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| Passenger Plane Crashes in Islamabad Officials said at least 90 bodies had been recovered and they do not think now that they will find any survivors. Police said it was an Airblue flight from Karachi to Islamabad. The plane came down in the Margalla Hills near the capital, and Pakistani TV showed images of smouldering wreckage on a foggy hillside, with helicopters overhead. A huge rescue effort has been launched, and the army said it was sending special troops to help. The plane, reported to be an Airbus A321 with 146 passengers and six crew on board, is thought to have left Karachi at 0750 (0350 GMT). Officials said the plane, believed to be flight 202, lost contact with the control tower minutes before landing. It is not known what caused the crash. Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik said at least five survivors had been taken to hospital, but local officials later said those reports were wrong. Aamir Ali Ahmed, a senior city government official, told Reuters news agency: "It's a very difficult operation because of the rain. Most of the bodies are charred. We're sending body-bags via helicopters. We can pray and hope but what experts are saying is that there's no chance of any survivors." Local TV footage showed twisted metal wreckage hanging from trees and scattered across the ground. A flight recorder has been found. Officials said rescuers searching for survivors were digging through the rubble with their bare hands. The crash site, on a steep hill, has no roads. "A good number of rescue workers have reached the site," said Express 24/7 television journalist Sabur Ali Sayed from the scene. "Other people have reached here on their own. The plane is totally destroyed, the pieces and parts scattered over a large distance. Some parts of the plane are still burning. Some bushes have been burnt." A large number of relatives are outside the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad's largest government-run hospital, says the BBC's Ahmed Raza. Many of the relatives are crying, our correspondent says, and rush towards ambulances as they arrive. So far they have been waiting for over two hours, but no dead or injured have been brought to the hospital. Airblue spokesman Raheel Ahmed told reporters that the crash was "an extremely tragic incident". "Our first priority is to find the survivors," he said, adding that an investigation was being launched. As Flydubai enters its second year of service, Dubai's first low cost airline launches routes to three new destinations, proving its status as the fastest growing low cost airline in the region. The carrier expanded services to Karachi, Colombo and Irbid, bringing its route network to 22 cities. All three cities have been strategically chosen by Flydubai and priced so as to allow more people to travel more often. The Flydubai model is simple, with customers paying only for the services they want to receive. The price includes all taxes and one piece of hand baggage, weighing up to 10kg, per passenger. Karachi, Pakistan's main seaport and financial centre, is one of the world's largest cities in terms of population. His Excellency Ali Saif Alawani, UAE Ambassador to Pakistan, who was on board the inaugural flight to Karachi, said, "The ties between the UAE and Pakistan are already strong with bilateral trade worth more than $6bn annually. Increasing the number of affordable, quality, direct air travel links between our countries will only serve to strengthen our relationship." One-way flights to Iraq's third largest city and capital of the Kurdish region of Northern Iraq, operate twice a week on Fridays and Mondays. Flydubai's CEO, Ghaith Al Ghaith, states, "Erbil is reinventing itself and undergoing an economic boom with new hotels, leisure and healthcare facilities, commercial towers and trade centers. The city's rapid development has been compared with that of Dubai and it is a beacon of progress for the rest of the country." Speaking about the launch to Colombo, Mr. Al Ghaith comments, "We're delighted to be able to expand our range of destinations in the South Asian sub-continent with the start of our flights to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is a popular tourist destination and by making travel to the capital a little less complex, a little less stressful and a little less expensive, I am confident this new route will be a popular one." "Flydubai's aim is to make travel a little less complex, a little less stressful and a little less expensive and thereby encourage more people to travel more often. We are committed to growing the markets we fly to and we have already seen success with this in other markets, including Beirut, which has seen a 33% increase in traffic, Amman which gained a huge 40% increase, and there has been a 22% increase across all Egyptian routes since Flydubai started operations last year," says Mr. Al Ghaith. He adds, "Flydubai's aircraft are all brand new, safe, clean and comfortable with a team of very friendly and welcoming cabin crew." This report includes original source company information “We continue to look at ways of making our operation more efficient so we can offer even lower fares than we do now,” Tiger Airways director, Steve Burns, said. “Everything we do is about offering the lowest possible fare then allowing our customers to choose what, if any, extras they wish to pay for. However, Jetstar spokesman Simon Westaway said the airline would never contemplate vertical seating or charging passenger to use the bathroom. “A lot of Jetstar destinations are over two hours and longer, so the stand up seating idea doesn’t register on our radar. We have a completely different business model to Ryanair,” he said. “It’s an interesting concept but I can’t see how this would fly in our part of the world." Ryanair’s chief executive Michael O'Leary said the Irish airline will fund the controversial travel option by charging customer to use the restroom during flights. His proposed “vertical seats” would be available in a special standing-room only sections in the rear of commuter flights lasting an hour or possibly longer. Tickets would cost between $7 and $14 per passenger, Mr OLeary said in TV interview. The new seating proposal was welcomed by Mr Burns, who said Tiger Airways wouldn’t rule anything out. Ryanair will conduct safety testing for the new vertical seats next year. "We've been looking at is taking out the last ten rows of seats so we will have 15 rows of seats and the equivalent of ten rows of standing area," Mr OLeary said. However, Civil Aviation Authority officials harbor doubts that the revolutionary new seats would pass safety rules. "It's aviation law that people have to have a seat-belt on from take-off and landing so they would have to be in a seat. I don't know how Mr O'Leary would get around that one," said a spokesman. The nine-day street drinking party got under way at midday with the traditional shout from the city hall balcony of "Viva San Fermin!," followed seconds later by the firing of the firecracker known as the chupinazo. On Wednesday, daredevils will race just ahead of huge bulls running along Pamplona's cobblestoned streets, and gorings are virtually assured. The rocket blast was the signal to the revelers — almost all in the festival's traditional dress of white shirts and pants with red sashes — to erupt into the party mode that dominates Spain through August. People sang and whooped while drenching each other with sangria, cheap wine and champagne. Though the tourist count is down in Pamplona this year and merchants are complaining of low sales as Spain struggles with the European debt crisis and 20 percent unemployment, that didn't matter to David Marcilla after a woman dumped a huge bucket of water on top of him from her terrace in a third-floor apartment. "There's a crisis in Spain, but there isn't today in Pamplona and everyone is partying," said Marcilla, 16, his white shirt already stained pink by wine. The party's start was marred when Basque separatists prohibited from displaying their flag on a huge stage raised one into the air from the crowd and unfurled a banner demanding that terrorists convicted of bombings and killings be moved to prisons closer to their relatives. The event witnessed by an AP photographer prompted police officers to move into the sea of people packing the plaza, swinging their batons. Fistfights also broke out between supporters of the ETA Basque separatist group and Spaniards opposed to the Basque independence movement. Some in the crowd responded to the police action by hurling bottles of beer and champagne at officers, but some police hit people in the crowd, according to witnesses and photos by news photographers that showed the clashes. "The pushing escalated and the cops started coming in and beating people with batons," said Daniel Woodfull, a 20-year-old Canadian university student from Windsor, Ontario. New Zealand dairy farmer Helen Campbell, 23, said she was hit by a bottle in the head as riot police pulled people from the crowd, but she was uninjured. An Associated Press reporter saw officers removing the Basque flag from the plaza, and four carried out one man who appeared to be injured or unconscious. Police at the scene declined comment, and Pamplona police spokesman Antonio Iberni said he was unaware of any disturbances or injuries. He added that if people had attempted to raise a banner in support of ETA prisoners, officers would have waded in to remove it. But the party resumed quickly after the melee, with television images showing masses of red and white dressed partiers swaying back and forth in the square and roaring "San Fermin!" and "Ole!" as the rocket blasted off. "There's so much wine on the ground you could get drunk by drinking it off the floor," said Samantha Arnold, a 25-year-old pharmaceutical saleswoman from Australia. In an almost laughable bid to try to keep the noise level down during the fiesta known for 24-hour street partying, Pamplona town hall on Monday banned street vendor sales of vuvuzelas, the droning plastic horns so popular at World Cup matches in South Africa. San Fermin's first bull-run starts at 8 a.m (0600 GMT) Wednesday, when hundreds of people race ahead of six fighting bulls and six bell-tinkling steers — meant to keep them in a tight pack — that charge down the 930-yard (850-meter) course from a holding pen to the northern town's bull ring. In the evening, the bulls will be killed in the bull ring, and their meat gets served up in Pamplona's restaurants. Dozens of people are injured each year in the morning runs. Most get hurt after falling, but some are gored and trampled by the beasts. Last year's festival saw the first goring death in nearly 15 years. The fiesta became a big international event after Ernest Hemingway wrote about it in his 1926 novel, "The Sun Also Rises." Pakistan International Airlines has fired 200 employees for presenting fake degrees at the time of hiring. PIA Director Public Relations Syed Sultan Hassan told The Express Tribune that employees were served warning notices multiple times and given a chance to prove their documents were valid before being handed pink slips. According to Hassan, the degree verification process began in 1997 since when all contracts and letters of employment issued have clearly stated that education documents will be verified from relevant institutions. He said that after PIA was unable to confirm the documents, employees were served notices and given time to prove that they have, in fact, secured the degrees or diplomas that they claimed at the time of appointment. The 200 employees whose documents could not be verified from their educational institutions had been told to respond to the charges against them by June 30. “All employees who were able to prove the validity of their documents remain employees,” said Hassan. Published in The Express Tribune, July 2nd, 2010. Emirates Airline has become the world’s seven biggest carrier in almost no time. It’s not even a decade yet, that the airline started its services to Australia. Today, it not only stands proudly among the five stars rated Australia Flights but also acquires a prominent position among cheap return flights to Australia. What makes it every one’s favorite is its easy availability nearly any time of the year, from anywhere in the world and at affordable prices even when last minute flights to Australia are required. On an overall calculation, it’s a low cost airline to Australia; actually some people accuse it of initiating the price war but why not providing luxurious and cheap flights to Australia while they can? In around 1996 Emirates newly arrived Boeings started their operations to Melbourne via Singapore. Towards the end of the year 2000 Emirates planned to inaugurate its first ever long haul service, nonstop direct flights to Australia. Today, Emirates has emerged as a successful and fastest growing airline that operates in 100 destinations, 6 continents and owns the records of world’s longest non-stop flights from Dubai to USA. Quick facts and all you need to feel proud with Emirates before you take off: * Emirates was conceived in March 1985 under the support of Dubai’s royal family Emirates make a tough competitor for cheap one way flights to Australia and also provide some inexpensive promotional low cost return fares. Well liked for being a kid’s friendly airline, Emirates also offers free flights, stays and play in Dubai for kids below 16. Such generous offers are not only limited to the minors but also adults can enjoy complementary five and four star stay in Dubai with Emirates as part of some promotional activities. Mandarin Oriental, Doha will be located in Musheireb, Dohaland’s ambitious development of a 35 hectare site adjacent to Doha’s cultural gem, Souk Waqif, and the city’s business centre in West Bay. The Musheireb project is set to regenerate the core of the city, recreating a way of living that is rooted in Qatari culture, and reflecting the growing international importance of Doha as a leisure and business destination. Mandarin Oriental, Doha will feature 160 luxurious guestrooms and suites, as well as 95 serviced apartments. All accommodation will be spacious and elegantly styled, displaying a contemporary interpretation of traditional local influences together with subtle oriental touches reflecting the Group’s heritage. Mandarin Oriental’s renowned customer-centric and highly sophisticated in-room entertainment systems will be a prominent feature. Other facilities will include an all-encompassing Spa at Mandarin Oriental which will introduce the Group’s award-winning spa concepts to a new audience, providing holistic rejuvenation and relaxation in a serene, meditative setting. The spacious spa will include 10 private treatment rooms as well as a vitality pool and other heat and water experiences. Guests will also be able to enjoy the indoor swimming pool and fitness centre. Featuring a variety of restaurants and bars Mandarin Oriental, Doha will offer some of the finest cuisine in the city from gastronomic dining to the Group’s popular ‘cake shop’ concept. “We are delighted to be introducing the Mandarin Oriental brand to the exciting and rapidly growing city of Doha. The Musheireb project is set to transform the city and together with the developers, Dohaland, we have a vision to create a spectacular and prestigious luxury hotel that will form the centrepiece of this new urban development” said Director of Operations, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Christoph Mares of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. Mr. Abdul Aziz Al-Emadi, CEO of Dohaland Hospitality, a subsidiary of Dohaland, said: “We are pleased to be partnering with world-renowned luxury hotel group, Mandarin Oriental to create a hotel that will set new standards in the city in terms of elegance and sophistication. Doha is one of the fastest growing cities in the Middle East and Mandarin Oriental, Doha is certain to become a favourite destination for international travellers and locals alike.” Mandarin Oriental, Doha will be located in the central part of Musheireb, close to the historic origins of Qatar’s capital city yet just 15 minutes drive from the International Airport which is currently being expanded to accommodate the estimated 50 million transient passengers a year into Doha. Jordan’s Dead Sea to have first Hilton One of the great hidden secrets of Egypt is Alexandria: Arab League’s Capital of Arab Tourism 2010. This is the main city of the “White Mediterranean,” situated between a strip of wonderful blue skies and impeccable beaches, said a guide from the Egyptian Tourist Authority to a large media group from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. The Arab League has bestowed its inaugural annual tourism capital status on this city. “What Alexandria offers most of all is the chance to have a defining experience, one that you will take away and always remember, a story you will recount to your family and friends,” said Mahmoud Moheddin. And as we are conducted around the city, we get familiarized with its culture, history and the sea, apart of course from its range of eateries and shopping areas. “Eating fish is what Alexandria is all about when it comes to culinary experiences of the highest order,” said Samy Mahmoud, undersecretary and head of the international tourism sector at Egyptian Tourist Authority (ETA). The Mediterranean is called the White Sea in Arabic as opposed to the Red Sea on the other end of the Suez Canal. The Red Sea isn’t red nor the White Sea white, but the names have stuck, says Mahmoud. This is the place for those seeking a lasting holiday experience with a wide and attractive variety of tourist spots, from the greatest library in the world to exploring the ancient Roman Amphitheater, Catacombs, the nearby El-Alamein battlefields and snorkeling the beaches of Marsa Matrouh. The Jewelry Museum, Mahmoud Said Modern Art Museum, Pompey’s Pillar, Abu Sir — the ancient Roman site — and the ruins at Canopus are among many other spots that will allure a visitor. Reaching there a week ago for a conference of the Arab Ministers of Tourism from Cairo, involved a 220 km coach drive that was pleasant, thanks to perfect summer weather. Alexandria is unique in its weather with sea breezes in the summer and cooler temperatures in the winter. There is little agriculture on a mass scale on the northern coast and there are no major industrial zones or polluting factories, which is reflected in the pristine bird and sea life. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 B.C., Alexandria was not a natural harbor but was made one by joining the island of Pharos with the mainland to make a double bay perfect for sheltering from any storms the Mediterranean could throw at the city. Alexander wanted it to be a “megalopolis,” a model city larger than any. The streets were 30 meters wide (unheard of at that time) and the walls of the city extended 15 km — truly a marvel. When Alexander died, his successor and childhood friend, Ptolemy, eventually settled in Alexandria and it became the capital of the Greek Empire. “From this moment onward, the city became famed throughout the known world,” said Riham Wahid, international PR director at ETA. Alexandria has long been an inspiration to writers and artists. One can follow the writers and artists’ trail to learn and experience the lives of such eminent men as E.M. Forster, Constantine Cavafy and Lawrence Durrell. One of the great poets of the 20th century, Cavafy was Greek by descent, but Egyptian by adoption. The Cleopatra Trail shows how Cleopatra lived and died on the White Mediterranean, while winning the hearts of two of the most powerful men in the world along the way — Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony. The last Queen of Egypt, Cleopatra’s palace was in Alexandria as was her mausoleum. Her favorite place to visit was Paraetonium, the old name for Marsa Matrouh. Ruins of her villa — behind the old Governor’s palace — still exist. The Alexander Trail follows the route of Alexander the Great, starting at Pharos Island and ending in the Siwa Oasis. There are supposed sites of Alexander’s tomb at El-Nabi Daniel Mosque and Silsileh where he prepared himself to cross the Siwa desert before taking a trip to Marsa Matrouh, Alexandria has a lot of culture worth seeing. The Jewelry Museum and the Museum of Fine arts are definitely worth a visit. The Royal Jewelry Museum is housed in an extravagant villa owned by the first ruler of modern Egypt, Mohamed Ali’s granddaughter, Princess Fatima El-Zaharaa. On display are King Farouk’s gold chess set, Mohamed Ali’s diamond encrusted snuffbox, a platinum crown set with 2,159 brilliantly cut diamonds and even a set of royal gardening tools inlaid with yet more diamonds. The lower galleries in the mansion display stained glass cameos of courtly love set in idealized 18th century France. There is also a naval museum in Fort Qaitbey and a marine biology museum with displays and exhibits about fish and animals found in the area. One can marvel at the power of the written word at Bibliotheca Alexandrina, which is the city’s premier cultural wonder. Paying homage to its predecessor, the Great Library of Alexandria, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, opened in 2002 near the site of the old library that burned down in ancient times. The space-age planetarium and a statue garden dominate the grounds of the library complex, described as the world’s biggest. The complex celebrates the city’s long history of culture and scholarship with four museums showcasing antiquities, manuscripts, the history of former President, Anwar Sadat, and the history of science. It also displays 15 permanent art exhibitions on topics ranging from the art of printing to medieval Arab-Muslim scientific instruments. A number of visitors were seen reading and working under natural light at the library, whose interior is an expansive multi-tiered space lit by skylights. The building can hold millions of volumes and maintains rare books and manuscripts including letters and documents from Egypt’s early print houses. The Anwar El Sadat Museum displays possessions of the late president. Some of the highlights include his trademark pipe, his recordings of the Qur’an and a 12-hour footage from Sadat’s presidency culled from Egyptian TV. Pompey’s pillar, arguably the most famous landmark in the tourism topography of Alexandria, soars 25 meters above the limestone ridge on which it stands. The red granite column — made from sturdy Aswan rock — was probably raised in honor of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Around the corner is the famed Catacombs of Kom El-Shoqafa. Qaitbey is an impressive mini citadel located on a narrow peninsula. The fort was built in the 1480s and now houses a naval museum. It occupies the site of the former wonder of the world — the Pharos, or Lighthouse of Alexandria. One of the original seven wonders of the ancient world (the only surviving one being the Pyramid of Cheops), it stood an incredible 135-meters high and lasted 17 centuries. An evening tour of the Corniche gives a refreshing experience. The Corniche is dotted with street vendors selling local treats like the sweet “fresca” (a paper-thin wafer with honey), charcoal grilled corn, sweet potatoes and roasted peanuts. One can munch these during long walks and while looking at the panoramic sea view. San Stefano Mall is part of the Grand Plaza and the Four Seasons Hotel. The three-story mall features designer brand names, cafeterias, a supermarket and a movie theater complex, to name a few. The City Center on Alexandria desert road has varieties of local and international shops. The vicinity is replete with restaurants, outlets and gardens so families can spend the whole day there. One may think that Alexandria, with its quiet streets and serene beaches, is a sleepy seaside locale compared to the hustle and bustle of Cairo. However, once inside the city, one will discover that it offers something for every cultural taste. Its buffet of art, music and culture will tempt you to visit it again and again. |
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