Lithuanian man flies alone on commercial plane to Italy
Vilnius (Lithuania): A Lithuanian man flying to Italy got a pleasant surprise when he boarded the plane: He was the only passenger on the Boeing 737-800.
Skirmantas Strimaitis, who was flying from capital Vilnius to the northern Italian city of Bergamo for a skiing holiday March 16, had the whole plane — which can usually sit up to 188 people — to himself. The only others onboard were two pilots and five crew members. The Novaturas travel agency said it had chartered the plane to fly a group home from Italy, and to avoid flying empty, one-way tickets were sold. Only one person bought one. Strimaitis told The Associated Press Tuesday the flight, which lasted more than two hours, was “a once in the lifetime experience.” (AP)
Roaming recycling bin introduced in Shanghai Disney
Shanghai: A roaming recycling bin has been introduced in Shanghai Disney Resort to encourage its guests to learn more about recycling methods amid the city’s effort to promote household garbage sorting and recycling.
The walking and talking recycling bin named Xiao Tui, will travel the pathways of Shanghai Disneyland throughout April, welcoming guests and spreading helpful environmental messages, Xinhua news agency reported.
As well as chatting with guests, Xiao Tui will also help promote the benefits of recycling and sorting, encouraging everyone to take action by emphasizing how small changes can have a positive effect on the environment around them, according to the resort.
“Environmental care and protection have been a key part of Shanghai Disney Resort since day one, and throughout April we are excited to be able to share our commitment and daily environmental practices with our guests,” said Joe Schott, President and General Manager of Shanghai Disney Resort.
Shanghai will enact a set of regulations on household garbage sorting and recycling from July 1. Individuals and organizations will be asked to shoulder responsibilities to classify garbage according to the waste categories of recyclable, hazardous, wet, and dry, the report said. (IANS)
Prince Harry’s biggest fan Daphne Dunne dies at 99
Canberra: A 99-year-old Australian woman, known to be Prince Harry’s “biggest fan”, died, just days after receiving a birthday card from the royal and his wife Meghan.
Daphne Dunne passed away peacefully on Monday, her family was quoted as saying by the BBC. Australia is a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy, with the Queen as head of state. Dunne featured heavily in Harry’s Australia trips and has pictures on Instagram of several encounters with the prince in recent years.
The widow earlier said she’d had “a very special friendship” with the prince, the BBC reported.
Just days ago, she received a birthday card from the couple, the report said.
“Dear Daphne, my wife and I send our warmest wishes to you on the occasion of your 99th birthday on Friday,” the Duke and Duchess of Sussex wrote, according to Australian media, signing the card simply “Harry and Meghan”.
Dunne was among the cheering crowd and was greeted warmly by the royals during their 2018 Australia visit. After meeting the couple, the Australian said, “it was lovely to meet the duchess, Meghan. Harry is a wonderful man and I’m so happy he had found happiness, they both deserve the absolute world together”.
Dunne’s first husband, Lieutenant Albert Chowne, died in 1945 while fighting in Papua New Guinea and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, which Dunne was wearing when she first met Prince Harry in 2015. She later married John Patrick Dunne. (IANS)
