O.R. Tambo International Airpot staff intercept cocaine suspect

Airports Company South Africa Security staff at O.R. Tambo International Airport have handed a Seychelles-bound passenger to the SAPS after she attempted to clear a security checkpoint with two concealed bricks of cocaine on November 3.

Airport spokesperson Leigh Gunkel-Keuler said that at approximately 11h40 on Friday 3 November the attention of the security team at the central search point of Terminal A was drawn to a passenger with what appeared to be an unusual body shape.

The airport security team requested a private search in terms of the legal procedures. During the search, security staff discovered two bricks containing cocaine concealed by seven additional brassieres. The estimated weight of the cocaine is 1,040 kilograms. 

“We are fast approaching the festive season and it is very common for criminals to use this period to their advantage. Criminal behaviour will not be tolerated under any circumstances. The safety and security of all passengers and customers using airport facilities is of paramount importance to the management of O.R. Tambo International Airport,” says Gunkel-Keuler. 

Passengers are encouraged to be vigilant at all times and should report any unusual or criminal behaviour to the police or security personnel at the airport.

It is essential for passengers to take responsibility for their bags and to keep them close and in-view at all times.

“We appreciate that at busy holiday times some people may be tempted to offer or to take short cuts. We urge airport users not to offer or pay bribes and to report suspicious activity. People should also be aware that the law provides for prosecution not only of those soliciting bribes, but also of those who offer them or pay them.” 

Uhuru's refusal to partake in sacrament at the ACK church explained

- On Sunday, October 5, Uhuru Kenyatta refused to partake in the Holy Communion at the Anglican Church

 - He had been called to adress the congregation by the Bishop of Canterbury who was in Kenya for an official visit 

- The president explained that he was not sure whether he should take the communion since he is a catholic and catholics do not offer communion to strangers President Uhuru Kenyatta left supporters and congregants in awe on Sunday, November 5 after he publicly declined to take the Holy communion at the Anglican Church of Kenya as is the norm with Catholic believers. 

    Uhuru was attending a special church service at the ACK church to mark 100 years since the establishment of the house of prayer. 

“Where I come from (Catholic Church), we don’t offer Communion to strangers and I was quite willing to go up but then I realised that this event is live and my Cardinal may be watching, and I wasn’t sure how he may respond to that,” Uhuru said to the amusement of the congregation. 

What next for Nyeri County after sudden death of governor?

- Nyeri Governor Wahome Gakuru passed away on Tuesday, November 7, following a freak accident

 - He was the second governor to die in office in the county

 - Gakuru won the gubernatorial seat during the August 8 election Nyeri Deputy Governor Mutahi Kahiga is poised to take over the leadership of the region following the death of his boss in a freak accident on the morning of Tuesday, November 7. 

County Governments Act 2012 says that if a governor dies, the deputy takes over as the county boss for the remainder of the term. But if Kahiga is found to be unfit or refuses to take over, the law provides that the Speaker of the County shall act as governor.

After 60 days when the Speaker takes over, a new election should be held for the residents to elect a new governor. And according to the Constitution (Devolved Governments), at Chapter 11, Article 179, if a vacancy arises in the office of the county governor, the members of the county executive committee cease to hold office. The law is however silent on how long it should take to swear in the deputy governor as the new county boss.

The country woke up to the sad news of the passing on of Governor Wahome Gakuru, the third Nyeri Governor and the second to die in office. Early this year, the first governor Nderitu Gachagua passed on and his deputy Samuel Wamathai was sworn in before the August 8 general election. 

Is Kenya disaster-ready? Questions after Lake Nakuru chopper crash

The helicopter, owned and operated by Flex Air Charters, crashed at around 7:30 am on Saturday, October 21 barely half-an-hour after take-off from Jarika County Lodge in Nakuru.

The National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU) activated a national police chopper to support the Nakuru County Disaster team on a search and rescue operation.

The rescue team had to mobilize speed boats from Lake Naivasha, 93 KM away. The boats arrived four hours later.

The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) team arrived early at the scene but could not start any activity as they lacked the necessary equipment for the mission.

Nearly eight hours into the operation, the wreckage of the helicopter was sighted, although the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority confirmed there was no survivor.

The rescue team reported that the wreckage appeared intact, but they were unable to access it due to its location and presence of hippos around it.

By evening, neither the victims nor the wreckage had been pulled out of the saline waters, with the rescue teams having to call off the operation due to poor visibility as a result of darkness.

Here’s what caused accident that killed Nyeri Governor Wahome Gakuru

The heart-wrenching accident that claimed the life of Nyeri Governor Wahome Gakuru on Tuesday morning was caused by a tyre burst amid heavy downpour, police have said.

The tyre burst caused the Mercedez Benz he was travelling to lose control, veer off the road and ram into the rail guard which speared through vehicle, inflicting fatal injuries on the county boss and his aides.

The car had four occupants at the time of the accident; driver Samuel Kinyanjui Wanyaga, Personal Assistant Albert Kaguru, bodyguard Ahmed Abdi and the governor.

Dr. Gakuru, was heading to Nairobi for a talk show on Inooro TV, was accompanied by his personal Assistant, bodyguard and driver who were seriously injured.

They were all rushed to Thika Level 5 Hospital for emergency treatment and are set to be transfered to Nairobi Hospital for further treatment.

Meanwhile, the government has appointed ICT Cabinet Secreatry Joe Mucheru, Deputy Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga and Nyeri Senator Ephraim Maina to lead burial preparations of the late Nyeri Governor Gakuru.

Gakuru becomes the second Nyeri Governor to pass on while in office after the late Nderitu Gachagua who died last year in February at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London while undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer.

Barely 24 hours before he met his sudden death, Governor Wahome Gakuru spent time with his son who is a candidate for this year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam.

Dr. Gakuru hosted Alliance Boys High School KCSE candidates including his son, at his Runda Residence in Nairobi on Monday to encourage them as they sit their final exams.

Singapore Airlines Launches Private Suites, Double Beds And Swivel Chairs on A380s

From double beds, leather swivel chairs to full-sized closets and vanity counters, the newest suite of offerings from Singapore Airlines aims to close the gap in luxury air travel with its rivals in the Middle East.

On Thursday, the Asian carrier pulled back the curtain on the $850 million revamp of their A380s, the double-decker aircraft which boasts the title of the world's largest passenger airliner.

The centerpiece of the aircraft's design is undoubtedly its suites, six private apartments tucked at the front of the upper deck cabin, hidden behind sliding doors.

Along with a reclining, swivel leather chair, each suite comes with a full-sized closet, 32-inch HD monitor, and full-flat bed dressed in luxury bedding embroidered by French brand Lalique.

Of the two lavatories reserved for suite guests, one features a sit-down vanity.

Suite customers can slip under the duvet covers in sleeper suits, eyeshades, slippers and socks and refresh themselves using the luxury amenity kits that include Lalique toiletries, perfumes and scented candles.

Likewise, meals are served on Wedgwood serviceware, and wine and Champagne served in Lalique crystal glassware.

The carrier's newest launch signals an intent to reposition itself as a leader in luxury air travel, currently dominated by wealthy carriers in the Middle East.

Etihad famously offers a three-room apartment suite called "The Residence," while Qatar Airways became the first airline to launch a double bed for Business Class.

Emirates also invested millions into upgrading their in-flight bar and lounge aboard their A380.

Meanwhile, over in Singapore Airlines' business class, seats recline into sun-deck positions for a comfortable in-flight entertainment experience as well as full-flat beds.

Taking cues from Qatar Airways, the two center-seats have also been configured so that the center divider can be lowered to form double beds for couples and families.

The new cabin launches will be fitted on all 19 of the carrier's A380 fleet, including retrofit work on 14 aircraft which are already in service.

The complete roll-out is expected for 2020.

Singapore Airlines' A380s currently serve Auckland, Beijing, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, Melbourne, Mumbai, New Delhi, New York, Paris, Shanghai, Sydney and Zurich.

Airbus reports nine-month 2017 results

Airbus SE reported nine-month 2017 financial results and confirmed its guidance for the full year.

“The strong backlog and a healthy market environment continue to support our commercial aircraft production ramp-up plans,” said Airbus Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders. “We confirm our outlook even though this year’s delivery schedule is extremely back-loaded, largely due to the well-known engine problems plaguing our A320neo Family.”

Order intake totalled € 50.8 billion (9m 2016: € 73.2 billion) with the order book(1) valued at € 945 billion as of 30 September 2017 (year-end 2016: € 1,060 billion). A total of 271 net commercial aircraft orders were received (9m 2016: 380 aircraft), with the order backlog comprising 6,691 aircraft at the end of September. Net helicopter orders totalled 210 units (9m 2016: 211 units), including 14 H175s in the third quarter. At Defence and Space, the good order momentum continued in Military Aircraft with five A330 MRTTs booked in total for Germany and Norway in the third quarter. The overall order intake at the division was impacted by perimeter changes from portfolio reshaping and the slow telecommunications satellite market.  

Revenues were stable at € 43.0 billion (9m 2016: € 42.7 billion) despite the perimeter changes at Defence and Space and were higher on a comparable basis. Commercial Aircraft revenues rose four percent with deliveries of 454(2) aircraft (9m 2016: 462 aircraft) comprising 350 A320 Family, 50 A350 XWBs, 45 A330s and nine A380s. Helicopters’ revenues were slightly higher with deliveries of 266 units (9m 2016: 258 units). Revenues at Defence and Space reflected the negative impact of around € 1.4 billion from the perimeter changes.

EBIT Adjusted – an alternative performance measure and key indicator capturing the underlying business margin by excluding material charges or profits caused by movements in provisions related to programmes, restructuring or foreign exchange impacts as well as capital gains/losses from the disposal and acquisition of businesses – totalled  € 1,796 million (9m 2016: € 2,408 million).

Commercial Aircraft’s EBIT Adjusted of € 1,545 million (9m 2016: € 1,836 million) reflected the aircraft delivery mix and phasing as well as transition pricing. 

The industrial ramp up on the A350 continues to make good progress, with the programme well on track to meet the monthly production target rate of 10 aircraft by the end of 2018. Progress was also made on A350 recurring cost convergence. An agreement was signed with Qatar Airways following the cancellation of four A350 delivery slots to continue to take delivery of four associated finished aircraft by year-end. On the A320neo programme, 90 aircraft were delivered to 19 customers. The A320neo ramp-up remains challenging with the delivery profile very much loaded into the fourth quarter. Priority is being given to engine deliveries to customers to be used for spares, as agreed with the engine manufacturers. At the beginning of 2017, around 200 A320neo deliveries were targeted for the full year. Due to engine availability issues and allocation between the OEM and spare pools, A320neo deliveries are now expected to be slightly below that target. The A330neo programme reached an important milestone in October with the successful maiden flight.

Helicopters’ EBIT Adjusted declined to € 165 million (9m 2016: € 200 million), reflecting the unfavourable mix mainly from lower commercial flight hours in services and the impact associated with the past grounding of the H225. This was partially mitigated by the division’s transformation efforts. Airbus continues to work with its customers on bringing the civil H225 fleet back into full operation.

Defence and Space’s EBIT Adjusted was € 357 million (9m 2016: € 436 million), reflecting the perimeter change and was broadly stable on a comparable basis.

Twelve A400Ms were delivered compared to 11 aircraft in the first nine months of 2016. The operational and commercial assumptions that were retained in 2016 remain the management’s best current assessment. However, in the meantime, production levels were adjusted to absorb inventory with delivery schedules still in discussion with customers. Development activities continued toward achieving the revised capability roadmap. However, achievement of the contractual technical capabilities and associated costs remain highly challenging. There are also challenges remaining on securing sufficient export orders in time, on cost reductions, industrial efficiency and commercial exposure, which could all impact the programme significantly. Discussions to de-risk the A400M programme are ongoing with the Nations and OCCAR.

Group self-financed R&D expenses declined to € 1,918 million (9m 2016: € 2,015 million).

EBIT (reported) of € 2,312 million (9m 2016: € 2,356 million) included Adjustments totalling a net € +516 million compared to net Adjustments of € -52 million in the first nine months of 2016. The 9m 2017 Adjustments comprised:

 

·         A charge of € 150 million on the A400M programme, including € 80 million in the third quarter reflecting the production adjustment and liquidated damages incurred;

 

·         A positive impact of € 43 million related to the dollar pre-delivery payment mismatch and balance sheet revaluation;

 

·         An updated net capital gain of € 604 million from the divestment of the Defence Electronics business;

 

·         A net positive impact of € 19 million related to other portfolio changes at Defence and Space.

 

Net income amounted to € 1,851 million (9m 2016: € 1,811 million) after the EBIT Adjustments with earnings per share of € 2.39 (9m 2016: € 2.34). EPS and net income included a positive impact mainly from the revaluation of financial instruments and balance sheet items. The finance result was € 92 million (9m 2016: € -342 million).

Free cash flow before M&A and customer financing improved to € -3,344 million           (9m 2016: € -4,184 million), although its development was impacted by inventory build-up related to the ramp-up and NEO engine delays. Free cash flow of € -3,208 million (9m 2016: € -2,649 million) included net proceeds of around € 600 million from the Defence Electronics disposal. Cash flow for aircraft financing improved year-on-year by approximately       € 100 million to around € -440 million. The overall aircraft financing environment remains healthy with a high level of liquidity available in the market. Airbus continues to work constructively with the Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) to return to some ECA backed financing.

The net cash position on 30 September 2017 was € 6.7 billion (year-end 2016: € 11.1 billion) after the 2016 dividend payment of € 1.0 billion in the second quarter with a gross cash position of € 18.0 billion (year-end 2016: € 21.6 billion).