© Washington Post Female flight attendants forced into overhead bins

To make it as a female flight attendant in China, you must have the body of a model and the strength of a martial artist. Each of the coveted positions attracts thousands of applicants — an interest that has little abated despite routinely documented abuse.

At China Southern Airlines, worthy candidates must be no older than 24 and above average height.

At Hong Kong Airlines, they have to master kung fu.

And at Kunming Airlines, it now appears, they should be as compact as pieces of carry-on luggage.

A “Civil Aviation Tabloid” on Wechat, a popular social networking app in China, has released photos of female flight attendants lying uncomfortably in overhead bins. The initiation ritual, which has been in place for nearly five years, marks the employees’ first 30 to 50 hours of flight service.

Only women are subject to the treatment at the hands of their male colleagues, who force the female attendants into the compartments, sometimes even closing the lid on them, the article reports.

Those who tried to avoid participating in the bizarre practice were deemed uncooperative and arrogant. Some pictures show the young women’s faces buried in a corner of the bin; one features a male staffer flashing a peace sign as he poses beside an attendant covering her face with her hands.

The photos and accompanying article went viral in China over the weekend, inciting considerable fervor from commenters who called the practice “an insult to females” and “really perverted.”

Others said the “joke” shouldn’t be taken too seriously, pointing out that it looked like some women had climbed into the bins “for fun.”

Kunming Airlines apologised for the incident on Monday, noting in a statement that the company does not condone the tradition, which was the “personal behavior” of their attendants and security staff, conducted after flight hours.

The carrier vows to discipline the workers involved and put an end to their conduct.

But Kunming Airlines has long known about the ritual, the Wechat post claims, as female flight attendants had previously voiced their grievances to management without recourse.

The hazing’s distinctly physical nature echoes the strict standards that women in cabin crews are expected to meet. China’s civil aviation authority mandates that female flight attendants between 5 feet 2 inches and 5 feet 6 inches tall must weigh between 100 and 160 pounds. In August, an attendant from Qingdao Airlines was reportedly grounded because she exceeded this height-to-weight ratio.

Video: Skateboarding Dog Sets Record

A bulldog has set a world record for the longest human tunnel travelled through by a dog on a skateboard.

Footage filmed in Peru's capital Lima, as part of Guinness World Records Day, show Otto hopping on a moving skateboard and picking up speed, before darting through the legs of 30 people to successfully break the record.

The four-year-old also shows his skills by cleverly shifting his weight on the board to navigate his way through the curvy obstacle course, so he doesn't bump into anyone's legs.

Speaking about Otto's skills, skateboarder Valentine Katz told Sky News: "I think it's pretty good because the way he is turning... that's quite impressive for a dog!"

Mr Katz, 22, who owns Brixton's Baddest skateboarding shop in south London, added: "Otto is pushing on either foot to turn the skateboard. Plus, it looks like he's having a lot fun."

Weiland was due to play a concert in Medina, Minnesota

Scott Weiland, the former frontman of the bands Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, has died at the age of 48.

The singer's manager, Tom Vitorino, confirmed his death, saying he was told by Weiland's tour manager.

He did not provide any further details.

Weiland was due to play a concert in Medina, Minnesota with his current band, Scott Weiland & the Wildabouts, according to the venue's website.

From Thursday night in Hackney to February in California

Coldplay will headline the coveted half-time slot at next year's Super Bowl.

The news was revealed by the NFL on Twitter and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin said the group was looking forward to taking part in the "Super Bowl of Music".

In a promotional video, he said: "We are so excited and honoured and thrilled to be playing the half-time show.

"It's going to be wonderful and I hope we see you there.

Members of the US band Eagles of Death Metal broke down in tears as they returned to Bataclan Theatre where 90 people were killed.

They silently laid flowers at the site, which has become a shrine to those who lost their lives during the Paris attacks.

Some band members embraced, some wiped away tears.

Eagles of Death Metal made a surprise return to Paris on Monday night and performed alongside U2, their first on-stage appearance since the 13 November attacks.

"They were robbed of their stage three weeks ago and we would like to offer them ours tonight," said frontman Bono as he hugged the band's lead singer Jesse Hughes.

The crowd cheered and sang along as the two groups joined together for a version of the Patti Smith song People Have The Power.

U2 then left the stage and the American band performed I Love You All The Time, telling the crowd: "Thank you Paris - we love you. We will never give up rocking and rolling."

The offending gingerbread slices posted on Instagram Pic: @regjeringen

Norway has apologised for offending some of its citizens by posting a picture of a block of gingerbread with shapes cut out to resemble F-35 fighter jets.

The idea for the Christmas baking post on Norway's official Instagram account reportedly came from a member of staff in a government department.

Norway has just bought two of the jets and appeared to be proudly displaying gingerbread images of its latest military purchases.

However, not all the followers of the newly-opened account were happy with the post.

Comments on the post include: "Personally I associate Christmas with peace and what one can do for others."

Another said: "Fighters are weapons and weapons have little to do with Christmas."