Jet Aviation Dubai receives Part 145 approval for Dassault Falcon 2000

Jet Aviation Dubai recently received an amendment to its EASA Part 145 certificate, granting approval to provide line maintenance to Dassault Falcon 2000 aircraft.

With this approval, Jet Aviation Dubai holds EASA authorization to provide line maintenance for Dassault Falcon 7X, F900 EX Easy; F900DX; F2000; F2000 EX Easy and F2000 DX aircraft. The company also has FAA approval to provide full line and base maintenance to the entire Dassault Falcon family.

“We are very pleased to expand our service capabilities to meet the needs of our customers,” says Hardy Butschi, vice president and general manager of Jet Aviation Dubai. “This is an important service expansion for all owners and operators of EASA-registered Falcon 2000 aircraft in the region and we look forward to welcoming them to our facility."

Jet Aviation Dubai was recently honored with the #1 Top Line Service level, Falcon Authorized Service Center 2014 Award in the “Go Team Response” category for supporting the most Aircraft-on-Ground (AOG) instances in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). To help ensure minimum ground time for Dassault Falcon aircraft, the company also holds a Dassault Falcon consignment stock in Dubai.

Source and image: Jet Aviation

FL Technics wins a tender for the rent of 8400 sq. m. MRO hangar in Indonesia

FL Technics, a global provider of tailor-made aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services, is glad to announce that the company has recently won a tender for the rent of 8400 sq. m. aircraft maintenance hangar at Indonesia’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the busiest airport in the Southern Hemisphere. FL Technics will operate the hangar for at least 5 years and will launch its operation with base maintenance services for AirbusA320 aircraft.

The tender for the hangar rent was conducted by PT Angkasa Pura II, a state enterprise of the Indonesian Department of Transport responsible for the management ofairports and air traffic services in Indonesia. According to the terms and conditions, FL Technics with partners shall operate a total area of 24 500 sq. m., including a 8400 sq. m. hangar as well as the adjacent ramp, aircraft parking stands and additional facilities, via an established Indonesian company. The new FL Technics MRO centre will employ over 150 engineers, technicians, NDT specialists and other qualified personnel, capable of serving up to three narrow-body type aircraft at one time.

In 2013 Soekarno-Hatta International Airport served almost 400 000 domestic and international flights, approx. 59.7 million of passengers and over 342 000 tonnes of cargo. These numbers make it one of the largest airports in Asia Pacific and the busiest in the Southern Hemisphere. Located in the heart of the Indonesian aviation market, new FL Technics MRO centre will support local operators with comprehensive solutions, including A-to-D checks, interior refurbishment services, NDT inspections, composite and structure repairs, spare parts supply, etc. All services will be provided in accordance with both local and EASA requirements.

Concerning the market potential, today there are already over 4-5 thousand commercial aircraft flying in the region. Moreover, quite a few Indonesian carriers are on the list of operators with the fastest growing fleets. For instance, the country’s major carriers alone are planning to more than double their fleets in the upcoming 10-15 years. With this in mind, following the successful launch of operations at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, FL Technics is also considering the opportunities for future expansion with the construction of an additional hangar in the country.

“During the last couple of years we have been thoroughly exploring the Asian market. We are now confident that we possess a deep understanding of its trends and issues, which local carriers are facing in the MRO segment. Following the establishment of successful connections with the region’s aviation business community, we have decided to make the step and launch a new modern technical base at one of the main air hubs in Asia-Pacific. In addition to the extensive European experience and technical know-how, we will offer the region our one-stop-shop philosophy, supporting local carriers with base and line maintenance, technicaltraining, spare parts supply, engineering and engine support as well as other MRO solutions,” shares Zilvinas Lapinskas, the CEO of FL Technics. “We would also like to thank the Indonesian authorities for their confidence in our experience and competence as well as for entrusting us with the development of a new MRO centre at Indonesia’s main airport. This is the start of a new promising chapter in the FL Technics development and its cooperation with Asian carriers, MROs and other players in the region.”

Source and image: FL Technics / Avia Solutions Group

Obama authorizes reservists for Ebola fight in West Africa

US President Barack Obama makes a statement for the press after a meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 15, 2014. Obama cancelled campaign and fundraising travel for Democrats to attend the meeting about Ebola after a second case of the decease was contracted inside the United States. PHOTO | AFP  

WASHINGTON

President Barack Obama on Thursday authorized the Pentagon to send reservists to take part in a US mission to combat the Ebola epidemic in West Africa.

Obama said reservists could be called up to active duty for humanitarian aid operations "related to the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa," according to an executive order released by the White House.

The US military has said it plans a force of 3,200 troops in Liberia and Senegal to provide logistical and engineering support in the international fight against the deadly virus, but said it has approval to expand the mission to nearly 4,000 if needed.

There are now more than 500 active-duty troops in Liberia and Senegal for the mission.

OBAMA TO WORLD: DO MORE

The reservists — who would be called up due to their particular technical expertise — would be part of that 4,000-strong force, a military official said.

In January 2010, Obama ordered the deployment of reservists to Haiti to take part in humanitarian aid work in the wake of a devastating earthquake that killed more than 250,000 people.

At the height of that operation, more than 20,000 US soldiers were in the Caribbean country.

On Wednesday, Obama once again urged the international community to do more to combat the outbreak of the virus, which has killed nearly 4,500 people, almost all of them in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

In a videoconference with his British, French, German and Italian counterparts, he called on them to "make a more significant" contribution to the fight.

dubai‬ Marina The Tallest Block on Earth

‎Dubai‬ Fountains

Al-Shabaab luring jobless Kenyans with Sh44,000 pay offer

Donations from wealthy businessmen and illegal exports of Somalia charcoal earned the militants tens of millions of dollars last year

A monthly pay offer of up to $500 (Sh44,000) by Al-Shabaab is luring jobless Kenyan youths to the Islamic militant group’s training camps in Somalia.

A report by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), a Pan African think-tank, says the Al-Qaeda linked terrorist group is offering recruits between $150 (Sh13,350) and $500 per month to join it.

The report, which is based on interviews with 95 former Al-Shabaab fighters, indicates that 52 per cent of them joined the group because of economic and religious reasons, 13 per cent were forced to enrol and one per cent went on an adventure.

The pay is higher than the Sh30,000 paid to an entry level police constable and that of Kenya’s average salary of Sh41,416 for those in formal employment.

The group has made active recruitments in Kenya, especially at the Coast and Nairobi, which contributed to a string of gun and grenade assaults that hit the capital and coastal resorts of Mombasa and Lamu in the recent past.

“It was therefore not surprising that interviewees who defined adverse economic circumstances as a recruitment factor saw Al-Shabaab as a potential employer,” says the ISS report based on interviews done between April 14 and 28.

For a country mired in poverty and where the unemployment rate stands at 40 per cent, the pay has been attractive. It takes less than a month to hire a large number of recruits, the study says.

Donations from wealthy businessmen and illegal exports of Somalia charcoal earned the militants tens of millions of dollars last year, UN investigators said in a recent report.

READ: Kenyan soldiers aided illegal Somalia charcoal export - U.N

The UN said the market value of Somalia charcoal exported in 2013 and 2014 was $250 million (Sh22.2 billion). But the group has faced a number of setbacks in recent weeks.

It lost the town of Barawe, a conduit for arms and a source of revenue through charcoal smuggling, to the Western-backed African Union force. It was Al-Shabaab’s last major coastal stronghold.

Its charismatic and ruthless leader, Ahmed Godane, was killed in a US missile strike last month.

The militants have carried out a string of assaults to punish Kenya for sending troops to Somalia in 2011. Al-Shabaab fighters killed at least 67 people in the Westgate raid last year. The raids spurred Britain, the United States, France and Australia to issue travel alerts in May, hitting Kenya’s tourism hard.

Hoteliers have reported occupancy levels of about 20 per cent during the high season which starts in July, compared to normal bed rates of more than 90 per cent.

Hotel owners say they need bed occupancy of between 60 and 70 per cent to break even. This has seen tens of top hotels close doors while the tourism sector slowed economic expansion to 5.8 per cent in the second quarter of this year, compared to 7.2 per cent in a similar period last year.

New airport radar to mitigate impact of wind turbines

A single radar that can provide traditional airport surveillance functions and mitigate against the effects of wind turbines may be a step closer following trials conducted through 2014.

Air navigation services provider, NATS, and the radar manufacturer, TERMA, trialled the use of Terma’s SCANTER system to assess its performance as an extended range wind turbine mitigation system between January and March this year.

Initial results indicated that the system was not only capable of mitigating the effects of wind turbines, but could also detect aircraft through wind farm locations, even at ranges beyond 40nm.

Following this successful initial trial, the radar was evaluated during August by the Civil Aviation Authority as part of its Spectrum Release Programme. The results confirmed that the system is capable of detecting even small targets beyond 40nm and with good low level coverage. Based upon these initial positive results, further testing is expected to be undertaken with the CAA moving forward.

Iain Harris, NATS Director of Engineering, Services, said: “We’re committed to working with a range of developers and radar manufactures to find the best way for airports to mitigate the impact of wind turbines. These latest trials with TERMA represent a breakthrough for airport operations, adding to our progress we have already made in the en-route environment.

Source and image: NATS

Golden toilet gifted by A king to his daughter on her marriage

AWAS closes its first Private Placement for $350m

AWAS closes its first Private Placement for $350m

2inShare

AWAS announced today that it has closed its first Private Placement Term Loan. Aviation Finance Company (AFC) acted as Lead Arranger and Sole Book Runner, with CACIB, Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo as Co-Leads and BNP Paribas as Manager.

The proceeds from the transaction were used to repay the existing debt on ten young narrow-body aircraft and for general corporate purposes.

This new facility rated BBB by S&P will have a 7-year term at a 4.87% coupon.Clifford Chance acted as legal counsel on behalf of AWAS and Vedder Price on behalf of AFC and the Co-Lead Arrangers.Simon Glass, AWAS Chief Financial Officer said: “ We are very pleased with the success of this Private Placement as it allowed AWAS to approach major US investors through AFC and to directly structure the transaction to fit our specific requirements while meeting the investors’ risk-return parameters”.

AFC CEO, Douglas Brennan mentioned: “We had a great result in this transaction thanks to the collaboration between the management team at AWAS, AFC and a strong group of investors, all working towards creative and innovative investment structures and results."

Source and image: AWAS

AerCap, 134 aircraft transactions completed in 3Q, 2014

Amsterdam, The Netherlands; October 8, 2014 - AerCap Holdings N.V. today announced the completion of 134 aircraft transactions during the third quarter of 2014.

Transactions completed:

• Signed lease agreements for 84 aircraft.
• Delivered 26 aircraft under contracted lease agreements.
• Purchased nine new aircraft, including five Boeing 787-8s, three Boeing 737-800s and one Airbus A321-200.

Executed sale and part-out transactions for 15 aircraft, including:

• one Airbus A300-600F, one Airbus A340-300, eight Boeing B737 classics, one Boeing B767-300ER and two MD-11s from AerCap's owned portfolio.
• one Boeing 737 classic and one Airbus A320-200 from AerCap's managed portfolio.

Signed financing transactions for $1.5 billion, including the previously announced private offering of $800 million. The total financing transactions completed year-to-date amount to $8.9 billion.

As of September 30, 2014, AerCap's portfolio consisted of approximately 1,680 aircraft that were either owned, managed, or under contract to purchase.

Source and image: AerCap

Nextant remanufactured business jets arrive in the UK

Nextant Aerospace (“Nextant”), maker of the Nextant 400XTi – the world’s only remanufactured business jet – and the forthcoming Nextant G90XT turboprop, today announced the delivery of its first 400XTi to the UK. It will be the UK’s first remanufactured aircraft and will be operated by Norwich-based SaxonAir.

This aircraft is the seventh 400XTi delivered to Europe and the first to the UK. The European 400XTi fleet has proven itself as a strong revenue generator on the European charter market with the majority of the fleet operating in excess of 80-90 hours per month. The aircraft can fly non-stop from London to any city in Europe faster than any other aircraft in its class. The spacious cabin features Wi-Fi, an espresso machine and a high tech acoustic dampening blanket that cuts ambient cabin noise by half.

“The 400XTi’s range allows our customers direct travel anywhere in Europe for considerably less than any other light jet and without sacrificing performance or comfort,” said Chris Mace, SaxonAir Group Commercial Director. “The aircraft allows us to offer the productivity benefits of business aviation to whole new customer segments.” SaxonAir, as well as operators, are also the exclusive UK sales representatives for Nextant.

As European operators focus on value for money, the value proposition of remanufacturing becomes stronger. The UK already recognizes the economic and environmental value of remanufacturing. Estimates suggest that the value of the overall remanufacturing industry in the UK is already £2.4 billion, with the potential to increase to £5.6 billion1“Remanufacturing. Towards a Resource Efficient Economy”. All-Party Parliamentary report, March 2014. and to support thousands of new skilled jobs2Next Manufacturing Revolution: Non-Labour Resource Productivity and its Potential for UK Manufacturing, July 2013.. Other benefits include reduced energy requirements, pollutant emissions, material use, and water consumption3Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre website. when compared to the manufacture of new products. The trend it global: in the US remanufacturing is a $50 billion industry, growing at 15% per year4United States International Trade Commission report, October 2012..

“There has been a lot of talk in Parliament and in the press about the benefits of remanufacturing,” continued Mr. Mace. “The 400XTi is proof of concept. The 400XTi performs like a new-build aircraft by every meaningful metric but costs a fraction as much to own and operate. That delivers value both to our business and our customer’s bottom line.”

Nextant is pioneering the concept of remanufacturing for business aviation. The defining feature of the 400XTi is its value proposition. The aircraft performs better than new production aircraft at half the purchase price and with superior operating economics. Nextant serialized factory-production process captures the technological, safety and comfort benefits of modern business aircraft without the hundreds of millions of pounds it takes to develop and certify a clean-sheet design. Those savings translate into a significantly lower purchase price.

“We are very pleased with the international acceptance of the 400XTi,” said Nextant President and CEO Sean McGeough. “By the end of this year, we will have delivered 50 aircraft to 10 countries and flown in excess of 50,000 flight hours. As the All-Party Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group is calling for the increased adoption of remanufacturing in the UK, we hope Nextant can be a good example of how remanufacturing can create real value for operators, customers and the overall economy.”

Source and image: Nextant

Gulfstream introduces new aircraft family

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics today introduced an all-new family of business jets: the Gulfstream G500 and G600. The two new aircraft optimize speed, wide-cabin comfort and efficiency to offer customers best-in-class performance with advanced safety features.

Gulfstream announced the clean-sheet aircraft before a crowd of approximately 3,000 people. During the event, the first G500 taxied up under its own power, and General Dynamics chairman and CEO Phebe Novakovic revealed a nearly 70-foot/21-meter mockup of the G600.

“Today’s announcement demonstrates the power of General Dynamics’ consistent and disciplined investment in both Gulfstream’s research and development and manufacturing facilities,” said Novakovic. “The effect of that investment is manifest in the two airplanes we announced today.”

The G500 can fly 5,000 nautical miles/9,260 kilometers at Mach 0.85 or 3,800 nm/7,038 km at Mach 0.90. The G600 is capable of traveling 6,200 nm/11,482 km at Mach 0.85 or 4,800 nm/8,890 km at Mach 0.90. The maximum operating speed for both aircraft is Mach 0.925, the same speed as Gulfstream’s G650 and G650ER.

“This is another extraordinary day in the storied history of Gulfstream,” said Larry Flynn, president, Gulfstream. “I could not be more pleased to announce the next generation of Gulfstream aircraft. The G500 and G600 build upon the technology present in our G650 and our latest aircraft, the G650ER. Once again, our customers played a major role in the development and creation of these aircraft. The G500 and G600 continue the long Gulfstream tradition of being the first original equipment manufacturer to ensure an optimal combination of speed, range, wide-cabin comfort and fuel burn.”

The cabins for the G500 and G600 are distinguished by their wide cross-sections, which maximize passenger comfort and aircraft performance.

The finished cabin of each aircraft, which measure 91 inches/213 centimeters wide and 74 in/188 cm tall, provide wide-cabin comfort with considerable head room and shoulder room for passengers. Carrying up to 19 passengers each, the G500 has three living areas, and the G600 has up to four, as well as an optional crew rest. Both aircraft have forward and aft lavatories and include a full-size galley that can be located in either the forward or aft portion of the aircraft. Ample storage space is also prevalent in the baggage compartment, which has 175 cubic ft/5.0 cu m of usable volume.

Both aircraft feature an industry-leading cabin altitude of 4,850 ft/1,578 m at FL510 and 100 percent fresh air that boosts mental alertness and productivity while reducing fatigue. The quietest cabins in the industry provide an ideal environment for work-related discussion or social conversation. Large oval windows, the same size as those on the G650, allow natural light to pour into the cabins.

All-New Symmetry Flight Deck With Touchscreens And Active Control Sidesticks
Gulfstream’s revolutionary new SymmetryTM Flight Deck is the most advanced, stylish, comfortable and intuitive inbusiness aviation. The cutting-edge technology comes in the form of active control sidesticks (ACSs), integrated touchscreen controllers, a next-generation enhanced vision system (EVS) and Honeywell Primus Epic avionics.

The industry-first ACSs offer enhanced safety and situational awareness over passive sticks through tactile feedback. With electronic linking of the ACSs, the pilot and co-pilot can see and feel each other’s control inputs, which helps improve pilot coordination in the cockpit.

“The active control sidesticks enable both pilots to be consistently on the same page, enhancing safety,” said Dan Nale, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream. “No other business aircraft on the market has this feature.”

Adding to the pilots’ more intuitive interaction with the aircraft are 10 integrated touchscreens, which will be used for system controls, flight management, communication, checklists and monitoring weather and flight information.

The G500 and G600 incorporate a third-generation Gulfstream EVS, the Synthetic Vision-Primary Flight Display system and Head-Up Display II.

Similar to the G650 and G650ER, the G500 and G600 offer a full three-axis digital fly-by-wire system with benefits that include flight-envelope protection, stability augmentation, increased redundancy and reduced maintenance.

Source and image: Gulfstream

Airports support EU coordinated response on Ebola

In the midst of the ongoing Ebola outbreak in West Africa, rising public concerns about its potential spread and an evolving array of national responses in Europe, the European airport trade association ACI EUROPE, today underlined its support for urgent coordination between Health authorities at EU level.

Such coordination should involve clear and unequivocal communication of risk assessment as regards the possible spread of the virus in Europe. This is what the public - in particular air passengers - expect. This is also whatis needed to allay any unreasonable fear and avoid inefficient measures.

In this regard, ACI EUROPE notes that the WHO (World Health Organisation) and the ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention & Control) have expressed reservations about the effectiveness of temperature screening of passengers on arrival - which has beenimplemented in the US & Canada and is apparently being contemplated by some EU countries. Conversely, both organisations support exit screening of departing passengers - which began at airports in the three main affected African countries, in the last two months.

Olivier Jankovec, Director General, ACI EUROPE commented “Health security is paramount and we trust that in their meeting later this week, Health ministers will ensure that actions are properly thought through and fully coordinated across Europe and beyond. Otherwise, we risk ending up with an inefficient patchwork of measures, with negative implications for passengers and airport operations – for an unspecified period of time and with no guarantee of success.”

Source and image: ACI / ScienceInsider

Bermuda Triangle Solved? Siberia's 'End of the World' Craters Could Explain Mystery

Three craters that appeared in Siberia over the summer are thought to have been caused by huge underground gas explosions and could be 'the key' to the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, according to scientists.

The holes – one in Taymyr peninsula and two in Yamal, known to locals in Siberia as 'the end of the world' – were the topic of much speculation, provoking suggestions that they were the product of alien invaders, meteorites, missiles or even a man made hoax.

Now scientists from the Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum-Gas Geology and Geophysics in Novosibirsk believe that they are the result of large underground gas explosions and could explain the disappearances in the infamous Bermuda Triangle.

 The Siberian Times reported, that according to researchers from the Trofimuk Institute, warm climatic conditions from above the surface, and from geological fault lines below the surface, led to a huge release of gas hydrates.

"The main element - and this is our working theory to explain the Yamal crater - was a release of gas hydrates. It turned out that there are gas hydrates both in the deep layer which on peninsula is several hundred metres down, and on the layer close to the surface," said scientist Vladimir Potapov.

Gases, methane in particular, are trapped in frozen hydrates below the permafrost (soil at or below the freezing point of water), and under some oceans, which researchers believe could be strong enough to bring down an aircraft or sink a ship, if they erupted.

"There is a theory that the Bermuda Triangle is caused by gas hydrates," said the Trofimuk Institute's deputy head, Igor Yeltsov. "They start to actively decompose with methane ice turning into gas. It happens in an avalanche-like way, like a nuclear reaction, producing huge amounts of gas. That makes the ocean heat up, and ships sink in waters which are infused with huge amounts of gas. This leads to the air becoming supersaturated with methane, creating an extremely turbulent atmosphere, leading to aircraft crashes".

 The institute is continuing its analysis of the craters, so that all hypotheses are tested and to gain a better understanding of the holes to prevent future disasters.

"This was a recce trip that would allow us set agenda for the next trip, or trips, and give us basic understanding of what could have happened," said Potapov. "We must also pay attention to areas where the same thing might potentially happen."

Bermuda Triangle: Facts And Fiction

- It is also known as the Devil's Triangle.

- The 'triangle' is a loosely defined region between Bermuda, Florida and Puerto Rico.

- The area is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world and also one of the busiest for aircraft flying down to Florida, South America and the Caribbean.  

- In 1881, a ship called the Ellen Austin came across a derelict ship in the area and placed a crew onboard. They attempted to sail it to New York, but reports say that the vessel disappeared and then reappeared again, with no trace of the crew.

- A training flight of five torpedo bombers in 1945, vanished over the Atlantic. The disappearance is thought to be due to a navigational error which led to the aircrafts running out of fuel. However, one of the rescue craft deployed to find them also went missing with its 13 crew members.

- The incident resulting in the single biggest loss of life for the US Navy, was when the USS Cyclops set sail from Barbados, and then went missing sometime after 4 March 1918 with a crew of 309. No sign of the ship or its crew were ever found.

- One theory for the disappearances over the years is leftover technology from the lost continent of Atlantis, believed to be located beneath the waters there. Another theory is UFO kidnappings.

China pledges more security support for Kenya, Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 16 – The Chinese government has pledged continued support to Kenya and Africa on security issues, in a bid to promote peace and economic development on the continent.

Speaking on Thursday in Nairobi during the China-Africa Peace and Security Cooperation seminar, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Liu Xianfa said a number of countries on the continent still face serious threats, such as escalating violence and armed conflicts, internal political turmoil, the spread of terrorism and extremism, interweaving of traditional and non-traditional security challenges and as a consequence, an alarming humanitarian crisis.

“Not a single country or continent can stay immune in the face of security problems. The achievement of long-term peace and security in Africa requires joint efforts of Africa and the international community,” he said.

He however urged the international community to let African countries find their own solutions to their challenges.

He said that double standards and taking sides should be avoided, urging the international community not to pursue their own interests and political agenda by taking advantage of peace and security issues in Africa.

“It is the African people who understand the crux of the issues best. The international community should fully respect Africa’s dignity and independence, support Africa to play the leading role and promote inclusive dialogue among relevant parties for seeking solutions acceptable by all parties concerned,” he added.

With the theme “Peace and Security Cooperation: New Vista for Upgraded Version of China-Africa Cooperation,” the seminar will hold an in-depth discussion on the current situation of peace and security in Africa, the opportunities and challenges facing China-Africa peace and security cooperation thus contributing to the long-term peace and stability and sustainable development of Africa.

This comes as Africa continues to face terror threats from various terror groups among them the Somalia based Al Shabaab.

Kenya has led in the war against terror within the East African region following numerous attacks in its capital city Nairobi and Mombasa County.

Kenya Defence Forces are under the Africa Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) fighting the militias in the Horn of Africa country.

Ever heard of sacred wild animals?

Ever heard of sacred wild animals? In Burkina Faso a unique human - animal relationship has been recorded. Crocodiles are estimated to cause over 200 hundred deaths in Africa. They are agile and they don’t trust humans. But in Bazoule, Burkina Faso, these reptiles are not feared.

China Has The World’s Longest Sea Bridge

China Has The World’s Longest Sea Bridge

WOW! It Looks Like A Normal Bridge, But The Truth Behind It Left Me Speechless....

An engineering marvel the Jiaozhou bay bridge demanded four years of construction. The 26.3 miles long bridge links the port city of Qingdao to the island of Huangdao. An amazing piece of architecture that leaves people in awe…..

MIT Bitcoin Trading Simulation Yields Profit of 89% in 50 Days

Trading bitcoin profitably remains more of an art than an exact science.

On any given day, Reddit is awash with theories explaining bitcoin price movements, ranging from exotic technical indicators to the machinations of FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) peddlers.

That may change, however, with a new paper that claims to have devised a trading strategy that can produce an 89% return in less than two months.

The authors, Massachusetts Institute of Technology associate professor Devavrat Shah and computer science student Kang Zhang, collected data from OKCoin, the world’s largest exchange by trading volume, from February to July.

They fed the data into a predictive statistical model they have developed and used the results to conduct a simulation of CNY/BTC trades. In the simulation, the trader could only go long or short 1 BTC in each trade.

Volatility boosts profits

The trading simulation, conducted on data taken from 50 consecutive days in May and June, produced highly profitable results. The simulated trader invested 3,781 yuan and made 2,872 trades. The total cumulative profit was 3,362 yuan, or an 89% return on the amount invested.

The trading strategy produced the greatest profits when volatility was high, in the period at the end of May and the start of June, and was still profitable when the price declined steadily at the end of the simulated period.

The trading strategy also produced a Sharpe ratio of 4.1, the authors write. This expresses a portfolio’s return after adjusting for the risk-free rate of return. A high ratio shows that an investor produced returns while taking on less risk, with scores of three and over being considered excellent.

The authors’ Sharpe ratio compares favourably to benchmark mutual funds, like the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund, the world’s largest such vehicle, which is worth $355bn. That fund has aone-year Sharpe ratio of 1.79 and has returned 8.32% in the last year.

Kerry’s plane grounded again

Vienne, Oct 16 – Globe-trotting top US diplomat John Kerry was left hoofing it back on a commercial flight from Vienna Thursday, after his ageing Air Force plane broke down for the fourth time this year.

After marathon talks on Iran’s nuclear programme in the Austrian capital Wednesday, Kerry’s party of more than 40 State Department staff and journalists were checking out of their hotel rooms before dawn Thursday when the news came that his Boeing 757 needed unspecified repairs — again.

Jambo Africa Restaurant wins Torchlight Award in Minnesota

A restaurant owned by a Kenyan has been voted the best African eatery in the state of Minnesota, United States.

Jambo Africa, which is located on Shingle Creek Parkway in the city of Brooklyn Center, beat other African eateries in the Midwestern region to emerge the overall winner of Torchlight Award.

The Torchlight Foundation recognises achievements made by African immigrants in the fields of culture, education, entertainment, fashion, and philanthropy.

“Our brothers and sisters are out here doing big things and we at Torchlight do not only honour their work, but inspire others,” said Stephen Ngang, the Foundation’s director.

The winning restaurant is run by Mr George Ndege Jojo and his Liberian partner, Mr Simone Chambliss.

Speaking to the Nation soon after receiving the award, an elated Jojo said the recognition was “an affirmation that good stuff can still come out of the continent.”

He said the restaurant has become more popular because it does not specialise in dishes from a single region but from both East and West African cuisine, making it a favourite spot for the African immigrant community in Minnesota.

“The most popular item right now is fried tilapia fish. Customers from both East and West seem to agree on its unmatched flavour and presentation,” said Mr Jojo.

Besides serving African dishes, the restaurant also hosts African cultural events.

“We host African-themed events, including live music band, traditional percussion, dancing, poetry, story-telling sessions, book releases and more.

“When my wife and I get homesick, we come here to remind ourselves of motherland by eating Kenyan food and dancing to Kenyan beats,” said Basillioh Mogaka, who lives in Minneapolis.

Mr Jojo said the restaurant also hosts prominent African dignitaries whenever they visit the cities of Minneapolis and St Paul.

“We also have an American clientele, especially those who have visited Africa as tourists, aid workers and missionaries. They drop in to satisfy their nostalgic food memories of Africa,” he said.

The Torchlight Award also recognised Jambo Africa's high customer service standards.

Interpol wants Kenyan arrested over illegal ivory trade

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 16 – Interpol on Thursday issued an international arrest warrant for Kenyan national Feisal Mohamed, on suspicion of involvement in the illegal ivory trade.

According to Interpol, Mohamed is said to be behind three tonnes of ivory confiscated in Mombasa on July 9 last year, when the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) impounded a consignment weighing 3.2 tonnes at the Port of Mombasa.

The consignment was intercepted in a 20-foot container awaiting shipment to Malaysia. At the time, KRA Public Relations and Corporate Affairs officer Fatuma Yussuf said the ivory tusks were packed in Kenya.

Yussuf had also said documents indicated that the ivory was disguised as groundnuts, wrapped and some stashed in sacks.

Arthur Tudor, the director Kenya Wildlife Service’s Coastal region, said the kind of ivory originated from elephants from the savannah that include Kenyan national parks and neighbouring countries .

Following the seizure, police initiated investigations on the exporter in Nairobi, the consignee in Malaysia and the clearing based in Mombasa.

Two alleged smugglers were on July 12 charged over the consignment but denied the charges.

Abdul Halim Sadiq and Ghalib Sadiq Kara were charged in the port city Mombasa for being in possession of the stash of elephant tusks. An arrest warrant was also issued for businessman Mohamed.

In the warrant issued on Thursday, the international police organisation called on member states to arrest Mohamed if he sets foot on their territories.

On Wednesday, Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo said tight measures were set to be put in place to assist in the fight against the poaching menace in the country.

Kimaiyo said he had already met key stakeholders in the sector to strategise on the way forward as the threat continues to persist despite various efforts by the government and other stakeholders.

“We are giving a very strong warning to the poachers…their days are numbered,” he warned. “They will face the full force of the law. We are not going to relent on the issue of poaching and we are going to deal with it firmly.”

He said the current trend threatens to bring down the tourism sector which remains a major income earner but warned that police will not relent in the war.

“Even if they are armed with any kind of sophisticated weapon, we shall deal with them. We have more sophisticated weapons than they have,” he stated.