A GFBC bLOG » World News

How have you been affected by the volcanic ash?

Stephanie Ditta — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:05:25 +0000

From the fruit you eat, to the sports you watch, the impact of the volcano flight shutdown has hit all facets of life. The ash cloud has stranded millions but has also hit the industries whose products consumers rely on.

Travel and Tourism: The airline industry says it is losing some $200 million a day. Travel and tourism accounts for around five percent of global gross domestic product — some $3 trillion — with Europe accounting for a third of that. A prolonged shutdown could cost up to $5-10 billion dollars a week in the industry, analysts say.
Health: The flight ban is preventing some life-saving transplant tissue from reaching patients, and other operations have had to be canceled because surgeons are stuck overseas.
Sport: Champions League, Premier League and Europa League soccer matches, the London Marathon and the Giro d’Italia cycling race could all be hampered.
Fish: The world’s largest fish farmer, Norway’s Marine Harvest, said it would reduce salmon harvest volumes from Monday and that salmon exports to Asia and North America had been hit.
Flowers, fruits and vegetables: Kenya’s horticulture industry has lost $12 million to the volcano-induced European airspace closure and it will take several weeks to recover even if flights resume now.
Politics: Many government heads and heads of state, including President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, were unable to attend the state funeral of Polish President Lech Kaczynski on Sunday following his death in a plane crash in Russia.
Entertainment: Hollywood studio Paramount Pictures announced it was moving the world premiere of action movie “Iron Man 2″ to Los Angeles from London due to uncertainty caused by the travel chaos in Europe.

How have you been affected by the paralyzed airspace? Share your thoughts with us.

Ship sinks off Lebanon

The Globe and Mail - World RSS feed — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:10:00 +0000

At least nine people are dead after a cargo ship with an international crew sank off the coast of Lebanon, the army said. Some 40 were rescued but ships and helicopters were continuing to search for dozens of missing Friday.

Payback comes knocking for Mexico’s ‘Boss of Bosses’

Tu Thanh Ha — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Drug cartel leader dies in firefight with authorities in raid on his resort-town compound

Prentice delivers Canada’s unpopular position

Shawn McCarthy and Eric Reguly — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:56:00 +0000

Harper leaves it to his Environment Minister to present plenary session with little in the way of specifics or commitments

British Airways wins injunction halting holiday strike

The Globe and Mail - World RSS feed — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:06:00 +0000

Court backs BA’s claim that the ballot of around 13,000 workers by the Unite labour union was illegal because it included members no longer working for airline

SEC probe won’t derail key Miami public works projects

MiamiHerald.com: Today's Top Stories — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:12:00 +0000

Even amid a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation, Miami leaders and financial experts say the city appears to be in position to issue bonds to bankroll key public works projects.

Clinton warns of ‘deal breaker’ on $100-billion (U.S.) climate pact

Eric Reguly — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:49:00 +0000

U.S. Secretary of State warns U.S. will back down on financing pledge unless China, others commit to transparency in reporting greenhouse gas emissions

Obama’s climate challenge starts here

KONRAD YAKABUSKI — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0000

The President’s decisions in Copenhagen will hit home for the people of Greene County, Pa., the heart of coal country. His success depends on convincing them

Roy Disney, nephew of Walt Disney, dies at 79

The Globe and Mail - World RSS feed — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:49:00 +0000

Became a powerful behind-the-scenes influence on the family business who led two investor revolts

US interest rates remain on hold

BBC News | News Front Page | World Edition — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:39:26 +0000

The Federal Reserve decides to keep US interest rates on hold at between 0% and 0.25%, as widely expected.