A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server. The server was not found or was not accessible. Verify that the instance name is correct and that SQL Server is configured to allow remote connections. (provider: Named Pipes Provider, error: 40 - Could not open a connection to SQL Server) September 11 Attacks: "102 Minutes That Changed Lives", National : Today Indya

Latest News

  • Home
  • Global
  • Hong Kong airline apologises for forcing passenger to take pregnancy test
Hong Kong airline apologises for forcing passenger to take pregnancy test
Tuesday, January 21, 2020 IST
Hong Kong airline apologises for forcing passenger to take pregnancy test

HONG KONG: A Hong Kong airline forced a Japanese woman to take a pregnancy test before allowing her on a flight to a Pacific island popular with mothers seeking US citizenship for their babies.

 
 

Midori Nishida, 25, was escorted to a public toilet at Hong Kong airport and told to urinate on a strip in November before being granted permission to board her Hong Kong Express flight to the US territory of Saipan.
 
She had declared in a questionnaire at check-in that she was not pregnant but airline staff nevertheless requested she undergo a "fit-to-fly" assessment designed for women with a body size or shape resembling a pregnant woman.
 
The test result came up negative.
 
"It was very humiliating and frustrating," Nishida told the Wall Street Journal.
 
She grew up on Saipan and her family have lived on the island for more than 20 years.
 
The airline apologised to Nishida and said the practice had been discontinued when contacted by AFP.
 
"We have immediately suspended the practice while we review it. We'd like to apologise for the distress caused," the airline said in a statement.
 
Hong Kong Express said it had taken "action on flights to Saipan from February 2019 to help ensure US immigration laws were not being undermined", in response to concerns raised by the island's authorities.
 
"We recognise the significant concerns this practice has caused," it said.
 
Saipan is a popular destination for women wanting to give birth on US soil to secure American citizenship for their child.
 
In 2018 nearly 600 babies were born to tourists in the Northern Mariana Islands, which sit just north of Guam, also a US territory -- a figure greater than the number of babies born to locals.
 
According to data from local health authorities, 575 Chinese visitors gave birth there that year.
 
The influx followed the introduction in 2009 of a visa-waiver programme to attract Chinese holidaymakers, a scheme that made the islands the only US territory where Chinese citizens enjoy visa-free entry.
 
But in recent years Saipan has stepped up measures to curb birth tourism by requiring airlines to carry out screenings.

 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Related Topics

 
 
 

Trending News & Articles

 Article
Here is the full list of 827 porn websites banned by the DoT

While the Uttarakhand High Court has asked to block 857 websites, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (Meity) found 30 portals without any pornographic content. ...

Recently posted . 64K views . 1 min read
 

 Article
Class XII Boys Raped 16-Year-old in Dehradun School After Watching Porn on Phone: Police

The four boys as well as five school officials, including the director and principal, were arrested after the incident. The minors were presented before the Juvenil...

Recently posted . 10K views . 1 min read
 

 Article
Sept 27,2001 Rahul Gandhi and his girl friend Veronique,was arrested in Logan airport in Boston

Rahul was having an Italian passport and was carrying suitcase full of dollars. Some say it was about was it $2 million. Rahul and his girl friend was th...

Recently posted . 9K views . 7 min read
 

 Article
TOP 10 GYM EQUIPMENT BRANDS IN INDIA 2017

True – Tr...

Recently posted . 8K views . 83 min read
 

 
 

More in Global

 Article
India ‘open to suggestion’ on China’s OBOR if concerns are addressed.

  After opposing C...

Recently posted. 660 views . 2 min read
 

 Article
Half of Delhi did not care to vote; BJP confident of winning:MCD polls

After a ferociously fought month-long election campaign, option bound up in municipal firms on a blazing Sunday, with around 53.53 per cent turnout, kind o...

Recently posted. 929 views . 20 min read
 

 Article
You Will Not Decide What One Wants To Watch, You Are A Certification Board Not Censor Board: Bombay HC to CBFC

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) received sharp rebuke from the Bombay High Court on Friday while a petition seeking grant of universal (U) certificat...

Recently posted. 692 views . 1 min read
 

 Reviews
The top players in the Indian real estate market



Recently posted . 3K views . 34 min read
 

 Reviews
Top 10 Schools in Noida



Recently posted . 4K views . 57 min read
 

 Article
Why is Car Insurance Mandatory in India?

People often wonder, why is car insurance mandatory in India? It is my money and I would like to spend it the way I want, why am I forced to buy insurance? Through ...

Recently posted. 1K views . 2 min read
 

 Article
Will not allow private schools in Delhi to hike fee arbitrarily: Manish Sisodia

Manish Sisodia’s comment came a day after the Delhi high court barred private schools built on public land from raising their fee until April 8, the next date...

Recently posted. 772 views . 1 min read
 

 
 
 

   Prashnavali

  Thought of the Day

🌹🐾आज का विचार🐾🌹 जीवन में अगर 'खुश' रहना है तो, स्वयं को एक 'शांत सरोवर' की तरह बनाए..... जिसमें कोई 'अंगारा' भी फेंके तो.. खुद बख़ुद ठंडा हो जाए.....!!!! 🌳आपका दिन शुभ हो🌳
Anonymous

Be the first one to comment on this story

Close
Post Comment
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST


ads
Back To Top