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Biden approves $5.8 billion in additional student debt forgiveness

Sabir Ansary — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 10:01:12 +0000

The Biden administration continued its efforts Thursday to expand student debt relief, canceling another $5.8 billion in federal loans for nearly 78,000 borrowers, including teachers, firefighters and others who work largely in the public sector .

To date, the government has canceled $143.6 billion in loans for nearly four million borrowers through various measures, remedies and federal relief programs. That’s the largest amount of student debt eliminated since the government began making loans more than 60 years ago, but it’s still far less than President Biden’s original proposal, which called for up to $400 billion in debt for 43 million borrowers would have forgiven, but was blocked by the Supreme Court.

The latest debt forgiveness applies to government and nonprofit employees in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, allowing their balances to be eliminated after 120 payments. The PSLF program, which has been plagued by administrative and other problems, has improved in recent years after the administration made a series of improvements.

“For too long, our nation’s teachers, nurses, social workers, firefighters and other public servants faced logistical challenges and trapdoors as they tried to access the debt relief they were entitled to under the law,” said Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona .

As of October 2021, more than 871,000 public sector and nonprofit workers have received debt forgiveness totaling $62.5 billion; prior to that, only 7,000 people had achieved forgiveness since the program was created over fifteen years ago.

Starting next week, borrowers set to receive the latest round of debt forgiveness through the PSLF program will receive an email notification from Mr. Biden — a reminder of his administration’s work just eight months before the presidential election.

Another 380,000 federal borrowers in the PSLF program, who are on track to have their loans forgiven in less than two years, will receive emails from the President informing them that they are eligible for debt forgiveness if they make their public continue to provide services within that period.

Many of these borrowers have been helped by programs which sought to address past mistakes that may have failed to credit individuals for payments. As a result, many borrowers received account adjustments or additional credits, bringing them closer to the repayment finish line.

Millions of borrowers with certain types of loans will still qualify for some of these adjustments, but they will need to apply to consolidate These loans must be eligible by April 30th.

“There are many people who need to consolidate before this deadline in order to take advantage and potentially access life-changing student loans,” said Abby Shafroth, co-director of advocacy at the National Consumer Law Center. This includes borrowers with private loans in the Federal Family and Education Loan, Perkins Loan and Health Education Assistance Loan programs, she added. (People with direct or Department of Education loans don’t need to do anything to have their payment numbers adjusted; this happens automatically.)

In addition to PSLF, the government has expanded assistance through a number of other federal relief programs: About 935,500 borrowers were approved for $45.6 billion in debt forgiveness through income-driven repayment plans, which base monthly payments on the borrower’s income and household size. After a certain repayment period, usually twenty years, the remaining debt is forgiven.

Another 1.3 million people had $22.5 billion wiped out by the federal credit protection program, which provides relief to those defrauded by their schools.

The government’s latest round of completed debt relief comes on the heels of the botched rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which was supposed to simplify the process. Instead, technical and other issues have caused delays, leaving colleges without the financial information about students they need to make aid offers. Students are in limbo and can’t decide where to go to college.

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Simple steps to create content with YouTube Create app; Discover additional tips here

Sabir Ansary — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 11:45:29 +0000

YouTube Create is currently available to Android users in select markets and will expand to iOS in 2024.

Here’s a simple guide to using the YouTube Create app for content creators.

New Delhi: Google launched the YouTube Create app in September 2023, aiming to provide new effective ways to facilitate content creation for its users and compete with TikTok’s tools with the same aim. The YouTube Create app has undergone multiple updates since then and has also finally made its debut in 14 countries including the US, India, UK and more. But how does the app really work for content creators?

Get all the details of the YouTube Create app, how it works, available countries, additional tips and more.

YouTube Create app for content creators

The YouTube Create app is now available in 14 countries including the US, UK, India and more.

The YouTube Create app is a standalone video editing app for mobile devices that launched in beta mode in September 2023. The app is designed to simplify video creation for users who want to create Shorts or longer videos. The app offers features such as precision editing, automatic subtitles, voiceover capabilities, filters, effects, stickers, GIFs, transitions, audio cleaning, music, and beat-matching technology. The app aims to improve the creator experience by providing a full set of editing tools within the familiar YouTube environment.

YouTube Create is currently available to Android users in select markets and will expand to iOS in 2024. It is free to download and use for eligible users in countries such as Germany, France, Indonesia, Singapore, India, Korea, United Kingdom and United States. United States.

Creators can easily edit videos and short films right from their phone with YouTube Create. The app offers a range of editing tools such as trimming clips, adding stickers, GIFs, effects and royalty-free music from YouTube’s library. It also offers features such as automatic subtitle generation, audio cleaning and beat-matching technology to sync music with video clips. The app has been well received by creators as it addresses common challenges in the editing process and provides an easy-to-use platform for both beginners and experienced YouTubers.

Simple guide to using the YouTube Create app

Here is a step-by-step guide to using the YouTube Create app:

Download and start:
- Make sure your Android phone meets the minimum requirements (Android 8.0 or higher with at least 4 GB of RAM).
- Download the app from the Google Play Store and launch it.
To start a project:
- Tap the “+” button to start a new project.
Import footage:
- Select videos and photos from your device’s gallery.
- Choose the specific folder containing the clips you want.
Editing tools:
- The imported footage appears on the editing timeline.
- Use different tools, such as:
  - Trim clips by dragging the handles on either side.
  - You can split a clip by tapping the scissors icon.
  - Add filters and effects and adjust playback speed.
To improve your video:
- Discover features such as:
  - Royalty-free music library to add background music.
  - Voiceover recording for narration.
  - Automatic subtitle generation for accessibility.
Complete and share:
- Once you’re happy with your edits, preview the final video.
- Upload your creation directly to YouTube or save it to your device.

Additional tips for YouTube creators

Plan your content: Pre-scripting or outlining your video streamlines the editing process.
High quality images: Use good lighting and stable shooting techniques for visually appealing content.
Telling fascinating stories: Capture your audience’s attention with a compelling story structure.
Optimize for search: Use relevant keywords in your title, description and tags to improve discoverability.
Engage in conversation with your audience: Respond to comments, answer questions, and foster a community around your channel.

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Disney+ will unveil major changes with an additional FEE in just a few months

Jeffrey Bailey — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 16:49:15 +0000

DISNEY+ has announced that the fight against password sharing will last years this summer.

The House of Mouse follows in the footsteps of Netflix, which managed to turn their fortunes around last year with a similar tactic.

Disney will charge a fee for any additional usersCredit: Getty

Bosses have revealed that users 'suspected of inappropriate sharing' will see a pop-up message urging them to start their own subscription.

People who want to continue piggybacking on someone else's account can add people from outside their household for an additional fee.

We're big Disney fans, but I'm tired of the greed

Disney+ user

Disney has not announced how much the costs will be.

Netflix is currently doing the same and charging each additional user £2.50/$2.99 per month.

“We want to reach as wide an audience as possible with our excellent content,” said Hugh Johnston, Disney's Chief Financial Officer.

“We look forward to rolling out this new functionality to improve the overall customer experience and grow our subscriber base.”

How to get FREE Disney+

There are ways for users to legally access Disney+ for free.

If you own a Samsung device from the last few years, you can redeem a year of free access – instructions on how it works can be found here.

Those who don't have a qualifying gadget can still save money on Disney+ by using other tricks.

You can redeem Tesco Clubcard points to pay for Disney+.

And Virgin Media O2 customers can get £2 off Disney+ via the free Priority app by adding the service to their bill.

Fans of the service are furious about the move on social media.

“With the price increase and not allowing password sharing, it's time to cancel Disney+ and buy Paramount+,” one user wrote.

“We're big Disney fans but I'm tired of the greed,” another fumed.

“I think I'll be canceling Disney+ then,” a third person concluded.

Disney announces a major Fortnite deal worth $1.5 billion that paves the way for exciting new games

Hard times

Disney is tightening its belt after the latest figures show that the company's streaming platform will have lost 1.3 million subscribers by the end of 2023.

Separate data from UK ratings organization Barb suggests the number of people subscribing to paid streaming has fallen across the board.

It is claimed that 7.3 million homes in the UK had access to Disney+ in the last three months of 2023, up from 7.6 million the three months before.

In an attempt to turn things around, Disney has announced a new $1.5 billion partnership with Fortnite.

How to lower your streaming bills with the best FREE TV

Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime aren't cheap – and subscription costs seem to be rising year after year.

Fortunately, there are a lot of free streaming TV alternatives that not everyone knows about.

And we're not just talking about BBC iPlayer and ITVX.

Here are some free alternatives worth trying:

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BJP MPs who win Assembly elections resign, four Union ministers face additional charges | Checklist here

Sabir Ansary — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 23:54:37 +0000

Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State, will take on the responsibility of Minister of State in the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, in addition to her existing portfolio.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to his supporters during a public rally ahead of the Telangana Congress elections in Medak on Sunday. (ANI photo)

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday accepted the resignation of Narendra Singh Tomar, Prahlad Singh Patel and Renuka Singh Saruta from the Union Council of Ministers after they emerged victorious in the recently concluded Assembly elections. After the resignation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reallocated the portfolios to the Cabinet members.

Shobha KarandlajeMinister of State, will have the responsibility of the Minister of State at the Ministry of Food Processing Industry, in addition to her existing portfolio.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will assume the responsibility of Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Ministry of Jal Shakti, in addition to his existing portfolios; And

Dr. Bharti Pravin PawarMinister of State, will have the responsibility of the Minister of State in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in addition to her existing portfolio.

Arjun Munda, Cabinet Minister will be given the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, in addition to his existing portfolio.

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For some, the symbols of Hanukkah are causing additional concerns this year

Sabir Ansary — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 19:06:43 +0000

For years, a menorah stood next to the Christmas tree at the county courthouse in Missoula, Mont. This year, a local rabbi asked officials to also set up a Hanukkah display on the courthouse lawn to show support for the community’s small Jewish population.

The request sparked a passionate public debate — a debate that has played out in a handful of other places around the country as the war between Israel and Hamas has stoked tensions and raised concerns among some Jews about visible expressions of their religion in a time of discord and disagreement. increasing anti-Semitism.

“At this particular historical moment,” said Josh Slotnick, a Jewish county commissioner in Missoula, said a large outdoor menorah “could be wrongly viewed as a political symbol, not a religious symbol.”

Across the country, most public celebrations of Hanukkah, the eight-night Jewish holiday that begins at sunset Thursday, appear to be going ahead without disruption, according to the Jewish Federations of North America, which works with Jewish event organizers in the United States.

In Detroit, “we have more registrations this year than in previous years,” said Benji Rosenzweig, an annual producer menorah lighting ceremony. Police forces in the city have said they will keep a close eye on it possible threats.

Security Community Network, a nonprofit that advises Jewish institutions, responded to questions about the safety of Hanukkah celebrations with a video briefing That encouraged people Tuesday to keep going, but also to prepare for possible demonstrations and stay in contact with local law enforcement.

“We take security very seriously,” said Eric Fingerhut, the president of the Jewish Federations, which organized the security network after September 11 and has seen it expand rapidly since the killing of 11 Jewish worshipers in Pittsburgh in 2018. “But the purpose of the security is to enable us to continue to actively participate in Jewish life.”

A small number of Hanukkah-related events have drawn additional attention or controversy this year, including in Williamsburg, Virginia, where organizers of a community festival decided not to include a menorah lighting, prompting condemnation from the state’s Republican governor, Glenn Youngkin .

“Singling out the Jewish community by canceling this Hanukkah celebration is absurd and anti-Semitic.” he posted on social media.

A festival organizer did not respond to requests for comment, but told other news media that the festival had always welcomed Jewish participants and that a menorah lighting had never taken place.

Rabbi Mendy Heber of Chabad Williamsburg, who requested the ceremony, described the decision as “a kick in the gut.” But he noted that relief would still take place at William & Mary, a university in Williamsburg.

“We’re going to make this Hanukkah bigger and brighter than ever,” he said. “That’s how we respond to darkness.”

In some homes, however, security concerns and disagreements over the war have led Jews to question whether they felt comfortable with a public expression of their religion.

Adam Kulbersh was initially hesitant when his six-year-old son asked if they were putting up decorations. “Hanukkah feels different this year,” said Mr. Kulbersh, an actor in Los Angeles. “The huge spike in anti-Semitism has scared many of us.”

But after a non-Jewish friend volunteered to display a menorah in solidarity, Mr. Kulbersh said his fears began to dissipate. A menorah now lights the window of his apartment, and Mr. Kulbersh started an online campaign asking other non-Jews to follow his friend’s example.

He mentioned the effort Project Menorah and said people in about 20 states have volunteered.

The candlesticks that are lit on Hanukkah are technically called Chanukahs. They have eight candles plus one more, a shamash, which is used to light the others.

“The menorah represents to me personally that goodness, kindness and warmth always win in the end,” said Rabbi Chezky Vogel of the Chabad Jewish Center of Missoula, who requested the outdoor display at the county courthouse.

“There’s a lot of emotional isolation that comes with being Jewish here at a time like this,” said Rabbi Vogel, who disagreed with Mr. Slotnick, the county commissioner, who worried that some would interpret the display as political. A menorah, Rabbi Vogel said, is not about expressing support for Israel.

However, another leader of the small Jewish community urged caution. Laurie Franklin, the rabbi emerita of Har Shalom in Missoula, said the commissioners “were asked to make a decision very quickly about doing something on public property. There is a lot of nuance in that.”

Ultimately civil servants decided to leave things as they were, with a menorah in the courthouse rotunda, but not on the lawn. Rabbi Vogel said he hoped to change their minds in the future.

Rabbi Franklin said she would continue to enjoy the menorah outside her synagogue, as well as a smaller one at home.

“Jews are not a uniform community,” she said. “We don’t necessarily all have the same political views. We don’t necessarily have the same views on the conflict in Israel and Gaza. But lighting the menorah is a beautiful act of unification.”

Campbell Robertson And Emily Schmall reporting contributed. Susan Beachy research contributed.

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Why Sydney and Melbourne could house an additional 1.1 million people by 2027

Albert Elence — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 07:07:22 +0000

Sydney and Melbourne could together house an additional 1.1 million people by 2027 as immigration grows faster than forecast.

Treasury budget documents predict that 1.5 million permanent and long-term residents will move abroad in the five years to June 2027.

But net overseas migration levels were higher than forecast this year, with 429,580 people moving to Australia over the year to September.

That influx of permanent and long-term arrivals is higher than the 315,000 predicted for the 2023-2024 financial year.

At the current rate, 500,000 people are likely to have moved to Australia by 2023.

Dan Tehan, the opposition immigration spokesman, said at current growth rates, 1.87 million people, up from 1.5 million, could move to Australia in the five years to 2027.

Sydney (Town Hall train station, pictured) and Melbourne could together house an additional 1.1 million people by 2027 as immigration grows faster than forecast

That would mean 562,049 more people in Sydney and 564,180 new overseas residents in Melbourne – a combined population of 1.12 million in Australia’s two largest cities, each of which already has a population of more than 5 million.

“Australians unable to find somewhere to live or struggling to afford multiple rent increases will be asking Labor: where will all these people live?” said Mr Tehan.

“Labor says they don’t want a great Australia, but judges them by their actions, not their words.”

The influx of international students, classified as long-term arrivals, is also driving up rental prices, with Australia experiencing an extremely tight rental vacancy rate of one percent.

Average house rent in Melbourne has risen 19 per cent in the past year to $703 per week, data from SQM Research shows.

In September, 45,090 international students arrived in Australia, an annual increase of 26.8 per cent, based on 9,540 more overseas students.

They made up the vast majority of the 55,590 people who arrived in the country in September to stay for at least a year, Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed.

During the year, Australia had 764,120 new long-term arrivals and only 291,740 long-term departures.

The net increase of 472,380 was actually higher than the net overseas migration level of 429,580 for both permanent and long-term arrivals.

A record number of 664,178 international students came to Australia in a year – an increase of 306,259 or 85.6 percent since Labor was elected in May 2022.

AMP deputy chief economist Diana Mousina said the government could cut the number of international students to ease pressure on inflation, even as the Treasury predicts net foreign migration will slow to 260,000 in 2024-2025.

‘While it is unlikely that the same rate of population growth will repeat itself in coming years, the challenging inflation environment and decline in Australian living standards due to negative per capita GDP growth means there is reason for the government to to assess temporary visa intake. ,’ she said.

Dan Tehan, the opposition immigration spokesman, said that at the current rate, 1.87 million people, up from 1.5 million, could move to Australia in the five years to 2027.

AMP deputy chief economist Diana Mousina said the government could reduce the number of international students to ease pressure on inflation (pictured is the University of New South Wales in Sydney)

While Australia is not technically in a recession, it is suffering from a per capita recession, with gross domestic product contracting in both the March and June quarters.

Productivity levels also fell by 3.6 percent in the last financial year.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released new forecasts predicting the national population will grow from 26.5 million in 2023 to between 34.3 million and 45.9 million people in 2071.

However, government agencies do not have a good track record of predicting population growth, with the Treasury predicting in 2022 that Australia’s population would reach the 25 million milestone by 2042 – which occurred in 2018.

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Pollution in Delhi: Metro to operate 20 additional train journeys across its network from November 3 as GRAP-III starts

Sabir Ansary — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 21:15:14 +0000

Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) stood at 402 at 5 pm, prompting the Centre’s pollution control panel to impose phase III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to be implemented in the region during the winter season.

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New Delhi: Delhi Metro will operate 20 additional train journeys across its network from November 3 following the measures taken by pollution control authorities on Thursday to encourage more and more people to use public transport in Delhi and neighboring cities, officials said. Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) stood at 402 at 5 pm, prompting the Centre’s pollution control panel to impose phase III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to be implemented in the region during the winter season.

“In view of the implementation of the GRAP-III phase to combat pollution in Delhi, the DMRC will add an additional 20 trips across its network from tomorrow i.e. November 3, 2023 (Friday),” the DMRC said in a statement. Delhi Metro is already operating 40 additional train journeys on weekdays (Monday to Friday) from October 25, when the GRAP-II phase came into effect.

“So, from tomorrow, the DMRC will conduct a total of 60 additional trips as part of the measures taken under GRAP to encourage more and more people to use public transport in Delhi-NCR,” it added.

The Centre’s pollution control panel on Thursday issued directions banning non-essential construction work in Delhi-NCR and entry of diesel-guzzling trucks in the national capital as the air quality in the city entered the ‘severe’ category.

GRAP categorizes actions into four phases: Phase I – ‘Bad’ (AQI 201-300); Stage II – ‘Very Poor’ (AQI 301-400); Stage III – ‘Severe’ (AQI 401-450); and Phase IV – ‘Severe Plus’ (AQI >450). Phase III of GRAP includes a complete halt to construction and demolition work, except for essential government projects, mining and rock crushing.

(With PTI inputs)

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CBSE class 10, 12 additional practice exams from July 6

Sabir Ansary — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 06:10:56 +0000

CBSE Board Result 2023: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will conduct the Practical Exam with Class 10th and Class 12th additional exams from July 6, 2023.

CBSE class 10, 12 additional practice exams from July 6; Check eligibility, upload date marks, other guidelines.

CBSE Board Result 2023: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will conduct the practical exam with the Class 10 and Class 12 supplementary exams from July 6, 2023. CBSE has released detailed guidelines for conducting supplementary practical exams for Class 10 and Class 12 students. view the detailed notification by visiting the official website –

This year, CBSE Class 12th Result 2023 was declared on May 12, 2023. The overall pass rate this year stands at 87.33%. Based on last year’s results, the pass rate has dropped by 5.38 percentage points. A total of 16,96,349 students appeared for the CBSE board examination. The overall pass rate in CBSE Class 10 result was recorded as 93.12%.

Who must appear for Practical exams during the supplementary exams?

For Class XII Candidates: In class XII, a student is declared to have passed a subject if he obtains 33% of the marks, both in theory and in practice and also separately.

If a student was unable to obtain 33% marks in the practical exam in the main exam, it was placed in the Compartment category and marked as “Repear in Pracitcal” (RP). These students only have to appear for the practical exam on the supplementary exam. It is not necessary for such students to participate in theory exams, as their previous theory marks will be transferred and accounted for.
Students who have been placed in Compartment category due to Repetition TTheory and Practice Both (RB) must be present for both the practical exam and the theory exam in the Supplementary Exams.

For Class X candidates: In Class X, a student is declared to have passed a subject upon obtaining 33% marks or more by combining both the theory and the internal assessment.

If a student is placed in Compartment category and is also absent from Unrernal Assessment, such a candidate will be awarded pro rata points at Internal Assessment based on the theoretical marks obtained on the supplementary exam. For these students, no Internal Assessment will be conducted during the supplementary exam, as Internal Assessment is a one-year exercise.

Dates for conducting practical exam

The Practical Exam will take place from 6 July to 20 July 2023.

Location of practical exams

For regular candidates, the practical exam is taken at their school.
For private candidates, the practical exam is taken in the exam centers that have been established for the theory exam in the Supplementary exams.

Guidelines for taking practical exams with the Supplementary exam 2023 PDF – Direct link here

Answer books for practical

The practical answer books provided by the regional offices are used for taking the practical exam. It is ensured that the examiner completes all notes in practical answer books carefully and correctly.

2023 Supplementary Exam Date Sheet for Class XII – Direct Link
2023 Supplementary Exam Date Sheet for Class X – Direct Link

Practical markings and upload photos on the portal

The Schools/Exam Center where practical exams are held during the Supplementary Exam uploads the grades and photo assigned to the candidates on the portal on the same day. The grades once uploaded are final and no request to change them will be accepted. “The students/examiners note the date and time of the practical exam given by the schools/exam center and report for the practical exam at the designated time at the venue,” CBSE said in an official notice. Candidates are advised to check the official website of the Central Board of Secondary Education for the latest updates.

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Taylor Swift announces two additional shows in Sydney and Melbourne

Sabir Ansary — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 20:46:28 +0000

Taylor Swift has announced two more Australian concerts after millions of excited fans missed out on tickets.

The American pop star has announced a third Melbourne show at the MCG on February 18 next year and a fourth Sydney concert at Accor Stadium on February 26 as part of The Eras Tour.

Tickets for the new concerts will go on sale when general sale tickets are released on Friday at 10am in Sydney and 2pm in Melbourne.

After Madonna, Swift becomes the second artist ever to give three concerts at the MCG.

She will also be the first artist to perform four concerts at Accor Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park.

Frontier Touring says the two new shows are the last dates added to the Australian leg of the Eras Tour, meaning fans in Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide will have to travel to Sydney or Melbourne.

It comes after Ticketek saw record numbers on Wednesday as four million Taylor Swift fans lined up for a shot at tickets to her 2024 Aussie tour.

Ticketek saw record-breaking numbers on Wednesday as four million Taylor Swift, 33, (pictured) fans ‘lined up’ for a shot at tickets to her Aussie tour — but it was all for naught

Just hours after fans were dissatisfied when presale sold out, a Ticketek insider revealed that they had all wasted their time.

Frustrated Swifts waited for hours with their browsers open, thinking they were holding a spot in line, but it turned out there was never a line to begin with.

“Everyone in the Ticketek lounge has an equal opportunity to enter the premises, regardless of when they arrived,” a spokesperson said, adding it made the process “fair.”

Which means fans who logged into the pre-sale 15 minutes in advance had the same chance of getting a ticket as those who waited bent over their laptops for nine hours.

Just hours after fans were displeased when presale sold out in minutes, a Ticketek insider revealed they had all wasted their time, news.com.au reports

Ticketek’s official advice was to log in 15 minutes before the presale started at 10am in Sydney and 2pm in Melbourne.

However, many may feel misled as the site also advised those who logged in early not to refresh the page or they would lose their place in the ‘queue’.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ticketek for further comment.

Taylor, 33, has just booked five shows in Sydney and Melbourne for her Eras Tour next year and some speculate it’s all in the name of good business.

Advance tickets sold out in minutes on Wednesday as millions of fans rushed to secure their seats at the highly anticipated concert scheduled for February.

And Richard Wilkins, 69, editor of Nine’s Entertainment, said it would be bad for business if the pop star added more dates to her tour.

Frustrated Swifts waited for hours with their browsers open thinking they were holding a spot in line, but it turns out there was never a line to begin with

“It’s good for her business to always have people wanting more, you wouldn’t want to have 10 shows and have half empty,” he said Wednesday.

That’s the modus operandi. It’s a ticket from a seller and she’s in the box seat. She has millions of fans around the world to keep happy.”

Ticketek informed Sydney fans via Twitter at around 1:45pm that “all general Frontier pre-sale tickets for Taylor Swift in Sydney are now sold out.”

They did indicate that some VIP packages were still available.

Fans needn’t worry though, as there will still be thousands of tickets available when more go on sale to the general public at 10am on Friday.

“Everyone in the Ticketek lounge has an equal opportunity to enter the premises, regardless of when they arrived,” a spokesman said, adding it made the process “fair”

“Make sure you come prepared with your Ticketek account details and payment details as there are a lot of Swifties out there eager to Shake It Off this summer,” Ticketek added.

It was a similar story in Victoria, as thousands of Melbourne fans tried to get their tickets at 2pm.

The Bad Blood hitmaker’s two shows at the MCG sold out in about 40 minutes.

Melbourne Taylor Swift show pre-sale tickets are sold out! I entered Ticketek to find that there were no more tickets available for both dates!’ a fan tweeted.

Another cried that they also had no luck getting their tickets.

Despite hundreds of thousands of fans leaving in a rage after failing to score tickets, Nine’s Entertainment Editor Richard Wilkins, 69, (pictured) said it was good business strategy for Taylor not to meet demand

“I just got kicked out of the lounge for the second time, first on pre-sale in Sydney after 4 hours (which I expected) but after 37 minutes in the Melb I booted off the page?” They wrote.

Taylor will perform five concerts in Australia in February, two in Melbourne and three in Sydney.

The Melbourne shows will take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on February 16 and 17.

Swift will then fly to Sydney to perform three consecutive nights at Accor Stadium on February 23, 24 and 25.

Taylor will perform five concerts in Australia on her Eras Tour in February, two in Melbourne and three in Sydney

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The airline change that could cost you THOUSANDS in additional fees after booking a flight

Albert Elence — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 19:17:30 +0000

Holidaymakers travelling on major airlines could be forced to fork out thousands of dollars in additional baggage fees due little-known changes rolled out during the Covid lockdowns.

As Covid-19 travel restrictions brought the aviation industry to its knees, prominent national carriers – including Malaysian Airlines, Etihad and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines – quickly moved to restructure fare systems as they struggled to stay afloat.

Some airlines quietly broke down their economy class fare – which traditionally included free checked baggage – into different price categories depending on the number of inclusions, such as meals, luggage allowance, or seat selection.

The new schemes were touted as a means to reduce costs for passengers who would pay less if they packed light.

But now, as travellers return to the skies, some economy passengers are being slugged with exorbitant baggage fees after selecting cheap fares that had restrictions that did not exist in pre-Covid times.

Some major airlines changed their economy fare structure during Covid to offer lower-class tickets without traditionally-inclusive checked baggage. Pictured: a woman at Sydney Domestic Airport in December 2020

A traveler who bought Malaysian Airlines flights from Sydney to London return with her husband was revising the final details of their honeymoon plans in late April when she realised they were not entitled to any checked baggage for the first leg of the trip.

When she called the airline, staff informed them they had purchased economy lite tickets – which allows each passenger just 7kg of carry-on luggage – and would would need to pay $1,750 AUD to add two 23kg checked bags.

‘We were shocked. It was almost the same price as a ticket and something we had not factored into our budget,’ the woman told Daily Mail Australia.

‘It would have only cost $20 to have the baggage option if we had selected it at the time. But $1,750 is absolute robbery. It was not a stress you want a week before you’re due to depart.’

Rather than fork out the fee, the couple luckily had a different economy fare ticket with checked baggage included for the way back, so decided to fly over with only 7kg of carry-on each and buy everything else – suitcase included – once they arrived in Europe.

Despite the two legs of the flights having different fare classes, the woman said there were nothing built into the booking process to warn them.

Travellers are being stung with hundreds of dollars of additional fees after accidentally booking the wrong tickets

An Australian woman says she was told she would have to pay $1750AUD to add baggage to her Sydney to London after she and her husband accidentally purchased economy lite tickets. Pictured: Malaysian Airlines ‘unbundled’ economy fares

Pictured above are the Malaysian Airline rates for excess baggage in USD as of June 2022

‘I understand we should have been more careful, but I feel there should be a pop up notice or something to at least warn you before you proceed that your order has a massive baggage discrepancy between your flights – especially for long haul.’

Another traveller who was caught out by the same changes slammed the fare divisions as a ‘trap’.

‘So, you want to fly somewhere internationally, and you choose Economy Class. In the pre-pandemic days your fare included 20kg checked in baggage allowance,’ they wrote online.

‘You think, OK economy fare I will book. Look closely at the three categories of Economy ticket. If you just take the basic you will have … zero checked in baggage allowance! Yes, zero, just like the budget airlines.

‘We missed the small print and booked basic, now we have had to pay a lot extra for ‘Extra Baggage’. A Scam.

Under the fare, the couple were only permitted to take two 7kg carry on bags (pictured)

The pair decided to put the $1,750 towards buying a new suitcase and clothes (pictured) for their four-week holiday once they arrived in Europe

‘Other airlines might be employing the same trick to con people out of paying exorbitant amounts for, what was once, the basic checked in luggage allowance!!!! Shame on you Malaysian Airlines!’

TIMELINE OF ECONOMY FARE CHANGES

*Malaysian Airlines launches its Economy Flexible Fare Family’ in June 2020 – which include lite, basic and flex fare options.

*Etihad – introduces hand baggage-only economy ‘deal’ fares to 14 countries in July 2020

*S7 Airlines – introduces new fare system, with economy divided into basic, standard and plus. Business standard and plus) in November 2020.

*KLM Royal Dutch Airlines – introduces lite fares in March 2021. Checked baggage allowance depends on the route

*Virgin Australia introduced Economy Choice, Economy Flex and Economy Lite Economy lite in August 2021 for domestic and international short haul and trans-Tasman flights

*Fiji Airways introduces their new ‘Fly Your Way’ unbundled economy fare concept in February 2023

University of Sydney Professor Rico Merkert, who is an expert in transport and supply chain management, said many major airlines began decoupling what were once complementary services from the price of a seat as a way of boosting profits.

He said this process, which is called ‘unbundling’, took inspiration from the pay structure that underpins the business models of low-cost carriers such as Ryanair or Jetstar.

‘Low-cost carriers essentially sell you a seat and everything else comes on top,’ Professor Merkert told Daily Mail Australia.

‘This would include items such as checked in baggage allowance (if any), seat selection, ticket restrictions (cancellations/change fees), credit cards fees and all sorts of other things, all of which are called ancillary revenues.’

‘During COVID-19 many full-service carriers adopted some of those practices and introduced economy lite fares.

‘When yields for the seats are not sufficiently high enough, airlines tend to find other ways (i.e., ancillary revenues) to boost their revenues.’

Professor Merkert said this practice happens across the world and passengers need to look at the total cost of the ticket rather than just the seat.

‘In Europe and the U.S. there exist consumer protection regulation around that issue to avoid passengers getting too excited when they get quoted a fare of say $20 when at the checkout it is actually closer to $150 per sector,’ he said.

Additional baggage fees vary by airlines and routes, with some charging customers a set fee per bag while others impose a price per kilogram.

Malaysian Airlines was among several major airlines that changed fare structures during the pandemic

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines rolled out its Economy Light fare in March 2021

Etihad’s additional baggage fees are calculated at cost per kilogram for most routes except to the US and Canada, which are at a set rate per bag

Other variables include how far in advance baggage is purchased and whether the passenger adds it online or at the airport.

An aviation industry insider told Daily Mail Australia it costs bigger aircrafts, such as 747s, around 35 cents per kilogram of baggage to account for fuel.

On the Malaysian Airlines website, the fees for excess baggage vary by destination country and distances travelled, with the rate for Australia listed as $22USD (or $32.50AUD) per kilogram.

While unbundling was not a new concept at the start of the pandemic, the strategy rapidly evolved during Covid-imposed lockdowns as airline passenger numbers plummeted by 95 per cent.

In June 2020, Malaysian Airlines launched its new ‘Economy Flexible Fare Family’ featuring three options: lite (cabin baggage up to 7kg and a complementary meal), basic (additional enriched miles upgrade and 20kg checked baggage) and flex (which has several other perks including free travel insurance).

Fiji Airways introduced their new ‘Fly Your Way’ unbundled economy fares earlier this year

Etihad was next to amend its fare structure – rolling out its aptly-named ‘hand-baggage-only’ ‘deal’ fare to passengers travelling to 14 countries (which had only previously been available to Gold Cooperation Council nations).

November 2020 saw Russia’s S7 Airlines divide its economy class into basic, standard and plus, while KLM Royal Dutch Airlines added economy light to its pre-existing standard and flex fare options in the following March.

In August 2021, Virgin Australia brought in Economy Choice, Economy Flex and Economy Lite options for domestic and international short-haul and trans-Tasman domestic flights.

At the time, Virgin Australia said the decision was made after the company ‘looked at its fares, pricing and bookings and found that on average 30% of customers did not use their checked baggage allowance’.

Meanwhile, in February this year Fiji Airways joined the trend with its new ‘Fly Your Way’ unbundled Economy fares, featuring four options: Lite, Value, Comfort and Plus.

Daily Mail Australia also contacted Malaysian Airlines, Etihad, and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for comment.

MAJOR AIRLINES’ ECONOMY BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE

Most airlines include checked baggage for their most basic economy fares for international flights.

Here is a list of the international baggage allowance for the lowest cost economy tickets across major airlines for long haul flights (six hours or longer).

CHECKED BAGGAGE NOT INCLUED:

British Airways: Economy Basic- no checked bag included, but allowed 1x23kg cabin bag + 1x 23kg handbag

Etihad: Economy Hand Baggage Only (select routes) – 1x7kg cabin bag + 5kg personal item

Fiji Airlines: Economy lite – 1x 7kg cabin bag permitted

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines: Economy light – 12kg hand luggage (1 bag & 1 personal item. One checked in bag included for Europe – Africa flights.

Latam Airlines: Economy Basic – 10kg cabin bag

Malaysian Airlines: Economy lite – 1x 7kg cabin bag permitted

Scandinavian Airlines: SAS Go Light – under bag seat only for flights within Europe, 1x8kg carry on bag for Asia and US flights

S7 Airlines: Economy Basic- 1x10kg hand luggage

Turkish Airlines: Economy Class EcoFly – 1x 8kg carry on bag

CHECKED BAGGAGE INCLUED:

Air China: Economy – 1x 23kg bag (2x 23kg bags for some routes)

Air Canada: Economy – 1x23kg checked bag included

Air India: Economy- 1x bag (weight allowance is 23kg – 40kg based on route)

Air New Zealand: Economy – 1x 23kg bag

Air Niugini: Economy Promo – 1x30kg bag

All Nippon Airways (ANA): Economy – 1x23kg bag

American Airlines: 1x 23kg bag (1x 32kg bag some routes)

Austrian Airlines: 1x 23kg bag

Cathay Pacific: Economy light – 1x 23kg bag

China Airlines: 1x 23kg bag

Emirates: Economy Special – 1x20kg bag (1x23kg bag for some routes)

Etihad: Economy Sale 1x 20kg bag

Japan Airlines: 2x 23kg bags

Korean Air: Economy Class 1x 23kg bag (2x23kg or 2x 32kg bags for some routes)

Lufthansa: Economy Class – 1x 23kg bag

Philippine Airlines: Economy Supersaver – 1x25kg bag (1x30kg or 2x23kg bags for some routes)

Qantas: Economy Class – 1x 30kg bag (1x 32kg bag for some routes)

Qatar: Economy Lite – 1x20kg bag (1x23kg bag for some routes)

Royal Brunei Airlines: RB Super Saver – 1x20kg checked bag

Scandinavian Airlines: 1x 23kg bag

Singapore Airlines: Economy Lite – 1x 25kg bag

SriLankan Airlines: Economy Lite – 1x 25kg bag

SWISS: Economy – 1x 23kg bag

Virgin Australia: Long haul flights are carried out by the airlines’ partners, with 1x23kg bag or up to 1x25kg bag included depending on the route

Thai Airways: Economy – 1x 23kg to/from USA/Canada or 20-35kg for other routes including Australia, NZ, Europe, Africa and Middle East

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