in the Middle East—the world’s top military alliance is preparing to take decisive financial action. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is poised to approve a significant hike in defence spending at a landmark summit in The Hague, a move largely driven by United States pressure and the shifting realities of modern warfare.
The two-day summit, hosted in the Netherlands, has drawn leaders from all 32 NATO member states, as well as key global partners such as Japan, New Zealand, and Ukraine. The summit comes amid growing instability, with conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and across the Middle East pushing defence and deterrence to the top of the agenda.
Trump Demands 5% Defence Spending from NATO Allies
At the heart of the summit’s negotiations is a major policy shift being demanded by the Trump administration, which argues that the U.S. bears an unfair share of NATO’s military costs. President Donald Trump has insisted that NATO allies increase their defence spending to 5% of GDP, far above the current 2% target. He has even questioned the commitment of defending nations that fail to meet the new threshold—an ultimatum that could threaten the alliance’s unity.
Trump’s rhetoric, echoing previous critiques of NATO burden-sharing, has been accompanied by direct action. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently gave NATO defence ministers in Brussels an ultimatum: commit to the 5% benchmark “by the summit at The Hague.” The demand includes 3.5% to be allocated for core military capabilities, while the remaining 1.5% would go toward infrastructure, cybersecurity, and other “soft” defence initiatives.
Europe Responds: 'The Defence of the Continent Has Awakened'
The pressure appears to be working. Speaking to the press ahead of the summit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that member states are preparing to approve “historic new spending targets.” She warned that the post-Cold War security architecture is no longer guaranteed, calling the current moment a “once-in-a-generation tectonic shift” in global affairs.
“In recent months, Europe has taken action—action that seemed unthinkable just a year ago,” she stated. “The Europe of defence has finally awakened.”
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged that U.S. commitment to NATO remains strong, but emphasized that it comes with clear expectations for more equitable financial contributions.
In 2023, NATO had already raised its defence spending target from 1.5% to 2% of GDP in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, yet only 22 out of 32 member countries managed to hit that revised goal. With the U.S. now pushing for a 5% benchmark, many countries face the challenge of ramping up their budgets substantially by 2032.
Kremlin Criticizes NATO Expansion and Intentions
As expected, the Kremlin has responded to NATO’s growing assertiveness with sharp criticism. On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed NATO was a bloc “created for confrontation,” not for peace and stability. Despite asserting that Moscow has no intention to attack NATO, Peskov dismissed the alliance’s rationale for its military buildup, accusing it of using Russia as a scapegoat to justify expansion and aggression.
The desire of Ukraine to join NATO, he reiterated, was one of the triggers for Russia’s military offensive in 2022.
“This alliance is determined to demonize Russia as a ‘fiend of hell,’” Peskov said, reinforcing Moscow’s belief that NATO is not interested in peace but rather escalation.
Trump Hosts Pakistan’s Army Chief: Strategic Shift or Tactical Gamble in US-Pakistan Ties?
Trump’s White House Lunch with Pakistan’s Army Chief Signals Deepening US-Pakistan Military Nexus
In a move loaded with diplomatic weight and regional implications, United States President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir for lunch at the White House — an unprecedented gesture for a Pakistani military leader not holding the nation’s highest civilian office. The event marks a significant pivot in US-Pakistan relations, potentially recalibrating a historically transactional partnership shaped by shifting strategic interests.
This high-profile meeting comes just three months after Trump publicly credited Pakistan for aiding in the arrest of the suspect behind the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul — a rare acknowledgment that hinted at evolving cooperation. Now, with Munir on a five-day visit to the US, Trump’s administration appears to be resetting ties with Islamabad, fueled by shared counterterrorism priorities and regional crisis management.
From ‘Lies and Deceit’ to Strategic Ally
The contrast couldn’t be starker. Only seven years ago, Trump lambasted Pakistan for harboring terrorists and offering “nothing but lies and deceit.” Now, he hails it as a “phenomenal” counterterrorism partner. This remarkable shift is partly rooted in Pakistan’s role in defusing a near-war with India this May — a crisis sparked by deadly attacks in Kashmir that rapidly escalated into drone and missile exchanges between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Trump praised both Munir and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their restraint, crediting behind-the-scenes US diplomacy for the eventual ceasefire. “I stopped the war between Pakistan and India,” Trump said. “This man [Munir] was extremely influential in stopping it.” Despite India’s official stance denying any mediation, the optics of the White House meeting underscore Washington’s strategic interest in maintaining influence over South Asia’s flashpoints.
Pakistan’s Reassertion Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump’s engagement with Pakistan also comes as the US navigates a rapidly deteriorating Middle East landscape. Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites have provoked deadly missile responses from Tehran. With Iran sharing a long border with Pakistan, Trump emphasized the latter’s nuanced understanding of regional dynamics. “They know Iran very well,” he said, hinting at possible collaboration or consultation in upcoming US decisions.
Experts see this outreach as driven more by Trump’s personalized approach than by long-term institutional policy. Marvin Weinbaum of the Middle East Institute labeled the administration “mercurial,” cautioning that alliances may shift as rapidly as Trump’s tweets. Still, others see symbolic weight in the protocol-breaking lunch invite, noting that it puts Pakistan squarely back in Washington’s “inner circle” — at least for now.
A Transactional Relationship Revived
Historically, the US-Pakistan relationship has hinged on security cooperation, from the Cold War and Afghan jihad to the post-9/11 War on Terror. However, it has also been marred by mistrust, with tensions peaking after Osama bin Laden was found near Pakistan’s military HQ in 2011.
Yet under Trump’s second term, Pakistan appears to be regaining favor. CENTCOM Chief General Michael Kurilla recently praised Islamabad for its role in capturing the Abbey Gate bomber, directly crediting Munir for relaying the intelligence. The revived collaboration includes discussions on trade deals, crypto initiatives, and access to Pakistan’s rare earth minerals — resources vital for defense and tech industries.
Civil-Military Dynamics in Pakistan Under Scrutiny
The spotlight on General Munir, who holds the rare rank of Field Marshal, reinforces perceptions that Pakistan’s military remains its real power center. The civilian government, elected under contested circumstances, appears sidelined in this diplomatic milestone. Analysts warn that bypassing elected representatives could weaken democratic consolidation in Pakistan.
Raza Ahmad Rumi, a noted academic, remarked, “If this is the ‘reset,’ it’s one where khaki once again trumps ballot.” Others echoed this concern, arguing that such exclusive military-to-military engagements may deepen political disillusionment in Pakistan and foster opaque decision-making.
What’s Next: A Lasting Partnership or Fleeting Phase?
While some see strategic depth in the renewed US-Pakistan alignment, others view it as another episode in a history of short-term convergence. The future of this relationship may depend on Pakistan’s alignment amid growing US-China rivalry and the evolving Israel-Iran conflict.
Weinbaum concluded with a sobering reminder: “Nothing is permanent in this administration… Pakistan should be prepared for things to change at any hour.” Whether the Trump-Munir encounter will usher in a lasting geopolitical partnership or dissolve into another tactical romance remains to be seen.
Kenya Erupts in Protests After Blogger Dies in Police Custody: 11 Injured, Government Faces Pressure Over Brutality
NAIROBI, Kenya — A wave of public outrage and violent confrontations has swept across Kenya after the death of 31-year-old blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang in police custody, triggering a series of protests that have left at least 11 people injured. The demonstrations, centered in Nairobi and Mombasa, reflect a broader crisis of confidence in Kenya's law enforcement agencies and a growing national demand for justice and accountability.
Eyewitnesses reported harrowing scenes in downtown Nairobi on Tuesday when a masked police officer allegedly shot a bystander — believed to be a street vendor — in the head at close range. The man, said to have been caught in a standoff between two police officers and protesters, is being treated for gunshot wounds at Kenyatta National Hospital, the country's largest government medical facility.
In response, Kenyan police confirmed that the officer involved in the shooting has been arrested. However, the incident has intensified scrutiny of police conduct, especially amid allegations that security forces are using excessive force to suppress dissent.
The protest on Tuesday turned violent when hundreds of unidentified men on motorbikes — many armed with whips and clubs — stormed the crowd. Footage broadcast by NTV Kenya captured the attackers chanting “No protest!” as they beat demonstrators. Amnesty International Kenya condemned the use of such militias, warning that their involvement “will escalate confrontation, lawlessness and chaos.”
At the center of this unrest is the death of Albert Ojwang, who was arrested in Homa Bay for allegedly criticizing Deputy Police Chief Eliud Lagat on social media. He died within two days of his arrest under suspicious circumstances. Police initially claimed that Ojwang fatally injured himself by banging his head against a wall inside his cell.
However, a government pathologist’s autopsy revealed that Ojwang had suffered blunt force trauma — injuries deemed "unlikely to be self-inflicted." The revelation fueled further protests and allegations of systemic abuse within Kenya's police force.
President William Ruto, addressing the nation last Friday, acknowledged that Ojwang “died at the hands of the police” and called his death “heartbreaking and unacceptable.” He pledged to hold rogue officers accountable and reaffirmed his commitment to protecting citizens' rights.
The tragedy has spotlighted ongoing concerns about police brutality in Kenya. Human rights groups note that at least 60 civilians were killed by security forces during 2023 protests against a controversial tax hike bill. In just the past four months, over 20 people have died in police custody, according to data from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority.
Tuesday’s demonstrations also sparked strong words from civil society leaders. Ndungi Githuku of Kongamano La Mapinduzi decried what he described as a growing culture of lawlessness. “We see hundreds of paid goons with crude weapons coming to brutalise our people,” he said.
Prominent activist Hanifa Adan, a leader in Kenya’s Gen Z-led protest movements, described being physically assaulted by motorbike-riding attackers while police looked on. “They cornered us and beat us with whips, and the police were just watching them do it,” she told AFP.
In Mombasa, Kenya’s second-largest city, parallel protests were held with demonstrators holding signs that read: “Stop killing us.”
The situation has also led to arrests at senior levels. Two senior police officials and a civilian have been detained as part of the investigation into Ojwang’s death. Deputy Police Chief Eliud Lagat, the officer at the center of the initial controversy, has temporarily stepped down from his role.
Despite political promises and public outcry, activists remain skeptical about whether real change is forthcoming. As investigations continue and protests intensify, many Kenyans are demanding a structural overhaul of the nation’s policing system — one they say has long functioned with impunity.