Bahrain Airlines Stop Iran, Iraq, Lebanon Flights
AHRAM ONLINE: Bahrain cancels flights to countries critical to their repression of uprising

Bahraini airlines have suspended flights to Iran, Iraq and Lebanon, where Shiite communities have criticised the kingdom's response to Shiite-led protests in the Gulf state, the airlines said Wednesday.

On Friday, Bahrain carried out a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy activists demonstrating since February 14 in the tiny Shiite-majority, Sunni-ruled kingdom.

Iran condemned last week's intervention of troops from neighbouring Gulf states in support of Manama, while Lebanon's powerful Shiite movement Hezbollah has offered unspecified support for the Shiite-led Bahraini opposition.

And thousands of protesters have turned out in Iraq in shows of support for Bahraini Shiites. » | AFP | Wednesday, March 23, 2011

”They Promised Us Cash, But They’ve Given Us Ash!”*
THE TELEGRAPH: The ban on flights over most of Britain caused by a cloud of volcanic ash drifting from Iceland has been extended until tomorrow morning as Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, expressed fear the restrictions could be "indefinite".

Lighting could be seen amid the erupting lava and ash. Photo: The Telegraph
Mr Johnson questioned the Government's handling of the volcanic ash cloud crisis and said the public needed to know the risks of flying against the reality of the country being without air travel.

He said experts within the aviation industry had told him they were used to operating in countries with volcanos and understood the risks, implying they did not agree with the current flight ban.

But Mr Johnson said if it was "genuinely impossible" to fly, then plans had to be made for the long-term, as the economy of the nation was being affected.

He said: "My anxiety clearly, given the damage that this is going to do to the UK economy, is that this no-fly zone, this closure of the airspace over the country, could just go on for an indefinite period of time at this level of risk to aviation." Iceland volcano: Boris Johnson voices fears of 'indefinite' flight ban >>> Lucy Cockcroft and Gordon Rayner | Tuesday, April 20, 2010

*Source unknown

Volcanic Ash Cloud Leaves Shops Facing Shortages of Fruit, Vegetables and Medicine
THE TELEGRAPH: UK retailers face significant disruption to their supply chains due to a ban on air freight following the volcanic ash crisis.

Store groups face potential shortages of medicine, cut flowers and exotic fruit and vegetables due to the closure of British airspace, that was expected to have ended in England and Wales by 7am on Saturday.

Clothing retailers also face a backlog as their stock sits in holding pens around the world waiting to be flown from manufacturing hubs to the UK.

The ban on air freight has meant that fruits such as figs, papaya and coconuts, fresh flowers and pharmaceutical products – all of which are delivered by air – are not reaching their destinations in the UK. Air freight accounts for 25pc of the UK's international goods movements by value.

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) said yesterday that it fears the cost to business – and consumers – will escalate as the volcanic cloud casts its shadow further. >>> James Hall Retail Editor | Friday, April 16, 2010

THE TELEGRAPH: Volcanic ash cloud: dust falls across Britain – Volcanic ash from the Icelandic eruption has begun to fall across the country, coating surfaces with a fine layer of dust and raising fears over the danger posed to people with breathing difficulties. >>> Patrick Sawer | Saturday, April 17, 2010

Aktivität des Vulkans Eyjafjalla verstärkt: Aschewolke dringt weiter nach Süden – Herausforderung für Meteorologen
Bild: NZZ Online
NZZ ONLINE: Der Eyjafjalla spuckt weiter grosse Mengen von Asche aus. Regen – und damit ein «Auswaschen» der Luft – ist nicht in Sicht. Die Meteorologen stehen vor einem Problem: Es gibt nur wenige Messdaten zur Beurteilung der Lage.

Die Aktivität des isländischen Vulkans Eyjafjallajökull hat nach Angaben eines Geologen an Intensität zugenommen. Eine Aschewolke stieg nach Angaben von Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson von der Universität von Island 8,5 Kilometer weit in die Höhe. Der Wind habe die Sicht am Vulkan verbessert, so dass sich Wissenschaftler am Samstag erstmals aus der Luft ein Bild von der aktuellen Lage machen könnten.

Wenn festgestellt werden könne, wie viel Eis geschmolzen sei, könnten bessere Prognosen darüber erstellt werden, wie lange der Ausbruch anhalten werde, sagte Gudmundsson. So lange noch ausreichend Eis vorhanden sei, könnten sich weitere Aschewolken bilden. Der Flugverkehr würde damit noch längere Zeit behindert. >>> ddp/afp/Reuters/sda | Samstag, 17. April 2010

NZZ ONLINE: Vulkan auf Island soll noch tagelang spucken: Klebrige Aschewolke gefährdet Flugzeuge in ganz Nordeuropa >>> Alois Feusi | Donnerstag, 15. April 2010

NZZ ONLINE: Aschewolke über Europa wird nicht so schnell verschwinden: Isländischer Vulkan vermutlich noch mehrere Tage aktiv >>> sda/Reuters | Freitag, 16. April 2010

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