HAIL: The old proverb “what goes around comes around” is pretty much true at times, learned a 50-year-old Saudi teacher who was left black and blue for mistreating a pupil some 30 years ago. The former pupil lashed out at the teacher after they randomly met at a recent wedding saying he suffered immensely at his hands. Guests broke up the fracas and allowed the teacher who was badly beaten to escape from the wedding hall. It later transpired that the teacher had taught the man in the early 1980s and that he would often beat him and ridicule him in front of classmates. It also emerged that the teacher used to pick on the man knowing he was an orphan and that no one would defend him.

Multimedia will to be remembered

MAKKAH: A Saudi man in his 60s has embarked on a unique and high-tech way of writing his will. Unlike most people who simply resort to writing their will on paper, this elderly man has decided to make a DVD of himself detailing his will. The man hopes his relatives will thus remember him once he passes away. He also said that he has been fair in dividing his wealth among his children. A Makkah judge said documenting one’s will in such a way is valid as long as the inheritors agree on its authenticity.

Rat grounds flight; passengers stranded

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Air India’s Riyadh-bound flight from Kerala’s Calicut International Airport was grounded Sunday after a rat was found on board. This is the second time in a week that a rat has caused cancellation of an AI flight. On Sept. 25 Air India delayed a flight bound for London and Toronto from Amritsar after a rat was found on the aircraft. The flight was delayed for 11 hours. The flight from Calicut, AI 923, with 432 seats was canceled minutes before takeoff after all formalities had been completed. Yogesh A Mundhwa, Air India’s station manager, said the flight was grounded due to a “technical snag” and alternative arrangements were being made for the passengers. He refused to confirm the presence of a rat on the aircraft. A substitute aircraft was expected from Mumbai late Sunday evening which would leave for Riyadh on Monday morning. Passengers were accommodated in hotels in Kozhikode some 26 km away from the airport. “Our Mumbai office has another aircraft ready and we are waiting for crew and cabin staff. Once all is in order, the plane will pick up passengers from here,” Mundhwa said. However, passengers who bore the brunt of the AI pilots’ strike last week complained of ill-treatment by AI staff and said they had not been provided with food or refreshments. Most passengers were families returning to the Kingdom after spending Eid vacation at home.

Cat survives after being shot in head

LEARNED, Miss.: BC the cat survived, but likely used up one of his nine lives when someone shot an arrow through his head. The 2-year-old gray and white tabby came home one day last week looking like he was doing a bad imitation of the Steve Martin skit from the 1970s. BC’s arrow was pointing front-to-back rather than side-to-side. Owner Randolph Henderson told WLBT-TV of Jackson that BC was walking and meowing, but was having trouble eating because the arrow kept bumping the cat food bowl. Dr. Troy Majure, the veterinarian who removed the arrow, said it chipped BC’s skull and somehow arched over the brain. The only signs of the kitty’s injury this week were scabs on the front and back of his head.

Couple beat man at KFC over slow order

NORWELL, Mass.: Authorities say a couple, upset over the slowness of their Kentucky Fried Chicken order, assaulted a man who asked them to stop yelling profanities for the sake of children in line. The couple was arrested Thursday after witnesses told police the couple beat the man as he was leaving the restaurant. Police say 31-year-old Jared Garfagna of Marshfield punched the man in the head, and then Garfagna’s girlfriend, 24-year-old Sara Mohn, kicked the man. The victim had cuts on his eyelid and wrists.

Gambler embezzles $88K, wins $96K

GIRARD, Kan.: A former Kansas radio executive who admitted that he embezzled to support an addiction to scratch-off lottery tickets won a $96,000 lottery prize. Prosecutors say the prize money will go toward paying restitution to Paul W. Lyle’s former employer, American Media Investments. Lyle pleaded guilty Thursday to felony theft for embezzling an estimated $88,000 from American Media. It was during his preliminary hearing Sept. 21 that Lyle was notified he had won a prize in a second-chance lottery drawing. The prize includes a boat, cash and tickets to a NASCAR race at the Kansas Speedway.