Xigaze Airport opens in Tibet

A plane of Air China lands at Xigaze Airport in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on Oct. 30, 2010. Xigaze Airport opened Saturday, marking the launching of the fifth civil airport in Tibet.

 Three Tibetan women walks past a plane of Air China lands at Xigaze Airport in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on Oct. 30, 2010. Xigaze Airport opened Saturday, marking the launching of the fifth civil airport in Tibet. 

 An air hostess shows some Tibetan women the interior of a plane of Air China that lands at Xigaze Airport in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on Oct. 30, 2010. Xigaze Airport opened Saturday, marking the launching of the fifth civil airport in Tibet. 

 A plane of Air China lands at Xigaze Airport in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on Oct. 30, 2010. Xigaze Airport opened Saturday, marking the launching of the fifth civil airport in Tibet. 

Source:  http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90783/91300/7182179.html Read more...

Football Oracle, Paul the octopus dies

Paul the octopus Paul the Octopus, who accurately predicted the result of every German soccer match as well as the final in this year‘s World Cup in South Africa, has died.

The mollusk-turned-sage passed away naturally in his aquarium in the western German city of Oberhausen overnight, Sealife said yesterday in a statement on its website. According to Bloomberg, aquarium workers were “devastated” when they found him dead yesterday morning.

Paul, who was 2 1/2 years old, became a media sensation in Germany and around the world this summer with his talent for World Cup predictions. He tipped winners by choosing between two mussel-filled containers adorned with the flags of each team.

German fans were not amused when he chose Spain over Germany in the semi-finals in July, leading to threats that featured octopus menu ideas. Still, the oracle continued to receive wide attention after the World Cup.

“Paul inspired people of all continents,” the aquarium‘s general manager, Stefan Porwoll, said in the statement. “He won all our hearts, and we will sorely miss him.”

Paul‘s tank was adorned with the flags of World Cup countries and a replica trophy recalls his successes. Spanish visitors grateful for his foresight flocked to the aquarium. A book deal, a movie contract and endorsements followed.

The octopus even stoked international tension when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused the West of attempting to “manipulate people‘s minds through superstition, an octopus, fortune-telling and such things.” Paul’s remains will be cremated.

Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20101027171912 Read more...

Aero Pulls Out Of MMA2

Lagos-International-Airport
Aero Contractors airline at the weekend announced that it is pulling out some of its  operations from the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two, MMA2, in Lagos, South West Nigeria.  MMA2 is operated by Bi-Courtney Aviation services Limited.
The move followed months of inconclusive negotiations over rent and passenger service  charges.
Aero Contractors is Nigeria’s second biggest airline with over 50 daily flights to more  than 10 destinations.
The airline said that it will now operate Lagos to Warri and Lagos to Port Harcourt  flights from a private terminal in Lagos. The two routes are the most lucrative after  Lagos-Abuja route.
The pull out takes effect from Sunday 17 October 2010 and will not affect other routes  for now, the airline said in a statement signed by Mr. Robert Prophet, Aero Head of  Commercial.
Prophet described the charges at MMA2 as astronomical, saying that the move to pull out  is necessary.
He said: “This move has become necessary as the cost of MMA2 operations is astronomical.  We have continually tried to reach an amicable cost structure with Bi-Courtney Aviation  Services to no avail.”

Read more: http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2010/10/11/aero-pulls-out-of-mma2/
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