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JUST IN: Otuaro Promises Revamp In Presidential Amnesty Programme

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The administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Dr Dennis Otuaro has promised to commence education and vocational training for ex-agitators of the Niger Delta region.

Otuaro made the promise on friday at an ongoing stakeholders meeting in Warri, Delta State.

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The stakeholders meeting, with the theme: Fostering, Consolidating And Collaborating for the Peace, Security, Stability and Development of the Niger Delta, is expected to last for five days.

In his opening speech, Otuaro said the programme has to be redesigned for human capital development, just as he added so it can also give opportunity for women to sustain their small scale businesses in their various communities.

READ ALSO: PAP Administrator, Otuaro, Kicks Start Stakeholders Meeting In Warri, Invites Beneficiaries

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He emphasized that he has given greenlight to those studying abroad to be remobilized for their studies after thorough documentation.

The PAP administrator who noted: “The university program was abruptly stopped and most of our delegates have not gone to school,” further promised to commence the education program as well as vocational training and empowerment.

He noted that there are many genuine complaints at his office of some delegate names being shortchanged, some have trained but not empowered while others have not been trained.

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According to him, there are many genuine complaints at his office about some delegate names being shortchanged; some trained but not empowered, while others have not been trained.

READ ALSO: [BREAKING]Yahoo Boy: Abuja Mechanic Village On Fire As Soldier Stabs Mechanic To Death

Otuaro, while thanking the first phase generals for their patience with the programme in the areas of education and vocational training, solicited for their further cooperation, saying he can only succeed in office if stakeholders are behind him.

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Highlight of the meeting was an interactive session where ex-agitators shared their pains with the Special Adviser and profer possible solution to benefit the thirty thousand Amnesty delegates captured in the program.

Some of the notable ex-agitators and stakeholders that attended the meeting include: Gen. Pastor Wilson Reuben; Gen. Andabofa Opunama; Gen. Benjamin Ekeremor; Gen. Adowei Binaebi; Chief Boro Opudu; Chief Simeon Bebenimibo; Godfrey Tare Pondi; Gen. Henry Benidogha alias Egbema 1; Gen. Aboy Muturu;

Others are Gen. Arony Oputu; Gen. Omotonwerigha; Gen. Tallest; Chief Frank Akiefa; Deputy National National President,, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Comrade Freedom Atigbi; Spokesperson, IYC, Comrade Princewil Binebai; Bob Collins Igetei, Speaker, lYC Mobile Parliament, Comrade Nicholas lgarama, Chairman lYC Western zone among many others.

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Top 10 Smallest Airports In The World

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In a world filled with sprawling mega-terminals and transcontinental flights, there are still places where flying is raw, rugged, and incredibly personal.

Each one is a story of bold landings, short runways, and human ingenuity. although there’s no official metric defining “smallest” (e.g., by size, traffic, or infrastructure).

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These are the world’s smallest airports, tiny airstrips tucked into remote islands, mountainsides, and icy frontiers.

1. Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport – Saba, Caribbean Netherlands

On the volcanic island of Saba, this airport looks more like a cliffside parking lot than a place for planes. Its runway is only 400 meters long, the shortest in the world that handles commercial flights.

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At each end is a drop straight into the Caribbean Sea. There is no room for error here, which is why only small STOL aircraft and specially trained pilots are allowed to land. Despite its challenges, this little airport is a lifeline for the island’s residents and the adventurous tourists who dare to visit.

2. Tenzing-Hillary Airport – Lukla, Nepal

High in the Himalayas near Mount Everest, Tenzing-Hillary Airport is not just small, it’s extreme. At nearly 9,400 feet above sea level, its 527-meter runway slopes sharply downward toward a cliff, helping planes gain speed on takeoff but giving pilots little room to brake when landing.

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Strong winds, fog, and unpredictable weather make it one of the most dangerous airports in the world. Yet it’s the main gateway for trekkers and climbers heading toward the Everest Base Camp, and most consider it an unforgettable part of the journey.

READ ALSO: Syncope Or Fainting: What You Need To Know

3. Barra Airport – Outer Hebrides, Scotland

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Barra is a place where the ocean tide decides when planes can land. This airport, located on a beach in the Outer Hebrides, is the only one in the world where scheduled commercial flights use sand as their runway.

Aircraft land and take off during low tide, using the wide, flat shoreline as a landing strip. When the tide comes in, the runway disappears beneath the waves. It is an extraordinary experience for passengers and a perfect example of how humans adapt to nature in creative ways.

4. Courchevel Altiport – French Alps, France

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This airport serves one of the most exclusive ski resorts in the world, but it is also one of the trickiest to land in. Courchevel’s runway is only 537 meters long and built into a steep Alpine slope.

There is no chance to circle back if something goes wrong, so the approach must be perfect. Surrounded by snow-covered peaks and perched at over 6,500 feet, the airport is used mostly by helicopters and small private planes. Landing here feels less like aviation and more like mountain sport.

5. Agatti Aerodrome – Lakshadweep, India

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Agatti is a thin strip of coral in the Indian Ocean, and its airport is just as narrow. The 1,200-meter runway stretches across a sliver of land, with water visible on both sides during takeoff and landing. It looks like the plane is about to land in the sea until the wheels touch down.

READ ALSO: Online Reports On Protest False, Intent To Tarnish Our Image – AAU Ekpoma

With no space for expansion or emergency runoffs, pilots have to land with absolute precision. Despite its size, Agatti is the only air connection for the Lakshadweep islands, making it a vital piece of infrastructure.

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6. Luang Namtha Airport – Laos

Tucked into the forested hills of northern Laos, Luang Namtha Airport is a quiet, no-frills place that serves a largely rural area. The airport is small, with limited flights and a modest terminal building.

On most days, the sound of crickets and birds fills the air while the occasional propeller plane comes and goes. It might not look like much, but to locals and travelers looking for access to northern Laos, it is a key part of the journey.

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7. Helgoland Airport – North Sea, Germany

The island of Helgoland is a tiny speck in the North Sea, and its airport is equally compact. With a runway just 480 meters long, strong sea winds, and limited space, pilots need special training to land here.

Most aircraft that come in are small and lightweight, ferrying tourists and supplies from the mainland. Though the flight only takes about 20 minutes, the approach feels dramatic, with the island rising from the sea like a rock. For residents and visitors, this airport is a fragile but essential bridge to the rest of Germany.

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8. Yrausquin Airport – Aruba (Historic)

Before Aruba became a bustling tourist destination with a large international airport, it relied on small domestic airfields. One of the early ones bore the Yrausquin name, like the better-known airport in Saba.

READ ALSO: Man Seeks End Of 16 Years Wedlock For Lack Of Love

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These runways were short, bare-bones, and often located in isolated parts of the island. Though most of them no longer exist, they played a critical role in connecting the Caribbean’s scattered islands before modern aviation infrastructure took hold.

9. Tiksi Airport – Siberia, Russia

Tiksi is about as remote as it gets. Located deep in the Arctic Circle, this small airport connects the town of Tiksi with the rest of Russia. Conditions here are harsh. Temperatures can plunge well below freezing, and snow and ice often cover the runway. Flights are rare, and delays are common due to unpredictable weather.

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Still, the airport is vital for delivering supplies, medical aid, and even news to the isolated population living in one of the coldest inhabited places on Earth.

10. Funchal Airport – Madeira, Portugal

Funchal’s airport, now named after Cristiano Ronaldo, is a modern facility today, but its past tells a different story. Originally, the runway was much shorter and curved along a cliffside with no margin for error.

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Pilots had to be specially trained to land there, especially with frequent crosswinds and sudden weather changes. Though the runway has since been extended on massive pillars over the ocean, the airport’s early days remain a dramatic chapter in aviation history.

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Russia Blacklists Yale University In Latest Crackdown

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Russia has labelled Yale University an “undesirable organisation”, authorities said Tuesday, part of the Kremlin’s crackdown on critics that has accelerated during Moscow’s campaign in Ukraine.

Being declared “undesirable” effectively bans entities from operating in Russia and makes anyone who works with them liable to prosecution.

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According to the prosecutor general, Yale’s activities were aimed at “violating territorial integrity of the Russian Federation, imposing an international blockade on the state and undermining its economic foundations.”

The prosecutors singled out Yale’s School of Global Affairs, accusing it of preparing opposition activists to organise protests in the country.

READ ALSO: Russian Strikes Kill 16 In Kyiv

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President Vladimir Putin’s top contender, late opposition activist Alexei Navalny who died in prison in unclear circumstances in February 2024, was among the school’s fellows.

The US university joins international organisations and nonprofits such as Amnesty International, British Council, Greenpeace, Elton John’s AIDS Foundation which Moscow has labelled as undesirable.

Russia has also put on the list independent media outlets such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Meduza.

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Man Dies After Being Sucked Into Plane Engine

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A man died after being sucked into the engine of a plane preparing to take off at Bergamo Airport in northern Italy Tuesday, an airport spokesperson told AFP.

The victim, who was “neither a passenger nor an airport employee”, forced his way onto the runway, where he was “pursued” in vain by airport security, according to the spokesperson for airport management company SACBO.

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According to Italy’s Corriere della Sera daily, the man — in his thirties — burst into the airport, then used an emergency exit to rush onto the runway toward an aircraft preparing for take-off.

Earlier in the day, Spanish airline Volotea wrote on social media that its flight from Bergamo to Asturias in Spain was involved in an “incident” at 10:35 am (0835 GMT).

READ ALSO: Former UK PM Rishi Sunak Joins Goldman Sachs As Advisor

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One person not onboard and not affiliated with the company was seriously injured. All 154 passengers and six crew are safe,” it said on X.

We are doing everything possible to support the affected passengers and crew, providing them with psychological support, while working in close coordination with the Italian authorities.”

The plane was an Airbus A319, according to tracking website Flightradar24.

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Flights were suspended at Bergamo Airport, Italy’s third largest by passenger volume, following the incident, but resumed at midday, according to SACBO.

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