American Airlines flight attendant accused of smuggling pet rat

In a strange story, an American Airlines flight attendant has been accused of smuggling pet rats onto an international flight last year. Yes, you read that correctly- smuggling rats!

In February 2012, an American Airlines pilot claimed that Louann Giambattista was hiding pet rats inside her underwear and pantyhose on an international flight. Yikes! In a separate incident on that same day, another American Airlines colleague of Ms. Giambattista claims to have witnessed her feeding a pet rat a bread roll on a flight to Miami.

Ms. Giambattista was questioned and searched upon landing but no rats were ever found. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were notified and she is now subject to searches by federal agents every time she flies. She is now suing the airline and seeking damages for “debilitating anxiety” caused by the ordeal.

It is hard to imagine that two separate colleagues on separate flights would both make up the same lie about Ms. Giambattista. But I am not here to make that judgment. As I said, strange story indeed.

U.S. issues travel warning for Egypt

Amidst the recent string of protests of Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, the U.S. has issued the strongest travel warnings for Egypt since the 2011 revolution. The White House has ordered all non-emergency diplomatic staff to leave the country.

At least 7 people have been killed during the clashes, with hundreds more reported injured. One of the casualties was a 21 year old American student named Andrew Pochter. Pochter was working for a U.S. charity teaching English to children. He was stabbed to death in Alexandria while taking pictures of the clashes.

This is an especially dangerous time for journalists, as one Egyptian journalist died in a bomb attack, along with many other journalists who have been beaten and robbed. A Dutch journalist was reportedly raped while covering the protests.



Protesters fill the streets of Cairo

Protesters are threatening to march Tuesday evening on Cairo’s presidential palace if Morsi does not step down by then. With the possibility of more violent clashes, the government is highly encouraging all foreign nationals to leave Egypt immediately.