Eurozone: ..widespread debt, banking failures, possible dissolution of the European Union would push spending "back to levels not seen since the Great Recession with a reduction of spending of nearly $88 billion between 2012 and 2013.

Scientists have warned that a new major volcanic eruption in Iceland could be even more devastating than Eyjafjallajokull last year. The Katla volcano, which has a 6.2-mile-wide crater, is showing increased signs of volcanic activity, with more than 500 tremors recorded in October alone.

“There has been a great deal of seismic activity, and that certainly suggests an eruption may be imminent,” the BBC reported Ford Cochran, the National Geographic’s expert on Iceland, as saying.

But while the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull in 2010 produced an ash cloud that disrupted air traffic across swathes of Europe, scientists warned that Katla has the potential to be even more devastating. Volcanoes in the Katla area erupted for eight consecutive months in 1783.
“Folks talk about a nuclear winter - this eruption generated enough sulphuric acid droplets that it made the atmosphere reflective, cooled the planet for an entire year or more and caused widespread famine in many places around the globe,” Cochran said.

The most recent Kalta eruption in 1918 caused a large glacier to melt, sweeping a huge volume of water into the ocean. As the volcano usually erupts every 40 to 80 years, another incident is long overdue.

1). Amazon 2). Halong Bay 3). Iguazu Falls 4). Jeju Island 5). Komodo 6). Puerto Princesa Underground River 7). Table Mountain

The provisional 7 Wonders of the world are listed in alphabetical order. Final winners will be announced starting early 2012.
http://www.new7wonders.com/

World Population reaches 7 BILLION

World is "verge of new recession"

Hell has broken loose: Snowstorm has hit the US East Coast, with some areas of Massachusetts seeing more than 27in (68cm) of snow.
More than three million homes have lost their electricity supply from Maryland to Massachusetts - some residents may be without power for several days. Wind speed: 111km/h
States of emergency declared in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and parts of New York.
In New York City, a new record for October snowfall was set when 1.3in fell in Central Park. Only three other snowy October days have been recorded in the park in 135 years of record-keeping.

5.8 earthquake has rattled the east coast of the United States.
The quake centred on the state of Virginia but was felt in Washington, where the Pentagon and US Capitol were evacuated, as well as in New York.
The National Cathedral was among buildings damaged, although there were no immediate reports of injuries.
Federal officials said two nuclear reactors had been taken offline near the epicentre of the quake but that no damage had been reported.
A total of 12 nuclear plants declared "unusual events" after the quake. (23 Aug.2011, BBC news)

Airlines are envisioning a booming summer season as fares have risen and planes are expected to be full. However, challenges are expected in the fall, and jet-fuel costs have increased about 33% from a year ago. Carriers are already planning to reduce capacity once the summer comes to a close, and some have started offering sales for travel after the vacation season. ASTA News, June 17th 2011.

From June 20 to August 30, 2011; Flying Blue Members resident in Lebanon are entitled to a Double Miles promotion when travelling between Beirut & Paris on AF565 and returning on any flight, in Business, Premium Voyageur and Economy cabins.

Effective July 1st, Florence is introducing a new city tax. The city tax was approved by the Rome City Council in an effort to generate additional revenue for the improvement of services and infrastructure offered to the tourist. The fees are as follows:
- € 5 pppn for stays in five-star hotels
- € 4 pppn for stays in four-star hotels
- € 3 pppn for stays in three-star hotels
The tax is to be paid by the traveller directly at the hotel before the end of the stay. It applies even if the accommodation was booked and paid before July 1st .

An international panel of experts says cellphones are possibly carcinogenic to humans after reviewing details from dozens of published studies.
The statement was issued in Lyon, France, on Tuesday by the International Agency for Research on Cancer after a weeklong meeting of experts. They reviewed possible links between cancer and the type of electromagnetic radiation found in cellphones, microwaves and radar.
The agency is the cancer arm of the World Health Organization and the assessment now goes to WHO and national health agencies for possible guidance on cellphone use.
The group classified cellphones in category 2B, meaning they are possibly carcinogenic to humans. Other substances in that category include the pesticide DDT and gasoline engine exhaust.
The Washington Post, May 31st 2011

May 25th 2011
Berlin (CNN) -- Some German airports were reopened Wednesday after a cloud of volcanic ash forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights, the nation's aviation authorities said.
Bremen has reopened and Hamburg is allowing takeoffs and landings, according to Deutsche Flugsicherung, the German aviation safety agency.
Airports in Berlin will resume flights at 2 p.m. local time ( 8 a.m. ET).

The Grimsvotn volcano in Iceland, which erupted Saturday, is not quite dead yet, but it is unlikely to blow up again, said Steinunn Jakobsdottir of the Icelandic Meteorological Office.
The closures affected at least 600 flights in Germany, authorities said.

Poland could be affected later in the day, the European air traffic control agency Eurocontrol said
But the ash cloud is dissipating and much of the rest of European air travel is expected to be running normally Wednesday, the agency said.

Iceland has closed its main international airport and cancelled domestic flights after its most active volcano, Grimsvotn, began erupting. A plume of smoke has risen 20km (12 miles) into the sky from the volcano.
University of Iceland geophysicist Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson said this was Grimsvotn's largest eruption for 100 years, "much bigger and more intensive than Eyjafjallajokull".
He added: "There is a very large area in south-east Iceland where there is almost total darkness and heavy fall of ash. But it is not spreading nearly as much. The winds are not as strong as they were in Eyjafjallajokull."
He said this ash was coarser than last year's eruption, falling to the ground more quickly instead of floating long distances.
Europe's air traffic control organisation said on Sunday: "There is currently no impact on European or trans-Atlantic flights and the situation is expected to remain so for the next 24 hours.
"Aircraft operators are constantly being kept informed of the evolving situation."
However, weather officials warned that ash could reach northern Scotland by Tuesday and parts of Britain, France and Spain by Thursday or Friday if the eruption continues at the same rate, according to Reuters.
In Scotland, a meeting of the government's resilience committee chaired by Transport Secretary Keith Brown is currently being held to discuss the possible impact.

Commemoration Date: May 7th 1951. Air France inaugurated its first non-stop PARIS-BEIRUT flight, an 8H 25Min flight time. 50 years later, the pleasure of flying Air France continues!

For the second month in a row, Beirut recorded one of the biggest room rate drops year-on-year, according to data from HotelsCombined.com.
The Lebanese capital will see room rates drop by 18.02%. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Tourism, the decline in room rates correlates with a drop in international arrivals in to Rafik Hariri International Airport.
The report by HotelsCombined.com highlighted the recent unrest in the region as having a major impact on tourism figures.

Despite this, the city of Kemer, Turkey, is expected to see hotel room rates rise 42.47% in May year-on-year.

It was noted that the unprecedented rate increase could be related to the upsurge of the destination’s popularity, as noted at the Moscow International Travel and Tourism Exhibition where the city picked up “The Best Tourism Destination” award.

Airlines' frequent-flier programs are starting to lose their luster among frequent business travelers who say redeeming awards and understanding the various programs are becoming more difficult. "Now, it's just a moneymaker, with airlines selling miles to credit card companies, florists and everyone else under the sun, and then limiting when you can use them," said Rich Spear, a member of 13 airline frequent-flier programs. Despite complaints from some fliers, the programs have not lost popularity and have developed into a billion-dollar source of revenue for airlines that attracts non fliers.
(A.news, May 5th 2011)

2011 - Declared by the UN the International Year of Forests.
Please help save our planet!

ISTANBUL: MAY 1ST - Labour Day: Closed Roads around Taksim area, Old City area, Besiktas area & Kadıkoy area between 08.00 - 19.00. Plan your day / hotel outing accordingly.

Happy Easter!
Wish you Love, Compassion & Forgiveness
www.360tr.com/kudus/kiyamet_eng/index.html